For several years I had the very real pleasure of being one of many volunteers helping with the supplementary feeding program for Critically Endangered Helmeted Honeyeaters.
The photograph above clearly shows the ‘helmet’ of feathers that distinguishes the Helmeted Honeyeater from other sub-species of the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater.
Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater group was formed in 1989 when there were only fifty of these exquisite little honeyeaters left in the wild. Now I believe there are around two hundred in the wild, with re-vegetation and captive breeding programs helping to steadily increase their numbers.
During the breeding season the supplementary feeding program includes mealworms which the adult birds feed to their youngsters. Throughout the year they are given a specially formulated Wombaroo mix suitable for honeyeaters.
I’m sharing HeHo photographs this week as I received an email from the friends’ group about their annual fundraising drive. If you’d like to know more you could check Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater or donate at https://www.givenow.com.au/wingsofhope
The work of the recovery team and the friends group is truly remarkable.
I’m honoured to have been invited to open Melbourne Camera Club’s All Creatures Great and Small photography exhibition – I will share more about it next week but wanted to let you know the dates just in case you are free that weekend.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Prints and gifts Lirralirra Shop
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
