lirralirra

This exquisite budgie-sized, migratory parrot has been perilously close to extinction for several decades.

Orange-bellied Parrots are remarkable birds. They breed at Melaleuca in Tasmania and migrate to mainland areas of coastal saltmarsh.

From being ‘abundant’ and ‘plentiful’ during the mid 1800s their numbers fell to less than 50 individuals and in 2017 only three breeding females returned to Tasmania.

A recovery program was set up in the 1980s that has kept the species extant: captive birds are being bred and released on the mainland and in Tasmania; habitat is being protected and enhanced; predators are being controlled etc.

They remain in a precarious position. About twenty wild birds migrated this year, with an estimation of over 100 remaining in Tasmania.

I recently did an online Neophema Identification Workshop with Bob Green, that I recommend. If you’d like to attend a workshop, Bob can be contacted on 0407 649 909. It was great to hear him articulate the differences between the species, including the colour of the headband and the lack of yellow headlights either side of the bill. And did you know they might not have an orange belly while a couple of the other species might? The other five neophemas are the Blue-winged Parrot, Rock Parrot, Elegant Parrot, Turquoise Parrot and Scarlet-chested Parrot.

Further information can be found on the Facebook page Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program

Debbie Lustig hosts the Facebook page Save the Orange-bellied Parrot that you might like to support.

Happy birding, Kim

~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group  Ethical Bird Photography