Reports that wild populations of endangered Orange-bellied Parrots have returned to Tasmanian's south west breeding grounds in increasing numbers this year are very encouraging for the species.
The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment's Orange-bellied Parrot Program and volunteers have counted 34 wild Orange-bellied Parrots at Melaleuca in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, almost double the number of birds that returned last year.
The team's monitoring program has shown that four of the birds are captive-bred adults that were released last year. Equally encouraging is that 15 of the birds are last year's fledglings, including birds that fledged from nests occupied by captive-bred and released birds.
Along with the 27 captive-bred birds released this season, the population of Orange-bellied Parrots in the wild at Melaleuca now stands at around 60.
These are all very encouraging signs that numbers of this endangered species may be stabilising and researchers are cautiously optimistic that another successful breeding season will occur this summer.
DPIPWE's captive breeding program continues to build capacity for potential future releases into the wild. A captive insurance population is a critical element in the recovery program for this critically endangered species.
The birds at Melaleuca will be closely monitored by volunteers and DPIPWE staff until April when the birds will have departed for their annual winter migration to feeding grounds in south eastern Australia.
This is a crucial time for this iconic species and the excellent captive breeding and release program coupled with scientific monitoring is supported by a national recovery team.
Orange-bellied Parrots, one of Australia's most threatened bird species, overwinters in south eastern Australia, but returns to breed each summer in a remote corner of Tasmania. The wild population is fewer than 70 individuals and there are about 320 captive birds.
For more information: Dr Rosemary Gales (Head of Biodiversity Monitoring, Resource Management and Conservation Division, DPIPWE) Phone: 6165 4317
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