Orange-bellied Parrots return to Melaleuca

The first Orange-bellied Parrots of the season have returned to their Tasmanian breeding grounds at Melaleuca.

Minister for Parks and Environment, Nick Duigan, said the Tasmanian Government’s Orange-bellied Parrot Program volunteers have confirmed the return of four individual birds to the Melaleuca breeding grounds so far.

“Of the four returns, the first two were wild-born parrots from 2019, one was a captive-bred juvenile from Moonlit Sanctuary released in 2022, and the fourth was a Tasmanian captive-bred adult released in Spring 2023,” Minister Duigan said.

“In the coming weeks, captive-bred adult Orange-bellied Parrots will be released at Melaleuca, to supplement the number of breeding pairs in the wild population.”

Nest boxes have been installed at Melaleuca and the surrounding areas to prepare for the upcoming breeding season.

Through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, the Government is continuing to invest in ongoing support and resources for the Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program.

“In 2023-24 the Government provided $1.3 million over two years for tracking birds during their migration and maintaining critical infrastructure at the Five Mile Beach captive breeding facility,” Minister Duigan said.

“This is in addition to the $2.5 million already provided to construct the Orange-bellied Parrot captive breeding facility to boost the captive population and allow more birds to be released into the wild each year.”

This season’s return of parrots comes after the program had a record-breaking breeding season earlier this year, with 74 fledglings produced.

The Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program is committed to the protection, monitoring and management of the Orange-bellied Parrots in Tasmania and will continue to work together with the national Recovery Team and volunteers to assist with the species’ survival in the wild.