The Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program has recorded a record-breaking number of fledglings this breeding season.
Minister for Parks and Environment, Nick Duigan said 74 fledglings were produced from 33 nest-boxes.
“This is the highest number and proportion of nests recorded in the wild since monitoring began in 1993,” Minister Duigan said.
“Eighteen captive-bred adult parrots were released for breeding in spring, and 40 captive-bred juveniles were released in late summer ahead of migration.
“It is estimated 188 Orange-bellied Parrots have migrated from Melaleuca at the end of the breeding season.”
These successful numbers follow a record-breaking number of birds returning to Melaleuca last year.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to the protection, monitoring, and management of the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots.
“This Government has provided funding for a two-year project which tracks the parrots during their migration over the non-breeding period. This project commenced in late summer this year,” Minister Duigan said.
VHF nanotags were attached to 46 of the birds to track their migration.
“These tiny tags emit a signal that is detected by a network of 20 receiver towers that have been installed along the migration flyway of Orange-bellied parrots across the West Coast of Tasmania and Bass Strait Islands,” Minister Duigan said.