Pushing back parrot’s extinction, one tree at a time
27 Jun 2023
One of Australia’s most critically endangered birds has been offered a chance of survival with a habitat restoration program at the Central Coast Council and Hornsby Shire areas.
Since mid-Autumn there have been reports of swift parrot in those areas as well as reports of more sightings around Sydney and the central NSW coast.
Greater Sydney Local Land Services (LLS) has formed a partnership with the Federal Government under the National Landcare Program to restore habitat for the parrot in the greater Sydney region.
Local councils, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Landcare groups and private landholders joined the LLS to undertake swift parrot habitat restoration.
By the time the project is complete, the LLS and stakeholders will have controlled weeds over 40ha to rehabilitate highly important habitat and undertaken 8ha of revegetation.
More than 6,600 trees and shrubs were planted, including important winter-flowering gum trees such as the Swamp Mahogany and Spotted Gum where the parrots forage.
As part of the project, the LLS staged several community events, including workshops, webinars, tree-planting days, volunteer events, manned market stalls and guided bird watching walks.
Senior Land Services Officer (NRM) Mick Budden said only around 750 swift parrots remain. “The species is one step away from extinction,” he said.
“It is estimated that more than 80% of their habitat has been cleared by agriculture, industry and urbanisation.”
The world’s fastest parrot breeds in Tasmania in spring and summer and flies to the mainland to forage/feed on eucalyptus blossoms and lerps made by psyllid insects in autumn and winter.
It can be found on the mainland in the colder months mostly in Victoria, the ACT and NSW as well as in South Australia and Queensland.
Mick said sightings of the parrots were vital to track the existing population.
“Volunteer involvement is vital to tracking the population and identifies areas the birds are visiting,” he said. “This information helps with the recovery efforts for the critically endangered species.
“You’re looking for a parrot that is mostly bright green with a dark blue patch on the crown, with a red face bordered by yellow, and a long, pointed maroon tail with red undertail. It measures about 23-26cm.”
If you see a swift parrot, please report the sighting to BirdLife Australia 1800 621 056 or woodlandbirds@birdlife.com