Media release – Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister for the Environment, 18 December 2024
Orange-bellied parrots home for Christmas, report released
A much-loved, endangered bird species has returned to Tasmania in record numbers and just in time for Christmas in a remarkable comeback story for the little parrot.
92 orange-bellied parrots have returned to Melaleuca in the state’s south-west following their overwinter migration to Victoria.
Minister for the Environment, Madeleine Ogilvie, released today both the annual census for the birds, as well as an interim report revealing new insights about the migratory patterns of the bird.
“Barely bigger than a budgerigar, the orange-bellied parrot is beautiful, and it’s great to see the birds survive the winter and come home in record numbers.
“The 2024 returns include 55 males and 37 females, 64 of which were born in the wild, and 28 of which were bred in captivity. Of those bred in captivity, 25 were released as juveniles, and 3 were released as adults.
“The results of the 2024 census are testament to the hard work of both our staff and volunteers to save the orange-bellied parrot,” Minister Ogilvie said.
As part of the 2023-24 State Budget, the Tasmanian Government invested $1.3 million into the Orange-bellied Parrot Migration Tracking Project.
Delivered by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, in collaboration with Zoos Victoria, the project involved the attachment of 46 VHF transmitters to orange-bellied parrots, and the deployment of 20 VHF receivers along their migration flyway on the west and north coasts of Tasmania.
The interim report of the project released today reveals that orange-bellied parrots typically travel to the mainland during winter and along the west coast, use stopover grounds in the north-west, and often travel at very high speeds.
“While orange-bellied parrots may be small, they are quick: we clocked one eager beaver travelling over 320 kilometres in five and half hours at a minimum average speed of 58 kmph,” Minister Ogilvie said.
“Simply put, the more we know about orange-bellied parrots, the better we can devise strategies to save the endangered bird.
“The Tasmanian Government will continue to support the complex and innovative efforts to save the orange-bellied parrot,” Minister Ogilvie said.
As part of the conservation efforts, the Tasmanian Government invested $2.5 million to deliver the Five Mile Beach Captive Management Facility. Opened in 2019, the facility allows birds to be bred to add to the captive insurance population and for release into the wild.
So far this season, a total of 7 orange-bellied parrots born at the Five Mile Beach facility were released into the wild at Melaleuca as part of the Adult Spring Release. Meanwhile, 26 young parrots have been bred at the facility, some of which will be released during summer as part of the Juvenile Release.
The Interim Report of the Migration Tracking Project is available on the website of the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment Tasmania located at https://nre.tas.gov.au/conservation/threatened-species-and-communities/lists-of-threatened-species/threatened-species-vertebrates/orange-bellied-parrot/the-obp-tasmanian-program.
Supplementary food is provided to orange-bellied parrots at their breeding ground. Image courtesy NRE.
Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Environment and Biodiversity Spokesperson, 18 December 2024
Parrots numbers a welcome wake up call on habitat destruction and extinction
The arrival of over 90 orange-bellied parrots to their summer breeding grounds in lutruwita/Tasmania is welcome news. It’s a testament to the decades-long captive breeding program and those working on the species’ survival that it has recovered to this number from just 17 individuals.
With the population still low, and continuing threats to migrating birds from industrial development like the Robbins Island wind farm, the captive breeding program must be continued beyond next year to ensure the survival of the species.
The orange-bellied parrot’s annual arrival is a reminder that the Liberals must do more to protect vulnerable species, like the Tasmanian devil, swift parrot, red handfish and Maugean skate from decline. The Liberal Government must take urgent action now to protect vulnerable species’ habitats from destructive industries like native forest logging and caged salmon farming.
There are more than 650 threatened species in lutruwita/Tasmania, and the Liberals are still ignoring the cause of the problem. We’re in a biodiversity crisis – it’s time to stop backing in big business at the detriment of Tasmania’s iconic native species.
With captive breeding programs costing tens of millions of dollars and having varied success, we can’t rely on them to secure the survival of all of our threatened species. Inappropriate industry development poses a substantial risk to species, even where captive breeding programs are in effect.
Tasmania’s Threatened Species Strategy is nearly 25 years old and urgently needs review, yet the Liberals have been sitting on a draft for a year. To avoid more threatened species decline, we need an up-to-date Threatened Species Strategy, as well as stronger environmental laws and a truly independent EPA with the power to enforce them.
