Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program contributes to highest returns in 10 years

A $2.5 million investment from the Tasmanian Government into the Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program, for a new captive breeding facility has doubled Tasmania’s breeding capacity and has seen results with 40 Orange-bellied Parrots returning to their breeding grounds at Melaleuca so far this season.

The State Government’s commitment to protecting and growing the Orange-bellied Parrot population has resulted is the highest number of returnees in the past decade, beating the previous highest number of 35 birds returned in the 2014-15 season.

It follows a trial involving the release of 49 captive-bred juveniles at the end of last breeding season in an effort to increase the size of the migrating flock, and therefore the chances of more birds surviving the overwinter migration to return to breed.

More wild returns are expected throughout November as the critically endangered birds return to Tasmania to breed after spending winter on the mainland.

The wild population has been supplemented through a series of releases of captive-bred adults throughout October to maximise breeding in their sole Tasmanian breeding grounds, with the total number of adult Orange-bellied Parrots at Melaleuca currently known to be 59 birds.

Tasmanian Minister for Environment and Parks, Roger Jaensch notes “we are also supporting a number of initiatives to help the species, such as installing and maintaining nest boxes, providing supplementary food and undertaking planned burn regimes to encourage native food sources predator and competitor management, and monitoring the survival and breeding of these critically endangered birds.

“The Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program plays a very important role in protecting and growing the population of this critically endangered species, and confirms we are doing what we can to protect this iconic Tasmanian species and ensure its survival for the future.”

Image of Orange Bellied Parrot courtesy of Visit Cradle Coast. Credit: Cordell Richardson in Melaleuca, Tasmania.