Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery

Background

Orange-bellied Parrots are at risk of extinction from a range of factors, including their small population size, limited breeding range, migratory behaviours and habitat degradation.

We worked with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE) and the Australian National University (ANU) to secure the future of critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots. The two complementary projects aimed to find out more about the specific biology and habitat requirements of Orange-bellied Parrots, develop and implement management strategies to optimise and extend their habitat area, improve infrastructure that supports the existing OBP captive breeding program at Melaleuca and supply additional nesting opportunities within their preferred habitat.

Project 1: Priority investigations to support OBP recovery

Project 2: Further support for OBP recovery

Orange-bellied Parrots breed within a single area in south-west Tasmania (Melaleuca), and efforts to boost and protect this species have been ongoing for many years.

While it is hoped that their precariously low numbers are beginning to recover as a result of these ongoing efforts, their chances of success have been improved by repairing and installing new nest boxes at their breeding site and expanding the potential breeding range.

This project provided additional nest boxes in the Melaleuca valley with the aim of increasing (or at least maintaining) the number of wild-raised OBPs. Population monitoring will determine how effective these changes have been. At the same time, ANU will conduct a detailed assessment of the availability of tree hollows as nesting sites at Melaleuca and assess the impact of various land management scenarios on OBP habitat.

The project is made up of four distinct subprojects. Three subprojects were led by NRE Tasmania and oversaw the following activities;

1) improving nest management and monitoring,

2) improving critical infrastructure in the current nesting area, and

3) extending the area over which nesting infrastructure is provided to support breeding.

The final subproject was a research component led by the Australian National University. It assessed the availability of natural tree cavities for Orange-bellied Parrot nesting, and what factors play a role in nesting hollow suitability for OBPs.

Project achievements

• The final report on the burning regimes was delivered. It found that there was a positive impact of low-intensity burns on the abundance and flowering of herbaceous species, but this effect waned after ten years. They found that patchy mosaic burning in the OBP foraging habitat and the development of burn intervals was important. Reducing the reliance on supplementary feed would be a critical milestone in wild OBP management.
• An OBP Population Viability Analysis (a tool that helps forecast future population trends based on different scenarios) was completed. It found increasing the number of juveniles into the population each year would have most benefit.
• A research project led by ANU assessing the availability of natural tree cavities for OBP nesting, and what factors play a role in nesting hollow suitability for OBPs has been completed.
• The final report on the investigations into a new breeding site was completed. Modelling conducted identified a new key site, and two other potential sites. A release plan was also developed for the species to maximise success.
• Expanded nest boxes. Due to the lack of available nesting cavities to Orange-bellied Parrots, artificial nest-boxes have been installed within their only known remaining breeding location. Through this project,  over a 2-year period, a  total of 60 new nest-boxes have  been installed, expanding the previous range of original nest-boxes. There are now a total of 150 nest-boxes available to OBPs within the Melaleuca  and surrounding area.
• Replacing the hide, aviary and feed table. These are being constructed and will be installed at Melaleuca later in 2023 to assist with the breeding and monitoring program.