Threats no flight of fancy
for Superb Parrots
Edwina Priest

Male Superb Parrot Photo: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (DEC)

The brilliant green Superb Parrot (Polytelis swainsonnii) is still listed as a vulnerable species, and the recent loss of crucial breeding habitat in Victoria made the fight for survival even harder.

After a devastating event like this, good news about the species in NSW came as a great relief.

The annual survey, which is carried out by volunteers in the field and funded by the Foundation, revealed the birds’ breeding range has extended by approximately 75 kilometres in the Central West of NSW.

Every year since 2000 Peter Christie, Senior Threatened Species Officer of the Department of Environment and Conservation, has led a survey between Cowra and Dubbo to monitor the birds’ breeding season, movement patterns and the northern most limit of the breeding range.

Despite the good news that the parrots are returning seasonally to breed, they still face several threats on a number of fronts.

Superb Parrots still vulnerable

Classified a vulnerable species, one of the main threats to the birds’ survival is loss of habitat through the clearing of box and gum woodland for farming and grazing purposes.

Diminishing numbers of paddock trees is a particular concern. It takes a gum tree about 100 years to develop tree hollows, which all parrot species need to breed. When old trees die and fall they are often not being replaced.

“Lack of regeneration in the grazed part of the landscape is a major concern. The Superb Parrots’ survival depends greatly upon an abundance of paddock trees,” warned Mr Christie.

Removal of dead wood is a key threatening processes for many species and the paddock trees in particular perform a number of ecosystem services.

• They provide habitat to a range of fauna including threatened species such as the Superb Parrots
• They allow wildlife to migrate between populations in larger patches of remnant vegetation in agricultural landscapes
• They contribute to salinity mitigation
• Near the banks of rivers, streams and lakes the trees are important to stop erosion
• They help recycle nutrients leached beyond the pasture root zone
• They provide shade to stock and are an important component of the visual landscape.

Superb Parrots’ fatal attraction

Another major threat for the parrots is the road. The birds feed off grain spilt by trucks and often get killed by passing vehicles. The problem is exacerbated during times of drought and bushfire when the birds’ usual sources of food - eucalyptus blossom, fruit and native grasses - are reduced forcing them to seek out whatever they can find. Naturally, the spilt grain is an irresistible attraction in times of hardship, and a hard meal to fly past even when conditions are good.

Loss of River Red Gum a continuing threat

The loss of River Red Gum, one of the birds’ favourite breeding trees, is a further and extremely contentious past and present threat.

“Some of the birds nest in the River Red Gum and historically most of the large trees were cut down to make furniture timber, firewood and planks for the paddle boats,” said Mr Christie.

A recent bureaucratic error led to the accidental partially clearance of a protected Victorian breeding habitat in a mature River Red Gum forest. After the site was logged, the results were devastating for the parrots.

Ongoing projects to save parrots

Mr Christie and his team of 14 volunteers have more work to do in the spring season as the Superb Parrots keep turning up just north of Molong.

“This is great news! There are definitely birds north of Molong just before and during the breeding season for a six week period. However, so far we haven’t been able to confirm actual nest hollows, yet I suspect there might be. It’s more or less a matter of watching birds closely to detect specific behaviour which indicates they are using the hollow to breed such as when we see females been fed at the hollow entrance. Basically we could chase nests forever, however our main goal is to clarify the northern most breeding limits so that we can we can make a stronger case for hollow bearing tree retention. That’s our main priority,” said Mr Christie.

Male Superb Parrot Photo: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (DEC)

“We also need to spend more time around Panuara, which is south east of Orange along the upper Belubula River. There have been a number of sightings of the birds in this area across to the Blayney Road,” he said.

As a complimentary project the Southern NSW Ornithological Group is conducting the Cowra Woodland Bird Project. Originally the group was concentrating on studying only small birds however they have broadened it to include species such as the Superb Parrots.

“The group is conducting a large project to identify patches of vegetation that provide ideal habit for the parrots. They are also identifying patches that are good for re-vegetation and enhancement in the Cowra Shire,” concluded Mr Christie.

This long-term conservation work for the Superb Parrot is very much in line with many other bird conservation projects that receive funding from the Foundation.

Over the years, funding has allowed regular surveys to be conducted to keep a close eye on the Ospreys, the Rufous Scrub-birds and the Little Penguins in Sydney Harbour to name but a few.

These monitoring projects provide an important early warning system for fluctuations in numbers and their potential causes. Early detection is essential for scientists to respond with immediate recovery action when struggling species are in trouble.

Thanks to all donors who fund these regular monitoring programs. If you would like to become a supporter of these early warning systems, please contact Kim at the Foundation today.

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