Orange-bellied Parrot
BIRD: linking the biodiversity community
Categories: Birds | Endangered fauna
| Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster | ||||||||||
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Juv. Orange-bellied Parrot Photo Bob McPherson
Note the grass green coloration on back plumage. Photo Bob McPherson
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[edit] Description
The Orange-bellied Parrot is one of six species in the genus Neophema. It is a medium sized parrot approximately 20cm in length, for comparison being slightly larger than a budgie. In common with other Neophema it is predominantly green above, yellow underneath with blue markings on the leading edge of wings. Distinctive features include; a bright grass green colour above, an orange patch between the legs on the underside of the male and a broad two tone blue frontal band extending between the eyes above the bill. The orange patch between the legs is bright in the male, paler and less extensive in the female and mostly non-existent in juveniles.
The Blue-winged Parrot and the Elegant Parrot range overlap with the Orange-bellied Parrot range in South West Victoria. Both have similar blue wing and frontal band markings as the Orange-bellied Parrot that can sometimes lead to miss-identification, although neither have the same bright grass green colour as the Orange-bellied Parrot. In addition, the Orange-bellied Parrot has a distinctive call when alarmed, described as a sharp chitter-chitter and repeated so fast as to resemble a buzz-buzz call.
[edit] Habitat & ecology
Orange-bellied Parrot habitat is associated with coastal vegetation in south west Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia where it is estimated that only about 200 adult birds exist. Summer habitat comprises the coastal ‘button grass’ plains in Tasmania’s South West Wilderness World Heritage Area. Breeding also occurs in this area during summer, which is assisted by provision of artificial nest boxes and where juveniles are banded.
Northward migration of Adult birds across Bass Strait commences in February with juveniles following in March-April. By late March Orange-bellied Parrots have arrived in Victoria where they overwinter and disperse along Victoria’s coastline and into South Australia before commencing their return back to Tasmania by November.
There are several key sites within Victoria’s South West which provide suitable overwintering habitat for about 70% of the entire population. These sites include the saltmarshes on the western shore of Port Phillip Bay (Murtcaim Wildlife reserve/ Point Wilson area, Swan Bay and Swan Island), Lake Connewarre on the Bellarine Peninsula and the Yambuck wetlands west of Warrnambool. The Yambuck wetlands have been recognised as a significant site since 1999 when up to 18 Orange-bellied Parrots were recorded utilising the area. This area is now recognised as the most significant site for Orange-bellied Parrots in the far South West.
During the overwintering season Orange-bellied Parrots feed on a variety of seeds and fruits of grasses and salt marsh plants, several genera are recognised as being important food species, ie; Sarcocornia, Halosarcia, Sclerostegia -(glassworts), Chenopodium (goosefoot), Atriplex (saltbushes), Frankenia (sea-heath), Suaeda (seablight).
[edit] Threats
It is recognised that much of the summer habitat is secure in conservation reserves, however threats to migratory habitat and threats along migratory corridors across Bass Strait Islands require on-going monitoring and response to development proposals. Wintering habitat consists of conservation reserves, Crown Land and private property that has been fragmented and degraded in many areas. Threats to salt marsh habitat (primary feeding areas) include; excessive stock grazing, grazing by rabbits, altered hydrology, dieback, weed invasion and physical damage. Due to the limited area of remnant wintering habitat available it is important to ensure these areas are managed in a way that does not result in further deterioration of habitat quality.
Housing developments either on or in close proximity to salt marsh habitats has the potential to displace birds through loss of habitat, increased disturbance and increased predators (eg. domestic/feral cats). Major infrastructure such as wind farms that are inappropriately sited along flight lines between feeding and migrating areas poses a direct threat to Orange-bellied Parrots.
[edit] Management actions
Feeding on Sarcocornia quinqueflora. Photo Bob McPherson
A number of management actions have been progressing since the formation of a co-ordinating committee in 1983, although some activities such as winter surveys have been carried out since 1978. The captive breeding of Orange-bellied Parrots commenced in 1981 and with refinement, this program has made a valuable contribution to the wild population and is an accepted component of the overall recovery for this species.
Western Wetlands - creating roosting habitat and enhancing feeding habitat. Dave Warne Greening Australia.
To day the Orange-bellied Parrot recovery team oversees the Orange-bellied Parrot recovery program. This team comprises State Govt. representatives from Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia, Commonwealth, non-government organisations (WWF, Birds Australia, zoological boards and specialists); of course volunteers and specialist bird observers play an integral part in the recovery of this species. Within the broader recovery group there are more specific working groups such as; the Victorian Working Group which focuses on overwintering issues, the Captive Management Group and the Tasmanian operations group.
[edit] Actions in South West Victoria
Monitoring of known and potential Orange-bellied Parrot habitat and surveys of the overwintering population is focused at the following key sites within the South West. Oxbow Lake- Nelson, Noble Rocks- Discovery Bay, Fawthrop Lagoon- Portland, Belfast Lough- Port Fairy, Yambuck Lake wetlands, Rutledge’s cutting – Killarney Beach, saline lakes in the Lake Corangamite area, Cundare Pool/Lake Martin- Cressy, Eurack Swamp/Lough Calvert & Lake Thurrumbong – Beeac, Thompsons Creek- Breamlea, Lake Conewarre, Lake Victoria, Swan Bay –South of jetty, Rabbit and Duck Islands - Swan Bay, Swan Island, Point Wilson, Murtcaim Wildlife Area, Little River.
The following are specific actions identified for Victorian managers of this species. These actions have been obtained from the DSE Actions for Biodiversity Conservation (ABC) database.
- Protect and enhance habitat on areas adjacent to or near areas of currently-utilised habitat.
- Continue to search for colour-banded birds and pass on all details to the recovery coordinator.
- Publicise the need to accurately record band details amongst the bird-watching community.
- Provide interpretative displays to the Queenscliff Golf Club to educate golfers and visitors to Swan Island. Re-inforce the message about golfers keeping out of saltmarsh adjacent to the fairways at Swan Island.
- Organise the annual winter population counts - in May, July and September - using voluntary bird observers.
- Advise landholders how to enhance habitat on their properties through the Land for Wildlife Scheme and other means.
- Provide incentives where appropriate.
- Conduct surveys of potential suitable habitat to find any new areas utilised by parrots.
- Protect, expand and enhance habitat on known feeding sites.
In recognition of the work achieved to assist Orange-bellied Parrots the ‘far South West Orange-bellied Parrot working group’ received an award from the Minister for Environment for promoting awareness, developing an education package, re-vegetation creating new habitat and ensuring the comprehensive survey of birds.
References:
- Vegetation survey and remote sensing of Victorian saltmarshes in relation to Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) habitat. A report prepared for Department of Conservation & Natural resources, March 1994. A. McMahon, G. Race, G. Carr, Ecology Australia Pty Ltd.
- Management of the Orange-bellied Parrot. Peter W. Menkhorst., Richard W. Loyn., Peter B. Brown. In: Management and Conservation of Small Populations, pp.239-252. Ed. Tim W. Clark and John H. Seebeck (1990). Chicago Zoological Society, Chicago.
- Field Guide to birds of Australia. Simpson & Day, 6th edition, published by the Penguin Group, Camberwell, Victoria.
- Orange-bellied Parrot Action Statement No. 43, Flora & Fauna Guarantee, Dept. Natural Resources & Environment, Victoria 1993.
See also:
- Orange-bellied Parrot Action Statement, Victoria - link to DSE pdf
- DEH Orange-bellied Parrot recovery plan 1998-2002
- Current projects for threatened species & their habitats
- Survey results summary
- Threatened species A-Z
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This BIRD page is brought to you by the South West Integrated Flora & Fauna Team. Feel free to edit, but please take care to preserve the integrity of the data. For example, listed management actions are derived from FFG Action Statements and the Actions for Biodiversity Conservation database administered by DSE and should not normally be changed without prior discussion. SWIFFT does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of information on this page and any person using or relying upon such information does so on the basis that the SWIFFT shall bear no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any errors, faults, defects or omissions in the information. |
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