A new aviary complex has been built at Moonlit Sanctuary to help the critically-endangered orange-bellied parrot survive in winter.
Federal Member for Flinders Greg Hunt was pleased to announce Pearcedale’s wildlife conservation park had been chosen to spearhead a project in protecting vulnerable Australian species.
Every year the orange-bellied parrots migrate between Victoria and Tasmania. But a high proportion of wild-born first year parrots fail to complete their first migration.
“With only 50 adults left in the wild, and around 350 adult birds in captivity, we need to increase the breeding population – every bird matters here,” Mr Hunt said.
He said the aviary, which was opened last week, would house first-year wild birds to protect them through winter.
Due to its low numbers, the species was identified as requiring emergency interventions like capture and ranching, Mr Hunt said.
“Using this technique, known as ‘ranching’, the birds will be released back into the wild population in Tasmania next summer, increasing the breeding population in 2018-19.
“If successful, Zoos Victoria, Moonlit Sanctuary, the Tasmanian Government and the orange-bellied parrot recovery team will repeat the project in the next migration season.”
Park director Michael Johnson said the new $55,000 aviary complex also received funding from Zoos Victoria and was a great opportunity to breed more orange-bellied parrots.
“They’re already in the aviary which is great,” he said.
“Just an opportunity to make sure we keep some of important females over winter so they can be released back into the wild in Tasmania next spring for the summer breeding program.”
“We’re in the natural habitat range of the orange-bellied parrot over winter so they’ll have the same sort of climatic conditions, they’ll have access to some of the same food but they won’t have any of the dangers like weather events or attacked by predators.”
Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg, said the Coalition Government had spent more than $6 million for projects to support the parrot since 2014.
“This includes multi-year emergency biosecurity measures, vaccination protocols for controlling pisttacine beak and feather disease – a key threat to the birds – and supporting recovery actions guided by the Orange-bellied Parrot Strategic Action Planning Group.”
The orange-bellied parrot is one of 20 birds targeted for recovery under the Threatened Species Strategy.
