Orange-Orange-bellied Parrotbellied Parrot

Neophema Neophema

chrysogasterchrysogaster

A critically A critically endangereendangered speciesd species

Orange-bellied ParrotsOrange-bellied Parrots

Key identification featuresKey identification features

Green feathers (on back)Green feathers (on back)

Grass green (males)Grass green (males) Olive green (females & juveniles)Olive green (females & juveniles)

Orange belly feathers (male only)Orange belly feathers (male only) Blue wing tips.Blue wing tips. 45-50g in weight45-50g in weight Blue band between eyes.Blue band between eyes. 20 cm long (head to tail)20 cm long (head to tail)Photograph: Dave WattsPhotograph: Dave Watts

Habitat requirementsHabitat requirements

Coastal wetland or salt marsh Coastal wetland or salt marsh habitats.habitats.

Winter migration (Vic and SA): Winter migration (Vic and SA): Orange-bellied Parrot forage for Orange-bellied Parrot forage for the seeds of low vegetation in a the seeds of low vegetation in a variety of coastal plant variety of coastal plant communities (10 km of coast).communities (10 km of coast).

Summer Breeding ground (TAS) Summer Breeding ground (TAS) Eucalypt fringed wetland areas Eucalypt fringed wetland areas with native grasses and herb-field with native grasses and herb-field species.species.

Photographs: Tracey Gray and Peter Photographs: Tracey Gray and Peter PenneyPenney

Migration JourneyMigration Journey Orange-bellied Parrots move Orange-bellied Parrots move

from their summer breeding from their summer breeding grounds in the southern grounds in the southern Tasmania to winter feeding Tasmania to winter feeding grounds on the Victorian and grounds on the Victorian and South Australia coast. South Australia coast.

Journey distance 300km across Journey distance 300km across the Bass Straight.the Bass Straight.

Orange-bellied Parrot conserve Orange-bellied Parrot conserve energy by island hopping across energy by island hopping across Bass Straight.Bass Straight.

Feeding on coastal plants on the Feeding on coastal plants on the primary dune.primary dune.

Extract from DSE website Victoria.Extract from DSE website Victoria.

Breeding and LongevityBreeding and Longevity Sexually mature at 1 year of age.Sexually mature at 1 year of age. Forming monogamous relationships (winter breeding).Forming monogamous relationships (winter breeding). Life span- 7 years (wild populations) & 13 years (in captivity).Life span- 7 years (wild populations) & 13 years (in captivity). Average life span is less than 4 years old.Average life span is less than 4 years old. Nests made in eucalypt hollows birds using same hollows each year.Nests made in eucalypt hollows birds using same hollows each year. One white egg is laid every second day during late Nov- December. One white egg is laid every second day during late Nov- December. Clutch size 1-6 eggs laid.Clutch size 1-6 eggs laid. Eggs incubated for 21 days by the female.Eggs incubated for 21 days by the female. Eggs hatch every 2 days in late Dec-Jan.Eggs hatch every 2 days in late Dec-Jan. Brooding continues for up to 2 weeks.Brooding continues for up to 2 weeks. Fledging occurs by mid- Feb and juveniles Fledging occurs by mid- Feb and juveniles form small flocks ready for the winter migration form small flocks ready for the winter migration in late March.in late March.

DistributionDistribution 1800 the species was reported as 1800 the species was reported as

common or locally abundant.common or locally abundant. Species has been in decline since 1920 Species has been in decline since 1920

and is no longer recorded in NSW.and is no longer recorded in NSW.

Food sourcesFood sources

Orange-bellied Parrots feed Orange-bellied Parrots feed on a variety of coastal plants on a variety of coastal plants including:including: Beaded Glasswort.Beaded Glasswort. Native Grasses.Native Grasses. Sedges.Sedges.

With their hard beaks Orange-With their hard beaks Orange-bellied Parrots feed on the bellied Parrots feed on the nuts, fruits and seeds of nuts, fruits and seeds of many different coastal many different coastal plants.plants.

Energy contained in nut and Energy contained in nut and seed provides a greater seed provides a greater energy source building up energy source building up winter food reserves.winter food reserves.

Photograph: Tracey GrayPhotograph: Tracey Gray

Top: Beaded Glasswort Top: Beaded Glasswort Bottom: Various coastal species.Bottom: Various coastal species.

Breeding ground habitat: Breeding ground habitat: TasmaniaTasmania

Eucalypt species of hollow bearing age Eucalypt species of hollow bearing age (over 80 years) are the preferred site for (over 80 years) are the preferred site for nesting.nesting.

Access to coastal wetland vegetation Access to coastal wetland vegetation communities.communities.

Coastal refuge: VictoriaCoastal refuge: Victoria

Woolley Tea Tree Woolley Tea Tree species provide roosting species provide roosting sites for the Orange-sites for the Orange-bellied Parrot in coastal bellied Parrot in coastal wetlands.wetlands.

Once a dominant Once a dominant vegetation community vegetation community before European before European settlement.settlement.

Photographs: Tracey Gray (Woolley Tea Tree flowers and nuts)Photographs: Tracey Gray (Woolley Tea Tree flowers and nuts)

Threats to the Threats to the

Orange-bellied ParrotOrange-bellied Parrot

Loss of critical winter habitat Loss of critical winter habitat and food supply due to:and food supply due to:

Habitat fragmentation of Habitat fragmentation of wintering habitat in the last wintering habitat in the last 100 years.100 years.

Alteration of feeding grounds Alteration of feeding grounds (wetlands and salt marsh (wetlands and salt marsh communities) drainage of communities) drainage of wetland systems for wetland systems for agriculture practices.agriculture practices.

List of threatening process List of threatening process for Orange-bellied Parrotfor Orange-bellied Parrot Population size Stochastic factors and

catastrophic events.Disease, Loss of genetic variation, Storms during migration, Destruction of nest sites by fire.

Degradation and loss of habitat

Loss of specific habitat type Drainage of wetlands, Alteration and destruction of salt marsh for industrial and urban development, Grazing of native vegetation,Vegetation clearance for agriculture and recreation.

Invasive weeds Alteration of species composition at key sites.

Marram grassSea spurgeBox thorn

Introduced predatory species

Predation on individuals. FoxesFeral cats

Competitor exclusion

Increased competition for key ecological requirements.

Rabbits reducing food supplyStarlings aggressively prevented Orange-bellied Parrot from entering nest hollows.Honey bee’s abandonment of clutch and death of brood.Sugar gliders aggressively exclude Orange-bellied Parrot from next sites.

Illuminated structures

Interference in migratory path

Squid fisheryLight houses

Trapping Removal of individuals from the wild

Prior to 1960’s

Limiting factorsLimiting factors

Shortage of mid winter Shortage of mid winter food supplyfood supply

Lack of secure roosting Lack of secure roosting sitessites

Small gene pool limiting Small gene pool limiting genetic diversity, genetic diversity, reducing fitness of reducing fitness of population.population.

High mortality in winter High mortality in winter periods.periods.

Seasonal vegetation Seasonal vegetation changes due to global changes due to global warming.warming.

Recovery objectivesRecovery objectives

Improve the conservation Improve the conservation status of the species status of the species (numbers above 250 adults) (numbers above 250 adults) so the population no longer so the population no longer meets the IUCN critically meets the IUCN critically endangered classification.endangered classification.

Increase the Increase the carrying carrying capacitycapacity of critical winter of critical winter habitat to ensure that the habitat to ensure that the species persists in its current species persists in its current range.range.

Probability of total Probability of total extinction by 2011 is extinction by 2011 is reduced by 50%.reduced by 50%.

Biodiversity BenefitsBiodiversity Benefits

The protection of Orange-bellied The protection of Orange-bellied Parrot assists with the Parrot assists with the conservation and protection of conservation and protection of significant areas of coastalsignificant areas of coastal ecosystems that are highly ecosystems that are highly modified and require sensitive modified and require sensitive management.management.

Orange-bellied Parrots require a Orange-bellied Parrots require a variety of habitat types as an variety of habitat types as an indicator speciesindicator species can provided can provided information about the information about the complexity complexity of coastal ecosystemsof coastal ecosystems. .

Assistance to Assistance to vaccine for a vaccine for a virus found in wild populationsvirus found in wild populations of parrots.of parrots.

Right as a species to existRight as a species to exist..

Conservation effortsConservation efforts

Captive breeding programsCaptive breeding programs Annual bird countsAnnual bird counts Community education Community education

programs.programs. Habitat enhancement Habitat enhancement

programs (to increase the programs (to increase the carrying capacity of habitat carrying capacity of habitat areas):areas): Fencing of wetlandsFencing of wetlands Planting of native species. Planting of native species. Management of breeding Management of breeding

habitat including mosaic habitat including mosaic burning of vegetation to burning of vegetation to maintain food diversity maintain food diversity and supply.and supply.

A coordinated approach A coordinated approach to management.to management.

Population counts & community monitoringPopulation counts & community monitoring Population Viability Models Population Viability Models Genetic depressions :2 key populations Genetic depressions :2 key populations

heterozyogosity and fitness.heterozyogosity and fitness. Supplementary Feeding stationsSupplementary Feeding stations Captive breeding program (survival rates)Captive breeding program (survival rates) Bird banding of juveniles Bird banding of juveniles Radio tracking of individualsRadio tracking of individuals Artificial Nest box structuresArtificial Nest box structures

Reproductive successReproductive success

1991/92 nest boxes at Melaleuca to encourage 1991/92 nest boxes at Melaleuca to encourage breeding at accessible sites.breeding at accessible sites.

1992-2006- 192 breeding attempts occurred.1992-2006- 192 breeding attempts occurred. 1993/4- 874 eggs laid 695 hatched at 80% 1993/4- 874 eggs laid 695 hatched at 80%

hatching success. 606 nestlings fledged at a hatching success. 606 nestlings fledged at a success rate of 87%. success rate of 87%.

Overall breeding success (proportion of eggs Overall breeding success (proportion of eggs laid resulting in fledgling) at 69% equivalent to laid resulting in fledgling) at 69% equivalent to 3.3 fledgling per nest with eggs (Holdsworth 3.3 fledgling per nest with eggs (Holdsworth 2006).2006).

Population Viability Population Viability Assessments (PVA)Assessments (PVA)

PVA use computer models to synthesis PVA use computer models to synthesis information about population dynamics of information about population dynamics of a species.a species.

PVA predicts risk of extinction.PVA predicts risk of extinction. Biological information; Biological information;

reproductive ratesreproductive rates Population estimates Population estimates Survival.Survival.

PVA for the OBP in 1993PVA for the OBP in 1993

1993 (Mc Carthy 1995) high juvenile mortality 1993 (Mc Carthy 1995) high juvenile mortality limitation to population increase.limitation to population increase.

Highlighted importance of captive-breeding Highlighted importance of captive-breeding program.program.

Captive breeding program release 40%-60% of Captive breeding program release 40%-60% of captive bred birds annually.captive bred birds annually.

Artificial nests important in reducing extinction.Artificial nests important in reducing extinction. Survivorship in winter the critical limiting factor.Survivorship in winter the critical limiting factor.

PVA for Orange-bellied PVA for Orange-bellied Parrot in 1998Parrot in 1998

Key findings:Key findings: Survivorship in winter more limiting than Survivorship in winter more limiting than

reproduction.reproduction. Qualitative v’s Quantative features of Qualitative v’s Quantative features of

habitat:habitat: Vegetation composition is more important Vegetation composition is more important

than area/size of vegetation coverage. than area/size of vegetation coverage. ((Drechsler etal 1998Drechsler etal 1998))

Consolidation of data Consolidation of data Winter survey’s 2007Winter survey’s 2007

97 individual surveys conducted in 2007 97 individual surveys conducted in 2007 wintering period.wintering period.

Aire River to Glenelg River (VIC/SA Aire River to Glenelg River (VIC/SA border)border)

Orange-bellied Parrot observed at 7 Orange-bellied Parrot observed at 7 sites.sites.

Consolidation of data.Consolidation of data.

Interpreting Data:Interpreting Data:

Take time to interpret the information.Take time to interpret the information. Basic information: Axis (X and Y)Basic information: Axis (X and Y) What stories can the data tell? What stories can the data tell?

How many birds? Where are they found? How many birds? Where are they found? How could you incorporate this information into How could you incorporate this information into

your report?your report? Create a simple table? Use the image? Create a simple table? Use the image? Refer to the information to support your statements.Refer to the information to support your statements.

Reference!Reference!