Local Orange-bellied Parrot enthusiasts have been further buoyed by interstate movements by tagged birds.
SA Orange-bellied Parrot regional coordinator Bob Green said following a number of returns of Orange-bellied Parrots to South-West Tasmania it was “leading towards what is hoped will be another successful breeding season for the critically endangered parrot, came the news that a certain male OBP had arrived on November 3.”
“This bird, identified and confirmed as Silver – Red P by its leg bands is exciting and welcome news in South Australia as it was last recorded in May/June 2021 near the Murray Mouth,” he said.
“The return of this individual is an exciting event and also very important as the sighting at the Murray Mouth was the first confirmed record in SA for eight years.
“Its return to the breeding grounds in Tasmania is proof the birds are still capable of migrating these longer distances to the outer reaches of their non-breeding range.
“As OBP’s have shown they can be site faithful it also means that we could have OBP’s present near the Murray Mouth again next year, with the possibility other birds may migrate with this individual.”
Mr Green said the banded bird was initially seen by five people and over the following weeks was photographed by Hannah Fairbairn on Bird Island and also on Mundoo Island by Sally Grundy.
“Where the bird spent the rest of the winter is unknown, but in that general area there is a lot of suitable habitat and access to much of it is difficult so a bird could easily escape detection for longer periods,” he said.
“Over 30 OBP’s have so far returned to Melaleuca in South-West Tasmania, added to that number there have been 15 captive bred birds released with further release of birds planned to balance sex ratios towards the end of the migration period, as in about another month the final number of returns should be known.”
This OBP project is supported by The Limestone Coast Landscape Board, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
This project contributes to the South Australian Government’s Project Coorong initiative.
