NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Biodiversity Conservation
Volunteers conducting bi-annual Swift Parrot surveys were aflutter last week, after discovering a 1,000 strong flock in Bodalla State Forest near Moruya.
The Swift Parrot is listed as endangered, both nationally and in NSW, and at last count, the population was estimated at fewer than 2,000 birds. NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Biodiversity Conservation Manager Mike Saxon said local volunteer Julie Morgan of the Eurobodalla Natural History Society found this flock.
"We don't know how long they will stay, but this is half the world's population of Swift Parrots and the largest flock seen in living memory...
The Swift Parrot is small parrot about 25 cm long. It is bright green with red around the bill, throat and forehead. The red on its throat is edged with yellow. Its crown is blue-purple. There are bright red patches under the wings. One of most distinctive features from a distance is its long (12 cm), thin tail, which is dark red. This distinguishes it from the similar lorikeets, with which it often flies and feeds. Can also be recognised by its flute-like chirruping or metallic "kik-kik-kik" call.
Distribution
Breeds in Tasmania during spring and summer, migrating in the autumn and winter months to south-eastern Australia from Victoria and the eastern parts of South Australia to south-east Queensland. In NSW mostly occurs on the coast and south west slopes.
You can help map Distribution and Habitat
Each year the Swift Parrot Recovery Team relies on the involvement of volunteers to identify areas the birds are visiting and what resources they are using. This information directly helps the recovery effort for this species. Surveys are conducted twice a year and aim to cover the migratory winter range of this species. Mainland surveys are held on the 3rd weekend in May and the first weekend in August every year.
All information helps and the Recovery Team is also very interested to receive sighting information of these birds outside the survey dates. Surveys are run in combination with the Regent Honeyeater survey effort, another Endangered migratory woodland bird.
Please contact the relevant coordinator for your state (specified below) and let us know which sites you would like to survey or to request some suggestions for new sites to explore.
Survey sheets and instructions can be downloaded from the 'Related Information' pane on the left hand side of your screen.