Elise Archer,Minister for Environment
A number of initiatives introduced by the Hodgman Liberal Government to support Orange-bellied parrots have resulted in increased fledgling numbers this season.
The initiatives were actioned by the Orange-bellied Parrot Program, which is a conservation management program aimed at improving both the captive and wild populations.
This season’s results included:
- The number of wild fledglings recorded increased from 33 to 36.
- 20 Orange-bellied parrots returned to breed at Melaleuca, up from 19 last season, including 13 males, 6 females and one of unknown gender.
- Captive born fledglings increased to 81 this year, up from 60 last season following the increased breeding capacity at Five Mile Beach.
- 44 birds were released during the Program’s spring releases this year, up from 23 last year.
- In addition to spring releases, the Program also released 12 captive bred juveniles at Melaleuca during February.
The Government is committed to ensuring as many birds as possible return to the breeding grounds each summer and while these results are encouraging we know there is more to be done.
That’s why we provided $2.5 million for a captive breeding facility at Five Mile Beach, with the aim of expanding the captive breeding capacity from 24 to 48 breeding pairs by the 2019-20 breeding season.
