The rainbow-coloured Swift Parrot is critically endangered, but the recent sighting of a large flock in Port Macquarie has sparked hope amongst birdwatchers! Around 60 of the gorgeous birds were spotted near a school on the NSW mid-north coast.
Rare Sightings Of The Swift Parrot
It’s estimated that there are less than 750 Swift Parrots left in the wild, and spotting them is getting much harder every winter on mainland Australia. That’s because Swift Parrots breed in Tasmania during the summer, and migrate to Victoria and New South Wales during the winter.
School principal and self-confessed bird-nerd, Catherine Oehlman, was excited to spot the rare flock around the grounds of The Nature School in Port Macquarie. "We have had at least 25 different birders from the area coming to see this species while they can, because a species that is critically endangered might not be here for many more winters," said Ms Oehlman to ABC Mid North Coast reporter, Emma Soissian. The rare birds appeared around the school grounds at 4pm every afternoon and disappeared every morning.
Why Are Swift Parrots Critically Endangered?
The Swift Parrot’s declining numbers are attributed to habitat loss and predation from Sugar Gliders in Tasmania. Here’s the unique thing about the Swift Parrot’s habitat — it needs to contain plenty of flowering trees for food and tree hollows for nesting! If these aspects don’t overlap properly, the Swift Parrot struggles to breed during the summer.
Recently, conservationists raised the alarm over the potential logging of a Swift Parrot habitat in NSW’s Mogo State Forest. Around 180 of the critically endangered parrots migrate there every winter.
The Swift Parrot’s breeding sites in Tasmania are under threat, too. The logging of old-growth forests — some up to 300-years-old — spells trouble for the Swift Parrots, mainly due to the destruction of old tree hollows for nesting.
More Swift Parrots Have Been Spotted In 2021!
Compared to recent years, 2021 has sparked newfound hope for the rainbow-coloured parrot! Frequent sightings of the Swift Parrot across south-east Australia has reinvigorated calls to permanently protect their habitats from land clearing.
According to Mick Roderick, NSW Woodland Bird Program manager at Birdlife Australia, the recent sightings of the Swift Parrot are encouraging. "So far this year — not just Port Macquarie, but also in Canberra, Melbourne, and other parts of the swift parrot's wintering range — we have had reports of flocks of 40-60 birds, so it's really encouraging that we are seeing bigger numbers,” Mr Roderick said.
Early spring last year, a handful of Swift Parrots were spotted as far north as Toowomba!
So, what does the future look like for the critically endangered Swift Parrot?
Well, it’s clear that unless their fragile habitats are permanently protected from logging — both in Tasmania and south-east Australia — the already rare sightings of the rainbow-coloured bird will become a thing of the past. We hope that these gorgeous, vibrant birds are still around for generations to come!
Enjoy reading about Aussie wildlife? We think you’ll like the blogs below!
