The final nest checks have been completed on the Orange-bellied Parrots after another successful breeding season.
59 fledglings were produced from 21 nests, the third highest number produced in a season in the past 20 years.
The new additions bring the total number of birds expected to migrate north at the end of this season to 139.
The parrot’s wild population dropped to as low as 17 birds, but has been boosted by captive breeding and release efforts over many years.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Roger Jaensch, said this season also sees the beginning of a collaboration project between the Government’s OBP Tasmanian Program and Zoos Victoria, who have been using transmitters to track OBPs released on the mainland since 2017.
“The Tasmanian tracking project is a proof-of-concept trial as we look to better understand the OBPs’ habitat use and migratory pathway,” Minister Jaensch said.
“Building on our knowledge of migratory pathways, stop-over locations, and over-winter habitat use, this tracking project aims to provide further insights into how to better protect habitat, identify and manage threats, and improve the prospects of recovery for this important species.”
