Superb Parrot - Nswfmpa.org

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Animal Care Studies - Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, RichmondAppendix 3 - Species Fact SheetVU <strong>Superb</strong> <strong>Parrot</strong> Polytelis swainsonii2004 IUCN Red List Category: Vulnerable2004 IUCN Red List justification This species may have a smallpopulation and has been declining for over a century, due primarily toagricultural clearance. As such, it is Vulnerable.Family/Sub-family PSITTACIDAESpecies name author (Desmarest, 1826)Taxonomic sources Christidis and Boles (1994), Sibley and Monroe (1990,1993)Identification 40 cm. Bright green parrot with long, graduated tail. Adultmale bright green with diagnostic bright yellow face sharply demarcated bybright red band across lower throat. Mainly grey undertail. Adult femaleduller than male with bluish-green on face, grey undertail feathers withconspicuous rose-pink edges. Juvenile similar to adult female, but with palerbill. Voice Not well known. One call is prolonged warbling note terminatingabruptly or rolling, grating currack currack.PopulationestimatePopulation trend Range estimate Country endemic6,500 decreasing 81,000 km 2 AustraliaRange & population Polytelis swainsonii is endemic to Victoria and NewSouth Wales, Australia. It has undergone substantial range contraction. InVictoria, it is now largely confined to the Nathalia area, especially BarmahState Forest, birds having disappeared from central and southern areas inthe early 1900s, and has substantially declined in northern Victoria by1930. In New South Wales, it has declined in the Parkes district since the1960s. However, the range may have extended to Deniliquin and innorthern New South Wales over the same period. The breeding populationhas been estimated at fewer than 5,000 pairs, and continues to decline.Ecology It nests in the New South Wales and Victorian Riverina in loose coloniesin riparian woodland of river red gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis and forages in boxwoodland. On the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, it forages and nests in boxwoodland. In the Riverina, it feeds on seeds of herbaceous plants, switching tolerp, mistletoe berries, eucalypt flowers and grass seed in winter, and forages upto 15 km from the nest.Keith Naylor 28/3/2005 Version 3 86
Animal Care Studies - Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, RichmondThreats Range contraction is largely the result of clearing for agriculture.Remaining habitat is often fragmented, dividing feeding from breeding habitat.Regeneration is commonly prevented by high grazing levels by stock and rabbitsor inappropriate fire regimes. Foraging areas and nest-sites may be scarce. Manynest trees are dead, particularly on the inland slopes, and there may be noreplacements when these fall or are cut for firewood. In the Riverina, alteredflooding regimes may compromise the health and extent of riparian woodlandswhere this species nests 1 . Competition with other species for a decreasing numberof nest-sites may be fierce. Illegal trapping occurs, but is a far less significantthreat than habitat loss. Birds are also killed on roadsides and possibly suffer frompesticide poisoning.Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. All populations weresurveyed in the 1980s, and regular surveys of Barmah State Forest and alongMurray, Murrumbidgee and Edward Rivers have been instigated. Annualcommunity based surveys occur in northern Victoria and southern New SouthWales 1 . Guidelines have been developed for forestry in riparian breeding habitat.Conservation measures proposed Refine monitoring techniques. Extendsurveys of nest trees. Determine extent of wildlife trade. Protect all knownbreeding and feeding habitat from clearance. Reduce firewood-collection. Promotegood habitat management and revegetation on private land. Develop regionaloperations groups.References Garnett and Crowley (2000). 1. C. Tzaros and M. A. Weston in litt.(2003).Keith Naylor 28/3/2005 Version 3 87
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