1. The resurgence of the Turquoise Parrot
Out of the blue…
The resurgence of the Turquoise Parrot

2. A troubled past
Around the mid-1800s, Turquoise Parrots occurred in large numbers
By the turn of the century and into the early 1900s, their disappearance from many areas was noted
Considered virtually extinct across its range by the 1920s

3. A troubled past Decline caused by a deadly combination of threats:
Changes brought about by the sudden increase of grazing
Woodlands were substantially cleared
Rabbits numbers exploded
Federation drought from
Fox and feral cat predation
Loss of tree-hollows reduced their ability to breed

4. Back from the brink
Around the 1930s, the species started to make a come-back
In Victoria, it wasn’t until the 1950s that they started to re-appear
In 1966, they were photographed nesting at Taminick Gap

5. Back from the brink
Progressively recolonising many parts of its range due to:
Reduction in rabbit numbers since 1950s
Grazing removed from large areas of woodland in NSW and north-east Vic. since the 1960s, and the establishment of reserves
Birds now using a range of different food plants including introduced weeds that have colonised forest edges and clearings

6. Back from the brink
Progressively recolonising many parts of its range due to:
Increased water sources have been helpful to breeding birds
Most of all, cavities in stumps of felled trees are used as nest-sites

7. Helping the parrot today…
We wanted to establish a thriving parrot population in key areas of its range that could act as a source for continued expansion in the future
A local icon, the threatened Turquoise Parrot is a flagship for the conservation of other woodland-dependant fauna and woodland vegetation communities
Build on strong community interest in the parrot

8. The ‘Practical Parrot Action Project’
Action in the heart of the species’ range – areas around the Warby Ranges and Chiltern form the Victorian stronghold for the parrot so it makes sense to work in this area
Though the Turquoise Parrot can be moderately common in some localised areas, it is still generally a rare species overall
Where it occurs, private land adjoining the parks and reserves support a significant part of the parrot population

9. The ‘Practical Parrot Action Project’
This project is all about working with farmers and the community to help protect the parrot and its habitat through direct action, and bring about more awareness of the Turquoise Parrot and woodland bird conservation in general.

10. Parrot population monitoring
Occurrence at sites varied between years and seasons as food plants seed at different times and their habitat needs change during breeding and non-breeding seasons
Though there are favoured sites, parrots often occur in different areas from year to year, moving in response to food and water availability

11. Parrot population monitoring
Turquoise Parrots show a preference for Granitic Hills Woodland, characterised by Blakely’s Red Gum, Red Box and Red Stringybark with a sparse shrubby understorey.
They thrive on the forest edge where the habitat is more open allowing birds better access to their food.
They show distinct seasonal movements, dispersing away from timbered breeding sites into more open country during autumn-winter

12. Parrot population monitoring
Seasonally, Turquoise Parrot numbers were highest in autumn, followed by summer, spring and winter
High autumn numbers relate to the species occurring in non-breeding flocks at that time
High summer numbers were also influenced by flocking, especially breeding males and recently fledged young
In Spring, birds become territorial and contract their range, and most females spend time in nest hollows, contributing to low detection rates
Winter is a time when the parrots are notoriously difficult to find

13. Nest-site monitoring
Average distance to water was 287 metres (ranging from m)
Minimum distance between nests was 55 metres
All were in dead stumps or small broken-off trees
Average nest entrance height was 1.5 metres (ranging from 1-5m)
Average entrance size of 84 mm (ranging from mm)
Cavities that were measured were between 250 and 1200mm deep

14. Nest-site monitoring
This is very useful information because it shows we need to install our artificial hollows close to water, place them an appropriate distance apart, and at a suitable height off the ground.
The size and characteristics of natural hollows used by the parrots confirms our artificial hollow design

15. Protecting and restoring habitat
Working with farmers and landholders to manage critical sites on privately-owned land, such as nesting habitat and feeding sites
Fencing to protect nest-sites and vegetation from stock grazing
Managing grazing allows natural regeneration to occur
‘Ecotone’ habitat (including marginal pastures) adjoining bushland is favoured by the parrot so we have focussed on these sites

16. Increasing nesting sites
Lack of suitable breeding hollows is a critical limiting factor to the Turquoise Parrot population
There is a high level of demand and competition for hollows

17. Installation of nest-boxes
Turquoise Parrots readily use nest-boxes of a specific design
The Practical Parrot Action Project has built on the success of previous efforts to supply artificial nest sites for the birds
Nest-boxes are a valuable tool in assisting the species’ recovery
Design is important

18. Installation of nest-boxes
So far, over 300 artificial nest-boxes/hollow logs have been erected at over 50 sites around the Warby Ranges and Chesney Vale hills, with a further 250 to be erected in the near future.

19. Nest-box success!
Parrots have successfully bred in our nest-boxes and hollow logs in the 2015, 2016 and 2017 breeding seasons

20. Nest-box success!

21. Nest-box success!

22. Nest-box success!

23. Nest-box success!

24. Community awareness Landholders play a vital role in this project
Many of the best Turquoise Parrot sites that we know of exist on privately-owned property
Improved protection and management of habitat at these sites will buffer parks and reserves and add to their value
Landholders are local and they actively engage with the project

25. Where to from here… Spotlight to stay on the species…
More nest-boxes to be placed in key areas
Private landholders with suitable habitat adjoining key parks/reserves are encouraged to participate in the project
More educational resources available to continue to engage and build capacity among the local community
Ongoing monitoring and feedback to those involved

26. This positive conservation story gives us inspiration
With widespread community interest, support and participation, localised threatened species conservation projects can work
Catering for the needs of threatened species, either through provision of artificial habitat or changing the way we live or farm our landscapes, can prevent local extinctions
Actions can begin in our own backyards…

27. Thanks for listening…