Expectations set for a record-breaking orange-bellied parrot migration as more captive-bred birds released

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A group of captive-bred juvenile orange-bellied parrots has been released into the wild in Tasmania's south-west as part of efforts to conserve the species.

Transcript

00:00Here in Tasmania, the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot is making a comeback.

00:08Its population reached as few as 17 birds about a decade ago, but a captive breeding

00:13program is making a difference.

00:15A little bigger than a budgerigar, these birds have been up against habitat loss, disease,

00:21loss of genetic diversity and climate change.

00:24They breed at Melaleuca in Tasmania's remote southwest, and migrate north to mainland Australia

00:30for winter.

00:31Last year, more than 90 birds returned, and together with 15 captive-bred parrots who

00:36joined the wild population in spring, they've produced 105 nestlings, the highest number

00:42since monitoring began in 1994.

00:45But some environmental groups worry the conservation efforts could be undermined by a proposed

00:50100-turbine wind farm on Robbins Island, off Tasmania's northwest coast.

00:56They're concerned about collision risks, but the proponent says climate change is a bigger threat.

01:02The Federal Environment Department has delayed a decision on approving the wind farm, and

01:07is considering new research on the parrots' migration patterns.

01:11In the meantime, experts predict more than 200 parrots will travel north this breeding

01:16season, which would set another record.

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