New species of ground parrot in Australia

It would be interesting to know when they diverged.

WA's C.A.L.M. has a good record with threatened species, so the western Ground Parrot should be in good hands.

:p

Hix
 
Hix said:
It would be interesting to know when they diverged.

WA's C.A.L.M. has a good record with threatened species, so the western Ground Parrot should be in good hands.

:p

Hix
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I really hope so
 
I'm not so positive. Apparently its numbers are down to 110 or something like that, according to ScienceDaily (I would have posted this thread 6 hours earlier, had I known it wasn't up). I'm sure it will bounce back like you say, but I just don't think it will be as easy/straight forward as we may hope.
 
Surroundx said:
I'm not so positive. Apparently its numbers are down to 110 or something like that, according to ScienceDaily (I would have posted this thread 6 hours earlier, had I known it wasn't up). I'm sure it will bounce back like you say, but I just don't think it will be as easy/straight forward as we may hope.
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Alas, this species IS in real trouble. IMO this species could really benefit from the kind of recovery planning New Zealand is achieving with its kakapo programme. Other beneficial examples for techniques are Mauritius and the Seychelles. Meaning that without any active human intervention this population may be doomed.

Aside, I do believe that recovery may be speeded up if you take and hand-rear first clutch from breeding pairs (or even the 1 of 2+ eggs) and let these hatch their second clutch on their own.
 
Double clutching helped save the Californian Condor and also The NZ Black Robin whos numbers came down to just ONE breeding female so a very handy tool for bird breeders
 
Surroundx said:
I'm sure it will bounce back like you say, but I just don't think it will be as easy/straight forward as we may hope.
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I never said it would be straightforward or easy - it probably won't. But CALM has a good record with endangered species, and I have no doubt they will do what needs to be done to save the species.

:p

Hix
 
I wonder if this species can breed in captivity like other small Australian parrots? Apparently nobody tried, at least in this century.
 
ground parrots have been kept and bred by private aviculturists in Australia in the past (up to the 1970s) so it is quite possible
 
Hix said:
I never said it would be straightforward or easy - it probably won't. But CALM has a good record with endangered species, and I have no doubt they will do what needs to be done to save the species.

:p

Hix
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I didn't say that you said it would be easy. I simply said that it won't be as easy as we may hope.
 
i've been lucky enough to see Eastern ground parrots on a couple of occasions. I took part in a survey at Barren Grounds with a group of people from the illawarra bird watchers club. We managed to flush out a few birds.
On another occassion I was with my uncle looking for Tawny crowned honeyeater's nests in Jervis Bay and one flew up in front of us. They are a beautiful bird. I hope the Western species can be saved.
 
Once more: I do hope aviculturists with a conservation outlook may be allowed to participate in the recovery programme. Nothing beats assisted breeding techniques in terms of rebuilding a population. Added bonus is that you have time to redress the land management issues that have essentially led to the population collapsing and in captivity one can look at the genetics and population parameter side of the species programme.
 
Government commits $360k to save endangered parrot - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
21 March 2011

The Western Australian Government will contribute $360,000 to help save a critically-endangered bird on the state's South Coast.

Only 140 western ground parrots are known to remain in the wild, with the only two colonies existing in the Fitzgerald River and Cape Arid national parks.

There has been a dramatic decrease in population since the mid-60s because of fire and predation by feral cats and foxes.

The State Government will fund a Department of Environment and Conservation cat and fox baiting program.

Minister for Environment Bill Marmion says it is hoped a baiting program will improve parrot numbers.

"We'll monitor the numbers and see if there's any improvement in the numbers before we move to perhaps a captive breeding stage," he said.
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