Search underway for elusive parrot

TEAMS will sweep the countryside around Lake Connewarre from this weekend in the search for one of Australia’s rarest birds.
Department of Sustainability and Environment biodiversity officer Rachel Sims said only 50 orange-bellied parrots remained in the wild, with several spotted at the lake.
“We know the wild population is in decline because the proportion of females breeding in the wild is very low,” Ms Sims said.
“An important early task for the recovery team in addressing this is to locate as many of the birds as possible. After the birds are located we need to see where we can help them to breed in the wild and one of the first things we do is work out whether there’s a need for supplementary food at their winter feeding areas.”
Ms Sims said a recovery team would transfer some juvenile birds from the wild to build on captive breeding stock.
“We have a captive breeding program in place, which, given the serious threat to the wild population, is very critical to the parrot’s survival.”
Bellarine Peninsula Orange-bellied Parrot Working Group coordinator Craig Morley said a recent sighting of three adults and one juvenile parrot at Lake Connewarre was “very exciting”.
Volunteers possibly sighted a fifth parrot at Breamlea during the last survey, Mr Morley said.
“This sighting tells us they’re still using this area, which has been a stronghold in the bird’s wintering range for many years.”
Mr Morley said volunteers were invited to participate in this weekend’s survey.