Ground Parrots The Society's Wildlife of the Year - Australian Wildlife Society
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Ground Parrots
The Society’s Wildlife of the Year Doctor Julie Old
This year, the Australian Wildlife and one fox have already been detected, to yellow on the underside of their tail
Society’s animal of the year consists of and subsequently, the Department and belly. Their tail also has black bars,
three species, all in the Genus Pezoporus of Biodiversity, Conservation and whereas the eastern ground parrot is
and otherwise known as Australia’s Attractions implemented appropriate bright green on the belly and underside
ground parrots. The three species of predator control. of the tail. Both parrots are otherwise
ground parrots include the western green with black flecks and have a red
ground parrot (Pezoporus flaviventris), Western ground parrots were first band of colour just above the beak.
the eastern ground parrot (Pezoporus photographed in 2004. Whilst they
wallicus) and the night parrot (Pezoporus are yet to be formally assessed by Previously, western ground parrots
occidentalis). the International Union for the were distributed along the coast of
Conservation of Nature, given the low south-west Western Australia, from
The Society recently supported Friends numbers of individuals, around 150, Israelite Bay to Geraldton. Now they
of the Western Ground Parrot’s and the main threats to the species, are limited to two main areas on the
western ground parrot recovery efforts they are likely to be listed as Critically southern coast of Western Australia,
in Western Australia. In partnership Endangered. The main reason for with the largest population being in
with the Department of Biodiversity, their critically endangered status is Cape Arid National Park. They have
Conservation and Attractions, Friends significant declines in distribution and also been recorded in the Fitzgerald
of the Western Ground Parrot installed population size due to habitat clearing National Park, Nuytsland Nature
twenty-five predator camera traps for agriculture. Reserve, and Waychinnicup-Manypeaks.
into potential western ground parrot
translocation sites for predator Western and eastern ground parrots
Above: The western ground parrot (Pezoporus
detection and management purposes. are similar in appearance, and
flaviventris) is listed as Critically Endangered and
The camera traps are required to therefore it was not until 2010 that is under threat from historical habitat clearing for
undertake predator surveillance (feral genetic studies confirmed they were agriculture, frequent and extensive fires, predation
cats and foxes) to guide necessary two separate species. Western ground by feral cats and foxes, and climate change.
management actions to conserve the parrots differ slightly from the eastern Image: Brent Barrett, Department of Biodiversity,
western ground parrot. Four feral cats ground parrot in their appearance due Conservation and Attractions.
Australian Wildlife Vol 3 - Winter 2021 27
Distribution of the critically endangered western ground parrot (Pezoporus flaviventris). Image: Department of the Environment and Energy July 2016, Distribution of
the critically endangered western ground parrot, kyloring (Pezoporus flaviventris), viewed 25 July 2021, bit.ly/WGPdistribution
Western ground parrots prefer low Furthermore, their colouring allows and extends along the coast of Victoria,
heathland habitats with a large them to be perfectly camouflaged in New South Wales, and southern
number of sedges, specifically those low vegetation. However, they can be Queensland. It is listed as Vulnerable
that have not been burnt for more heard calling at dusk and dawn, using in Victoria, New South Wales, and
than four decades. However, they have a call described as an old-fashioned Queensland, Endangered in South
also been observed in areas that are boiling kettle. Australia, and secure in Tasmania and
regenerating after several years post- nationally. Threats to its status include
fire, as long as there is long-established A captive breeding program was habitat modification, and as with the
unburnt vegetation adjacent to it. established at Perth Zoo in July 2014 western ground parrot, introduced
Fire is, therefore, one of the biggest with the hope of one day breeding predators and fire. The breeding period
threats to the species, which is only them in captivity and releasing them for the eastern ground parrot is from
expected to increase as a result of back into the wild. At present, the September to January.
climate change. Introduced feral cats zoo supports the conservation of the
and European foxes (Vulpes vulpes) also species by observing their behaviour By far the most elusive of the
pose significant threats given the birds and developing better husbandry Australian ground parrot species, and
ground-dwelling habits. Dieback, as a protocols to aid breeding. They nest on perhaps the most elusive of birds
result of Phytophthora cinnamomi, is also the ground in a shallow scrape in the worldwide, is the night parrot. It was
impacting some vital food plants. wild and lay up to five eggs, usually first described by John Gould, the
three to four. The young have been famous ornithologist in 1861, and was
Western ground parrots mostly eat recorded from September to November believed to be extinct due to a lack
seeds, flowers, fruits, and leaves from at Cape Arid National Park. of confirmed observations between
a variety of plant species. Seeds are 1912 and 1979. Very rare sightings
consumed from the sedge Mesomelaena In contrast, the eastern ground parrot have been recorded since, including a
stygia subsp. stygia, whilst flowers are resides in heathlands, sedgelands, and sighting of a flock in far north South
eaten from grevilleas, beaufortias, and areas of button grass plains, with dense Australia and a roadkilled individual in
dryandras. areas of low bushes and reed beds. 1990 in a remote area of Queensland.
Like the western ground parrot, it is Hence, the International Union for
Precise numbers of western ground also found in fragmented populations the Conservation of Nature currently
parrots are difficult to determine but is secure, with an estimated 4,000 lists the night parrot as Endangered,
because they are elusive, rarely fly breeding individuals remaining. Its suggesting there might be between
during the day, and are often only range includes Tasmania and some of 50-250 or more individuals remaining.
observed singularly or in pairs. the offshore islands in the Bass Strait Nationally, the night parrot is listed
28 Australian Wildlife Vol 3 - Winter 2021
as Endangered. It is also listed as
Endangered in Queensland and South
Australia and Critically Endangered in
the Northern Territory and Western
Australia.
Sightings or recordings of the night
parrot have been attributed to
Astrebla and Diamantina grasslands in
southwestern Queensland (2006), the
Fortescue Marshes in the Pilbara and
Kimberley regions of Western Australia,
as well as Kalamurina Station near
Lake Eyre in South Australia, and areas
in the Northern Territory. However,
controversially, some photographs and
sightings of the night parrot have since
been retracted.
Ornithologists, however, captured
and tagged a live night parrot in
southwestern Queensland in 2015, the
exact location of which has remained a
Predator camera trap. Image: Helena Stokes, BirdLife Australia.
secret to aid its conservation. Fledglings
have also since been photographed in
A recent study by Vera Weisbecker for visual processing. Limitations with
2016 and 2018 in Pullen Pullen Reserve
and colleagues at Flinders University night vision may mean the nocturnal
in southwestern Queensland.
examined the skull of a specimen parrot would have difficulty avoiding
While some aspects of its appearance found dead on a barbed wire fence obstacles such as the barbed wire
are similar to both the western and using computed tomography or CT fencing that led to the death of the
eastern ground parrots, the tail of the scans. Interestingly, the scans suggested individual night parrot examined in the
night parrot is significantly shorter. that the visual system of the night study and predators such as introduced
It also differs in its distribution and parrot was more similar to diurnal foxes and feral cats.
habitat, preferring the arid interior parrots than other nocturnal birds,
spinifex grasslands. However, it may and it is likely that at night their visual So, it is without a doubt that Australia’s
also occur in chenopod and mallee resolution is poor. Weisbecker and ground parrot species are unique. The
shrublands, as well as eucalypt colleagues made these conclusions Society is proud to highlight these
woodlands. It is believed to eat herbs based on the night parrot having species in 2021 as our species of the
and seeds from Triodia grasses, but smaller eyes than other nocturnal year and hope that these species will be
further research is required to gain a birds and smaller optic nerves and conserved for future generations with
better understanding of the species. optic lobes in the brain, both essential our members’ ongoing support.
A feral cat in potential western ground parrot habitat. Image: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
Australian Wildlife Vol 3 - Winter 2021 29
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