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Emu - Austral Ornithology

ISSN: 0158-4197 (Print) 1448-5540 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/temu20

Further knowledge and urgent action required tosave Orange-bellied Parrots from extinction

Dejan Stojanovic, Fernanda Alves, Henry Cook, Ross Crates, RobertHeinsohn, Andrew Peters, Laura Rayner, Shannon N. Troy & Matthew H.Webb

To cite this article: Dejan Stojanovic, Fernanda Alves, Henry Cook, Ross Crates, RobertHeinsohn, Andrew Peters, Laura Rayner, Shannon N. Troy & Matthew H. Webb (2017): Furtherknowledge and urgent action required to save Orange-bellied Parrots from extinction, Emu - AustralOrnithology

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2017.1394165

Published online: 16 Nov 2017.

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Further knowledge and urgent action required to save Orange-bellied Parrotsfrom extinctionDejan Stojanovic a, Fernanda Alves a, Henry Cooka, Ross Cratesa, Robert Heinsohna, Andrew Petersb,Laura Raynera, Shannon N. Troyc,d and Matthew H. Webba

aFenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; bSchool of Animal and Veterinary Sciences,Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia; cDepartment of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Australia;dSchool of Biological Science, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia

ABSTRACTOnly three wild-bred female Orange-bellied Parrots returned from migration in the 2016/17breeding season, representing the lowest point of a long-term decline. In this context ofimminent extinction risk we (i) update knowledge of population parameters, (ii) critically evaluatecurrent recovery actions, and (iii) identify new management options. We present new data fromthe 2016/17 breeding season. Orange-bellied Parrots were only observed at the last knownbreeding site where fire suppression may havecaused shortage of natural food. Recently burnedhabitat elsewhere support abundant food, but no parrots. Fecundity of captive-bred individualswas significantly worse than wild-bred individuals (0.8 vs. 3 fledglings respectively), mostly due toinfertility. Bacterial septicemia due to contaminated food caused mortalities of at least fournestlings. Fostering captive-bred nestlings to the wild showed some potential as a recoverytool, with 2 of 4 nests accepting a foster nestling, and one of these fledging successfully. Captive-bred birds had poorer feather condition than wild birds. Addressing food shortages and theaddition of new managementactions to improve population recruitment are critical and urgentrecovery priorities. We suggest recovery priorities for the species arising from our results, includ-ing emergency intervention to prevent imminent extinction.

ARTICLE HISTORYReceived 13 April 2017Accepted 13 October 2017

KEYWORDSNeophema chrysogaster;endangered species;conservation action;reintroduction; extinction;captive breeding

Introduction

Orange-bellied Parrots (Neophema chrysogaster) arearguably the most threatened parrot species in theworld because in the 2016/2017 breeding season thewild-bred population declined to only 3 females and13 males (Troy 2017). They migrate annuallybetween coastal, south-eastern mainland Australiain the winter and south-western Tasmania in thesummer, where they breed (Higgins 1999).Although subject to conservation managementsince 1984 (Department of Environment, Land,Water and Planning 2016), there is considerableuncertainty about the causes of decline and whichactions are effective for protecting the species.Habitat loss, migration mortality, and Allee effects(e.g. sex ratio bias and low female breeding partici-pation) may be key drivers of decline (Crates et al.2017). However, empirical evidence to support theseassumptions, aid decision-making and evaluate out-comes of action is limited (Department ofEnvironment, Land, Water and Planning 2016).

This is reflected in the limited number of peer-reviewed studies on the species ecology and threats(Table S1), despite the intensive, long-term conser-vation attention directed at its protection(Department of Environment, Land, Water andPlanning 2016).

In 1986 a population of Orange-bellied Parrots wasestablished in captivity (Smales et al. 2000) and latersupplemented with new genetic material (Martin et al.2012). Captive-bred birds have been repeatedlyreleased (Department of Environment, Land, Waterand Planning 2016) but this effort has not had ademonstrated lasting positive impact on the wild popu-lation. For example, 423 Orange-bellied Parrots werereleased at Birchs Inlet between 1999 and 2009, butthat subpopulation died out and releases ceased at thatsite (Department of Environment, Land, Water andPlanning 2016). Likewise, at the last known wild breed-ing site (Melaleuca; Figure 1), release of captive indivi-duals has not improved migration return rates (Troy2017).

CONTACT Dejan Stojanovic dejan.stojanovic@anu.edu.au

EMU - AUSTRAL ORNITHOLOGY, 2018https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2017.1394165

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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1176-3244http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8825-6358http://www.tandfonline.comhttp://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1080/01584197.2017.1394165&domain=pdf

In this context of imminent extinction risk we aimto (i) update knowledge of population parameters, (ii)critically evaluate current recovery actions, and (iii)identify new management options. To achieve theseaims, we present new data from the 2016/2017 breed-ing season, focusing on (1) persistence of spatiallydiscrete subpopulations and habitat suitability at his-torical sites, (2) comparing fecundity of captive-bredvs. wild-bred individuals, (3) evaluation of fostering ofnestlings as a recovery tool, and (4) veterinary observa-tions of the health of wild- and captive-bred birds.

Methods

Study species and area

Orange-bellied Parrots nest in moorlands in theTasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area,Australia. The population is believed to survive atonly one known location (Melaleuca; Figure 1, site 5),where it has been monitored since 1979 (Departmentof Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2016). AtMelaleuca, breeding occurs almost entirely in nestboxes, and birds are monitored via observations atfood tables where seed is provided ad libitum through-out the breeding season (Department of Environment,Land, Water and Planning 2016). Since 2013, release ofcaptive-bred Orange-bellied Parrots has been

undertaken at Melaleuca annually (annual mean 22birds 6 SD; Figure 2) (Troy 2017). At the start ofthe 2016/2017 breeding season, the wild-bred Orange-bellied Parrot population was male biased (four malesper female) before a spring release of captive-bred birds(n = 15 females, n = 8 males; Troy 2017). Spring releaseof captive-bred birds increases the number of nestingattempts recorded at Melaleuca because both wild-bredand captive-bred females attempt to breed (Troy 2017).

Figure 1. Map of the study area, focusing on the broader Tasmanian Southwest World Heritage Area, Tasmania, Australia. Our studysites were: 1 Towterer Beach, 2 Settlement Point, 3 Bond Bay, 4 Noyhener Beach, and 5 Melaleuca (the location of the onlyknown extant subpopulation). Boxes encompass the areas searched at each study site. Areas burned by fire in 2011 (cross-hatched)and 2013 (stippled) are indicated.

Figure 2. Time series showing the number of wild-bred andcaptive-bred Orange-bellied Parrots returning from migration(black), nesting attempts initiated (grey), and captive-bredindividuals released (white). Derived from Troy (2017).

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Persistence of Orange-bellied Parrots and habitatsuitability at historical sitesVegetation dynamics in south-west Tasmania areshaped by fire history (Marsden-Smedley andKirkpatrick 2000). Before 1830, Aboriginal burningregimes in Tasmanian moorlands were characterisedby frequent, small-scale, high-frequency, low-intensityfires. Since European settlement, altered fire regimeshave resulted in larger, less frequent, more intense fire(Marsden-Smedley 1998). Consequently, moorlandsacross south-western Tasmania are predominantlyold-growth (Marsden-Smedley and Kirkpatrick 2000),and thus are poor habitats for the food plants ofOrange-bellied Parrots (e.g. Actinotus bellidioides,Helichrysum pumilum, Eurychorda complanata,Boronia citriodora) (Department of Environment,Land, Water and Planning 2016). Food plan