Orange-bellied Parrot

## About

An orange-bellied parrot perched in a tree.

The orange-bellied parrot ***(Neophema chrysogaster)*** is a small parrot species that was once abundant in southeast Australia and Tasmania, but is now limited to a much smaller range. Orange-bellied parrots are colourful birds that display a coloured variety of plumage. The birds are covered with bright green and yellow feathers on their faces, chests and tail feathers. This greenish yellow colour is very bright, to the point it almost appears neon or florescent. Orange-bellied parrots also have dark blue and purple edges on their wings and feathers above their nares. The most apparent physical feature of the orange-bellied parrot is their vivid redish orange plumage that is present on their lower chest area or 'belly'. This is of course where the animal gets its name. Orange-bellied parrots measure to a size of 20cm (7.8in) which is comparable to that of a budgie/parakeet.

## Diet

Orange-bellied parrots are known to feed on lowland shrubs as well as fruit matter and a variety of seeds, flowering plants and berries. Orange-bellied parrots also enjoy eating plant species that particularly grow in wet, brackish biomes such as saltmarshes, which are prolific throughout its Tasmanian range.

## Conservation Status

Because of their rapidly shrinking population, orange-bellied parrots are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. Orange-bellied parrots are not a rapidly adapting species and because of this glaring factor, they are put in grave danger by the growing agricultural industry in their range, which threatens viable breeding territories for the parrots during the Winter months. Another factor that went into the bird's decline is the decreased amount of fires in its range. These fires were once plentiful, due to them being caused by human miners, aiding them to clear foliage. The fires in question were once a very important part in the orange-bellied parrot's nesting cycle, as they created the perfect environments for which the birds could inhabit. These mining fires were eventually outlawed in the 1990s due to the risk they create towards both humans and most native animals however, the government did not consider the long lasting effects this would have on fire dependent species such as the orange-bellied parrot. The food stocks available to the orange-bellied parrots are extremely important especially during Winter however, the food sources available to the parrots in these months are heavily competed for by invasive granivorous finches and other non-native small bird species. Non-native birds are not the only animals that threaten the survival of the orange-bellied parrot however, and an even more prevalent invasive species that endangers the orange-bellied parrot is the sugar glider ***(Petaurus breviceps)***. Though sugar gliders are a native Australian species, they were introduced to the same areas as the orange-bellied parrots, which they previously did not inhabit at all. Because of this shift in environments, the sugar gliders have become a major threat to the wild population of orange-bellied parrots, as they often eat the eggs of the parrots, as well as occupy possibly available nesting positions for the birds. Although sugar gliders are a very

## Range and Population

The orange-bellied parrot inhabits a variety of biomes from extremely dry shrub and bushlands to further northern dense forests. Because of the lack of modern mining fires (mentioned above), The birds have taken to drier habitats which are more appropriate for the bird's needs than the more lush rainforests. Orange-bellied parrots are also known to occur in colder environments such as wetlands and saltmarshes. The population of the orange-bellied parrot is 20-50 mature individuals in the wild with 320 in captivity. This is a very concerning number conservation wise, and without excessive captive help the species may become extinct. The species had a once, much broader range that extended from state of South Australia and New South Wales to southwestern Tasmania. Presently, the parrots can only be found in Southern South Australia and the coastal regions of Victoria. The largest orange-bellied parrot population concentration is on the island state of Tasmania, where the largest breeding groups reside. The Victorian and South Australian populations are not permanent residents in the areas, with them instead being yearly residents of the states. The orange-bellied parrot's population has steeply declined over the past couple decades, with the birds being at an estimated 200 individuals in 2007 to a population around 50 individuals in 2010.

## Behaviour

Orange-bellied parrots are specialised birds that often need to live in extremely specific environments. The species is known to favour burnt forested habitats, which are becoming much harder to find. Orange-bellied parrots prefer living in forests that were burnt around 7-15 years ago and during the breeding season they prefer to inhabit forests that burnt around 3-5 years ago. After the breeding season ends in early Autumn (March and April), the birds will fly north to the coastal regions of southern mainland Australia, where they feed in swamps and saltmarshes, making them one of the only three migrating parrots worldwide. The specialised lifestyle of the orange-bellied parrot has also contributed to its decreasing population, as these environments become progressively harder to come across.

### Relationship with Humans

Orange-bellied parrots are generally aggressive birds especially during the breeding season, and when handled will bite as well sound their very loud alarm call which sounds similar to a buzz or 'chrrt'. In captivity however, the birds will form dependence on human interaction until they are released. Baby parrots are often hand fed by humans without any distress or concern.

## In Captivity

Orange-bellied parrots are a conservation dependent species and are rarely exhibited to the public outside of breeding facilities however, two prominent sanctuaries are currently breeding the parrots successfully. Healesville Sanctuary located in Victoria, Australia is a very prolific breeder of Endangered native species, being responsible for the conservation breakthroughs of the helmeted honeyeater ***(Lichenostomus melanops cassidix)*** and the Leadbeater's possum ***(Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)***. At the sanctuary the orange-bellied parrots are housed in a walkthrough exhibit with helmeted honeyeaters. The Moonlit Sanctuary also located in Victoria, is partnered with the Healesville Sanctuary orange-bellied parrot breeding effort, and as of 2022 has bred over 230 orange-bellied parrots and released 140 in Tasmania. Both of these sanctuaries demonstrate a fantastic conservation and breeding effort, which could lead to the birds reclaiming their old large population.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22685203/130894893
* Orange-Bellied Parrot | Zoos Victoria - https://www.zoo.org.au/fighting-extinction/local-threatened-species/orange-bellied-parrot/
* Orange-Bellied Parrot | Moonlit Sanctuary - https://moonlitsanctuary.com.au/orange-bellied-parrot/
* Orange-Bellied Parrot | Tasmanian Government Threatened Species Link- https://www.threatenedspecieslink.tas.gov.au/Pages/Orange-bellied-Parrot.aspx
* Orange-Bellied Parrot | SWIFFT - https://www.swifft.net.au/cb\_pages/sp\_orange-bellied\_parrot