Helmeted Honeyeater

## About

A male helmeted honeyeater perched in a tree.

The helmeted honeyeater ***(Lichenostomus melanops cassidix)*** also known as the yellow-tufted honeyeater, is a rare member of the Meliphagidae family that lives in regions of Southern Australia. This small bird gets its name from its yellow head and distinctive yellow colouration. The helmeted honeyeater is still a very small bird only reaching a max length of 20cm from the end of their bill to the tip of their tail, this makes the Helmeted honeyeater males 10cm shorter than their relatives the yellow wattlebird ***(Anthochaera paradoxa)***. The oldest recorded helmeted honeyeater was around 16 years old making it one of the oldest living honeyeaters. Like most honeyeaters the Helmeted Honeyeater voids a standout features with honeyeaters possessing a clash of black, yellow and olive-brown in colour with a bright yellow crest or *helmet.* What sets helmeted honeyeaters apart from other birds of its kind is that there is little to no difference between the colour pallet on males and females, meaning it is very hard to tell the difference between other then size comparison.

## Diet

Like most birds helmeted honeyeaters are omnivorous meaning that they eat both plants and animals. Though their most distinctive hunting trait and what gives them their name is their pointed beak and their special brush-tipped tongue to collect nectar, honeydew and sap. To balance their diet out helmeted honeyeaters eat small insects and arachnids like spiders, as well as caterpillars and moths.

## Conservation Status

Unfortunately helmeted honeyeaters only have a small population of around 250 as of 2022, with many different breeding sanctuaries and efforts being made all around the state of Victoria and Australia. They were listed as critically endangered by Zoos Victoria Meaning they are extremely vulnerable to extinction if we do not support them. Though signs do seem to be pointing to a bright future, as numbers have increased by 50 individuals in the past year alone, plus over 3 million dollars being put towards helping helmeted honeyeaters and also the endangered Leadbeater's possum ***(Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)*** which lives in the same region as the honeyeater. This massive amount of money has greatly helped both species. Helmeted honeyeaters also live near water and when natural disasters push them away from their habitats and humans destroy their homes, it poses a high level of threat towards their very existence.

## Range and Population

    The helmeted honeyeater's former range covered the tributaries of the upper Yarra River and Western Port Bay drainages in 1987. Though now 50km (31mi) East of Melbourne in the more Southern parts of Victoria which is home to the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve which has the right to take a lot of praise for the honeyeaters recovery. Helmeted honeyeaters occupy small swamp covered areas in riparian (freshwater river bank) biomes that greatly support their subtle and quiet lifestyle. Helmeted honeyeaters have not yet been assessed by the IUCN, so an official IUCN population map does not exist.

## Behaviour

The helmeted honeyeater's behaviour, like most birds of its kind changes from relatively calm to hostile towards other bird species whilst living in a forced cramped environment. Helmeted honeyeaters are also very territorial and sedentary as the demand for land with these birds has grown larger as species are continuously being pushed out and forced to exploit new regions. Helmeted honeyeaters are often seen as cooperative breeders according to the Friends Of The Helmeted Honeyeater, Helmeted honeyeaters will work in pairs until their fledgling is two weeks old, and in some cases even males cooperate to raise newborn chicks together.

### Relationship with Humans

helmeted honeyeaters have been pushed to the brink of extinction by humans and in most regions have gone regionally extinct. Though helmeted honeyeaters records of interactions with humans is very minimal as these birds have only ever been experienced in low numbers by humans. It goes without saying that helmeted honeyeaters have not been the easiest to breed in captivity because of their hostile and defensive nature towards humans and other species.

## In Captivity

As mentioned before efforts of the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve has helped out helmeted honeyeaters an enormous amount but also the efforts of Zoos Victoria raising 3 million dollars towards helping helmeted honeyeaters and Leadbeater's possum has been extraordinarily important to their recovery from a population of 50 to 250 of the past 30 years. In the case of zoos, the only zoo to house helmeted honeyeaters is the Healesville Sanctuary, a zoo situated in Victoria, dedicated to saving the helmeted honeyeater. At Healesville Sanctuary, the honeyeaters share an arid walkthrough exhibit with orange-bellied parrots ***(Neophema chrysogaster)***.

## Sources

* Zoos Victoria - https://www.zoo.org.au/
* Friends Of The Helmeted Honeyeater - https://www.helmetedhoneyeater.org.au/fact-files/helmeted-honeyeaters/