A record number of Orange-bellied Parrots (OBPs) have returned to Melaleuca this season.
The successful Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program recorded its highest ever number of birds in a season with 74 OBPs sighted, which is an increase from the previous record of 70 birds in the 2021 season.
This milestone builds upon years of captive breeding and release efforts, undertaken by the Tasmanian Government and the Recovery Team partners, along with successful breeding in the wild population.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Roger Jaensch said it was exciting to see such a high number of returns for the December 2022 Census.
Of the 74 Orange-bellied Parrots that returned this year, 31 were female and 43 were male. Importantly, all females will have an opportunity for mate selection and to breed as there are more females than males.
Forty-four of the returned birds are wild born, with 23 of these in their first year of life.
It is also positive to see the number of captive-bred birds returning this season increased to 30, which is eight higher than the previous year.
Minister Jaensch said the success of the Orange-bellied Parrot breeding programs in Tasmania and Victoria played an important role in the high number of returned birds this year.
"The OPB Tasmania Program has now seen several good years of migration home to Melaleuca for the breeding season which is an encouraging sign of recovery for the Orange-bellied Parrot population," Minister Jaensch said.
"Captive-bred birds support ongoing efforts to achieve a viable population in the wild, helping build the population back up from 17 to the current size of 74."
During Spring, 26 captive-bred birds from our $2.5 million Five Mile Beach breeding facility, Healesville Sanctuary and Moonlit Sanctuary were released into the wild.
Breeding is now underway at Melaleuca, with nest monitoring to commence in January 2023.
Minister Jaensch thanked the OBP Tasmania Program staff, and the dedicated volunteers, for their essential work in rebuilding the bird's population to ensure its survival for the future.
