River red gums & superb parrots
From the Spring/Summer 2009 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
The future of the superb parrot in the Riverina has been secured by efforts made by Forests NSW and members of the local community. Photo copyright David Kleinert
The superb parrot has been in the news over recent months. Sarah Chester gets the low-down on the bird and Forests NSW role in managing habitat for this colourful red gum dweller.
Work is well underway in the Riverina region of New South Wales to help the distinctive superb parrot with its long narrow tail and bright grass-green colour to successfully breed and flourish.
A range of activities have been initiated to ensure superb parrot habitat in the central Murray is well-managed and enhanced in the future.
Regional manager, Gary Rodda, said Forests NSW has worked with local interested bird enthusiasts, ornithologists and ecologists for more than 20 years to monitor the status of the superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) and identify and actively manage potential threats to the species.
The birds nest in the hollows of trees in red gum forests. Protection of the nest trees, often referred to as breeding trees, is important for their long term management, Gary said
The breeding trees are protected during timber harvesting through prescriptions set by NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, in addition to Forests NSW own special conditions and management prescriptions. These actions ensure the long-term survival of the superb parrot in the region.
An annual census, in conjunction with Southern Riverina Field Naturalists, identifies unrecorded nest trees and helps understand the population over time.
Biology and breeding studies of the birds in the 1980s revealed the main limiting factor on superb parrot health was access to adequate foraging habitat within reasonable flight distance from breeding trees.
This emerged when foraging habitat on land adjoining State forest, within about 15km of breeding sites, was becoming more difficult for the parrot to access.
In response, Forests NSW and key stakeholders commenced restoration and rehabilitation of sand hill and box woodland communities to complement foraging habitat adjoining State forest.
The program saw areas fenced to prevent grazing by rabbits and domestic stock, as well as establishment of native shrubs.
Forests NSW also assessed the health of superb parrot breeding trees on the Edward River in the mid 1990s, which concluded the prevailing high river flows were inundating a significant number of breeding trees, placing them at risk of decline or even death due to waterlogging.
In response Forests NSW, with the support of NSW and Commonwealth Water Authorities and water users such as Murray Irrigation Limited, devised a suite of actions.
A combination of reduced water flows and the construction of 15 regulators along the Edward River to reinstate natural wetting and drying phases restored both the hydrology and ecology of the area - and the health of breeding trees.
Thousands of river red gum seedlings also germinated and developed in response to the restored hydrology.
Gary said annual surveys indicated that during the past 15 years, superb parrot numbers in and around the NSW Central Murray State forests Ramsar site have increased.
He said it was pleasing to see this achievement recognised in The State of Australias Birds 2008 - a supplement to Birds Australias Wingspan magazine in December 2008.
The magazine noted a concerted effort by dedicated individuals, recovery teams, landholders and governments has improved the prospects of several threatened species.
We report good news for a suite of threatened species numbers of Goulds petrel, glossy and red tailed black-cockatoo, superb parrot, Tasman parrot and helmeted honeyeater have all increased since their monitoring and management commenced, the report stated.
Sarah Chester Public Affairs & Media, Albury
