Orange Bellied Parrot Protection Program

Corangamite-Tasmanian Threatened Parrot Flyways Project

The Orange-bellied Parrot Protection program focuses on the protection of the critically endangered bird and its habitat, through supporting actions within the species’ National Recovery Plan. The project is part of a number of integrated projects delivering actions within breeding (Tasmania) and other non-breeding (mainland) sites in Australia. The CCMA is partnering with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Zoos Victoria, Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, BirdLife Australia and Melbourne Water to deliver this project.

Very few Orange-bellied parrots currently exist in the wild, and the species could face extinction within the next five years. Orange-bellied parrots are one of the only migratory parrot species in the world — travelling from the West Coast of Tasmania to the coasts of Victoria and South Australia every winter.

The program will run from 2024 - 2028 and will target two geographic areas in the Corangamite CMA catchment: Lake Connewarre (including the eastern shoreline and delta islands) and Swan Bay (including Edwards Point, Duck Island, Swan Island and Western Shoreline of Swan Bay).

Following the successes of the past project in captive release trials, this project aims to increase understanding and fill knowledge gaps of winter feeding locations and habitat condition on the mainland.

The project invites the community, landholders, and local government agencies to work together to benefit the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot.

Project History

Protecting Priority Threatened Species of the Corangamite Coast 2020-2023

Orange-bellied Parrot Mainland Release Trial

Between 2020-2023, 53 captive-bred birds were released from aviaries on the eastern banks of Lake Connewarre as part of the Orange-bellied Parrot Mainland Release Trial.

The project aimed to establish flocks of released birds in suitable habitats in Victoria, attract naturally migrating Orange-bellied Parrots to those sites and, ultimately, improve the over-winter survival of those natural migrants.  

Tracking and monitoring observed association with wild, naturally migrating birds, and released migrating birds.

OBPs sitting in a Moonah tree

Species Monitoring

Species monitoring through 2020s lockdown winter resulted in 5 OBPs being sighted across the region, 3 on the Bellarine and 2 down in the Gellibrand Estuary. You can read about the sightings here.

Working With Landholders

Orange-bellied Parrot protection was initiated in 2020-2021 with five private landholders on the east shore of Lake Connewarre signing up to management agreements for implementation across 248 Ha of saltmarsh for improvement through grazing management and weed control works. 

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Sixth edition - July 2023

Fifth edition - September 2022

Fourth edition - December 2021

Third edition - August 2021

Second edition - June 2021

First edition - May 2021

This project is supported by Corangamite CMA, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. This project will run until 2023.

For enquiries please contact Rob at: robert.bone@ccma.vic.gov.au.

Alternatively, you can contact him on 0477 719 148.

Robert Bone
Senior Project Officer, Corangamite Catchment Authority