Glenrowan and district landholders and community members are invited to attend the Practical Parrot Project launch on Sunday, May 4 to find out how they can become involved in protecting the threatened Turquoise Parrot.
Glenrowan and district landholders and community members are invited to attend the Practical Parrot Project launch on Sunday, May 4 to find out how they can become involved in protecting the threatened Turquoise Parrot.
The two-year project is funded through the Victorian Government’s Communities for Nature program and will be co-ordinated by the Broken Boosey Conservation Management Network (CMN) and Chris Tzaros from Birds, Bush and Beyond.
Broken Boosey CMN Co-ordinator Janice Mentiplay-Smith said the Turquoise Parrots was a small ground-foraging species that mostly occurred in undulating granitic country, especially marginal grazing areas, where there was open woodland adjoining larger patches of bush.
“Turquoise Parrots were almost driven to extinction in Victoria around the early 1900s due to habitat loss, but populations have re-emerged since the 1940s, especially in the Warby-Chesney hills, and this area is now one of the most important for the species across its range, especially as it provides significant nesting habitat in the form of retained stumps and hollow-bearing trees,” Ms Mentiplay-Smith said.
“This is very exciting and as many of the most important sites for the species are on private property adjoining public parks and reserves, we are very keen to support the community and landholders to get involved in this project in a practical way and through becoming more aware of the parrot’s existence and its needs.”
The project launch will provide people with information on the Turquoise Parrot, with short presentations from well-known wildlife ecologist Chris Tzaros and local landholder Graham Colson.
“This will be a great opportunity to find out more about the grants available to landholders for nest boxes, fencing and revegetation to help improve and protect habitat for these gorgeous birds,” Ms Mentiplay-Smith.
“It’s also a chance for other people who may not live the area but are interested in the species to get involved in workshops and field days.”
As well as the talks, there will be nest box displays, Neo the Turquoise Parrot handing out ‘eggs’ for the kids and a morning tea.
The event is free and will be held from 11am to noon at at Glenrowan Lions Park. It will be followed by a barbecue fundraiser for the Glenrowan-Warby Ranges Lions Club.
To RSVP, or for more information, contact Janice on 57611644 or 0418 316 169.
turquoise Parrot. Picture by Chris Tzaros