Community and landholder involvement would be critical to improving and protecting habitat for the threatened Turquoise Parrot, Member for Benalla Dr Bill Sykes said the launch of the Practical Parrot Action Project at Glenrowan on Sunday, May 4.
Community and landholder involvement would be critical to improving and protecting habitat for the threatened Turquoise Parrot, Member for Benalla Dr Bill Sykes said the launch of the Practical Parrot Action Project at Glenrowan on Sunday, May 4.
“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,” Dr Sykes said.
“Many of these populations are on private land adjoining public reserves.
“This two-year project, co-ordinated by the Broken Boosey Conservation Management Network and Chris Tzaros from Birds, Bush and Beyond, will provide grants to landholders for nest boxes, fencing to protect remnant vegetation and to revegetate the landscape to provide habitat corridors for these beautiful birds.”
At the launch, which included nest box displays, Neo the Turquoise Parrot handing out “eggs”, judging of a colouring completion and a morning tea catered for by Glenrowan Primary School Parent Club followed by a barbecue lunch fundraiser for the Glenrowan-Warby Ranges Lions Club, the community heard from well-known wildlife ecologist Chris Tzaros and local landholder Graham Colson.
“These terrifically informative speakers highlighted just how important it is to protect habitat for the Turquoise Parrots in this region and how rewarding it is to get involved in projects like this,” Dr Sykes said.
“It was also great to hear that everyone – no matter where they live – can find out more about the parrot’s existence and needs by getting involved in workshops and field days organised by the Broken Boosey Conservation Management Network.”
The two-year Practical Parrot Action Project received $285,620 of funding through Round Three of the Victorian Government’s Communities for Nature initiative and is supported by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.
For more information about the project, contact Janice Mentiplay Smith on 57611644 or 0418 316 169 or janciem@gbcma.vic.gov.au