Help Conservation By Joining Surveys For Regent Honeyeaters & Swift Parrots

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Tara

Next weekend – August 1 & 2, Birdlife Australia is conducting surveys to locate populations of Regent Honeyeaters and Swift Parrots. There are lots of potential survey locations on their website throughout Victoria, NSW, ACT and QLD (see the Excel spreadsheet towards the bottom – Suggested survey locations for Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater surveys). There are also forms to fill out after the survey and send to Birdlife.

For more information about the surveys see our webpage or contact Dean Ingwersen (Regent Honeyeaters), Mick Roderick (Swift Parrots in NSW, ACT and Qld) or Caroline Wilson (Swift Parrots in Victoria).

I will be out there surveying in Greater Brisbane, probably with my husband. We didn’t have any luck in May so really hopeful for this one! The weather reports for next week show another cold snap coming in so I hope the birds are enjoying our relatively warm winter in QLD by now!

These photos are from Wikipedia to show the birds we are looking for.

Regent Honeyeater

Swift Parrot

Birding The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Tara

Trees and plants attract birds so it was a good choice to go birding at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart, Tasmania. It is a short drive from the hotel we spent the night at – the Customs House in Salamanca area of Hobart.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens map

The gardens themselves were beautiful as one might expect.

There is a really cool hide overlooking the garden with stunning views over the river and city.

Our visit was in the late afternoon and found that birds were more easily seen up near the entrance of the gardens. Eastern Rosellas, Musk Lorikeets and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were easily seen.

Spotted Doves IMG_8102a - Copy

Birding Bruny Island

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Tara

Bruny Island is on the bucket list of many birders for its rich and varied birdlife. Inala has a good list of birds and mammals found here. They can also provide accommodation and guided birding tours.

Being budget travelers, we birded independently as we drove south from the ferry dock. Here are some of the best birds we saw (that I got pics of).

We saw our first Tasmanian endemic bird – Green Rosellas a few km before the Cheese shop.

A small flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos were in the trees surrounding the Cheese Shop.

Assorted sparrows, LBJs and Fairy-wrens were at the Penguin Cafe hoping to snatch up leftover food.

The bright blue Superb Fairy-wrens are male, the brown ones are female.

We saw a Scarlet Robin in the Captain Cook Caravan Park grounds.

Moving down to the beach opposite Captain Cook’s we saw some black swans.

Tasmanian Native Hens were in the grounds at Captain Cook’s.

These Green Rosellas were foraging at the entrance to Captain Cook’s.

We had almost given up hope for the Swift Parrots when a lady said she saw some near her cabin which was one of the cabins nearest the beach. Sure enough, there was a Swift Parrot living up to his name by flying swiftly from one tree to another. I did my best to get a good shot but he wasn’t going to make it easy!

Lodge Review: Captain Cook Caravan Park

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Tara

Captain Cook Caravan Park has something for everyone whether you just need space for a tent or caravan or want to relax in a fully equipped cabin. Prices are pretty good so we went for the cabins and really enjoyed them! Of course the biggest draw was the fact that Captain Cook’s is known for having Swift Parrots hanging around the grounds!

There’s a good variety of cabins, some have 1 or 2 bedrooms, some have full kitchens and some have views of the beach.

Kitchen and dining area

Master bedroom

Extra bedroom with bunk beds

Bathroom Green Rosella near our cabin

Swift Parrot flying swiftly through the grounds.

Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor)

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Tara

The Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) breeds in Tasmania and migrates north to south eastern Australia from Griffith-Warialda in New South Wales and west to Adelaide in the winter. It is related to the rosellas, with the feeding habits of a lorikeet. It is the only member in the genus Lathamus. The Swift Parrot is endangered with only about 1000 pairs remaining in the wild, and its population is declining. They do live up to their name and were too swift for me to get a good shot on Bruny Island so I have to use the Wikipedia photo.

Here are my feeble attempts.

Swift Parrots have a large range during the non-breeding season as they migrate to the south and east coast of mainland Australia. Many lucky Tasmanians have Swift Parrots coming into their backyards. It is much easier to see them on Bruny Island in Tasmania where they breed and are easier to find. Captain Cook Caravan Park in Adventure Bay has Swifties coming into the trees on their grounds. Look for them on flowering gum trees.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWIFT PARROTS

Tasmania Parks & Wildlife

VIDEO

Here’s an excellent mini-doco from NSW National Parks.

Miles To The Wild

Create unforgettable eco-tourism and birding adventures using miles & points!

Tag Archives: Swift Parrot