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Swift Parrot Print E-mail

Lathamus discolor

Breeding in only in Tasmania, the Swift Parrot migrates to the mainland every autumn to winter mostly in the nectar-rich box-ironbark forests and woodlands of Victoria and New South Wales.

In Queensland, there have been recent records from the Gold Coast, Noosa, Toowoomba, Warwick and Lockyer Valley areas. The patterns of records in southern Queensland now suggests the species is regular to that State, and means that the Swift Parrot probably undertakes the longest migration of a parrot anywhere in the world.

Because of clearing of more than 85% of these preferred wintering habitats, and continuing clearing of 500-1000 ha of its breeding habitat for commercial woodchipping every year, the breeding population of the Swift Parrot has declined markedly in the last decade. Many individuals also die after colliding with windows, tennis court fences and other structures.

It now consists of fewer than 1300 breeding pairs and is thought to be decreasing by more than 1% every year.

A committed Recovery Team is working hard to identify Swift Parrot habitat, alleviate the problems the species faces, and so provide this mobile parrot with a brighter future.

According to the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000, the Swift Parrot is endangered.

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