The Orange-bellied Parrot Year: June

Over-wintering

In winter, OBPs are semi-nomadic and feed on the seeds and flowers of low shrubs or prostrate vegetation within 10 km of the coast.

Photo: Chris Tzaros

They roost in dense shrubs usually within a few kilometres of foraging sites - sometimes in introduced species such as African Boxthorn -
where native vegetation has been cleared for agiculture.

The Western Treatment Plant and The Spit Nature Reserve near Werribee and Lake Connewarre on the Bellarine Peninsula (all Victoria) are regular sites for OBPs and a focus for surveys.

In recent years, OBPs have been establishing flocks in coastal habitats with help from the Mainland Release Trial, run by a partnership of DEECA, Zoos Victoria, Moonlit Sanctuary, BirdLife Australia, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria, Corangamite CMA and the Tasmanian Government.

From 2017 to 2021, 119 captive-bred OBPs were released at six locations. They usually formed flocks that were later joined by naturally migrating birds, creating some of the latest flocks of OBPs seen on the mainland for over a decade.

It's likely that important winter habitats are unknown.

Surveyors at Western Treatment Plant, Victoria
Photo: Debbie Lustig

Volunteer participation in winter searches makes a significant contribution to research and conservation efforts for OBPs.

BirdLife Australia has coordinated mainland winter surveys since 1978. These are done in Victoria and South Australia in May, July and September. 

Selected sites in Tasmania and King Island are also surveyed in March/April and September/October, just before and after the breeding season.

All birdwatchers and citizens scientists are welcome to participate in surveys. Details here.

Knowing where OBPs are foraging and roosting informs decisions about revegetation and preservation work.

Due to the difficulties of finding OBPs on the mainland, many birds remain undetected. There are likely important winter habitat sites that are unknown.

Information first published in "The Orange-bellied Parrot Calendar 2022" produced by Friends of the Orange-bellied Parrot