09 July 2025

The Orange-bellied Parrot Year: July

Hanging out on the mainland

Socialising, preening, foraging and roosting


Photos: Chris Tzaros

On the mainland, OBPs go about daily activities socialising, preening, foraging and roosting. 

For long periods in the morning and afternoon, OBPs feed on the ground or low in vegetation, occasionally calling softly to each other. 


OBP contact calls uttered in flight are sharp "tzit" sounds repeated every few seconds for stop most distinctive is the alarm call, a rapid buzzing "zizizizi" emitted when flushed or disturbed by a predator.


OBPs are usually quiet in the middle of the day when they hang out in vegetation cover close to their foraging patches.



Photo: Gilvertt Conception, 2016


Volunteers in winter surveys



During winter surveys, volunteers search for OBPs from sunrise to about 11 AM and from about 3 PM to sunset. These times are when OBPs are most likely to be actively foraging.

OBPs camouflage very well when feeding and usually won't be seen or flushed until the person is very close.


Searching for OBPs requires a lot of walking back and forth through areas of suitable habitat, which usually includes shallow pools and channels.


Where most of them go in winter is still a puzzle. More people are always welcome to join the search for them in suitable habitat, either independently or in organised surveys.


Official surveys take place each year in May, July and September. You can find contact details for all the survey coordinators by visiting this link.


If you think you have seen an OBP, please report the sighting to OBP@birdlife.org.au as soon as possible. 


Attempts can be made to find the OBP, confirm your sighting and identify the bands.



Photo: John Barkla, 2016

This blog is based on the text for "The Orange-bellied Parrot Calendar 2022", produced by Friends of the Orange-bellied Parrot

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