Funds appeal for parrots
Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 14:33 
NEEDING HELP: Orange-bellied parrots are critically endangered.AS the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot arrives at its traditional breeding grounds in Tasmania, an initiative has been launched to save this beautiful little bird from extinction in the wild.
The first of the remaining orange-bellied parrots are reported to have arrived at Melaleuca in the far South-West after crossing Bass Strait from their wintering grounds on the Victorian and South Australian coasts.
There are believed to be only about 35 of the parrots left in the wild.
Volunteer environmental charity Wildcare Inc has set up a Kickstart Appeal to help fund research into the parrots' breeding and to aid practical conservation programs.
If $1000 is pledged by Christmas, the fund will convert to a permanent Natural Partner Fund.
A Facebook page (www.facebook.com/savetheobp) has been set up to exchange news and views on the parrot.
The Federal Government announced last year that a $250,000 fighting fund was being set up to help save the parrot after scientists had reported that numbers had crashed in recent years. The then Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said that an urgent 18-month action plan was ebing funded after parrot population studies had revealed that the time had come to give new impetus to programs to save the species.
A recovery team was established, comprising ecologists and wildlife managers from the federal, Tasmanian, Victorian and South Australian governments, Zoos Australia, Birds Australia and other volunteers.
The orange-bellied parrot is only about 20cm long, a little larger than a budgerigar. Its plumage is bright grass-green above and mostly yellow below with a bright orange patch in the centre of the lower belly.