Alarm bells on parrot count

FEAR: The Orange-bellied Parrot is on the brink of extinction. Photo courtesy Chris Tzaros/Birds AustraliaBIRD experts have called for funding to bring the orange-bellied parrot back from the brink of extinction.

The latest monitoring shows there are only 21 of the species left in the wild, including only eight females.

They breed only in Tasmania's south-west and spend winter on the southern mainland.

Birdlife Australia project officer and parrot expert Chris Tzaros said losing the tiny parrot would be "devastating".

"There needs to be much more significant funding put into threatened species recovery programs," Mr Tzaros said.

Tasmanian Conservation Trust director Peter McGlone said ef- forts did not have to cost millions.

"We must continue to try to save the orange-bellied parrot and can do so with a moderate amount of government funding to support the enormous voluntary effort from wildlife parks and bird monitors across three states," he said.

Last year the Federal Government gave $260,000 over two years to help save the parrot.

"I think this is money very well spent and is probably matched by the voluntary effort. The state and federal governments provide only tiny and inadequate amounts of money for threatened species generally and we should be focused on increasing this rather than accepting the current level of funding and letting species go extinct."

Tasmania's conservation efforts include captive breeding of parrots that are then released in the south-west.

Tasmanian Environment Minister Brian Wightman said: " ... we're continuing to work with other states and the Commonwealth in a concerted national effort.

"We also recognise that there are a number of factors that appear to be impacting on this species, including drought and the loss of foraging habitat along the southern Australian coastline."

Peter McGlone: Director of the Tasmanian Conservation Trust joining RN Breakfast from Hobart: