View an interview with Dean Ingwersen, Woodland Birds for Biodiversity Project Manager, on the release of captive-bred Regent Honeyeaters into the wild or listen to Dean's audio diaries as part of Radio National's Birdland project.
About
Since European settlement one-third of Australia’s woodlands, and 80% of temperate woodlands, have been cleared. Over one-third of Australia’s land birds are woodland dependent and as a consequence of this clearing (and a multitude of other reasons) at least one in five of these species is now threatened. The greatest bird declines have been felt in the temperate south-eastern regions of the continent and two species, the Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater, have suffered more than many and are nationally listed as Endangered. Both species are primarily highly mobile nectar feeders that preferentially use fertile lowland woodlands that support the richest sources of food, and both have the subject of long-term intensive recovery efforts. They are high profile species that have for many years acted as effective flagships for the broad scale conservation of woodlands, thus benefiting a multitude of additional threatened and declining birds and ecological communities. Our Woodland Birds for Biodiversity (WBfB) project, funded by the Federal Government’s Caring for our Country program, aims to build on these recovery efforts.
The project purpose is to enhance the conservation of threatened and declining woodland birds in the temperate region of south-eastern Australia. The high profile Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater will be used as flagships to achieve outcomes that will also benefit at least 38 other threatened bird species, 18 endangered ecological communities, and numerous threatened flora species. The threatened bird species include the Speckled Warbler, Hooded Robin, Diamond Firetail, Turquoise Parrot, Little Lorikeet, Painted Honeyeater, Brown Treecreeper, Jacky Winter, Bush Stone-curlew and Superb Parrot. The WBfB project will benefit these species and communities through facilitating:
• Improved on-ground management and protection of woodland habitat on both public and private land • Improved habitat connectivity and extent through restoration and revegetation initiatives • Monitoring of the effectiveness of habitat restoration activities on both private and public land • Ongoing monitoring to determine population trends and priority sites for woodland birds across south eastern Australia • Increased community survey effort for a greater diversity of species • Identification and monitoring of the potential impacts of climate change on woodland birds and their habitats
The project will capitalise on the existing recovery actions on the Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater. There are substantial synergies between recovery actions for these species, and we will be working to develop these further and maximise the efficacy of recovery actions. In conjunction with the recovery teams for both species we will also be working on key aspects of the recovery of each species, such as captive-release of Regent Honeyeaters and improving monitoring of Swift Parrot breeding areas.
However, we will not be able to do this work on our own. We will be working with a range of project partners to achieve the best outcomes for our threatened temperate woodland birds. And we will also draw upon the skills and expertise of the amazing volunteers who work to assist the recovery of these charismatic species.
Contacts
If you are interested in assisting this project in any way, or for more information please contact our project officers,
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, Swift Parrot Recovery Coordinator, 1800 665 766 or
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, Regent Honeyeater Recovery Coordinator, 1800 621 056.
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However, we will not be able to do this work on our own. We will be working with a range of project partners to achieve the best outcomes for our threatened temperate woodland birds. And we will also draw upon the skills and expertise of the amazing volunteers who work to assist the recovery of these charismatic species.
Woodland Bird Profiles