Orange-bellied parrotSadly, the number of extinct bird species is about to increase by one, and it appears that no force on earth can prevent that from happening.
The orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) nests in very specific, marshy vegetation in part of Tasmania. In the Austral fall, they fly north across the bleak waters of the Bass Strait to dwell in coastal south-eastern mainland Australia. They return in the spring to nest along the southwest coast of Tasmania… or, they did, anyway. Conservationists are holding their breaths as the southern hemisphere swings into the spring season and the birds again fly south to their breeding grounds in Tasmania.[teaserbreak]
As I type, only ten birds have returned; all males. Last fall, there were 35 birds who made the journey north to the mainland wintering grounds, where there has been an assiduous effort to protect them.
All is not lost, as it is the more mature and experienced birds who return first, so there is still a chance that of the 35 birds that flew north last fall, some of the young females may have survived and have yet to arrive on the breeding grounds. But, it’s touch and go because the natural mortality of wintering birds is fairly high. Statistically speaking, that could mean that of the original dozen young females there could be as few as six left and maybe not that many. In a world of increasing dramatic climate changes, a single storm or other catastrophe could quickly exterminate the species.
A few weeks ago I explained how massive hurricanes in the Caribbean were threatening endemic island birds. I’m pleased to say that a small number of Barbuda warblers did survive, but we don’t know if there will be enough of them, or their habitat, left to prevent extinction. When numbers get that low, each individual is crucial to the survival of the species.
But, aren’t parrots easy to breed? Many species are, but according to Australian wildlife biologist Mark Holdsworth, who has coordinated the orange-bellied parrot recovery program for 25 years, captive birds fare poorly when released to the while. “We expect about 50 to 60 percent of wild birds will survive from one year to the next, sometimes as high as 90 percent,” he said. “With captive birds, we’d be lucky to get 10 percent.” A similar problem plagued efforts to re-established populations of thick-billed parrots into Arizona; the captive bred and released birds all failed to survive and the effort was halted.
The orange-bellied parrot was once common and, while it faced the usual threat to survival of habitat destruction, its attractiveness as a cage bird also contributed to its decline.
If no females show up, the species will be declared “functionally extinct,” with actual extinction soon to follow, and about all that we can do is wait and see.
Keep Wildlife in the Wild,
Barry