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This project, to be implemented later in 2005 by Prof Stephen Garnett and Dr Louise Warburton of Charles Darwin University, Australia, will form part of the ongoing Golden-shouldered Parrot Recovery Programme which for the last 13 years has worked closely with all the necessary government bodies, institutions and private land-owners.
Golden-shouldered Parrots Psephotus chrysopterygius are a range –restricted species found only in the far north of Queensland, Australia, in two small areas covering <2,000km2.In the last 150 years there has been a continual contraction of range. Fewer than 2,500 remain at the start of each breeding season.Their closest relative, the Paradise Parrot, is now extinct.The species is recognised as Endangered by the Queensland and Australian governments and listed on Appendix I to the CITES.
Overall the major cause of decline has been the change in land management which have affected both nesting and feeding habitat and favoured an increase in the success rate of some parrot’s predators. The principal predator is the Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis which takes nestlings, fledglings and adults.
This project intends to investigate the levels of predation and trial the effects of locally removing populations of Butcherbirds and making habitat changes which are less suitable for the predators.On an experimental basis several areas within the last stronghold of the species will be subject to different management treatments and the effects on the levels of predation investigated.Areas surrounding nests will form the treatment sites.
As a result of prior study, the habits of the Golden-shouldered Parrot are well known.Some habitat management in favour of the parrots has already been implemented.This study will take these investigations further and concentrate on understanding the effects of predation by Butcherbirds and how best to control it.
The overall output of the programme is improve the conservation status of the Golden-shouldered Parrot.The results will assist in the development of land management strategies for the benefit of the Golden-shouldered Parrot and other threatened granivorous species across northern Australia, including other psittacines.The successful strategies could be implemented and allow the Golden-shouldered Parrot to halt their decline at known sites, expand into new areas, and re-colonise former range areas now deserted.
The LPF is providing funds to this project from 2005.
Financial support:€8,334