Parrots and Their Australian Habitats by Joseph M. Forshaw Jamison Centre, Australia

Reference to Australia as "The Land of Parrots" is made repeatedly, and with approximately one-sixth of the world's species occurring there the reference would seem to be well founded. Since the time of European settlement, scientists and observers have been fascinated by Australian parrots, and in 1865 John Gould wrote: "No group of birds gives to Austra­ lia 0 tropical and foreign an air as the numerous species of this great family by which it is tenanted, each and all of which are individually very abundanf' Some 125 years later, it is important that current appropriateness of this comment be assessed, particularly in the light of what has occurred with the status of some species. Also, it is timely that comparisons be made with other parts of the world, where parrots are prevalent, especially outh America, to ascertain whether the birds are responding similarly or in different ways to environmental changes. Overall, Australia still qualifies as the "Land of Parrots;' and it con­ tinues to be tenanted by "numerous species of this great family ~' From monsoon forests of the tropical north

These Yellow-vented Blue Bonnet Parakeets are related to the common Red-rumped Parakeet but the Blue Bonnets are somewhatscarce in captivity.

The Varied Lorikeet is one ofAustralia ~s smaller lorikeets. It is the only Australian lorikeet that is The Paradise Parakeet is thought to be extinct in Australia but rumors stillpersist dimorphic, with the males being brighter in color that it exists. This bird is the size ofa Red-rumped Parakeet. The frozen specimen including its wine colored chest. This beautiful shown here belonged to an Australian aviculturist in 1933. lorikeet is very uncommon in America.

54 February / March 1990 to open, sandy deserts of the interior and bleak, windswept heathlands of southernmost latitudes, all parts of the continent are inhabited by parrots, and in many regions the brightly-plumaged, noisy birds can be one of the most conspicuous ele­ ments of the avifauna. This "conspic­ uousness" of parrots is one aspect that always impresses visiting field­ workers, and certainly is a phenom­ enon that I have not experienced so readily when in the field in other countries where parrots occur. Last year, when on his first visit to Aus­ tralia, Robert Ridgely commented to me: "This is the place to come for parrots - they are so easy to see!" It is worthwhile pausing for a moment to examine more closely the ubiquitous occurrence of parrots within Australia, and if the birds are more conspicuous in Australia than in other parts of their world range ­ why would that be so? I have seen parrots in all major parts of their world range, though, of course, my personal experiences with them are far more extensive in Austra­ lia than elsewhere and this bias could be reflected in the point I am making. Parrots can be extremely difficult to locate in dense, tropical rainforest. I always think of looking for them as being akin to ocean fishing - they are there, but an awful lot of habitat is present with them! Often the only sighting will be a brief glimpse of swiftly-flying flocks darting across a break in the canopy, with the screech­ ing call-notes attracting attention. In the neotropics, New Guinea and Southeast Asia, I have experienced the frustrations of seeking parrots in The habits ofthe Swift Parakeet closely resemble those ofthe lorikeets. In the wild, it feeds mainly on pollen, nectar and small insects. This smallparakeet is colony bred in captivity and often has multiple clutches.

The Rainbow Lorikeet has a very exten­ sive range in Australia. It is found throughout the entire eastern range and Sealey-breasted Lorikeets are a desired aviary subject. Though not common in its habitat varies from rainforset to dry American aviaries, it breeds relatively well and will often double or triple clutch. It scrublands. is quite abundant in its natural habitat in Australia.

afa WATCHBIRD 55 rainforests, but in Australia we have populations of the King Parrot Alis­ widely-distributed species such as the only four species dependent on rain­ terus scapularis and the Crimson Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus forest, and those are species that we Rosella Platycercus elegans, species haematodus, Galah Eolophus share with New Guinea. Other spe­ with wide distributions in the south­ roseicapil/us, Red-tailed Cockatoo cies regularly occur in rainforest, but east, occur on coastal mountains in Calyptorhynchus magnijicus, and are not dependent on it, and readily northeastern Queensland, while in Red-winged Parrot Aprosmictus are found in more open habitats. The the range country around Alice erythropterus. vast majority of Australian parrots Springs, central Australia, there is an Of particular interest is Cape York frequent open woodland and dry apparently isolated population of the Peninsula, in the far northeast, where scrublands where, for the most part, Red-tailed Cockatoo Calyptorhyn­ the avifauna shows a strong affinity detection is not so difficult. chus magnijicus, a species that is with that of New Guinea and conse­ It is true that in other countries widely dispersed throughout the quently there is a marked regional parrots occur in open habitats, but north, northeast and southwest. In endemism. Among the "New Guinea my experience has been that these the southeast there are seasonal alti­ species" that occur on Cape York parrots are not generally abundant, tudinal movements of Gang Gang Peninsula are four parrots - Palm and this is particularly evident in Cockatoos Cal/ocephalon jimbri­ Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus, Africa, where parrots are locally atum. Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus, Red­ dispersed and generally uncommon. Rainfall is low and unreliable over cheeked Parrot Geojjroyus geojjroyi, In South America, away from forested much of the continent. The arid inter­ and the northernmost form of the areas, I found them to be sporadically ior is surrounded more or less by con­ Double-eyed Fig Parrot Cyclopsitta distributed and uneven in levels of centric zones of increasing rainfall diophthalma. abundance. The situation in Africa is towards the coast. Across the tropical especially intriguing, and frequently north, there is a monsoonal influence Humid Eastern Australia the question is posed: "Why are there that produces clearly defined wet and Humid woodland is the dominant so few parrots in Africa?" I have not dry seasons, the former from Novem­ habitat in eastern Australia gradually seen a satisfactory answer, but some ber or December to April, and the giving way to forests in subcoastal comparisons with the Australian situ­ latter during May to October. In the mountains and on parts of the coastal ation struck me forcefully. In Africa, I southeast and the southwest, there is plain, while towards the interior it is found other bird groups, notably a predominantly winter rainfall, but replaced by semi-arid woodland. In touracos, pigeons and doves, and elsewhere the reliability decreases eastern Queensland, south of Cape grassfinches occupying niches that in toward the arid centre. Vegetation York Peninsula, there are two major Australia are widely utilized by becomes more luxurient in response tracts of tropical rainforest, and each parrots. We have relatively few to higher and reliable rainfall, so is inhabited by an endemic subspecies species of grassfinches, and their dis­ there is greater diversity of avian habi­ of the Double-eyed Fig Parrot. In tribution is concentrated primarily in tats in the wetter, wooded coastal northeastern New South Wales, there the north, while Columbiformes also zones than in the dry inland. In semi­ are stands of subtropical rainforest, is poorly represented in Australia. arid and arid regions, water runoff while farther south, usually at high Perhaps competition has been signifi­ determines vegetation patterns, and altitudes, there is temperate rain­ cant in determining the relative roles tree-lined watercourses are extremely forest, which may be dominated by of parrots in Australia and Africa ­ important habitats for parrots. For Antarctic beech Nothojagus cunning­ they succeeded in the former, but lost example, the Superb Parrot Polytelis hamii, particularly in Tasmania. out in the latter! I am not sufficiently swainsonii and the Yellow Rosella Eucalyptus dominates in forests and familiar with the situation in the neo­ Platycercusflaveolus are confined to humid woodlands, but in drier areas tropics, but would make the observa­ riparian woodlands along major river towards the west there is an increas­ tion that Forpus and Bolborhynchus systems in inland southeastern Aus­ ing proportion of other trees, notably species, which are adapted to grass­ tralia, while across eastern Australia a Acacia, Casuarina and Cal/itris. seed feeding in open country, are number of species, including lori­ Parrots are not well represented in nowhere near as widespread or abun­ keets, the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo dense mountain forests, where typi­ dant as are grass-seed feeding parrots Cacatua galerita, the King Parrot cal species are the Yellow-tailed in Australia. Alisterus scapularis, and some Cockatoo Calyptorhynchusjunereus, Australia is a flat, dry continent. rosellas, are very closely associated the Gang Gang Cockatoo Cal/o­ Less than five percent of the land with riverine habitats at the western cephalon jimbriatum, the King mass is above 600 meters, and extremities oftheir ranges. Parrot Alisterus scapularis and the approximately 60 percent has an Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans, annual rainfall of less than 250 mm. The Tropical North but all of these occur also in other Consequently, there is a dearth of Let us now take a closer look at habitats and probably only the Gang montane habitats, while vast areas are tropical northern Australia, where the Gang Cockatoo could really be con­ arid and support sparse vegetation. dominant vegetation communities are sidered a bird of the mountain forests. Near to the eastern coastline is the Eucalyptus and mixed Eucalyptus­ In humid woodlands, there occurs an only extensive tract of high country, a Melaleuca woodlands, and in these abundance of lorikeets and rosellas as broken chain of variable mountains habitats are found exclusively north­ well as the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo collectively termed the Great Divid­ ern species, including the Varied Lori­ Cacatua galerita, Glossy Cockatoo ing Range. There are no exclusively keet Trichoglossus versicolor, the Calyptorhynchus lathami, Blue­ highland parrots, though mountains Northern Rosella Platycercus venus­ winged Parrot Neophema chrysos­ constitute refuges for some extralimi­ tus and the Golden-shouldered Parrot toma, Turquoise Parrot N. pulchella, tal populations. For example, isolated Psephotus chrysopterygius, as well as and the nectar-feeding Swift Parrot

56 February /March 1990 Lathamus discolor. Along the sea­ board there are areas of salt-marsh, heathland and coastal grassland, habitats frequented by the Rock Parrot Neophema petrophila, the seriously endangered Orange-bellied Parrot N. chrysogaster, and the highly CAGE-BIRD LOVERS specialized Ground Parrot Pezoporus wallicus. AMERICA'S LEADING West of the Great Dividing Range, CAGE-BIRD PUBLICATION there is a gradual transition from Featuring humid woodland and open forest to • Authoritative Articles On arid woodland and lightly timbered Parrots, Budgies, Cockatiels, grassland, regularly traversed by Canaries and Finches watercourses with forests of river red • Full Color Photos gums Eucalyptus camaldulensis on • All you need to know about surrounding floodplains. Parrots typi­ nutrition, breeding, health care, cal of this transition zone include the training and taming Galah Eolphus roseicapillus, about US Funds -I yr 51995. 2 yrs. 53595 which more will be said later, the (Canada and Foreign add 56. a year) 52.00 sample copy Slender-billed Corella Cacatua Send check or M.a. to: AMERICAN CAGE­ tenuirostris, Superb Parrot Polytelis BIRD MAGAZINE, ONE GLAMORE swainsonii, Regent Parrot P antho­ COURT, AFA, SMITHTOWN, NY 11787 peplus, Mallee Ringneck Parrot Subscribe now and receive a free copy of Barnardius barnardi, Red-rumped BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO PET BIRDS with your Parrot Psephotus haematonotus, and first issue! Elegant Parrot Neophema elegans. PHONE NOW FOR IMMEDIATE SERVICE 1 (800) 341-1522 The Dry Interior The dry interior supports extensive tracts of arid scrubland dominated by Acacia and with a locally variable mixture of Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Hakea or Callitris. Across the south­ ern sector, this is replaced by mallee, an arid scrubland of low, multi­ stemmed eucalyptus. The ground cover is mainly spinifex grass Trio­ • • dia, supplemented with a variety of PAINTED herbs and woody perennials. In par­ FROM A A ticularly dry areas, the trees give way PAIR OF to open grasslands or shrub steppe, HYACINTH Royal the former dominated by Triodia or MACAWS Astrebla grasses, while the latter KEPT AT Pair supports mainly saltbush Atriplex MICHANNE by and bluebush Kochia. ACRES Parrots have adapted well to the Joe Longo harsh environment of the arid inter­ ior, and nomadism is marked in most • species. Flocks of Budgerigars Melop­ 18" X 18" sittacus undulatus and Cockatiels Nymphicus hollandicus wander about in search of surface water, • HYACINTH MACAWS • while at times Princess Parrots Poly­ telis alexandrae or Scarlet-chested Parrots Neophema splendida visit Order this unique limited edition, signed & numbered districts from which they have been lithographic print - faithfully reproduced in full color. absent for decades. Other species Each print is produced with a triple printed mat and characteristic of the dry interior are Major Mitchell's Cockatoo Cacatua is ready to frame. A must for every bird lover -Excellent leadbeateri, the Barnardius Parrots, Gifts. Order yours today which are the arid zone representa­ $ 22.50 each Joe Longo tives of the rosellas, the Mulga Parrot Michanne Arts $ 2.50 handling/shipping Psephotus varius, the Bluebonnet P 20714 SE 260th $ 25 00 Washington state residents add $2.03 state tax. Kent. WA 98042 haematogaster, Bourke's Parrot · ForeIgn add $7.50 and please remit in U.s. funds. 12061 631·4245 Neophema bourkii and the recently

afa WATCHBIRD 57 rediscovered ight Parrot Geopsitta­ appear to be holding their own, but II II eus oceidentalis. only 60 percent have stable or l)iidiliidEPEJiI) increasing populations. The Australian Magazine for all Bird Enthusiasts. The Southwest: A Special Zone There is clear evidence of wildlife Finally, mention must be made of populations being affected by losses Six Beautiful southwestern Australia, a special zone of hol1ow-bearing trees, and all but Full Colour bordered by a sharply defined line four species of Australian parrots are Issues per year. where Acacia-dominated scrublands dependent on tree hollows for nest­ of the interior meet Eucalyptus ing. In recent years there have been 1 Year's Subscription: woodlands of the southwest. This increasing instances of multiple Overseas: line is the limit of distribution of sequential or even simultaneous • Surface $Aust 34.50 • Air $AUSl 62.50 many bird species from both the occupation of hollows, and of evic­ inland and the southwest. Wide­ tion of occupants by more aggressive Regular colour features and articles on all popular spread parrots that reach the south­ species. In eastern and southern cage/aviary birds written by top breeders/aviculturists from ail over the world. west are the Purple-crowned Lorikeet Australia, smaller parrots must con­ Also veterinarian reports and tips. Everything for the Birdkeeper. Glossopsitta pOtphyroeephala, Red­ tend with intense competition for ·AUSTRALIAN· tailed Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus nest sites from the introduced House BIRDKEEPER magnifieus, Regent Parrot Polytelis Sparrow Passer domestieus, Starling anthopeplus, Port Lincoln Parrot Sturnus vulgaris and Indian Mynah Barnardius zonarius, Elegant Parrot Act"idotheres tristis. Neophema elegans, Rock Parrot N. Special interest, of course, has petrophila and Ground Parrot Pezo­ focused on the apparent disappear­ AVIARY U ANIMAL PET SUPPLY porus wallieus. The Yellow-tailed ance of the Paradise Parrot Psephotus Rt. 1 Boa ')Jo' Cockatoo Calyptorhynehus funereus puleherrimus, and that brings me Powderly, h~~ of the east is represented by two back to the specialist seed-eating endemic subspecies collectively parrots. These parrots feed mainly on ~~ known as the White-tailed Cockatoo, the ground and are dependent on an while the Bare-eyed Corella Caeatua abundance of seeding grasses and pastinator also is represented by an shrubs, particularly during the breed­ Three Types Automatic Watering Systems, endemic subspecies. The Red-capped ing season, so changes in ground J·Clips, J·Clip Pliers, Flush Ground Cutting Pliers, Pop Bottle Water Founts, Plastic & Parrot Purpureieephalus spurius and cover are potentially damaging to Metal Feeders, Metal Trays, Breeding & the Western Rosel1a Platyeereus local populations. It has been sug­ Flight Cages, Parrot Stands & Cups, ieterotis are very distinctive forms gested that at the turn of the century, Incubators, Ketch·AII Mouse Traps, Electric confined to the southwest. severe drought, coupled with a rapid Foggers. Big Ben Dispenser. Kool Mist Foggers. Medications, Vitamm & Mineral expansion of the cattle industry, Supplements. Books, Nylon Corner for \- x Status And The Future brought about fundamental changes \" Steel Tubing, Canary & Fmch Nests. For almost two centuries, Australia to ground-cover vegetation in parts of Canthaxanthin for Red Cananes. Much More has been a primary-producing nation central Queensland which, in turn, Send $1.00 for Illustrated Catalog supplying the traditional markets of eventually resulted in the probable #20 by First Class Mail. Europe. Though often disclaimed, the extinction of the Paradise Parrot as phrase"... living off the sheep's well as the disappearance of Tur­ back" is a telltale statement with quoise Parrots Neophema pulchella some validity. This prominence of from the northern sector of their primary production has resulted in range. I suspect that similar changes, widespread, sometimes dramatic brought about by grazing and persis­ LIVE changes to the natural environment, tent dry-season burning, could be PET FOOD especially in humid coastal areas threatening the Hooded and Golden­ where agricultural and urban devel­ shouldered Parrots Pasephotus MEAL WORMS opment have been concentrated. BULK OR PACKED ehrysopterygius. WAX WORMS Since the time of European settle­ Parrots are long-lived birds, espe­ FLVLARVAE ment, there has been disturbance of cially the large cockatoos so, without all habitats; none has been destroyed normal recruitment, a population can TOP QUALITY! completely, but some have been remain apparently stable in numbers, gravely depleted. though there is a uniform ageing of LOWEST PRICES! Consequently, parrots have been individuals, and this eventually brings affected in one way or another by about a dramatic and sudden decline. CALL OR WRITE human-induced changes. Some Studies have been undertaken, and FOR BROCHURE species, such as the Galah Eolophus are being undertaken of the conserva­ ORDER TOLL FREE roseieapillus, obviously have bene­ tion needs of some Australian parrots, 1-800-222-3563 fitted, others seem to have been little and a comprehensive recovery plan is affected, but certainly there are signs in place to save the Orange-bellied _~I·~~D.I that some species are now declining. Parrot Neophema chrysogaster. These In a recent summary of the abun­ developments are most encouraging, dance and population trends of but we must continue our efforts to P.O. BOX 1SOO1-HAMILTON, OH 4:K)15 Australian parrots, Smith (1978) ensure that Australia continues to be KNOWN FOR OUALITY AND SERVICE! concluded that 72 percent of species the "Land of Parrots:'.

58 February I March 1990