Saving the Swift

Project Summary Project 2.2.2

Dr Dejan Stojanovic checking a Swift parrot nesting box 20m up a Eucalypt tree. Photo: ANU

Research in Brief Why is the clearance, land use change and logging since European settlement, The swift parrot is a critically research needed? in particular this has dramatically of migratory The critically endangered swift reduced the number of hollow- which breeds in in parrot is a hollow-nesting migratory bearing trees. summer. It face multiple threats bird which winters in south-eastern Prior research by the team has also which include a reduction in mainland and migrates to discovered that sugar gliders, which habitat availability and quality, Tasmania to breed in summer. Over are not native to Tasmania, are eating lack of food resources, lack of the year they fly long distances to find nesting mothers, chicks and eggs, nesting hollows and predation by food (nectar from eucalypt flowers) which is accelerating the catastrophic sugar gliders in breeding areas. and depend on suitable conditions decline of the species. Up to half of Traditional conservation actions across multiple, distant locations. the nesting can be eaten by have failed to prevent the species It is estimated that there are now sugar gliders every year. from declining rapidly. This less than 2000 and numbers project is undertaking research are continuing to decline. to better understand the threats How will the they face, and is developing and Managing the species is challenging research help? trialling innovative new methods because their movements and This project will reduce the risk of to tackle these threats. The aim breeding location change each imminent extinction of Swift parrots is to prevent the extinction of the year in response to highly variable by addressing the dual problems of species and to recover numbers. environmental conditions, which affect eucalypt flowering. 1) severe predation by introduced sugar gliders during nesting, and In Tasmania their breeding habitat has 2) chronically low rates of been dramatically reduced, degraded population recruitment. and fragmented by vegetation

Volunteers with Swift parrot nest boxes. Photo: ANU blocked from entering a nestbox by a device developed by the research team. Photo: ANU

The project is investigating: What research activities Who is involved? • factors affecting reproductive are being undertaken? The Australian National University success, Planned research activities include: is leading the research and is • causes of nest failure, working with: • Surveying of over 1000 sites in • techniques for mitigating Tasmania to investigate how • The Tasmanian Department of sugar glider predation, annual Swift parrots nest site Primary Industries, Parks, Water selection is affected by patchy and Environment • nest parasites and and unpredictable tree flowering. • Sustainable Timber Tasmania and • food resources availability. • Monitoring of swift parrot site use the Practices Authority In the short term, a lack of tree and tree flowering patterns across • Forest Practices Authority hollows can be addressed with Tasmania to predict likely breeding • weetapoona and South nest boxes. The team has already areas each year for research and East Tasmanian Aboriginal spent substantial time in developing conservation actions. Corporations and refining nest box designs to • Mapping sugar glider predation • Relevant NGOs and community support Swift parrot breeding. risk areas. groups. They have also developed a solar • Deploying nest boxes each year powered device that can be added Research findings will be in likely breeding habitat, focusing to nest boxes to keep gliders out communicated to these agencies effort on offshore islands with of nest boxes overnight. quickly to facilitate fast adoption low risk of predation. of conservation actions for this The migratory nature of the bird • Additionally deploying predator rapidly declining species. has made it difficult to determine exclusion devices for breeding where to install the nest-boxes in areas with high sugar glider Where is the time for the commencement of populations. breeding. The team is conducting research happening? • Refining and extending existing the first ever study of factors Research will take place in Tasmania models of habitat use and predicting breeding location, which with a focus on eastern areas. will allow locations to be identified nest survival of swift parrots by weeks prior to parrots arriving. incorporating LIDAR satellite When is the imagery data (in collaboration The team is also investigating factors with Sustainable Timber Tasmania research happening? affecting reproductive success and the Forest Practices Authority). The project began in 2015 and and where breeding swift parrots • Developing methods to monitor will continue until December 2020. search for food while nesting. and control parasites and diseases. In combination this research will identify and refine the best • Using long-term sightings data techniques to increase survival to develop guidance for habitat and reproductive success. restoration on mainland Australia, focusing on both regular wintering locations and drought refuges. • Investigating changing use of habitats over the past 20 years on Further Information the Australian mainland by Swift For more information contact: parrots, as well as the implications for land management in relation Dr Dejan Stojanovic to changing climate. [email protected]

A young Swift Parrot. Photo: ANU

This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program.