AUSTRALIAN 250 WATCHER

AUSTRALIAN BIRD WATCHER 1996, 16, 250-254

The Turquoise pulchella in the Yea and Valleys, Central Southern

by BRUCE R. QUIN1 and ALAN J. REID2

'Department ofNatural"Resources and Environment, Yellingbo State Nature Reserve, Macclesfield Road, Yellingbo, Victoria 3139 2 'Kildun', Burns Road, Glenburn, Victoria 3717

Summary The Neophema pulchella is confined to south-eastern . Its range, which has contracted since European settlement, includes north-eastern, eastern and central Victoria. This species was observed in central southern Victoria, part of its historical range, between August 1994 and February 1995. The ' presence in that region during the mid 1990s probably related to conditions in Victoria during this time, rather than actual re-colonisation. Some observations made on the habitat, diet and behaviour of the Turquoise Parrots in central southern Victoria are described.

Introduction The Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella is a small parrot which feeds mainly on seeds taken from or near the ground. It is confined to south-eastern Australia, ranging from south-eastern to north-eastern and eastern Victoria, and also occasionally occurs in central Victoria (Figure 1, Emison et al. 1987, Quin & Baker-Gabb 1993). However, its historical range extended from eastern Queensland to central southern Victoria. The species was thought to have become extinct in the wild during the early twentieth century, its decline attributed mainly to the effects of habitat clearance and modification by introduced herbivores (Chaffer & Miller 1946, Jarman 1973, Forshaw 1981, Quin & Baker-Gabb 1993). It has since recovered to the extent that it is considered secure (Blakers et al. 1984), and it was not included on the accepted list of nationally threatened (Garnett 1993). Nevertheless, the Turquoise Parrot is currently listed as rare or vulnerable on lists for Victoria (CNR 1995) and (Schedule 2, Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995). It has also been listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Turquoise Parrots inhabit open forest, woodland, native grassland, heath-forest ecotone, and adjacent cleared farmland on upper and lower slopes of the Great Dividing Range (e.g. Forshaw 1981, Blakers et al. 1984, Emison et al. 1987, Traill 1988, Quin & Baker-Gabb 1993). This species has a fairly generalised diet in north-eastern Victoria comprising mainly seeds, flowers and fruit of native and introduced (Quin 1990, Quin & Baker-Gabb 1993). This paper outlines the presence of Turquoise Parrots in central southern Victoria between August 1994 and February 1995, probably a drought-related event. The associated habitats are briefly described.

Observations

Yea River Valley: Glenburn Glenburn is located approximately 75 km north-east of in the Yea River Valley (refer Figure 1). In August 1994, four Turquoise Parrots (two males, two VOL. 16 (6) JUNE 1996 Turquoise Parrot in Victoria 251

34 ~ Turquoise Parrot 536 records 1\r ""') I since 1970 68 blocks l ~ I"\\ ._ 36 -----'- "-- • .: .·:::-- J ~ II Ill I I Ill I I I I I I I I I I I I • I I( • . "- Glenburn I • ..I '~I I Yellingbo I I I 38 ~ v //// "l'w--- / ~ v~ ~~ v· ~/ \ '\~' v 141 143 145 147 149

Figure 1. Distribution of the Turquoise Parrot in Victoria. Source is the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources and Environment. females) were seen feeding on the lawns of the property 'Graceburn' at Glenburn. They were very confiding, allowing an approach to within 2 m. During 30 October and mid November, only one of each sex was detected, and singly. By 19 November, only a lone male could be found, and it remained until26 November 1994. All birds were in adult plumage (see Rogers et al. 1990). The single male was observed on track edges abutting improved pasture at 'Graceburn' on 19 November. There was no overstorey, and the pasture comprised exotic species dominated by Sweet Vernal Grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, Rye Grass Lolium sp., Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus, Annual Meadow Grass Poa annua, Clover Trifolium sp., and Medic Medicago sp. The parrot was observed with binoculars for approximately 60 minutes feeding on seeds of Ann.ual Meadow Grass. The following morning, presumably the same bird was again seen feeding amongst pasture before flying to feed on nearby lawns. Seeds of Annual Meadow Grass were taken again. Later in the day, a lone male Turquoise Parrot (possibly the same bird) was seen foraging in nearby roadside vegetation which comprised an overstorey of Candlebark rubida, a tall shrub layer of Burgan Kunzea ericoides, a lower layer of Burgan and Austral Bracken Pteridium esculentum, and a field layer dominated by Sweet Vernal Grass, Ivy-leaf Violet Viola hederacea, moss, Common Raspwort , and Stinkweed Opercularia varia. The parrot ate Sweet Vernal Grass seeds, part of a Stinkweed burr, and also broke a flower stem oflvy-leafViolet apparently without ingesting any part of it. A lone male Turquoise Parrot was seen for a further six days before it disappeared. AUSTRALIAN 252 QUIN & REID BIRD WATCHER

Yarra River Valley: Yellingbo State Nature Reserve Y ellingbo State Nature Reserve is situated in the Yarra River Valley, about 60 km east of Melbourne, and a similar distance south of Glenburn (Figure 1). A lone female with distinctive facial plumage (several missing feathers) was seen several times between 6 and 9 February 1995, and a single Turquoise Parrot was heard on several occasions between 10 and 17 February. On 21 February 1995, two male Turquoise Parrots were detected; one was associating with a Blue-winged Parrot Neophema chrysostoma. All three" Turquoise Parrots observed at Yellingbo were in juvenile plumage (see Rogers et al. 1990). The Turquoise Parrots at Yellingbo were in lowland Mountain Swamp Gum swamp woodland (sub-community 1.3) (McMahon et al. 1991) adjacent to the Macclesfield Creek. The overstorey was mainly Mountain Swamp Gum, with a few tall Blackwoods melanoxylon. The shrub layer was composed of Scented Paperbark squarrosa, Prickly Tea-tree Leptospermum continentale and Woolly Tea-tree L. lanigerum. The field layer was dominated by Hooker Fescue Austrofestuca hookeriana, and Tussock Grass Poa spp. The floodplain was flanked by Scented Paperbark thicket on both sides. The parrots flushed from seasonally inundated areas near the creek channel. However, at the time the Macclesfield Creek water level was low following a prolonged period of dry weather (Yellingbo State Nature Reserve rainfall data). The female Turquoise Parrot twice flushed from beside tussocks of Poa sp . and ]uncus sp. (subgroup Genuini). Flower parts of Juncus sp. appeared to fall from the bird's bill. No further insight into the parrots' diet at Yellingbo was gained before the birds disappeared. The Mountain Swamp Gum woodland community at Yellingbo is regarded as nationally significant (McMahon et al. 1991), and is a remnant of what was probably once a more widespread community before European settlement (McMahon & Franklin 1993). This community has been listed under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. The presence of Turquoise Parrots near the Macclesfield Creek adds to the list of threatened fauna using Mountain Swamp Gum habitat: others include the Swamp Skink Egernia coventryi, Helmeted Lichenostomus melanops cassidix and Leadbeater's Possum Gymnobelideus leadbeateri (Smales 1981, 1994; Menkhorst & Middleton 1991; McMahon & Franklin 1993).

Discussion The appearance of the Turquoise Parrot within its former range in the Yea and Yarra River Valleys between August 1994 and February 1995 was probably prompted by prolonged drought conditions. At the time many other bird species were displaying unusual behaviour and movements. It seems unlikely that the parrots were aviary escapees given the distance between the two different areas; they were clearly different individuals based on their ages. The effects of drought may cause many unusual events in Australian avifauna, including influxes of inland species to more coastal locations (see Wingspan 5(1), Bird Observer 751). For example, the inland form of Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops meltoni was recorded at Yellingbo State Nature Reserve and Healesville (c. 25 km north of Yellingbo) from June to September 1994 ( Recovery Team data, Department of Natural Resources & Environment); this subspecies is largely confined to inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range and only occasionally visits the Yarra Valley (Blackney & Menkhorst 1993). It is likely that dry conditions inland forced both the Turquoise Parrots and Yellow-tufted VOL. 16 (6) JUNE 1996 Turquoise Parrot in Victoria 253

Honeyeaters to the Yarra Valley where the drought was not so severe. The inland form of Yellow-tufted Honeyeater was present at Yellingbo and nearby Upper Beaconsfield between May and September 1995, after the drought had broken (Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery Team data). This finding does not conflict with the drought theory because it is likely that the vegetation would not recover immediately from the effects of drought. Significantly, during November 1994, a male Turquoise Parrot was recorded at Beaumaris, in suburban Melbourne. It should not be assumed that this parrot was im aviary escapee. An unidentified subspecies of Yellow-tufted Honeyeater was also there during May of the same year (M. Norris pers. comm.). However, one of these was also seen at a nearby suburb (Sandringham) in May 1992, and the timing of this record coincides with an apparent annual autumn migration of several honeyeater species through this area (Norris 1995). Further, a dead adult female Turquoise Parrot was collected from a road in the Kinglake area, only about 20 km south of Glenburn, in summer 1986. Nothing is known of its origins (D. Rogers pers. comm.) Jarman (1973) summarised records of Turquoise Parrots made before the species' range decline: locations formerly inhabited include Healesville, Lilydale, the Dandenong Ranges and Launching Place, all within 25 km of Yellingbo. Approximately 35 km to the south of Yellingbo is the township of Berwick, a past breeding site for this species. Turquoise Parrots also used to inhabit the Whittlesea area, approximately 30 km from Glenburn. Thus, the recent sightings of Turquoise Parrots at Glenburn and Yellingbo were made in the general area of their former range. The use of pasture and lawns by Turquoise Parrots has also been observed in north­ eastern Victoria (G. Edgar pers. comm., B. Kirkwood pers. comm.). Furthermore, Annual Meadow Grass seeds are dietary sources there. The Turquoise Parrot eats both native and introduced species in forest, woodland and pasture; this ability to partially adapt to modified habitat has aided its recovery (Quin 1990, Quin & Baker­ Gabb 1993). The habitat used by the Turquoise Parrots at Y ellingbo is similar to a rare vegetation type used by this species in north-eastern Victoria where they feed (and nest) in seasonally waterlogged and permanently moist open forest and woodland on an eastern foothill of the Warby Range (Quin 1990, Quin & Baker-Gabb 1993, M. & R. Colson pers. comm., L. Robinson pers. comm.). This habitat comprises an overstorey of Warby Swamp Gum Eucalyptus cadens, with some Mountain Swamp Gum. There are scattered shrubs of Blackwood and Prickly Tea-tree. The understorey comprises a dense sedge and grass sward, including ]uncus sp. (Briggs & Crisp 1989). Structurally, and to a degree floristically, this habitat resembles that where Turquoise Parrots were sighted at Yellingbo (BQ pers. obs.l). At both areas, the swampy habitat appears to provide abundant food in the form of Jeds from grasses, sedges and ]uncus sp. (Quin 1990, M. & R. Colson pers. comm , B. Traill pers. comm.). Assuming the Turquoise Parrots at Glenb rn and Yellingbo were not aviary escapees, it is very encouraging to observe this species re-using parts of its former range. As indicated earlier, it appears to be a drought-related event. An alternative explanation is that the Turquoise Parrot's appearance is genuine re-colonisation of these locations following population expansions in north-eastern and eastern Victoria (Quin & Baker-Gabb 1993, A. Mcintyre pers. comm.), and their presence in central southern Victoria is seasonal. Broinowski (1891) and Campbell (1901) indicated that Turquoise Parrots visited the Gippsland area of southern Victoria in spring. Future years will demonstrate whether the recent sightings of Turquoise Parrots in central AUSTRALIAN 254 QUIN & REID BIRD WATCHER southern Victoria are the beginning of a seasonal event, or an unusual happening related to exceptionally dry conditions in parts of Victoria, especially north of the Great Dividing Range, during much of 1994 and early 1995. Turquoise Parrots did not re-appear at Glenburn and Yellingbo during August 1995 to mid February 1996, indicating that the explanation relating to drought is probably correct.

Acknowledgements Other members of the ~eid family and Haydn Dean kindly shared with us their observations on the Turquoise Parrots at 'Graceburn'. Danny Rogers and Michael Norris are thanked for providing information on the Kinglake and Beaumaris birds, respectively. We thank John Reid (National Herbarium of Victoria) for identifying some plant specimens. Barbara Baxter and Simon Bennett (Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research) are acknowledged for providing the map and information relating to Atlas of Victorian Wildlife data. Peter Menkhorst, Michael Norris, Barry Trail!, John Peter and Stephen Debus provided valuable comments which improved the manuscript. Sonya Feodoroff, Joan Quin, Danny Rogers and Ian Smales read a draft of the paper. References Blackney, J .R. & Menkhorst, P.W. (1993), 'Distribution of subspecies of Yellow-tufted Honeyeater in the Yarra Valley region, Victoria', Emu 93, 209-213. Blakers, M., Davies, S.J.J.F., & Reilly, P.N. (1984), The Atlas ofAustralian Birds, Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union and Melbourne University Press, Melbourne. Briggs, J.D. & Crisp, M.D. (1989), 'Eucalyptus cadens (), a new Swamp Gum from the Warby Range, North-east Victoria', Muelleria 1, 7-13. Broinowski, G.J. (1891), The Birds of Australia, vol. 3, Charles Stuart, Melbourne. Campbell, A.J. (1901), Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds, author, Sheffield. Chaffer, N. & Miller, G. (1946), 'The Turquoise Parrot near ', Emu 46, 161-167. CNR (1995), Threatened Fauna in Victoria - 1995, Dept Conservation & Natural Resources, Melbourne. Emison, W.B., Beardsell, C.M., Norman, F.I. & Loyn, R.H. (1987), Atlas of Victorian Birds, Dept Conservation, Forests & Lands and the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, Melbourne. Forshaw, J.M. (1981), Australian Parrots, 2nd edn, Lansdowne, Melbourne. Garnett, S. (1993), Threatened and Extinct Birds of Australia, RAOU Report 82, rev. edn, Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, Melbourne. Jarman, H. (1973), 'The Turquoise Parrot', Aust. Bird Watcher 4, 239-250. McMahon, A.R.G. & Franklin, D.C. (1993), 'The occurrence of Eucalyptus camphora (Mountain Swamp Gum) in the Yarra Valley and its significance for the Helmeted Honeyeater', Viet. Nat. 110, 230-237. --,Carr, G.W., Race, G.J., Bedgood, S.E. & Todd, J.A. (1991), The Vegetation and Management of the Yellingbo State Nature Reserve With Particular Reference to the Helmeted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops cassidix, Ecological Horticulture, Melbourne. Menkhorst, P. & Middleton, D. (1991), Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery Plan 1989-1993, Dept Conservation & Environment, Melbourne. Norris, M. (Ed.) (1995), Local Birds of Bayside, Bayside City Council, Melbourne. Quin, B.R. (1990), Conservation and Status of the Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella, Platycercidae) in Chiltern State Park and Adjacent Areas, M.Sc. thesis, LaTrobe University, Melbourne. --& Baker-Gabb, D.G. (1993), Conservation and Management of the Turquoise Parrot in North­ east Victoria, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series 125. Rogers, K.G., Rogers, A. & Rogers, D.l. (1990), Bander's Aid: Supplement Number One, RAOU Report 61, Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, Melbourne. Smales, I.J. (1981), 'The herpetofauna of Yellingbo State Nature Reserve' , Viet. Nat. 98, 234-246. --(1994), 'The discovery of Leadbeater's Possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri McCoy, resident in a lowland swamp woodland', Viet. Nat. 111, 178-182. Trail!, B.J. (1988), 'The Turquoise Parrot in East Gippsland', Aust. Bird Watcher 12, 267-269. Received 4 July 1995 •