HELMETED HONEYEATER Lichenostomus Melanops Cassidix Critically Endangered
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Zoos Victoria’s priority species HELMETED HONEYEATER Lichenostomus melanops cassidix Critically Endangered Zoos Victoria is committed to saving the The release of captive-bred birds has Helmeted Honeyeater. With a highly restricted played an important role in boosting the size distribution, this beautiful bird is at risk of of the wild Helmeted Honeyeater population. extinction due to the loss of its streamside forest We are also currently working hard with habitat. Zoos Victoria’s Healesville Sanctuary partners to increase the condition and has led the Helmeted Honeyeater captive- extent of habitat available for the honeyeater breeding program for more than 20 years. and to identify new release localities. Zoos Victoria is committed to Fighting Extinction We are focused on working with partners to secure the survival of our priority species before it is too late. Zoos Victoria has been involved in the Helmeted Honeyeater recovery program since 1989. We supplement wild populations through an annual release of captive-bred birds, and provide opportunities for visitors to connect with this iconic bird when they visit Healesville Sanctuary and Melbourne Zoo. KEY PROGRAM OBJECTIVES Helmeted Honeyeaters rely on dense shrubs • Achieve a stable population of at least for nesting and food, and are threatened by How can I help? 500 Helmeted Honeyeaters spread across vegetation dieback in sections of their habitat five localities. and a lack of natural regeneration. We are working hard to boost • Improve the condition and extent of habitat Strong foundations are in place for the future the production of captive- available for Helmeted Honeyeaters along recovery of Helmeted Honeyeater populations. forested creeks and rivers. New measures implemented by recovery bred honeyeaters available program since 2013 have been highly successful, • Involve the community in Helmeted reflected in the dramatic increase in the number for release and restore Honeyeater recovery and raise awareness of honeyeaters in the wild. Expanding the area of about the importance of protecting remnant habitat, but we still need suitable habitat and establishing new populations habitat for native species. are critical priorities for the recovery team. all the support we can get. PROGRAM OUTCOMES This recovery effort is underpinned by You can support our Wildlife • Since 1989, Healesville Sanctuary has strong working partnerships among several Conservation Master Plan bred more than 370 Helmeted Honeyeaters, government agencies, community groups, and released more than 250 to the wild. and universities. The Friends of the Helmeted 2019-2024 by donating at: Honeyeater, a community group involving • The wild population currently contains ~ 200 volunteers, provides extensive support to several zoo.org.au/donate birds, the largest number since the recovery of the conservation initiatives underway to program commenced. The population recover Helmeted Honeyeater populations. has more than tripled since 2013, when it contained just 60 honeyeaters. THE PLAN PROGRAM PARTNERS • Working with our partners, habitat restoration The following critical next steps will enable Zoos Birdlife Australia for the honeyeater is well underway - since Victoria, along with our partners to move forward birdlife.org.au 2014 more than one million trees and shrubs knowing that we are doing everything we can to have been planted to create habitat. prevent the extinction of this species: Cardinia Shire Council • Effective genetic management of cardinia.vic.gov.au Maintaining Zoos Victoria’s populations is critical. Every year eggs and/ captive breeding program with $1,400,000 Department of Environment, or nestlings are swapped between the wild a focus on gene-pool mixing. Land, Water and Planning and captivity to preserve genetic diversity. delwp.vic.gov.au Gene-pool mixing to restore genetic Translocations to support the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater diversity is also underway. wild population and establish $320,000 at least one new population. helmetedhoneyeater.org.au • Priority release areas have been identified and a new translocation strategy is in Designing and implementing Greening Australia development that aims to establish new a genetic rescue strategy for the $15,000 p.a greeningaustralia.org.au populations beyond Yellingbo. wild population. Melbourne Water Releasing Helmeted Honeyeaters melbournewater.com.au $175,000 THE SPECIES into Coranderrk Bushland. Monash University One of Victoria’s faunal emblems, the Helmeted Assessing and developing monash.edu Honeyeater is at risk of being lost forever. approaches to address fertility $80,000 Parks Victoria A subspecies of the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, concerns. parkweb.vic.gov.au they feed on eucalypt sap, insects and Supporting monitoring of flower nectar. Once patchily distributed from $100,000 Port Phillip and Westernport breeding season. Healesville to south Gippsland, populations of Catchment Management Authority Database development and ppwcma.vic.gov.au Helmeted Honeyeater have declined $5,000 p.a dramatically due to historic clearing of the maintenance. Trust for Nature forests. They are now confined to a single Pre-release predator avoidance trustfornature.org.au locality and are at risk of extinction. $5,000 p.a training as required. Yarra Ranges Council Total cost over five years $2,200,000 yarraranges.vic.gov.au Find out more zoo.org.au/fightingextinction.