144 SOUTH AUSTRALTAN ORNTTHOT.O~TST 9.7

RECENT RECORDS OF THE SCARLET.CHESTED PARROT LEO JOSEPH Accepted July, 1976. In December 1974 and May 1975, the a female Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella. Scarlet-chested Parrot Neophema splendida was But if it is assumed that this bird was not an recorded on two occasions and probably a third, aviary escapee, there is virtually no chance that in the Murray Mallee region, as defined by a Turquoise Parrot would occur here naturally, Condon (1969), of South Australia. It is the as shown by consideration of- the two species' purpose of this note to document these records habitat and distributional differences. and present a summary of recent records of the On 24 May 1975, Mr. R. H. Lake saw at bird in the western parts of its range. least two male Scarlet-chested Parrots among a The first of the new sightings, the probable party of 12, one km east of Paruna. These one, was that of a presumed female, approxim­ birds were reportedly in "sparse grassland with ately 15 km east of Mannum on 30 December mallee." The following day (25 May), Mr. 1974. The bird was observed by Jim Graham Lake saw eight Scarlet-chested Parrots in flight, and myself in dense mallee with little under­ 11 km east of Swan Reach. One male was growth. (A description of the bird and other "clearly seen." (Details were given to the Bird field notes are available from the Editor of Record Secretary of the SAOA, Mr. R. this Journal on request.) As the colour of the Attwood). lores of the bird could not be accurately A summary of reliable records of the Scarlet­ described, this description could also apply to chested Parrot made between the late 1950's NOVEMBER, 1976 145

~nd Decem?er 1974 in the easternmost parts of 5) There is a specimen in the South Its range (i.e. east of Eyre Peninsula) is now Australian Museum of a female Scarlet­ presented. chested Parrot taken 5 km south of 1) There have been several reports of the Lyndhurst on 2 April 1974. No other species north of the River Murray, and Scarlet-chested Parrots were seen on that mostly from the Canegrass-Gluepot area. occasion. They are treated together here as they Unfortunately, there are not enouzh records may well refer to one or two irruptions in this summary upon which one can base firm of the bird and also as a specific month conclusions regarding the movements and status was not given with them. of ~he Scarlet-chested Parrot in the eastern parts Condon (1969) says that large flocks were of Its range. However, analysis of the records recorded "north of the River Murray shows that all the records from south of (? at Gluepot)" between 1961-1965 in Morgan, Renmark and Mildura were made "early autumn-winter." He also mentions between November-May inclusive. This could records from Pudnooka and Nor-'west suggest that Scarlet-chested Parrots may, in Bend, River Murray, while Eckert (1972) summer-autumn, 'range south and east into the refers to reports of the species from near Murray Mallee from more north-westerly areas Gluepot and tells me (pers. comm.) that when environmental conditions cause rapid these reports date from 1958 when Mr. inc~eases in food reserves. That they can show F. Lewitzka saw the birds. Mr. Bill rapid responses to such environmental stimuli Radford of Canegrass saw a single bird on has been. demonstrated by records given by his property at this time. Mack (1970) Jarman (1968). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS says that there is no doubt that Scarlet­ My thanks are due to Mr, R, H. Lake for allowing me chested Parrots were trapped at Canegrass to use. hIS records and to Shane Parker of the South ~us~rahan Museum for permitting me to examine specimens and Gluepot (1958-61) and on Calperum In hIS care; many people assisted in g~thering recent records (1946-66). Lastly, Condon (1975) says, and to them I am grateful. For guidance in the final Jj~~drC1l:,os';,. of this note. r thank Rodney Attwood and "large flocks recently north of Waikerie." REFERENCES Condon, H, T. (1969). A Handlist of the Birds of South 2) Glover (1968) gives a record from north Auatr-alta, 3rd ed. of Monash in August 1966. (Monash is ---. (1975). Checklist of the Birds of Australial Part 1, Non-passerincs, R.A.O.U c. 5 km NE of Barmera.) Eckert. John (1972) Extensio;' of the range of the Red­ Lored Whistler (Pachvcephala rufogularis) and comments 3) Glover (1973) lists a record of c. 10 on some birds of the North-East of South Australia. S.A. Orn., 26 : 38-39. birds NE of Renmark on August 30, 1970. Glover, B. (19681). Bird Report. 1966-67. S.A Orn. Mrs. M. J. Opie who saw the birds tells 25 : 29-45. •, ----. (1973). Bird Report. 1970-71. S.A Orn 26: 95. me that the locality was near Calperum. Jarman, Howard (1968), The Scarlet-chested' Parr",t .A:ust Bird Watcher, 3 : 111-122. •• 4) Smith (1973) records two males at Mack, K. J. (1970). Birds of the North-East of South Trinita, NW Victoria, on November 4, Australia. S.A. Orn., 25 : 126-141. Smith, F. T. H. (1973), Recent records of the Scarlet­ 1972. (Trinita is in the same latitude as chested Parrot from North-West Vic;toria. The Bird Mannum and about 250 km to the east Observer, No. 494 : 4. thereof). 1 Angas Street, Kent Town, S.A., 5067.