You’ve probably noticed fast-flying newcomers in and around “The Park” and heard the birds’ burbling contact-calls. Superb parrots, Polytelis swainsonii, were also called Green leeks and breed in old, hollow trees in the Boorowa area. When the young are strong enough the family groups fly to the northern ACT, arriving just before Christmas. In recent years Mt Rogers, near the Wickens Place Canberra
Although the parrots are spectacularly green they are often difficult to find in their roost trees and you’ll probably locate their calls first. We first noticed their presence here when they were feeding on Herschell Circuit loquats but the birds are searching the suburbs for un-harvested plums, apricots and Prunus fruit. On Mt Rogers grass seed and wattle pods are popular. Eucalypt blossoms are also sought for their nectar, by Superbs and many other parrot species.
It can be quite difficult to count the Superbs as they seem to fly for the fun of it. About 15 dispersed from “The Park” this morning after 6am. We’ve not noticed them regularly in our trees or roosting there until this summer. In recent years the birds have moved into other northern Canberra
They are an endangered species because the old trees they need for nesting were often removed from properties. The timber was sold to ACT householders as firewood. Superbs were also often killed on roadsides as they fed on seeds spilled from grain-trucks. Public awareness has significantly reduced firewood harvesting, trucks are now covered and thousands of trees and shrubs have been planted for the birds’ future needs.
I first noticed Superb Parrots, Polytelis swainsonii, in the Mt Rogers area of North Belconnen on Christmas Eve 1998. They were quietly feeding on the unripe pods of Acacia vestita and A. pravissima, wattles planted there in the seventies as the area was revegetated following infrastructure development for Flynn, Fraser, Spence and Melba.
In the vicinity of Avery Place gardens, these sturdy shrubs have Eucalypts growing above them. In declining health these trees also provided significant shelter as young parrots creched there whilst adults flew to forage further afield. Noise increased on the parents' return with begging resulting in regurgitation. Another group of mixed Eucalypts near Keane Place was also a congregating place where Eastern Rosellas, Noisy Miners and Red Wattlebirds largely ignored the visitors.
Passing walkers, cyclists and dogs don't seem to faze the Superb Parrots feeding in shrubs close to the paths although they tend to take flight if disturbed whilst seed-gathering on the ground. For a brightly coloured, predominantly green bird they are surprisingly cryptic. Locating them by call-recognition is the surest location method unless the males' yellow head-feathers catch the sun.
Superb Parrots fly here from the Booroowa, Harden and Yass regions once the young are capable of traversing those distances. They nest in (principally) old Eucalyptus blakelyii , Red Gum ' hollows. In the last three summers observed arrival times were 14th (02), 17th (03) and 7th (04) December suggesting earlier breeding times than previously. In the summers of 2004 and 2005 'creche' situations were less noticeable with juveniles soon joining adults in foraging flights into adjacent gardens and around Mt Rogers' outskirts.
Small family groups sought out Acacia seeds and unharvested apricots, loquat and prunus fruits from gardens. If Mt Rogers is a central point for Superb Parrots in these summer weeks their gradual spreading out into all Belconnen suburbs can be observed. It would be interesting to know more of their nocturnal habits and , therefore, if a daily dispersal and return actually occurs.
In the field identifying females from young parrots by colouring is not easy although the young birds' shorter wing and tail feathers help initially. Superb Parrots seem to delight in flight and their swirling, carefree sorties can make accurate counting difficult. Occasionally a flock of 30 birds may gather. More usually the smaller groups of 4-7 birds are those whose in flight calls capture attention.
Superb Parrots were declared a vulnerable species on 19th May 1997 and sightings between the ACT, Hall and the Murrumbidgee have become less common in the last 50 years as development and farming practices have reduced the incidence of centuries-old Eucalypts with suitable nesting hollows.
Around Mt Rogers if the Superbs Parrots arrive before Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Rosellas have taken pods from Cootamundra Wattle Acacia baileyana they would feed from these controversial plants. With the advent of ACT Fire hazard clearance policies large numbers of these food sources, together with A. Vestita and A. Pravissima, have been removed from the habitat the ACT was able to offer. In light of this the conservation intentions of the ACT's Draft Action Plan for the Superb Parrot dated 1998 make poignant reading.
Draft Action Plan Number 17 for the Superb Parrot. Environment ACT P.O.Box 144 Lyneham ACT.
Davey, Chris Observations on the Superb Parrot within the Canberra District. Canberra Bird Notes Vol. 22. No 1, March 1997 , p1-14.
Rosemary Blemings in Canberra Bird Notes Vol. 30. Number 2, June 2005
