Superb Parrots and their ACT summer - February/March 2006

Superb Parrots Polytelis swainsonii have caused a stir this summer by being seen in a wide range of Belconnen suburban situations and being present in larger numbers than previously noted.

These literally superb but threatened parrots nest in Blakely’s Red Gum hollows in the Boorowa, Harden, Yass regions. Once young are robust enough some family groups disperse SE, arriving in the Fraser area by mid December. Mt Rogers becomes a hot-spot especially for creched young awaiting their parents’ return from foraging. Keening levels rise in anticipation of regurgitated Acacia and grasses’ seeds.

Usually, after 7-10 days around Fraser and Mt Rogers in the daytime, young would then fly into the suburbs as families seeking un-harvested fruit such as Loquats and Prunus and seeds. In 2005-6 Superbs have been sighted in nearly all Belconnen suburbs with Cook, Aranda, Hawker and Latham Field Naturalists contributing to the records. They were observed repeatedly near the Belconnen Fruit Markets where lerps infesting Eucalypts were noted as their food sources. Early birds would apparently call others to the bountiful trees.

At one stage a group of well over 100 was recorded, whereas 30, in previous seasons were exciting. They’ve been seen as far south as Kambah. The last record from Mt Rogers was on 1^st February.
 
Questions emerged: Has their breeding season been particularly successful? Have more survived the journey to the A.C.T? Have most of the region’s Superbs come here rather than being seen in other places? Where do they go after leaving the A.C.T?
 
Fortuitously, Joe Forshaw was Canberra Ornithologists Group’s speaker for February and provided background information and answers.

There is a non-discrete population of Superbs around the Wagga area, a remnant of larger numbers along that part of the Murrumbidgee River’s catchment. Some of these birds may have flown here, especially from around Junee where fires may have driven them out.

The breeding season, aided by good rains and growth, has been very successful and began early. Many parents have raised 3-4 chicks as opposed to 2-3 in other years.

Several years’ cumulative effect of wheat-transport trucks being covered, has significantly reduced the incidence of road-kills amongst nature-strip-feeding parrots.

Opinions were divided on whether normal populations had remained in the Boorowa area or whether some had flown here.

It is normal for the Superbs to return to their breeding habitats after ‘summer in the ACT’.

There was good news. Populations of both the Superb and Regent Parrots have increased in the last decade thanks to timber-management strategies, landholder awareness, public education and two-decade-long studies of these two Polytelis species.

Rosemary