The critically endangered Swift Parrot is one of only two migratory parrots in the world, with only 2,000 parrots remaining in the wild. On the mainland, habitat loss, deaths resulting from collisions with man-made structures and competition with more aggressive urban birds (such as the Rainbow Lorikeet or Noisy Miner) all contribute to the Swift Parrot’s steep decline.

Melbourne’s northern fringe contains some of the most important foraging grounds for the Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolour) following its annual northern migration from breeding grounds in Tasmania. The Grey-box Grassy Woodlands, Yellow Gum Grassy Forests and Box-Ironbark dominated vegetation communities provide stepping stone habitat for Swift Parrot following an exhausting flight across Bass Strait and prior to their dispersal to the dry forests and woodlands of the Great Dividing Range.

Under constant threat from urban expansion, these vegetation communities experience a range of impacts such as canopy decline, weed invasion and fragmentation. It is estimated that less than 30% of forests and woodlands that the species once relied upon for foraging during winter remain.

Working across the landscape, this project will focus on improving vegetation quantity, quality and connectivity to strengthen suitable foraging and roosting habitat for the Swift Parrot between the Diamond Creek and Jacksons Creek catchments.