elegant parrots at forktree

An exciting update from the Bird & Lepidoptera 2021 Survey being conducted at Forktree by Malcolm Worthing:

“Last month, a flock of 9 Elegant Parrots (Neophema elegans) was recorded feeding at the back of the Forktree property. This species is listed as ‘Rare’ in South Australia under the state's National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The flock was seen in various places around the property throughout the day, indicating that the parrots may have been familiar with the area.

“Although Elegant Parrots prefer to feed in open habitats, they require trees containing hollows to breed. There are already several mature Pink Gums (Eucalyptus fasciculosa) with hollows on the property and the additional recent plantings of eucalypts will help shelter these suitable nesting sites, as well as provide more hollows of their own in the future. This increase in suitable nesting sites will therefore increase the likelihood of Elegant Parrots nesting and breeding at Forktree. Adding native grasses to the list of plant species to be planted at Forktree, may also encourage this species to visit the property more frequently.”