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Vocalisations are a key component of communication for species that employ crypsis. The Eastern Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus wallicus) is one such species that lives within dense heathland habitats in eastern Australia. Passive acoustic monitoring is now a common method used for avian monitoring and conservation programmes. For implementation of this method to be successful, we require a minimum level of understanding of the environmental and behavioural factors that may influence vocal activity. We tested how Eastern Ground Parrot call rate and chorus duration fluctuated across key temporal, environmental and meteorological variations over one year using passive acoustic monitoring from one site. Season, moon phase and days since rainfall predicted vocal activity of the birds at this site. Our results demonstrate the importance of considering the behavioural response of species to environmental conditions to account for potential bias in the interpretation of passive acoustic monitoring data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the population dynamics of endangered species is crucial to their conservation. Stochastic population models can be used to explore factors involved in population change, contributing to the understanding of a species' population dynamics. Norfolk Island Green Parrots Cyanoramphus cookii have undergone significant population fluctuations in the last 50 years. Since 2013, most nestlings hatched in managed, predator-proofed nest sites have been individually marked. These nests have been considered the primary source of population growth. Yet, in 2021, most adult birds were unmarked, raising the question of whether unmarked parrots have been entering the population through undetected breeding in natural nests, and to what extent. We modelled Green Parrot population growth between 2013 and 2021 using stochastic population models in VORTEX to explore the potential dynamics involved in the observed population growth. Basic models involving breeding only in managed nests produced population estimates between 158 and 266, whereas more complex models that included breeding in unmanaged nests, and accounted for the large proportion of unmarked birds, produced population estimates between 360 and 1,041. We conclude that natural nests may have played a significant role in the population growth since 2013. If this is the case, broad-scale predator control may be largely responsible. Furthermore, our study shows how population models may be used to infer underlying demographic processes and inform conservation strategies, even in instances of data scarcity. Our method can be applied to other threatened species, and may prove particularly useful for small populations whose population dynamics remain unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis is a critically endangered, elusive, nocturnal bird that is difficult to study in the field. Much is unknown about its biology, including how it navigates at night. A previous investigation of the eye and brain revealed that it likely has poor nocturnal vision, but its other sensory abilities, and overall skull anatomy, have not yet been investigated. This osteological study, based on micro-CT-scans of the holotype, describes and compares the anatomy of the Night Parrot skull, and identifies its possible ecological adaptations. Specialised ear anatomy suggests that the Night Parrot has enhanced acoustic abilities, in contrast with its diurnal congener P. wallicus and the only other nocturnal parrot, the Kakapo Strigops habroptila. The Night Parrot's uniquely enlarged exoccipital bones may amplify sound, and bilateral ear asymmetry, not identified in any other parrot species, likely enhances its directional hearing, as in many species of owl. Enlarged exoccipitals displace the zygomatic processes and constrain orbit size, suggesting an evolutionary trade-off between hearing and vision. The auditory abilities of the species require deeper investigation, but our anatomical observations indicate that the potential impacts of noise disturbance may warrant consideration in Night Parrot conservation strategies as a precaution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Market surveys show that a large proportion of parrots traded in bird markets in Java, Bali and Sumatra are of Wallacean origin (Chng I et al i . Unsustainable exploitation of wild birds in Wallacea - An uncertain road for conservation emerging from the pandemic Parrots are also the second most trafficked group of birds in Indonesia after songbirds (Indraswari I et al i . Keywords: Biodiversity; conservation; parrots; threatened species EN Biodiversity conservation parrots threatened species 85 89 5 02/28/23 20230201 NES 230201 Introduction Wallacea, comprising the archipelagos of Sulawesi, the Lesser Sundas, and Maluku, is an engine of bird species diversification (McCullough I et al i . [Extracted from the article]

Quantifying the reproductive output of species is fundamental in understanding population dynamics, life history, and in conservation management. The use of multiple metrics to quantify reproductive variation allows for a clear interpretation of the species' breeding biology and is often needed for robust models of population trajectory. Using measures of nest survival, clutch size, brood size, and nestling body condition we quantified reproductive output and annual variation of the Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii over 5 years in Canberra, Australia. We found consistent nest survival probability, maintained at over 89% throughout the nesting period in all years of study, but variation in all other metrics. Clutch sizes of Superb Parrots varied annually, and we found seasonal declines in both clutch and brood sizes. Furthermore, nestling body condition also varied annually and by order in which hatching occurred. The annual breeding performance of this bird has implications for conservation assessment and provides critical baseline data. Continuing to address critical knowledge gaps in Superb Parrot ecology and biology should be prioritised to better inform management and resolve the uncertainty that remains in the species' conservation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife can be hosts for pathogens of conservation and zoonotic concern. Infection with one pathogen can increase the risk of co-infection with others, with resulting impacts on hosts, for example on body condition or survival. However, studies of co-infection in wild populations are rare. Globally, psittacine birds can be infected with beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), a circovirus of significant conservation concern, and with bacteria of the order Chlamydiales, including the zoonotic Chlamydia psittaci. These pathogens are common in Australian psittacines, and their putatively immunosuppressive effects would predict co-infection to be more common than expected due to chance alone. Here, we test this hypothesis across four abundant and widespread Australian parrot species: Crimson Rosella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah and Blue-winged Parrot. Using wild-caught birds, we tested for pathogen DNA and, in the case of Chlamydiales, also antibodies, to investigate both current and previous infection status. We detected co-infection prevalence of up to 16.4% in the combined samples from the four species and up to 28.9% in Crimson Rosellas, the species with the largest sample size. Contrary to expectations, however, we found that the incidence of infections with the two pathogens was statistically independent. There was also no effect of co-infection on body condition or haematocrit. Our findings therefore suggest that while concurrent infection does occur, it is no more common than expected by chance. We discuss limitations of the data and suggest avenues for future research. Overall, our study provides insights that potentially benefit psittacine conservation, welfare, and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortfalls in our knowledge of the most basic parameters, such as overall range and population size, ensure evidence-based conservation of poorly known or 'missing' species is inherently difficult. Often, the only source of such knowledge is anecdotal reports, which are usually considered too unreliable to be of value. Methods that help conservation decision-makers use anecdotal records of poorly known or 'missing' species to decide where conservation action should occur, and how urgent that action might be, will support better conservation decisions for those species. Here, we use a Delphi-style process based on expert opinion to assess the largely anecdotal sightings record of the Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis), an endangered species from arid central Australia that underwent a significant decline following the arrival of Europeans. Our results clarify the patterns and possible causes of this decline and subsequent range contraction. We conclude that the species persists in only two broad regions, and is probably extinct throughout much of its former range. Our method is applicable to other poorly known species with a similarly sporadic and largely anecdotal sightings record. This method could be used to clarify the historical and current distribution and status of such species, a critical first step in understanding their conservation requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living in a captive environment may compromise phenotypic traits critical to survival in the wild. Captive animals that differ from the ideal wild phenotype may have impaired fitness after release, especially if there is extreme phenotypic selection during some life history stages. Wing shape of migratory birds is crucial to migration efficiency, and changes to wing shape in captivity may severely affect survival after release. We investigate wing shape of migratory Orange-bellied Parrots Neophema chrysogaster in captivity and the wild. The first two flight feathers were shorter in captive birds, and the fifth and sixth feathers were longer than wild conspecifics. These differences altered wing shape, producing a more proximal tip and a more convex trailing edge than the wild phenotype, which likely alters flight performance. This wing shape contravenes expectations from general patterns of wing shape in migratory birds. Wing shape in the captive birds sampled was independent of inbreeding, generations in captivity and ancestry. Captive environments may affect feather development or impose some selective pressure on wing shape. Alternatively, release from intense phenotypic selection during migration may allow parrots with wing shapes poorly adapted to migration to survive and breed in captivity. Altered wing shape may contribute to low observed survival of parrots released to the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the world, many parrot species have established wild populations outside their natural range through accidental escapes and deliberate releases from captivity. The Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), native to coastal northern and eastern continental Australia, has established viable populations in Western Australia and New Zealand from escaped or released pets and more recently have established in Tasmania. The Western Australian experience with introduced Rainbow Lorikeets, clearly shows that significant costs and impacts to agriculture, the environment and human amenities can be expected if this species is not controlled in the early stages of population increase, while in New Zealand, early intervention has proven successful in removing the species from the wild. This study examines sighting records of Rainbow Lorikeets in Tasmania which have gradually established over 20 years and we present a model to assist in determining likely population trajectories under various scenarios of control. Modelling indicates that the removal of 200 birds per year from each of the three Tasmanian sub-populations would decrease numbers to near-zero within 4.6 years. This demonstrates the opportunity to effectively control the Rainbow Lorikeet in Tasmania still exists and substantial damage to agriculture and impacts to conservation values can be avoided, resulting in significant cost savings to the Tasmanian community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Not all conservation interventions are successful at correcting threatening processes and the odds of failure increase with uncertainty concerning the true threats to a population. Failure of conservation actions to improve demographic rates might be evidence of their ineffectiveness, or that other unaddressed threats nullify the potential benefits of interventions. Knowledge of key threatening processes that afflict Orange-bellied Parrots Neophema chrysogaster is lacking, but population modelling predicts that actions in the breeding range are unlikely to correct decline unless mortality during migration/wintering is addressed. Despite this, there has been a spatial bias in recovery effort towards the breeding range in recent decades. We model annual survival data spanning 1995–2017 for the last known wild population to evaluate whether the predictions about the efficacy of recovery efforts are accurate. Based on our best-supported model, probability of adult survival was constant at 0.58, but juvenile survival declined from 0.51 to 0.20. Survival did not improve when we considered the effects of recovery actions in the breeding grounds (which only aimed to correct local scale threats anyway). This result supports predictions that conservation interventions in the breeding ground alone are not sufficient to recover this species. We conclude that although interventions in the breeding ground may have corrected local threats, birds succumbed to other threats during migration/winter. It is crucial that new targeted interventions be identified and implemented to reduce mortality of Orange-bellied Parrots in their migration/winter habitats to prevent extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well-supported genus-level classification of any group of organisms underpins downstream understanding of its evolutionary biology and enhances the role of phylogenetic diversity in guiding its conservation and management. The lorikeets (Psittaciformes: Loriini) are parrots for which genus-level systematics (phylogenetic relationships and classification) has long been unstable and unsatisfactory. Instability has manifested through frequently changing compositions of some genera (e.g. Trichoglossus and Psitteuteles). Other genera (e.g. Charmosyna, Vini) have become so large that their phenotypic heterogeneity alone at least questions whether they are monophyletic assemblages that genera should comprise. Recent molecular phylogenetic and phenotypic studies have improved the framework with which to rationalise genus-level systematics in lorikeets but some trenchant uncertainty has remained. Here we utilise published genomic data and tetrahedral analysis of plumage colour to develop a full review of the genus-level classification of lorikeets. Using existing phylogenetic relationships and a newly estimated time-calibrated tree for lorikeets, we show where paraphyletic assemblages have misled the classification of genera. We assign six species to three new genera and six other species to four previously described generic names that have been in synonymy in recent literature. Our taxonomic revision brings a new perspective informing and guiding the conservation and management of the lorikeets and their evolutionary biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red feathers of Pesquet's Parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus) are highly sought after for use in the headdresses of the highland cultures of Papuan New Guinea, however, it is unclear whether the harvest for headdresses represents a serious threat to the species' survival. To quantify the potential impact of harvesting, we surveyed 170 people in Mingende of Kerowagi District, Chimbu Province, a locality well known for their use of Pesquet's Parrot feathers. Of the survey respondents, 43% had headdresses containing Pesquet's Parrot feathers, owning an average of 2.9 headdresses (± 2.4 SD, N = 69) with each contained 2.9 (± 1.9 SD, N = 35) Pesquet's Parrots. We estimated that an average of 8.4 Pesquet's Parrots are contained within each owner's headdresses. Extrapolating for the adult population of Kerowagi District, via a bootstrap methodology, suggested that between ~160,000 ‒ 280,000 Pesquet's Parrots may have been harvested for the headdresses present in this district alone. Our survey results suggest an annual purchase rate of 1.5% which equates to approximately 3,200 Pesquet's Parrots being required annually for Kerowagi District alone. This is equivalent to ~8% of the estimated wild population. Given that the extant population is widely dispersed and highly mobile across areas of remote foothill forest, in situ conservation management is unlikely to be economically viable. However, given that a greater number of Pesquet's Parrot exist in headdresses than are alive in the wild, we suggest that the most practical conservation intervention is to focus on prolonging the lifespan of existing headdresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis is one of the least known and most threatened of Australia's bird species. In recent decades, breeding has been confirmed at only two remote regions in inland Australia. Consequently, reports of its presence in new locations have important conservation implications and elicit intense public interest. Between 2016 and 2018, following targeted searches, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) reported the presence of Night Parrots on their Kalamurina Wildlife Reserve (South Australia) and the Diamantina National Park (Queensland). In response to questions raised from within the Australian ornithological community, AWC appointed an independent panel to assess the adequacy of the evidence for the presence of Night Parrots at these two locations. The panel was tasked with considering three lines of evidence: a single feather discovered at Kalamurina in 2017, calls recorded on an acoustic recorder at Kalamurina in 2018 and photographs of three nests with eggs taken at Diamantina National Park in 2016. The panel concluded that each of the three lines of evidence was insufficient to demonstrate conclusively the occurrence of Night Parrots at either Diamantina National Park or Kalamurina Wildlife Reserve. Here we present a summary of the panel's findings, to maintain these findings permanently on the public record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nest predation is considered a major cause of population decline for the Endangered Alwal Psephotellus chrysopterygius (Golden-shouldered parrot) in Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Camera-traps were installed at 28 Alwal nests across two breeding seasons in four important refuges for the parrot, to confirm nest predator identities and their impact on nesting success. Nest predators were more common at Alwal nests prior to fledging. The feral cat Felis catus and yellow-spotted monitor Varanus panoptes were the most common predators detected at nests, but the Black-backed butcherbird Cracticus mentalis, Pied butcherbird C. nigrogularis and Brown goshawk Acciptier fasciatus were also documented predating nests. Predators were significantly more common at nests in the days prior to fledging, possibly due to increased nest site activity. Nest success was higher amongst denser vegetation, indicating that cover may inhibit detection of nests by predators, particularly at fledging time. As with many threatened species globally, further monitoring is needed to disentangle knowledge of Alwal nest predation, including refined nest-monitoring techniques to document elusive predation events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intervening when bird nestlings are performing poorly relative to the population mean may be a management priority if individuals are of high-conservation value. Assessing body condition may enable identification of potential problems before they cause mortality. We aimed to provide a tool for conservation managers to identify underperforming nestlings in a severely threatened bird population. We develop models of nestling growth and empirically quantify nestling body condition of critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots Neophema chrysogaster, which have declined to only a single population in southwestern Tasmania, Australia. Using census data on growth of nestlings born over four years into the contemporary wild population, we test whether a body condition index is influenced by sex, hatch order, year of birth, brood size, whether one or both parents were captive bred, and fledging date. The best model describing body condition in Orange-bellied Parrot nestlings included additive effects of year of birth and hatch order. Nestling body condition was lowest in 2013, where first hatched nestlings were 2.5 g lighter than those born in 2016, and > 4.2 g lighter than in 2017/18. Nestlings that hatched either first or in the middle of the brood were respectively 4.8 g and 3.8 g heavier than last-hatched birds. Our body condition index provides a repeatable, rapid and cheap way to assess body condition of wild Orange-bellied Parrot nestlings. This represents a step towards accurate evaluation of management actions aimed at improving reproductive outcomes for this species, and provides a framework for developing hypotheses to test using an empirical and measurable index of individual quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In captivity, novel selective pressures can lead to divergence from the wild source population, which can be a liability for animals released into the wild. Easily measured indices of change, like body mass, might be important for early detection of adaptation to captivity. We hypothesised that for species subject to long-term captive breeding, body mass may be a useful proxy for detecting morphological adaptations to captivity. We test this (and alternative explanatory variables) with 22 years of pedigree data on Orange-bellied Parrots Neophema chrysogaster and predict that adult body mass would change over successive generations in captivity. The best model of adult body mass showed a relationship with maternal effects both directly (heavier mothers produced heavier offspring) and indirectly (different founding maternal lineages produced heavier or lighter descendants), plus circumstances in the year of birth (e.g. years with better food quality produced heavier birds). Body mass did not change with increasing generations of captive breeding. Our results suggest that either adaptation to captivity has not occurred or, if it has, body mass is too coarse an index to detect it. Captive breeding programmes should directly measure traits of interest and ideally compare these to traits of wild birds to identify an ideal morphological baseline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbreaks of disease in threatened species can increase the likelihood of extinction by reducing population size. Low immunogenetic diversity can increase susceptibility to, and severity of, disease outbreaks. Our study measured genetic diversity at innate immune genes the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in a critically endangered Australian bird, the orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster). Conservation of this species has recently been challenged by several disease outbreaks. We found low diversity at six TLR genes in both captive and wild orange-bellied parrot populations, similar to results seen in other threatened bird species. Three loci were found to be monomorphic across all samples, including birds which were recorded to have been involved in recent disease events. Phylogenetic analysis of TLR sequences from Neophema chrysogaster as well as representatives of all other species within parrot genera Neophema and Neopsephotus revealed a small number of sites under pervasive and/or episodic positive selection, and a number of sites under negative selection. This study is the first to investigate functional genetic diversity in the orange-bellied parrot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is a globally distributed pathogen of psittacine birds. In Australia, it is thought to be the dominant pathogen of Psittaciformes, and it is listed as a 'key threatening process to biodiversity'. Infection with BFDV can cause serious and often fatal disease. However, knowledge on BFDV infection persistence in wild hosts is scarce. We investigated this in 55 wild Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans) in Victoria, Australia, which were trapped and tested two to five times during 14 years of study. We analysed blood and feather samples for BFDV and antibodies. We then quantified infection persistence in 17 individuals that were BFDV-positive (BFDV+) during at least one capture, and that were recaptured at intervals of 0.5 months to 5.9 years. Birds that were BFDV+ when first caught were likely to also be BFDV+ if recaptured within the following five months (80%, 4/5), but this rate declined to only 8.3% of birds (1/12) that were recaptured more than five months after initial capture. BFDV was detected in feathers of 44.4% (4/9) of birds that were BFDV+ in blood upon initial capture, and 88.9% (8/9) of these individuals showed an immunological response to infection upon recapture. Viral load varied between captures and individuals. Our data indicate that P. elegans can clear BFDV from their blood, and provide new estimates for the duration of chronic BFDV infection in wild parrots. These findings can aid wildlife disease management and species conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In New Guinea Palm Cockatoos, Pesquet's Parrots and Eclectus Parrots are potentially threatened by deforestation and hunting. In a 28-month study, we found 51 Palm Cockatoo, 34 Pesquet's Parrot and 71 Eclectus Parrot nests. Eclectus Parrots used taller, larger, live trees. Palm Cockatoos preferred hollows in broken trunks having deeper hollows with larger entrances. Pesquet's Parrots excavated their nest hollows in dead trees. Palm Cockatoos nested at lower density (0.008 nests/ha) than Pesquet's (0.022 nests/ha) and Eclectus Parrots (0.069 nests/ha). Palm Cockatoos and Pesquet's Parrots appeared to breed seasonally; Eclectus Parrots bred at higher frequency year-round. Palm Cockatoo clutch size was one; Pesquet's and Eclectus Parrots clutches had one to two eggs. Eclectus Parrots had higher fledging success: 54%, compared with 40% of Palm Cockatoo and 17% of Pesquet's Parrot eggs. Predation caused most nest failures for Palm Cockatoos and Eclectus Parrots; starvation caused most loss in Pesquet's Parrots. Humans hunted Palm Cockatoos and Pesquet's Parrots, not Eclectus Parrots. Higher nest tree density, breeding success, and more generalised feeding habits may make Eclectus Parrots the least vulnerable of the three species. Low population density and breeding frequency of Palm Cockatoos and Pesquet's Parrots may make them more vulnerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nest cavities are a limited resource, given the extensive land clearance that has occurred in Australia. Some obligate cavity-nesting birds are vulnerable to extinction and experience risk from heterospecific species that compete for limited nest cavities. The aim of this study was to identify intruder bird species at nest cavities of a threatened eastern subspecies of Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides), and to measure the impact of intruder birds on parental care (parental time budgets) and nesting outcome (nest usurpation). We observed 25 eastern Regent Parrot nests using a combination of 608 h of video recording and 67 h of binocular observation. In total, we observed 16 heterospecific bird species at the nest entrance of the eastern Regent Parrot. Two of these species were examined for their impact on parental care behaviour. The presence of Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala) near the nest cavity increased the time that Regent Parrots spent at the nest cavity entrance. The number of Yellow Rosella (Platycercus elegans flaveolus) visits to the nest cavity predicted nest usurpation. Nest usurpation of a Regent Parrot nest occurred in 6/25 cases (24%), of which 5/6 nests were usurped by Yellow Rosellas. Understanding heterospecific competition for nest cavities in eastern Regent Parrots should inform targeted conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian arid zone is well recognised as a source of evolutionary novelty and diversity. Roles for selection vs. drift in the region remain less understood. We surveyed mitogenomic diversity and genome-wide nuclear markers in the Mulga Parrot (Psephotellus varius) to add to phylogeographic data from arid zone species. We found structured diversity either side of the Flinders Ranges–Lake Eyre Basin (Eyrean barrier; net nucleotide divergence 1.92% forND2). Coalescent analysis suggests that this arose during the mid-Pleistocene approximately 402 000 years ago. In both phylogroups, however, the mitogenome is under pervasive purifying selection. Purifying selection in the context of consistent environments either side of the Eyrean barrier may have maintained ancestral plumage and morphological traits, though in other plumage traits there is some plumage divergence that is geographically concordant with the phylogeographic structure. This leads to the essentially ‘cryptic’ genetic diversity uncovered here, despite indications of ongoing adaptation to aridity inP. variusas evidenced by increasing bill surface area (shown by earlier work to have increased relative to body size by 10.4% since 1871), a result we affirm here across the species as a whole. This study also demonstrates the utility of shallow ‘genome skimming’ sequencing for population analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Estimating abundance and population size is essential for many ecological and conservation studies of parrots. Achieving these goals requires methods that yield reliable estimates, but parrot traits can make them difficult to detect, count, and capture. We review established and emergent sampling and analytical methods used to estimate parrot abundance and population size, focusing on their assumptions, requirements, and limitations. Roost surveys are cost-effective if all roost locations in a region are known and stable, which is uncommon. Capture–recapture methods incorporate detection probability, but capturing, marking and resighting parrots can be difficult. Distance sampling estimates detection probability and surveys multiple species simultaneously, but is sensitive to the spatial distribution of individuals and excludes birds in flight. Roadside transects can cover large areas and survey multiple species, but habitats near roads may differ from the surrounding areas, biasing abundance estimates. Occupancy surveys and hierarchical models usually require spatially and temporally replicated datasets. Both allow estimation of detection probability; the former dispenses with count data, while the latter is a versatile set of methods that can incorporate multiple processes influencing detection and abundance. Finally, passive acoustic surveys can sample multiple species simultaneously, but identification of vocalisations can be difficult and time-consuming. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Wallacea, and the islands of the Pacific Ocean collectively possess 42% of the world’s parrot species, including half of all Critically Endangered species. We used comparative methods to review the factors related to extinction risk of 167 extant and 5 extinct parrot species from this region, subsequently referred to as ‘Oceania’. We tested a range of ecological and socio-economic variables as predictors of extinction risk for parrots in the region while controlling for phylogeny. Parrot species were most likely to be threatened if they had small historical ranges, large bodies, or a high dependency on forest, or if they were endemic to a single country, or native to a country with high unemployment. Our analysis identifies invasive species as an especially severe threat to the parrots of Oceania. We present maps of parrot species’ diversity and draw attention to regions of conservation concern. Our comparative analysis presents an important overview of the factors contributing to the decline of parrots in Oceania, and provides a strong basis for comparison with other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Only three wild-bred female Orange-bellied Parrots returned from migration in the 2016/17 breeding season, representing the lowest point of a long-term decline. In this context of imminent extinction risk we (i) update knowledge of population parameters, (ii) critically evaluate current recovery actions, and (iii) identify new management options. We present new data from the 2016/17 breeding season. Orange-bellied Parrots were only observed at the last known breeding site where fire suppression may havecaused shortage of natural food. Recently burned habitat elsewhere support abundant food, but no parrots. Fecundity of captive-bred individuals was significantly worse than wild-bred individuals (0.8 vs. 3 fledglings respectively), mostly due to infertility. Bacterial septicemia due to contaminated food caused mortalities of at least four nestlings. Fostering captive-bred nestlings to the wild showed some potential as a recovery tool, with 2 of 4 nests accepting a foster nestling, and one of these fledging successfully. Captive-bred birds had poorer feather condition than wild birds. Addressing food shortages and the addition of new managementactions to improve population recruitment are critical and urgent recovery priorities. We suggest recovery priorities for the species arising from our results, including emergency intervention to prevent imminent extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

South-western Queensland supports a suite of threatened native species, including Night Parrots. We investigated why this species has persisted in the region and discovered low prevalence of the typical factors that are thought to explain fauna attrition elsewhere in central Australia. Foxes appear to be completely absent. Feral cats were recorded relatively infrequently and showed a significant preference for habitats less commonly used by Night Parrots, a partition that may be driven by the presence of dogs that were detected twice as frequently as cats. Our study area has had a long history of moderate grazing pressure, which is concentrated mostly in productive alluvial habitats. We detected very few herbivores, and dog scat analyses suggest that macropod populations are regulated by predation. Archival imagery shows that large fires are not a feature of this landscape, resulting in the long-term, stable availability of patchyTriodiahabitats separated by natural no-fuel areas. Based on these empirical data, we postulate that low non-native predator pressure, long-term stable availability ofTriodiacover and a productive landscape that has had only moderate grazing pressure are the interacting factors that may explain why Night Parrots have persisted in south-western Queensland. We present practical management actions that could enhance the suitability of this landscape for Night Parrots. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Parrots (Psittaciformes) have been viewed as efficient consumers of the reproductive structures of plants. Consequently, parrots have been excluded from studies focusing on plant–animal mutualistic relationships as they have been considered only as plant antagonists. This prevailing view is challenged, however, by recent studies showing that (1) several parrot species are the main seed dispersers of some plant species through stomatochory; (2) the proportion of seeds removed and dispersed to long distances is high in some plant–parrot systems; (3) seeds dispersed by parrots are able to produce seedlings, even in some cases after being partially consumed; (4) tiny seeds are also legitimately dispersed by parrots through endozoochory; (5) seeds dropped by parrots under the mother tree can be consumed and secondarily dispersed by a variety of other species; and (6) parrots can also pollinate and heal their food plants by consuming their parasites. Through both antagonistic and mutualistic interactions with their food plants, parrots can exert cascading effects on the plants’ life cycles and shape the structure and functioning of ecosystems. The later was evaluated by a few studies showing how parrots may shape vegetal landscapes by influencing the spatial distribution and demography of their food plants and vegetal communities. On the other hand, mutualistic interactions lead to an increase of the parrot community robustness when facing the loss of plant species. We provide guidance for further research on the multiple plant–parrot interactions, also encouraging the assessment of how the ongoing decline and extirpation of parrot populations may cause regional losses of key ecological functions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Advances in sequencing technology and phylogenetics have revolutionised avian biology by providing an evolutionary framework for studying natural groupings. In the parrots (Psittaciformes), DNA-based studies have led to a reclassification of clades, yet substantial gaps remain in the data gleaned from genetic information. Here we provide an overview of published genetic data of parrots, characterise sampling depth across the phylogeny, and evaluate support for existing systematic treatments. We inferred a concatenated tree with 307 species from a 30-gene supermatrix. We recovered well-supported relationships among recently proposed clades. Taxonomic groups were more stable towards the base of the tree and increased sampling will be required to clarify relationships at the tips, particularly below the generic level. Only a third of species have been sampled intraspecifically in population genetic or phylogeographic surveys. Intraspecific sampling has not been geographically or phylogenetically even across Psittaciformes, especially poor in the cockatoos, Southeast Asia, and parts of Australo-Papua. Threatened species are poorly sampled in the Neotropics. We highlight where effort should be focused to improve sampling based on geography and conservation status. In sum, phylogenetic relationships among the major parrot clades are robust, but relationships within and between genera and species provide opportunities for future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

International trade in wild birds is a driver of biodiversity loss, species invasions and the spread of diseases. Grey and Timneh Parrots (Psittacus erithacusandP. timneh) have been among the most frequently traded of all birds listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and were recently categorised asEndangeredon the IUCN Red List. Records of international trade, available on the CITES trade database, were used to establish geographical trends in imports and exports of Grey and Timneh Parrots since 1975. Patterns of trade varied dramatically over time, with key trading partnerships changing frequently. Net exports of over 1.2 million wild-sourced parrots were reported, the majority of which were exported to North America prior to 1992 and Europe prior to 2005. Recently, there has been a rapid rise in exports of captive-bred parrots to parts of Asia, notably countries in the Arabian Peninsula. The majority of captive-bred Grey and Timneh Parrots originate from South Africa, which has at times also been the largest importer of wild-sourced parrots. Patterns of trade are considered in the context of the changing economic, cultural, governance, and biological circumstances to understand the potential drivers of major shifts and identify research needs and interventions to control trade. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Vocal dialects have fascinated biologists for over 50 years. This mosaic pattern of geographic variation in learned vocalisations was first described in a songbird, and since that time most studies investigating dialects have focused on songbird species. Here we examine patterns of geographic variation in the calls of a different group of vocal learning birds, the parrots (order Psittaciformes). We summarise the growing literature on vocal variation in parrots, and complement this review with a survey of variation in the genusAmazonausing calls from sound libraries. We find strikingly similar patterns to those previously found in songbirds. Over 90% of parrots examined in the literature, and 69% ofAmazonaspecies surveyed, showed geographic variation consistent with a propensity to share local call types. This trait is evolutionarily labile and widespread; withinAmazonamost clades contained species with and without geographic variation, and most major lineages of parrots include representatives with dialects. We found little support for the long-standing hypothesis that dialects isolate populations and thus generate genetic differences among populations. Instead, most studies support the idea that dialects are maintained by social benefits of matching local call types, a finding that has implications for the management of captive and endangered populations. Considerable scope remains for studies that experimentally test hypotheses for the exact nature of these benefits, as well as studies that employ comparisons among species, to understand how the interplay between ecology, social dynamics and vocal learning capacities produces different patterns of variation across the parrots. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A population of Night Parrots (Pezoporus occidentalis) was discovered in 2013 in western Queensland and has become the primary focus of efforts aimed at conserving habitat and protecting the species from extinction. Critical information on nesting habitat and location, breeding season and behaviour, clutch size and breeding success is currently limited to anecdotal 19th-century observations and accounts by early natural historians. Here we describe several breeding attempts at Pullen Pullen Reserve. Our observations include nest and fledgling descriptions, habitat and clutch characteristics, breeding seasonality, adult breeding behaviour and vocalisations. We also identify a King Brown Snake (Pseudechis australis) as the predator responsible for one nesting failure. Our observations confirm historical reports of nesting habitat, egg and clutch size and breeding seasonality and provide important new information on vocalisations and adult behaviour around an active nest. These new data provide a basis for future studies and conservation management of this enigmatic threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Conventional thinking for many years held that the holotype of the GalahEolophus roseicapilla, obtained in 1801 by the Baudin Expedition from France, was from south-eastern Australia. This did not mesh well with what is known of Galahs not having occurred in that part of Australia at that time. That it must have been a western bird is now strongly supported by bibliographic and morphological evidence. Our earlier phylogeographic study of the Galah had shown geographical structure in its mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). We reasoned that if mtDNA could be extracted from the holotype the matter should be resolvable. We report the results of this work and affirm the case made from morphological and bibliographic data. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Museum specimens are a portal to the past, offering unique opportunities for improving knowledge of endangered species and the practices of past scientists. The Macleay Museum holds twelve Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) skins received in 1877 from Sir James Hector of the New Zealand Colonial Museum. Unfortunately beyond this, the provenance of the Macleay Kakapo is unknown, limiting their value. Somewhat unusually, the 140 year-old skins are stuffed with bryophytes. Here we attempt to resolve where the Macleay Kakapo were collected by synthesising distributional data for the mosses and liverworts with which the Kakapo are stuffed with archival evidence. We developed the hypothesis that Dr Hector himself may have collected the birds in Fiordland. Our study demonstrates that through careful examination, ornithologists can learn more about specimen history, and potentially solve the common unknown provenance problem of 19th Century museum bird specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Migratory birds spend a large proportion of their lives within non-breeding habitats. However, knowledge of how they respond to variable winter resources is limited, especially for small migratory species. Citizen science programs provide an effective way to collect data on small migrants over large spatio-temporal scales. Here we present survey data for the Critically Endangered Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) that were collected by hundreds of volunteers over 7 years across the species' winter range. Swift Parrots were detected in 23% of the 4035 surveys. Linear mixed models were used to examine variation in Swift Parrot abundance and correlations with climate variables. During non-drought years Swift Parrots concentrated within Victorian habitats. However, when Victoria was in drought, the response of the birds depended on the extent of drought conditions throughout the winter range. Consecutive years of drought in Victoria resulted in the population migrating over 1000 km further to drought refuge habitat in New South Wales. This study provides a rare demonstration of the large spatio-temporal responses of a migratory bird population to extreme climate conditions across its winter range. It demonstrates both variable and repeated use of winter habitats, and highlights the need for conservation management at large spatio-temporal scales. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A new, apparently isolated subspecies of the Australian Ringneck Parrot (Barnardius zonarius) is described from the Upper Cooper Creek drainage in far north-eastern South Australia and neighbouring extreme south-western Queensland. If two species are recognised in Barnardius, this form would be a subspecies of B. barnardi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), which causes psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), is known to infect a wide range of bird species, with all members of the Psittaciformes recognised as being susceptible. Across the world, genetically distinct circovirus species cause feather disease akin to PBFD in the Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides), as well as a wide range of columbids, anatids and lariids. Until recently, BFDV was thought to be restricted to Psittaciformes, with a rich viral genetic diversity present in parrots and their allies throughout Australia. The possibility of rare spill-over infection of BFDV into non-psittacine birds has the potential to reveal insights into the disease ecology of PBFD and the ontology of BFDV. In this paper we report evidence of BFDV infection in a Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua), which had feather lesions characteristic of PBFD. Analysis of the BFDV genome associated with the infection revealed lorikeets, which are known prey items of Powerful Owls, to be a likely source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite high overseas demand for native Australian parrots, there are few published studies quantifying the global trade in this group of birds. This study investigates the global trade in Australian parrots listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) via Singapore, a transit hub for the trade in exotic wildlife. Between 2005 and 2011, 19 964 Australian parrots, of 27 species and 2 subspecies, listed in Appendices I and II of CITES were imported into Singapore, of which 10 935, of 22 species and 2 subspecies, were subsequently exported, accounting for 10% of all reported bird trade by Singapore. Major exporters of Australian parrots, all of which were declared as captive-bred, include the Netherlands and South Africa, with major consumer markets in Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. The high overseas demand for Australian parrots, coupled with the lack of a systematic reporting and monitoring framework for wildlife trade in many countries, is potentially being exploited by wildlife smugglers within and outside of Australia. These findings have important implications for future efforts to legalise the controlled export of native parrots from Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is a recognised key threat for the conservation of parrots globally, causing morbidity and mortality of individuals in susceptible species. We present findings from a survey in 2012 to investigate the presence of BFDV in wild New Caledonian parrots, including the endangered Ouvea Parakeet (Eunymphicus uvaeensis). Blood and feather samples from seven Ouvea Parakeets and 13 New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus deplanchii), and feathers from 15 New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeets, five Horned Parakeets (Eunymphicus cornutus) and six New Caledonian Parakeets (Cyanoramphus saisseti) obtained from passive sampling, were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for BFDV. We identified a BFDV prevalence of 25% (95% CI 11-45%) in wild New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeets, suggesting this species may act as a reservoir for persistence of BFDV in the wild, placing other parrots in New Caledonia at risk. All other parrot species tested negative for BFDV. New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeets were introduced to Ouvéa Island in the 1970s, potentially bringing BFDV with them. As Ouvea Parakeets are restricted to this small island, we strongly recommend surveillance screening for BFDV in this species to guide future biosecurity and conservation efforts, and further understand the risk posed by BFDV to threatened parrots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among species, relative brain size (RBS) is correlated with aspects of ecology and behaviour. We analysed patterns of RBS in Australian birds based on 3164 measurements of brain size in 504 species, and provide species-level data for further analysis. Regression slopes calculated both with and without phylogenetic correction are provided for all species and for well-represented orders and passerine families. Patterns of brain-size allometry differ among orders but the evidence for variation among passerine families is equivocal, depending on the method of analysis. These differences are attributable both to absolute differences in RBS corresponding to different regression intercepts and to different regression slopes. Allometric patterns in Australian birds are virtually identical to those reported elsewhere, with large RBS in parrots, cockatoos and owls, and particularly small RBS in galliforms, dromaiids, grebes, swifts and swallows. Our data can be used to generate hypotheses about the drivers of RBS in particular avian groups. For example, small RBS in unrelated aerial foragers suggests that physical constraints may influence the evolution of RBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive birds that nest in cavities can monopolise cavity resources and limit breeding opportunities for cavity-breeding native species. Robust ecological information on the factors influencing selection and patterns of use of nesting sites, and a comprehensive multi-scale framework for the collection and analysis of nesting data, are essential for assessing the effects of introduced cavity nesters on communities of native cavity nesters. The native avifauna of New Zealand lacks primary cavity-excavators, and is now host to a suite of introduced cavity-nesting birds that may compete for suitable nesting sites. For most of these introduced species, however, data on nesting-site use are lacking. We studied the nesting ecology of the most successful psittacine invader, the Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius), in the North Island. Rosella nest-site use was investigated at the microhabitat, macrohabitat, and landscape scales. The number of potential nesting sites available in an area and proximity to fresh water were important determinants of occupancy of nest sites by Rosellas. In urban areas where mature, cavity-bearing trees were rare, Rosellas were observed using alternative nesting sites in tree ferns. This apparent flexibility in nesting behaviour may have contributed to the success and spread of Eastern Rosellas within New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The olfactory capabilities of birds have been vastly underestimated. We investigated the sense of smell of a captive group of New Zealand endemic parrots and found strong support for the hypothesis that both species can detect odour. Our aim was to assess whether Kea (Nestor notabilis) and Kaka (N. meridionalis) display varying behavioural responses to different types and concentrations of scent in comparison to controls. Video monitoring was used to measure parrot visits to scent stations compared with controls and to assess any tendency to explore novel odours. Although our sample sizes were small and individual responses varied, both species showed an ability to distinguish between scents and controls and to detect novel scents. We can conclude that both Kea and Kaka have functional olfactory abilities and we hypothesise that scent plays a significant role in their ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synchronisation of metabolism and behaviour to support migration has been demonstrated in a wide range of migratory organisms. However these models have been developed using long-distance migrants. This study investigated physiological and behavioural changes associated with short-distance migration in Swift Parrots (Lathamus discolor). Non-migratory Musk Lorikeets (Glossopsitta concinna) were included as a comparator species. The mean body mass and fat score of wild Swift Parrots was higher in spring than in summer. Mean pectoral muscle condition score did not vary seasonally. There was no significant variation in plasma corticosterone concentration in either captive adult male Swift Parrots or captive Musk Lorikeets, when examined either by month or when pooled by season. Captive Swift Parrots showed inconsistent diurnal and nocturnal orientation preferences. There was no evidence of migratory restlessness in any of the periods examined. Pectoral muscle condition, plasma corticosterone concentrations and behavioural changes of migratory restlessness and orientation showed no clear seasonal pattern of synchronous change that is expected in a migratory species. This may reflect the weakly synchronised migration of the Swift Parrots or that the fairly short-distance migration requires minimal physiological preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds cause considerable damage to horticultural crops in Australia each year. The playback of species-specific bioacoustic alarm stimuli has been one of the most promising methods suggested to deal with bird-problems. However, no published studies have tested this method on species of parrots, one of the main avian pests of crops in Australia and globally. Furthermore the effectiveness of this method might be reduced if alarm calls were played back that came from a non-local population. The Crimson Rosella species complex (Platycercus elegans), a parrot with considerable acoustic variation throughout its range, is considered a pest species of several commercial fruit crops. This study tested whether alarm calls from Crimson Rosellas were effective in reducing the activity of Rosellas in apple orchards. Three groups of bioacoustic stimuli were compared: control stimuli, local alarm calls and non-local alarm calls. Our results indicate that the playback of alarm calls from Crimson Rosellas is effective in reducing the activity of Rosellas in orchards over the period of study, and we did not find any difference between the use of local and non-local alarm calls. Our study suggests that playback of alarm calls may be an effective deterrent of rosellas over a broad distribution, at least for short-to medium-term use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parrots are considered a globally threatened group but, despite that, little is known about the ecology, reproduction and behaviour of many species in the wild, especially those of dry tropical habitats. I studied the breeding biology of the Yellow-faced Parrot (Alipiopsitta xanthops) between 2007 and 2009. Yellow-faced Parrots are endemic to the Cerrado (neotropical savanna) biome of central South America. Their reproductive biology is poorly known and here I provide basic information on reproduction, including breeding success, nest-site characteristics, and whether the availability of cavities is a limiting factor. Average clutch-size was two eggs, and hatching success was high (92%). All nests were in cavities in termite mounds, with used cavities deeper and with wider entrances than cavities that were not used. Entrances to nests were orientated towards the north-east. Although the number of cavities in the environment appears to be high, specific nesting requirements and competition with other cavity-nesting birds and insects may reduce the number of cavities that can be used. Nevertheless, nests were never observed to be reused and site-fidelity appeared to be low. Specific nesting requirements and low site-fidelity may create problems for near-threatened species with declining populations, such as the Yellow-faced Parrot. Additional studies and the immediate implementation of conservation actions are essential to avoid future declines of populations of Yellow-faced Parrots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular analyses have started to provide a congruent picture of parrot interrelationships but the affinities of some taxa remain uncertain and there have been few attempts to correlate the new molecular phylogenies with anatomical characters. In the present study, anatomical features that were traditionally used to classify parrots are mapped onto the molecular tree topologies. Some characters show a high degree of homoplasy but the distributions of others correlate well with the molecular phylogenies. The morphology of the hypotarsus indicates a clade including the core-Platycercini and Loricoloriinae excluding Neophemaand Neopsephotus. The lack of the ambiens muscle suggests a sister-group relationship between Coracopsisand Psittrichas, whose affinities are not congruently resolved by molecular data; a derived pattern of the carotid arteries indicates a position of these two taxa within a clade including Psittacus, Poicephalusand the Arini. Within the Arini, a clade including the long-tailed New World parrots is supported by the derived presence of unusually small narial openings, whereas a clade including some of the short-tailed taxa is supported by the loss of the ambiens muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) is a highly infectious and potentially fatal viral disease of parrots and their allies caused by the beak and feather disease virus (BFDV). Abnormal feather morphology and loss of feathers are common clinical symptoms of the disease. PBFD also damages the lymphoid tissue and affected birds may die as a result of secondary bacterial or fungal infections. The disease is therefore of concern for conservation biologists and wildlife managers, as it is immunosuppressive and can become an additional threatening factor among critically endangered psittacines. We conducted a PCR-based screening for BFDV in a wild population of the Red-fronted Parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) on Little Barrier Island, New Zealand, during a translocation of this species. Fifty-four parakeets were captured and feather samples collected for molecular screening. We detected BFDV DNA from 15 individuals, but only two showed external signs attributable to PBFD, namely abnormal feather morphology or colouration, loss of feathers and haemorrhagic feathers. Our survey represents the first positive identification of BFDV in wild New Zealand endemic psittacines and confirms the risk of spread of the virus between wild populations within this global hotspot of endemic psittacine diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a specimen of the Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) found dead in Diamantina National Park, in western Queensland. It was found on a low dissected tableland near the head of a small creek, in an area vegetated by sparse shrubland of Gidgee (Acacia cambagei), Crimson Turkey Bush (Eremophila latrobei) and Blunt-leaf Cassia (Senna artemisioidesvar. helmsii). Conditions were dry and the vegetation was not flowering or seeding. It is the second such specimen to be found dead in the region since 1990. The two specimens were found less than 200km apart. Molecular analysis showed that both specimens are female. The latest specimen appears to be an immature undergoing post-juvenile moult. The specimen confirms a breeding event by Night Parrots in the region less than two years before its discovery in September 2006. Together with the 1990 specimen and other recent reports, it can be inferred that a population of Night Parrots exists in the region and that this is an encouraging sign that the species is not simply senescing to extinction. Diamantina National Park likely provides excellent opportunities to further study the ecology and management requirements of this enigmatic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interrelationships between the currently recognised subtaxa of parrots (Psittaciformes) are poorly understood and even monophyly of some is not well established. A recent phylogenetic analysis of nuclear gene sequences strongly supports a previously unrecognised clade including Agapornis (lovebirds), Melopsittacus (Budgerigar), Cyclopsittini (fig-parrots) and Loriini (lories). In the present study it is shown that these taxa also share a unique derived morphology of the hypotarsus, which further occurs in Loriculus (hanging-parrots) and Micropsitta (pygmy-parrots). It is hypothesised that Agapornis, Loriculus, Micropsitta, Cyclopsittini, Melopsittacus and Loriini form a clade for which the name Loricoloriinae is proposed. The presence of an ossified arcus parahyalis on the hyoid bone further suggests a clade including Cyclopsittini, Melopsittacus and Loriini, which also gained support from analysis of molecular data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important that conservation strategies consider the needs of taxa that range over large areas or make significant daily or seasonal movements across areas or habitats, but data on movements in most tropical animal species is lacking. We examined frequency, direction, and temporal variation in supra-canopy flight activity (number of individuals recorded per hour of recording) of eight species of parrot and seven species of pigeon over 5 months in a New Guinean hill-forest. Papuan Mountain Pigeon (Gymnophaps albertisii) contributed 44% of all flights and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) 17%; while 95% of 1800 flights were made by seven species. Directions of flights were non-random in nearly all species. There was a significant movement of Papuan Mountain Pigeon, and smaller movements of Dusky Lory (Pseudeos fuscata), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) and Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus), towards lower altitudes in the mornings and a varying return to higher altitudes in the afternoons. Most species made more supra-canopy flights in the mornings than the afternoons but the exact patterns of flight differed between species. Flight activity varied significantly between months in several species, and flight activity tended to be highest during periods of breeding in most frugivorous birds. Large-bodied species made more supra-canopy flights than did smaller species, but there was no relationship across species between ?on-the-ground' bird densities and flight-frequency. Breadth of frugivorous diet (determined by review of the literature) did not influence flight-frequency. The factors that underpin the highly variable patterns of movement were identified. How these patterns might be affected by changes in land-use is important for landscape-level conservation, especially for those species that make systematic long-distance movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measures of abundance and population trends are necessary for informed management of rare species, but obtaining reliable estimates of sparsely occurring species is an ongoing challenge in conservation biology. It is even more difficult when the species of interest is also cryptic. We censused a population of one such species, the Western Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus flaviventris), over several years to develop a monitoring protocol to assist in future management, extend understanding of its response to fire, and provide a model that could be used with other cryptic bird species. Abundance of Western Ground Parrots, monitored by means of calling frequencies, varied from year to year at a study site in Fitzgerald River National Park, south-western Australia. Frequency of calling increased significantly from 1996 to 2000. During this time, frequency of calling peaked in 1998 in part of the study site that had been unburnt for more than 40 years, and remained high in 2000. Frequency of calling was similar in a more recently burnt part of the study area except in May 1998, when frequency was lower following a fire that burnt part of this area five months previously. Frequency of calling dropped significantly in both the long unburnt and recently burnt areas between 2000 and 2004; exact reasons for this are unknown. Western Ground Parrots can use recently burnt vegetation where it is immediately adjacent to an established population, but do not need fire to create habitat, at least in the timescale of 40 years. The current monitoring protocol, where eight listening posts are counted approximately three times each, is capable of detecting an annual change in frequency of calling of ~13%. The number of listening posts would need to be increased to 14 in order to detect an annual change of 10%, and would need to be increased to 40 in order to detect an annual change of 5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]