Western Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus flaviventris)
This secretive bird is certainly one of Australia's most threatened birds. It is estimated that only 200 birds remain alive in the wild. The parrot is now found in just a few locations along the South Coast -Cape Arid National Park, Fitzgerald River National Park, Cheyne Beach/Waychinicup area and Nuytsland Nature Reserve.
Ground parrots spend most of the day feeding amongst dense plant cover. Living in swampy heathland, they are rarely seen. When flushed, they fly low and seek cover amongst dense vegetation. Their call is heard only during the hour before sunrise and after sunset. Please contact us by e-mail if you want to receive Western Ground Parrot calls in MP3 format.
Click here to see an image of this secretive bird. Click here to watch a brief video.
The following clues might help to identify the Ground Parrot from other parrots, such as the Rock Parrot and Elegant Parrot, which sometimes occur in similar habitat.
| |
YES |
MAYBE |
DEFINITELY NOT |
| Where |
Low heathland usually with open mallee, swamp |
Dunes, beach, dense mallee |
Woodland or forest |
| First Sighting |
On ground, flushed from ground |
|
in trees or shrubs, on fence or powerline |
| Flying |
Low over vegetation, landing on the ground |
|
Up into a tree or out of sight |
| Size |
Similar to a Western Rosella |
|
As small as a Budgie or as big as an Australian Ringneck ("Twenty-eight") |
| Colours |
Basically green, yellowish green with yellow, brown or black flecks and bars
Red band above beak |
|
Any blue feathers
Any red feathers apart from red band above beak |
| Number of birds in a flock |
One or two |
Three or four |
More than four |
Anyone who may have seen a Western Ground Parrot is urged to contact project officer Abby Berryman (Department of the Environment and Conservation), Albany - PH 9842 4500 / E-Mail Abby.Berryman@dec.wa.gov.au)
A Friends of the Western Ground Parrot group was formed in March 2003. The aim of the group is to prevent this unusual parrot from becoming extinct. Anyone interested in joining the group, please contact Brenda - PH: (08) 9337 5673 / E-Mail: wgparrot@westnet.net.au or Anne - PH: (08) 9844 1793) / E-mail: albanybirds@hotmail.com for further details.
|
Western Ground Parrot surveys
If you are interested in helping with surveys along the South Coast, the Friends of the Western Ground Parrot are assisting the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). Several survey trips to Cape Arid Nat'l Park will be carried out during spring. For more information, please contact Abby Berryman. |
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