Difficult Bird Research Group runs the national monitoring programs for the swift parrot, regent honeyeater, forty spotted pardalote, superb parrot and the palm cockatoo, and we are leading an urgent intervention to rescue the orange bellied parrot from extinction. 

Species

Swift Parrots are a critically endangered nomadic migratory bird found only in south-eastern Australia. Their small population of less than 2000 birds is continuing to decline largely due to loss of habitat in both their breeding range (eastern Tasmania) and non-breeding range in south-eastern mainland Australia. A newly identified threatening process, predation by introduced sugar gliders in Tasmania, is also a major driver of their continued demise. Sugar gliders kill and eat adult female swift parrots while they are incubating their eggs, as well as the eggs and nestlings. Up to half of the nesting parrots can be eaten by sugar gliders every year. Swift parrots require two distinct but related habitat features to breed (1) food from flowering trees and (2) tree hollows for nesting. If these resources don’t overlap in space and time, breeding cannot occur. In their wintering range, swift parrots undertake long distance nomadic movements to find food.

Why it’s difficult

Swift parrots depend on suitable conditions across multiple, distant locations throughout their migratory cycle.  Managing the species poses substantial challenges because of the great plasticity in their annual movements in response to highly variable climatic conditions, their drastically reduced numbers and their dependence on habitats in modified landscapes.  Swift parrots also nest in extremely remote and rugged terrain in Tasmania, nesting in treetops of old growth forest.

What we’re doing

Landscape scale

We established a population monitoring program in 2009 through collaboration between the project team, the Swift Parrot Recovery Team, the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Governments and BirdLife Australia which addresses key actions of the swift parrot Recovery Plan.  The monitoring program surveys >1000 sites in potential foraging habitat across the breeding range to track annual variations in the distribution and relative abundance of the swift parrot population and provides a measure of available breeding habitat as defined by tree flowering.  Results from this landscape scale monitoring are then used to guide a survey of nesting habitat to assess the spatial distribution and density of breeding birds and factors affecting nest site selection. These data have allowed us to track trends in swift parrot site occupancy and abundance over several years, investigate habitat use and to identify priority areas of habitat. These data are crucial for understanding how the birds respond to patchy and unpredictable tree flowering events by shifting the locations where they breed.

We also are working on the Australian mainland where swift parrots spend the winter. In collaboration with the NSW Government we are undertaking a project that focuses on the western slopes in the Riverina and drought refuge habitat on the Central Coast. This work represents the most extensive winter habitat restoration project ever undertaken, and will build on long term knowledge about the species winter habitat use. We are also investigating changing use of habitats over the past 20 years on the Australian mainland by swift parrots, as well as the implications for land management in relation to changing climate.

Fine scale

Using our landscape scale monitoring data, we identify where swift parrot nesting aggregations occur each year across Tasmania. Swift Parrot breeding sites vary annually over a large range of fragmented habitat in south-eastern Tasmania, with the exact location of breeding each year depending on the intensity of local blue or black gum flowering and the availability of tree hollows for nesting. We are leading the first study to identify determinants of their breeding site choice and reproductive success against the backdrop of the annual variations in the distribution and availability of breeding habitat which has been dramatically altered and fragmented since European settlement, and the increased mortality rates due to predation by introduced sugar gliders. Our research has shown that nomadic movements within Tasmania to the best available flowering conditions to breed successfully, but that the effect of sugar gliders on their populations can be very severe in some places. We are also undertaking ground breaking research using high tech GPS loggers and motion activated cameras to identify where breeding swift parrots search for food while nesting and to identify the causes of nesting failure.  

The regent honeyeater is Australia’s most threatened songbird. Once common across south-eastern Australia, including major cities, its population has collapsed due to widespread land clearing. Fewer than 400 birds remain, and the species is now listed as Critically Endangered.

Regent honeyeaters rely on flowering eucalypts for food, especially yellow box and mugga ironbark trees. They move across large areas to follow flowering events and breed where food is available.

Photo: David Stowe

Why are they in trouble?

Why are they difficult to study?

What are we doing?

Research and Monitoring

We are running the first coordinated, national monitoring program for regent honeyeaters. Using habitat models and past sightings, we have set up over 1,000 survey sites across priority areas. These surveys track bird numbers, nesting activity and flowering of key food trees to better understand where and when regent honeyeaters survive and breed.

Future research

Future work focuses on improving breeding success and long-term survival. This includes monitoring nests, studying competition with other birds, tracking movements, analysing genetics, and understanding how song changes in very small populations. Together, this research helps guide habitat restoration, protection and recovery actions to prevent extinction.

The orange-bellied parrot is one of Australia’s most endangered birds. It migrates each year between Tasmania’s wild southwest, where it breeds, and the mainland’s coastal saltmarshes. Once common across southeastern Australia, its numbers have crashed to fewer than 100 in the wild. Decades of dedicated conservation, from captive breeding to habitat restoration, are now offering hope, with over 90 birds returning to breed in 2024.

Why is it difficult?

What are we doing?

Research, conservation & monitoring

We take hands-on, individual-based approaches to boost the number of wild-born Orange-bellied Parrots. Our team swaps infertile eggs for fertile ones from captivity, adds extra eggs or chicks to nests to balance brood sizes, and steps in during emergencies to hand-rear or feed struggling young.

Each nest is monitored with cameras to track behaviour and breeding success. We also manage habitat quality through ecological burns, study competition with other species, and analyse decades of data to continually refine how we protect and grow this fragile population.

Future research

1. Survival:
Why do so few young parrots survive today? Why do released captive birds struggle to migrate? We are looking for ways to reduce deaths and help wild populations thrive with less human intervention.

2. Habitat:
Parrots need the right food, shelter, and safe habitats to survive. We are studying how fire, invasive species, and other changes affect their feeding, nesting, and wintering areas. Protecting and improving these habitats is vital.

3. Migration:
These parrots travel long distances each year, but many mysteries remain. Where exactly do they go in winter? What hazards do they face along the way? Understanding their movements helps guide conservation and land management.

4. Population and Genetics:
Keeping the population healthy means maintaining genetic diversity and managing diseases. We are exploring strategies like genetic rescue to strengthen the species and prevent the loss of wild lineages.

Publications

The forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus) is an endangered songbird found only in Tasmania. It used to be widespread across the island’s forests where its preferred food tree, the white gum, occurs. This tiny bird now survives in small, fragmented populations and is one of Australia’s most endangered birds.

Why is it in trouble?

Why is it difficult? 

What we are doing?

Research and Monitoring

Since 2010, we have monitored forty-spotted pardalotes across their entire remaining range, including Bruny, Maria and Flinders islands. This work tracks population size and distribution, identifies important habitat, and has already led to the discovery of a new population, which is a major conservation success.

Parasitic Flies

The forty-spotted pardalote is losing most of its chicks to a tiny parasitic fly,Passeromyia longicornis. This fly lays eggs in the birds’ nests, and the larvae feed on the chicks, causing very high death rates. To help, we developed a simple but powerful tool: feather dispensers filled with insecticide-treated feathers. The birds collect these feathers for their nests, and the treatment protects their young. We are now rolling out feather dispensers across North Bruny Island.

What next?

To understand the parasite, we need to catch it. We are now running the first-ever tests to trap adult flies. This will help us learn how the parasite lives and how to control it in the long term.

The Superb Parrot is a bright, colorful bird from south-eastern Australia. It follows food like seeds and flowers and nests in large hollow trees that take hundreds of years to grow. With most of its habitat cleared for farming and competition from other animals, these parrots face compounding challenges in their struggle to survive.

Why is it difficult?

What are we doing?

Research & monitoring

The Superb Parrot is currently listed as Vulnerable, but with the loss of old, hollow-bearing trees and changes to climate, it could become “future endangered.” Many of the threats it faces are already happening, so starting research now is vital. By studying these birds in the wild, we can understand their movements, nesting needs, and population health before it’s too late.

Working with Professor Adrian Manning (ANU) and the ACT Government, we’ve studied where parrots choose to nest, tracked their movements using GPS devices, and banded over 40 birds. We’ve also monitored key breeding adults to understand how they use their habitat.

Next, we plan to expand our research across the parrot’s entire breeding range. This will help us learn how populations are connected, how they respond to climate change, and how the number of nesting trees affects survival. By collecting this information early, we can take smarter actions to protect the Superb Parrot and ensure these amazing birds continue to thrive in the wild.

Future research

Some of the key priorities for future research on the superb parrot include:

• Seasonal movements: Track where birds go during different times of the year and how they use important habitat corridors.

• Genetics: Study how different groups of birds are related and connected across their range.

• Nest threats: Look at competition for nests and dangers from predators, both native and introduced.

• Survival after leaving the nest: Find out how many young birds survive and join the adult population.

• Human impacts: Understand how things like wind farms could affect the birds.

• Nesting help: Test how effective nest boxes and hollow tree enhancements are.

• Climate change: Explore how changing temperatures and weather patterns could affect where birds live.

• Habitat restoration: See which ways of restoring habitat actually help the species.

• Behaviour and habitat: Study how the birds’ social habits affect the places they use.

• Where they settle: Find out what habitat features make certain sites attractive.

• Movement patterns: Learn whether the birds travel, wander, or stay in one place.

Publications

With their cheeky crests and ‘creaky door’ call, Gang-gang Cockatoos are one of Australia’s most beloved birds. Once a common sight in forests and suburbs alike, their numbers have fallen sharply since 1999, a decline made worse by the devastating 2019–2020 bushfires. In 2022, the species was officially listed as endangered by the Australian Government.

Despite their popularity, much about the Gang-gang remains a mystery. There’s still no national monitoring program, meaning scientists don’t know how many remain or where their most critical habitats lie. Canberra, where these birds are regularly seen and often nest in urban trees, is now considered the heart of the Gang-gang’s range.

Known for their strong social bonds and tendency to gather during breeding, protecting all known nesting areas has become an urgent conservation priority.

Banner image and above photo: David Stowe

Why is it difficult?

What are we doing?

Research & monitoring

Despite being one of Australia’s most iconic birds, we know very little about the Gang-gang Cockatoo. Learning more about their behaviour and habitat is essential for their conservation.

Much of what we do know comes from dedicated citizen scientists in the ACT. Working with them and the ACT Government, we’ve been studying how well Gang-gangs are breeding and which trees they prefer to nest in.

Our research has helped identify the types of trees and hollows they need, and we’ve carried out surveys to plan a long-term monitoring program. This work has also shown that we need new and creative ways to track these birds and close the gaps in our understanding to better support their conservation.

Future research

Our research is helping to uncover how Gang-gang Cockatoos live, move, and breed across southeastern Australia. Here’s what we’re doing:

• Finding nesting sites: Locating and describing the places where Gang-gangs breed in New South Wales and Victoria.

• Monitoring nests: Keeping track of how successful breeding is at all known nest sites across the ACT, NSW, and Victoria.

• Tracking movements: Testing small GPS transmitters to learn how far the birds travel and where they go during and after breeding.

• Mapping their range: Collecting every possible Gang-gang sighting to create maps showing where they live and how their distribution is changing.

• Studying genetics: Examining the genetic diversity of Gang-gangs across their range to understand how populations are connected.

• Testing new techniques: Trying out non-invasive genetic sampling (like collecting feathers or eggshells) to monitor changes in population size over time.

What can you do?

How You Can Help Protect Gang-gang Cockatoos

We’re proud to be working alongside local communities, land managers, and councils to protect the much-loved Gang-gang Cockatoo. You can play an important part in their conservation by getting involved in a few simple ways:

Record Your Sightings

If you spot Gang-gangs using tree hollows, for example, entering and exiting repeatedly between September and January or feeding young chicks, please record your observations on NatureMapr or contact us directly. Every record helps us understand where and how these birds are breeding.

Collect Feathers for Research

If you find a Gang-gang feather on the ground, please collect it and send it to us. Shed feathers provide valuable genetic information without disturbing the birds. Check our Feather Guide for tips on identifying Gang-gang feathers and how to store them safely.

Let Them Feed Naturally

Feeding Gang-gangs may seem helpful, but their natural diet is incredibly diverse and changes with the seasons. Foods like sunflower seeds don’t provide the nutrition they need, so it’s best to let them forage naturally.

The Tasmanian masked owl is a large, powerful owl found only in Tasmania. It is a top nocturnal predator that hunts mostly small mammals, but can also take birds and larger prey. This owl relies on old-growth forests and large eucalypt trees for shelter and nesting, making it vulnerable to habitat loss.

Above photo: JJ Harrison

Why is it in Trouble?

Why is it difficult?

What are we doing?

The rufous scrub-bird is a rare, ancient songbird found in dense rainforests across parts of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland. Less than 2,000 of these birds remain, and their survival is threatened by habitat loss and natural disasters like bushfires. We have started a DNA project to learn more about the bird’s genetics, which could help guide future conservation efforts.

Why are they in trouble?

Why is it difficult?

What are we doing?

Research and Monitoring

Scientists from ANU and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water are collecting DNA from different scrub-bird colonies. They aim to understand the genetic differences between groups so they can plan future conservation actions.

Future research

Future work will continue DNA analysis across all colonies to build a full picture of the species’ genetic health. This will underpin efforts to boost resilience, guide any captive breeding programs and ensure that conservation actions help keep the species from disappearing.

The King Island scrubtit and King Island brown thornbill are two tiny birds found only on King Island. Both are island subspecies of more common mainland birds, but on King Island their populations have fallen to extremely low levels. The scrubtit is listed as Critically Endangered, and the brown thornbill as Endangered, yet very little is known about how many remain or how best to protect them.

Why are they in trouble?

Severe habitat loss

More than two-thirds of King Island’s native vegetation has been cleared, leaving only small patches of suitable habitat.

Fire and habitat damage

Wildfires can destroy large areas of remaining habitat in a single event, as seen in key scrubtit strongholds.

Very small populations

With so few confirmed sightings, both birds are at high risk of local extinction.

Why is it difficult?

They are extremely rare

There have been very few confirmed sightings over several decades.

Their habitat is highly fragmented

Remaining habitat occurs in small, scattered patches that are hard to survey.

We know very little about their ecology

Especially for the brown thornbill, basic information about habitat needs is missing.

What we are doing?

We have undertaken the first systematic surveys on King Island for both of these critically endangered birds. Our surveys have provided the richest data on both the scrubtit and thornbill available in contemporary times, and our efforts represent the largest systematic survey of these species ever undertaken.

Photos: Tim Paasila

Photo: JJ Harrison

Conservation and tool use in palm cockatoos

Palm cockatoos are large, charismatic and emblematic birds of northern Australia and New Guinea yet our research suggests they are in steep decline. We study the demography and dynamics of the entire population on Cape York Peninsula and the causes of their decline including large scale habitat loss from mining, changed fire regimes and low reproductive success.

Palm cockatoos are the only non-human species that manufactures and uses a sound tool. The males make drumsticks by breaking off a branch, stripping the foliage and trimming to appropriate length. They then grasp the drumsticks in one foot and beat them against a hollow trunk as part of their display to females. Our project explores this remarkable behaviour and the aspects of intelligence required to make and use tools in such a human-like fashion.

Why it’s difficult

Palm cockatoos are found in remote parts of Cape York Peninsula 10-20 hours drive north of Cairns. They only occur in the small bands of woodland adjacent to rainforest. They are shy and elusive and all but impossible to catch, necessitating alternative methods for studying them, and lots of patience! Only by understanding their movements and behaviour intimately have we been able to approach, observe and gain precious DNA samples for population genetic analysis. We climb the trees when safe but use cameras mounted on tall poles to see inside the nests when the wood is too old or rotten to support our weight. 

What we’re doing

Conservation biology

Members of our team have been researching this species since 1999. The initial emphasis was on breeding biology and ecology of palm cockatoos in the rainforests of the north east coast. This population was shown to be in steep decline due to very low rates of reproduction. Females were shown to lay only one egg every two years on average, and that one egg only had a 20% chance of leading to a fledgling. On this basis palm cockatoos were declared Vulnerable by the Australia Government which led to greater legal protection. We have extended this research to include the other populations on Cape York Peninsula to see whether they are connected enough to buffer the east coast population from decline. Our work includes comparison of calls between the populations (eg west coast versus east coast) and population genetics to determine the connectedness of the populations, and will lead to a population viability analysis to determine the conservation status of this species in Australia.

Drumming behaviour

We have succeeded in videoing this incredible behaviour on over 60 occasions and have analysed the patterns and context of the performance of males. Initial results confirm that the behavior is remarkably analogous to musical instrument use in humans, to the extent that it is likely to constitute the only animal parallel for this complex human behaviour.    

Images 1-3 credit: Christina N. Zdenek

Title image credit: David Stowe

The Regent Parrot is a striking green and yellow parrot found in southern, temperate Australia. It relies on river systems and nearby woodlands for nesting, feeding and breeding. While still locally common in some areas, the species has declined across much of its range and is now considered threatened in several states, making its long-term survival uncertain.

Above photo: David Stowe

Why are they in trouble?

Why is it difficult?

What are we doing?

Research and monitoring

Researchers are monitoring Regent Parrot populations to better understand where they breed, how successful nests are, and which habitats are most important for survival. This includes surveys of nesting sites, tracking movements, and assessing the availability and condition of tree hollows. These data help identify priority areas for protection and guide habitat management decisions.

Future research

Future research will focus on understanding how Regent Parrots respond to habitat restoration and changes in water management. There is also a need to investigate how climate change may affect breeding success and food availability. By filling these knowledge gaps, researchers can develop more effective conservation strategies to help secure the future of this iconic parrot.

The species

 The Princess Parrot is a colourful, medium-sized bird, measuring around 40-45 cm long and weighing 90-120g. A mix of blue-grey, pink, and olive-green colours, these birds live in Australia’s driest deserts. Adult males have the longest tail of any Australian parrot relative to their body length, and their long pointed wings help them fly quickly over long distances looking for food, water and nesting sites.

Understanding the habitat preferences, life cycle, and movement patterns of Princess Parrots is crucial for their conservation. They occur across sand dunes, savanna woodlands, and riverine areas, where they feed on seeds, flowers, nectar, and leaves. They nest in the hollows of old trees, but their breeding behaviours and movement patterns of Princess Parrots remain poorly understood. Unravelling these mysteries is essential for identifying key areas for protection and management, ensuring the long-term survival of these charismatic birds in Australia's harsh desert landscapes.

Why it’s difficult

Princess Parrots live in the driest regions of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and South Australia. However, they're not easy to come across as they're scattered thinly across very large areas. The birds are nomadic, and move across vast distances depending on local conditions. This means that their occurrence in any one place is extremely unpredictable. For example, there were no sightings in the Great Sandy or Gibson Deserts between 1950 and 1974, but after this period there were more regular sightings until 1997. At some locations, the intervals between princess parrot revisiting known habitat can be up to 20 years.

The nomadic movements of these parrots (and the remoteness of their habitat) mean that sightings tend to be rare, which in turn limits our understanding of the true princess parrot distribution. It is estimated their range is about 2,000,000 square kilometers, but this estimate isn't very certain.

What we are doing

We have just begun working to gather up-to-date information to learn more about where they live, how many there are, and how they move around. By working together with communities and conservation groups, we are tying to gather information about Princess Parrots from those lucky enough to see them in the wild.

Have you seen the princess parrot?

We are collecting sightings and information from people who have seen this bird in the wild. If you have seen a princess parrot or have any other information about them, please fill out our sightings form.