swift parrot

{{Short description|Critically endangered species of Australian bird}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2020}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Swift parrot, swift waylitja

| image = Swift Parrot eating Lerp.jpg

| image_caption = A swift parrot in eucalypt feeding on lerp in Hobart, TAS.

| image2 = Swift Parrot close-up.jpg

| image2_caption = Swift parrot close-up

| status = CR

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2018 |title=Lathamus discolor |volume=2018 |page=e.T22685219A130886700 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22685219A130886700.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}

| genus = Lathamus

| parent_authority = Lesson, 1830

| display_parents = 2

| species = discolor

| authority = (Shaw, 1790)

| range_map = Swift Parrot Range.png

| range_map_caption = Distribution of the swift parrot
From Atlas of Living Australia

| synonyms = Psittacus discolor Shaw, 1790

Psittacus sanguinolentus Kerr, 1792

Psittacus lathami Bechstein, 1811

Psittacus humeralis Bechstein, 1811

Psittacus banksianus Vieillot, 1818

Psittacus australis Kuhl 1820

Lathamus rubrifrons Lesson, 1830

| synonyms_ref = {{cite web|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/Lathamus_discolor |title=Species Lathamus discolor (Shaw, 1790)|author=Australian Biological Resources Study|date=7 October 2015 |work=Australian Faunal Directory|publisher=Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government|access-date=20 September 2021|location=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory}}

}}

File:Swift Parrot.jpg

The swift parrot (Lathamus discolor), also known by the palawa kani name swift waylitja,{{cite web | url=https://supporter.wilderness.org.au/donation-pages/a2211-stt-court | title=Are lutruwita's forests being unlawfully logged? }}{{cite web | url=https://www.wilderness.org.au/news-events/its-a-win-tasmanian-government-logging-corp-concedes-at-11th-hour | title=It's a Win: Tasmanian Government Logging Corp Concedes at 11th Hour… }} is a species of broad-tailed parrot, found only in southeastern Australia. The species breeds in Tasmania during the summer and migrates north to southeastern mainland Australia from Griffith-Warialda in New South Wales and west to Adelaide in the winter. It is a nomadic migrant, and it settles in an area only when there is food available. The Swift Parrot was voted 2023 Bird of the Year in The Guardian Australia and BirdLife Australia's biennial poll.

The species is critically endangered,{{Cite journal|last1=Heinsohn|first1=Robert|last2=Webb|first2=Matthew|last3=Lacy|first3=Robert|last4=Terauds|first4=Aleks|last5=Alderman|first5=Rachael|last6=Stojanovic|first6=Dejan|date=2015-06-01|title=A severe predator-induced population decline predicted for endangered, migratory swift parrots (Lathamus discolor)|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632071500110X|journal=Biological Conservation|language=en|volume=186|pages=75–82|doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2015.03.006|bibcode=2015BCons.186...75H |issn=0006-3207|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite journal|last1=Webb|first1=Matthew H.|last2=Stojanovic|first2=Dejan|last3=Heinsohn|first3=Robert|date=2019-06-18|title=Policy failure and conservation paralysis for the critically endangered swift parrot|url=https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/PC18020|journal=Pacific Conservation Biology|language=en|volume=25|issue=2|pages=116–123|doi=10.1071/PC18020|issn=2204-4604|doi-access=free|bibcode=2019PacSB..25..116W }} and the severe predation by introduced sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) on breeding females and nests in some locations has demonstrated an unexpected but potentially serious new threat. Genetic evidence for the effective population size suggests that the minimum potential population size is now around 300–500 individual swift parrots.{{Cite journal|last1=Olah|first1=G.|last2=Stojanovic|first2=D.|last3=Webb|first3=M. H.|last4=Waples|first4=R. S.|last5=Heinsohn|first5=R.|title=Comparison of three techniques for genetic estimation of effective population size in a critically endangered parrot|journal=Animal Conservation|year=2020|volume=24|issue=3|pages=491–498|language=en|doi=10.1111/acv.12655|issn=1469-1795|doi-access=free|hdl=1885/274558|hdl-access=free}}{{Cite journal |last1=Olah |first1=George |last2=Waples |first2=Robin S. |last3=Stojanovic |first3=Dejan |date=2024 |title=Influence of molecular marker type on estimating effective population size and other genetic parameters in a critically endangered parrot |journal=Ecology and Evolution |language=en |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=e11102 |doi=10.1002/ece3.11102 |pmid=38524913 |issn=2045-7758 |pmc=10961163|bibcode=2024EcoEv..1411102O }} This supports the results of earlier studies that use demographic information about swift parrots to predict that the species could be extinct by 2031.{{Cite journal|last1=Heinsohn|first1=Robert|last2=Olah|first2=George|last3=Webb|first3=Matthew|last4=Peakall|first4=Rod|last5=Stojanovic|first5=Dejan|date=2019|title=Sex ratio bias and shared paternity reduce individual fitness and population viability in a critically endangered parrot|journal=Journal of Animal Ecology|language=en|volume=88|issue=4|pages=502–510|doi=10.1111/1365-2656.12922|pmid=30511387|issn=1365-2656|doi-access=free|bibcode=2019JAnEc..88..502H |hdl=1885/201572|hdl-access=free}}

Habitat for the critically endangered swift parrot is being "knowingly destroyed" by logging because of government failures to manage the species' survival.{{Cite journal |last1=Webb |first1=Matthew H. |last2=Stojanovic |first2=Dejan |last3=Heinsohn |first3=Robert |date=2018-07-17 |title=Policy failure and conservation paralysis for the critically endangered swift parrot |url=https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/PC18020 |journal=Pacific Conservation Biology |language=en |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=116–123 |doi=10.1071/PC18020 |issn=2204-4604|doi-access=free |bibcode=2019PacSB..25..116W }}

Denominations

The swift parrot's name is related to its speed during the flight and wing.

The name swift waylitja is derived from the palawa kani word waylitja which means parrot.{{cite web | url=https://supporter.wilderness.org.au/donation-pages/a2211-stt-court?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=places_tasforests&utm_content=do | title=Are lutruwita's forests being unlawfully logged? }}{{cite web | url=https://www.wilderness.org.au/news-events/its-a-win-tasmanian-government-logging-corp-concedes-at-11th-hour | title=It's a Win: Tasmanian Government Logging Corp Concedes at 11th Hour… }}

Taxonomy

The surgeon John White described the swift parrot in 1790 as the red-shouldered paroquet (Psittacus discolor).{{cite book|last=White|first=John|title=Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales with Sixty-five Plates of Non-descript Animals, Birds, Lizards, Serpents, Curious Cones of Trees and Other Natural Productions|publisher=Debrett|date=1790|pages=[https://archive.org/details/b28408160/page/263 263]|url=https://archive.org/details/b28408160}} It was placed in the genus Lathamus by René Primevère Lesson in 1830.

Despite their superficial resemblance to lorikeets in appearance and behaviour, the swift parrot belongs to tribe Platycercini, making them more closely related to rosellas than to lorikeets.{{Cite web |last=Australia |first=Atlas of Living |title=Species: Lathamus discolor (Swift Parrot) |url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/4cb195fd-b127-44cb-ad85-a62d224e9a96#classification |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=bie.ala.org.au |language=en-AU}} Like lorikeets, they possess brush-tipped tongues, although the "bristles" or papillae are shorter and more localised.{{Cite book |title=Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds |publisher=Reader's Digest (Australia) Pty Ltd |year=1976 |isbn=0949819999 |pages=318}} Their close resemblance to more distantly-related genera is an example of convergent evolution.{{Cite web |last=Nuijten |first=Daniel |date=2015-11-11 |title=Breeding and biology of the Swift Parrot. PART I |url=https://www.parrotsdailynews.com/breeding-and-biology-of-the-swift-parrot-part-i/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Parrots Daily News |language=en-US}}

A 2011 genetic study including nuclear and mitochondrial DNA found that the swift parrot was an early offshoot from a lineage giving rise to the genera Prosopeia, Eunymphicus and Cyanoramphus, diverging around 14 million years ago.{{Cite journal|last1=Joseph|first1=Leo|last2=Toon|first2=Alicia|last3=Schirtzinger|first3=Erin E.|last4=Wright|first4=Timothy F.|date=2011-06-01|title=Molecular systematics of two enigmatic genera Psittacella and Pezoporus illuminate the ecological radiation of Australo-Papuan parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes)|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790311001564|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|language=en|volume=59|issue=3|pages=675–684|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2011.03.017|pmid=21453777|bibcode=2011MolPE..59..675J |issn=1055-7903|url-access=subscription}}

"Swift parrot" has been designated the official common name by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC).{{cite web |editor1-last=Gill |editor1-first=Frank |editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) |editor2-last=Donsker |editor2-first=David |year=2021 |title=Parrots, Cockatoos |work=World Bird List Version 11.2 |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/parrots/ |publisher=International Ornithologists' Union |access-date=19 September 2021}}

Description

The swift parrot is about {{convert|25|cm|sigfig=1}} long and has long pointed wings and long tapering tail feathers.{{Cite book|last=Pizzey |first=Graham |url=https://archive.org/details/grahampizzeyfran0000pizz/page/268/mode/2up |url-access=registration |title=The Graham Pizzey & Frank Knight Field Guide to the Birds of Australia|date=1997 |page=268 |publisher=HarperCollins|others=illustrated by Frank Knight|isbn=9780207196911 |location=Pymble, N.S.W. |oclc=677260679}} It is mainly green with bluish crown and red on the face above and below the beak. The adult female is slightly duller, and the juvenile has a dark brown iris and a pale orange bill.{{cite web|url =http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1488&m=0 | title = Swift Parrot - BirdLife Species Factsheet| publisher =BirdLife International |year = 2008}} The forehead to throat is crimson and there is also crimson patch at the top, edge of the wing. They are noisy, always active and showy, and are very fast with their direct flight.{{Cite book|last=Forshaw, Joseph Michael.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/57893782|title=Parrots of the world : an identification guide|date=2006|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=0-691-09251-6|location=Princeton, N.J.|oclc=57893782}}

Breeding

The species breeds in Tasmania from September to February. It nests in tree cavities, but is highly selective in the types of cavities it uses as nests. It prefers cavities with small entrances, deep chambers and wide floors.{{Cite journal|last1=Stojanovic|first1=Dejan|last2=Webb|first2=Matthew|last3=Roshier|first3=David|last4=Saunders|first4=Debra|last5=Heinsohn|first5=Robert|date=2012-12-01|title=Ground-based survey methods both overestimate and underestimate the abundance of suitable tree-cavities for the endangered Swift Parrot|url=https://doi.org/10.1071/MU11076|journal=Emu - Austral Ornithology|volume=112|issue=4|pages=350–356|doi=10.1071/MU11076|bibcode=2012EmuAO.112..350S |s2cid=86704760|issn=0158-4197|url-access=subscription}} Tree cavities with these traits are rare and comprise only 5% of the available cavities in Tasmanian forests. These cavities are more likely to occur in large trees.{{Cite journal|last1=Webb|first1=Matthew H.|last2=Holdsworth|first2=Mark C.|last3=Webb|first3=Janneke|date=2012-09-01|title=Nesting requirements of the endangered Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor)|url=https://doi.org/10.1071/MU11014|journal=Emu - Austral Ornithology|volume=112|issue=3|pages=181–188|doi=10.1071/MU11014|bibcode=2012EmuAO.112..181W |s2cid=86262692|issn=0158-4197|url-access=subscription}} These characteristics of tree cavities are important for passive defense of their nests against native Tasmanian predators.{{Cite journal|last1=Stojanovic|first1=Dejan|last2=Rayner|first2=Laura|last3=Webb|first3=Matthew|last4=Heinsohn|first4=Robert|date=2017-07-03|title=Effect of nest cavity morphology on reproductive success of a critically endangered bird|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2017.1311221|journal=Emu - Austral Ornithology|volume=117|issue=3|pages=247–253|doi=10.1080/01584197.2017.1311221|bibcode=2017EmuAO.117..247S |s2cid=89639261|issn=0158-4197|url-access=subscription}} Tree cavities suitable for nesting are highly vulnerable to disturbance. Wildfire caused the collapse of 62.8% of known swift parrot nest cavities (and 48.6% of nesting trees).{{Cite journal|last1=Stojanovic|first1=Dejan|last2=Webb nee Voogdt|first2=Janneke|last3=Webb|first3=Matthew|last4=Cook|first4=Henry|last5=Heinsohn|first5=Robert|date=2016-01-15|title=Loss of habitat for a secondary cavity nesting bird after wildfire|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112715005976|journal=Forest Ecology and Management|series=Special Section: Forest Management for Climate Change|language=en|volume=360|pages=235–241|doi=10.1016/j.foreco.2015.10.040|bibcode=2016ForEM.360..235S |issn=0378-1127|url-access=subscription}} Deforestation (primarily driven by native forest logging) has been an important contemporary cause of habitat loss for swift parrots. In just one area of swift parrot breeding habitat, the southern forests, 33% of total forest cover was lost/disturbed by logging between 1996–2016, and 23% of potential swift parrot nesting habitat was logged over this same time period. The local extent of deforestation is also positively correlated with other threats to the parrots like predation by sugar gliders.{{Cite journal |last1=Stojanovic |first1=Dejan |last2=Webb |first2=Matthew H. |last3=Alderman |first3=Rachael |last4=Porfirio |first4=Luciana L. |last5=Heinsohn |first5=Robert |date=2014 |title=Discovery of a novel predator reveals extreme but highly variable mortality for an endangered migratory bird |journal=Diversity and Distributions |language=en |volume=20 |issue=10 |pages=1200–1207 |doi=10.1111/ddi.12214 |issn=1472-4642 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2014DivDi..20.1200S }}

File:Swift Parrot juvenile.jpg

Swift parrots select where to breed in Tasmania based on the local availability of both food and nesting sites.{{Cite journal |last1=Webb |first1=Matthew H. |last2=Wotherspoon |first2=Simon |last3=Stojanovic |first3=Dejan |last4=Heinsohn |first4=Robert |last5=Cunningham |first5=Ross |last6=Bell |first6=Phil |last7=Terauds |first7=Aleks |date=2014-08-01 |title=Location matters: Using spatially explicit occupancy models to predict the distribution of the highly mobile, endangered swift parrot |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320714002055 |journal=Biological Conservation |language=en |volume=176 |pages=99–108 |doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2014.05.017 |bibcode=2014BCons.176...99W |issn=0006-3207|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal|last1=Webb|first1=Matthew H.|last2=Terauds|first2=Aleks|last3=Tulloch|first3=Ayesha|last4=Bell|first4=Phil|last5=Stojanovic|first5=Dejan|last6=Heinsohn|first6=Robert|date=2017|title=The importance of incorporating functional habitats into conservation planning for highly mobile species in dynamic systems|journal=Conservation Biology|language=es|volume=31|issue=5|pages=1018–1028|doi=10.1111/cobi.12899|pmid=28130909|issn=1523-1739|doi-access=free|bibcode=2017ConBi..31.1018W |hdl=1885/148292|hdl-access=free}} The parrots settle wherever in Tasmania their preferred food (nectar from flowering Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus ovata) is abundant, but birds can only breed where suitable nesting sites are also available nearby. Because swift parrots prefer to breed in the most resource rich patch of food, they are able to rear their nestlings in the 'best' conditions each year.{{Cite journal|last1=Stojanovic|first1=Dejan|last2=Terauds|first2=Aleks|last3=Westgate|first3=Martin J.|last4=Webb|first4=Matthew H.|last5=Roshier|first5=David A.|last6=Heinsohn|first6=Robert|date=2015|editor-last=Griffith|editor-first=Simon|title=Exploiting the richest patch has a fitness pay-off for the migratory swift parrot|journal=Journal of Animal Ecology|language=en|volume=84|issue=5|pages=1194–1201|doi=10.1111/1365-2656.12375|pmid=25973857|doi-access=free|bibcode=2015JAnEc..84.1194S }} Successful swift parrot nests have a mean clutch sizes of 3.8 eggs, and produce 3.2 fledglings, equating to breeding success of 86.9%. However sugar gliders, which are introduced to Tasmania,{{Cite journal|last1=Campbell|first1=Catriona D.|last2=Sarre|first2=Stephen D.|last3=Stojanovic|first3=Dejan|last4=Gruber|first4=Bernd|last5=Medlock|first5=Kathryn|last6=Harris|first6=Stephen|last7=MacDonald|first7=Anna J.|last8=Holleley|first8=Clare E.|date=2018|title=When is a native species invasive? Incursion of a novel predatory marsupial detected using molecular and historical data|journal=Diversity and Distributions|language=en|volume=24|issue=6|pages=831–840|doi=10.1111/ddi.12717|issn=1472-4642|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018DivDi..24..831C |hdl=1885/312409|hdl-access=free}} are a major nest predator of swift parrots. Sugar gliders can result in locally severe parrot nesting failure, and there is a positive relationship between the severity of glider predation and land-cover of mature forest within 500m of a swift parrot nest. This relationship means that in locations where forest cover is low and disturbed, nest failure of swift parrots can be as high as 100%. Sugar gliders are tolerant of forest disturbance, and have high rates of occupancy of swift parrot habitat in Tasmania.{{Cite journal|last1=Allen|first1=Mark|last2=Webb|first2=Matthew H.|last3=Alves|first3=Fernanda|last4=Heinsohn|first4=Robert|last5=Stojanovic|first5=Dejan|date=2018|title=Occupancy patterns of the introduced, predatory sugar glider in Tasmanian forests|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/aec.12583|journal=Austral Ecology|language=en|volume=43|issue=4|pages=470–475|doi=10.1111/aec.12583|bibcode=2018AusEc..43..470A |url-access=subscription}} On offshore islands where sugar gliders are absent, swift parrots have higher breeding success.

Distribution

Genetic evidence has shown that the swift parrot is a single, genetically mixed and nomadic population that moves around the landscape each year.{{Cite journal|last1=Stojanovic|first1=D.|last2=Olah|first2=G.|last3=Webb|first3=M.|last4=Peakall|first4=R.|last5=Heinsohn|first5=R.|date=2018|title=Genetic evidence confirms severe extinction risk for critically endangered swift parrots: implications for conservation management|journal=Animal Conservation|language=en|volume=21|issue=4|pages=313–323|doi=10.1111/acv.12394|issn=1469-1795|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018AnCon..21..313S }} Because they are nomadic, swift parrots can occur across a very large potential area, but settlement at a given location depends on the local availability of food.{{Cite journal|last1=Saunders|first1=Debra L.|last2=Heinsohn|first2=Robert|date=2008-03-01|title=Winter habitat use by the endangered, migratory Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) in New South Wales|url=https://doi.org/10.1071/MU07033|journal=Emu - Austral Ornithology|volume=108|issue=1|pages=81–89|doi=10.1071/MU07033|bibcode=2008EmuAO.108...81S |s2cid=86546571|issn=0158-4197|hdl=1885/38004|hdl-access=free}} However, in the Tasmanian breeding range, swift parrots need both food and suitable nesting sites to occur in close proximity in order to nest at a given site. The swift parrot migrates each year across Bass Strait between Tasmania and the mainland of Australia. They arrive in Tasmania during September and return to south-eastern Australia during March and April. They can be found as far north as south-eastern Queensland and as far west as Adelaide in South Australia, although recent sightings have been restricted to the south-eastern part of the state. Because swift parrots are nomadic migrants, their occurrence at any one location are difficult to predict. Although they will repeatedly return to the same locations, local occurrence may only happen intermittently depending on whether or not food (flowering trees) is available in a given year.

=Important Bird Areas=

Habitat

File:Swift Parrot.ogv

Usually inhabiting: forests, woodlands, agricultural land and plantations, and also in urban areas.

Diet

Swift parrots are primarily nectar feeders, preferring nectar from flowering Eucalyptus spp. In Tasmania, their settlement of breeding habitat is regulated by the occurrence of flowering in their two main food trees Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus ovata. In the winter, their habitat use is broader, with foraging occurring on a range of flowering Eucalyptus spp. across southeastern mainland Australia.{{Cite journal|last1=Kennedy|first1=Simon J.|last2=Tzaros|first2=Christopher L.|date=2005|title=Foraging ecology of the Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor in the box-ironbark forests and woodlands of Victoria|url=https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/pc050158|journal=Pacific Conservation Biology|language=en|volume=11|issue=3|pages=158–173|doi=10.1071/pc050158|bibcode=2005PacSB..11..158J |issn=2204-4604|url-access=subscription}}

Conservation status

Modelling of demographic data predicted that the swift parrot is Critically Endangered. Further modelling showed that other aspects of their life history (sex ratio bias and shared paternity) makes their population declines worse than originally predicted. Genetic evidence showed there is only one swift parrot population, so threats at different times and places can potentially act on the entire population. Although expert opinion has estimated the species population size as approximately 2,000 individuals,Garnett ST, Szabo JK,Dutson G. (2011) Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. CSIRO, Melbourne extensive genetic evidence suggests this is overly optimistic, and that the (minimum) census size of the population may be around 300–500 individuals. Severe deforestation of their breeding range has been long recognised as the principal threat to the species.Saunders DL,Tzaros C (2011) National Recovery Plan for the Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor. Birds Australia, Melbourne Logging has already had severe impacts on habitat availability in recent decades and there is evidence that up to 23% of swift parrot breeding habitat has been logged just in the Southern Forests region of Tasmania over the last 20 years. Deforestation also affects the rate of predation by sugar gliders – where mature forest cover is diminished, parrots suffer worse predation rates. Sugar glider predation is worst where logging is severe; these threats interact in a synergistic manner.

Given the severity of deforestation across the breeding range, and the relationship between deforestation and sugar glider predation intensity, habitat loss in critical breeding areas of Tasmania may be the species most severe threat. Unfortunately, there is evidence that weak and ineffective policy for protection of threatened species in Tasmania's logged forests is likely to continue to threaten the swift parrot into the future.{{Cite web|title=Pulling a Swiftie|url=https://www.et.org.au/pulling_a_swiftie|access-date=2020-12-10|website=Environment Tasmania}}

Matthew Webb and Dejan Stojanovic, two of the Eureka prize finalists from the Australian National University’s Difficult Bird Research Group, say governments have stalled on management plans that would protect known feeding and nesting habitat in Tasmania.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-25 |title=Logging 'destroying' swift parrot habitat as government delays action |url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/26/logging-destroying-swift-parrot-habitat-as-government-delays-action |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} The researchers analysed logging in Tasmania’s southern forests during the 20-year course of the previous regional forest agreement. They found that a third of the eucalypt forest in this area had been logged between 1997 and 2016 and a quarter of old growth trees that provide nesting habitat for swift parrots had been cleared. “It is very clear that critical breeding habitat is being logged and that current logging regimes are not sustainable,” the paper states.

= Australia =

Swift parrots are listed as Endangered on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), which has been criticised for failing to protect them and other threatened species.{{cite web | title=What this critically endangered bird tells us about Australia's failing environment protection laws|first1= Nick|last1= Wiggins|first2= Keri |last2=Phillips|website= ABC News (Radio National: Rear Vision) | date=24 August 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-25/environment-protection-laws-fail-swift-parrot-conservationists/12574398 | access-date=25 August 2020}}

== Victoria ==

The swift parrot is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988).[http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/EADA0F1874AF9CF24A2567C1001020A388BBA5581CF9D859CA256BB300271BDB Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050718182613/http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/EADA0F1874AF9CF24A2567C1001020A388BBA5581CF9D859CA256BB300271BDB |date=2005-07-18 }} Under this Act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared.[http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/617768308BCB666E4A25684E00192281E7A24BB36FF60A144A256DEA00244294 Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060911130015/http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/617768308BCB666E4A25684E00192281E7A24BB36FF60A144A256DEA00244294 |date=2006-09-11 }}

  • On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, the swift parrot was listed as Endangered.{{cite book | author = Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment | title = Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria - 2007 | publisher = Department of Sustainability and Environment | year = 2007 | location = East Melbourne, Victoria | isbn = 978-1-74208-039-0 | page = 15 }}

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

= Recent research findings =

The swift parrot has been studied since 2009 by the [https://www.difficultbirds.com/ Difficult Bird Research Group] at the [https://fennerschool.anu.edu.au/ Fenner School of Environment and Society] of The Australian National University. Below are their research findings:

  • Webb MH, Holdsworth MC, Webb J (2012) [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/582fda56cd0f682710803aa0/1479531095465/Webb+et+al+2012+nesting+requirements+of+the+swift+parrot.pdf "Nesting requirements of the endangered swift parrot (Lathamus discolor)"]. Emu 112:181–188.
  • Stojanovic D, Webb MH, Roshier D, Saunders D, Heinsohn R (2012). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/582fda89cd0f682710803bdc/1479531145876/Stojanovic+et+al.+2012+errors+in+ground+counts+of+tree+cavities+for+swift+parrots.pdf "Ground-based survey methods both overestimate and underestimate the abundance of suitable tree-cavities for the endangered swift parrot"]. Emu - Austral Ornithology 112:350–356.
  • Stojanovic D, Koch AJ, Webb M, Cunningham RB, Roshier D, Heinsohn R (2014). [https://www.difficultbirds.com/s/Stojanovic-et-al-2014-validation-of-hollows-map.pdf "Validation of a landscape-scale planning tool for cavity dependent wildlife"]. Austral Ecology 39:579–586.
  • Stojanovic D, Webb MH, Alderman R, Porfirio LL, Heinsohn R, Beard K (2014). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5a7a0ee28165f570c8bd6df1/1517948646866/Stojanovic+et+al+2014+Discovery+of+a+novel+predator.pdf "Discovery of a novel predator reveals extreme but highly variable mortality for an endangered migratory bird"]. Diversity and Distributions 20:1200–1207.
  • Saunders DL and Heinsohn R (2008). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/582fdafdcd0f682710803fa4/1479531263674/saunders+and+heinsohn+2008+winter+habitat+use+by+the+endangered+swift+parrot.pdf "Winter habitat use by the endangered, migratory swift parrot (Lathamus discolor) in New South Wales"]. Emu - Austral Ornithology 108:81–89.
  • Webb MH, Wotherspoon S, Stojanovic D, Heinsohn R, Cunningham R, Bell P, Terauds A (2014). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/582fda1dcd0f68271080393c/1479531043924/Webb+et+al+2014+Location+matters.pdf "Location matters: Using spatially explicit occupancy models to predict the distribution of the highly mobile, endangered swift parrot"]. Biological Conservation 176:99–108.
  • Heinsohn R, Webb M, Lacy R, Terauds A, Alderman R, Stojanovic D (2015). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5993992be6f2e169cc269846/1502845231639/Heinsohn+et+al+2015+Swift+Parrot+PVA.pdf "A severe predator-induced population decline predicted for endangered, migratory swift parrots (Lathamus discolor)"]. Biological Conservation 186:75–82.
  • Stojanovic D, Terauds A, Westgate MJ, Webb MH, Roshier D, Heinsohn R (2015). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/582fdad9cd0f682710803e92/1479531227051/Stojanovic_et_al-2015-Journal_of_Animal_Ecology.pdf Exploiting the richest patch has a fitness payoff for the migratory swift parrot"]. Journal of Animal Ecology 84:1194–1201.
  • Stojanovic D, Webb Nee Voogdt J, Webb M, Cook H, Heinsohn R (2016). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/582fdb28414fb5e9ba96ab9e/1479531308529/Stojanovic+et+al+2015+habitat+loss+for+swift+parrots+after+wildfire.pdf "Loss of habitat for a secondary cavity nesting bird after wildfire"]. Forest Ecology and Management 360:235–241.
  • Saunders DL, Cunningham R, Wood J, Heinsohn R (2016). [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306002895_Responses_of_Critically_Endangered_migratory_Swift_Parrots_to_variable_winter_drought "Responses of Critically Endangered migratory Swift Parrots to variable winter drought"]. Emu - Austral Ornithology 116:350–359.
  • Crates R, Rayner L, Stojanovic D, Webb M, Heinsohn R (2017). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/59939bf9be6594c994c009ae/1502845958580/Crates+et+al+2017Undetected+Allee+effects+in+Australia+s+threatened+birds+implications+for+conservation.pdf "Undetected Allee effects in Australia’s threatened birds: implications for conservation"]. Emu - Austral Ornithology 117:207–221.
  • Stojanovic D, Rayner L, Webb M, Heinsohn R (2017). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/599398cbcf81e02c95718237/1502845140843/Stojanovic+2017+Effect+of+nest+cavity+morphology+on+reproductive+success+of+a+critically+endangered+bird.pdf "Effect of nest cavity morphology on reproductive success of a critically endangered bird"]. Emu - Austral Ornithology 117:247–253.
  • Webb MH, Terauds A, Tulloch A, Bell P, Stojanovic D, Heinsohn R (2017). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/599397eba803bb9551736989/1502844913749/Webb_et_al-2017-Conservation_Biology.pdf "The importance of incorporating functional habitats into conservation planning for highly mobile species in dynamic systems"]. Conservation Biology 31:1018–1028.
  • Allen M, Webb Matthew H, Alves F, Heinsohn R, Stojanovic D (2018). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5a7a0eb50d9297e49c4bc98b/1517948599480/allen+et+al+sugar+glider+occupancy.pdf "Occupancy patterns of the introduced, predatory sugar glider in Tasmanian forests"]. Austral Ecology 43:470–475.
  • Campbell CD, Sarre SD, Stojanovic D, Gruber B, Medlock K, Harris S, Macdonald AJ, Holleley CE (2018). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5a7a0e734192021cd2ffb2d8/1517948537596/Campbell_et_al-2018-Diversity_and_Distributions.pdf "When is a native species invasive? Incursion of a novel predatory marsupial detected using molecular and historical data"]. Diversity and Distributions 24:831–840.
  • Stojanovic D, Eyles S, Cook H, Alves F, Webb M, Heinsohn R (2018). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5c17e0764fa51ae704e71ded/1545068664492/Stojanovic_et_al-2018-Animal_Conservation%281%29.pdf "Photosensitive automated doors to exclude small nocturnal predators from nest boxes"]. Animal Conservation 22:297–301.
  • Stojanovic D, Olah G, Webb M, Peakall R, Heinsohn R (2018). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5a4e90278165f5a45daa24d2/1515098157828/Stojanovic_et_al-2018-Animal_Conservation.pdf "Genetic evidence confirms severe extinction risk for critically endangered swift parrots: implications for conservation management"]. Animal Conservation 21:313–323.
  • Heinsohn R, Olah G, Webb M, Peakall R, Stojanovic D (2019). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5c0ad3a4352f5350eae7d4dd/1544213420582/Heinsohn_et_al-2018-Journal_of_Animal_Ecology.pdf "Sex ratio bias and shared paternity reduce individual fitness and population viability in a critically endangered parrot"]. Journal of Animal Ecology 88:502–510.
  • Stojanovic D, Cook HCL, Sato C, Alves F, Harris G, Mckernan A, Rayner L, Webb MH, Sutherland WJ, Heinsohn R (2019). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5bbc41ae4785d3ab538b3061/1539064240904/Stojanovic_et_al-2018-The_Journal_of_Wildlife_Management.pdf "Pre-emptive action as a measure for conserving nomadic species"]. The Journal of Wildlife Management 83:64–71.
  • Webb MH, Heinsohn R, Sutherland WJ, Stojanovic D, Terauds A (2019). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5d48bfa95ecf0200011b82cb/1565048767473/Webb+2019+Abundance+occupancy+relationship.pdf "An Empirical and Mechanistic Explanation of Abundance-Occupancy Relationships for a Critically Endangered Nomadic Migrant"]. The American Naturalist 193:59–69.
  • Webb MH, Stojanovic D, Heinsohn R (2019). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5b5a777d03ce64a70e7a6b2f/1532655490171/Webb+et+al_2018_policy+failure_swift+parrot.pdf "Policy failure and conservation paralysis for the critically endangered swift parrot"]. Pacific Conservation Biology 25:116–123.
  • Owens G, Heinsohn R, Eyles S, Stojanovic D (2020). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5f306ad57a71f50a84a768f5/1597008598251/emr.12423.pdf "Automated broadcast of a predator call did not reduce predation pressure by Sugar Gliders on birds"]. Ecological Management & Restoration 21(3), 247–249.
  • Olah G, Stojanovic D, Webb MH, Waples RS, Heinsohn R (2021). [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/582ea0d1579fb3ef8b09706d/t/5fc6ad1df8cdb769c6d00d15/1606855967714/acv.12655.pdf "Comparison of three techniques for genetic estimation of effective population size in a critically endangered parrot"]. Animal Conservation 24:491–498.
  • Olah G, Waples RS, Stojanovic D (2024). [https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11102 "Influence of molecular marker type on estimating effective population size and other genetic parameters in a critically endangered parrot."]. Ecology and Evolution 14(3):e11102.