The bird, found exhausted and very thin in a chook pen after flying nearly 600km off course, is successfully rehabilitated and released on the mainland.
A tiny swift parrot that was found exhausted and very thin in a chook pen after flying nearly 600km off course to Lord Howe Island has been successfully rehabilitated and released on the mainland.Conservationists say there are only around 2,000 swift parrots left in the wildSwift parrots are considered critically endangered, with around 2,000 left in the wild.
"It's only the second sighting of a swift parrot on Lord Howe Island ever… to fly so far for such a tiny bird is an amazing achievement. The small parrot was taken to Sydney's Taronga Wildlife Hospital for rest and recovery after its marathon journey.Mick Roderick, manager of Birdlife Australia's woodland bird program, said it hadn't suffered any major injuries but was very thin.
Once the bird was strong enough to be released, efforts began to find an area with suitable habitat and, ideally, a wild flock of swift parrots it could join. "The closest known flock we had was in Chiltern in North East Victoria, which was a long drive from Taronga in Sydney." "This bird was let go where there was a small group of swift parrots waiting for him, so it was great," Mr Roderick said.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'It could be a love letter': Message in a bottle found on Bass Strait islandThe flicker of light from a glass bottle on a remote Tasmanian beach drew Brendan Hannon to investigate. Now he's drying out the letter found inside.
Read more »
Coastal holiday spots urge Melburnians to stay awayCouncils have told The Age of people rushing to coastal towns before stage three restrictions were imposed across Melbourne
Read more »
Bangladesh says Rohingya refugees can't leave islandHundreds of Rohingya refugees on a flood-prone island in the Bay of Bengal will not be allowed to leave unless they agree to return home.
Read more »
NRL Island was a joke, but the UFC is doing it for realSome of the UFC's biggest names, including Australian champion Alexander Volkanovski, are isolated on an island in Abu Dhabi and about to go hell for leather in the octagon.
Read more »
Woman's 'filthy' journey in paddy wagon to hotel quarantineReturning home after visiting her sick daughter in regional Victoria, a Townsville woman has been forced into the back of a police van to get to her hotel. 9News
Read more »
Seoul's mayor found dead amid allegations of improprietyThe Mayor of South Korea's capital has been found dead at Mt Bugak in north Seoul.
Read more »