Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with an OBP Quiz!

Coming up soon, on Saturday 9th October, is World Migratory Bird Day, which celebrates bird species that tackle epic migrations. We thought we’d take the opportunity to showcase the Orange-bellied Parrot (OBP), a species that migrates across Bass Straight and between NGT’s focal regions in south-eastern Australia.

Although some might call the journey from Tasmania to the Australian mainland and vice versa going overseas, it’s certainly a migration of a slightly smaller scale compared to some. Nonetheless, OBPs migrate annually from their breeding grounds at Melaleuca in south-western Tasmania to coastal areas of Victoria and south east South Australia during winter.

Orange-bellied Parrot (Photo:© Chris Tzaros)

As in previous years, NGT has been coordinating the winter search for OBPs in western Victoria this year. Like everyone else, we’ve had to deal with a lot of interruptions due to COVID restrictions, but will be hosting a webinar on the project next week, Wednesday 6th October at 7:30pm Vic time / 7pm SA time. An update on this year’s project progress will be given and then the fun starts! Attendees will be put to the test in a fun quiz on everything OBP. All are welcome! If you would like to join the event, RSVP to Jess (email also below).

About now, late September/early October is when we start to see OBPs migrating from the mainland back to Tassie for their breeding season. We wish them a safe flight and hope to spot them next year!

The OBP project is supported by Glenelg Hopkins CMA and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Jess Bourchier