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Our ‘Save the Swift Parrot’ postcard campaign has been a fabulous success. Nearly 3,000 colour postcards were distributed within about 10 days of us asking for help to get them signed and in the Premier’s office by the end of the month.
Volunteers from across Tasmania, from Southport to Grindelwald, from Bruny Island to Triabunna offered their help and many cards were also requested from supporters in Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT.
Wild Wielangta members met with the Tasmanian Premier’s office yesterday, hearing that the Premier’s getting the message, loud and clear, that the community wants immediate action to save this beautiful bird. The Premier’s forestry advisor admitted that they’d been swamped by cards and emails about Swift Parrots.
Questions have now been asked in State and Federal Parliaments and there’s been intense media interest, with The Australian, Canberra Times, Age, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Radio National, local ABC radio and TV stations all covering the unfolding story.
The National Swift Parrot Recovery Team are visiting Hobart next week and we are hoping to have the opportunity to take them out to Wielangta, to see the birds we’ve observed nesting there and to talk with them about the Government’s response to this conservation emergency.
Cassy O’Connor, Green Parliamentarian in Tasmania has also been challenging Premier Bartlett and Minister Llewellyn on their lack of action to protect the Swift Parrot. Right select ‘Save target As…’ to download the Hansard notes of her recent speech.
So, many thanks to all of you who’ve helped with postcards, written to politicians and kept the Letters to the Editor rolling in to your local papers.
Other areas where these endangered birds are breeding are, most likely, being logged right now, with the loss of eggs, chicks and the adult birds at the nest. For ideas for a letter see the recent post on blog: Swift Parrot ‘Reprieve’ Not Enough to Halt Extinction Threat
Please help keep the pressure up by writing to the Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett, GPO Box 123, Hobart 7001. Tell Premier Bartlett that it’s not enough to temporarily halt logging in one coupe in Wielangta Forest.
You can also write to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, C/o Parliament House, Canberra 2601. Ask him to intervene to save the Swift Parrot’s breeding habitat in Tasmania using his powers under the Regional Forest Agreement.
Oh! If you live in Australia, check out your local cafes for another Swift Parrot postcard that’s been produced by Greens Senator, Bob Brown’s office and is being distributed around the country by AvantCard (the free postcard people). Grab one and send it off to the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd asap!
Sharon East
For Wild Wielangta
wildwielangta at gmail dot com
During Senate Estimates questioning 20th October, Senator Bob Brown was at pains to ensure that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is made aware of his responsibility to take action to protect the swift parrot, under the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA), given that:
‘…it (the RFA) states that the Commonwealth and Tasmania agree that the:
… application of management strategies and management prescriptions developed under Tasmania’s Forest Management Systems, protect rare and threatened fauna.
And Forestry Tasmania has stated publicly in the last week that it intends to log one of the richest nesting sites for this species known after the current nesting season.’
(Hansard 20th October 2008, F&PA 75, our additions in brackets and emphasis in bold)
Senator John Faulkner undertook to ‘…make the Prime Minister’s office aware of that (matter) urgently, and draw it to the Prime Minister’s attention appropriately’.
(Hansard 20th October 2008, F&PA 78, our additions in brackets)
We maintain a watching brief. Read Bob’s media full release below for more detailed information.
Wielangta update
A new report on the Swift Parrot concludes that the species may now be critically endangered, not just endangered. The only evidence of its population level, winter surveys on the mainland, shows a dramatic decline in Swift Parrot sightings since 2003. Logging of its Tasmanian nesting and foraging habitat is the prime threat to the species.
The report calls on Prime Minister Rudd to use his powers under the Regional Forest Agreement to halt logging in coupes containing Swift Parrot breeding habitat until a landscape scale protection plan is in place. Read the report at www.on-trial.info.
Who is responsible for the fate of the Swift Parrot?
At Senate estimates this week, representatives of the Prime Minister’s department maintained that the Environment Department has ‘main carriage’ of the Swift Parrot issue and that the Prime Minister had not been informed of it. (Transcripts are at http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/S11349.pdf, starting on p.73)
Over at the Environment Department, Minister Garrett says that the Tasmanian forest management agencies are responsible for protecting the Swift Parrot and he cannot intervene.
In Tasmania, Ken Jeffreys, speaking for Forestry Tasmania, says there are 391 000 hectares of suitable habitat for the Swift Parrot and that 1000 pairs only need 2000 hectares to breed in! ()
Meanwhile at Wielangta, Forestry Tasmania has agreed to suspend logging in coupe 19D until the Swift Parrots have finished nesting. That’s a reprieve of about 3 months!
Only Prime Minister Rudd and Tasmanian Premier Bartlett can untangle this knot. In 2007, then Prime Minister Howard and Premier Lennon changed the Regional Forest Agreement overnight in response to the Justice Marshall’s Wielangta judgment. Now they can change it to protect the Swift Parrot – or Prime Minister Rudd can terminate the Agreement so that responsibility for threatened species in Tasmanian forests reverts to the federal Environment Minister.
Media Release
Wild Wielangta
South East Tas Forest Protection Group
15th October 2008
Swift Parrot “Reprieve” Not Enough to Halt Extinction Threat
Local residents welcome yesterday’s announcement by David Llewellyn, Minister for Energy and Resources, Primary Industries and Water, that logging and woodchipping will be postponed in Wielangta Forest where endangered Swift Parrots are currently breeding.
“The Minister’s announcement will allow the Swift Parrots to breed in safety in Wielangta for this year, but still leaves the way open for Forestry Tasmania to log this all important breeding habitat as soon as the parrots migrate back to the mainland” said Sharon East, spokesperson, Wild Wielangta, South East Tas Forest Protection Group.
“If it had not been for the threatened species surveys conducted by local volunteers in recent weeks, Forestry Tasmania would still be unaware of this significant breeding event of a federally-listed endangered species in Wielangta Forest. The very trees where the birds are now nesting could have been chipped and on their way to Japan by now if it had been left to Forestry Tasmania staff to conduct appropriate surveys” said Ms East.
“Minister Llewellyn’s reassurance that the State Government is committed to the conservation of the Swift Parrot is completely at odds with warnings from the National Swift Parrot Recovery Team and Birds Australia that the woodchipping of Swift Parrot breeding habitat in Tasmania is the key threat to its survival” said Ms East.
“Swift Parrots are on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species which gives global recognition to their endangered status. With less than 1,000 breeding pairs, they are rarer than China’s Giant Pandas and Africa’s Mountain Gorillas. The Tasmanian and Federal Governments must act to protect this jewel of a bird. This is a conservation emergency” said Ms East.
“On the mainland there are hundreds of volunteers re-afforesting areas specifically as Swift Parrot winter feeding habitat and yet here in Tasmania, the only place in the world that they breed, the State Government allows the destruction of their nesting and feeding habitat.
“Wild Wielangta has launched a ‘Save the Swift Parrot’ postcard campaign and 3,000 cards are currently winging their way to the Tasmanian Premier from across our state and the mainland. We are calling on Premier Bartlett to protect the Swift Parrots’ critical breeding habitat in areas such as Wielangta, the Southern Forests and Bruny Island. Surely David Bartlett doesn’t want to become known as the Premier of Extinction!” concluded Ms East.
For more information contact:
Sharon East 6253 5348
Lisa Cuatt 6253 5493 0428 399103
http://wildwielangta.edublogs.org
wildwielangta@gmail.com
On 3rd October 2008, three members of Wild Wielangta, South East Forest Protection Group had a 30 minute meeting with David Llewellyn - Minister responsible for Forestry and Threatened Species.
David Llewellyn agreed to send scientists into Coupe 19D and surrounding areas to verify the sightings of swift parrots by community members. He said he would make a decision about logging Coupe 19D once he had obtained information from the scientists.
A reprieve for the parrots for a little bit longer!!!!
Forestry Tasmania have since agreed to stop the logging and woodchipping of Coupe 19D until after the 2008/09 swift parrot breeding season!
This decision is a direct result of survey information provided to Forestry Tasmania by members of the community.
Congratulations! and Thank you!!
Forestry Tasmania are collaborating with the Threatened Species Unit in DPIW and the Forest Practices Authority (who authorise logging plans) to “…carry out a strategic assessment of the Wielangta forests”. (Dr Hans Drielsma, Forestry Tas)
The Forest Practices Authority wants to “…assure us that all parties are working towards ensuring a sound scientific basis for the long term management of habitat for Swift Parrot across its range”.
So, a further reprieve for the forest and residents in Coupe 19D until maybe late January 2009!!!!
The next few months are critical - now is the time to work towards the long term protection of swift parrot breeding habitat in Tasmania.
Be active.
The National Swift Parrot Recovery team are meeting in Hobart in November - so it’s good timing.
Make sure that every one of the 3,000 parrot postcards lands on Premier David Bartlett’s desk.
Write letters to Minister David Llewellyn and Premier David Bartlett asking for the protection of swift parrot habitat.
There’s been a flutter of activity in the media this week!
Rosslyn Beeby’s gutsy critique ‘Pondering Garrett’s Future’ in the Canberra Times, focuses on the Swift Parrot’s protection and survival as an indicator of Garrett’s success in his portfolio, given he’s responsible for the overhaul of the Federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act.
Bob Brown calls for an immediate ban on logging in Wielangta and changes to the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement to provide protection to the Swift Parrots.
Forestry Tasmania’s usual response states it will move to protect endangered swift parrots if they’re found to be in a coupe that’s earmarked for logging.
Peter Garrett, Tony Burke and David Bartlett and David Llewellyn need to act before they become the Ministers/Premier of Extinction!
Birds Australia Conservation Manager Chris Tzaros spoke with Fran Kelly on ABC Radio National Breakfast yesterday to highlight the impending threat, to the survival of the Swift Parrot, from logging in Wielangta Forest.
For the past 13 years, a national recovery program involving all the eastern States and costing hundreds of thousands of dollars has been implemented in an effort to better understand the Swift Parrot species and work towards its conservation. However, it seems that recent expert advice on nest site conservation is falling on deaf ears.
“If uncontrolled logging of Swift Parrot nesting habitat continues then this national recovery effort will have effectively been for nothing”, said Mr Tzaros. The Swift Parrot needs to have successful breeding events that allow the species to continue to exist and thrive in the wild.
Select to read the full media release from Birds Australia.
Select to listen to, or right select and Save Target As… to download the interview. (2.5mb)
A small portion of Coupe W19D and areas close by, in Wielangta Forest, were surveyed by concerned community members in very poor, windy conditions in just a few hours on Sunday 28th September.
Despite the limitations of this survey it is clear that:
• there are known swift parrot nest sites both in Coupe 19D and close by. Swift parrots are known to return to the same sites even though this may be several years apart.
• currently there are large numbers of swift parrots both within the coupe, close by the coupe and in the Wielangta Forest block as a whole
• swift parrots have been seen inspecting hollows both in the coupe 19D and close by
• currently there appears to be a large blue gum flowering event in Wielangta Forest that this species relies on
• coupe 19D contains high quality swift parrot nesting habitat.
Given the swift parrot sightings – it appears that there is a high probability of a significant or ‘aggregate’ breeding event in Coupe 19D and adjacent forests in the coming months.
Remember, this Sunday 28 September 2008 is most likelyyour last chance to walk in Coupe 19D and see the swift parrots going about their glorious business, and the Federally endangered orchids, undisturbed.
Despite all representations to date, it seems that Forestry Tasmania will be logging this coupe for woodchips any time now and therefore destroying the breeding habitat of these invaluable global treasures.
The weak, unsustainable position the ’so-called’ Government business and regulatory authority are taking, sheds light on a lack of strategic direction and failure to manage our forests for maximum economic and ecological return.
Science is telling a completely different story, as recent research from ANU has shown.
The exercise of political will seems to be the only course of action left open to avert the impending loss of species, habitat and carbon sink values.
Consider speaking with or emailing your elected representatives and the media to raise the profile of this issue, before it is too late.
The aforementioned letter supplies reference material for your contribution. Raise your voice!
If you want to join national swift parrot specialists in the survey party on Sunday, please email wildwielangta at gmail dot com NOW.
A Swift Parrot and Lorikeet Identification Guide to Tasmania (A4) and an information sheet about the status of swift parrots in Wielangta is available from the Recent Photos flickr stream (right column). To download….right select the image and Save Target/Image As…
Thank you to all those who attended the recent ‘pot luck’ dinner at Copping Hall. What a great venue, yummy food, convivial atmosphere and fantastic entertainment.
Thanks also to Roslyn Alexander, Guy Turnbull, Mel Hills, Paccy Stronach and Tim Holmes for organising and supporting the event, and to Lisa Cuatt for the encouraging words and ongoing energy. Entertainers who made the night fun included Angus and Vanessa Douglas, Viraj and Mati-Jo Beams, Fiona Stewart, Max Bladel, and Tumbao members Jo Murray, Stan Witek, Sue Ross and Susan Hood
Thank you to all those people who could not attend but still sent a donation. We raised $750.00 which will be used to support our ongoing education campaign.
Here’s a few shots for your amusement. Select the Info icon for more details.
An enthusiastic group participated in our first threatened species survey in the Exclusion Zone* in Wielangta Forest on Sunday 24th August.
Vehicles gathered at the locked gate in glorious sunshine and after introductions proceeded though the gate in convoy to the coupe, a drive of 5km or so. The two lucky last vehicles got waylaid by a small flock of Swift Parrots foraging in flowering Blue Gums just off to the side of the access road. The Swift Parrots are back in Wielangta!
We then spent several fascinating hours, under the expert guidance of biologist Andy North, scanning the rock-strewn ground for orchids and other plants of interest. Many orchid species were discovered, either in flower or sending up leaves. Both of the threatened and endangered species of orchids that had been discovered in the coupe at the Picnic Day were found again.
On the way back down the access road, we all stopped at the spot where the Swift Parrots had been seen earlier in the day. After a fair while spent scanning the Blue Gums that were in flower, that unmistakeable call was heard approaching. Two Swift Parrots flashed overhead, heading straight for the Blue Gums!
Another Survey Day is planned for Sunday 28th September. If you’d like to join us and come and experience Wielangta and its wildlife for yourself, then contact us through the email: wildwielangta at gmail dot com
* The Exclusion Zone covers a large area including the access road and coupe 19D itself (the forest at the centre of Bob Brown’s court case, which is now scheduled for logging this year). It is illegal to enter the Zone without a permit. Forestry had issued us with a permit and key to the locked gate across the access road, to enable us to conduct the survey.
