It would be good to gather any news or information on what’s happening with Swift Parrots from other parts of their breeding range. Greens MP Cassy O’Connor is keen to raise questions in State Parliament when it resumes, so the more info we can gather the better. If you know of breeding/foraging habitat that’s currently being or about to be logged, please let me know. Any other info on what Forestry or other government agencies are up to re Swift Parrots appreciated!
The first Swifties were recorded back on the mainland last week, in central Victoria – a very early return, whilst in contrast the Wielangta survey team have been observing birds breeding late.
If you live fairly locally and would like get more involved – you are welcome to join our campaign planning group (we meet regularly in Kellevie). Fresh ideas and energy are always needed! Over the coming weeks we’ll be working out how to get the State Government to turn a temporary reprieve for Wielangta and the Swift Parrots into a permanent one.

We’ll need lots of help!

Let’s hope this year sees Swift Parrot habitat protected across Tasmania, so the birds can continue to grace our skies and breed successfully next year. If you’ve got info to share, help to offer or you would like to join our meetings, please email me at the address below.

Thanks!
Sharon East
Wielangta Campaign
South East (Tas) Forest Protection Group

wildwielangta at gmail dot com

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.

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)

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.

A recent letter (22/9/08) to all Tasmanian Labor Senators, Labor Members of the House of Assembly and Labor Legislative Councillors outlines recent conversations South East Forest Protection Group have had with staff of Forestry Tasmania and the Forest Practices Authority.

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…

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.

We offered a ‘New, Fresh Way of Working’.

We offered the Tasmanian Government the opportunity to use Wielangta as a way to demonstrate to the wider community, a new way of responding to contentious and historically divisive forestry issues. Wielangta can provide the opportunity for the Government to move into a new era of community engagement and transparency in forestry issues.

We asked them to:

• make an appointment with Premier David Bartlett preferably in Wielangta Forest Coupe 19D
• create a public opportunity for all scientific ‘experts’ on Wielangta Coupe 19D (departmental, forestry and independent) to establish facts
• place a moratorium on logging swift parrot breeding habitat – from Orford to Dover, from the coast to 10km inland
• delay logging and woodchipping in Wielangta until June 2010 to undertake independent surveys of endangered species habitat and studies of the forest’s potential as a carbon sink
• stop all logging in Wielangta – in line with the Federal Court decision in 2006 – with the exception of areas already in plantation.

This will ensure that endangered species habitat is protected and the mature forest retains its value as irreplaceable carbon storage.

We asked them to respond to the following questions:

• under the recently amended RFA, how does the Premier intend to ensure the protection of endangered species on land managed by Forestry Tasmania (given that the Federal Court showed that current forestry management regimes in Wielangta are further endangering species)?
• what mechanisms does the Premier have in mind to address community concerns about forestry operations in Wielangta?
• will the Premier include the economic and the environmental benefits of protecting Wielangta’s mature native forests for carbon storage as part of Tasmania’s climate change strategy?
• will the Premier meet with us in Wielangta, Coupe 19D to see why this extraordinary forest has inspired such strong community concern?

What next?
We have requested meetings with David Llewellyn – Minister for Resources and Michelle O’Bryne – Minister for Environment.

Meeting with Forestry Tasmania
Three members of Wild Wielangta, South East Forest Protection Group had a 2.5 hour meeting with the Derwent District Forest Manager and a Senior Planner, Forestry Tasmania on 6th August 2008.

Forestry Tasmania do not see any factor – endangered species or carbon storage – delaying or stopping the logging of Coupe 19D in Wielangta.
Coupe 19D is scheduled to be logged and woodchipped during the 2008/09 financial year.
Forestry Tasmania will allow members of the community to enter the exclusion zone around Coupe 19D to undertake surveys etc – we just need to gain permission.

What next?

We have requested a meeting with the Executive General Manager of Forestry Tasmania and with the Forest Practices Authority (who regulate Forestry Tasmania’s operations).

• to gather much needed additional information about Wielangta’s Threatened Species
• to provide an opportunity for as many people as possible to experience this area for themselves
• to continue to pressure the State Government to act to protect the habitat of Threatened Species by keeping this important area under the spotlight.

The surveys will have a particular focus on Swift Parrots, but other flora and fauna will be surveyed as expertise allows.

Are you or any of your friends and connections interested in joining the survey team?

Anyone with specialist knowledge of Swift Parrots and other Threatened Species is particularly welcome and if you’d like to learn more about Wielangta’s Threatened Species and how to identify them, please come along.

The survey will be conducted from 10am-4pm (approx.), so you will need to bring a packed lunch, drink and come prepared for all weathers (waterproofs, walking boots, warm clothes etc). Please bring binoculars and field guides if you have them. A notebook and pen would also be useful.

We will be surveying, with legal permission from Forestry Tasmania, in the Exclusion Zone that they have created around proposed logging coupe 19D (the area that was at the centre of Bob Brown’s court case). As part of the conditions attached to being given this permit we need to lodge the names of everyone entering the Exclusion Zone with Forestry Tasmania prior to the survey. This means you won’t be able to bring along an extra person at the last moment, so please bear that in mind. Car pooling will be arranged where possible.

If you are interested in joining us please register by Wed 20th August at the absolute latest (earlier preferred!) and call 6253 5348 if you would like more information.

Best Wishes
Sharon East

Wielangta Campaign
South East (Tas) Forest Protection Group
wildwielangta at gmail dot com

http://wildwielangta.edublogs.org

‘The Wilds of Tasmania’ – the Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle movie

A movie featuring the Tasmanian Wedgetailed Eagle (one of Wielangta’s special birds!) will be screening on Tuesday 19th August, 6.30pm, at Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) as part of Science Week. ‘The Wilds of Tasmania’ follows the journey of this magnificent bird whose habitat is under threat. Entry by gold coin donation. For more info. call TMAG on 6211 4177.

Carbonpositive.net says:

Using data collected on the ground and from satellite imaging of 240 sites over 14.5 million hectares, the scientists found that the more untouched a forest, the greater its carbon store in the total biomass of the trees and soil. It found that the oldest areas of forest with trees up to 80 metres tall can store 2000 tonnes of carbon per hectare.

Finally, some scientific sense in the forestry debate and some fantastic opportunities for publically owned forest to return better value to the community and the global environment.

“Each year the return of this colourful little parrot is one of the harbingers of spring in Tasmania. Local communities and birdwatchers anticipate the Swift Parrots return with great excitement, in the same way that the first cuckoo is eagerly anticipated in the UK every spring,” said Sharon East, keen birdwatcher and spokesperson for the South East (Tas) Forest Protection Group.

“After completing their long annual migration from as far afield as South-East Queensland, Swift Parrots return to Tasmania to breed every year. They only breed here in Tasmania, favouring forests in the coastal strip between Orford and Dover. Now numbering less than 1300 pairs the species is listed as nationally endangered under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. An “endangered” listing under the Act means that unless action is taken immediately the species is likely to become extinct,” Ms East said.

“Much of the Swift Parrot’s favoured nesting habitat is on land managed by Forestry Tasmania that is targeted for logging and woodchipping. Birds Tasmania has estimated that 500 – 1000 ha of Swift Parrot breeding habitat is being woodchipped in Tasmania every year. An area regarded by experts as “the best known breeding habitat” for Swift Parrots is about to be logged in Wielangta Forest, south-east of Hobart. If Forestry Tasmania continues woodchipping the old forests that this beautiful but endangered bird needs for breeding then its future prospects are indeed grim,” Ms East said.

Local residents in South-East Tasmania are compiling sighting information for the Swift Parrot this year. Anyone seeing Swift Parrots is asked to contact the South East (Tas) Forest Protection Group on 6253 5348.

Photo opportunity: Andrew is available for photos/filming at the location of the first Swift Parrot sighting for this year at Mt Nelson.
Andrew Hingston, Honorary Research Associate, School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania

Further information and photos of Swift Parrots:
6253 5348
Wild Wielangta
South East (Tas) Forest Protection Group