The fastest parrot on the planet
Bruny Island
It was estimated there were probably once 10,000 breeding pairs of Swift Parrots across Australia. It is estimated that there is now about 500 to 750 individuals left in the wild.
The Swift Parrot breeds in Tasmania, and in the winter, because it is so cold, they move across the Bass Strait and fly between Victoria and Queensland in search of winter flowering blossom and lerps, which are small insects that create little sugar domes on the leaves. Very sugary and sweet and full of energy. BirdLife Australia has been monitoring Swift Parrots on the mainland for the last decade, recording the most important habitat for Swift Parrots along the East Coast, and in those woodlands further inland, where they are going to feed and store up their energy supply before they come back to Tasmania after winter.
Lyndel Wilson
It was estimated there were probably once 10,000 breeding pairs of Swift Parrots across Australia. It is estimated that there is now about 500 to 750 individuals left in the wild.
The Swift Parrot breeds in Tasmania, and in the winter, because it is so cold, they move across the Bass Strait and fly between Victoria and Queensland in search of winter flowering blossom and lerps, which are small insects that create little sugar domes on the leaves. Very sugary and sweet and full of energy. BirdLife Australia has been monitoring Swift Parrots on the mainland for the last decade, recording the most important habitat for Swift Parrots along the East Coast, and in those woodlands further inland, where they are going to feed and store up their energy supply before they come back to Tasmania after winter.
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The Swift Parrot is a little bright green parrot, it's about 60 grams or so - about half the size of a Rosella, that flys at very high speeds - up to 88 kilometres an hour, making it the fasted parrot on planet Earth. It breeds in Tasmania and migrates across Bass Strait each year.
Threatened Species on Bruny Island
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