I arrived in Tasmania during the summer and being there at this time of year afforded the opportunity to interact with Swift Parrots on their breeding grounds. Quite honestly I expected them to be easier to find. I drove one whole day around Bruny Island looking for anything that would even resemble a Swiftie. Nothing…
Then thanks to Mark Holdsworth the OBP expert I came in contact with a fellow biologist who steered me in the direction of a local videographer in Devonport who had filmed them at a waterhole in the forest. I worked the waterhole for 2 days but I had arrived after the main breeding season and the chances of seeing Swift Parrot was slim.
Then on a warm day late in the morning a single adult came to drink! What a fantastic little parrot! I couldn’t believe it! Another return trip to Bruny island and a tip from a ferry staff member led me to a large flock of Swifties feeding in the gum trees as well. I was ecstatic!
I had combed the Mornington Penninsula south of Melbourne but came up empty-handed looking for Blue-winged Parrots. They were a great surprise as a bonus when looking for Swift Parrots in Northern Tassie.
