Subject: [Fomm] FoMM Swift Parrots are back on Mt Majura
Dear Friends
The beautiful green and red Swift Parrots are back!
During our working bee on Sunday 20 April at lunch time we observed a
flock of 10 of these highly threatened parrot species weaving through
the tall Apple box and Yellow box canopy around the drain line and the
southern part of the horse paddocks. Lesley Collis of FoMM has noticed a
smaller flock at the Watson woodlands as far back as March and I
observed half a dozen on Saturday the 19 April.
Some of you might recall that during March and April 2005 Mount Majura
Nature Reserve was host to a record number of more than 60 Swift
Parrots. The parrots are known to breed in Tasmania and migrate annually
to the mainland for foraging.
Back in 2005, Daniel Iglesias of ACT Parks, Conservation and Lands noted
that less than 1,000 breeding pairs now make the annual migration. He said:
“This really puts the Mt Majura sighting in perspective, and re-affirms
how precious the ACT system of woodland reserves is to species such as
the Swift Parrot. The ACT leads the country in its preservation of
lowland woodland habitat and it is particularly exhilarating to witness
tangible benefits of establishing and protecting viable nature reserve
areas. Mt Majura forms an almost continuous green chain with Mt Ainslie
to the south and Goorooyarro and Mulligans Flat Nature Reserves to the
north. This system of woodland reserves plays an important role in
preserving the habitat utilised by a number of threatened and endangered
woodland animal species.”
Since several years FoMM lobby for the inclusion of the southern parts
of the Majura horse paddocks into the Nature Reserve. I hope the regular
visits of an endangered species helps to convince the ACT Government and the
Planning Authority that these grassy woodlands are worth to be
protected in perpetuity.
Waltraud Pix
Friends of Mt Majura co-ordinator
22 April 2008
Incidentally, FOMM has a very good lecture series this year, on the 3rd
Thursday of each month - see http://majura.org/?page_id=116
Tony Lawson
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