Fwd: Artemis' Golden-shouldered Parrots

[Mark Clayton <>]

Good morning all,

Apologies if you have received this more than once. It is certainly something that needs everyone's attention. I will be donating $$ to the work.

Mark

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Subject:	Artemis' Golden-shouldered Parrots
Date:	Thu, 25 Feb 2021 13:18:42 +1000
From:	Steve Murphy m("gmail.com","smurphy575");"> <>

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I’m writing to draw your attention to the perilous situation that Golden-shouldered Parrots are in on Artemis Station, and a bold action plan we are conducting to save them. Once considered the best place to see and study the species, all evidence suggests that the population on Artemis is in severe decline.

 

The situation is summarised in this 90 second video.

 

What we’re seeing on Artemis is mirroring what happened at Coen – 150km north – about 60 years ago. There, grassy habitats became thick with trees and shrubs and the parrots disappeared. It is thought habitat thickening increases ambush predation by species such as feral cats and butcherbirds.

 

In 2020, we started work to reverse the decline by restoring habitats on Artemis using combinations of physical clearing, specialised herbicides and fire. We are using the best science available to make sure we’re on the right track. The whole project has been endorsed by Olkola Traditional Owners, through the Golden-shouldered Parrot Recovery Team – Australia’s first indigenous-led recovery team.

 

Our aims are to secure the remaining population and support the recolonisation of now empty habitat. This includes habitat within the “Antbed Parrot Nature Refuge” in the central part of Artemis which was established 20 years ago, but where no parrots have been seen for 10 years.

 

We need to do this work now, while there are still breeding pairs in the south of the property. If we leave it much longer, the only option to recover Golden-shouldered Parrots on Artemis might be re-introduction, which will be extremely expensive and may not even work.

 

Saving Golden-shouldered Parrots on Artemis requires bold and coordinated action. Consequently, in 2020 we started the “Artemis Nature Fund” that brings together the expertise and support needed to undertake this aggressive conservation action plan. The Fund is an incorporated entity in Queensland and has been established with best-practice financial and governance systems. All donations to the fund can be tax deductible through fundlandcare.org.au which is Landcare Australia’s fundraising platform. Donations can also be made directly to Artemis Nature Fund.

 

In writing to you, I’m hoping that you might be interested enough to visit our new website Artemis Nature Fund. I’m also hoping that you might be inspired enough to support the work by donating and becoming a “Friend of Artemis”.

 

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to get in touch.

 

Thanks for your time,

Steve

 

Steve Murphy

0458171714

 

Virus-free. www.avg.com

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