Antbed Newsletter
Overview
An occasional newsletter about the Golden-Shouldered Parrot produced by Stephen Garnett and Gabriel Crowley.
The Golden-shouldered Parrot, or Antbed Parrot as it is known to people on Cape York Peninsula, is a rare animal. To find out why it is so uncommon, and possibly declining, we began a three year study in August 1992 for the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage with support from the World Wide Fund for Nature (Australia). In the six months we have been working, much interest has been shown in the work, and many people have given help and hospitality This newsletter is to let people know how the project is progressing. In the first issue we shall also give a potted history of what has been written about the bird in the past.
Data and Resources
Antbed - Issue Eight - a newsletter on the Golden-shouldered Parrot
pdfNewsletter 214.42 KBThe Sheperd Family of Artemis Station establish the Artemis Antbed Parrot Nature Refuge.
Reports on activities including fencing to allow conservation management of parrot habitat, and surveys of nesting sites. Contraction of the eastern edge of the parrot's habitat was found to be continuing in 1996 and 1997, but the remainder of the population appeared to be stable.
Antbed - Issue Seven - a newsletter on the Golden-shouldered Parrot
pdfNewsletter 192.17 KBSusan Sheperd from Artemis Station has run a study project focused on the Golden-shouldered Parrot since 1995.
Results from studies of breeding success and supplementary feeding. Announces the signing of a conservation agreement on Artemis Station, in order to protect the parrot's core habitat, and some trial clearing of trees from around parrot nests.
Antbed - Issue Six - a newsletter about the Golden-shouldered Parrot
pdfNewsletter 1.67 MBTracing the background to the scarcity of the Golden-shouldered Parrot.
Detailed account of studies into the ecology of the parrot and its ecosystem as well as threat to the parrots.
Antbed - Issue Five - a newsletter about the Golden-shouldered Parrot
pdfNewsletter 237.66 KBTracing the nestlings of the illusive Golden-shouldered Parrot.
This issue examines the fate of young birds after they leave parental care. It describes the close genetic relationship between Golden-shouldered Parrots and Paradise Parrots, and more distant one with Hooded Parrots, and the importance of Cockatoo Grass Alloteropsis semialata as an early wet season food.
Antbed- Issue Four - a newsletter about the Golden-shouldered Parrot
pdfNewsletter 228.82 KBThis issue describes the breeding biology of the Golden-shouldered Parrot and the formation of the Golden-shouldered Parrot recovery team.
Golden-shouldered Parrots nesting times.
Antbed - Issue Three - a newsletter about the Golden-shouldered Parrot
pdfNewsletter 420.86 KBGolden-shouldered Parrots behaviour in the wet season.
Describes Golden-shouldered Parrot behaviour in the wet season, when food becomes limiting as seeds germinate; fire ecology of broad-leaved ti-tree Melaleuca viridiflora, which appears to be invading nesting sites; and reliance of Black-throated and Masked Finches on Fire Grass seed in the dry season.
Antbed - Issue Two - a newsletter about the Golden-shouldered Parrot
pdfNewsletter 448.89 KBSome information on the habitat and distribution of the Golden-shouldered Parrot.
Reports that the wet season is a time of food shortage; that breeding success is unlikely to be a problem; and that radio-tracking birds is futile. Describes related and linked projects.
Antbed - a newsletter about the Golden-shouldered Parrot
pdfNewsletter 552.04 KBInformation on the rare species, the Golden-shouldered ParrotInformation on the rare species, the Golden-shouldered Parrot.