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Rock Parrot (Neophema petrophila)

The Rock Parrot is a small coastal parrot of southern Australia. On works sites, it may occur in coastal shrubland, saltmarsh, dunes, rocky shorelines and nearby wetlands, where clearing or disturbance can affect feeding areas and island breeding places. It is listed as Rare in South Australia and Priority 4 in Western Australia, so records and suitable habitat should be managed carefully.

Conservation status

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Rare. This listing covers only Neophema petrophila zietzi.

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Near threatened. Priority 4 (rare, near threatened) on the Western Australian priority fauna list. Priority species are not listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 but should be considered in assessments.

Breeding season

Rock Parrots breed in coastal areas and offshore islands from August to December. Post-breeding dispersal is most evident from December to August, especially from January to March, and timing may vary between regions and years.

Breeding mode: Egg-laying parrot. Breeding occurs mainly on offshore islands and islets.

Clutch size: 2 to 5 eggs.

Incubation: Not recorded.

Fledging: Young have fledged from natural nests and artificial nest-shelters. The fledging period is not recorded.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Nest sites: Limestone crevices and overhangs, sand burrows, abandoned burrows and sites beneath dense vegetation. Nest-site fidelity has been recorded.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded. Some nest-shelters were used in multiple breeding seasons.

For a State Rare or Western Australian Priority 4 species, plan targeted coastal habitat checks and pre-clearing searches before works, with particular care around offshore islands, rocky shelters, dense low vegetation and old burrows; breeding and dispersal timing may vary between regions and years.

  • Breeding and nesting: Breeding has been recorded from August to December, including nesting on offshore islands and islets.
  • Eggs and dependent young: Eggs and nestlings may be present during the August to December breeding period.
  • Post-breeding dispersal: Dispersal occurs from December to August, mainly from January to March, with birds moving between islands and the mainland and along the coast.
  • Coastal and island activity: Rock Parrots are resident, coastal birds that forage on beaches, tidal flats, saltmarsh, rocky areas and low coastal vegetation throughout the year.
  • Highest clearing risk: The highest risk is August to December, when clearing or construction may disturb nests, eggs and dependent young, particularly on offshore islands and suitable coastal habitat.

Identification: Appearance

The Rock Parrot is a small, ground-feeding parrot that is usually found close to the coast. It can be overlooked when feeding among low vegetation, rocks and saltmarsh.

Adults are small parrots. The species weighs about 50 to 60 g.

Juveniles can be recognised by an orange bill and the absence of a distinct frontal band.

Body size: Small parrot. A supported body length measurement is not available, so use overall shape, behaviour and habitat as well as plumage.

Identification: Calls and similar species

A detailed call description is not available for field use. Record calls carefully, but confirm records with a clear visual observation where possible.

The Western Ground Parrot may occur in similar coastal habitats and can be superficially similar. Confusion is less likely for experienced observers, but unusual or distant sightings should be documented with photographs or an expert check.

  • Record the direction of flight, habitat, number of birds and behaviour.
  • Use photographs, video or a detailed written description when identification is uncertain.

Identification: Field signs

Rock Parrots feed mostly on the ground and may be seen walking or briefly flying between low shrubs, rocks, beaches and tidal flats.

They may perch on low shrubs or rocks. Species-specific descriptions of droppings, nest stains, odour and whitewash are not established for routine site identification.

  • Look for repeated sightings in the same coastal vegetation or saltmarsh.
  • Check low vegetation and rocky edges during the morning and late afternoon feeding periods.
  • Treat a suspected nest, burrow or regularly used shelter as a potential breeding place until assessed.

Distribution: Australian range

The Rock Parrot is endemic to southern Australia and is closely associated with the coastal margin. It is usually found within a few hundred metres of the shore, although it can move inland along estuaries and between islands and the mainland.

The broad coastal range extends from Shark Bay in Western Australia to the Coorong in South Australia. The species is mapped in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.

In South Australia, it is mainly confined to coastal areas, with records from the Eyre Peninsula, offshore islands, the mainland coast and the Coorong region. It is seldom more than a few hundred metres from the coast.

  • Western Australia, including the Shark Bay region, the Perth coast and offshore islands such as Rottnest Island.
  • South Australia, including the Eyre Peninsula, coastal islands, mainland shores and the Coorong.
  • Victoria, where mapped occurrence should be checked against current records and local habitat.

Distribution: Local movements

The species is generally resident, but post-breeding dispersal can be pronounced. Birds may move between coastal islands and the mainland, and some individuals have been recorded more than 160 km from known nesting islands.

From breeding areas on the Eyre Peninsula, birds may disperse east and south along the coast from December to August, mostly from January to March.

  • Do not assume that a site without a nest is unused.
  • Consider nearby islands, estuaries, saltmarshes and coastal vegetation as part of the local movement area.

Distribution: Conservation status

In South Australia, the Rock Parrot is listed as Rare under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. In Western Australia, it is Priority 4, a category for rare or near threatened species that need monitoring.

These listings call for targeted checks before clearing and practical protection of occupied habitat. A local record should be retained and referred to the relevant state authority or project approval pathway.

  • South Australia, Rare.
  • Western Australia, Priority 4.
  • Confirm current requirements for the project location before works begin.

Habitat: Landforms and vegetation

Search for Rock Parrot habitat along the coast and around near-coastal wetlands. Habitat can be patchy, and apparently modified areas may still provide feeding, shelter or movement habitat.

On the mainland, look for sandy beaches, sand dunes, rocky areas, cliffs, headlands and coastal shrubland. Saltmarsh and other swampy areas near the shore can also be used.

On offshore islands and islets, suitable habitat includes low shrubland, coastal blowouts, salt lakes and low vegetation over sand or rock.

  • Coastal dunes and sandy shorelines.
  • Rock platforms, cliffs, headlands and offshore islets.
  • Saltmarsh, salt lakes and wetland margins.
  • Low coastal shrubland and open ground near the high-water mark.
  • Coastal mallee, woodland and recovering vegetation where these connect with the shoreline.

Habitat: Site features to inspect

Prioritise habitat within a few hundred metres of the shore, especially where low vegetation meets rocks, tidal flats, beaches or wetland margins.

Inspect small islands and rocky outcrops where access allows. These features can support breeding even when the mainland habitat is heavily used or disturbed.

  • Low shrubs with open ground beneath or between plants.
  • Vegetated sand, limestone crevices and sheltered rocky edges.
  • Saltmarsh patches and seeding rushes near the shore.
  • Unburnt or regenerating coastal vegetation adjoining beaches and wetlands.

Habitat: Habitat assessment for works

Map all suitable coastal and near-coastal habitat before designing access tracks, laydown areas, pipelines or clearing limits. Include habitat outside the immediate disturbance footprint where birds may feed or move.

A site with no recent record should not be treated as unsuitable solely because birds were not seen during one visit.

  • Mark shoreline, saltmarsh, dunes, rocky margins and offshore features on site plans.
  • Record connectivity between mainland habitat, estuaries and islands.
  • Retain low coastal vegetation and avoid unnecessary fragmentation.

Foraging habitat: Food plants and feeding areas

Rock Parrots feed mainly on the ground, often in the morning and late afternoon. Feeding areas are concentrated around the high-water mark, tidal flats, beaches, saltmarsh and low coastal vegetation.

The diet includes seeds and fruits from grasses, rushes, shrubs and halophytic plants. Recorded food-associated vegetation includes samphire, pigface, groundsel, Nitraria, saltbush and sea rocket.

Birds forage among rocks, tidal flats and beaches, and among plants exposed as the tide recedes.

  • Seeding rushes near the shore.
  • Samphire and other saltmarsh plants.
  • Pigface, sea rocket, saltbush and Nitraria.
  • Low plants growing along or above the high-water mark.
  • Edges of salt lakes and coastal wetlands.

Foraging habitat: What to look for

Scan open ground beneath low shrubs and along the edge of saltmarsh. Birds may feed quietly and move between patches by low flight.

Morning and late afternoon checks are useful for detection. Check feeding habitat before vegetation removal, grading, vehicle access or stockpiling.

  • Small parrots walking through low vegetation.
  • Birds moving between coastal shrub patches and wetland margins.
  • Repeated use of the same seeding plants or shoreline feeding area.

Foraging habitat: Protection during works

Keep machinery, vehicles and stored materials out of intact feeding patches wherever practicable. Use existing tracks and previously disturbed ground for access and laydown.

Where clearing cannot be avoided, have a fauna spotter catcher or ecologist check the area immediately before works and record any Rock Parrot activity.

  • Avoid disturbing feeding birds where a safer work sequence is available.
  • Maintain links between coastal vegetation, wetlands and shoreline feeding areas.
  • Prevent loose materials, spoil and sediment from covering saltmarsh and low coastal plants.

Breeding habitat: Nest locations

Most or all breeding occurs on small offshore islands and islets. The breeding season in South Australia and at Rottnest Island is generally August to December.

Known nests have been found in limestone crevices, limestone overhangs, sand burrows and abandoned burrows made by other species. Nests may also occur under dense vegetation or within inaccessible limestone cliffs.

A nest can be concealed and may be close to another nest used in a previous season. One pair moved less than 1 m when its previous nest collapsed.

  • Old shearwater or other abandoned burrows in sand.
  • Limestone cracks, overhangs and cliff cavities.
  • Sheltered ground beneath dense coastal vegetation.
  • Small offshore islands and rocky islets close to the mainland.

Breeding habitat: Breeding timing and productivity

Breeding occurs from August to December. Females lay clutches of 2 to 5 eggs.

Nest-site fidelity has been recorded, with some individuals using the same shelter over consecutive seasons.

Breeding season: August to December.

Clutch size: 2 to 5 eggs.

Breeding habitat: Artificial nest shelters

On Duck Rock near Rottnest Island, Rock Parrots used clay ridge and hip end roof tiles placed under vegetation. Four of 19 shelters were used between 2014 and 2017, and 13 nestlings fledged from artificial shelters during that period.

Used shelters had more than 50 percent vegetation cover. This result is site specific and should not be treated as a universal design standard.

  • Do not install or relocate nest shelters without advice from the relevant wildlife authority and a suitably experienced ecologist.
  • Protect natural burrows, crevices and sheltered vegetation before considering artificial shelters.

Breeding habitat: Pre-clearance checks

Before clearing, inspect suitable coastal habitat for burrows, crevices, concealed nests, eggs and dependent young. Use an experienced ecologist where a breeding place may be affected.

If an active nest or dependent young is found, stop work in the immediate area and establish a site-specific exclusion area until the authority or project ecologist confirms the next step.

  • Schedule checks during the August to December breeding period where practicable.
  • Inspect islands, islets, limestone edges, dense low vegetation and old burrows.
  • Do not fill, collapse or block a suspected nest entrance.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter and roost features

Rock Parrots perch and shelter in low shrubs and on rocks. Dense low vegetation over sand or broken ground can conceal nest entrances and provide cover from weather and predators.

Look for low coastal shrubs, rocky ledges, limestone overhangs and sheltered ground near the shoreline. Salt lake margins and island vegetation may also provide cover.

Specific communal roost sizes are not established, so avoid assuming that small groups represent the full importance of a site.

  • Low shrubland with dense cover near the ground.
  • Rocks, headlands and sheltered cliff margins.
  • Vegetated sand and coastal blowouts.
  • Saltmarsh and wetland edges close to feeding areas.

Sheltering habitat: Use of vegetation cover

At Duck Rock, artificial shelters placed under more than 50 percent vegetation cover were used. Shelters in the open, with less than 20 percent cover, were not used.

This supports retaining existing cover around potential shelter and nest features, rather than opening the area during clearing.

  • Retain dense low shrubs around natural crevices and burrows.
  • Avoid slashing, burning or grading shelter patches during the breeding season.
  • Keep pedestrian and vehicle activity away from repeated shelter or roost locations.

Sheltering habitat: Site controls

Use clearly marked exclusion areas around identified shelters, burrows and roosting places. The size and duration should be set by the project ecologist in consultation with the relevant authority.

Maintain quiet access routes and avoid directing bright lighting or repeated vehicle movements towards islands, cliffs or coastal shrubland at night.

Threats: Vegetation clearance and earthworks

The main project risks are loss of coastal habitat, damage to concealed breeding places and repeated disturbance near feeding or breeding areas. Because the species is listed as Rare in South Australia and Priority 4 in Western Australia, use a precautionary approach where suitable habitat or birds are found.

Clearing coastal shrubland, saltmarsh, dunes, low plants and wetland margins can remove feeding and shelter habitat. Excavation, grading and vehicle movement can collapse sand burrows or damage limestone crevices.

Avoid clearing intact coastal habitat where a disturbed alternative is available. Keep spoil, fill, fencing and stored materials out of potential feeding and breeding areas.

  • Use existing disturbed areas for access and laydown.
  • Fence approved clearing limits before machinery arrives.
  • Retain low vegetation around burrows, crevices and rocky shelter.

Threats: Disturbance and breeding failure

Repeated people, vehicle, noise and lighting disturbance near nests or small offshore breeding islands may cause adults to avoid the area. Island access should be planned carefully during August to December.

Do not approach suspected nests to improve a photograph. Have an ecologist confirm the record from a suitable distance.

  • Use pre-start briefings for all workers and contractors.
  • Restrict access to identified breeding areas.
  • Stop work and seek advice if eggs, young or an active nest are found.

Threats: Loss of habitat connections

Works that separate coastal shrubland from saltmarsh, beaches, tidal flats or nearby islands can reduce access to feeding areas. Changes to drainage or sediment movement can also affect wetland margins and salt-tolerant food plants.

Keep connected strips of coastal vegetation and protect wetland edges from sediment, runoff and unnecessary vehicle traffic.

Threats: Survey and management response

Targeted surveys should focus on coastal habitat, offshore islands, saltmarsh, rocky margins and low vegetation. Search during morning and late afternoon, and repeat checks where habitat is suitable but no birds are detected.

For a Rare or Priority 4 species, record all sightings, map habitat and retain photographs or call recordings. Use a site-specific exclusion area and work method when an active nest, repeated feeding area or important movement route is identified.

  • Brief fauna spotter catchers on the species and its coastal habitat.
  • Complete a pre-clearance inspection immediately before works.
  • Maintain a sightings register with date, location, number of birds, behaviour and habitat.
  • Refer proposed disturbance to the relevant state authority where required.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Survey coastal and near-coastal habitat carefully, especially dunes, beaches, rocky shores, cliffs, headlands, saltmarsh, tidal flats and low coastal shrubland. Rock Parrots are usually close to the shore, forage on the ground and may move between islands and the mainland.

Map coastal habitat, offshore islands, saltmarsh, salt lakes, tidal flats and low vegetation near the high-water mark.

Check records from state databases and local experts. Give particular attention to records from the Eyre Peninsula, Coorong, Rottnest Island and other offshore islands.

Treat habitat within a few hundred metres of the coast as potentially suitable. Include inland estuary margins and wetlands connected to coastal habitat.

Check whether the project occurs in a listed area or population. Rock Parrot is listed as Rare in South Australia and Priority 4 in Western Australia. Apply the relevant Victorian requirements where the species is mapped there.

Breeding period: August to December

Post-breeding dispersal: December to August, with most movement reported from January to March

Typical coastal distribution: Usually within a few hundred metres of the shore, with some records up to 160 km from known nesting islands

  • Map proposed clearing, access tracks, laydown areas, shoreline works, lighting and construction traffic.
  • Identify islands, islets, cliffs, rocky crevices, sand burrows and dense vegetation that could support breeding.
  • Review recent records, seasonal movement information and any previous surveys before finalising the work footprint.

Survey methodology: 2. Field detection

Search on foot along the shore, through saltmarsh, across tidal flats and around low coastal vegetation. Check rocky ground, headlands, dunes and the landward edge of beaches.

Survey during the morning and late afternoon, when the species commonly feeds. Include suitable periods around low tide where exposed feeding areas can be searched safely.

Use quiet observation and listen for calls. Record birds seen or heard, then confirm identity where possible. Experienced observers are preferred because Western Ground Parrots can occur in some similar habitats.

Recorded survey examples: At least one hour was used in early morning and late afternoon surveys in South Australia. Point surveys used 20 to 30 minutes within approximately 100 m of each point, with repeated visits on four consecutive days.

  • Walk slowly through suitable habitat and scan the ground, low shrubs, rocks and shoreline.
  • Search likely feeding areas exposed by the receding tide, seeding rushes and saltmarsh edges.
  • Inspect potential breeding features from a distance before approaching them.

Survey methodology: 3. Survey design and conditions

Use repeated visits where the species is a potential constraint, rather than relying on one brief inspection. Increase coverage where habitat is continuous, records are recent, or works extend along the coast.

Avoid conducting the only survey during strong wind, heavy rain, poor visibility or intense construction noise. Record conditions and any tide-related limits on access or detection.

Survey offshore islands and the mainland shore where the project could affect movement between them. Arrange access and approvals before visiting islands or cliffs.

  • Combine fixed observation points, shoreline searches and targeted searches of likely feeding and breeding habitat.
  • Repeat surveys across suitable morning and late afternoon periods, including the August to December breeding period where practicable.
  • Use binoculars or a telescope for cliffs, offshore islets and other areas that cannot be approached safely.
  • Stop and reassess if birds repeatedly flush from one location, show alarm behaviour or cannot be identified confidently.

Survey methodology: 4. Records and reporting

Record every observation, including birds outside the proposed clearing footprint. Single birds and small groups can identify important habitat or movement routes.

Map the location of each bird and describe its behaviour. Distinguish feeding, roosting, courtship, carrying nesting material, entering a crevice or burrow, and flying between habitat patches.

  • Record date, time, observer, GPS location, number of birds, age or plumage where known, behaviour, direction of travel and whether the bird was seen or heard.
  • Describe habitat, vegetation cover, substrate, distance from the coast, tide, weather, visibility and noise conditions.
  • Photograph habitat and breeding features where this can be done without approaching or disturbing birds.
  • Submit records to the project ecologist and the relevant state database or land manager.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and legal checks

Avoid coastal habitat first, then plan controls for any unavoidable clearing or construction. Treat a suspected nest, breeding place, roost or regular feeding area as a stop-work issue until the project ecologist confirms the response.

Confirm the current conservation status in each jurisdiction before works start. In South Australia, the Rock Parrot is Rare under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. In Western Australia, Priority 4 is a non-statutory DBCA category for rare and near threatened species that need monitoring. The species is mapped in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

Check the current EPBC Act list and complete an EPBC referral assessment where the action could have a significant impact on a listed threatened species or other protected matter. Do not assume that a state listing means an EPBC referral is required, or that no state listing removes federal obligations.

Obtain state permits, approvals and land manager permissions before handling birds, disturbing breeding places or working on protected islands or reserves. Follow the relevant South Australian, Victorian or Western Australian requirements.

Queensland records are not identified for this species in the project information. If a Rock Parrot is encountered in Queensland, stop and obtain advice from the Queensland regulator. Where the animal or its breeding place is covered by Queensland protected wildlife provisions, use an approved species management program before tampering with the breeding place.

  • Document the listing check, referral decision and permit conditions in the project environmental management plan.
  • Nominate the person responsible for contacting the regulator and wildlife carer before mobilisation.
  • Include permit conditions in the spotter catcher briefing.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and timing

Retain coastal dunes, rocky shore, saltmarsh, low coastal shrubland, feeding flats and shoreline vegetation wherever practicable. Avoid removing connected habitat between the coast, islands, wetlands and known records.

Schedule noisy works and vegetation removal outside August to December where practicable. If works must occur during this period, complete targeted breeding checks and use a higher level of supervision.

Consider post-breeding dispersal from December to August when planning works along the coast. Birds can move between islands and the mainland and may occur well away from known nesting islands.

  • Redesign the footprint to retain known or potential breeding features, dense cover and regular feeding areas.
  • Keep machinery, vehicles, storage, lighting and worker access out of retained habitat.
  • Use the smallest practical work area and mark the approved boundary before clearing.
  • Do not set an arbitrary buffer around a nest or roost. Have the ecologist set a site-specific exclusion area based on the feature, activity, terrain, visibility and regulator advice.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance inspection

Complete a final inspection shortly before clearing, including the full disturbance area and access routes. Search for birds, eggs, chicks, recently used nests and signs of repeated use.

Inspect limestone crevices, overhangs, cliffs, sand burrows, abandoned shearwater burrows and dense vegetation. Natural nests may be concealed under vegetation or occur in inaccessible cliffs.

Use a suitably experienced ecologist for potential breeding habitat. Do not enter unstable cliffs, burrows or offshore islets without a safe method and the required permissions.

  • Walk the boundary and mark retained habitat, potential breeding places and no-go areas.
  • Use binoculars to inspect inaccessible features and observe from a distance before any closer check.
  • Record whether each potential breeding place is active, inactive, unsuitable or unable to be assessed.
  • If an active breeding place cannot be ruled out, postpone the relevant works and obtain project ecologist advice.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Exclusion and induction

Install visible exclusion fencing around retained habitat and confirmed breeding places before machinery arrives. Ensure fencing does not block access to feeding or nesting habitat that birds need to retain.

Brief all workers on identification, likely habitat, the no-go areas and the stop-work process. Include the possibility of birds moving through an apparently cleared area.

Tell crews that juveniles have an orange bill and lack a distinct frontal band. Do not rely on inexperienced workers to make the final species identification.

  • Place maps and photographs of exclusion areas in site offices, vehicles and induction materials.
  • Use a spotter catcher or fauna observer during all relevant clearing and high-risk construction.
  • Give the spotter catcher authority to stop work immediately where a bird, nest, breeding place, roost or unexpected habitat feature is found.
  • Keep dogs, cats and other animals away from islands, shorelines and retained habitat.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing and supervision

Clear in a controlled sequence from the approved footprint towards retained habitat, with a fauna observer present. Stop work whenever a Rock Parrot, active breeding place or unexpected coastal habitat feature creates a new risk.

Use staged clearing so birds have an opportunity to leave towards suitable retained habitat. Start with low-risk areas and leave the most suitable coastal habitat until the end, unless the site ecologist specifies another sequence.

Keep machinery out of exclusion areas and maintain clear access for the spotter catcher. Do not chase birds or force them from cover.

Inspect vegetation, rock piles, crevices, burrows, pipes, stockpiles and other structures as they become accessible.

  • Clear small sections under direct observation.
  • Pause after each section and check retained habitat and the work face for birds or breeding activity.
  • Use a low-speed, low-noise approach near retained habitat where practicable.
  • Stop work if visibility, weather, lighting or noise prevents effective fauna observation.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animal handling and breeding places

Only authorised and appropriately trained people may capture, handle or relocate a Rock Parrot. The spotter catcher must follow the permit, approved method statement and wildlife welfare requirements.

Do not touch eggs, chicks, nests or nesting material unless the responsible wildlife authority and project ecologist have approved the action. Do not fill, collapse, block or disturb a burrow or crevice.

If an active breeding place, colony or regular roost is found, stop work in the immediate area. Protect the feature, withdraw workers and machinery, and obtain advice before resuming.

  • Record the location and condition of the breeding place without approaching unnecessarily.
  • Establish or revise the exclusion area under ecologist and regulator advice.
  • Keep vibration, dust, lighting, personnel and vehicles away from the feature.
  • Do not relocate an active nest or move a breeding place as a routine mitigation measure.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Encounter response

If a bird is found in the clearing area, stop nearby machinery and allow it to move away if it can do so safely. Watch where it goes and check that it has reached suitable habitat.

If the bird is injured, unable to fly, trapped or repeatedly exposed to danger, contain it only if authorised and safe. Use a ventilated, secure container and minimise handling, heat, noise and visual stress.

If a bird cannot be identified confidently, treat it as a protected native parrot and seek advice before continuing.

  • Contact the project ecologist and the nominated wildlife carer or regulator.
  • Do not offer food or water unless directed by a wildlife professional.
  • Keep the animal in a quiet, shaded location until transfer is arranged.
  • Release a healthy bird only under the approved direction and at a suitable nearby location.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Field records and stop-work events

Maintain a daily fauna log. Record both successful observations and incidents where a bird was not captured or where works were stopped.

Link each record to the clearing stage, work location and permit condition. Report breaches promptly rather than waiting for the end-of-day report.

  • Record date, time, GPS location, species identification, number of birds, behaviour, habitat, work activity and observer names.
  • Record any nest, eggs, chicks, burrow, crevice, colony or roost, including photographs where this will not cause disturbance.
  • Record capture, handling, treatment, transfer, release, mortality and regulator notifications.
  • Mark the location on the site plan and update the exclusion map before work recommences.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Complete a careful close-out inspection before removing controls. The aim is to confirm that no animal, breeding place or retained habitat has been overlooked and that all permit conditions have been met.

Inspect the cleared area, retained habitat edge, stockpiles, trenches, pipes, machinery and temporary structures after each clearing stage. Check for trapped, injured or displaced birds.

Reinspect active work areas after breaks, overnight shutdowns and major changes to the footprint. Rock Parrots may move through the site during coastal dispersal.

Do not remove exclusion fencing until the ecologist confirms that the feature is no longer at risk and the relevant approval allows removal.

  • Check all artificial cavities, burrows, crevices and dense vegetation disturbed by the work.
  • Search for feathers, eggs, chicks, carcasses and signs of repeated bird activity.
  • Confirm that access tracks, lighting and storage areas have not expanded into retained habitat.
  • Record the result of each inspection, including no-find results.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Reporting and compliance

Prepare a fauna report that clearly separates survey records, incidents, mitigation actions and outstanding risks. Provide records to the land manager, project ecologist and relevant regulator where required.

Report any injury, death, breeding-place disturbance, permit breach or unexpected concentration of birds under the applicable approval and permit conditions.

  • Include maps, dates, observers, effort, weather, tide conditions, bird numbers, behaviour and habitat descriptions.
  • List all stop-work events and explain how the risk was controlled.
  • Document the final clearing area and the area of habitat retained.
  • Close out each permit condition with evidence, photographs or signed field records.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated and treated animals

Follow up every captured, treated or relocated bird until the wildlife carer or regulator confirms the outcome. Do not assume that release means the incident is resolved.

Use release sites with suitable coastal habitat, low immediate disturbance and no known territorial or breeding conflict where the authorised wildlife professional considers relocation appropriate.

Do not relocate eggs, chicks or an active nest without specific approval and specialist direction.

  • Record the animal's condition, identification, treatment, transfer time, receiving carer and release details.
  • Record the release location and habitat condition without disclosing sensitive locations more widely than necessary.
  • Report mortality or failed release promptly and review whether the work method contributed.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review and monitoring

Review any encounter, injury, mortality or breeding-place disturbance with the spotter catcher, supervisor and ecologist. Use the findings to change sequencing, exclusion areas, lighting, access or induction material.

Where suitable habitat remains beside the project, undertake follow-up observations during the next breeding or dispersal period. Scale the program to the state listing, project risk and approval conditions.

  • For a Rare South Australian population or a Priority 4 Western Australian population, retain evidence of survey coverage and repeat monitoring where habitat is affected.
  • Use increased monitoring where repeated records, breeding activity, island habitat or a concentration of birds is detected.
  • Share verified records with the relevant state database and land manager.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore habitat structure

Rehabilitation should restore a connected coastal mosaic of low vegetation, feeding areas, shelter and safe movement routes. Design any breeding enhancement only with a Rock Parrot specialist, because breeding sites are specialised and the strongest evidence comes from offshore islets.

Reinstate dunes, saltmarsh, rocky margins and low coastal shrubland appropriate to the local site. Retain natural substrates and avoid creating dense tall vegetation where open feeding areas are needed.

Use local provenance plants suited to coastal conditions. Include native food-associated plants such as samphire, pigface, groundsel, Nitraria, saltbush, sea rocket and suitable grasses or rushes where they naturally occur.

Link rehabilitated patches to retained shoreline, wetlands, islands and mainland habitat. Protect new plantings from trampling and vehicle access until established.

  • Shape disturbed ground to match the surrounding landform and drainage.
  • Replace natural rock and sand features only where the design is approved by the ecologist and land manager.
  • Keep a mosaic of low cover, bare ground, rocks and feeding plants rather than planting one uniform cover type.
  • Do not import soil, weeds, predators or disease risk to offshore islands.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Breeding structures and shelter

Standard tree nest boxes and bat boxes are not a default solution for this species. Rock Parrots use limestone crevices, overhangs, cliffs, sand burrows and abandoned shearwater burrows, including sites concealed under vegetation.

Artificial nest shelters may suit offshore islets where natural breeding sites are limited and approvals, predator controls and specialist supervision are in place. On Duck Rock, clay ridge-hip-end roof tiles were used as nest shelters, and used shelters were under vegetation with more than 50 percent cover.

Design, locate and monitor any artificial shelter with a Rock Parrot specialist. Match the local substrate, concealment, entrance form and predator risk. Do not install shelters in open, exposed positions without testing the design.

Breeding season: August to December

Documented artificial shelter outcome: Four of 19 shelters were used on Duck Rock between 2014 and 2017, with 13 nestlings fledging

  • Obtain land manager and wildlife authority approval before installing or inspecting structures on islands or in protected areas.
  • Place shelters away from active natural nests and avoid trampling dense vegetation.
  • Inspect shelters outside the breeding period where possible, using a low-disturbance method.
  • Remove failed, damaged or unsafe structures and record use, eggs, fledglings and signs of predators.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, predators and disturbance

Control weeds that replace native coastal food plants or alter low vegetation structure. Use methods that do not disturb nests, burrows, roosts or feeding birds.

Manage introduced predators and scavengers in accordance with the island or reserve management plan. Avoid attracting gulls, ravens, cats, foxes or rodents with food, waste or poorly stored materials.

Keep construction lighting directed away from shorelines, islands, cliffs, saltmarsh and retained vegetation. Use the lowest practical intensity and avoid unnecessary night lighting.

  • Inspect rehabilitation areas for weed invasion after rain and after soil movement.
  • Secure waste, food and construction materials each day.
  • Restrict night works near retained coastal habitat unless approved controls are in place.
  • Use quiet access routes and prevent informal tracks through feeding and shelter habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Water and long-term monitoring

Maintain natural coastal drainage and avoid creating polluted, stagnant or steep-sided water bodies. Protect saltmarsh and wetland edges used for feeding.

Monitor rehabilitation through establishment and across breeding and dispersal periods. Use the same fixed points and shoreline routes where possible so results can be compared.

  • Record plant survival, weed cover, erosion, substrate condition, predator signs and vehicle damage.
  • Record Rock Parrot presence, numbers, behaviour, feeding areas, movement direction and any use of artificial shelters.
  • Inspect during August to December for breeding activity and from December to August for dispersal through the site.
  • Review the program after each monitoring period and adjust planting, access controls, predator management or shelter design.
  • Keep monitoring records with the project environmental file and submit significant records to the relevant state database.

Sources