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Superb Parrot (Polytelis swainsonii)

The Superb Parrot is a large, mostly green parrot of inland south-eastern Australia. It depends on mature eucalypts with suitable hollows, nearby box woodland foraging habitat and connected treed routes, so clearing, construction disturbance and removal of old trees can affect breeding and movement on development sites.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Endangered.

Australian Capital Territory, Nature Conservation Act 2014: Vulnerable.

Breeding season

The following pattern is a general guide across the range. Timing varies between the Riverina, inland slopes, ACT and northern NSW because birds move in response to food supply and seasonal conditions.

For project timing, confirm local breeding activity with targeted surveys rather than relying on calendar dates alone. The supplied bird survey guidance recommends early morning and late afternoon searches, with additional effort outside the breeding season because dispersal makes detection more difficult.

  • Breeding: Breeding activity begins from about September and may continue into January. Peak nesting is generally October to December, with some breeding reported in January.
  • Eggs and nestlings: Eggs are incubated for about 22 days. Nestlings remain dependent in the hollow and are fed by both parents for about 40 days after hatching, so active nests may occur from September into January.
  • Post-breeding movement: Many birds move away from breeding habitat from about mid-January. During autumn and winter, birds may use box, box-pine, Boree and River Red Gum woodland in central and northern NSW and the Riverina.
  • Winter presence and dispersal: Birds from the NSW South Western Slopes commonly move north during winter, while Riverina birds may remain in the region but shift from riverine breeding forest to floodplain and nearby woodland. Some birds remain in breeding areas year round.
  • Return to breeding areas: Birds generally return to breeding areas in spring. Pre-breeding flocks form before females begin nesting.
  • Highest clearing risk: September to January is the highest risk period because adults are establishing nests, incubating eggs or feeding dependent young. Disturbance near nest trees during this period may cause nest desertion or reduce provisioning.

Identification

The Superb Parrot is a distinctive, long-tailed green parrot. It is usually detected by its bright plumage, fast flight, loud contact calls and association with mature eucalypt woodland.

Adults are medium-sized and slender, with a long graduated tail and pointed, backswept wings. Both sexes have predominantly green plumage, a coral or pinkish bill and a red or orange iris.

Body length: 36 to 42 cm

Body weight: 133 to 157 g

  • Adult males are bright green with a yellow forehead, cheeks and throat, separated from the green breast by a narrow red band.
  • Adult females are duller green, with a pale green-blue face and red thighs. They lack the male's strong yellow and red head markings.
  • Immature birds resemble females, although young males may be brighter green.

Identification: Similar species

The species is normally distinctive when seen well. Flying birds seen only in silhouette may be confused with a Cockatiel, but the Superb Parrot is larger, longer-tailed and has a more substantial, pointed-winged profile.

  • Look for the long narrow tail, backswept pointed wings and mostly green plumage.
  • In males, the yellow face and throat with a red throat band are strong identification features.
  • Females and immature birds are best separated by their larger size, long tail and overall shape.

Identification: Calls and field signs

The contact call is a loud, distinctive, throaty 'krak, krrak', often given by birds in flight. Feeding birds may give softer twittering calls.

Typical nesting hollow height: About 5 to 35 m above ground, with lower and higher sites recorded across the range.

  • Look for family parties or small flocks moving between woodland patches and mature eucalypts.
  • A breeding indication is repeated activity at a large tree hollow, including adults entering or leaving the hollow and carrying food.
  • Nest hollows are usually in large living or standing dead eucalypts, often near water. The same nest tree may be used in successive years.

Distribution: National range

The Superb Parrot is endemic to inland south-eastern Australia. Its main range extends across inland New South Wales, the ACT and northern Victoria, with occasional records in southern Queensland.

In New South Wales, the species occurs mainly west of the Great Dividing Range, across the NSW South Western Slopes, Riverina, Darling Riverine Plains, Brigalow Belt South and Cobar Peneplain bioregions. It also occurs in the South Eastern Highlands and adjacent inland plains.

In the ACT, it is mainly associated with northern and central open eucalypt woodland during the breeding season, with records also extending into southern Canberra. In Victoria, it is concentrated in the Riverina, especially the Barmah forest area between Cobram and Echuca, with occasional records further east.

  • The broader NSW range extends roughly from Canberra and Bathurst north to Coonabarabran and Narrabri, and west through the inland plains.
  • Southern Queensland records are occasional and the species is generally treated as a vagrant there.
  • The species is known or predicted in NSW subregions including Pilliga, Pilliga Outwash, Liverpool Plains, Narrandool, Northern Outwash, Talbragar Valley, Lachlan Plains, Bogan-Macquarie, Castlereagh-Barwon, Inland Slopes, Lower Slopes, Murrumbidgee and Murray Fans.

Distribution: Breeding strongholds

The main breeding areas are the Murray and Edward River corridors, the Murrumbidgee River corridor, and the inland slopes area bounded broadly by Molong, Rye Park, Yass, Coolac, Cootamundra and Young.

  • Important Riverina breeding areas include mature River Red Gum forests along the Murray, Edward and Murrumbidgee Rivers.
  • Important inland slopes and tableland areas include box-gum woodland with large Blakely's Red Gum, Yellow Box, Apple Box, Grey Box, White Box or Red Box trees.
  • The ACT has known breeding areas in Mulligans Flat, Goorooyarroo Nature Reserves, the central and lower Molonglo Valley and other northern open woodland areas.

Distribution: Population and trend

Population estimates vary substantially between sources and years. The species has undergone historical range contraction and declines in parts of its range, although regional sightings and abundance vary with seasonal movement and food availability.

Recovery plan estimate: 5,000 to 8,000 birds

2000 estimate: About 6,500 mature individuals

NSW profile estimate: Fewer than 5,000 breeding pairs

2016 estimate cited in ACT plan: Up to 20,000 mature individuals

  • The recovery plan estimated 5,000 to 8,000 birds, while another estimate gave about 6,500 mature birds in 2000.
  • The NSW profile reports fewer than 5,000 breeding pairs remaining in the wild.
  • The ACT action plan records estimates ranging from about 6,500 mature individuals in 2000 to up to 20,000 mature individuals in a 2016 estimate. It notes that experts do not agree on the population estimate.
  • Recent information cited in the ACT action plan suggests ongoing decline across a substantial part of the range, with increased sightings in the ACT region and strong variation caused by movement.

Habitat: Main habitat types

The Superb Parrot uses open woodland and riverine forest in a connected network of breeding, feeding and movement sites. Habitat quality depends on mature trees, hollow availability, grassy or shrubby food resources and nearby woodland cover.

Breeding habitat comprises riverine forests in the Riverina and box-gum woodland on the inland slopes and tablelands. River Red Gum forest is especially important along the Murray, Edward and Murrumbidgee Rivers.

The species also uses Box-Cypress-pine woodland, Boree woodland and other open eucalypt woodland outside the breeding period.

  • River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis forest and woodland near watercourses.
  • Box-gum woodland dominated by Yellow Box, Grey Box, White Box or related eucalypts.
  • Woodland containing Blakely's Red Gum, Apple Box, Red Box, Inland Red Box, Black Box or Callitris.
  • Boree Acacia pendula woodland and mixed eucalypt-pine woodland used during seasonal movements and feeding.

Habitat: Habitat structure

Large living and standing dead eucalypts with hollow branches or trunk hollows are needed for nesting. Suitable breeding trees are often old, large and close to water, but isolated paddock trees may also provide nest sites on the inland slopes and in the ACT.

Typical distance from nest site to foraging habitat: Usually within 10 km; males may forage at least 9 km from nesting colonies.

Hollow development time: Suitable large hollows may take more than 120 years to form, with larger hollows likely to occur in trees more than 220 years old.

  • Retain mature living trees, standing dead trees and all known or potential hollow-bearing trees.
  • Retain woodland within about 10 km of breeding colonies because breeding birds commonly forage within this distance.
  • Maintain treed links between nest sites and feeding areas. Birds usually move along wooded corridors and rarely cross large open areas.
  • Protect recruitment trees and regeneration because hollows of the required size can take more than 120 years to form.

Habitat: Climate and elevation

The supplied documents describe an inland, temperate to semi-arid distribution across south-eastern Australia and seasonal movements between breeding and non-breeding areas. They do not provide a reliable elevation limit for field assessment.

  • Treat suitable open eucalypt woodland and riverine forest as potential habitat wherever it occurs within the known range.
  • Consider seasonal use when assessing sites in northern NSW, the ACT, the NSW South Western Slopes and northern Victoria.
  • Do not rule out habitat solely because a site is near urban areas, crops or private land. The species uses urban-adjacent woodland, greenspace, crops and isolated paddock trees in some areas.

Foraging habitat: Food and feeding method

Superb Parrots feed both on the ground and in trees. They use a broad range of native woodland foods, together with cereal grain and some cultivated plants, and often forage in flocks.

Ground feeding is common. Birds take grass seeds, cereal grain and herbaceous plant material in grassy woodland, crop margins, roadsides and other open areas. They also feed in tree canopies and shrubs.

  • Seeds of Wallaby-grass and Barley-grass.
  • Wheat, oats and other spilled or standing cereal grain.
  • Seeds and pods of wattles, including Gold-dust Wattle, Silver Wattle, Deane's Wattle and Cootamundra Wattle.
  • Eucalypt flowers, nectar and fruit.
  • Mistletoe fruit, including Box Mistletoe and Grey Mistletoe.
  • Dwarf Cherry fruit and lerps taken from eucalypt foliage.
  • Other fruits, berries, buds, flowers and occasional insects.

Foraging habitat: Foraging places and behaviour

During breeding, males commonly travel from nesting colonies to feeding areas to provision females. Flocks of males may make two to three feeding trips each day during the first four weeks of breeding.

Breeding-season foraging distance: Usually within about 10 km of nesting sites.

Male provisioning trips: Usually two to three trips per day during the first four weeks of breeding.

  • Inspect grassy box woodland, woodland edges, paddock trees, riverine forest and nearby crops for feeding activity.
  • Check mature flowering eucalypts, wattles, mistletoe-bearing trees and trees with lerp infestations.
  • Look for birds feeding on the ground beneath woodland, particularly where native grass seed or spilled grain is present.
  • Treat grain spills near roads as both a food attractant and a vehicle strike risk.

Foraging habitat: Seasonal feeding areas

After breeding, many birds move away from breeding habitat from about mid-January. They may use Boree woodland, River Red Gum forest, box-pine woodland, box woodland and mixed pine woodland across central and northern NSW and the Riverina.

  • Survey both breeding and non-breeding feeding areas when clearing is proposed between January and August.
  • Retain trees and connected woodland patches between breeding colonies and seasonal feeding areas.
  • In the ACT, check urban-adjacent woodland and greenspace, particularly flowering eucalypts and trees beside open playing fields.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

The Superb Parrot is an obligate hollow nester. It breeds singly or in loose colonies and repeatedly uses suitable nest trees, so the loss of one mature hollow-bearing tree can affect breeding opportunities over many years.

Breeding occurs mainly in mature riverine forest and box-gum woodland. Pairs may nest alone or in loose colonies, with up to nine pairs recorded in a colony.

Breeding season: September to December, with breeding reported through January.

Clutch size: 4 to 6 eggs.

Incubation: About 22 days.

Fledging: About 40 days after hatching.

Age at maturity: A generation-time estimate used an age at first breeding of 1 year.

Lifespan: Some birds may live for 25 years or more; a maximum wild longevity of 14 years was used in another generation-time estimate.

Generation time: 7.5 years in the ACT action plan; earlier sources estimated about 5 years.

  • Females incubate the eggs and are fed by males during incubation and early chick development.
  • Both parents feed the nestlings after hatching.
  • Nest trees may continue to be used after they die, provided suitable hollows remain.

Breeding habitat: Nest trees and colonies

Nest hollows are usually in large living eucalypts, often River Red Gums near water in the Riverina. On the inland slopes and in the ACT, Blakely's Red Gum and other large box woodland eucalypts are important nest trees. Standing dead trees are also used.

Nest hollow entrance: At least 6 cm wide in the NSW profile; ACT birds commonly use hollows with an entrance about 12 to 13 cm wide.

Nest hollow height: Usually 5 to 35 m above ground; 7 to 34 m was recorded along major Riverina rivers.

ACT breeding colony definition: At least four adult pairs attempting to nest within an 80 ha area, with nesting attempts no more than 1 km apart.

  • Retain known nest trees and mature trees with potential hollows, whether living or dead.
  • Avoid clearing, felling, burning or heavy disturbance around nest trees during the breeding season.
  • Check large eucalypts in riparian forest, box-gum woodland, open paddock woodland and isolated paddock trees.
  • Allow for future recruitment of hollow-bearing trees because suitable hollows take more than a century to develop.

Breeding habitat: Disturbance controls

Known colonies can be affected by people, vehicles, timber operations and construction activity. The recovery plan recommends a 100 m buffer around known nest trees and colonies, while ACT research indicates that breeding distribution can be affected within 200 m of disturbance.

  • Locate and map all hollow-bearing trees and active nest trees before clearing.
  • Use a minimum 100 m no-harvesting buffer around known nest trees and colonies where the relevant approval or management plan requires it.
  • Apply a wider 200 m disturbance buffer where ACT evidence or project conditions require protection of the supporting breeding area.
  • Stop work and seek ecological advice if adults repeatedly enter a hollow, carry food to a hollow or defend a tree.

Sheltering habitat: Roosts and refuge trees

The species shelters and roosts in trees, with communal roosting reported. Breeding birds depend on deep hollows in mature eucalypts, including hollows in standing dead trees.

Superb Parrots roost communally in trees and may use riverine forest, box woodland, box-pine woodland and other connected woodland during seasonal movements.

  • Retain mature trees and connected woodland used by repeated evening or early morning flocks.
  • Inspect likely roost trees before night works, tree removal or major lighting changes.
  • Avoid removing isolated mature trees that may act as movement stepping stones or roosts between larger woodland patches.

Sheltering habitat: Hollows

Large trunk and primary-limb hollows provide nest sites and may also provide shelter. Birds nest deep within hollows, sometimes at or near ground level inside the tree.

General nest hollow entrance: At least 6 cm wide.

ACT preferred entrance size: About 12 to 13 cm on average.

ACT chamber depth: More than 70 cm on average.

Typical tree size: ACT nest trees average about 110 cm trunk diameter at breast height.

  • Retain living and standing dead hollow-bearing eucalypts.
  • Do not remove dead trees solely because they have low timber value. They can continue to provide nest hollows after death.
  • Check hollows for Superb Parrot use before pruning, felling, burning or modifying a tree.

Sheltering habitat: Communal activity

Before nesting, birds congregate in small flocks. After breeding, large flocks of adults and immature birds can move widely while searching for food and roosting sites.

  • Record flock size, direction of travel, time of day and repeated roost use during site inspections.
  • Maintain tree cover along regular movement routes because birds rarely cross large open areas during local movements.
  • Schedule noisy work away from repeatedly used roosts and nest trees where practicable.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The main risks on development and infrastructure sites are loss of hollow-bearing trees, clearing of nearby feeding woodland, fragmentation of movement routes and disturbance during breeding. Additional risks include vehicle strike, fire, poisoning, predators, competition for hollows, hydrology change and illegal removal of birds.

Clearing and degradation of box woodland and riverine forest are the main documented threats. The species needs foraging habitat close to nest colonies and treed routes between breeding and feeding areas.

  • Avoid clearing mature living and dead hollow-bearing trees.
  • Avoid removing woodland within 10 km of known colonies or severing treed routes between colonies and feeding areas.
  • Retain native understorey and food plants beneath and around retained trees.
  • Assess direct and indirect impacts on feeding habitat, including edge effects, construction activity and loss of movement corridors.
  • The Narrabri Gas Project advice recorded potential direct impacts to 416.8 ha and indirect impacts to 82.02 ha of foraging habitat, illustrating the need to assess both impact types.

Threats: Breeding disturbance and hollow competition

Construction, recreation, timber operations, firewood collection and urban activity can disturb birds near nest trees. Competition for hollows occurs with native and introduced birds and may increase where old trees are scarce.

  • Protect known colonies and nest trees with the applicable 100 m or 200 m buffer.
  • Retain recruitment trees as well as existing hollow-bearing trees.
  • Manage access, machinery, lighting, noise and vegetation works near active nests during September to January.
  • Check for use of hollows by Galahs, corellas, rosellas, starlings, mynas and feral honey bees before works.
  • Do not assume a dead tree is unused. Superb Parrots may continue to use nest trees after tree death.

Threats: Roads, grain and poisoning

Superb Parrots feed in flocks on the ground and are vulnerable to vehicle strike, especially where spilled grain attracts birds to roadsides. Poisoned baits and agricultural chemicals may also kill birds or affect breeding success.

Recorded roadside mortality: Up to 27 birds were reported killed by vehicles along one roadside while feeding on spilled grain.

  • Remove or report grain spills promptly and prevent grain loss from trucks and loading areas.
  • Use vehicle speed controls, warning signs and fauna spotter observations where birds regularly feed beside roads.
  • Do not place poisoned grain or other baits where Superb Parrots can access them.
  • Assess pesticide and pest-control programs near feeding and breeding habitat.

Threats: Fire, grazing and hydrology

Fire, heavy grazing, firewood collection, irrigation, altered drainage and prolonged high flows can reduce food resources, kill or stress mature trees and prevent recruitment. Planned burns and stubble burns can damage hollow-bearing trees.

  • Avoid planned burns within 100 m of known nest trees.
  • Where fuel reduction burning is necessary in box-gum woodland within 10 km of nest sites, the recovery plan recommends the period from 1 May to 31 July.
  • Protect mature trees from fire, including standing dead trees with hollows.
  • Manage grazing so native grasses, wattles, mistletoe hosts and other food resources remain available.
  • Assess changes to water supply, surface drains, groundwater extraction and river flows near River Red Gum breeding forest.

Threats: Predators, disease and illegal removal

Ground-foraging birds may be exposed to feral cats, foxes and dogs. Illegal trapping, egg or chick removal, nest destruction and shooting remain documented risks. Superb Parrots are susceptible to psittacine beak and feather disease, although its incidence and spread are poorly understood.

  • Control access by domestic dogs and manage feral predator risks around breeding and feeding sites.
  • Report suspected trapping, egg collection, chick removal or illegal sale to the relevant authority.
  • Do not handle birds, eggs or chicks unless authorised and necessary for approved wildlife care.
  • Apply hygiene procedures when handling sick or dead parrots and report unusual mortality through the relevant wildlife authority.

Survey methodology: 1. Area searches and transects

Survey Superb Parrots in suitable woodland, riverine forest and connected tree corridors before clearing or construction. Surveys must account for seasonal movement, flocking behaviour and reduced detectability during the hottest part of the day.

Search suitable habitat by walking area searches or transects, preferably from sunrise to 10 am and from 4 pm to sunset.

Use sight and distinctive calls to detect birds, including birds flying between breeding and foraging habitat.

Vehicle based transects may be used where suitable habitat is mainly confined to roadside remnants.

Search River Red Gum forest, Box Gum woodland, Box Cypress Pine woodland, Boree woodland, isolated mature paddock trees and vegetated movement corridors.

Breeding season: September to January

Preferred survey periods: Sunrise to 10 am and 4 pm to sunset

Minimum effort for areas under 50 hectares: 12 hours over 4 days

  • Apply at least 12 hours of area searches or transect surveys over 4 days in areas smaller than 50 hectares.
  • Increase survey effort outside the breeding season because seasonal dispersal makes birds more difficult to detect.
  • Record flock size, flight direction, behaviour, feeding trees, roost trees, calls, habitat condition and any evidence of breeding.

Survey methodology: 2. Targeted searches of breeding habitat

Conduct targeted searches during the breeding season around large living and dead eucalypts, especially trees with hollows in trunks or primary limbs.

Give priority to River Red Gums near watercourses in the Riverina, and Blakely's Red Gum, Yellow Box, Apple Box, Grey Box, White Box and Red Box in the inland slopes and tablelands.

Watch hollow-bearing trees for adults carrying food, repeated flights to a hollow, calling, nest defence, faecal material or fresh wood dust.

Typical breeding period: September to December, with NSW records indicating breeding can continue to January

Nest hollow feature: Entrance diameter of 6 centimetres or wider and at least 3.5 metres above ground

Typical breeding flight distance: Foraging commonly occurs within 9 to 10 kilometres of nesting habitat

  • Apply at least 12 hours of targeted searches over 4 days in areas smaller than 50 hectares.
  • Search hollows from ground level and use an elevated inspection method only where it is safe, authorised and appropriate.
  • Map every active or suspected nest tree, the hollow location, tree condition, nearby watercourse and connected foraging habitat.

Survey methodology: 3. Timing, conditions and detection

Plan surveys when birds are active and visible, rather than during the heat of the day when they may feed quietly in the canopy.

Repeat surveys across suitable seasons where the site could support birds that move between breeding and non-breeding areas.

Treat absence as unconfirmed unless the survey effort and habitat assessment provide an evidence-based basis for that conclusion.

Social behaviour: Usually seen in family parties or small flocks and roosts communally

Main detection cues: Sightings of flying or feeding birds and the distinctive contact call

Seasonal movement: Many birds move from breeding areas after the breeding season, while some remain year round

  • Survey during the breeding season when assessing nest trees and breeding colonies.
  • Survey outside the breeding season when assessing winter foraging habitat, seasonal movement corridors and dispersed flocks.
  • Check nearby habitat even if birds are not recorded within the proposed clearing area, because birds may forage up to 10 kilometres from nest sites.
  • Use recent fire history, drought conditions, flowering and food availability to interpret records and likely site use.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

Document the survey design, dates, start and finish times, weather, observers, routes, habitat searched, effort, limitations and detection results.

  • Use the applicable state or territory threatened species survey requirements where they require more effort than the national guideline.
  • Provide mapped records of birds, nest trees, hollows, roosts, feeding areas and movement corridors with the project environmental assessment.
  • Submit confirmed records and significant negative survey results to the relevant state or territory wildlife database, such as the applicable BioNet, Atlas or government records system.
  • Report any suspected active nest, injured bird, illegal trapping or deliberate harm to the relevant wildlife authority.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise impacts

Avoid clearing Superb Parrot habitat wherever practicable. The highest priority is to retain hollow-bearing trees, connected woodland and the feeding habitat around breeding sites.

Retain large living and dead hollow-bearing eucalypts, including trees that are currently unsuitable but may develop hollows in the future.

Retain River Red Gum forest near watercourses, Box Gum woodland, Box Cypress Pine woodland, Boree woodland and isolated mature paddock trees.

Retain wooded corridors between breeding colonies and feeding areas because birds commonly move along vegetation rather than across large open areas.

Protect foraging habitat within at least 10 kilometres of known nest sites, and assess any proposed clearing within 20 kilometres where the project approval requires the broader breeding season foraging area to be considered.

National recovery plan nest buffer: 100 metres around known nest trees and colonies

ACT action plan disturbance buffer: 200 metres around the perimeter of a confirmed breeding colony

Tree hollow formation: Suitable large hollows may take more than 120 years to form

  • Avoid clearing known nest trees and active colonies.
  • Avoid removing standing dead trees, large limbs, fallen timber and other hollow resources.
  • Avoid fragmentation of small woodland remnants, roadside vegetation and riparian corridors.
  • Design the works footprint around retained habitat rather than relying only on later revegetation.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

Check the EPBC Act status before works because the Superb Parrot is nationally Vulnerable and the project may affect listed habitat or individuals.

Check state and territory threatened species, native vegetation, wildlife handling and clearing requirements before finalising the method of work.

Use the project assessment and approval conditions to determine whether referral, offsets, nest buffers, seasonal restrictions or a fauna management plan are required.

EPBC Act status: Vulnerable

State listings supplied for the species: ACT Vulnerable, NSW Vulnerable and Victoria Endangered

Breeding period to consider in scheduling: September to January

  • Schedule tree clearing and high noise activities outside the September to January breeding period where practicable.
  • Stage works so that retained breeding, foraging and movement habitat remains connected throughout construction.
  • Include daily fauna controls, tree-felling procedures, stop-work triggers, contact details and reporting requirements in the fauna management plan.
  • Brief machinery operators, supervisors and fauna spotter catchers on the location of all retained trees, hollows and exclusion zones.

Before habitat disturbance: Pre-clearance preparation

Complete a pre-clearance survey immediately before works, because birds may move into habitat after the original assessment.

Mark all nest trees, hollow-bearing trees, large limbs, roost trees, retained woodland, riparian vegetation and movement corridors on plans and on the ground.

Use exclusion fencing or other clearly visible barriers where they can protect retained habitat from machinery, materials, vehicle access and worker disturbance.

Observed nest tree reuse in the ACT: About 80 percent of nest trees were reused, while about 40 percent of nest hollows were reused

Known nest tree types: Large River Red Gum, Blakely's Red Gum and other mature box eucalypts, including standing dead trees

  • Check each tree proposed for removal for hollows, bird activity, nests, eggs, chicks and roosting animals before approval to fell.
  • Inspect adjacent trees because Superb Parrots may use more than one hollow in the same tree and may reuse nest trees in successive seasons.
  • Confirm that the spotter catcher and any arborist understand the approved tree-felling sequence and the location of the release and rehabilitation areas.
  • Do not treat an empty hollow as unused habitat without considering seasonal use and the species' regular nest-site reuse.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and machinery coordination

Use a controlled clearing sequence with an experienced fauna spotter catcher present. Stop work whenever an animal, active nest or unexpected habitat feature is found.

Complete a daily pre-start inspection of exclusion zones, retained trees, access routes, machinery and the day's clearing area.

The fauna spotter catcher must remain close enough to see the work face and must have a reliable way to stop machinery immediately.

Clear in small sections from the already disturbed edge towards retained habitat, allowing animals to move towards safe retained areas where the approved plan permits.

National recovery plan buffer: 100 metres around known nest trees and colonies

Known road mortality risk: Birds may feed in flocks on spilled grain beside roads

  • Keep machinery outside marked buffers around nest trees, colonies and retained habitat.
  • Do not work beneath or strike retained hollow-bearing trees, large limbs, logs or other marked habitat features.
  • Control vehicle speed near feeding areas and remove or report grain spills because roadside feeding can result in vehicle strikes.
  • Suspend noisy works near an active nest if the approved fauna management plan or authorised wildlife officer requires a breeding-season exclusion.

During habitat disturbance: Habitat features and fauna handling

Treat hollow-bearing trees and large hollow limbs as high priority fauna habitat, whether living or dead.

Retain logs, fallen timber, riparian vegetation and connected woodland where they are included in the approved design, even though the species mainly uses trees and woodland for breeding and feeding.

Do not remove a nest, egg, chick or adult bird unless the action is authorised and forms part of an approved wildlife procedure.

Nest hollow position: Commonly in a trunk or primary limb, about 5 to 35 metres above ground in the ACT

Nest contents: Usually 4 to 6 eggs, with incubation of about 22 days and fledging about 40 days after hatching

  • If a tree with a hollow must be removed, use the approved staged-felling method and have an authorised fauna handler inspect the tree and any displaced fauna.
  • Do not install or move nest boxes as a substitute for retaining suitable mature trees unless the relevant authority has approved the action and the project plan specifies their design, placement and monitoring.
  • Handle birds only when necessary, using the minimum restraint required and by a person authorised under the applicable state or territory requirements.
  • Relocate a healthy bird only to nearby suitable retained habitat identified in the approved plan and only when directed by the authorised fauna handler or wildlife authority.
  • Place injured birds in a secure, quiet container and transfer them promptly to an authorised wildlife carer or veterinarian.

During habitat disturbance: Stop work and records

Stop work in the affected area if a Superb Parrot is found within the clearing zone, an active nest is discovered, a chick or egg is exposed, a hollow-bearing tree differs from the approved survey, or an animal is injured.

Do not restart until the fauna spotter catcher, site supervisor and relevant environmental authority have applied the approved response.

  • Record the date, time, location, species, number of birds, behaviour, habitat feature, machinery involved, action taken and person who authorised the response.
  • Photograph and map unexpected nest trees, hollows, roosts, feeding areas and movement corridors where this can be done without disturbing the birds.
  • Report any death, injury, nest destruction, illegal trapping, shooting or unauthorised clearing through the project incident process and to the relevant wildlife authority.
  • Maintain a daily fauna log, including nil observations and all work stoppages.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance inspection

Post-clearance work must confirm that no fauna or breeding habitat has been left inside the disturbance area and that retained habitat remains protected during the rest of the project.

Inspect the cleared area, retained tree bases, fallen limbs, stockpiles and access routes after each clearing stage.

Check for injured birds, displaced chicks, damaged hollows, damaged nest trees and new hazards such as exposed roads or grain spills.

Complete a final inspection of the disturbance footprint before removing exclusion fencing or releasing the area for construction.

Breeding season for follow-up checks: September to January

Habitat use distance to consider: Up to 10 kilometres from nesting habitat for breeding-season foraging

  • Keep all retained tree and habitat buffers in place until the environmental officer confirms that the relevant works are complete.
  • Recheck nearby retained woodland during the breeding season if clearing occurred between September and January.
  • Confirm that no construction material, lighting, vehicle access or drainage change is affecting retained breeding or foraging habitat.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and reporting

Monitor retained habitat, known nest trees, movement corridors and rehabilitation areas at the frequency required by the approval or fauna management plan.

Use repeat observations to record occupancy, flock size, breeding activity, feeding use, tree condition and any new threats.

Monitoring need: Long-term monitoring is recommended because abundance varies with seasonal conditions and movement

  • Compare post-work observations with the pre-clearance baseline and report changes in bird use or habitat condition.
  • Report all confirmed records to the relevant state or territory wildlife database.
  • Provide the regulator and approval holder with maps, photographs, survey effort, incidents, fauna handling outcomes, cleared habitat areas and rehabilitation progress.
  • Review controls if birds stop using a retained area, if nest trees deteriorate, or if vehicles, fire, grazing, weeds or competing hollow users increase.

After habitat disturbance: Offsets and ongoing controls

Apply any offset requirement stated in the EPBC Act approval, state approval or strategic assessment.

Offsets do not remove the need to avoid clearing known nest trees, active colonies and connected habitat.

  • Maintain offset areas and retained habitat under the approved management plan.
  • Protect offset and retained areas from firewood collection, grazing damage, illegal clearing, excessive disturbance and removal of hollow-bearing trees.
  • Keep site staff aware of the location and management requirements of retained and offset habitat for the full construction and maintenance period.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore woodland and movement routes

Rehabilitation should restore connected woodland that provides food, movement routes and future nesting resources. It will not replace the immediate value of mature hollow-bearing trees.

Replant cleared breaks in movement corridors and connect retained woodland, riparian forest and feeding areas.

Use locally appropriate native eucalypts and associated woodland plants that match the approved vegetation community and the species' known habitat.

Prioritise River Red Gum near suitable watercourses where riverine habitat is being restored, and Blakely's Red Gum, Yellow Box, Apple Box, Grey Box, White Box, Red Box and suitable Callitris species in inland slope and tableland settings.

Important habitat types: Riverine forest and Box Gum woodland, with seasonal use of Box Cypress Pine and Boree woodland

Hollow development period: More than 120 years for suitable large hollows

  • Use plantings that develop a range of tree ages, including future hollow-bearing trees.
  • Protect young trees from grazing, browsing, fire damage, weed competition and vehicle damage until established.
  • Maintain open woodland structure and a native grassy understorey where this reflects the surrounding Superb Parrot habitat.
  • Do not rely on planted saplings to replace mature trees during the project's life because suitable hollows may take more than 120 years to form.

Rehabilitation actions: Replace lost habitat functions

Retain and reinstate fallen timber, large limbs and other approved habitat features where they do not create a safety or fire risk.

Protect retained standing dead trees and recruit replacement trees for future hollows.

Use nest boxes or artificial hollows only where an approved species management plan supports them, because attempts to supplement nest sites have shown little benefit in some ACT work.

Known food resources: Wallaby-grass, barley-grass, wheat, oats, wattles, eucalypt flowers and fruit, mistletoe fruit, Dwarf Cherry and lerps

ACT nest tree preference: Large old Blakely's Red Gum and Scribbly Gum, including large standing dead trees

  • Place any artificial nest structures in suitable retained woodland, away from construction disturbance and with an authorised design and monitoring plan.
  • Maintain riparian vegetation and natural drainage patterns around retained River Red Gum habitat.
  • Control weeds and manage grazing so that native food plants and regeneration can establish.
  • Manage fire so that planned burns do not damage known nest trees or retained hollow-bearing trees.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

Monitor rehabilitation during establishment and then during the breeding and non-breeding periods used in the project approval.

Assess whether planted and retained areas are being used for feeding, movement, roosting or breeding.

Breeding monitoring period: September to January

Foraging area to assess: Within about 9 to 10 kilometres of breeding habitat where the project may affect breeding-season food resources

  • Measure survival and growth of planted eucalypts, recruitment of native trees, understorey condition, corridor continuity, weed cover and grazing impacts.
  • Record Superb Parrot sightings, flock size, feeding behaviour, flight paths, roosting and any nest use within the rehabilitation area.
  • Treat successful establishment of connected native woodland as an interim measure and treat confirmed bird use, stable retained trees and documented recruitment as longer-term indicators.
  • Adapt weed, grazing, fire, predator and competitor management when monitoring shows declining habitat condition or reduced bird use.

Sources