Unscrupulous politicians want to log the swift parrot's breeding trees in Tasmania putting this rare and beautiful bird in danger of total extinction as it only breeds in a specific location in Tasmania even if it it is found on the mainland. Please tell these politicians that there's no political future for them and their party if they decide to attack these magnificient birds, thanks.
As a complicating factor, my information tells me they can't even protect known nesting trees, as they do not always use the same nest sites, according to seasonal and food availability, tend to move around. There was a group of Victorian arborists, I believe who came to Tasmania to create and replicate nest sites around known nesting areas, but at this stage, it is unclear if those new sites have been used (it was only last year this occurred). We will have to wait and see I guess. The other problem with the Swift Parrot is predation of eggs and nestlings by Sugar Gliders, which are actually introduced to Tasmania, but as they have a cute factor, most people don't see the need to control their spread (sugar gliders).
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Wouldn't it be wonderful if this monstrous & unprincipled attack on the Swift Parrot was met by the complete eradication from parliament of all those politicians who are doing their best to ensure the species' extinction. I wrote to the Tasmanian premier many moons ago about his support for the vandalism of Swift Parrot habitat but I'm a still awaiting a reply, a pretty clear indication that either he doesn't care or he is illiterate. And if you think these scurrilous sorts of people make me really angry then you're right on the money. However, it's important to keep hope alive so I urge all Tasmanian Birds in Backyarders to inundate their MPs' inboxes, mail boxes & cereal boxes with lots of demands for protection of Swift Parrot habitat.
Good on you for raising this issuer, doublebar.
Unfortunately this isn't the only species under attack as we all know, the koala as been under pressure from constant onslaughts by these unscrupulous politicians for a long time, recently we were told that the koala needed culling because they were sick, now we are told that their habitat needs culling too, with trees going down left right and centre. Btw we were never told why the koalas got sick, I guess we need to use our imagination there, since these politicians don't need to explain anything or be accountable to anyone.
For Australian birds, natives=life, exotics=death, so do them a favour and go plant some natives and save their lives.