Neophema chrysogaster Orange-bellied parrot

Applicant: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Species/Taxon: Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster)

Location: Five Mile Beach Wildlife Management Facility, NRE Tas (Property Services), Crown Land.

Title of research: Orange-bellied Parrot Migration Tracking Project – GPS tracking trials

This study aims to test various lightweight (less than 2g) GPS units and attachment methods on captive Orange-bellied Parrots (OBPs) to assess whether a particular device and attachment combination has potential application in investigating migratory movements and over-winter habitat use in OBPs. 

This study will expand on previous work to trial a range of harness materials and designs and GPS unit sizes and weights to find an optimal design with minimal impact on OBP behaviour and welfare. 

Attachment will be tested on a sample of the captive OBP population at the NRE Tasmania Five Mile Beach Wildlife Management Facility. 

This project will be used to address the following questions:

1. Does attachment or device impact bird behaviour or welfare (including bodyweight, body condition, feather condition, feeding,

        flight ability, and activity)?  

2. Do birds interact with or remove devices, depending on the design or type of construction material?

3. Do certain harness designs pose a risk of entanglement if compromised?

In the short-term, our work will identify the optimal harness and GPS unit design to investigate OBP movements without adversely impacting health, welfare, or behaviour. 

In the longer-term, we aim to apply this optimal GPS unit design on wild OBPs, allowing us to build our knowledge of OBP migratory pathways, stop-over locations, and over-winter habitat use. This will enable us to protect important habitat, identify and manage threats, and ultimately improve the prospects of recovery for this critically endangered species. 

Maximum likely numbers of individuals involved: 30

Pre-procedural monitoring: Bird bodyweight and body condition will be monitored for two weeks prior to attachment to identify suitable candidates for use in this study. Birds will be selected for inclusion in this study based on condition, age, and body weight. 

Procedures for device attachment: Birds will be fitted with either an actual GPS device or a dummy device of the same weight and dimensions via a harness (either leg-loop or backpack style). As far as practical, harnesses will be pre-made prior to attachment to reduce the processing time of each bird. When being processed, birds will be restrained in a comfortable position by an experienced handler and continuously monitored for signs of discomfort or distress by the handler while a second person attaches the device. 

During trials, a subset of birds will be used as a control group. The control group will not have a harness and device attached but will be processed and monitored the same as the treatment birds.

Post-procedural monitoring: OBP welfare will be monitored visually by NRE Tas animal carers (NRE Five Mile Beach Facility) for the 12-week duration of the study. During this period, behaviours associated with the GPS tracker will be noted (e.g. the ability of the bird to perch and fly, self-preening, preening others, receive preening, interactions with device, interactions with device antenna). Bodyweight and body condition (including assessment of device-caused injuries) will also be regularly monitored. 

Post-device removal monitoring: In the two weeks following device removal, birds will be monitored as per pre-procedural monitoring and undergo a final weighing 2 weeks after devices have been removed. 

Fate of animals: Birds will have devices removed and be returned to the captive insurance population.

Likely impact on species involved (including any by-catch): This study is not expected to have an impact on the species or individuals.