Eastern Bristlebird Release & Fig-parrot Breeding Update at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

It has been a busy few months for the conservation team at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS). Seven more CWS-bred Eastern Bristlebirds have been released into the Border Ranges of northern New South Wales, and the Sanctuary’s Macleay’s Fig-parrot breeding program has four healthy chicks in nests. Here is the latest from CWS’s avian conservation programs.

Eastern Bristlebird breed-for-release program: release number 8

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s conservation keepers have been working in overdrive over the past few months to prepare for release number 8. A great deal of work goes into every release to give the birds the best chance of survival in the wild. The Sanctuary is fortunate to work with a great team of people and partners, along with the support of many CWS wildlife and hospital team members, to help achieve its goals.

On September 23rd, seven CWS-bred Eastern Bristlebirds were transported to the Border Ranges of northern NSW. After a three-day acclimation period in tents, they were released to the wild.

The birds were released into a new area that has been by far the most challenging for staff to access, due to steep and slippery slopes. The team has managed to navigate these challenges. The birds are now all roaming widely from the top of the mountain to the bottom and making use of the many facets of the mountain habitat, much to the delight of the radio tracking team who have to track them.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has now bred and released a total of 69 Eastern Bristlebirds back to the wild in four years. The Sanctuary is well on track to reach its goal of releasing 150 birds by 2032.

Looking ahead: new wild genetics for the breeding program

In late October, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s detector dog Moose and his handler, Michael Vella, will also step into the field to help locate a wild Eastern Bristlebird nest. If the search is successful, the conservation team will collect a clutch of chicks to hand-rear and add to the CWS breeding program.

An injection of new wild genetics is vitally important for the health and sustainability of the Sanctuary’s breeding pairs, as it provides gene diversity. The naturally occurring wild population is estimated at around 40 birds. Collecting chicks rather than adult birds has the least effect on wild numbers, because pairs will readily nest again and replace the lost clutch.

Macleay’s Fig-parrot breeding program

The last six months have brought major changes for the Sanctuary’s Macleay’s Fig-parrot population. The conservation team has completely renovated and refurbished the back-of-house holding aviaries (the MB aviaries) and moved all Macleay’s Fig-parrots into them.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary now has three new pairs set up for breeding and a further pair to introduce soon.

Four healthy fig-parrot chicks

All birds have settled in well to their new homes, and this week all pairs hatched their first eggs. The team had a few nail-biting days waiting on the outcomes for these first-time breeders, but all passed with flying colours.

The team is happy to report that there are four healthy fig-parrot chicks in nests, a credit to the keepers looking after them.

Working towards saving the Coxen’s Fig-parrot

Working with Macleay’s Fig-parrots continues to provide valuable lessons and information on husbandry, breeding and research for fig-parrots. Each step helps the team inch closer to its main goal: applying these techniques to help save the critically endangered Coxen’s Fig-parrot.