In a bid to preserve one of Australia’s most critically-endangered birds, almost 50 zoo-bred Regent Honeyeaters were released into the Lower Hunter.
Considered a flagship species within its range, the unique songbird – know for its striking black and yellow ‘embroidery’ markings – is usually only found in south-eastern Australia.
But, their numbers have dwindled to just 250-to-300 birds in the wild.
So, to help boost figures, a large-scale release involving the Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, BirdLife Australia and Local Land Services recently took place in Wonnarua Country.
That takes the total to more than 200 throughout the state.
“The time to start protecting the Regent Honeyeater is now,” Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council CEO Tara Dever said.
“The protection begins with every man, woman and child in Kurri Kurri and beyond understanding that this bird is significant to them.
“The golden sunlight of their wings reflects the warm beauty of the Tomalpin Woodlands and the region itself.
“My grandparents and their parents before them had flocks of Regents in their backyard at Stanford Merthyr.
“We want our grandchildren to have them in theirs.
“The Regent Honeyeater is still here because this place of Kurri Kurri, this salty water place, is a good place, it’s special Country.
“It’s time to let people know how special it is.
“This piece of Wonnarua Country at the foot of old Tumblebee Mountain is as much a part of everyone who has grown up here as it is of the Regent Honeyeater itself.”
The work was led by the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program, which has provided more than $1 million as part of the National Regent Honeyeater Recovery Plan.
Additional support came in from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Australian National University, too.
“This latest release of 49 Regent Honeyeaters bred at Taronga Zoo is an exciting step forward in the NSW Government’s plan to save this critically-endangered species,” Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said.
“NSW is home to creatures and plants that live nowhere else on this planet.
“The Labor government’s taking action to ensure they exist here, for generations and centuries to come.
“I’d like to thank the Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council, who have generously made their land available for the third time, helping us give this beautiful bird every chance of survival.”
Taronga Conservation Society Australia divisional director Andrew Elphinstone was happy to play a role.
“For more than 20 years, Taronga has been dedicated to Regent Honeyeater conservation, contributing to the hugely-successful collaborative breeding program that has welcomed in excess of 1,000 Regent Honeyeaters and released approximately 485 birds into the wild,” he said.
“It’s so pleasing to see early results indicating this most recent release is going well.
“Science drives this program and is demonstrating that these releases are vital for securing a future for this beautiful native species.”
BirdLife Australia Regent Honeyeater recovery coordinator Mick Roderick agreed.
“These releases of zoo-bred Regent Honeyeaters are vital to the survival of this uniquely Australian bird – and they are working,” he said.
“A number of the released birds have been observed in townships across the Cessnock LGA including Kurri Kurri, Pelaw Main and Kearsley and found feeding in flowering trees such as bottlebrushes (Callistemons) and Spotted Gums.
“Any observations by locals and visitors alike would be greatly beneficial to our ongoing efforts to track the survival and movements of our released birds and chicks.”
Members of the public can contribute to ongoing efforts by reporting sightings to BirdLife Australia at www.birdlife.org.au/what-to-do-if-you-see-a-regent-honeyeater/
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