Breaking records - again!

In March this year we told you about the record breaking news - more birds than ever before, more breeding pairs than ever before...

Well....

In the 2013-14 breeding season (Aug'13-Feb'14), 36 Helmeted Honeyeater young were raised at Yellingbo. A bumper year!

In the 2014-15 breeding season (Aug'14-Feb'15):

• in excess of 130 individual birds - a record number of birds since the start of the recovery program in 1989
• 23 breeding territories - a record number
• 46 fledglings - beating the 1995-96 record
• 1 female had triplets for the 2nd year running (plus two additional clutches of 2 offspring each).

THIS BREEDING SEASON so far:

• more birds than ever before are being observed
• more breeding pairs and territories than ever before
• more fledglings than ever before 
• another female has just had triplets!
• ... and the season still has a couple of months to go!

How good is that?

Would you like to be part of the volunteer team that monitors the Helmeted Honeyeater populations at Yellingbo? Contact us for further details.

What does $10 buy these days?

Helmeted Honeyeater fledgling March 2015 - image B.Tardif

Apart from membership to Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater?

Not much.

Your membership makes a difference to the long-term survival of this bird (pictured). Find out more here

Breaking records

At less than 30 days this fledgling looks to its parents for food - image B.Tardif

It's a NEW RECORD, and another one, and another.... A record breaking breeding season for Yellingbo

Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve is home to the last remaining wild population of Helmeted Honeyeaters - in the world! Each bird is precious.

In the 2013-14 breeding season (Aug'13-Feb'14), 36 Helmeted Honeyeater young were raised at Yellingbo. A bumper year!

The 2014-15 breeding season has broken records! In March 2015 we know of:

• in excess of 130 individual birds - a record number of birds since the start of the recovery program in 1989
• 23 breeding territories - a record number
• 46 fledglings - beating the 1995-96 record
• 2 females still building nests - don't they know the breeding season is over?

There are a number of new pairings this year, including females who are breeding for the first time.

One female has had triplets for the 2nd year running (plus two additional clutches of 2 offspring each).

Birds from the 2013-14 breeding season have dispersed into a new breeding territory. Some of this seasons fledglings have also been sighted here. The last recorded observations of HeHos at this site was in the late 1970s. The birds are using plantings that range in age from 4 years old to 30 years old. This is a great endorsement of the generation of restoration effort made by the local community and the Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery Team.

How good is that?

Would you like to be part of the volunteer team that monitors the Helmeted Honeyeater populations at Yellingbo? Contact us for further details.

Is Facebook or Twitter your thing?

Are you liking our Facebook page?

HeHo on Facebook

Do you Tweet?

HeHo on Twitter

Unusual sighting today

A lucky few wound up their bird survey today seeing a female Turquoise Parrot on the fringe of bushland and farmland in Yellingbo.

Not since November 1990 has a Turquoise Parrot been seen here. One very excited Ornithologist, who did his Masters on Turquoise Parrots in and around north-eastern Victoria, called this the sight of the day!

The Turquoise Parrot is considered vulnerable in New South Wales, and threatened in Victoria. Until the 1880's, the Turquoise Parrot was considered the most common species of parrot in Western Sydney. It was considered extinct in the wild by 1915. By the 1920's it was recovering. They had formerly been caught in large numbers for the cage bird industry, and were also shot for food, as a pie-filling.

It's a tough life being a beautiful bird. 

It may not be a great sign that a 'Turq' was seen today. They are found from south-eastern Queensland, through New South Wales to eastern and north-eastern Victoria. The range was formerly more extensive. They are generally resident in an area, but some local seasonal movement occurs. It's a very dry year over the Divide. Is this driving at least one Turq down south?

Just one more example of the benefit of wildlife refuges throughout the landscape.

Go to Birds in Backyards to find out more about this species

Breeding update

The last 2014-15 breeding season update was mid November. At the end of November we now know of:

• 20 breeding territories (16 last season)
• 27 fledglings (36 last season)
• 5 females on nestling/s
• 8 females on egg/s
• 3 females building nests

There are more Helmeted Honeyeaters at Yellingbo than at any time in the Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery Programs history (the Recovery Program began in 1989). How good is that?

Do you live in Melbourne, Victoria? Would you like to be part of the volunteer team that monitors the Helmeted Honeyeater populations at Yellingbo? Most volunteers contribute a minimum of 4-5 hrs one day a month. Our rosters operate 7 days p/wk, 365 days p/yr. Contact us for further details.

Aussie backyard bird count, 20-26 October

Australian King-Parrot - image B.Tardif

Join thousands of people between 20 — 26 October to take part in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count — BirdLife Australia’s first nationwide bird survey. All it takes is 20 minutes in your backyard, or favourite outdoor space, local park, beach, forest or paddock, to be a part of this exciting event!

Find out more here