Swift Parrot's Calls Recorded Before Forest Clearing in Tasmania

In Tasmania's Wielangta forest, the calls of the critically endangered swift parrot were recorded by scientists from the Bob Brown Foundation in December and January. These recordings were made in an area designated for clear-felling. Dr Charley Gros of the foundation stated these vocalizations confirm the forest as a crucial habitat for the birds' foraging and nesting.

The Forest Practices Authority, Tasmania's state regulator, conducted a survey on February 10 but reported no swift parrots breeding in the harvest area. Gros noted the forest had already been cleared by the time the survey occurred. Sustainable Timber Tasmania asserted its operations comply with the law and environmental regulations.

Scientific advice previously warned that all potential swift parrot habitat on Tasmanian public land should be protected, regardless of immediate presence, due to significant habitat loss. The species, which migrates between Tasmania and mainland Australia, has seen its population decline sharply, with estimates suggesting it could be extinct by the early 2030s, primarily due to forestry.

Campaigners are urging retailers like Bunnings to cease selling timber from contentious areas. The Wilderness Society is specifically targeting Bunnings, arguing that certification schemes do not guarantee sustainable forestry. A Bunnings spokesperson stated their review found no evidence of non-compliance with Tasmanian laws at the site in question.

Reforms to national environmental law, passed last year, are set to take effect in July 2027. These changes may require federal approval for logging operations that significantly impact threatened species, potentially offering future safeguards for habitats like those of the swift parrot.