Help us learn more about what type of hollow makes a good home for Red-rumped parrots
Why are tree hollows so important?
Many of Australia’s beautiful bird species rely on tree hollows for breeding and shelter. But in cities and towns, native tree hollows can be in short supply.
To make sure native parrots like red-rumps can survive in cities, we need a better idea of what makes a hollow a good home. Does it have to be a gum tree? Or will an exotic street tree do? Maybe they prefer dead trees? Honestly, we’re not sure… yet. That’s where you come in.
How can you help?
Throughout the month of February, now officially ‘Redrumpuary’, tell us where you’ve seen red-rumped parrots using tree hollows in your area. We’re looking for information on:
- Sightings of red-rumps using tree hollows
- Whether the hollow was in a native or exotic tree (or something else entirely!)
- Other information about the tree hollow
Any records, no matter how old, will be valuable. So if you saw a red-rumped parrot nesting in your backyard in nineteen-tickety-boo, be sure to let us know!
You can report your observations using the link below.
What are we hoping to achieve?
By getting a better understanding of what kind of hollow makes a good home, Redrumpuary aims to inform future conservation work and habitat restoration to better support this beautiful and charismatic parrot. This work is part of my Masters research, so if you’d like more information or to talk with us about the project, contact Robert Ashworth rashworth@student.unimelb.edu.au.
About the Red-rumped Parrot
Red-rumped parrots are found throughout southern-eastern Australia. They prefer open grasslands and open forests, particularly along watercourses. Mating for life they are usually seen in breeding pairs or in small flocks of 6-10 with larger flocks sometimes seen in winter. They forage for seeds and leaves of grasses and herbs on the ground but will sometimes take fruits and flowers in trees.
What they look like
Red-rumped parrots are small birds about the size of a budgie
Adult males are brightly coloured with blue-green bodies, yellow shoulder and belly, and a distinctive red rump. Females are a duller olive-green, often lacking a red rump with a pale-yellow belly.
Young individuals of both sexes are dull in colour
Often difficult to spot amongst the grass they are feeding on but will fly up to nearby trees, calling loudly when disturbed.
Redrumpuary 
There is a flock of about 20 red rumped parrots that feed on the sporting grounds at Fairbairn Park Ascot Vale in Melbourne near the tennis courts. I’ve been seeing them on and off for more than a year. There are some well established eucalyptus near by but I haven’t worked out where they are nesting. I’ll try to work it out next time I see them and post it.
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That would be great, thanks so much!
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Haven’t seen a hollow yet, but a small population in my local park. Will do some investigation.
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Legend! Would be great to hear what you find.
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Will keep an eye out for them in Gardiners Creek Reserve. The big problem here is that noisy miners are dominant and terrify any other birds.
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Red-rumped parrots are so beautiful and a favourite with their vivid blue, green and red colouring. I always take lots of photos of them. I have observed a large flock feeding in the open grassland area at Rowan Reserve, Dingley (a few years ago). The ranger said they could be seen about the same time each (mid) morning that time of year, it was in October. I have also observed several doing same at Braeside Park. I photographed one feeding it’s juvenile – so pleased! I would have thought the mother would feed it, but this looked like the male. Haven’t observed them around at any hollows yet, but that’s something to look out for, perhaps in the aforementioned reserves at around dusk.
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