Turquoise Parakeet
Neophema pulchella
The Turquoise Parakeet were very common throughout eastern Australia but now are are mainly in northeastern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria.
Their Habitat
- Lives on the edges of eucalypt woodland adjoining clearings, timbered ridges and creeks in farmland.
- Usually seen in pairs or small, possibly family, groups and have also been reported in flocks of up to thirty individuals.
- Prefers to feed in the shade of a tree and spends most of the day on the ground searching for the seeds or grasses and herbaceous plants, or browsing on vegetable matter.
- Forages quietly and may be quite tolerant of disturbance. However, if flushed it will fly to a nearby tree and then return to the ground to browse as soon as the danger has passed.
- Nests in tree hollows, logs or posts, from August to December. It lays four or five white, rounded eggs on a nest of decayed wood dust.
Threats to the Bird
- Clearing of grassy-woodland and open forest habitat.
- Loss of hollow-bearing trees.
- Degradation of habitat through heavy grazing, firewood collection and establishment of exotic pastures.
- Predation by foxes and cats.
- Illegal trapping of birds and collection of eggs which also often results in the destruction of hollows.
A Turquoise Parakeet
The map of where they are located
A picture of the Turqouise Parakeet
Plan
A recovery plan has been prepared for the species which aims to protect and maintain its known or any potential habitat and to prevent habitat interference.