PERSISTENT SEARCH NETS NEW PARROT

Vigilance and persistence has paid off for North Queensland naturalist and wildlife cinematographer John Young who has rediscovered a rare fig parrot in rugged southern Queensland forest after an exhaustive search across two states.

Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr congratulated Mr Young on finding the blue-fronted fig parrot today as part of Bird Week celebrations at O’Reilly's Rainforest Retreat at Lamington National Park.

“Good on John for hanging in there in his long, hard search of two states for these elusive parrots.

“Advancing knowledge about rare species in Queensland’s forests depends on such dedicated science and perseverance as John’s.

“This is an exciting discovery, and I’m delighted that QPWS and John Young Wildlife Enterprises are collaborating to document the find.”

Although Mr Young has known of the bird’s existence for 10 years, he only recently obtained evidence that this parrot differs from the endangered Coxen’s fig parrot that overlaps in range.

The bird has gone undetected for 130 years since John Gould described the first fig parrot in Australia.

Previously, three fig parrots were known to occur in Australia and all are regarded as subspecies of the double-eyed fig parrot.

This blue-fronted fig parrot represents a fourth fig parrot subspecies or a separate species.

Unconfirmed fig parrot sightings in the Burnett region and the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast hinterlands have been received by the QPWS over the past decade, yet no official photograph, specimen or sound recording has been made.

Media contacts: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office Karla Steen 3336 8004 or Andie Gatti 3336 8002, or Iain McIndoe of John Young Wildlife Enterprises 3870 4308