Orange-bellied parrots have swelled back from imminent extinction – but now they face a new threat

<p>Experts warn approving a windfarm in the habitat of one of Australia’s most critically endangered birds could be ‘rolling the dice’ on their survival</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/sign-up-for-the-clear-air-australia-environment-newsletter-with-adam-morton?CMP=cvau_sfl">Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>One of Australia’s most critically endangered bird species has started arriving at Melaleuca, in Tasmania’s south-western world heritage area. By late this week, six orange-bellied parrots had turned up at the remote outpost to breed, having made the weeks-long flight from the mainland, across Bass Strait and down the state’s wild west coast.</p><p>Relatively little is known about where the birds go during the winter, other than that it is a hazardous journey for a bird that weighs about 40 grams. In recent years, only about half the parrots that leave Melaleuca, the species’ sole wild breeding site, have returned in spring.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/11/orange-bellied-parrots-have-swelled-back-from-imminent-extinction-but-now-they-face-a-new-threat">Continue reading...</a>