National recovery plan for the Norfolk Island Green Parrot Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cookii
Richard Hill, Birds Australia
Environment Australia, May 2002
Executive Summary
The Norfolk Island Green Parrot should now be considered a full species Cyanoramphus cookii and as such is one of the rarest and most endangered bird species in Australia. It is only found on Norfolk Island (3825 ha) where it is largely restricted to natural or semi-natural forests most of which are found within the Norfolk Island National Park (465ha). It probably originally occurred on the adjoining and smaller Phillip Island 190 ha). The total population size is currently estimated to be 160 with 14 known breeding pairs. Total population size is primarily limited by the availability of predator-free breeding habitat and nesting sites and ultimately by habitat loss and the small area of remaining suitable habitat. This plan outlines actions which if implemented should shift the conservation status from critically endangered to conservation dependent within ten years. It proposes to achieve this by establishing and maintaining sufficient predator-free nest sites for 25 breeding pairs on Norfolk Island, establishing a second breeding population on Phillip Island, investigating establishing a true second population either captive on the Australian mainland or introduced to Lord Howe Island, and by replanting 4 ha of potential breeding habitat each year.