Swift Parrot Search

Help to save Swift Parrots from extinction by joining in the Swift Parrot Search

The migratory Swift Parrot is closer to extinction than ever before. First recognised as a declining species back in the 1980s, Swift Parrot numbers have continued to decline rapidly for the past 40 years. By participating in the Swift Parrot Search, you can make a positive difference.

• The Swift Parrot Search collects data on this species, the availability of foraging resources and other threatened other woodland birds in the area, particularly including the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater
• There are nearly two thousand permanent monitoring sites on public land throughout south-eastern mainland Australia
• Birdwatchers are asked to undertake a 5-minute/50-metre radius search at each fixed site location

Join the Swift Parrot Search 2023: Explore Multiple Sites in Biannual 6-Week Count Periods

We encourage you to visit as many sites as feasible during biannual 6-week count periods: between the last week in April and the first week in June, and again between mid-July and late August.

In 2023, the Swift Parrot Search dates are: 22 April to 4 June and 15 July to 27 August.

Why is the Swift Parrot Search important?

• About 750 Swift Parrots currently exist in the wild — a population decline of more than 50% since a previous estimate in 2011
• Impacts associated with the ongoing destruction of their habitat, such as commercial logging, continues to be the most significant threat to the survival of Swift Parrots
• In the past decade, searches undertaken across the Swift Parrot’s non-breeding range on the Australia mainland have indicated a marked change in how they’re using the landscape. Currently, we don’t precisely know what’s influencing this apparent shift
• To promote the species’ recovery, we need to better understand what determines Swift Parrot presence and habitat selection across their vast winter range, with the Swift Parrot Search specifically designed to address key knowledge gaps and enable us to better protect the species
• To improve the collective survey effort for monitoring Swift Parrot populations by complementing traditional ‘roaming’ searches with the Swift Parrot Search survey method. By using both methods, we can improve the overall effectiveness of our monitoring, as neither method alone will satisfy the monitoring needs for this species
• Additionally, it’s an opportunity to get more information about other threatened species that also occur in the Swift Parrot’s mainland habitats, like Regent Honeyeaters

Where can I take part in this survey?

Widespread sites across Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. For a breakdown of regions within each state, please see below, or visit the Birdata website to view a map of all survey sites. 

VIC	NSW	QLD	ACT
Corangamite Region	Central Tablelands Region	Condamine Region	Canberra Region
East Gippsland Region	Central West Region	South East Queensland Region
Goulburn Broken Region	Greater Sydney Region
North Central Victoria Region	Hunter Region
North East Victoria Region	Murray Region
Port Phillip & Westernport Region	North Coast Region
West Gippsland Region	North West Region
Wimmera and Glenelg Hopkins Region	Northern Tablelands Region
	Riverina Region
	South East Region

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When participating in Swift Parrot Search surveys, you will:

• Be an intermediate to advanced birdwatcher
• Record the number of Swift Parrots, Regent Honeyeaters and other bird species you see and hear during a 5-minute search within a circular, 50-metre radius area
• Estimate the intensity of flowering, document the presence of lerp, Golden Wattle, and accessible freshwater within the same search area
• Stick to fixed survey sites, which are located on publicly accessible land. The search area may also cover private land, in which case observers must not enter without permission
• Visit a survey site as many times as you like!  There are no limits to how many times an observer can survey a particular site, and participants are encouraged to repeat surveys at established sites

What you’ll need to participate in the Swift Parrot Search

To conduct bird surveys and habitat assessments at Swift Parrot Search sites, birdwatchers need the following materials with them in the field:

• Mobile phone with Birdata app 
• Binoculars
• Appropriate clothing, including sturdy footwear
• First aid kit
• GPS-enabled mobile phone or handheld GPS unit – or detailed maps and access to instructions from the available user guides and online instructions
• Other useful guides, documents and links that will be provided to you upon registering

Once you have selected your region and registered for the Swift Parrot Search you will receive an email with all the documents and information you need to take part, including a detailed description of the survey methods. Please read and download these documents before taking part. 

If you have any questions, you can get in touch via the contact form available on this page, or refer to our Swift Parrot Search FAQs section for assistance.