The hooded parrot
Psephotus dissimilis is a little known grass parrot inhabiting open
woodlands, grassland and savannah of the Northern Territory (Higgins 1999).
Like the closely related golden-shouldered parrot P. chrysopterygius
and the extinct paradise parrot P. pulcherrimus, the hooded parrot
excavates nests in termite mounds (Hindwood 1959) and is thought to have a
relationship with a moth, the larvae of which feed on the nestling’s waste
and are thought to keep the nest-cavity clean (White 1922; Turner 1923).
Few recent studies have
explored the ecology of hooded parrots. Reed and Tidemann (1994) conducted a
descriptive study of the bird’s nesting sites and Garnett and Crowley (1995)
looked at the feeding ecology of hooded parrots in the wet season. Given
that numbers of the parrot may have declined since the start of the century
(Garnett & Crowley 2000), much work remains to be done in order to
understand the habitat requirements and threats to these birds.
This project will begin
with a study of the broad issues surrounding the breeding ecology of hooded
parrots in order to lay a framework for more theoretically based research.
The parrot’s extreme sexual dichromatism, unusual nesting habits, and
complex ecological associations offer many possibilities.
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(Photo: Johnny Estbergs, http://www.users.bigpond.com/
birdsnt/hoodedpolly.htm)
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Trisntopa scatophaga
from a
golden-shouldered
parrot nest
(Photo: PD
Olsen)
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A potentially rewarding area of research is an
experimental evaluation of the relationship that may exist between the moth
and the parrot. The moth in question may be Trisyntopa scatophaga
(Higgins 1999), however this has not been confirmed (Ted Edwards, CSIRO
Entomology, has agreed to collaborate to establish the identity of the
moth). The parrot’s relationship with the termites and their termitaria is
also of interest; presumably the parrots benefit from the stable conditions
within the mound but is the relationship purely parasitic?
Other interactions worthy of investigation are the
flocking associations between hooded parrots and a range of birds, in
particular the black-faced woodswallow Artamus cinereus. Black-faced
woodswallows were present at 97% of feeding events in the wet season and it
is thought that they are used as sentinels while the parrots are feeding
(Garnett and Crowley 1995). The function of this interaction will be
explored.
This study will not only elucidate the breeding
ecology of a tropical grassland parrot, it will also add to our knowledge of
the obligate nesting interactions between birds and invertebrates, a subject
rarely addressed. Furthermore, hooded parrots are a good analogue for the
endangered golden-shouldered parrot (Garnett and Crowley 1995) but, due to
the hooded parrot’s greater population size, these birds allow more scope
for experimental manipulation. From this study a greater understanding of
the habitat requirements of both species will emerge, improving future
conservation efforts.
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References:
Garnett, S. and Crowley, G. (1995). Emu 95,
54–61.
Garnett, S. and Crowley, G. (2000). ‘The Action Plan for
Australian Birds 2000.’ (Environment Australia, Canberra and Birds
Australia, Melbourne.)
Higgins, P. J. (1999). ‘HANZAB. Vol. 4: Parrots to Dollarbird.’
(Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)
Hindwood, K. A. (1959). Emu 59, 1–36.
Reed, M. A. & Tidemann, S. C. (1994). Emu 94,
225–229.
Turner, A.
J. (1923). Parts I & II, 170–175.
White, H.
L. (1922). Emu 22,
98–99.
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