Survival Of The Fattest: Heaviest Parrot Nestlings Survive Better

These two migratory parrot species are the orange-bellied parrot, Neophema chrysogaster, and the swift parrot, Lathamus discolor, both of which are listed as critically Endangered species (mainly due to the Australians’ passion for clearcutting these parrots’ native nest trees to make toilet paper), so both species are the subjects of intensive captive breeding programs to help bolster their dwindling populations. For reasons that are poorly understood, captive-bred orange-bellied parrots tend to do poorly after release into the wild (for example, more <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2023/03/25/captive-birth-reduces-survival-in-the-wild-for-migratory-birds/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>). Further, the low rate of juvenile survival during migration is a major factor limiting this species’ recovery. Currently, the entire population is restricted to a single breeding location at Melaleuca in Tasmania’s southwest (<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/01584197.2020.1799411" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">ref</a>). <a href="https://medium.com/gardening-birding-and-outdoor-adventure/survival-of-the-fattest-heaviest-parrot-nestlings-survive-better-3b550ef55c65">Read More</a>