Swift Parrot Emerges From the Nest at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: August 16, 2020 1:30 pm

The swift parrot chick at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

Photo Credit: Laura Moore/RZSS 

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo has hatched their first swift parrot, an endangered species found in Australia. The chick fledged the nest successfully at the end of July.

In their native home it is believed that as few as 2,000 swift parrots may remain due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Their main threat is predation from the sugar glider which was introduced to Tasmania and now eats hatchlings in the nest in large numbers.

The swift parrot chick at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

Photo Credit: Laura Moore/RZSS 

Sean Meechan, senior bird keeper at Edinburgh Zoo said, “We are thrilled to have successfully hatched a swift parrot chick here at the zoo.

“This is the first time these parents have bred and raised a chick, but they have done a fantastic job and the chick fully fledged the nest earlier this month. It has now been given its own identification band and we will find out in the coming weeks whether our new arrival is a girl or a boy.

“Swift parrots are critically endangered in the wild and this youngster represents a potentially important contribution to the future of the species, which is at risk of extinction due to extensive habitat loss and predation.”

The swift parrot chick at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

Photo Credit: Laura Moore/RZSS 

At Edinburgh Zoo the swift parrots can be found in the Brilliant Birds aviary. They are one of the smallest members of the aviary measuring just 25cm (9.8in).

Sean added, “Our swift parrots can be very elusive because they are almost exactly the same colour as the leaves inside Brilliant Birds and are one of our smallest species in the aviary. So be sure to look out for their red facial markings when visiting.”

Learn more about Edinburgh Zoo on their website – Edinburgh Zoo