Tasmania's swift parrot in danger of extinction, calls to list the bird as critically endangered

Researchers have found Tasmania's swift parrot population is declining more rapidly than first thought and the species is "on a trajectory to extinction". "This research clearly shows that the conservation status of the swift parrot is significantly worse than previously supposed and based on current land management practices, things are not going to get any better," he said. "We've found that current land management practices that reduce the cover of mature forest in the landscape around swift parrot nests makes breeding swift parrots extremely vulnerable to predation by sugar gliders. "Based on current data, the best information available says that swift parrots are on trajectory to extinction," Dr Stojanovic said. "The Federal Government currently recognises the swift parrot as being endangered, it clearly needs to be up-listed to critically endangered, and a complete reassessment of the management of the species is required," he said.