Where we work

The Wildcare Friends of the Orange-bellied Parrot (OBP) group works across the OBP's range with a focus on Tasmania.

What we do

The objectives of the group are to:

Assist with the monitoring program at Melaleuca (SW Tasmania)
Conduct migration and winter surveys in various locations from Strahan to Arthur River - read about our August 2022 Winter Migration Survey.
Assist with OBP habitat management projects
Raise awareness of the plight of the OBP
Raise funds (including through our online shop) to support the activities of volunteers and other recovery actions

Members of our group conduct a number of annual migration surveys on the west and north-west coasts. During the remainder of 2024, surveys will be held over the weekends of:

24 April to 1 May - King Island* - registrations have closed
18-19 May - Arthur River and Woolnorth - registrations close on Friday 5 May
27-28 July - Strahan, Trial Harbour and Granville Harbour
14-15 September - Arthur River and Woolnorth

Note that all dates are firm. Members will be able to register for surveys after they are added to Wildcare's Events Calendar (about eight weeks before each is due to start). *Funding from Wildcare's Tasmanian Nature Conservation Fund has made this survey possible. An increasingly important role of Friends of the OBP is recovery program advocacy and fund raising. We are currently involved in some exciting new projects. Through a range of partnerships, we hope to raise much needed funds to support our volunteers and other parts of the recovery program. Volunteers with Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE) observe Orange-bellied Parrots visiting the feed tables, recording individual leg bands and nest observations. This data is collected for the department's OBP Program staff to monitor survival and breeding success of wild and captive-bred release birds. While Friends of the OBP may assist the NRE OBP Program in various ways, we have no direct involvement with their volunteer program. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the latest news stories about OBPs in print and from radio.

Scroll down for research papers and news articles about OBPs

Visit the GALLERY to view images of the Friends of the OBP in action.

Visit FILES to see newsletters from the OBP Recovery Team.

Visit BRANCH FUNDRAISING to donate to Friends of the OBP.

Online shop

All proceeds from sales in our online shop go to support the efforts to save the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots. Please support the work of the Friends of the OBP by purchasing something for yourself or as a gift. Items are printed in Australia as they are ordered and then delivered by Australia Post. You can either browse the shop products or check out the groups of products:

T-shirts & hoodies (18 styles in up to 19 colours)
Dresses & scarves (2 styles of dresses)
Mugs & coasters
Phone cases (iPhone & Samsung Galaxy)
Tech & stationery
Cushion covers & blankets
Tote bags & drawstring bags
Face masks
Aprons
Wall art

Accommodation at Melaleuca

If you are a member of the Friends of the OBP and are selected by NRE as a volunteer for the OBP Summer Monitoring Program, member accommodation at Melaleuca may be available to you. For more information on Friends of the OBP accommodation at Melaleuca please contact Barbara Willson by email to barbara.b.willson@gmail.com For all other enquiries about any aspect of volunteer work through NRE's OBP Program, including monitoring OBPs at Melaleuca or assisting at the OBP captive breeding facility near Hobart, please email volunteering@nre.tas.gov.au

Our Contacts

President - Marianne Gee Friends.of.the.OBP@gmail.com Treasurer - Will Oliver

Wildcare Shop

OBPs in the news and research papers

Friends of the OBP

Birthday gift to OBP's - thank you Miles!