Regent honeyeater. It’s been an important week for the Regent Honeyeater recovery program. Scientific Name: Xanthomyza phrygia. Regent Honeyeaters inhabit woodlands that support a significantly high abundance and species richness of bird species. Why is this species important? S Historic species range Current species range The Capertee Valley, and nearby areas of the Blue Mountains, are one of the most important remaining areas for the Regent Honeyeater. Regent Honeyeaters occur mainly in dry box ironbark open-forest and woodland areas inland of the Great Dividing Range, particularly favouring those on the wettest, most fertile soils, such a… The decline of the Regent Honeyeater has had a huge impact on the greater … But lots of other bird, mammal and insect species are benefitting from the restoration works. Regent honeyeaters mate in pairs and lay 2-3 eggs in a cup-shaped nest made of bark, twigs, grass and wool by the female. The Regent Honeyeater, with its brilliant flashes of yellow embroidery, was once seen overhead in flocks of hundreds. We need your help to protect a recently discovered breeding site for the Regent Honeyeater in NSW that has not been affected by the bushfires. The species inhabits dry open forest and woodland, particularly Box-Ironbark woodland, and riparian forests of River Sheoak. It is commonly considered a flagship species within its range, with the efforts going into its conservation having positive effects on many other species that share its habitat. It is listed federally as an endangered species. Many other plants and animals, such as those mentioned above, will benefit from efforts to save this species. •The Regent Honeyeater is a flagship threatened woodland bird whose conservation will benefit a large suite of other threatened and declining woodland fauna. The Regent Honeyeater has been in decline since the 1940s, and its soft, metallic chiming call is rarely heard. They are no longer found in south-western Victoria, and are probably extinct in South Australia. The Barraba/Bundarra area is one of only 3 core breeding areas used by Regent Honeyeaters; the other … We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. The major threats The loss of the Box-Ironbark forests is the major reason for the diminishing number of Regent Honeyeaters. “We have recorded sightings of 36 individual released birds, all with unique colour leg bands, within the National Park in the past week,” Birds Australia’s (BirdLife Partner) National Regent Honeyeater Recovery Coordinator, Dean Ing You can also find out more information about Australia's threatened species by calling the Department of the Environment and Heritage's Community Information Unit on free call 1800 803 772, John Gorton Building The Regent Honeyeater feeds mainly on nectar from a small number of eucalypt species, acting as a pollinator for many flowering plants. Regent Honeyeaters were once found from Adelaide through south-eastern Australia to 100km north of Brisbane. Special dietary and habitat needs, in particular the Regent Honeyeater's nomadic lifestyle and reliance on a small area of favoured habitat within the remnants, has meant that these reductions in habitat are having a huge impact on the species. Recent genetic research suggests it is closely related to the wattlebirds. Regent honeyeaters occasionally gather in flocks with wattlebirds and friarbirds during the winter and frequently mimic calls of these (closely related) types of birds. It forages in flowers or foliage, but sometimes comes down to the ground to bathe in puddles or pools, and may also hawk for insects on the wing. The honeyeater feeds on the nectar of eucalypts and is capable of travelling long distances to follow the trees' seasonal flowering patterns. Listed as nationally endangered, the total known population of Regent Honeyeaters is estimated at between 800 and 2000. Females are smaller and have less black on their throat. Wings and tail feathers are tipped with bright yellow. The female incubates the eggs for a fortnight while the male guards the nest. 1989). The Regent Honeyeater has become a 'flagship species' for conservation in the threatened box-ironbark forests of Victoria and NSW on which it depends. Today the Regent Honeyeater has become a 'flagship species' for conservation in the threatened box-ironbark forests of Victoria and NSW on which it depends. Our hearts reach out to everyone who has been impacted by the bushfire season, or who are now coping with the effects of the COVID19 pandemic. The important links between the trees of the box-ironbark woodlands of Victoria and the endangered Regent Honeyeater became clear as the fascinated group of adults and children listened to the stories and the science during the Ballarat Region Treegrowers excursion to the Regent Honeyeater Project based in Benalla, Victoria. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, flowering eucalypt forests attracted immense flocks of thousands of birds. These stunning birds help maintain healthy populations of our iconic eucalyptus trees through pollination, providing important food and habitat for many other native animals. It once could be found as far west as Adelaide, but is now gone from South Australia and western Victoria. The Regent Honeyeaters habitat is Box Iron Bark Forests and woodlands mostly found in Victoria. Due to expanding agriculture eighty-five percent of the box-ironbark woodlands, once extensively distributed across inland eastern Australia, have been cleared, making them one of the most threatened ecosystems in the country. Mating season of regent honeyeaters takes place from August to January. The NSW Government is currently deciding what future development and activities can happen on the birds’ breeding site. It could be all the Regent Honeyeater has left, help us protect it! It is commonly considered a flagship species within its range, with the efforts going into its conservation having positive effects on many other species that share its habitat. Originally found within 300km of the coast from Brisbane to Adelaide, the Regent Honeyeater is no longer found in South Australia and records from Queensland are now uncommon. Early last week BirdLife Australia’s NSW woodland bird project manager Mick Roderick found a flock of eight Regent Honeyeaters in flowering Swamp Mahogany near the Neranie access road, Myall Lakes NP, on the coast of NSW. The Capertee Valley, and nearby areas of the Blue Mountains, are one of the most important remaining areas for the Regent Honeyeater. Canberra ACT 2601 The striking Regent Honeyeater has a black head, neck and upper breast, a lemon yellow back and breast scaled black, with the underparts grading into a white rump, black wings with conspicuous yellow patches, and a black tail edged yellow. See Veerman, P.A. Promoting awareness of the Regent Honeyeater and its plight is also an important aspect of conservation measures. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. Its population is now scattered, and the only breeding habitat is in north-eastern Victoria and the central coast of New South Wales. With an estimated wild population of less than 350 individuals in the wild, any recruitment chicks that are successfully raised are cause for celebration. Regent Honeyeater’s are a medium-sized honeyeater. Recent research has revealed that Burragorang Valley is also an important breeding area. When European settlers first arrived in Australia, Regent Honeyeaters were common and widespread throughout the box-ironbark country of southeastern Australia, from about 100km north of Brisbane through sub-coastal and central New South Wales, Victoria inland of the ranges, and as far west as the Adelaide Hills. Last year a pair of Regent Honeyeaters, one of Australia’s most rare and threatened birds, were observed breeding along a creek-line on Fernhill Estate, near Mulgoa in Western Sydney. Why is our catchment important? It has been a horrific start to 2020 for many Australian communities, our environment, and our wildlife. The Regent Honeyeater is a striking and distinctive, medium-sized, black and yellow honeyeater with a sturdy, curved bill. The few remaining honeyeaters live along the east coast of Australia. Historically it ranged from Adelaide through Vic and eastern NSW to Dalby in Qld, extending from the coast to the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range. The regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia) is a critically endangered bird endemic to southeastern Australia. A regent honeyeater feeds its fledgling in woodland within the Hunter Economic Zone during the last breeding season. You can help Regent Honeyeaters and other woodland birds by: To find out more about saving your state's threatened species check out the Threatened Species Network web site at http://www.wwf.org.au/tsn/index.htm  or call the Network's National Office on (02) 9281 5515. GPO Box 858 The Court added: “Preservation of this area is therefore of vital importance to the long term survival of the species. Although many birds use vocal copying behaviour, no other bird species is known to use vocal mimicry of close relatives in this way. The Regent Honeyeater has many predators, these include Eagles, Hawks, feral animals (cats, dogs etc.) They spend much of their time feeding on the nectar from eucalypts such as the Mugga Ironbark, White Box and Yellow Box, and Blakeley's Red Gum on which they are reliant. Ask firewood merchants where their timber comes from and avoid box iron-bark species where possible. The Regent Honeyeater is a flagship threatened woodland bird whose conservation will benefit a large suite of other threatened and declining woodland fauna. It is known that the honeyeaters are important in New Zealand (see Anthornis) as well, and assumed that the same applies in other areas. Regent honeyeater plays important role in the pollination of many eucalyptus species. Key eucalypt species include Mugga Ironbark, Yellow Box, White Box and Swamp Mahogany. This was very exciting news indeed, as there were only 4 other successful nests recorded during the entire 2019 season. We need your help to let them know that this area is critical to the future of our Regent Honeyeaters and should be valued and protected. When nectar was scarce, however, Regent Honeyeaters spent up to 90% of their foraging time feeding on lerp, honeydew and insects. The clearance of the most fertile stands, the poor health of many remnants and very slow growth rate of replacement trees as well as the lack of regeneration due to stock grazing are also contributing to the decline in numbers. The biggest threat to the Regent Honeyeater is the loss of habitat. Loss of their woodland habitat is the major threat to this species and to other woodland birds. For example, at the time of European occupation roughly one million hectares of box-ironbark forest existed in Victoria. The Regent Honeyeater is called the ‘flagship species’ and is the public face of the project as it gives the community a focus and a way to understand the environmental benefits of becoming involved. The Regent Honeyeater feeds mainly on nectar from a small number of eucalypt species, acting as a pollinator for many flowering plants. Its head is black with a cream eye-patch, the upper breast is black, flowing to speckled black, and its lower breast is pale lemon. 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