Paradise Parrot, Psephotus pulcherrimus

Problem:
The Paradise Parrot is presumed extinct.  Its demise highlights the need to recognise declines in populations before they reach critically low levels.

Background Information:
Although 26 species of Australian birds are classified as endangered, the spectacular Paradise Parrot is the only mainland species of bird to become extinct since white settlement.  Paradise Parrots lived in dry open woodland and nested in terrestrial termite mounds.  The processes that caused their extinction operated largely unnoticed.

Research:
Claims of the continued existence of the Paradise Parrot have failed to give any hopes for its survival.  The presumed extinction of this bird has been variously attributed to over-grazing, clearing, changes in fire regime, choking of habitat by Prickly Pear and extended drought.

Solution:
There is no solution to extinction, but the processes that cause loss of biodiversity (such as habitat degradation) can be turned around in our lifetime.  If they are not, the insidious and final process of extinction will continue.

The next species is the Night Parrot