Large flock of rare swift parrots seen near Port Macquarie
A flock of about 50 critically endangered swift parrots has been spotted near Port Macquarie on Australia's New South Wales coast, offering a welcome surprise to conservationists after an unusually quiet migration season last year. Birdwatcher James Bennett was scanning the area during heavy rain when he heard the species' distinctive call, prompting him to alert fellow enthusiasts. With only an estimated 750 to 1,500 swift parrots remaining in the wild, the sighting represents a significant portion of the entire population and marks a dramatic change from 2025, when hardly any were recorded in New South Wales. Swift parrots breed in Tasmania during summer, then migrate to mainland Australia in winter to follow blooming food sources. Their movements are unpredictable, driven by the availability of specific nectar-rich blossoms and lerp—a sugary coating produced by tiny insects on eucalyptus leaves. This year's early and widespread presence across New South Wales, Sydney, and even as far north as Brisbane suggests that food sources in Victoria, where most remained last year, are less abundant. Conservation advisor Mick Roderick emphasized the importance of intact coastal forests as crucial stopover habitats for these fussy, nomadic feeders. This story offers a quiet reminder of nature's resilience and unpredictability. It highlights how migration patterns can shift year to year based on ecological conditions, and underscores the fragile balance these birds navigate. For conservationists battling habitat loss and predators like sugar gliders, the sighting is both hopeful and sobering—a glimpse of survival against steep odds, and a testament to the importance of protecting the forested corridors these brilliant, scarlet-faced travelers depend upon.