Editing South Bruny National Park (section)

=== Bird life ===
Several birds of prey exist in South Bruny National Park, including the [[white-bellied sea eagle]] (''haliaeetus leucogaster''), the [[wedge-tailed eagle]] (''Aquila audax fleayi'') and the [[grey goshawk]] (''Accipiter novaehollandiae''). The goshawk is endangered and very rare, and is found on Partridge Island, part of the South Bruny National Park.<ref name=":3" /> Also on Partridge island is a breeding penguin colony, the island provides a secluded refuge and ideal habitat for the flightless bird.<ref name=":3" />  Nearby Green Island provides the ideal conditions for the kelp gull (''Larus dominicanus'') and is an important breeding ground of which there are very few.<ref name=":2" /> The park also supports a rare [[Pezoporus|ground parrot]] (''Pezoporus wallicus''), which survives in the open heathland. Ground parrots are extremely scarce with only three ground dwelling parrot species in existence, all of which are endangered.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |publisher=Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania |date=2011 |title=Ground Parrot, ''Pezoporus wallicus.'' |url=http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=5155 |access-date=20 May 2015 }}</ref> The preservation of their habitat is critical to the survival of the species, and the undisturbed heathland of the South Bruny National Park provides this refuge.<ref name=":4" />

==== Forty-spotted pardalote ====
The [[forty-spotted pardalote]] is one of the rarest birds in Australia, and is classified as endangered.<ref name=":1" /> The distribution of the species has declined over the last century with the bird thought to no longer occupy many parts of Tasmania where it was once prevalent; two populations are now known on Bruny Island.<ref name=":5">{{cite journal |author1=Rounsevell, D. E. |author2=Woinarski, J. C. |date=1983 |title=Status and Conservation of the Forty-spotted Pardalote, ''Pardalotus quadragintus'' |journal=Australian Wildlife Research |volume=10 |pages=343–349 |doi=10.1071/wr9830343 |issue=2}}</ref> The pardalote’s rely on the white gum (Eucalyptus ''viminalis'') for survival and feed on small insects and manna (sap like sugary substance produced by white gums).<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">{{cite web |publisher=Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania |date=2012 |title=Listing Statement for Pardalotus quadragintus (Forty-spotted Pardalote) |work=Threatened Species Section |url=http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/Pardalotus-quadragintus-listing-statement.pdf |access-date=20 May 2015 }}</ref> The pardalote prefers old growth hollows and logs for breeding and nesting, sites of newer growth have shown to be unsuitable with the pardalote showing disinterest.<ref name=":7">{{cite web |publisher=Understorey Network Tasmania |date=2011 |title=Habitat Plan for the Endangered Forty-Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus quadragintus |url=http://www.understorey-network.org.au/forty-spotted-pardalote.pdf |access-date=20 May 2015 }}</ref>

The numbers of forty-spotted pardalote's are still declining despite a number of rescue efforts. There are several factors preventing their abundance such as low dispersal, specialized diet and habitat, and competition with other birds that have established following land clearing.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> The primary threat to the species is clearing resulting in habitat loss; the clearing of dry sclerophyll forest and the key white gum trees along coastal areas has seen these specialists decline in numbers.<ref name=":7" /> Over the past ten years [[habitat destruction]] has been negligible, particularly with the declaration of the South Bruny National Park and other reserves on Bruny Island, however habitat fragmentation is a persisting issue, as is territory competition with other edge species.<ref name=":7" /> A challenge for future conservation of the species is maintaining habitat connectivity and ensuring the persistence of white gums as a core habitat tree. There have been two national recovery plans with the main management objectives being to reestablish white gums, assess more areas for protection, increase knowledge of the species through monitoring, and to educate the community and visitors.<ref name=":6" />

==== Swift parrot ====
The [[swift parrot]] (''Lathamus discolor'') is another key species protected by the park; a migratory bird which travels between southeast mainland Australia and Tasmania. [[Adventure Bay, Tasmania|Adventure Bay]] and [[Cloudy Bay (Tasmania)|Cloudy Bay]] on South Bruny Island have been identified in research for the [[Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania|Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment]] as key sites for the species.<ref name=":3" /> The bird nests primarily in blue gums (''Eucalyptus globulus'') relying on the trees flowers for its breeding success,<ref name=":8">{{cite book |author1=Saunders, D. |author2=Tzaros, C. |author3=Webb, M. |author4=Thurstans, S. |date=2010 |title=Background Document - Swift Parrot Recovery Plan |publisher=Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water; Birds Australia |location=Queanbeyan }}</ref> with black gums (''Eucalyptus ovate'') also noted as an important food source.<ref name=":9">{{cite book |author1=Bryant, S. L. |author2=Jackson, J. |date=1999 |title=Tasmania's Threatened Fauna handbook: What, where and how to protect Tasmania's Threatened Animals |publisher=Threatened Species Unit, Parks and Wildlife Service |location=Tasmania }}</ref> Swift parrots nest in tree hollows, usually on upper slopes and ridges in dry eucalypt forest within {{convert|10|km}} of the coast, with the total population being estimated at approximately 1,000 pairs.<ref name=":9" />

The decline of the species has been mainly attributed to habitat loss through clearing, resulting in fragmentation and the change in habitat structure.<ref name=":10">{{cite journal |author1=Allchin, R. |author2=Kirkpatrick, J. |author3=Kriwoken, L. |date=2013 |title=On Not Protecting the Parrot: Impact of Conservation and Planning Legislation on an Endangered Species in Tasmania |journal=Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy |volume=16 |pages=81–104 |doi=10.1080/13880292.2013.764777 |issue=1|s2cid=84718345 }}</ref> Another threat to the swift parrot is predation by [[sugar glider]]s on the mainland, hence why it is so important for the birds to seek refuge on offshore islands where they can breed safely.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Webb. M. |author2=Lacy, R. |author3=Terauds, A. |author4=Alderman, R. |author5=Stojanovic, D. |date=2015 |title=A severe predator-induced population decline predicted for endangered, migratory swift parrots (Lathamus discolor) |journal=Biological Conservation |volume=186 |pages=75–82 |doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2015.03.006}}</ref> Some, but not all of the breeding and nesting sites are encompassed by the South Bruny Island National Park, with some land being privately owned and other land forestry owned- which operations are still active on Bruny Island.<ref name=":0" /> Approximately 80% of swift parrot habitat occurs outside of protected areas, which is detrimental in the protection of the bird due to its migratory nature,<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Munks, S. |author2=Richards, K. |author3=Meggs, J. |author4=Bereton, R. |date=2004 |title=The importance of adaptive management in 'off- reserve' conservation for forest fauna: implementing, monitoring and upgrading Swift Parrot ''Lathamus discolor'' conservation measures in Tasmania. |journal=Conservation of Australia's Forest Fauna |issue=2 |pages=688–689 |doi=10.7882/FS.2004.040 |isbn=0-9586085-8-X }}</ref> with habitat connectivity being key. The South Bruny National Park offers a vital sanctuary for the parrot by protecting one of its core breeding areas. Management plans have been developed and implemented in the recovery of the bird (the most recent released in 2011), proving successful in increasing the understanding of habitat requirements, improving forestry management, and has helped to establish community and volunteer networks.<ref name=":10" />