Editing Southwest National Park (section)

=== Birds ===
Of the threatened, endangered and the eight species that are simply endemic to the park, such as the [[fairy tern]], [[Wedge-tailed eagle|wedge-tail eagle]], [[green rosella]] and [[dusky robin]] respectively, the species that adds to the park's cultural and conservation uniqueness is the ''Neophema Chrysogaster,'' or more simply the Orange-bellied Parrot.
[[File:Neophema chrysogaster male - Melaleuca.jpg|thumb|Orange-bellied parrot, Melaleuca Lagoon]]

As noted under the Commonwealth's National Recovery Plan 2016<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.environment.gov.au/resource/national-recovery-plan-orange-bellied-parrot-neophema-chrysogaster.|title=National Recovery Plan for the Orange-Bellied Parrot, Neophema chrysogaster|last=Department of Environment|first=Australia|date=March 2016|website=National Recovery Plan for the Orange-Bellied Parrot|publisher=Australian Department of Environment|access-date=16 May 2016}}</ref> listed as Critically Endangered under Commonwealth ''[[Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999]]'', Endangered under New South Wales ''[[Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995]]'', South Australia's ''[[National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972]]'', Tasmania's ''[[Threatened Species Protection Act 1995]]'' and Threatened under Victoria's ''[[Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988]]''. At an international level the species has also been listed as Critically Endangered under [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources]] [[IUCN Red List|Red List]] (IUCN).

What makes the area unique is that this National Park, or more specifically within 10 kilometres of Melaleuca Lagoon, remains the only known significant breeding ground of this parrot. This occurs primarily between November and March with the birds migrating back to the coast of South-East Australia over winter following a route along the west coast of Tasmania and [[King Island (Tasmania)|King Island]].<ref name=":4">{{cite journal |last=Holdsworth, Dettmann and Barry Baker|first=M, D, and G|year=2011|title=Survival in the Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) |url = http://www.publish.csiro.au/mu/MU09071 |journal=Emu|doi=10.1071/MU09071|access-date=14 May 2016|volume=111|issue=3|page=222|s2cid=84727121 }}</ref> This breeding ground remains significant as there are currently only 50 Orange-bellied Parrots remaining in the wild with another 320 in captivity.<ref name=":3" />

Additionally, although the numbers in captivity appear to suggest the program is working, despite efforts made in undertaking the captive breeding program,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Smales, Brown, Menkhorst, Holdsworth and Holz|first=I, P, P, M, and P |year=2000|title=Contribution of captive management of Orange-bellied parrots (Neophema chrysogaster) to the recovery programme for the species in Australia|journal=International Zoological Yearbook }}</ref> the breeding success, in particular, the egg fertility and genetic diversity, as noted in the National Recovery Plan, is lower in the captive population than the wild population. As such it has been seen as critically imperative to ensure that the remaining numbers in the wild and quality habitat is retained, particularly in regards to the breeding program. Fortunately, through regular monitoring, supplementary feeding, artificial nest boxes and protection of their nesting and foraging habitat in the park, this appears to be occurring despite the existing potential threats posed by fire, climate change and damage to habitat.