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the run-around was Swift Parrot, but I eventually found a flock south of Eaglehawk Neck, which gave some brilliant views around a campsite. The concept of a migratory parrot feels so exotic, even alien, for the European birder and this is matched by their startling plumage, particularly the unique red, yellow and green face pattern, which is o set by a piercing, pale eye. Another migrant parrot was among the top reasons for my Tasmanian visit. Orange-bellied Parrot is one of the world’s rarest birds and, at the time of my visit in late 2019, was flirting with extinction – only around 20 individuals remained. After wintering in South Australia, the entire population returns to just a single Tasmanian location – the remote outpost of Melaleuca, in the Southwest National Park. Melaleuca is so far-flung that it can only be reached via a seven-day hike along the South Coast Path from Cockles Creek or by light aircraft. With the former out of the equation, I was reliant on taking a flight if I wanted to see Orange-bellied Parrot. Unfortunately, the weather can be unpredictable in this exposed corner of Tasmania, meaning flights often can’t land, and having a reserve day (or two) is recommended to improve your chances of making it there. I was delayed a day and eventually took o in a six-seater aircraft from Hobart on my final morning in Tasmania. The flight over the Southwest National Park is an event in itself, following the coast on the way out and then criss-crossing through the mountains on the return leg, giving fantastic views of the scenery. The weather in Melaleuca was bright and breezy on arrival and I wasted no time in setting o to the Orange-bellied Parrot feeding station. To save it from extinction, this species has been the subject of intense conservation e orts, including captive breeding and the provision of artificial nestboxes, as well as feeding. I was told by volunteers that the birds had already been in and fed that morning and had left shortly before I’d arrived – typical! Eventually, though, I found one in scrub away from the feeding site and it gave great views. Several more soon followed. All parrots are colour-ringed to individually recognise them, which helps with the monitoring process. The sad reality on my visit was that just a single truly ‘wild’ (wild born to wild parents) parrot remained and, although I did see it, almost all the others were either direct releases or the o spring of released birds. Since my visit, there have been signs that the intensive e orts to save Orange-bellied Parrot are working. After a bumper breeding season in 2020-21, the number of parrots returning to Melaleuca climbed to 70 – the highest total for 15 years. Numbers have been strong again so far this season and there is plenty of cause for optimism after a dicey period. It’s looking like visitors will have the opportunity to pay this very special bird a visit for years to come. Tasmania is a picturesque and easy-going destination for anyone wanting to combine quality wildlife- watching with a relaxed holiday. The climate is pleasant, generally lacking the intense heat often encountered on the Australian mainland, and the scenery fantastic. Although you might clear up on the endemic birds within a few days, taking a week or more to really enjoy the place in full is recommended. ■ www.birdguides.com World of Birds • 2023 9 Forty-spotted Pardalote is another Tasmanian endemic that is best seen on Bruny Island. The stunning Pink Robin is a fairly common bird in the dark depths of Tasmania’s forests. One of several easily seen endemics is the flightless Tasmanian Nativehen. JJ HARRISON