Smoky Mouse

Golden Shoulded Parrot
Apperance
The golden-shouldered parrot has dark brown eyes, and a grey brown legs, and also a grey bill. The Golden-Shouldered Parrots body is an oval shape and it's tail is half the length of the birds entire body. The Golden-Shouldered Parrot got its name because of its golden yellow patch on each shoulder. The males are usually more colourful and brighter than the females. Also the Golden-Shouldered Parrot are very strong fliers. The Parrot is very camouflage, because of its colourful body its not able to hide well.

Weight

Length
The species measures between 520mm witha maximum tail lenght of 680 mm.

Habitat
The Golden-Shouldered Parrot have been found to live in mangroves, but prefer to live in woodlands with eucalyptus. They are also found to live in melaleuca and grevillea trees, and shrubs and termite mounds.

Eating and Diet Habits
The Golden-Shouldered Parrot feeds in pairs or small groups, they feed on seeds and blossoms. This parrot also feeds on leaf buds and nectar of the Grevillea. It is usually found in and along rocky ridges bordering watercourses.

Predators
The Golden-Shouldered Parrot is prey to many other animals. Some of these animals are larger birds, another are feral cats and dogs. These parrots are also prey to poachers who take them and their eggs to sell.

Breeding Habits
Golden-shouldered Parrots become sexually mature and ready to breed at 9-12 months of age.
Their breeding season is April to June. The nesting site is a chamber at the end of a tunnel drilled into a terrestrial termite mound. 2-4 white rounded eggs are produced each season. Incubation period: 19-20 days. The young usually fledge at around 35 days.

Locations
The golden shoudlered parrot is restricted to south-western part of Cape York Peninsula. .

Numbers
Unknown

Problems

The Golden-Shouldered Parrot is prey to many other animals. Some of these animals are larger birds, another are feral cats and dogs.
These parrots are also prey to poachers who take them and their eggs to sell.
They are also prey to bad weather conditions.
One of the main causes of the endangerment of the Golden-Shouldered Parrot is trapping for the bird caged trade which is illegal, but still continues.
Another reason for endangerment is reduction of food supply, and native plants are being replaced by pasture grasses for grazing stock.
Also introduced animals like rats, feral cats and dogs kill parrots and birds.
Another reason for there endangerment is disease which can kill all parrots in an area.

Solutions

Some of the actions taken for the Golden-Shouldered Parrot are tougher laws and larger penalties for illegal trafficking.
protection of there natural habitats from destruction.
allowing people to breed the Golden-Shouldered Parrots and then release them back into the wild.
tougher laws and penalties for smugglers.
make it allot harder to export these animals.
inform the public about threatened species issues.
encourage habitat retention and restoration.
encourage the community-based collection of more information about the species and its habitat.
ongoing habitat management.
translocation to other sites.
ongoing monitoring and biological studies.
genetic assessment of all populations.
support your local environment groups.
raise money for the rehabilitation of sites for Golden Shouldered Parrot.
learn more about endangered animals, particularly those native to your area.
be a responsible pet owner so they do not impact on Golden Shouldered Parrot or other wildlife.
help in the eradication of foxes, cats and rabbits.
protect remnant native vegetation under Heritage Agreement and by excluding stock .
revegetate cleared land with indigenous plants.