FRIENDS OF THE WESTERN GROUND PARROT
FRIENDS OF THE WESTERN GROUND PARROT
Saving Kyloring
The Western Ground Parrot is a heartbeat away from extinction. Less than 150 birds survive. The only known wild population was almost wiped out in devastating bushfires in a remote Western Australian National Park in 2015. Bushfires remain a constant threat.
The species is listed as critically endangered and is one of 22 priority birds in Australia's Threatened Species Action Plan.
This beautiful and cryptic bird is also known as Kyloring, one of several Noongar names for the parrot. Kyloriny, an alternative spelling, is also sometimes used.
Bringing a species back from the brink requires a team effort and Western Australia’s Parks and Wildlife Service, Perth Zoo, BirdLife Australia and our organisation, with the support of many others, are working together to stop Kyloring disappearing forever.
Despite the challenges facing Western Australia's rarest bird, we are making progress. This includes learning more about the Parrot's biology and behaviour which will assist Perth Zoo's world-first endeavours in breeding them in captivity. See their delightful courtship display at Perth Zoo in the video below.
Besides wildfires, the other major threat to the parrots is predation by introduced foxes and feral cats. Large-scale feral predator control has been effective in reducing their numbers in Western Ground Parrot habitat.
And in an exciting development, a world-first wild-to-wild translocation is bringing new hope of establishing a second wild population of Kyloring.
Our chairperson Paul Wettin was honoured to meet the legendary conservationist Dr Jane Goodall, DBE whose Roots & Shoots Institute supports the Friends.
For almost a quarter of a century the Friends of the Western Ground Parrot have been involved in saving Kyloring, a bird so rare that we didn't even have a photo in the early years.
Our mission is to raise awareness about this rare and secretive parrot few have ever seen.
We advocate to state and federal governments to provide adequate funding to protect the Western Ground Parrot and its habitat to stop the bird's extinction.
It was a great honour to be the recipient of Australia's gift to mark the coronation of King Charles III.
We also appeal for donations and raise funds to support important South Coast Threatened Birds Recovery Plan measures. If you are in a position to help Kyloring, please visit our donation page.
Or join us and become a Friend of the Western Ground Parrot yourself.
The Friends acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of Australia, and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community, and of the lands on which we live and work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.