western-ground-parrot.org.au

About us

We raise awareness about the threat of extinction to the Western Ground Parrot, one of the world’s rarest parrots and Western Australia's rarest bird. Our Albany-based volunteer community group, formed in 2003, raises funds to assist recovery projects and advocates for government support for this critically endangered species. We have members from all over Australia and even overseas.

We have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars towards saving Kyloring, making up shortfalls in funding for monitoring activities and the cost of equipment and research. We have also spent numerous hours volunteering for the recovery project. Presently we are part of a Zooniverse project, gathering vital data about the threatened fauna of our region including the Western Ground Parrot.

We are a member of the South Coast Threatened Birds Recovery Team and assist the Western Australian Parks and Wildlife Service in its recovery actions.

We are looking for new volunteers, especially Committee members who keep the Friends group operating and assist with the Recovery Plan. Please email us if you are interested.

We are a registered charity, listed with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.

Our committee

Paul Wettin - Chairperson

Paul worked professionally in water management in New South Wales for government and as a consultant for some 35 years, specialising in environmental water management. He has lived in Albany / Kinjarling since 2013 and was immediately attracted to the amazing biodiversity and beauty of the region, including help for Kyloring. He can be found most mornings swimming at the beach.

Email me

Julie Lee - Treasurer

Although her professional background is as a Company Secretary, and prior to that as an accountant, Julie’s passion has always been for wildlife and the environment. She supports a myriad of environmental and wildlife organisations and was previously a wildlife carer. Julie is Perth-born and although she’s been living “over East” for 30+ years, she has never lost her connection to Western Australia. Apart from an obvious soft spot for Kyloring, her favourite native animal is the numbat!

Rosemary Argue

Committee Member

With a professional background in communications, Rosemary's true passion is the environment, writing about it, walking in it or growing it in a native garden to provide more local native habitat. Although currently calling Walyalup / Fremantle home, Rosemary is a passionate advocate of the south-west of Western Australia and has written it into short and long fiction and non-fiction stories.

Liz Tanner

Committee member

Liz grew up and studied zoology and social anthropology in Michigan USA, and moved to Australia in 1993 to marry and live first in Queensland, then in Western Australia, settling in Albany in 2013. Her love of animals, science and conservation drives her to work hard and play mindfully in those spaces at every opportunity. When she's not worrying about Western Ground Parrots, she's joining the rest of her kindred spirits worrying about all the other creatures great and small.

Peter Stewart

Committee Member

A long-time resident of Albany, Peter was awarded the Premier's 2014 Australia Day Active Citizen Award for his environmental conservation work. He has served on the committee for well over a decade.

Chris Young

Committee member

An engineering manager within the water industry for over 30 years, Chris is a crazy keen birder, a bird bander, a bird photographer and a seabird rescuer. Chris is extremely passionate about the environment and ensuring that the Western Ground Parrot will be around for future generations. When he’s not watching birds he’s watching football… the proper one with the round ball.