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The Woolley lawn became a temperature test site for Blue-winged Parrot nesting boxes.
Photo: Sue Woolley
By Sue Woolley and Neil Woolley
IN THE first part of our story we described how a small team of volunteer members of BirdLife Bass Coast started a project to find out more about Blue-winged Parrots (BWP) in Bass Coast.
After observing some of the problems these birds have to put up with, we decided to add a nest box project to the initial aims.
IN THE first part of our story we described how a small team of volunteer members of BirdLife Bass Coast started a project to find out more about Blue-winged Parrots (BWP) in Bass Coast.
After observing some of the problems these birds have to put up with, we decided to add a nest box project to the initial aims.
The BWP population has declined by 30-50 per cent in 11 yrs. The reasons for the decline include the usual suspects – habitat loss, competition for nesting hollows and predation, but the species has not really been studied closely, so there are still many unknowns.
Habitat loss can be due to land clearing and climate change, including extreme weather such as storms, high winds and heat.
Habitat loss can be due to land clearing and climate change, including extreme weather such as storms, high winds and heat.
In search of the Blue-winged Parrot
July 28, 2026 - Local birdwatchers are piecing together the secrets of one of Bass Coast's most elusive birds.
July 28, 2026 - Local birdwatchers are piecing together the secrets of one of Bass Coast's most elusive birds.
BWPs are hollow nesters, and have to “make do” with small hollows wherever they can find them, typically in dead trees (stags) or rotted out fence posts. Many of the nesting stags we have found are small and wobbly, and very susceptible to high winds and bushfire. In fact, one of the three nesting stags we found in the early days had blown over in a storm when we returned to check it out the following year. Larger hollows are usually taken by bigger birds such as rosellas, leaving the BWPs to use small and often more precarious hollows.
Most of the nests we found locally were in small stags in remnant bushland. The photo below shows a typical area containing a BWP nesting colony.
Most of the nests we found locally were in small stags in remnant bushland. The photo below shows a typical area containing a BWP nesting colony.
Typical Blue-Winged Parrot nesting habitat. Photo: Dallas Wyatt
One unexpected cause of lack of breeding locations is due to landholders gradually replacing old, rotted out strainer fence posts with treated timber or metal posts. This is a new discovery; there were no records that we could find of BWPs nesting in fence posts. The closest we found was a historical record of a nest in the top of a dead tree fern.
The landholder at Meredith mentioned in our previous article had replaced quite a few old strainer posts, but had not got rid of them, and this year had a successful breeding event in one he had re-instated.
He has just reported that he observed BWPs checking out nesting hollows in his fence posts on August 3. This is almost a full month earlier than last year, so please keep an eye out.
We are also working with a landholder in Almurta who, about ten years ago, had a BWP breeding in one of the old fence posts that her father had originally made for the property. Again, they have removed but kept the old posts, and we are hoping to help them relocate some back onto the property specifically for the parrots.
The landholder at Meredith mentioned in our previous article had replaced quite a few old strainer posts, but had not got rid of them, and this year had a successful breeding event in one he had re-instated.
He has just reported that he observed BWPs checking out nesting hollows in his fence posts on August 3. This is almost a full month earlier than last year, so please keep an eye out.
We are also working with a landholder in Almurta who, about ten years ago, had a BWP breeding in one of the old fence posts that her father had originally made for the property. Again, they have removed but kept the old posts, and we are hoping to help them relocate some back onto the property specifically for the parrots.
Nest boxes
Originally our project set out to observe BWPs and to try to expand the body of knowledge surrounding them in order to contribute to better outcomes for the species. However, after experiencing some of the problems these birds have to put up with, we decided to add a nest box project to the initial aims.
The nest box project was initiated to design and build nest boxes and place them near known breeding colonies. In 2024 we had one successful breeding event in one of our boxes, with one chick fledging. We discovered that traditional nest boxes are hotter inside than the outside air temperature!
The original design can be installed in a tree or ground-mounted on star pickets. Ground mounting is preferable for safety reasons, so no ladders are required in the bush.
The nest box design is continually being improved based on observations, testing and knowledge gained in the field. For example, the entrance hole size has been reduced to try to exclude starlings. Starlings can get into a box with a 40mm hole, but cannot get into a 39mm hole. BWPs can get into a 40mm hole, but we still have to prove that they will breed in a box with a 39mm entrance.
A temperature monitoring mini-project has been conducted on our front lawn! As a result, the latest generation of boxes are now made from 50mm thick cypress, painted with solar reflective paint and include a water container to absorb heat. These boxes reduce the internal temperature on a hot day; the best performing box was 34.1 degrees inside when the outside air temperature was 41.1, giving the nestlings a fighting chance.
We’ve had lots of help
No project exists in a vacuum, and we have had an enormous amount of help along the way from individuals and conservation organisations. The project working group consists of seven members, and the project was initially self-funded.
We received two grants and a very generous private donation which has allowed us to fund nest box materials, monitoring cameras and presentation equipment so we could spread the word. We also received a donation of cypress timber milled to our specifications which allowed us to build 34 nest boxes.
In the early days we had no grants, and local conservation organisations came to our rescue.
Originally our project set out to observe BWPs and to try to expand the body of knowledge surrounding them in order to contribute to better outcomes for the species. However, after experiencing some of the problems these birds have to put up with, we decided to add a nest box project to the initial aims.
The nest box project was initiated to design and build nest boxes and place them near known breeding colonies. In 2024 we had one successful breeding event in one of our boxes, with one chick fledging. We discovered that traditional nest boxes are hotter inside than the outside air temperature!
The original design can be installed in a tree or ground-mounted on star pickets. Ground mounting is preferable for safety reasons, so no ladders are required in the bush.
The nest box design is continually being improved based on observations, testing and knowledge gained in the field. For example, the entrance hole size has been reduced to try to exclude starlings. Starlings can get into a box with a 40mm hole, but cannot get into a 39mm hole. BWPs can get into a 40mm hole, but we still have to prove that they will breed in a box with a 39mm entrance.
A temperature monitoring mini-project has been conducted on our front lawn! As a result, the latest generation of boxes are now made from 50mm thick cypress, painted with solar reflective paint and include a water container to absorb heat. These boxes reduce the internal temperature on a hot day; the best performing box was 34.1 degrees inside when the outside air temperature was 41.1, giving the nestlings a fighting chance.
We’ve had lots of help
No project exists in a vacuum, and we have had an enormous amount of help along the way from individuals and conservation organisations. The project working group consists of seven members, and the project was initially self-funded.
We received two grants and a very generous private donation which has allowed us to fund nest box materials, monitoring cameras and presentation equipment so we could spread the word. We also received a donation of cypress timber milled to our specifications which allowed us to build 34 nest boxes.
In the early days we had no grants, and local conservation organisations came to our rescue.
The Friends of Wonthaggi Heathland and Coastal Reserve (FOWH) purchased a nest inspection camera and two trail cameras which they loaned to us. The nest inspection camera in particular has been a tremendous help, allowing us to check potential nesting hollows for BWP activity. BWPs are regularly seen in the Wonthaggi Heathlands, but as yet we don’t know if they nest there. Another puzzle to be solved.
The South Gippsland Conservation Society (SGCS) not only lent us two of their trail cameras and helped with publicity, but gave us access to their workshop shed in Inverloch, allowing us to build nest boxes in comfort.
Many members of BirdLife Bass Coast came along to nest box working bees and cut donated wood, built and painted boxes and most importantly supplied tea, coffee and food to the crew.
The South Gippsland Conservation Society (SGCS) not only lent us two of their trail cameras and helped with publicity, but gave us access to their workshop shed in Inverloch, allowing us to build nest boxes in comfort.
Many members of BirdLife Bass Coast came along to nest box working bees and cut donated wood, built and painted boxes and most importantly supplied tea, coffee and food to the crew.
Nest box working bee at SGCS workshop. Photo: Neil Woolley
Bass Coast Landcare Network (BCLN) and the Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group (GTSAG) have helped with publicity and identifying suitable target areas and landholders in those areas. They have also initiated an independent nest box project for BWPs, specifically targeting the Western Port Woodlands and surrounding bushland.
Moorabool Landcare (covering the Meredith area where the first nesting BWPs were identified) have assisted with publicity and have funded the purchase of trail cameras and a Hollowhog tool to create hollows in trees.
A number of landholders have allowed us access to their properties to survey for parrots and install and monitor nest boxes, and many bird observers have spent countless hours out in the bush hoping for a sight of a Blue-winged Parrot. Much persistence is required!
Moorabool Landcare (covering the Meredith area where the first nesting BWPs were identified) have assisted with publicity and have funded the purchase of trail cameras and a Hollowhog tool to create hollows in trees.
A number of landholders have allowed us access to their properties to survey for parrots and install and monitor nest boxes, and many bird observers have spent countless hours out in the bush hoping for a sight of a Blue-winged Parrot. Much persistence is required!
Photo from a trail camera near Wonthaggi of a BWP checking out one of our nest boxes
Our thanks go to all the individuals and organisations who have helped the BWP project.
We live in a great community here in the Bass Coast, and the collaboration with birders, landholders and conservation organisations has been incredibly rewarding.
Conservation of our precious environment is a multi-faceted puzzle, and helping one small bird species live its best life is but a tiny, but incredibly important, drop in the ocean.
If you would like more information, would like to be involved or would like to go on our BWP project mailing list, please email bwpbasscoast@gmail.com.
We live in a great community here in the Bass Coast, and the collaboration with birders, landholders and conservation organisations has been incredibly rewarding.
Conservation of our precious environment is a multi-faceted puzzle, and helping one small bird species live its best life is but a tiny, but incredibly important, drop in the ocean.
If you would like more information, would like to be involved or would like to go on our BWP project mailing list, please email bwpbasscoast@gmail.com.
Good on you. You are validating the fact that advances in conservation is as much about persistence and consistency as anything else and the really great thing about that is that persistence and consistency is open to all of us no matter our particular interest. I love parrots and particularly the small, demure, sweet calling ones.