Swift parrots are preparing to “shake it off” as they start their annual migration to the mainland after breeding in Tasmania.
I always try to make these columns topical but this old rocker has surprised himself by jumping on the Taylor Swift bandwagon, and turning to one of her songs to find an angle for a swift parrot story.
I’m not the only one to link the two, however. Independent Senator David Pocock has said he is hoping the megastar can help pluck the world’s fastest flying parrot from the jaws of extinction.
And recently Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio – a keen conservationist – urged his one million fans on Instagram to get behind the campaign to save the critically endangered bird.
This started out as a column to highlight the Bruny Island Bird festival but, slipping on my friendship bracelet, it took another turn.
Senator Pocock has designed parrot T-shirts with a poster from Swift’s Eras Tour, echoing memes on social media which blend the Time magazine celebrity of the year front cover with a picture of the parrot. Proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts will aid a conservation program.
Scientists believe there could be as few as 750 mature parrots left, with projections that number could shrink to under 100 within the next six years. The logging of blue gums continues in the native forests they depend on for survival.
“We’ve seen the plight of the incredible bird get the attention of Leonardo DiCaprio recently,” he says. “Given the ridiculously slow and completely inadequate response from Australian governments to save this iconic species, a Taylor Swift intervention might be their best hope.”
DiCaprio said an obvious way to protect the parrot and other endangered species was a swift end to native forest logging in both Tasmania and the mainland.
Meanwhile, the swift parrot will once again be a focus of attention at the three-day Bruny Island Bird Festival which starts on Friday, March 15.
Bruny Island is a parrot stronghold and they can be seen in the blue gums at Adventure Bay where the festival has its main base. but because blue gums flower sporadically, sightings at known breeding grounds are not guaranteed each year. This year, though, has seen a particularly good breeding season on Bruny. The trees there have been in spectacular bloom.
The festival is now in its 14th year and is built around four pillars – community, conservation, science and art. Along with lectures, there are bird-watching outings to various habitats on the twin Bruny islands and an art fair at which artists can exhibit and sell their bird-inspired creations.
Studying the festival program, I haven’t yet seen the musical presentations of some previous years but I’m not ruling out a Taylor Swift song ringing out to match the rapid twitter of the swift parrots in the treetops.