Support the OBPs
Ways to help
Non-breeding Season Survey Volunteers
After spending the breeding season in south-western Tasmania, OBPs migrate north for the winter, heading up the west coast of Tasmania and across Bass Strait islands to feeding grounds in coastal Victoria and South Australia.
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Widespread surveys are required to monitor and better understand the ecological needs of the species. Volunteers are crucial in helping us to collect this valuable data.
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There are typically three surveys per year at sites across mainland Victoria and South Australia, held over a weekend in May, July and September.
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In Tasmania, surveys are often held in March-April and late September-October to spot the birds on-route to or from the mainland.
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Survey Dates 2025
Tasmania
October 11-12: Woolnorth
October 18-19: Arthur River
Survey Dates 2026
Tasmania
March 14-15 & 21-22: Strahan, Trial Harbour & Granville Harbour
March 28-29: Arthur River
April 11-12: Woolnorth
23-30 April: Kind Island (pending grant approval)
Victoria & South Australia
May 16-17
July 25-26
September 12-13​
Contact Details
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Contact the regional coordinator or volunteer organiser in your area to express your interest, receive further details or report suspected local OBP sightings:
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South Australia
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Bob Green - email: shriketit@bigpond.com ph: 0407 649 909
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Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria
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Craig Morley - email: craig.morley@birdlife.org.au
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South-west Victoria
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Jess Bourchier - email: jess.bourchier@ngt.org.au ph: 0438 671 356
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Western Port and Bass Coast, Victoria
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Jon Fallaw - email: jfallaw@penguins.org.au ph: 0439 825 872
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South and West Gippsland, Victoria
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Sam Monks - email: sam.monks@birdlife.org.au ph: 0458 381 837
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Port Phillip Bay/Western Treatment Plant, Victoria
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Ryan Kilgower - email: wetlands@birdlife.org.au
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Tasmania
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Visit the Friends of the OBP webpage at https://wildcaretas.org.au/groups/friendsobp
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Marianne Gee (President, Friends of the OBP) - friends.of.the.obp@gmail.com
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If you're not sure which regional coordinator to contact, email obp@birdlife.org.au for assistance. If reporting a suspected sighting, please try to include:​​​
- Date and time
- Location (coordinates or address)
- Photos
- Leg-band details
- Number and behaviour of birds
Breeding Season Volunteers
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) recruits volunteers for the Orange-bellied Parrot Monitoring Program in Melaleuca over the breeding season (typically from September to April).
Volunteers spend two or four consecutive weeks observing, recording, supplementary feeding, cleaning and carrying out other necessary tasks to support the program. Shared accommodation in the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) staff quarters is provided.
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More details on the positions, selection criteria and application process will be available at www.nre.tas.gov.au/volunteer from July-August each year. Expressions of interest are announced via the
Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program Facebook page.
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Donate
Donations to the OBP recovery effort can be made at the following partner websites: