A Two part project is progressing at Hogwash Bend, to help protect the Regent Parrot (Eastern sub-species) Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides. This bird is currently listed as vulnerable species. Part One of the project is to give the parrots more food options and investigate any food plant preferences for plantings in the future. Two student groups from the University of South Australia have assisted, with observing parrots and recording the plants on which they were seen feeding. The project team is using this information to collect seed from a number of likely shrubs, and will plant these around the colony in May this year. Volunteer assistance will be required on Sunday the 24th of May to undertake these plantings. The progressive change in land use from mallee to agriculture around the river has meant Regent Parrots have to travel longer distances (several times a day) in search of food to feed their young. Ultimately, by providing food plants around the colony or to help create corridors of vegetation to feeding sites the project team is hoping to save the Hogwash parrots this long trip.

It has been observed that Regent Parrots avoid flying over open ground to reach preferred feeding sites. Without direct vegetated corridors linking breeding and feeding site parrots are forced to expend more time
and energy foraging for food, this may restrict successfully breeding and rearing of the young.

Part two of the project is directed at protecting a known breeding site. Regent parrots utilise hollows in River Red gums as breeding sites and with river red gums dying as water levels drop and salinity levels increase along the River Murray availability of suitable breeding sites may become limited Riverland West Local Action Planning has received a donation from Nature Foundation to secure six mega litres of water to undertake watering of these ailing trees in an effort to maintain and improve the condition of the trees at a significant breeding site located at Hogwash bend

It has been decided that to achieve best results from water allocation that 4 individual stands of Gums will receive water while still leaving water to be applied to tree planting at Hogwash bend. Monitoring is being undertaken to compare the health and vigour of these stands in comparison so control stands that receive no watering It is hoped that an optimum amount of water for tree survival can be derived from these observations.