Habitat and Potential Diet of the Ground Parrot in Tasmania

Abstract

The typical buttongrass moorland communities of the Ground Parrot Pezoporus wallicus wallicus in Tasrnania are graminoid heathland, particularly Standard and Layered Blanket Moor, and sedgelands. These occur on well to poorly drained soils and are generally low in height (≤ 1m) with 30–90% projective foliage cover. The moorland communities contain, on average, 20 to 25 species and are a wide range of ages. Although the Ground Parrot is an opportunistic feeder the bulk of its diet probably comprises species from the Restionaceae family. The list of suggested food plants includes 13 species of dicotyledons and 12 species of monocotyledons.