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X-WR-CALNAME:Western Australian Naturalists Club
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.wanaturalists.org.au
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Western Australian Naturalists Club
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TZID:Australia/Perth
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DTSTART:20250101T000000
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Perth:20260710T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Perth:20260710T213000
DTSTAMP:20260423T012943
CREATED:20260201T003839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260214T001135Z
UID:10000694-1783710000-1783719000@www.wanaturalists.org.au
SUMMARY:Lois Gearing talking about Naretha Bluebonnet Parrot (DRB)
DESCRIPTION:Lois Gearing talking about Naretha Bluebonnet Parrot (DRB) \nNote: no RSVP required.\nCOVID19: Even though restrictions have eased\, we will still encourage members and visitors to take precautions and please do not attend if unwell.\n\n \n\nTopic:\n\nThe Naretha Bluebonnet (Northiella narethae) is one of Australia’s least-known parrots — and one of the very last to be discovered\, formally described as recently as 1921. Even its name carries deep meaning: narethae is derived from the local Indigenous name for saltbush\, a vital and lifesaving food source in the remote and often hostile country this parrot inhabits. \nThis remarkable species is confined to the Myall belt of Western and South Australia\, on the fringe of the Nullarbor Plain — a landscape characterised by vast distances\, saline soils\, bluebush and saltbush\, and very few trees. It is a land where survival itself seems improbable\, yet the Naretha Bluebonnet has evolved to endure and persist. \nFor a time\, agricultural development across parts of this region inadvertently benefited the species by providing more reliable sources of water\, and flocks once numbered in the hundreds. However\, other landscape changes have since made survival far more challenging. Gone are the days of flocks of 400\, and populations have declined significantly\, particularly in Western Australia. \nIn the 1990s\, the then Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) established a pioneering captive breeding program in partnership with private aviculturists — a novel and forward-thinking initiative for Western Australia. As part of this program\, surplus birds were made available to the public through CALM-run auctions. These auctions not only helped support the program\, but also played a critical role in raising awareness of a parrot that\, until then\, very few people knew existed — or that it lived in WA at all. \nIt was through one of these CALM auctions that Lois and Wayne Gearing first came to meet the Naretha Bluebonnet and began what has become a decades-long commitment to the species\, not as owners\, but as guardians. Their involvement has spanned both intensive avicultural work and time spent in the bird’s remote homelands — landscapes that leave one asking how any creature survives there\, let alone breeds successfully. \nToday\, the greatest threat facing the Naretha Bluebonnet is the loss of nesting habitat. Suitable nesting trees are few and far between\, and many of the mature Allocasuarina pauper trees — relied upon for nesting hollows — are now splitting and collapsing with age. Regeneration of younger trees is minimal or absent. Without active intervention\, the lack of nesting trees places this resilient little parrot at serious risk of extinction. \nAs of 2026\, there are no Naretha Bluebonnets held in any zoos or wildlife parks in Australia. \nThis presentation explores the ecology of the Naretha Bluebonnet\, the harsh and beautiful landscapes it inhabits\, and the plants and trees essential to its survival — and tells the story of a small\, tough Australian battler that urgently needs our understanding\, advocacy and help. \n\n\n\nPlus:\n\n\nFocus/ Boffins talk – A member will give a short talk.\n“Nature road show”. Members and visitors are encouraged to bring items to place on the display table or to send photographs to the MC in advance\, e.g. a sample flower\, an insect\, and so on – anything of natural history interest that has legally been obtained. If you wish to show a photograph\, please email it\, no later than the Wednesday before the meeting\, to our MC for this night\, and she/he will include it on her PowerPoint slides. We have a dedicated email for this purpose natclub@webco.com.au\nThing of the month / Things coming up next month: These two presentations are about things in nature happening this month and things coming up\, so if you have any photos or information\, send them to: natclub@webco.com.au\nDoor prizes: You could also be the lucky winner of a door prize. We make sure there are prizes for both members and visitors.\nRaffle: We will have a great raffle  – please raid your piggy bank for a bit more cash\, $5 for 3 tickets.\n\nTime: Please come at 7.15pm or earlier if you wish\, for a 7.30pm start as we start promptly. We are open from 6.45pm. We finish formal proceedings no later than 9.30pm.\nDonation: All this for only a donation of $3 per person for adult members ($0 for child members)\, and $5 per adult visitor and $1 per visiting child to help with the costs of running the club\, venue hire\, insurance and so on.  We do not have EFTPOS facilities yet.\nEntrance: It is a condition of entry that everyone signs in on arrival\, thank you.\nParking: Free parking right outside.\nWheelchair access: Everything is on one level.\nToilets: Are inside.\nBookings: No bookings required.\nSee you there for a fabulous night.
URL:https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/events/lois-gearing/
LOCATION:Kalamunda Community Centre\, Kalamunda Community Centre\, end of Crescent Rd\, Off Mundaring Weir Road\,\, Kalamunda\, WA\, 6076\, Australia
ORGANIZER;CN="Bradley Cox":MAILTO:bradleywcox@outlook.com
GEO:-31.971941;116.0655086
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Kalamunda Community Centre Kalamunda Community Centre end of Crescent Rd Off Mundaring Weir Road Kalamunda WA 6076 Australia;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=Kalamunda Community Centre\, end of Crescent Rd\, Off Mundaring Weir Road\,:geo:116.0655086,-31.971941
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