The survival needs of Regent honey-eater occur mainly in box-ironbark open forests. A large proportion of their time is spent feeding on the rich nectar from eucalypts growing on key sites, where nectar production is plentiful and predictable, the species seldom goes to water indicating that, it probably gets its moisture from dew or plants.

The distribution and movements of Regent honey-eater are highly mobile, they rarely remain in one place for long, unless breeding, but even then they usually depart as soon as their young are independent. During winter Regent honey-eater disperse widely in small groups, in spring they concentrate into the main breeding areas around Bendigo in Victoria. Many pairs breed in small open remnant forests and farmlands or along roadsides.

Generally Regent honey-eater can only be found the inland areas where it frequents Mallee - Mulga scrub - Spinifex - Eucalypt and Casuarina woodlands although, sometimes they can be seem in the box-ironbark woodland area, unobtrusively in pairs or in small parties. Breeding begins after rains from August to January.

Swift parrot is listed as endangered under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 and the Federal Endangered Species Protection Act 1992. Swift Parrot fits the criteria needed for listing because of its low numbers which, don’t appear to be increasing. In fact, there is some indication that the species may be continuing to decline, summer counts 1995/6 estimated the population at less than 1000 breeding pair and is thought to decrease by more than 1% every year.

The decline of Swift Parrot and Regent honey-eater appears to be due to a steady reduction in the extent and quality of their habitat. Many of the remaining stands of key eucalypt species have suffered in the past from gold mining and harvesting of timber in the area which, has a very slow growth rate of replacement trees. The lack of regeneration due to grazing by stock and hence a lack of new trees to replace dying trees in farmland is also a serious concern for both species, the sighting of either species is very rare in some of its former haunts.

Large old trees provide important nesting hollows which, are essential for the breeding success of both bird species. Both species are known to only breed in the large hallows of trees.

Here’s a good example of how co-operation between the Australian States is needed to ensure the survival of Swift Parrot and Regent Honey-eater species. In Tasmania it’s important to protect and encourage the breeding and feeding habitat of both species. Mainland States where Swift parrot and Regent honey-eater spend their winter also need to protect that part of their habitat.

We need volunteers to find and count birds in both mainland States and in Tasmania, as this helps to gather the important data/information including identification of the bird's habitat.

Other threats to bird species come from collisions with man made objects. Collisions which could easily be reduced simply by placing pot plants in front of windows or by applying a stencil to a window and shade cloths could easily be thrown over chain mesh fences in areas where swift parrots and Regent honey-eater feed.