THE Mallee is only one of two regions in Australia that the regent parrot calls home.
So, grade 5 and 6 students at Euston Public School have written a book and made a film about the endangered species.
The regent parrot project was part of the NSW Government’s saving our species program.
As part of the project, students researched the bird and its preferred habitat, feeding and breeding sites.
Euston Public School principal Lee-Ann Thomson said the students also planted a garden with regent parrot habitat in the school and around town.
“The children wrote the book and (NSW Government’s) Western Local Land Services came out to plant the garden with the students and their families,” she said.
“All the students got a t-shirt and they’ve made some big garden signs — one for the front of the school and one for the garden.”
Ms Thomson said the trees planted in the garden were originally meant for a family just outside of Euston.
But, with the family’s property hit by drought, the school put their hand up to receive the trees from Western Local Land Services.
“We worked close with Michael Todd, from Western Local Land Services, who is working on saving the species,” Ms Thomson said.
The school has worked with Mr Todd throughout the year.
Ms Thomson said Balranald Shire Council and Euston beautification and tourism committee were also involved on the project.
As part of the project, the students were taken on a tour by the groups involved to spot regent parrots along the Murray River.
According to Local Land Services, the regent parrot is listed as endangered under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, with Euston being the only town in NSW with a breeding colony.
Dr Michael Todd said the students had “championed” the importance of Mallee scrub as feeding grounds for the regent parrot.
“With their knowledge and support, we will have a greater chance of protecting and increasing this important habitat,” he said.
While, Land Services officer Karin Sluiter said she was impressed with the quality of the students’ work and their interest in the project.
“It’s been great to be involved with such an enthusiastic group and hopefully these kids can help to inform the local community of the importance of the regent parrot,” she said.
The materials prepared by the students can be viewed on the Western Local Land Services website at western.lls.nsw.gov.au/.
And the video can be viewed on the Local Land Services NSW YouTube channel.
The illustrations in the book were all drawn by the students involved in the project with assistance by staff from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and Western Local Land Services.
The book and film were launched at Euston Public School last Thursday.
