How long do HeHo's live?

We're often asked this question. On 7/06/09 at Yellingbo a 14 years and 7 months of age male was spotted. How do we know? He was banded as a young bird & his hatch date recorded. Members of the HeHo Recovery Team tell us that this makes him the oldest known-age wild Helmeted Honeyeater.

The Friends 20th b'day

23 May 2009 was a great day. The sun shone, the speakers & displays were really interesting, the guests were happy, the food was great and the depot shed on Woori Yallock Creek was full. Thank you to everyone who has been involved with the Friends over their 20 year history - our members and partner groups are vital!

Image 1: Bob Anderson President FoHH, Karina Cartwright Healesville Sanctuary, Mick Kealy Parks Vic, Bruce Quin DSE cut the cake as representatives of the Helmeted Honeteater Recovery Team's Operations Group at Friends 20th bday May 23, 2009
Photograph by: S. Tardif

Image 2: It was standing room only at the Friends 20th bday.
Photograph by: S. Mitchell

The Friends turn 20 - 23/5/09

On 23 May 2009 the Friends turn 20. Have you been involved with the Friends in the past and lost contact? Now may be a great time to renew that relationship. Download our membership form here , send it in and we'll make sure you receive an invitation to the Friends 20th birthday celebration.

Image: SP Ausnet staff spent the day planting HeHo habitat on a previously grazed section of the Woori Yallock Creek arm of Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve.
Photograph by: S. Tardif

Invitation to Members Day - 22 March 09

Members Day for the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater starts at 11am at the Rangers house, 1217 Macclesfield Road, Yellingbo. We will start with a talk by Rupert Baker, Senior Vet at Healesville Sanctuary, followed by a BYO picnic or BBQ lunch, and the unveiling of a plaque at our nursery to commemorate the contribution Steve Craig made to the formation of the Friends in 1989.

Not a member but would like to attend? You can join on the day!

All welcome.

Animals affected by bushfires - a practical way to help

The Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Assoc. have notified us that they have started an appeal for all animals, birds etc burned and injured in the Feb/Mar 09 Victorian bushfires. JE have started the appeal with $100,000 and are asking for donations to be made either:

• at their shop, The Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Centre, 193 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, Vic
  
• or at the Commonwealth Bank Healesville, BSB 063689, Account no. 1020 1157

If you're wondering about a practical way to help... this could be it.

Fire threat to Helmeted Honeyeaters - Healesville Sanctuary captive-breeding population

Emergency procedures have been activated for the threatened species area at Healesville Sanctuary. We can report that the captive breeding population of Helmeted Honeyeaters are safe and have been transported to Melbourne Zoo. Other threatened species evacuated are the Mountain Pygmy-possums, Orange-bellied Parrots and Tasmanian Devil.

Fire threat to Helmeted Honeyeaters - Tonimbuk population

The Recovery Team have been working actively with DSE over the past few days in regard to the current fire near Tonimbuk in Bunyip State Park. Control lines have been put in place. In case of fire burning critical habitat or reaching the birds, potential actions to best support the population have been determined. We can report that the Helmeted Honeyeater release sites are safe at this time.

The good news story on the re-introduced population of Helmeted Honeyeaters at Tonimbuk ... the 2008-09 spring-summer has been the most successful breeding season yet. More details soon.