Helping helmeted

By Monique Ebrington
The celebrations were launched by Regional Manager of Parks Victoria Chris McCormack and Member for Monbulk James Merlino, with a traditional welcome to country by Wurundjeri Ngurungaeta, Murrundindi.
FHHE was established in 1989 when the bird’s population was critically low at just 50 birds.
Working with private landholders and Parks Victoria their main aim has been to improve and expand the habitat available to the Helmeted Honeyeater.
They also work to educate and inform people, including local Yellingbo property owners, of the critical need to conserve and enhance the bird’s habitat.
The friends group actively assists with the recovery program with revegetation of streamside habitat, monitoring the wild population, and public education.
Friends president Robert Anderson said it was a great way to reflect on the work the group had done and what they had achieved.
“It’s just been wonderful to look back on what we’ve done and it’s amazing how much has been done by so many people,” Robert Anderson said.
“Right from the very beginning the volunteers were just so passionate and did a lot of work for the group and they’re still passionate 20 years on,
“We hope to continue what we’re doing, of course, and our hope is that more people will take up the cause.”
The Helmeted Honeyeater is only found in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve, where it is dependent on streamside and swamp vegetation for its habitat.
For more information or to support FHHE please visit their website at www.helmetedhoneyeater.org.au/.