The Helmeted Honeyeater, Victoria's State Faunal emblem, is under threat and is vulnerable to extinction as it occurs in an area of less than10 km2 and is confined to only one locality.

The core factors thought to be responsible for the decline of the Helmeted Honeyeater, as outlined in its Recovery Plan are:

• The impact of colonies of Bell Miners close to Helmeted Honeyeater territories, which decrease breeding success and reduce habitat availability and quality
• A shortage of high-quality breeding territories in close proximity to existing colonies
• Rapidly spreading dieback (tree decline) at one major colony site due to changes to the hydrology of Cockatoo Creek within the reserve

The small numbers of Helmeted Honeyeaters and limited distribution make it vulnerable to a catastrophic event. Wildfire and dieback of eucalypts remain the most potentially destructive threat and could wipe out the entire wild population.

Zoos Victoria's Conservation Field Partners

Several organisations and community groups are members of the Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery Team. Each Recovery Team member brings particular expertise to the recovery effort, ranging from captive breeding, habitat management and predator control to education and research.

Recovery Team members include:

Department of Sustainability and Environment 
Parks Victoria
University of Melbourne     
Latrobe University
Bird Observers Club of Australia
Birds Australia
Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater