With only 400-500 of the birds surviving in the wild, Cleland is celebrating the arrival of the chicks who hatched in an off-display area about six weeks ago and are “doing well”.

Cleland has two breeding pairs of Regent Honeyeaters and is part of a national captive breeding and release effort to save the species from extinction. The program, a partnership with Birdlife Australia and Taronga Zoo, resulted in 77 birds being released into the wild last year.

Environment Minister Ian Hunter said the success was a “feather in the cap” for Cleland staff, but visitors would not be able to view the chicks until they were older.

“Like many woodland birds, Regent Honeyeaters have suffered from habitat loss and predation by introduced species,” he said.

“When they are adults, these new chicks may be released to boost the diversity of the wild population, or kept in the breeding program.

“Until then, it is important that the young birds do not become accustomed to humans, so they will remain off display until they are older.”