It's amazing to think that for 100 years, experts have been concerned about the declining numbers of one of Australia's rarest birds, the helmeted honeyeater and yet for most of that time, little was done, by 1990, there were only around 40 helmeted honeyeaters left in the wild.

The honey eater is named for the tuft of golden yellow feathers on its head, its upper body is olive grey and the under parts are a yellowish green and they grow to about 20 cm in length (9inches)

Helmeted honey eaters are able to begin breeding when they are one year old. They usually mate for life and may continue to breed for 10 years, each year the breeding season extends from August to February, their nests are a cup shape made out of bark, grass, ferns, dried leaves and cobwebs which they build close to the ground in dense scrub so they are not easily seen.

Usually two eggs are laid with three or four clutches per season, they are flesh color with red spots on them, the female incubates the eggs which hatch two weeks after being laid and both parents help to feed the nestlings who eat insects. After about two weeks the chicks can leave the nest, though the adults do tend to feed them for awhile.

The helmeted honey eaters became endangered due to the loss of habitat and introduced species that became their predators.

The HHE Friends have helped by collecting eggs and chicks and taking them to Healesville Sanctuary. Planting trees and shrubs is supplying food and habitat for these birds which helps protect them from predators such as foxes and cats.

Through your help Wildlife Pledge hopes to be able to donate enough money to "HHE Friends" to enable them to purchase a tract of land next to Yellingbo Reserve to extend the habitat for these birds that are so close to extinction.