The Birdchaser: Last of the Parakeets

The Birdchaser: Last of the Parakeets

New birding blog site

I have moved my birding blog to a new web site.

All future entries can be found at

http://www.trevorsbirding.com

I also have a new blog detailing my travelling adventures at

http://www.trevorstravels.com

My other writings can be found at

http://www.trevorhampel.com

Check me out often - I try to update my blogs every day or so.

Rainbow Lorikeets

Above: Photo of a Rainbow Lorikeet

Rainbow Lorikeets would have to be one of Australia's most beautiful birds. They are aptly named. As they fly overhead in a flash of colour they light up their little patch of the azure blue sky. Their feathers are a brilliant blend of bright reds, greens, blues and yellows. As they screech overhead - and that is an accurate description of their harsh calls - their stunningly red underwings are like a blood-streak across a blue backdrop.

Rainbow Lorikeets are widespread along the northern, eastern and southern coastal regions of Australia. Their preferred habitats include woodlands, rainforests and wherever eucalypts are numerous. They are easily seen in parks and gardens throughout many of our towns and cities.

Despite being quite common I have had some difficulty getting reasonably clear photographs of this species. When flying they seem to be going too fast to focus on them. When feeding they are often well hidden in the thick foliage of a eucalypt tree as they search out nectar from the flowers.

A single tree, if heavily in flower, can be host to twenty or thirty of these stunning beauties, their contact calls a never-ending chorus of murmurings and chatterings. Yet, despite the numbers, most remain hidden amongst the leaves, usually near the top and out of sight - but not out of earshot. In large numbers their screeching can be deafening, especially near sunset as they squabble and jostle for roosting spots.

Rock Doves

This posting sits a little uneasily. All postings are supposed to be about Australian birds. I am about to break my own rule and show some photos of an introduced species, the Rock Dove or Feral Pigeon. (It is also called a Domestic Pigeon or Homing Pigeon).

Above: Photo of Rock Doves perching on a dead
eucalyptus branch, near Murray Bridge, South Australia.

A few weeks ago I managed to get a good photograph of two Rock Doves perched on the dead branches of a eucalyptus tree near our home. They allowed me to approach quite close before flying off. Many more were feeding on the ground in a nearby paddock.

In Australia, like so many places, they have become a pest species, especially in city parks and gardens. I have also seen large flocks numbering in the thousands along the coastal cliffs in parts of South Australia.

Rock Doves were introduced to Australia many years ago and have successfully spread throughout the more temperate regions of southern and eastern Australia. They have been particularly successful in our larger cities and towns. Very large flocks can also been seen near grain storage silos in rural areas.

Many cities around the world have a massive pigeon problem. The health risk posed by these birds must be enormous, not to mention the mess they make. On a recent visit to Kathmandu, Nepal, I had the misfortune to be the target of not one but two pigeons on the same day. This annoyance resulted in some extra washing in my hotel room that night. I was so pleased I was wearing a hat at the time.

Above: A photo of a Rock Dove on a temple, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Several days later while visiting the city of Patan, Kathmandu, I saw a local lady selling food for tourists and locals to feed to the local population of pigeons. As the seed was spread by her customers, hundreds of pigeons descended from the nearby temples and other buildings in thick clouds of flapping feathers. They all assembled hurriedly in a little chained off area set aside for the purpose. This is not the way to discourage their booming populations. I didn't stop to ask if feeding the pigeons had some religious significance; perhaps it did.

Above: a photo of pigeons in Patan, Nepal.

Spiny Cheeked Honeyeaters

A photo of a Spiny Cheeked Honeyeater.

Spiny Cheeked Honeyeaters are a resident breeding species in our garden in Murray Bridge, South Australia. While they are not very common or numerous in this area they are widespread. They tend to be found in the drier, inland regions of Australia but can also be found in some coastal areas. They are not present in the tropical northern regions.

Hardly a day goes by without several of them visiting the bird bath near our sun room. They are often seen feeding on the vast array of native Australian plants in our garden. They have a particular preference for the Correas, Eremophilas and Grevilleas which abound in our garden.

While their calls can be somewhat haunting, I love hearing their "yoo hoo" calls as they scrabble around searching for a feed.