FW: Lorikeet Die off

Written by

I have a smallish Grevillea “Honey Gem” in my garden at Barden Ridge in
southern Sydney. For the past 3-4 weeks we have had a high presence of
Rainbow Lorikeets feeding on the dozen or so flowers, to the point where I
wondered just how productive a single flower head can be. The plant would
have one or two birds present for about half the daylight hours. There are
also Red Wattlebirds at about half the frequency of the Lorikeets. They have
the occasional squabble but generally seem to tolerate each other pretty
well.

I just wish I could train them to chase off the Koels who have taken a
liking to my Cherry Tomatoes.

Regards
Roger.

—–Original Message—–
From: Martin Butterfield
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2017 11:36 AM
To: Chris Lloyd
Cc: birding-aus NEW
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] FW: Lorikeet Die off

There seems to be have been a massive problem with flying foxes down the SE
Coast attributed (I think) to a nectar-poor flowering season. Certainly I
have noticed that despite masses of blossom on red and yellow box on our
property they seem to have attracted few insects or honeyeaters (which has
been suggested to indicate low nectar presence). So could that explain
problems for Rainbow Lorikeets?

Thinking back to our last visit to Mallacoota (mid-December 2016) the
flying fox colony was still empty – rather than several thousand bats – and
while Rainbow Lorikeets were around they weren’t in the numbers I’d usually
expect.

Martin

Martin Butterfield
franmart.blogspot.com.au/

On 22 January 2017 at 10:28, Chris Lloyd < pezoporus@bigpond.com> wrote:

> I sent this last Wednesday but it doesn’t seem to have made it up. Ciao
>
>
>
> From: Chris Lloyd [
>
>
> A friend passed on the following message circulating in WIRES, one of the
> NSW wildlife rescue services, which listers may have comments on. Despite
> some extensive bush and suburb bashing along the Georges River from
> Campbelltown to the Bay as part of the Powerful Owl project I have not
> come
> across any signs of Lorikeets dropping in numbers beyond those chompered
> by
> the POWLs themselves. There was the observations on the increase in Musk
> Lorikeet numbers but it would be a stretch for that to be the problem for
> a
> species (the Rainbow) noted for its fructose/glucose driven psychopathy.
>
>
>
> “Since early December 2016, WIRES has been receiving reports of Rainbow
> Lorikeets being found dead in great numbers with no known explanation. The
> birds show no physical signs of trauma or disease.
>
> Reports have continued to come in throughout January 2017 and the birds
> are
> now being found from North West Sydney to the Illawarra. There is a
> similar
> situation currently occurring with this species in Queensland which may be
> linked but further investigation is underway.
>
> WIRES is working with Taronga Zoo and affiliated organisations to
> investigate this matter. At this stage, it is not believed to be a result
> of
> human activity.
>
> If you see multiple dead lorikeets in one area, please take photos and
> make
> note of the exact location. You can then send the details to your Branch
> Bird Coordinator who can forward to WRO or directly to ……. This
> information can be used in the investigations.”
>
>
>
> Ciao from Wagga Wagga where it is a balmy 38 today after the pleasant
> warmth
> of 40 yesterday. Still trying to ‘tick’ a Bolt (Climate-change scepticii)
> but the species seems in terminal decline.
>
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