All of My children _ Rainbow lorikeets

[The Jolly Swagman]

For as many birds you can see in the pic there are just as many out of it.Some years ago I decided to hang a 1 litre nectar feeder in the tree in my garden. First to arrive were the honeyeaters and then one day in flew a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets. As the weeks turned into years their numbers increased and so of course did the nectar. Finally, it was a half a gallon in the morning and the same at dusk. I counted over 200 Rainbows and their smaller cousins the Scaley Breasted Lorikeet. In the morning they would fly in from the South West from their roosts in the rainforest on the mountains and would return from the North West where they had spent their days in flowering Ti trees on the coast. On weekends people would turn up to photograph them especially Japanese tourists , but their biggest audience was always the local school kids as they passed on their way to school. I even had an artist and his wife photograph them. He decorated pottery with wild life motifs, but sorry to tell you I never received a complimentary dinner set . The tree you see in the background is a Colvillea and in Summer when in flower its a real traffic stopper . The artist asked if I could bring the birds down closer. However , I never encouraged them to be that tame. It would be easy to do as they used to settle on my head when I was in the yard. Someone sent me a nasty email, anonamous of course.It was quite abusive for taking them away from their natural food. I replied to him..(.having found where he lived from the header on his email) and told him I had as little time for anonamous emails as I did from letters or phone calls......they were gutless. I explained that far from taking them away from their natural food I had found that when local blossoms were available my nectar feed numbers would fade away. In fact the only birds that were regular were old and could have never have made it to the feeding grounds with the flock. I even had them pass away when feeding. Obviously parent birds would bring in their young to show them where a free feed was at. My nectar was made from sugar and water with a vitamin additive. It is illegal to provide honey as that can contain a virus harmful to the birds unless boiled. Of course there are many places throughout the State where you can feed the Rainbows such as Currumbin Bird Sanctuary. Although I have read recently that their numbers are dropping and they have appealed for schools and parks to erect nest boxes as developers have taken away the large trees containing nest hollows. This is an appeal I have long given voice to

[goosey]

They are absolutely beautiful, no wonder folk come especially to look - you must be quite famous. I expect some of the critacism you recieve is from people who are a tad jealous, but you seem to know what you are doing (the fact about honey containing toxins is new to me) and it obviously gives you lots of pleasure being able to do it.
Quite a few years ago we went to a place in Alphen aan de Rijn in Holland, Avi Fauna, which had tropical birds in a very humid indoor enclosure. We were able to feed birds with a nectar type liquid in little cups, the kids loved the birds coming on their hands to feed. I don't know what sort of birds they even were. It was probably the same sort of food you give your birds.
My sparrows, tits and starlings seem a bit dull in comparison to the birds which come and feed in our garden - but I love "my" birds and enjoy their visits as much as you do yours.
Lovely photo and post - it's nice to put a name to the face .

[wild worlds]

Yet another fascinating post Swag Man. Even better that it gives me the chance to use my new found knowledge. I presume they are nidifugous? (Thanks Paul.) WW

[The Jolly Swagman]

Goosey my fame only rests with the birds who view me as the local McDonalds
Although one day there cam a knock on my door and a man stood there with one of these Pale Headed Rosellas clutched in his hands which were coverd in blood from his bites. I found this bird down the road under a bush and a neighbour said i should take it to the "Bird Man" I told him that these birds really get into deadly combat when fighting for a hen in the breeding season. I put it in with a group of Cockatiels which I had then and after about 2 months I was able to release him back to the wild. The pair of Rosellas seen in the pic are optimistically checking out an old nest box in my garden . I did eventually replace it with a new one.

No Paul they are in fact Nidicolous.

[paul m]

I don't know - you were the star of the best known national anthem in the world at one time! Shame they had to change that .....

There are worse thing than being called the 'Bird Man' - and you're doing a great job for the birds .... it's the same worldwide, sadly, for birds and other animals suffering loss of habitat to development ... something we can all, like you, compensate for to an extent ...

Cheers,
[quote=The Jolly Swagman;2539 Goosey my fame only rests with the birds who view me as the local McDonalds
Although one day there cam a knock on my door and a man stood there with one of these Pale Headed Rosellas clutched in his hands which were coverd in blood from his bites. I found this bird down the road under a bush and a neighbour said i should take it to the "Bird Man" I told him that these birds really get into deadly combat when fighting for a hen in the breeding season. I put it in with a group of Cockatiels which I had then and after about 2 months I was able to release him back to the wild. The pair of Rosellas seen in the pic are optimistically checking out an old nest box in my garden . I did eventually replace it with a new one.

No Paul they are in fact Nidicolous.[/QUOTE]

[The Jolly Swagman]

Paul, sorry to correct you, but Waltzing Matilda was never our national anthem A lot of people think/thought, that so you are not alone. Our anthem was "God Save the Queen" for many years until we took a vote to change it, and the now, "Advance Australia Fair" was adopted. Waltzing Matilda was a poem about a swagman (Tramp) who stole a sheep. The poem was set to music and is often sung at sporting events as a kind of rallying call. My Avatar is the statue of The Jolly Swagman that is found at the town of Winton , Queensland ,where Banjo patterson wrote the poem

[paul m]

I stand corrected! But it sounds as if you swapped one dull dirge for another

When our children were very young I was choirmaster and dedicated to keep them amused on long journeys .... Waltzing Matilda was one of the favourites (and one of the few to which I could remember the words .... ) along with Ilkley Moor baht At, Widdecombe Fair, John Brown's Body - all good long songs with the mention of ghosts always helpful in keeping youngsters quiet!

Great to know that about Banjo Patterson - he deserves an anthem, I reckon.

Originally Posted by The Jolly Swagman

Paul, sorry to correct you, but Waltzing Matilda was never our national anthem A lot of people think/thought, that so you are not alone. Our anthem was "God Save the Queen" for many years until we took a vote to change it, and the now, "Advance Australia Fair" was adopted. Waltzing Matilda was a poem about a swagman (Tramp) who stole a sheep. The poem was set to music and is often sung at sporting events as a kind of rallying call. My Avatar is the statue of The Jolly Swagman that is found at the town of Winton , Queensland ,where Banjo patterson wrote the poem

[Tanny]

G'day Swaggers, I remember when we were asked to chose our national anthem and everyone I know wanted the "Jolly Swagman" but the powers that be chose "Advance Australia Fare".
Obviously you're from the 'Banana benders country' with all those Rainbow Lorikeets around you, mind you in the 1950s your birds escaped from the Perth Zoo and are now spreading throughout the 'Sandgropers country'.
Catch yer again mate, Tanny.