Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday 62 - Rainbow Lorikeet.

These insanely colourful parrots  are one of the most frequent birds I see and hear on the journey to and from work each day.

They dash form tree to tree with wings blurred in rapid flight, they call from tree tops, phone wires and from within the leafy depth of garden bushes.   They are a relatively recent addition to the everyday bird life of Melbourne.  20 or 30 years ago they would have been an unusual sight - most of the mature trees in suburban melbourne at that time were not native, and did not give these nectar sippers the food they needed.

But a trend towards the planting of native trees changed all that, and as the rapidly growing gum trees came into flower the Rainbow Lorikeets moved in.

I'll skip my normal meander through the taxonomic backwater this week and just let you look at these wonderful birds.




Now its your turn - and in case you wondered I will now keep the WBW link open until mid-day Saturday my time!

Off you go!
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45 comments:

  1. Rajesh18 September 2013 at 02:01

    Beautiful bird.

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  2. Optimistic Existentialist18 September 2013 at 02:02

    How awesome it must be to see these on a regular basis. So colorful. Kind of like a Scarlet Macaw.

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  3. Rohrerbot18 September 2013 at 02:14

    Yeah, these are definitely very cool birds. I've only seen them at a place where they live inside a large aviary. They love to be fed:) Great birds to see out in the wild!

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  4. Sylvia K18 September 2013 at 02:22

    Such beautiful, colorful birds, Stewart, and your captures are terrific!!!

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  5. Brian King18 September 2013 at 02:33

    I don't think it would be possible to get any more colorful than these guys! Beautiful!

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  6. TexWisGirl18 September 2013 at 02:36

    they are startlingly colorful. :)

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  7. Gail Dixon18 September 2013 at 02:37

    These are such vivid, beautiful birds and a welcome sight driving into work, I'll bet. I think the closest we have to this is the painted bunting, but they're smaller I think. Enjoyed the close-ups and the view of them on the tree. Wow!

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  8. Anonymous18 September 2013 at 02:45

    wat zijn ze mooi en wat geef je er een heerlijk leesbare uitleg bij.

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  9. Nette Cecilia18 September 2013 at 03:03

    So lovley ,Nette

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  10. Unknown18 September 2013 at 03:05

    Spesks well for conserving the native ecology. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  11. Findlay Wilde18 September 2013 at 03:15

    It really shows how changing vegetation and things like that can make such a big difference to our wildlife - good and bad. From Findlay

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  12. Sharon Wagner18 September 2013 at 03:50

    Boy, I would love to see these beauties on my way to work. Although, my studio is in my house so I just walk to work!

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  13. Hootin Anni18 September 2013 at 04:23

    They are incredibly gorgeous and oh so colorful!!

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  14. Dave18 September 2013 at 05:04

    Surly one of the most sought after birds in the world for listers???? and there you are with them on your doorstep.... one mans ceiling is another mans floor, so they say.

    I will give them a top spot with the Lilac Breasted Roller.... wonderful Stewart

    Cheers
    Dave

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  15. Kim, USA18 September 2013 at 05:52

    wow that is beautiful!

    Kim,USA

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  16. Revrunner18 September 2013 at 05:53

    Wonderful!

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  17. Anonymous18 September 2013 at 05:57

    oh I sure adore all of these. Excellent!

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  18. Pat Tillett18 September 2013 at 06:16

    Wow! They look like a living rainbow!
    These beautiful birds would be a treat to see everyday. We have a lot to see in my neck of the woods, but colorful birds aren't one of them.
    Great photos Stewart!

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  19. Andrea @ From The Sol18 September 2013 at 06:24

    Well, the word "Rainbow" pretty much sums it up. I am amazed at such color ... God must have been in a cheery mood when he created this beautiful bird. And, lucky you, get to see them on the way to work every day ... oh my! You see it does pay off to stick with native plant life both for you and for the wildlife. Lesson learned, Stewart, even without the normal meander through the taxonomic backwater. Great post!

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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  20. eileeninmd18 September 2013 at 06:55

    They are a rainbow of beautiful colors. I would love to see this bird in the wild someday. I have fed one at a zoo, it was a neat site. But a caged bird is never the same as seeing these beauties free in the wild. Awesome photos! Thanks for hosting, Stewart.

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  21. Anonymous18 September 2013 at 09:17

    So colorful and exotic-looking. Wonderful captures, Stewart!

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  22. Anonymous18 September 2013 at 10:28

    Those colors are so bright and wild they don't even look real.

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  23. Karen18 September 2013 at 11:51

    I love these birds Stewart! Fantastic captures!

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  24. Kusum18 September 2013 at 11:56

    Wow! Those birds are so colorful! Must be a great experience to see them in the wild. I have seen some similar ones in zoo!

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  25. Unknown18 September 2013 at 14:36

    They're gorgeous birds. The colours are so beautiful.

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  26. Timur Wilde Photography18 September 2013 at 16:03

    Hi Stewart...

    this a Little cute guy...and so colorful !

    Greetings

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  27. Margaret Birding For Pleasure18 September 2013 at 18:01

    HI Stewart Wonderful colourful bird which I loved when I was in N.S.W. Great close up shots of them.

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  28. Fun6018 September 2013 at 19:17

    I will always think of Australia when I see these birds. Having never seen them before what a delight to encounter them for that first time.

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  29. Kerri Farley18 September 2013 at 21:23

    A Perfect name for them - they do look like a Rainbow! Truly Gorgeous! I LOVE that you got them with the tree too!!

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  30. Kenneth Cole Schneider18 September 2013 at 23:09

    I would never tire seeing such beauties on my way to work!

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  31. Unknown19 September 2013 at 00:07

    beautiful photos :)
    regards Babs

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  32. Phil Slade19 September 2013 at 01:37

    Truly amazing colours Stewart. Your description of "insane" is perhaps more accurate and descriptive. Great shots against the grey of those trees.

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  33. Small City Scenes19 September 2013 at 02:22

    Truly a Rainbow of a Bird. They are beautiful. MB

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  34. grammie g19 September 2013 at 02:58

    Hi Stewart... WOW sun glasses needed!!
    So much color, and beauty!!
    Too bad you have the pleasure of seeing them every day hahaha!! Lucky you!!

    Grace

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  35. grammie g19 September 2013 at 02:58

    Hi Stewart... WOW sun glasses needed!!
    So much color, and beauty!!
    Too bad you have the pleasure of seeing them every day hahaha!! Lucky you!!

    Grace

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  36. Sallie (FullTime-Life)19 September 2013 at 04:10

    I wish I could see colorful birds like that on my daily journeys. Heck, I wish I could see birds like that any time at all.

    Actually, I wish I could get a good picture of a bird, any old bird, so I could link to WBW again!!!

    (There's even a small chance that the third wish might come true one of these days.)

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  37. Maude Lynn19 September 2013 at 04:29

    They are just gorgeous!

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  38. Montanagirl19 September 2013 at 07:27

    They are just stunning! Love all those bright colors.

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  39. tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.com19 September 2013 at 11:29

    Such a beautiful bird.I believe I remember reading that they dine on liquid food,is that true?Beautiful captures!,thank you for hosting!phyllis

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  40. Fergiemoto20 September 2013 at 05:46

    Such a beautiful and colorful bird! Great images!

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  41. amanda20 September 2013 at 14:31

    Fantastic, stunning, birds!
    WOW!

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  42. Anne (cornucopia)20 September 2013 at 18:41

    What beautiful birds to get to see every day! You're very fortunate. Thanks for extending your challenge closing day to Saturday.

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  43. Mary Howell Cromer20 September 2013 at 21:02

    Just so beautiful they are and how wonderful to see them here in the wild! We have them at the zoo and children offer them sweet water and they are pretty, yet caged, or at least enclosed in a safe area. Thank you Stewart~

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  44. Gerald (SK14)22 September 2013 at 17:02

    what a colourful bird

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  45. Sallie (FullTime-Life)23 September 2013 at 03:31

    Re. your comment over at FT-L.... It IS too bad I didn't think to post my heron statues to WBW last week ;>))). I would never really do that, even though it's the closest to a good bird shot I've come recently. I live in hope!

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