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Holt Oval, 0945 today, watched 12 Superb Parrots feeding for three
minutes before the flock flew into trees nearby. I then took the
opportunity to get an indication of what they might have been eating. In the
area they'd vacated the most noticeable seeds by far were samaras i.e. the
flat, winged seeds of elm trees. First came across the word yesterday when
reading 'bout elms in Pryor & Banks. Next most noticeable fruit and seeds
were of Carolina Mallow Modiola caroliniana, a creeping perennial herb
common in local gardens. Then, there were a few desiccated-looking flatweeds,
probably Cat's Ear, that were in seed. And there may well have been other seeds
present the parrots could see but I couldn't. After five minutes the
parrots returned to the ground and fed for three minutes before returning
to the trees.
At 17:45 today there was a lone female King Parrot feeding as well as 14
Crested Piges, 4 Red-rumps and a bevy of Yellow-rumped Thornbills. After seven
minutes, six Superb Parrots arrived and alighted in the trees. A few moments
later a single female descended to feed. At this point I had to leave the
area.
John Layton.
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