Prime nesting site taken over

["Philip Veerman" <>]

At a COG talk recently, Sugar Gliders were revealed as a major predator of Swift Parrots in their nests.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Ormay [
Sent: Sunday, 13 October 2013 11:03 AM
To: 'Mark Clayton'; 'Robin Eckermann';
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Prime nesting site taken over

At my place in Aranda Eastern Rosellas lost out to starlings for a nesting hollow about 20yrs ago. When the Indian Mynas arrived the starlings disappeared. When I trapped some of the mynas about 6yrs ago the Eastern and Crimson  Rosellas moved back into the hollows as if nothing had happened but the starlings have not come back.

 

4yrs ago a Sugar Glider was observed eating an Eastern Rosella chick in the entrance of the nesting hollow. I was astonished. I had believed that Sugar Gliders

just ate nectar and sap but a check of HANZAB revealed that they have been known to eat a nestling. I haven’t had any rosellas nesting here since. I rather prefer the rosellas but feel lucky to have the Sugar Gliders.

Peter