Lorikeets in Hughes (and Gang-Gangs)

[Martin Butterfield <>]

Mark

What evidence would you need to convince you that the Lorikeets are not aviary escapes?

I have no dispute at all that the original birds might have escaped from aviaries rather than flown up the Hume Highway.  However I have seen them emerging from tree hollows in breeding season and the way the numbers and distribution have changed suggests to me that there is now a self sustaining population in the Canberra region.

An analogy could be drawn with Common Mynahs where it is known the original infestation was a human act but (as far as I am aware) no-one is saying Mynahs are now escapees.

Martin

Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

On 5 April 2014 10:36, Mark Clayton <> wrote:

Hi John,

 

I think point number 2 covers what happens when it is wet. I can’t see where Gang-gangs would go in wet weather as the whole area was pretty wet in that period.

 

With the Rainbow Lorikeets in my area (Kaleen), yesterday I had two feeding in the rain in the tree in my front yard where I reported 5 birds a week or so ago. I am yet to be convinced that the birds we see locally are anything other than aviary escapees and email conversations with several people tend to agree with me. Despite the rain I stood under the tree and watched them for about 10 minutes – sorry, no Gang-gangs but I am waiting for them to arrive in a neighbour’s yard where they fed in a Hawthorn last year.

 

Cheers,

Mark

 

From: calyptorhynchus . [
Sent: Saturday, 5 April 2014 9:47 AM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Lorikeets in Hughes (and Gang-Gangs)

 

A flock of eight Rainbow Lorikeets screeching past in Hughes this morning. 

 

No Gang-Gangs in Hughes since the 24 March (when the rain started). I had seen or heard them almost daily since the beginning of the year till then. 

 

When people have entered all their Gang-Gang data at the COG/ALA site it will be interesting to see if all GG records in the ACT ceased in this wet weather. If they did it could either be because:

 

1. GGs leave Canberra in wet weather

2. Observers don't get out and GGs are less vocal/obvious in wet weather.

 

Or a combination of 1 and 2.

 

--
John Leonard