Generally speaking, parrots eat and digest the seed, so it is unlikely to be viable after eating. Of course they eat some fruit too. As distinct from many other
birds that eat fruits, including the seeds that pass through them undigested and viable. In those cases it is usually the fruit that is the attractive feature for the birds (and other things such as us) and is the main part of what is eaten, so the answer
in the general sense would normally lie with examining the fruit, rather than asking the bird.
Philip
From: Rosemary Blemings [
Sent: Sunday, 26 March, 2017 5:05 PM
To: COG Chatline
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Superb Parrots in Amaroo
Julie's gorgeous photos show the Superbs feeding, as noted, on Chinese Elms.
Do we know whether these seeds are viable after birds have eaten them?
Chinese Elms are attractive trees but perhaps the wisdom of their being widely planted as street may need to be examined. A friend in Mckellar had many Chinese Elm seedlings in her native garden their seeds; had blown in from the street
trees.
Thanks for any observations on birds' eating habits and seeds' or berries' subsequent viability.
Rosemary
On 25/03/2017, at 10:12 PM, Julie Clark wrote:
Superb Parrots have been present at Yerrabi Pond and surrounds for the past week or so.
Today, from mid morning I could hear their very distinctive calls from my study window and wandered out around midday to see them. At that stage I found 7 of them feeding in an
adjacent street in the street trees (Chinese Elm??) in Amaroo.
Later in the day, still hearing their calls, I wandered the streets for about an hour, observing a flock of around 15 flying from one tall eucalypt to the next, with some feeding
briefly. Gradually I found more and more of them feeding in the street trees. In one particular tree there were approximately 12 birds feeding quietly until a currawong flushed them from their perches. Most seemed to be younger birds and females - probably
well over 30 birds in the vicinity. They fed quietly and weren't disturbed by cars or people walking along the paths. Rosellas and wattlebirds were also sharing the trees.
It was a beautiful sight! A pity the light wasn't great ...
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