Michael Todd wrote:
On this point why haven't foreign parrots established themselves in
>Australia? What about African lovebirds which are very common aviary birds
from what I would
>think would be a fairly similar climate and environment to parts of
>Australia. Has anyone got any theories as to why the Peach-faced
>Lovebird hasn't become established.
Your points are quite reasonable. Unless such individuals are very good at
surviving by themselves for a long time until they encounter an elegible
partner, there needs to be simultaneous release of enough birds to survive
initial losses. Most such things are released or escape singly. A few years
ago I observed an exception, a pair of Fischer's Lovebirds (Agapornis
fischeri) near my house in Canberra. A Pied Currawong, then a group of them
was displaying quite an interest in them and the two parrots seemed quite
unable to detect the threat. Eventually one of the Lovebirds flew away with
a Currawong following. I don't know what happened.
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Todd <>
To: <>
Cc: P.J. Milburn <>;
<>
Date: Thursday, 17 September 1998 0:01
Subject: Re: Mystery Parrot Solved!
>Hello Michael and others,
>
>I agree that it would be a bad thing if foreign parrots were to get
>established in Australia. I recently spent a few months working in
>Hawaii where just about everything that has been released or escaped
>survives and thrives! I saw Plum-headed Parrots ( a relative of the
>Indian Ringneck) in Honolulu and a species of Amazon (that I couldn't
>identify) near Pahoa on the Big Island. I think that the environment in
>Hawaii is so rich that it provides great conditions for species to
>establish themselves. If only the native species could fare so well!
>
>On this point why haven't foreign parrots established themselves in
>Australia? Sure Australia is a pretty tough environment but what about
>African lovebirds which are very common aviary birds from what I would
>think would be a fairly similar climate and environment to parts of
>Australia. Has anyone got any theories as to why the Peach-faced
>Lovebird hasn't become established?
>
>Regards,
>
>Michael
>
>--
>Michael Todd,
>Department of Biological Sciences
>University of Newcastle,
>Callaghan, N.S.W., 2308, Australia
>
>
>
>
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