Rainbow Lorikeets are certainly abundant now in parts of Melbourne. My
observations over the past two decades suggest that there has been a
dramatic increase in numbers. I expect that this is because there are now
many suitable feed trees (mainly flowering eucalypts) in urban gardens and
parks, and sufficient breeding hollows for an aggressive species like this,
which can, I think, exclude Eastern Rosellas and perhaps even corellas from
hollows (pers. observations.).
Long-billed Corellas are common in Westerfolds Park with up to fify or
sixty birds being seen there almost daily. One pair is breeding in a
eucalypt near my place (about 500 m from Westerfolds). There were three
eggs in the nest when I looked about 3 weeks ago.
I have only seen one Little Corella in this area, and suspect that they are
irregular visitors, or present in very small numbers. Their call can be
distinguished from that of the Long-billed Corella, but only before young
Long-billed Corellas fledge (the calls of young birds resemble Little
Corella calls).
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Ian
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