Ringnecks And Eremophilas

[(Richard Johnson)]

Further to Robert's comment on seeing Ringnecks eating Eremophila
fruit near Alice Springs:
I couldn't remember ever seeing the local parrots eating the flowers
or fruit of any of the numerous Eremophila spp out here, so I checked
out the 'Food' entries for my local parrots in HANZAB Vol 4 last night.
Ringnecks have been recorded eating Eremophila buds, E. maculata
flowers, E. oppositifolia fruit. There were no records of Eremophila-eating
for Bluebonnets, Red-winged Parrots, Pale-headed Rosellas, Mulga Parrots,
Red-rumped or Bourke's Parrots. Of course, no records doesn't necessarily
mean that it doesn't happen - I'll be keeping an eye out in future.
On the other hand, Eremophila nectar is a big turn-on for many
honeyeaters. The Black HE seems particularly attuned to Eremophila
flowering and at various places in SW Qld I have recorded them feeding
at the flowers of E. sturtii, E. freelingi, E. latrobei.
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Richard Johnson
Roma District
Tel: (07) 4622 4266  Fax: (07) 46 22 4151
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