Hi Stuart (and all)
Glad you enjoyed the Scalies (and lunch) but they are almost
always present, often at holes in Coast Banksias. Especially
near two toilets!
Perhaps it's worth giving a summary of past records
(remembering 160 species have been recorded in 2-3 km along
this part of the coast).
Earliest record 1976 - cross-breeding with a Little
Lorikeet. See "Birds of Port Phillip Bay" where Ricketts
Point is the only site mentioned for the species.
Since then increasing breeding with top count of 9 birds
(April 2000) and probable attempted breeding in a Canary
Island Pine in the Sandringham foreshore gardens in October
2000 (where at least 2 pairs of Rainbows were nesting).
Cross-breeding with Rainbow Lorikeets first definitely
recorded at Ricketts in, I think, 1995. See Moira Longden's
article on "the odd couple" in BO 742. Now several
generations of hybrids. Also a probable muskXscaly hybrid
seen intermittently in the area since late 1997 (thought to
be such by 4 observers).
"Our" birds could be feral but I've heard of claims of there
being enough scattered records inland to suggest they
arrived "naturally" - whatever that means these days.
Michael Norris
Bayside Friends of Native Wildlife
search for "Banksia Bulletin" on
http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
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