LORIKEETS SLEEPING/NESTING TUNNELS UNDER TREES

["desley williams" <>]

Hello Birding-Aus members       From Desley Williams, I am still at the Sunshine Coast.

 

Does anyone have any records or information on R. Lorikeets roosing/nesting in tunnels under trees?           

Last night  whilst my brother Norris and I were walking our dogs (Dalmation Pongo and Daschund Larry) along the Maroochy River path (corner Minti and Bradman Ave.), Pongo began digging into a burrow under the base of a eucalypt when a Lorikeet called out. We restrained the anxious dogs and  checked the site by torch light, finding Rainbow Lorikeet feathers and the sounds of 1-2 birds at the end of the tunnel.   

The dogs  then sniffed into tunnels under two other nearby eucalpyts, as there were no bird calls we presume these sites were vacant.          Norris had previously informed me about Pongo flushing Lorikeets out from under trees during my last visit in April, on one occasion, his head came out of the tunnel with a Lorikeet latched onto his nose!!!.  Norris thought the birds might be breeding under the trees because they  were there during daylight hours.  During this visit I could not find any evidence of Lorikeets under trees, hundreds were roosting in the tree branches.   

Today I checked the three tunnels:  the first had lorikeet feathers and a tunnel longer than my arm.  I did not want to use a stick for fear of hurting any chicks,  if present.  The 2nd and 3rd trees had very long tunnels, no feathers found, I could find the end of the tunnel with a stick.           I ask the following questions:    

1.  Why would  Lorikeets roost under the trees when there are lots of branches above.

2.  Do they prefer the privacy and warmth of the tunnel; evenings are still cool.

3.  If nesting, is this because habitat loss has resulted in fewer hollows; there may be a couple of hollows on nearby Chambers Island where there is a resident population of  kookaburras.     If  the chicks did survive in a long tunnel (similar to a hollow log); they would have to be able to fly when they left the tunnel because dogs like Pongo, would kill them.  

 

I look forward to hearing from subscribers of bird-aus with comments and answers.

 

Regards   Desley

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