Welcome back Cooney!
There has been a small population of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets in Mt Eliza
since the at least the end of the 70s. They were certainly there in very low
numbers when I first went to school there in 1981. A pair used to breed at
the Fulton Road Reserve (now known as Lorikeet Reserve I believe) and I have
a memory that there was a bird that hooked up with a Rainbow Lorikeet for a
number of years.
It is interesting that back then, Mt Eliza was one of the few strongholds of
Rainbow Lorikeet and now they are all over Greater Melbourne, whereas the
Scalies have remained very thin on the ground.
Sean
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Stuart Cooney
Sent: Monday, 26 October 2009 8:17 AM
To:
Subject: Scaly-breasted Lorikeets in Mount Eliza
Hi Birders (in particular Vic birders),
After three years in Canberra (for a PhD on Hooded Parrots at ANU) and
18 months east of Alice Springs (working at an Aboriginal School at
Hart's Range), I have finally come back home to Melbourne (to work as a
Consultant Zoologist), to "settle down" for a while (wife's words: not
mine!).
I have seen lots more birds around the country since my last posting
here and am looking forward to finally catching an OBP next winter
(other Victorian target birds are Red-lored Whistler, Little Bittern,
Ruff, King Quail, Ground Parrot, Plains Wanderer and Cape Gannet). It's
great to see that Birdline Victoria continues to flourish under
Richard's guidance.
But on to the purpose of this message. Yesterday, a pair of
Scaly-breasted Lorikeets were eyeing off a hollow at our Mount Eliza
house. There seems to be more Patterson's Curse around Melbourne than
when I left, but what about Scaly-breasted Lorikeets? (I'm not
suggesting a connection) Unlike the Cockatiel that I saw a couple of
weeks ago, or the Princess Parrot that I saw in Frankston on Christmas
Day 2004, I don't think they are escapees. Any thoughts? I was aware
of a good population at Beaumaris, but not the Peninsula.
I'm up to 41 species on the house list so far, including four cuckoos,
Tawny Frogmouth, nesting Little Ravens and Galahs and a Sugar Glider.
Our house is at the end of Claremont Street, with Mount Eliza Regional
Park across the back and a big patch of privately owned bush-land along
our southern fence.
I look forward to catching up with some old acquaintances in the months
to come,
Regards
Stuart
Dr Stuart Cooney
Consultant Zoologist
Ecology Partners Pty. Ltd.
Environmental Consultants
MELBOURNE
________________________________
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(03) 9940 1411
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(03) 9381 0700
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0448 496 000
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www.ecologypartners.com.au <blocked::http://www.ecologypartners.com.au>
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