Colourful parrots.

I notice that this blog is receiving many hits from overseas readers, so I've decided to include more of the birds that frequent our garden. These three photos are of Rainbow Lorikeets, which have become quite common in Melbourne suburban gardens in recent years, due to people realising that if they grow more native trees and shrubs in their gardens, and less exotic plants, they will attract more native birds and insects.





This one is an Eastern Rosella. Unfortunately the colour is a bit 'off', as my husband took this through a tinted window. These birds are prone to be flighty, and will fly off immediately they realise a person is coming too close to them.

Today it was the Corellas' turn.

There must have been at least 40 of these birds in our front yard today. Most of the large cockatoo species do travel in flocks, but I've not seen so many in the suburbs all at once in one garden! The galahs and lorikeets didn't stand a chance of getting some food, while these guys were here. They screeched and squabbled and made such a mess, tipping over the water dish, scattering seed all over the verandah and steps. When Ken arrived home, he looked at the mess and said it looked like World War 3 of The Birds had hit our place!






This one stayed still long enough for me to get a closeup. He's all wet because it was raining.
This one is sliding down the handrail; many of our visiting birds do this! They seem to enjoy it because they start at the top and slide down about half way before taking flight to start at the top again! Sometimes they'll claw their way to the top, slipping back a bit with each step - so cute to watch.

Pink and Grey Galahs, August.

Galahs have always been around here, but now there are so many more than before the fires. These visit us every day in the late afternoon, looking for a snack before flying off elsewhere to roost for the night. We buy 5 kg bags of wild bird seed from the local seed and grain store, and it lasts about a week!