Ok, guys and gals ........ being a bit of an 'attention-seeking-whore'  (which I suspect MANY of you have known for quite some time !  ;D  )....

.... I have decided to post these GORGEOUS pix here, for what I think will get maximum viewing .... as opposed to the dedicated 'pix thread'.


I think I owe it to you all, NOT to miss out on these, ......... so ! These birds gather right outside my open window. One baby today, was maybe an inch from my face (with the window, almost completely open) They are approximately half the size of a pigeon, in bulk.


































http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/374/lori4vi8.jpg
What we have here 'Mister' .... is a failure to communicate ! See that fricking bowl behind me ! Its' empty !   >:(




























http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/900/lori2sd6.jpg
We're scraping the bottom of this empty barrel ! How about it, 'Mister' ?  ???
























http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/2762/lori6zg8.jpg
"Please, 'Mister' .... can I have some more ?"     ???    :(



































http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7706/lori7ia2.jpg
He IS mixing it up in the kitchen right now guys ... I can see him ! Get your asses over here FAST !
























http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/3577/lori3jpgye0.jpg
"Calling all lorikeets, I think 'Mister's' gone to get some food !























http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6/lori8hx5.jpg
So, you reckon  he's gonna stick something into this bowl ?  We await, IMPATIENTLY !   
































Ok folks ..... I think that's enough pix ..... for ONE page. I'd LOVE to post more here,  / let you see  how this developed further .... but you see, SO many different pix on the same page ... at least with MY connection .... takes ages to load.  I reckon some of you are in the same boat.

I DO make a special effort .... to downgrade the 'quality' of the pix .... they are often a quarter of the original file size, with little visual degradation. However, even doing that, ...... so many pix on one page ..... means the 'story' one liners I stick under pix .... some of you will see WELL in advance of pix.

What's needed, is some responses/ registration of interest ... to take us over into another page, so I can post a FRESH bunch of four or five pix.


Anyone interested ?  Some postwhoring to this thread ... might help. Btw, what's your fave .... of the above pix, to date ?    ???


???    ???





:)    ;D

I'm intrigued to know more about them, are they very common, like say a pigeon or starling in the U.K? 

I think their numbers are growing, in Sydney (?).  .... and believe they are found quite a bit stretching from Northern Queensland, all along the coast down into Southern NSW (without any actual fresh  research/ off top of head).


I wouldn't say they're as common as the dreaded pigeon (rats on wings, to me, these days) ... or the introduced Indian Mynah bird, which has spread like wildfire, to the cost of the indigenous birds. However, I have been to parts of Sydney, where HUNDREDS of these Rainbow Lorikeets come flying in, to roost in palm trees for the night.  The sound they make in such numbers ... is almost deafening ..... it can be hard to hold an audible conversation in such circumstances (for Amanda's benefit, I had just outside Strathfield station, in mind ) .

Beautiful birds and awesome pics!  :)

Beautiful birds and awesome pics!  :)

I agree 100%they are beautiful. Thanks for sharing Alan :)

Loved the captions too  ;D

Now I know what to get you for Virtual Christmas gift

http://www.zazzle.com/lorikeet+gifts?pg=2

Beautiful birds and awesome pics!  :)




I agree 100%they are beautiful. Thanks for sharing Alan :)



Thank you,  ladies !     :)    8)

Loved the captions too  ;D

Now I know what to get you for Virtual Christmas gift

http://www.zazzle.com/lorikeet+gifts?pg=2


You're my 'not so secret' santa ?     ???

These birds are wonderful, shame they are not available over here.

You're my 'not so secret' santa ?     ???
Where is the Secret Santa?

I think their numbers are growing, in Sydney (?).  .... and believe they are found quite a bit stretching from Northern Queensland, all along the coast down into Southern NSW (without any actual fresh  research/ off top of head).


I wouldn't say they're as common as the dreaded pigeon (rats on wings, to me, these days) ... or the introduced Indian Mynah bird, which has spread like wildfire, to the cost of the indigenous birds. However, I have been to parts of Sydney, where HUNDREDS of these Rainbow Lorikeets come flying in, to roost in palm trees for the night.  The sound they make in such numbers ... is almost deafening ..... it can be hard to hold an audible conversation in such circumstances (for Amanda's benefit, I had just outside Strathfield station, in mind ) .
Do the birds that visit you seem to be a family?

Yeah ... I liked the captions too ! I'd sorta like to do that, for a living ...

Years ago, people said I should be one of those guys who comes up with the punny newspaper type headlines.  Stuff like 'Up your junta'  .... which was a British newspaper headline re the Falklands war conflict.  'Up your jumper' .... is a sneering, derisive type remark in the UK.  Anyway, I like to make little story lines, with pix. Kinda fun.   ;D

They are in abundance up here in Queensland....especially at the Gold Coast where they thrive at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary...here are some pics (not mine)........althogh when I went there the birds DID land on my head... :o

http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q474/gibbo4/99FHWCA8MU499CAXM4QHTCA0SEPEZCA87P6.jpghttp://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q474/gibbo4/rainbow.jpg

Currumbin is located on the Gold Coast....

http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q474/gibbo4/JW4FYCAWQBQGOCA6MS5JWCA37V8N2CA2Q13.jpg

This message is written and authorised by tourism Queensland.... ;)

These birds are wonderful, shame they are not available over here.


I agree.


My mother's beautiful garden, in Surrey  .... with lovely flowers, is largely 'blessed' by starlings.  ::)  They, like Pigeons, are a somewhat drab looking bird, although not quite so drab. Large flocks of them arrive in her garden, to bathe in the bird bath, communally. I often fill it two or three times a day when in the UK .... as they end up flapping most of the water out in almost no time. They ARE fun to watch ... but unlike these Lorikeets ... they just don't seem to get anything like as tame (keep their distance). She does also get visited by 'tits'; woodpeckers; doves; magpies; golden finches; pigeons (ugh); the occasional heron/ duck; crows; blackbirds .... and red robins.


I'd swap the lorikeets for the lot.

Do the birds that visit you seem to be a family?


Some that I heard today ... I was POSITIVE ... were the offspring of some parents that were with them. They made an almost hoarse version .... like their vocal chords .... or whatever birds have ... was not fully developed, and they were struggling to make the adult sounds.  Their faces / eyes .... looked generally softer too.

They are in abundance up here in Queensland....especially at the Gold Coast where they thrive at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary...here are some pics (not mine)........althogh when I went there the birds DID land on my head... :o

http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q474/gibbo4/99FHWCA8MU499CAXM4QHTCA0SEPEZCA87P6.jpghttp://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q474/gibbo4/rainbow.jpg

Currumbin is located on the Gold Coast....

http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q474/gibbo4/JW4FYCAWQBQGOCA6MS5JWCA37V8N2CA2Q13.jpg

This message is written and authorised by tourism Queensland.... ;)





I do have a pic ... yet to post ... somewhat similar to the one above, gibbo.

Do they visit your property ?

That's the difference here Al....I see them alot all over Brisbane but have never seen one near my place. I guess having 4 kids may scare them away ...also too many neighborhood cats!! :-\\

You are indeed fortunate to have them so close.

That's the difference here Al....I see them alot all over Brisbane but have never seen one near my place. I guess having 4 kids may scare them away ...also too many neighborhood cats!! :-\\

You are indeed fortunate to have them so close.



Sounds as if you like them too  !  8)


Yes, cats and birds .... for the most part ... not a good mix ( for the bird) .    :(

Are they like parakeets? ???

I think their numbers are growing, in Sydney (?).  .... and believe they are found quite a bit stretching from Northern Queensland, all along the coast down into Southern NSW (without any actual fresh  research/ off top of head).


I wouldn't say they're as common as the dreaded pigeon (rats on wings, to me, these days) ... or the introduced Indian Mynah bird, which has spread like wildfire, to the cost of the indigenous birds. However, I have been to parts of Sydney, where HUNDREDS of these Rainbow Lorikeets come flying in, to roost in palm trees for the night.  The sound they make in such numbers ... is almost deafening ..... it can be hard to hold an audible conversation in such circumstances (for Amanda's benefit, I had just outside Strathfield station, in mind ) .
Interesting thanks.  :)

Much like the little green parakeets that are starting to populate the parks on the south coast, you see flocks of them in the parks in Margate and Ramsgate now.

such beautiful birds Alan.  :)

Are they like parakeets? ???


Well, they're members of the parrot family too, so ... I suppose the answer is yes ?


By the way, we also have large flocks of Sulfur Crested Cockatoos flying around the parks here.

http://www.brockettsfilmfauna.com/images/Mammals-Birds/Angel-cockatoo-(2).jpg

 They''ll often settle for being fed bread .... and be all over your ass / head/ arms .... perched wherever, to get at it. Their claws dig in quite deeply. I've been close to cut / sore .... after such experiences !    :(

Well, they're members of the parrot family too, so ... I suppose the answer is yes ?


By the way, we also have large flocks of Sulfur Crested Cockatoos flying around the parks here.

http://www.brockettsfilmfauna.com/images/Mammals-Birds/Angel-cockatoo-(2).jpg

 They''ll often settle for being fed bread .... and be all over your ass / head/ arms .... perched wherever, to get at it. Their claws dig in quite deeply. I've been close to cut / sore .... after such experiences !    :(



Those are beautiful. :)

Those are beautiful. :)


Nice to look at ... although very noisy, and they can be quite aggressive ... insisting you give the food ... by pecking / biting your hands, rather than gently asking. When that happens, I let them know who's boss ... by shrugging them off me.  The other cockatoos ... which look similar size , but without the crests ... tend to be more gentle, in my experience.

A nice bit of 'fancy dress' (?)  ....


















http://www.brisbanecostumehire.com.au/images/cockatoo.jpg

why can't we have beautiful birds like that here...that randomly sit on windowsills?

They are lovely birds, Alan and you are lucky to get them so close to you.

Those lorileets that you took pictures of are absolutely beautiful.  The captions reminded me of when I used to feed, even cook, for the birds.  They would gather outside my window, back door, and one fell into the bag of seed I was carrying...impatient? I had a book for cooking and fixing food for birds.

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6/lori8hx5.jpg

"Okay guys, what time do we wake him tomorrow?"

Those are some really cool-looking birds, Al.  ;)

Beautiful.



Cat

When I met up with Alan this summer he was telling me that he was worried that as he is away for several months, he is frightened that the birds will seek food elsewhere and not come back. It is good to that the birds have returned.

why can't we have beautiful birds like that here...that randomly sit on windowsills?



That would be called pigeons. ;D

Btw ... they don't just 'RANDOMLY' sit on window sills.

I was living in this place, for maybe 6 months, before I was able to coax a single one, to visit. It only stayed a minute or so.

No, I had to work at this one, build up their confidence, trust in me.

It DOES help to live somewhere with trees close by, and with an already established presence of the birds.  Where I used to live .... had NONE in the 7 years I was there.  Even in Bondi, where I used to live, with a PROPER balcony, on the top floor ... best I could get was a pigeon, which ended up laying an egg, in the plant pot on that balcony. I used to stroke its head, when I was still a pigeon lover.  That altered to some extent ... when they would wake me from deep sleeps back in London, perched on the window sill. As for the Bondi pigeon, when I came back from overseas, I found the balcony with a thick layer of hardened bird crap ..... that was quite difficult to remove. I stuck plastic forks in the plant ... to thwart 'mum's' future attempts, at laying eggs in it !


Nope, in over 20 years of living at probably more than 12 different places, this is the ONLY residence ... where I've managed to get their presence.

They are just beautiful, Alan.  Thanks for sharing.

I think their numbers are growing, in Sydney (?).  .... and believe they are found quite a bit stretching from Northern Queensland, all along the coast down into Southern NSW (without any actual fresh  research/ off top of head).


I wouldn't say they're as common as the dreaded pigeon (rats on wings, to me, these days) ... or the introduced Indian Mynah bird, which has spread like wildfire, to the cost of the indigenous birds. However, I have been to parts of Sydney, where HUNDREDS of these Rainbow Lorikeets come flying in, to roost in palm trees for the night.  The sound they make in such numbers ... is almost deafening ..... it can be hard to hold an audible conversation in such circumstances (for Amanda's benefit, I had just outside Strathfield station, in mind ) .


Great pics Alan - you've done well to get them to come to your window  8)

We get a few in the trees around here - but mainly get Cockatoos and Kingfishers.




They are in abundance up here in Queensland....especially at the Gold Coast where they thrive at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary...here are some pics (not mine)........althogh when I went there the birds DID land on my head... :o

http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q474/gibbo4/99FHWCA8MU499CAXM4QHTCA0SEPEZCA87P6.jpghttp://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q474/gibbo4/rainbow.jpg

Currumbin is located on the Gold Coast....

http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q474/gibbo4/JW4FYCAWQBQGOCA6MS5JWCA37V8N2CA2Q13.jpg

This message is written and authorised by tourism Queensland.... ;)




I went there when I was a kid - they scared the you-know-what's out of me! ;D

great pics Al, the birds are gorgeous & the colors are so vivid and pretty. what do you feed them?

great pics Al, the birds are gorgeous & the colors are so vivid and pretty. what do you feed them?


I feel slightly guilty about what I feed them, Mike .... coz it's sorta frowned upon, by the experts ... but MANY many people do it.

Originally, it was honey. I'd pour in maybe two to three dessertspoons worth, microwave it for around 40 seconds, then stir in cold water ... perhaps 3/4 to a pints worth ? About a month ago ... I thought the $5 was just a little bit pricey, for a 500 gram jar ... so .. was on the look out for an alternative. Discovered that 'Golden Syrup' .... is HALF the price. They seem to love it, just as much, if not more !

When I'm feeling particularly guilty, I sometimes stir in a special lorikeet powder mix, to try to give them more nutrients .... but .... it ends up often not really mixing, and just attracting OTHER less desirable birds.



I'm perhaps being a bit selfish to do all this ... getting  them depending on me, to some extent ....  :-[  :(  .... but I just love having them visit too much !    :(

I feel slightly guilty about what I feed them, Mike .... coz it's sorta frowned upon, by the experts ... but MANY many people do it.

Originally, it was honey. I'd pour in maybe two to three dessertspoons worth, microwave it for around 40 seconds, then stir in cold water ... perhaps 3/4 to a pints worth ? About a month ago ... I thought the $5 was just a little bit pricey, for a 500 gram jar ... so .. was on the look out for an alternative. Discovered that 'Golden Syrup' .... is HALF the price. They seem to love it, just as much, if not more !

When I'm feeling particularly guilty, I sometimes stir in a special lorikeet powder mix, to try to give them more nutrients .... but .... it ends up often not really mixing, and just attracting OTHER less desirable birds.



I'm perhaps being a bit selfish to do all this ... getting  them depending on me, to some extent ....   :-[   :(  .... but I just love having them visit too much !     :(
I wouldn't feel guilty. I betcha they find other things to eat and then they come over to your house for dessert.

I wouldn't feel guilty. I betcha they find other things to eat and then they come over to your house for dessert.


I've also read that they can pick up some diseases this way. 


Well, I've had them coming for months now,  .... flocks getting bigger .... so, I figure, maybe it ain't as bad, as some make out.  Even getting babies coming too !

Thanks for posting those pics, Alan. Those birds are absolutely beautiful!  8)

Thanks for posting those pics, Alan. Those birds are absolutely beautiful!  8)


Thanks, Sasha.  :)  A couple were here, just a moment ago ... but flew off. They'll be back !


Hmm, maybe I should post those other pix now ?

I can't even imagine seeing a bird like that in the wild.  You are very very lucky.  I have bird feeders in my backyard and I love to sit and watch them out the window.  Birds are funny little creatures - they all have very distinct personalities.  I especially like it when they get in fights and screech at each other.  It's too funny.  Thanks for sharing these pics - those birds really are so cool.

So ..... returning to the story .... one of the Lorikeets spots 'Mister' mixing up the food ... next thing ...
























http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6125/lori10ic5.jpg
"Out it goes !"
























http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/3996/lorifrenz2ab9.jpg
"3 musketeeers ..... ready to challenge the others for a feed ? "























http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4175/lorifrenzyht1.jpg
"Feeding frenzy ! "    :o
































http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3341/lorfrenzy3md1.jpg
A baby  has it's wings open, wanting to scramble to the fun ! Another at the back has run out of room, only claws holding it to the wall !




























And possibly my fave pic of the lot ...







































http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/1848/lorfrenz4xq6.jpg


Maybe it's just coz of the way, they're on different levels ?



:)      8)

I can't even imagine seeing a bird like that in the wild.  You are very very lucky.  I have bird feeders in my backyard and I love to sit and watch them out the window.  Birds are funny little creatures - they all have very distinct personalities.  I especially like it when they get in fights and screech at each other.  It's too funny.  Thanks for sharing these pics - those birds really are so cool.


Thanks, Ash !  :)

The prettiest birds I've ever seen.  All we have here are crows. :P

The prettiest birds I've ever seen.  All we have here are crows. :P


When I was taking their pix .... in the biggest, gooiest baby voice I could come up with .... I told them .... I'm gonna make you guys famous !  ;D



If they could ONLY comprehend ..... that their images .... have made it to the other side of the world !    :)  8)        ;D

When I was taking their pix .... in the biggest, gooiest baby voice I could come up with .... I told them .... I'm gonna make you guys famous !  ;D



If they could ONLY comprehend ..... that their images .... have made it to the other side of the world !    :)   8)        ;D


Well you did make them famous.  At least you can comprehend just how famous they are. :)

Wow.  I love the new pictures.  I especially like the three musketeers one - you can really see their colors, and it's almost like they're all standing in the same position.  The "Feed Me" position.

Wow.  I love the new pictures.  I especially like the three musketeers one - you can really see their colors, and it's almost like they're all standing in the same position.  The "Feed Me" position.



Depending on the ambient lighting at the time .... their breast /feather colors .... can be ABSOLUTELY stunning !   :)    8)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3341/lorfrenzy3md1.jpg

Not one sign of an organised queue!

The approaching baby at the rear .... has himself  'all in a flap' ?

The approaching baby at the rear .... has himself  'all in a flap' ?
It may be all in a flap, but it is waiting to dive in.

One actually WAS flapping itself in the honeyed water (adult) just an hour ago ? It's a warm day .... maybe wanting to cool off ?

One actually WAS flapping itself in the honeyed water (adult) just an hour ago ? It's a warm day .... maybe wanting to cool off ?
Would the honey make it all sticky?

Would the honey make it all sticky?



???          ::)                :o
























http://www.popeye.com/downloads/popeye2.jpg
"I'm Popeye the sailor man, I live in a jar of jam
My legs are so sticky, right up to my dicky,
I'm Popeye the sailor man (toot ! toot ! ) "
















:D

The prettiest birds I've ever seen.  All we have here are crows. :P



We have pigeons and seagulls.

We have pigeons and seagulls.


Sounds awesome.

Sounds awesome.



Seagulls would probably eat those lorikeets. :o

Seagulls would probably eat those lorikeets. :o


Somehow, I don't think so.


I think they are reasonably capable, of taking care of themselves. Not generally intimidated.  There ARE plenty of seagulls in Sydney too (even see a few around here) , but the Loris .... they flourish !   


8)

Somehow, I don't think so.


I think they are reasonably capable, of taking care of themselves. Not generally intimidated.  There ARE plenty of seagulls in Sydney too (even see a few around here) , but the Loris .... they flourish !   


8)




In which part of Sydney?

Within  a comfortable 30 minute walk, of the CBD (Central Business district) ?



Haven't done it lately, but imagine I could walk to the Sydney Opera House .... within 45 minutes ?

In which part of Sydney?
Above Sydney I would say.

So ..... returning to the story .... one of the Lorikeets spots 'Mister' mixing up the food ... next thing ...
























http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6125/lori10ic5.jpg
"Out it goes !"
























http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/3996/lorifrenz2ab9.jpg
"3 musketeeers ..... ready to challenge the others for a feed ? "























http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4175/lorifrenzyht1.jpg
"Feeding frenzy ! "     :o
































http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3341/lorfrenzy3md1.jpg
A baby  has it's wings open, wanting to scramble to the fun ! Another at the back has run out of room, only claws holding it to the wall !




























And possibly my fave pic of the lot ...







































http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/1848/lorfrenz4xq6.jpg


Maybe it's just coz of the way, they're on different levels ?



:)       8)
It takes PLENTY  of patience to get to that level...I know. Congratulations on this!!!

It takes PLENTY  of patience to get to that level...I know. Congratulations on this!!!


Thank you,  Belle !    :)