Parrot Photos

Colorful Parrots

2011-07-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

Cute Love Colorful Parrot

Parrots are the most colorful birds in the whole world. Their bodies are brilliant shades of red, green, yellow, blue,white and black. There are various kinds of parrots in the world.There are numerous of the very most beautiful and colorful birds in the animal kingdom.

Colorful Parrots Photos

They often live to be between thirty and fifty years old.The largest parrots are the macaws.Although there are many various parrots, you can recognize them easily by the shape of their body.

Colorful Parrots Flying

Colorful Parrots

Colorful Parrot Wallpaper Animal

Colorful Parrot Bird Photos

Colorful Parrot

Quaker Parrots

2009-11-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

A hearty welcome to all bird lovers! I am here to share some interesting facts about our quaker parrot. Originally from South America, ranging from Brazil to Argentina, the quaker parrot is similiar in size to a Cockatiel, although it is stouter and weighs more. Also known as a monk parakeet, it is bright green over the head, in the body, and down the tail, with a little visible blue in the tip of the tail and the flight feathers.

The quaker parrot enjoys soothing, cooing tones like, "Goooood Bird", and "Pretty Baaaaby". And of course it is an excellent talker. The baby quaker parrot can be heard softly, sometimes loudly, practicing its repertoires of human noises long before the words become clear. A quaker parrot loves to play amusing little games that provide great opportunity to bond with your parrot. It is a highly intelligent creature. A quaker parrot requires a tremendous amount of attention and stimulus in order to avoid boredom and aggression.

The more you respond to the noises made by your quaker parrot, the more you invite it to acquire human speech. It is just as interesting to study a quaker parrot's development just as it is in the case of a human baby. Just like your baby, your pet needs proper training for healthy living.

Senegal Parrots

2009-11-20T21:44:00.001-08:00

Is there anyone who does not know the compact, playful and cuddly Senegal parrot? Deriving its name from its place of origin, it is also found in Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. The Senegal parrot is a green bird with a grey head, sports different colored under parts and belly and has piercingly bright yellow iris. In its natural habitat, the Senegal parrot lives in moist woodland and on the edges of the savannah. The hand reared bird makes lovely pets.

The Senegal parrot learns to talk and imitate sounds such as the creak of the garage door and the ring of the telephone. The African grey parrot is more accurate in pitch and tone but the Senegal parrot's is entertaining. Its diet consists of a seed mixture of sunflower, safflower, pine nuts, oats, hemp, millet and canary. It is a robust bird and not prone to feather plucking. A senegal parrot can also be well trained.

Like all birds the Senegal parrot must be allowed time out of the cage to exercise and interact with you. It can also play independently. The more you interact the more a Senegal parrot will relax and obey you. To be well behaved it must be well trained. Is that a major problem?

Green Parrot

2009-11-20T21:38:00.001-08:00

Welcome all you parrot lovers! Among all birds man has tamed the green parrot seems to be the most favorite. In fact the parrot family as a whole is the best choice. Among all kinds of parrots, there are many which can be termed a green parrot. This is because of the color of their plumage. A green parrot is a visual delight in any house. When I bought my first green parrot it changed the entire look and feel of the house. Any green parrot feeds on selected seeds, high quality proteins, carbohydrates, lean chicken and boiled vegetables.

The hawk-headed parrot may be loosely called a green parrot because its upperparts are greeen. A moustache parakeet is also a green parrot with a grey head marked with bluish tinge. The eye area is washed with green. The young sun conure has feathers which are predominantly green making it again a green parrot. Amazons, Senegals and others may belong to the green parrot family.

Green parrots are intelligent, affectionate, inquisitive and can be easily trained. A well trained green parrot is a marvel in itself. However, it is true that untrained and untame green parrots can be a major nuisance. Is your green parrot well trained?

Eclectus Parrots

2009-05-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

Eclectus parrots are glossy and brilliant birds. The male eclectus parrots are bright green with blue and red patches, while the females are crimson with a blue belly. Two of the most famous subspecies of eclectus parrots are Vosmaeri and Solomon Island varieties. The large size of the Vosmaeri gives a more elegant look, whereas the little Solomon Islands eclectus parrots have a "cute" look.

Eclectus parrots are such intelligent creatures that sometimes they train themselves after only one incident of you showing displeasure at being pooped upon. Eclectus parrots are not just pretty birds. They not only repeat many words and phrases but also sing songs and talk to both their human and bird companions. Among all birds in the entire parrot family, eclectus parrots rival only the African Grey and the Amazon in their clarity of speech and scope of vocabulary.

Eclectus parrots need optimal amounts of natural Vitamin A in their diet. They have long digestive tract so they must be provided with ample amounts of fiber daily. They seem to thrive on a diet based on a wide variety of foods including fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouted seeds and beans, brown rice, high-fiber cereals, a variety of nuts and seeds, and high-quality pellets.

Amazon Parrots

2009-05-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Let us welcome another native of the New World among us. The Amazon parrot was first brought to our land by Christopher Columbus. There are 27 species of Amazon parrots, ranging from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean. Amazon parrots are green and short winged. The Amazon parrot is very good at talking and imitating sounds. Studies put the intelligence of these feathered chatterboxes on the same level as three-year old humans, dolphins and monkeys.

The Amazon parrots are very energetic, playful and social creatures that crave lot of interaction with its human owners. It is well known for its often moody character. It can be, at different times, cuddly, loud, quiet, stubborn, silly, jealous, playfully aggressive or irritable. The Amazon parrot is definitely not for all pet owners, it needs much more love and attention than most people would expect. Owning Amazon parrots is very similar to owning dogs with wings.

A proper diet for an Amazon parrot's health includes fruits and vegetables, fresh water, a fortified parrot pellet mix and a little of what the human family is having for dinner. Chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, avocado and apple seeds are toxic to your pet. Long-term commitment and a slightly offbeat adventure in pet ownership would mean highly trained Amazon parrots for pet. Is your bird pet well trained?

African Grey Parrot

2009-05-03T16:29:00.001-07:00

All African Greys have the potential to speak and imitate, not only human, but all manner of sounds and whistles. Those who are not paid much attention speak well while those african grey parrots who are allowed out of their cages or handled well may not speak at all. African grey parrot bonds strongly to one person. The african grey parrot is a notorious feather plucker. Boredom, dietary imbalances and emotional abuse are some of the reasons behind its ferocious plucking.

Every african grey parrot is as different from the other as i am from you. Each has its own talking and plucking ability. Screaming african grey parrots can often be distracted from their yelling by flying them on your finger, or taking them for a walk around the house. This calms them down and naturally builds up the trust that you need in a good relationship.

Blue and Gold Macaw

2009-01-09T17:26:00.001-08:00

Blue and Gold Macaw

Blue and Gold Macaws are one of the larger species of Macaw and can grow to about 86cm in length. As well as their striking blue and gold colouring these Macaws have tiny feather tracts on their faces, which is unique to each bird, just like a human finger-print.

Blue and Gold Macaws are found in central northern regions of South America. They are considered an endangered species due to the destruction of the rainforests and capturing of them for the illegal pet trade. In the wild the Macaws are found in pairs and small family groups. They like to fly close together with their wingtips almost touching.

They feed on nuts. seeds, fruit and vegetables. Blue and Gold Macaws are considered to be the most popular species due to their inquisitive and playful nature.

They are intelligent and can become good talkers. It is not advisable to put your fingers anywhere near their beaks!

Amazing Singing Parrot

2009-01-09T17:21:00.000-08:00

Amazing Singing Parrot

Amazing Singing Parrot - More amazing videos are a click away

Amazon Parrots

2009-01-02T13:09:00.001-08:00

blue-fronted amazon
800 x 630 - 141k - jpg

Amazon Parrot Family
400 x 390 - 8k - jpg

Amazon papegøjer ~ Amazon Parrots
684 x 529 - 117k - jpg

Parrot Picture

2009-01-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

parrot hotlinks

love parrot

clr parrot

parrot

Superb Parrot

2008-12-26T17:35:00.001-08:00

Polytelis swansonii

The Superb Parrot is also known as the Barraband or Green Leek. They are medium sized birds, about 400 mm long. They can be identified by their long bright green tails, green bodies and blue tipped wings. Males are a richer green than females and have a bright yellow forehead and throat which is banded by a bold red ring. In flight, their sleek bodies, long pointed tails and backward swept wings give them a distinctive silhouette.

Despite its elegant appearance, the Superb Parrot is a hardy bird which can live for up to 25 years. However, its range is very restricted and numbers are diminishing. It is listed as Rare or Vulnerable.

The clearing of box woodlands which provided forage and breeding sites is thought to be one of the main reasons for its decline. This, along with changes in agricultural activities, the clearing of dead trees for firewood, road kills, trapping and poaching have all contributed to a decline in the population. A further problem faced by the Superb Parrot is the invasion of its former nests by swarms of bees.

The Superb Parrot is endemic to the Murray-Darling Basin. It occurs mainly in the red gum forests and black box woodlands of the Riverina and northern Victoria. It migrates to over-winter along the Namoi and Castlereagh rivers in north-western New South Wales.

The birds return from wintering sites to the South-west Slopes, Murrumbidgee Valley and Barmah-Millewa Forests have been identified as the major breeding areas.

Superb Parrots are social birds and often feed in pairs or in small parties searching for seeds, nectar, and grains. During the breeding season, flocks of males can be seen feeding together and collecting food for nesting females. This is done two to three times a day over a month or more while the eggs and new hatchlings are developing.

Via: mdbc

Parrot in Japan beats humans in solving chain puzzle

2008-12-26T17:24:00.000-08:00

Parrot in Japan beats humans in solving chain puzzle

Click here.

Swearing parrot ruffles feathers at zoo

2008-12-20T09:02:00.000-08:00

A PARROT is worrying staff and scaring children at a zoo..

Max the five-year-old African grey parrot was donated by a previous owner who got fed up with his expletive-laden chatter.

Keeper Peter Hansom at South Park birdhouse in Darlington, in the north of England, blamed schoolchildren for teaching Max, a five-year-old African grey parrot, the obscenity.

Review: Squawkers McCaw Robot Parrot

2008-12-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

Review: Squawkers McCaw Robot Parrot

Squawkers McCaw is a refreshing change from all the sleek, hard plastic robots to come out in recent memory. He's got a fun little personality too, and his advanced programming makes what he says fully customizable in your own voice. For a robotic bird that doesn't actually walk or fly, he's a ton of fun. We think Squawkers will be one of the hot toys this Christmas, and he's GadgetMadness Approved.

Amazon

Parrot

2008-12-14T16:23:00.000-08:00

The parrots are a broad order of more than 350 birds. Macaws, Amazons, lorikeets, lovebirds, cockatoos and many others are all considered parrots.

Though there is great diversity among these birds, there are similarities as well. All parrots have curved beaks and all are zygodactyls, meaning they have four toes on each foot, two pointing forward and two projecting backward. Most parrots eat fruit, flowers, buds, nuts, seeds, and some small creatures such as insects.

Parrots are found in warm climates all over most of the world. The greatest diversities exist in Australasia, Central America, and South America.

Many parrots are kept as pets, especially macaws, Amazon parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, and cockatoos. These birds have been popular companions throughout history because they are intelligent, charismatic, colorful, and musical. Some birds can imitate many nonavian sounds, including human speech. The male African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus) is the most accomplished user of human speech in the animal world; this rain forest-dweller is an uncanny mimic.

Currently the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) bans the sale of any wild-caught species, yet the parrots' popularity continues to drive illegal trade.

Some parrot species are highly endangered. In other cases, once tame birds have reproduced in the wild and established thriving feral populations in foreign ecosystems. The monk (green) parakeet, for example, now lives in several U.S. states.

Parrot Wallpapers

2008-12-14T16:10:00.000-08:00

Parrot Wallpapers

Parrot Wallpapers1

Parrot Wallpapers 2

Parrot Wallpapers 3

Parrot Wallpapers 4

Parrot Wallpapers 5

Australian Electus female parrot wallpaper

2008-12-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

Australian Electus female parrot wallpaper

A beatiful wallpaper of the evolution defying Australian Electus parrot. Here we see an up-close and personal picture of a female. The resolution is 1280×1024. Click the the thumbnail above to view the wallpaper in full size.

Download Parrots in the land of oz Documentary

2008-11-30T16:19:00.001-08:00

We keep them in cages in our homes, but in their natural state they are independent birds who can seek out water over hundreds of miles through pure instinct. We feed them seed from a pet store, but they can find food in a wide variety of habitats. We give them plastic toys and mirrors to play with when in fact in the wild some have figured out how to use tools to communicate and attract mates.

For tens of millions of years, parrots have survived and thrived in Australia even as the continent underwent dramatic changes, including some brought about by man. Though some, like the golden-shouldered Parrot are threatened, these tough Aussies have adapted well to deal with harsh life in the outback. Clever, resourceful, opportunistic and resilient, parrots may be Australia’s toughest survivors, and they’re certainly its most beautiful.

Poster notes: This is an excellent documentary on parrots with some amazing footage of a lot of different parrot species. Very high HDTV quality in both video and audio.

Genre: “Documentary”
Size: 1 File, 1.65 GB
Quality: xvid.1280×720.4010kbps
Runtime: 54 mins
Filename: PBS Nature - Parrots in the Land of Oz (2008.720p.HDTV.AC3-SoS).avi

Links: PBS Official Site

Download Torrent: Parrots in the land of oz

Rainbow Lorikeet Wallpaper

2008-11-30T16:18:00.001-08:00

A wallpaper of the bright and colorful Rainbow Lorikeet. One of the most colorful parrots in the world. The resolution is 1280×1024. Click the the thumbnail above to view the wallpaper in full size.

High Resolution Palm Cockatoo Photo

2008-11-30T16:17:00.001-08:00

The rare palm cockatoo lives in Australia and is considered to be one of the smartest parrots in the animal kingdom. Click the picture to view the image in full detail.

Credits go to Lynjupiter who specialises in animal photography, we thank her for this amazing cockatoo photo.

Sulphur Crested Eleanora Cockatoo Dancing to Back Street Boys

2008-11-30T16:11:00.000-08:00

Snowball the cockatoo is rocking it out to a back street boys song.

Visit the owners bird rescue organization website here.

High resolution gold and blue macaw picture

2008-11-30T16:09:00.000-08:00

A very crisp picture of a gold and blue macaw extending it’s wings to display the colors and amplify the big beak. This will also work well as a wallpaper. Click the picture to view the image in full detail. The resolution is 2048×1536.

Kill Bill Cockatiel

2008-11-30T16:08:00.001-08:00

This little guy whistles a tune from Quentin Tarantino’s movie Kill Bill all day long. The song is called twisted nerve by Jimmy Cantando.

Sun conure chilling in the cage

2008-11-30T16:06:00.000-08:00

This sun conure decided it was time to try a different sleeping position, the one mommy likes.

Here is a comment from the owner: “One day, baby Leo decided to lay on his back. He was so casual about it, too… just chillin’ out.”

High resolution Mexican green macaw

2008-11-30T16:05:00.001-08:00

A beautiful high definition picture of the Mexican green macaw. This species is not common as pets. This image will work well as a wallpaper too. Click the picture to view it in full detail.

High resolution scarlet macaw photo

2008-11-30T16:03:00.000-08:00

A very good picture depicting two wild scarlet macaws perched on a tree branch. You can really see their colorful plumage in this picture. Click the picture to view the image in full detail.

Tool using parrot

2008-11-30T16:01:00.000-08:00

This is a double yellow headed amazon parrot, his name is Poncho, he is 30 years old and by the looks of it he is very smart. In this video he uses one of his dropped feathers to scratch way back in his neck.

“He was not taught to do this, he figured it out on his own! He will also use other objects besides feathers for the same purpose, like pencils, straws, toys, etc.” - The owner

Here are some definitions of tool use:
Jane Goodall defines tool use as “the use of an external object as a functional extension of mouth or beak, hand or claw, in the attainment of an immediate goal.”

John Alcock defines tool use as “the manipulation of an inanimate object, not internally manufactured, with the effect of improving the animal’s efficiency in altering the form or position of some separate object.”

Ben Beck defines tool use as “the external employment of an unattached environmental object to alter more efficiently the form, position, or condition of another object, another organism, or the user itself when the user holds or carries the tool during or just prior to use and is responsible for the proper and effective orientation of the tool.”

Hand feeding wild cockatoos

2008-11-30T15:59:00.000-08:00

A great video of a guy hand feeding wild cockatoos in Sydney, Australia.

African Grey Parrot rant

2008-11-30T15:53:00.000-08:00

Einstein the parrot has a big vocabulary and a will to use it.

Parrot Wallpaper

2008-11-03T17:01:00.001-08:00

parrot wallpaper

langkawi bird wallpapers

2008-11-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

langkawi bird wallpapers
1280 x 1024 - 239k

Download parrot wallpaper

2008-11-03T16:55:00.001-08:00

Download parrot wallpaper for your ...
1024 x 786 - 149k - jpg

Parrot wallpaper

2008-11-03T16:52:00.001-08:00

Parrot wallpaper

Parrot Wallpaper

2008-11-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Animal Screensavers, Wallpaper

2008-11-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

Animal Screensavers, Wallpaper

1024 x 768 - 124k - jpg

Parrot wallpaper

2008-10-27T17:21:00.001-07:00

Parrot wallpaper

[ Photos: desktoprating ]

Exotic parrot wallpaper

2008-10-27T17:17:00.000-07:00

Exotic parrot wallpaper

[ Photos: desktoprating ]

Bleached Parrots

2008-10-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

This image shows what a normal White-fronted Amazon should look like, and photos of three birds who were altered with bleach and dye.

Luckily, one bird has survived the treatment. Most die, like the bottom photos of an older bird and an unweaned baby parrot.

Of wild-caught parrots, approximately 80% die before they are sold to jobbers or wholesalers; of the remaining survivors, only 1-2% make it to a person who purchases them at a swap meet; very few of these last few birds actually show up at a veterinarian for care. Who can calculate the numbers of un-reported ill, dying and dead parrots in this reprehensible trade?

Who can truly judge the impact on wild populations? And who is responsible for this moral outrage?

Only education and knowledge will change the long-standing traditions of parrot smuggling. Tell everyone you know, educate, and report illicit sales.

Parrot Heaven

2008-10-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

The Kingston area, just South of Hobart, must be the Tasmanian equivalent of Mecca, for a range of parrot species that have had more than passing assistance from humans. For many years the home of about 25 or so Galahs, believed to be the progeny of birds released from a ship at Port Huon in 1922, they have been joined by Long-billed and Little Corellas, and most recently by Rainbow Lorikeets. The Galah numbers have burgeoned too, no doubt joined by aviary escapes and possibly trans Bass Strait migrants. Apart from the odd vagrant, these species would not normally include Tasmania as part of their distribution range.

A few days ago,I spent a morning on the Kingston Golf Course (after seeking permission from the secretary/manager), armed with a camera rather than golf clubs, and wandered round. I wanted to get a few shots of the Rainbow Lorikeets, having noted half a dozen of them in the Blue Gums along the nearby beachfront, and having heard that they frequented the golf course.
As I wandered back to my car from the clubhouse, I could already hear the 'strains' of the numerous Musk Lorikeets in the nearby gums, I could also hear a few Swift Parrots calling from among them, but this was the first and last intimation of their presence. I drove down to the club's works area, flushing several Eastern Rosellas from the track side, and noting several groups of Wood Duck and flocks of Galahs, feeding on the verdant fairways. The works area abuts Brown's River, and I walked over to the river bank. My first sighting there was a solitary Australasian Grebe, splashing its way over the water surface, towards me! Concentrating on that, I had failed to see the single Little Pied and Two Little Black Cormorants, roosting on a dead tree branch, only a few metres away, obviously used to the to and froing of the ground staff, and unfazed by my close approach. With obviously so many groups of birds about, I just wandered "higgledy piggledy" round the course, drawn to whatever seemed like a photo op.. I photographed Galahs, Eastern and Green Rosellas, Musk Lorikeet, Noisy Miners, Australian Magpies and Wood Duck in quick succession. However, the Rainbow Lorikeets were proving rather more elusive, although I had a brief view of a couple passing rapidly on to distant gums. I then spotted a corella among a flock of around 30 Galahs, and closed on this. It proved to be the only Little Corella that I recorded (photo at bottom left). It was keeping company with a very anaemic coloured and similar sized Galah, a species with which they occasionally cross breed, at least in aviary situations.

I had just about given up on the 'rainbows' when I was drawn to a dispute between Eastern Rosellas and Musk Lorikeets, high in a large gum. I tried to get a few shots, but the 'easterns ' flew off. I stood under the trees contemplating leaving, the increasing numbers of golfers were a distraction, when I heard a 'rainbow' call from almost overhead. And there, unnoticed by me, were a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets, sussing out a nest hole or 'spout' at the end of a hollow branch, some 10 metres up. A couple of shots before they disappeared deep inside. I waited for what seemed an eternity, (I'm really not the patient type that people sometimes suggest!). 10 minutes or so later, they emerged, and I shot a few more images including the photo at right of a bird at the possible nest entrance, and the image at top left, before they flew off. Ambling back along the river bank, I could see a flock of Long-billed Corellas lined up along the power lines overlooking the children's playground, on the other side of the river, waiting for one of the frequent 'handouts' of food. Every now and then, amid much screaming, they would all take to the air, and from my observations this usually indicates a nearby raptor, often a Brown Goshawk.

I have mixed feelings about the corellas and 'rainbows'. There is no doubt that many are aviary escapes, or their progeny, and they have the potential to become serious pests. There is also the question of what impact they may have on our native species, the Swift Parrot in particular. I suspect that they are already past being able to 'control' their numbers, and I'm not sure that it would be supported by well meaning, but perhaps, ill informed members of the public. I have no doubt that although we use the expression "aviary escapes", many of these parrots have in fact been deliberately released when the owners tired of them. All too frequently I notice other fauna that's been dumped, ranging from chickens and ducks, through to cats, many of them in conservation areas.

Truganini Reserve & Swift Parrots

2008-10-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

You probably haven't been waiting with bated breath for this, but I've only just managed to get my PC back in some semblance of order after temporarily losing the last 6 months worth of images! As I mentioned in the last blog, I moved on to the Truganini Reserve at Taroona, in search of Swift Parrots. There's a familiar ritual to arriving, you can usually count on seeing, or at least hearing, the local Yellow Wattlebirds as you park your car, and on this morning they didn't disappoint. Their interest was in a pair of Grey Currawongs, skulking about, and at least 3 Kookaburras, and the wattlebirds managed to move them all on, without getting too close. By the track, I witnessed nuptial feeding by a pair of Crescent Honeyeaters, and overhead, much chasing among the Black-headed Honeyeaters . So it appeared that for some, breeding was underway. Within a 100 metres of the entrance, I heard the first Swift Parrots, so at least I now knew they were about. But, as anyone familiar with watching Swift Parrots would be aware, hearing them is one thing, seeing them is another! The calls were emanating from some of the taller eucalypts, mainly Blue Gums, although few, if any were flowering here. I climbed the bank on the northern side of the gully, up into the morning sun, and as I did, I could hear other Swifties calling. I estimated that there were about 6 or 7 pairs in the area, but as yet I hadn't seen a single bird. The shrill call of a nearby Musk Lorikeet caught my attention, and it was then that I saw my first Swift Parrot, well to be precise two, undoubtedly a pair. Both were in dispute over a possible nest site, with both Musks and Swifties entering a hole in a gum, some 15 metres up. The Musks used there "tail spreading" act, to warn off the Swifties, and the Swifties, opened their still folded wings to show the red colouring beneath. They also showed their displeasure as seen in the, not very flattering, shot at upper left. Neither of the pairs actually came into contact with one another, preferring to animatedly display as mentioned, sometimes within a few centimetres of one another. It's the first time that I've witnessed this, and unfortunately it was among the foliage and some way from me, so I didn't get the sort of images that I might have hoped for. After about 10 minutes of this action, both pairs flew off, but as I returned a little later, I disturbed a single Swift Parrot from the vicinity of the same tree. I did speculate whether the confontation was a common occurrence, and is the increasingly numerous Musk Lorikeet population having a detrimental effect on the already threatened, Swift Parrot's breeding chances. Higher up the slope, I noted the single Swift Parrot, pictured at lower left. It called from a high perch at the extremity of a dead gum. It appeared to be alone, and its frequent calling was not answered, perhaps it was in search of a partner, or had become separated. Later, on the track back down into the gully, I also recorded Pink Robin, Olive and Golden Whistlers, Tasmanian Scrubwrens (very quiet, which leads me to believe, they are nesting), a solitary Brush Bronzewing, and numerous Strong-billed Honeyeaters, some gathering strips of bark for their nests. It was while I was watching the latter, that I noted another pair of swifties. These appeared to be gleaning insects from the crevices of a large Blue Gum, and amongst the 'strings' of bark hanging down. Going silently about their business made me realise just how much I, and doubtless others, rely on hearing their call to find them, often as they 'explode' from a tree. In fact, thinking back over the years, I couldn't recall too many times that I had witnessed them feeding on anything other than flowering gums. An interesting morning.
[NB. I've added the only meaningful image of the Swift Parrot threat display, with the individual at lower right showing the red underwing area]

[Source: tassiebirds ]

Orange Bellied parrot

2008-10-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

The critically endangered Orange Bellied parrot (pictured) is an "environmental obstacle" to a desalination plant planned for the parrot's habitat in Victoria, Massie Santos Ballon yesterday proclaimed on a so-called "Cleantech" website.

There's less than 200 orange belliers left in the wild, though a breeding and release program is showing promise. Habitat disruption is the main reason for the parrot's demise.

"The desalination plant also threatens other colorfully named species such as the glossy grass skink, the southern brown bandicoot and the growling grass frog, but the bird is really the center of all the attention," Ballon trivialises.

Ballon is a "columnist" from Manila, the Blade Runner-style capital of the Philippines, where sewer rats and junkyard dogs pass for biodiversity.

"The question is, will [the Orange Bellied parrot] cost Aussies their drinking water?" Ballon goes on to patronise.

As this blog sees it, the real question is: "Why should an environmentally-dubious desalination plant fly in the face of the well-established precautionary principle, to the detriment of several threatened species, so Aussies can wind up living in a horrorshow cesspit like the city Ballon calls home?"

Wild Parrots of San Gabriel Valley

2008-10-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Bill was actually lucky enough to get a couple of photos of the wild parrots that have become residents of the San Gabriel Valley. I say lucky because they usually perch very high up and never, that I have seen, come down to the ground. After reading a few articles it seems there are over 8 different species. This one I think is a Red-Crowned Amazon. Several rumors circulate regarding there presence the most common being that a pet store burned down and the parrots escaped. I have no idea what the truth is but since I'm a parrot/bird lover I think they're great to have around even though they can be a bit noisy.

[Source: mokysHood ]

Happy Parents

2008-10-27T16:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Parents - RFM Pair with babies

Parrot Flower - Flower that looks like a parrot

2008-10-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

Parrot Flower (scientific name : Impatiens psittacina) is a flower that looks like a parrot. Okay I get that, but I really didn’t believe it till I got my eyes on it. Talk about another’s of natures creations. There are things that are pretty, and then again there are things that are pretty. Yes I know that parrots are green but trust me now I can actually visualize them as pink. They look real and if the birds were pink they’d look just the same.

These delicate parrot flowers simply hang in there, but whichever angle you look at them from you’d still see pink parrots. I’m not sure where they’re found but obviously they’re a rare phenomenon. Honestly I’ve never seen a real one. If I was a cynic I’d say someone was fooling me but they look too real and pretty to be the work of idle minds.

A balsam, Impatiens psittacina is a very rare impatiens species discovered and identified to botanical world in 1901 by botanist E.D. Hooker. This plant raises only in a small part of north Thailand (near Chiang Mai), Burma, and one territory of eastern India. The species can be found in several botanical reference books including Plants of India. The original botanical drawings are now posted at several website on the internet. Hooker originally stumble upon the plant in India and brought back the seed to the Royal Botanic Garden Kew in London. Those seeds did not reproduce after the first year.

According to Exoticrainforest.com , you definitely can't buy this species. Thai government has elected to ban the export of seeds or plants because it extremely rare . Many people have claimed this species is a hoax and the photographs were manipulated in PhotoShop. In fact, a gentleman who works near the Queen Sikrit Botanical garden at Chiang Mai took the photos originally posted on the internet. Unfortunately he didn't put his name on photos. However put the scientific name of the species, Impatiens psittacina, in the border of the original photos. Many people who have grabbed and reposted the photos have chosen to eliminate that text which was largely in Thai, including the scientific name.

Parrot and Hamster Friends

2008-10-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

This little parrot and the hamster are the best of friends. That is just too cute.