Who's a pretty birdy?

[Contratrombone64]

Just been on a wee trip to outback New South Wales, seeing some of our native birdlife prompted this thread (the pictures, sadly, are not mine).

The ones pictured here are common and all of them can be seen in Sydney (more or less). Eastern Rosella is my fav.

Top - Eastern Rosellas
Bottom - L to R: King parrot, Rainbow lorikeet, Red-rump parrot, Scarlet-chested parrot, and the vicious and nasty Sulphur-crested cockatoo

 

[Krummhorn]

Gorgeous looking birds ... Their colors are so vivid. The Rainbow lorikeet, especially.

What makes the Sulphur-crested cocaktoo's so vicious and nasty?

 

[wljmrbill]

Beautiful birds.. I love to watch them. I have 3 feeders, a water pond and flowers beds for them. pass many hours observing their comings and goings.... even in winter as I try and keep water thawed for them.

 

[rojo]

Stunning creatures.

 

[Contratrombone64]

Sulphur crested Cockatoos have VERY powerful beaks, easily take your finger off. I was bitten once, it drew blood and I had a hurt pride. Never petted one since. Answer your question? ;-)

 

[marval]

Hi David

Wow what beautiful birds, it must be lovely to see them in real life.


Margaret

 

[Krummhorn]

Thanks for the explanation, David. I would avoid contact with them too.

 

[Buchpteclare]

Sulphur crested Cockatoos have VERY powerful beaks, easily take your finger off. I was bitten once, it drew blood and I had a hurt pride. Never petted one since. Answer your question? ;-)

Ho man! I know what you mean. This was one crazy bird. loved to be scritched - but would suddenly chomp down. Just about any of the larger parrots can inflict painful bites but this particular species seems to delight in bone crunching. A vice grip with feathers...

ATB! Rusty

 

[Contratrombone64]

Buchpteclare - that's exactly how it happened in my case. I was told that it was safe to pet and loved being scratched under the chin but not to look away and keep eye contact. Well, I looked away, I was 8 at the time and "whooshka" a vice with feathers. The bird got instantly clobbered over the head with my left hand and then let go, I think, from memory the bastards laughed at me.

 

[methodistgirl]

We have a bird that is native to this area and it's as pretty as it's
singing. The Cardinal. A bright red bird with a yellow beak that
belongs to the finches. I can imagine hearing one now. "purdy! Purdy!
Purty! What? What? What? Jimy. Jimy. Jimy." That's what I hear.
judy tooley

 

[marval]

Here's a video of a Cardinal bird feeding two young ones. They are lovely birds Judy.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjVsA5oT-Sw

 

[wljmrbill]

I have lots of Cardinals here( as well as a number of other varieties} and enjoy watching them feed and play around the yard..really nice at holiday time playing in the holly trees.also have a number of bird houses for them to reside in and they do.....

 

[marval]

I wish we had birds like that here Bill, it must be a wonderful sight watching them.


Margaret

 

[Buttercup89]

I personally have two Grey Jacos (a parrot sort, I'll post pictures, promise) and I have been told (and experienced) that it is very inadvisable to pet them under the beak because it stimulates their gag reflex (useful when mama bird feeds her young) and is extremely sensitive. That could be why it bit you