08/10/2024
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PARROTS OF THE SYDNEY REGION
Australia is often described as “the land of the parrots”. We are blessed with over 50 species of these charismatic birds, many of which can be found in the Sydney region. This captivating compilation of 15 species https://youtu.be/5J0SfE9nLuk was created by Darren and Thalia Broughton with footage gathered over seven years, from the eastern suburbs of Sydney to the western side of the Blue Mountains.
The 20+ minute video delightfully conveys the beauty and personality of parrots and how they use resources in their various environments. Some parrots have highly specialised diets (e.g. the Glossy Black-Cockatoo is dependent on she-oaks) whereas others feed on a large range of native and exotic plants (e.g. Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Rainbow Lorikeet and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo). Whatever their food preferences or requirements, all parrots need hollows for breeding (as hinted by a Little Corella and Crimson Rosella in the video). Other behaviours showcased include vocalising, drinking, bathing, preening, allo-preening, squabbling and caring for juvenile offspring.
The parrots (i.e. Order Psittaciformes) are presented with members of Family Cacatuidae (cockatoos, galahs and corellas) up first, then Family Psittacidae (aka true parrots). The species in order of appearance are: Gang-gang Cockatoo, Galah, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Corella, Long-billed Corella, Rainbow Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot and Turquoise Parrot. This is not a complete list of possible wild parrots in the Sydney region; the Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (fairly uncommon in Sydney) and Swift Parrot (critically endangered autumn-winter visitor) remained elusive.
Twelve of the 15 species are pictured below (from top left to bottom right):
> Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis)
> Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami)
> Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)
> Little Lorikeet (Glossopsitta pusilla)
> Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
> Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)
> Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)
> Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna)
> Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum)
> Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)
> Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella)
> Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)
Images: Darren Broughton
Text: Thalia Broughton