Cheeky Lorikeets on the decline

When we moved into this house in 1998 we were delighted with the number of native birds that used to come visiting. A number of different Rosella, King Parrots, kookaburra and Galahs to name a few but the cheekiest was the colourful and cute Rainbow Lorikeet.They were quite tame. They would descend in flocks when the Grevillea and bottlebrush were in flower and when it rained they would take shelter on our front deck. (Both these photos were taken a few years ago.)I said “used to” Because, sadly they, along with all the other native birds, have been chased away by this bully bird of the avian world. This evening as I sat having a peaceful, end of day, glass of wine a Rainbow Lorikeet  landed, nervously, on this Grevillea just outside the deck. It is very unusual to see them in the garden now, so I grabbed the camera, but before I could focus and get a photo this aggressive creature swooped in and chased the Lorikeet away. This is the Noisy Miner a very aggressive and territorial native bird. They gang up and will swoop and attack even bigger birds like crows and kookaburras. Being native they are a protected species.

Recently I found this article:

The native noisy miner is causing more damage than the invasive, introduced species of myna bird, new research has shown.

The research paper, to be published next year, assessed the impact of the native species on other native birds.

It found the noisy miner was taking over the declining woodlands from smaller birds, causing steep declines.

The birds have become such a big problem they have been nominated as a threat under the national environment protection act.

One researcher recommended a trial cull of the aggressive animal.

Dr Martine Maron from the University of Queensland said scores of different species were being impacted.

“We’re quite worried about the flow-on effects of that for ecosystems, because without those small woodland birds, then there’s the risk that tree and woodland health could decline,” Dr Maron said.

Dr Maron said while the introduced Indian myna – also known as the common myna – tends to be the focus of control efforts, controlling the noisy minor should be prioritised.

“Direct control of the noisy miners should be trialled to see how effective that can be and importantly, how cost-effective,” Dr Maron said.

Griffith University urban ecologist Professor Darryl Jones agreed.

Previous research had found culls of noisy miners could dramatically increase the number of birds by up to 40 times and the number of species by 10 times in some areas.

“There is just no question that if we could control the noisy miner we could have a huge biodiversity impact straight away,” Professor Jones said.

So it seems the Noisy Miner is upsetting the balance in the bird world, as the human species is upsetting the balance in the whole of Mother Nature.

Sadly I have noticed it in our garden. I miss all the other colourful natives that used to visit. I guess to the Noisy Miner this is very desirable garden area and they want it all to themselves.