Canberra ornithologists say Australian rainbow lorikeets are so rare around these parts that if you ever see one in the wild, it is probably an escapee.
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They are a tough bird, and the notion of them being escapees fits their bold personalities. If you peeled back their feathers I wouldn't be surprised if you found the odd tattoo.
Especially after seeing them in a feeding frenzy, or hearing of their antics in captivity. You'd think they would show their rivals a bit more respect.
That's all these Indian ringneck parrots want at Canberra's Walk-in Aviary. A bit of consideration. The ringnecks are accustomed to the limelight in many aviaries because of their striking colours.
Assistant manager at the walk-in aviary Amanda Brunoro says the naturally green species comes in mutations of white, yellow, blue, olive and grey. You can even find lacewing varieties, and ''clear heads'' and ''clear tails'' – birds with striking colours except for their clear wings, or clear head.
All of which matters naught to the street-wise lorikeets. They reckon these fancy-plumed Indian interlopers ought to know their place.
The bright yellow ringneck (pictured) has been at the Gold Creek aviary 11 years. Quite a record for living alongside some fearless, equally striking locals, given the reputation of the rainbow lorikeets. The smoky blue ringneck has been at the aviary about 18 months.
The ringnecks like to have a go too.
"They are a bit of a nippy bird, personally I think,'' says Brunoro. "You don't want to get too close to them, put your fingers any where near that beak. I haven't met many nice ringnecks over the years.''
Yet the ringnecks have earned their keep at the aviary, politely accepting food from visitors who can walk inside and mingle with up to 450 birds.
When they want to impress their eyes dilate, becoming nicely rounded, and they prance about. But if one of them so much as puts a foot out of place, or pokes a beak in the wrong face near a lorikeet, they can expect a belting.
Like tough guys in a prison, the lorikeets keep to themselves. They breed all year around and rule the roost.
They can put on a show too.
''They bound around, they puff themselves up, jump along the floor. Quite often they go in for the attack, you have to watch them,'' says Brunoro.
If any game parrot, such as a cockatiel goes too close to a lorikeet's nesting box, they are going to come off second best.
"We used to have a lovely little ringneck. She was hand-raised, you could do anything with her,'' she said. "I couldn't find her one day and I thought I would check in the lorikeets boxes. I found a body and no head in one of boxes.''
There are 200 nesting boxes, kept well away from where visitors come to see the birds.
Life is good at the aviary, where regular visitors return each week to sit and watch the birds.
Each morning two plates a fruit and vegies are served up. So as well as seed and pellets the parrots have their pick of apple cumbumber, capsicum, peas and corn, greens, carrots, melons.
"In the afternoon when you put egg and biscuit out, they come down for another feed. They love (live) mealworms,'' says Brunoro.
Well accustomed to birds' behaviour and their distinct personalities, Brunoro believes nothing on this earth exists which a lorikeet is not prepared to get into.
"We have another girl who works here during the week, and one lorikeet out there has become a mate of hers and this bird sticks its tongue right up her nose,'' she said. ''It's just disgusting. Picks her teeth. it's not very nice. They are quite comical.''
Maybe they should get out more.