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Abstract Background The raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, can cause a meningoencephalitis as neural larva migrans which is known in avian species, including rainbow lorikeets in North America, but has not been described in Old World parrots in Germany yet. Case presentation A 2-month-old, male rainbow lorikeet from a zoo in Germany was submitted for necropsy. Prior to death the animal had progressive neurological signs like apathy and torticollis. In the cerebrum a focally extensive severe granulomatous to necrotizing encephalitis with an intralesional larval nematode was diagnosed. Based on the clinical and pathological findings, the larval morphology and the epidemiological background, the larva was identified as Baylisascaris procyonis. Conclusions Cerebral baylisascariosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in zoo and pet birds with neurological signs having contact to racoons or rather racoon faeces in Germany due to the high prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis in the German raccoon population.

Background: The raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, can cause a meningoencephalitis as neural larva migrans which is known in avian species, including rainbow lorikeets in North America, but has not been described in Old World parrots in Germany yet. Case presentation: A 2-month-old, male rainbow lorikeet from a zoo in Germany was submitted for necropsy. Prior to death the animal had progressive neurological signs like apathy and torticollis. In the cerebrum a focally extensive severe granulomatous to necrotizing encephalitis with an intralesional larval nematode was diagnosed. Based on the clinical and pathological findings, the larval morphology and the epidemiological background, the larva was identified as Baylisascaris procyonis. Conclusions: Cerebral baylisascariosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in zoo and pet birds with neurological signs having contact to racoons or rather racoon faeces in Germany due to the high prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis in the German raccoon population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report the temporal and spatial distribution of rainbow lorikeets presenting with lorikeet paralysis syndrome (LPS) and their clinicopathologic and pathologic findings, exposure to toxins, and response to treatment. Methods: Records of lorikeets admitted in 2017 and 2018 to facilities in south‐east Queensland (QLD) were reviewed and LPS and non‐LPS cases were mapped and their distribution compared. Plasma biochemistries and complete blood counts were done on 20 representative lorikeets from south‐east QLD and Grafton, New South Wales (NSW). Tissues from 28 lorikeets were examined histologically. Samples were tested for pesticides (n = 19), toxic elements (n = 23), botulism (n = 15) and alcohol (n = 5). Results: LPS occurred in warmer months. Affected lorikeets were found across south‐east QLD. Hotspots were identified in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Lorikeets had a heterophilic leucocytosis, elevated muscle enzymes, uric acid and sodium and chloride. Specific lesions were not found. Exposure to cadmium was common in LPS and non‐LPS lorikeets. Treated lorikeets had a 60–93% See Table 2 depending on severity of signs. Clinical significance: The primary differential diagnosis for lorikeets presenting with lower motor neuron signs during spring, summer and autumn in northern NSW and south‐east Queensland should be LPS. With supportive care, prognosis is fair to good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A 17‐year‐old female rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) was presented for a swelling over the right proximal humerus and an inability to fly. Case report: Radiographs revealed a markedly osteoproductive and moderately osteolytic lesion of the proximal left humerus with marked associated soft tissue swelling. Biopsy of the proximal humerus was consistent with an air sac cystadenocarcioma. The bird's condition deteriorated over 25 days after initial presentation and it developed a respiratory wheeze, tail bob, tachypnea and died. On postmortem examination, the bird was found to have an air sac cystadenocarcinoma associated with the proximal humerus, extending into the thoracic cavity through a network of fibrous sheets and displaying infiltration into the lung tissue bilaterally. Conclusion: This is the first report of a humeral air sac cystadenocarcinoma in a lorikeet and it builds on our understanding of the species affected by avian neoplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We document changes in the avifauna of Longueville, a residential suburb of Sydney, between 1971-73 and 1977-79 based on daily bird lists, and make comparisons with the present avifauna based on surveys in 2013-14. Of the 31 most common native terrestrial bird species, 17 were 'decreasers', present in 1971-73 but not recorded in 2013-14 (although 16 of them were recorded in a large bushland remnant 5 km away), and 14 were 'increasers', seven of which were absent or very rare in 1971-73. Eleven species decreased during the 1970s, and six species afterwards. Eight species increased during the 1970s and six species afterwards. The decreasers were predominantly small insectivores and nectarivores. The increasers were of three main types: medium to large carnivores, large frugivores or granivores, and medium-sized nectarivores. Two of the nectarivores, the noisy miner (Manorina melanocephala) and rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus), now dominate the urban bird community of Longueville and are by far the most numerous birds. The increase of both species dates from the late 1970s. The noisy miner is highly aggressive towards other birds and its dramatic increase (it was absent in 1971-73) appears to be the chief cause of the decline of small native birds in Longueville. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel picornavirus, named "lorikeet picornavirus 1" (LoPV-1), was detected in a fecal sample from rainbow lorikeets using viral metagenomic analysis, and its complete genome sequence was determined and analyzed. The genome of LoPV-1 is 7862 nt long, including a 617-nt 5' UTR, a type IV IRES 5'UTR with an '8-like' motif, a 7032-nt polyprotein ORF, and a 213-nt 3' UTR. Phylogenetic analysis and pairwise asequence comparisons based on the amino acid sequences of P1, P2, and P3 indicated that LoPV-1 showed the closest relationship to two picornaviruses that were isolated recently from red-crowned cranes and clustered together with members of the genus Avihepatovirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lories and lorikeets are popular birds in the pet bird trade, captured from the wild and exported worldwide. Their captive propagation has not been so successful for many species due to health issues, low breeding success and reduced longevity. As a result, uptake from the wild is currently the only way to meet the market's demand. Field studies on Asian species of loris and lorikeets are limited; therefore, dietary recommendations are based on the well‐studied Australian species such as the rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus). We aimed to provide an ad libitum diet to diverse Loriinae species at Jurong Bird Park (Singapore) which allowed for them to select between a low and moderate protein diet to compare their nutrient and energy intake with other Loriinae species. We measured the following variables: daily dry matter (DM) intake, nectar‐to‐fruit energy intake ratio (NF ratio), metabolisable energy (ME), protein and non‐protein energy (NPE)‐to‐protein energy (PE) ratio intake (all by kg metabolic body weight MBW, kg0.75) for 36 pairs over a 1‐month period. A Kruskal–Wallis test revealed every genus had significantly different intakes of DM, NF ratio, NPE‐to‐PE ratio, ME and protein than each other. Post hoc Mann–Whitney U tests confirmed that the majority of variables were ingested in different amounts for each genus except for NF ratio, NPE/PE ratio which Lorius spp. are not different to Charmosyna sp. or Trichoglossus spp. and protein intake of Eos spp. does not differ from Trichoglossus spp. Our conclusion is that no species should be used as a model for a species from another genus of Loriinae; future studies should be species‐specific for each genus to increase captive propagation success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of the 59 woodland bird species investigated in this study, 20 were found to have declined over the last six decades while another 12 species were found to have increased over the same time period. Fifteen species are listed as threatened under the New South Wales Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and this study identified those same 15 species as being uncommon to rare on the Cumberland Plain. In addition, many other Cumberland Plain woodland bird species are uncommon and are also in decline. Apart from the threatened species it is likely that 12 other species may also be lost from the Cumberland Plain. If the current trends continue, it is likely that we will lose nearly half of the 59 species over the next few decades unless efforts are made to protect and enhance woodland habitat of the Cumberland Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-dominated environments are often subjected to increased nutrient and moisture regimes which have the potential to influence the flowering phenology of plants. Protracted flowering periods within urban landscapes may result in increased food resources, in the form of nectar, and this high resource availability may support a high density of nectarivorous birds within cities. In order to determine whether there was a difference in the productivity and flowering period associated with urbanisation, we compared the number of flowers produced and duration of flowering period for three species of native tree that were present in streetscapes, remnant vegetation and continuous forest. We also recorded the presence of nectarivorous parrots at flowering trees to determine if the presence of nectarivores was associated with flower productivity. All three species in streetscapes produced more flowers and flowered for longer than in remnants and continuous forest. The number of flowers per tree significantly predicted the presence of nectarivorous parrots in streetscapes. This study demonstrates that the flowering phenology of plants within streetscapes can differ from continuous forest, with remnants appearing to be intermediate. This increased flower productivity within urban landscapes may be partially responsible for the high abundance of nectarivorous parrots within some cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eimeria haematodi was first described in 1977 from the rainbow lorikeet ( Trichoglossus haematodus ) in Papua New Guinea. In the present study, we re-describe this coccidian species morphologically and molecularly from a rainbow lorikeet bird in Western Australia (WA). The oocysts were ovoid to slightly piriform and measured 28.5–37.8 by 25.8–33.0 µm (33.3 by 28.1 µm). Oocyst wall was approximately 1.5 µm thick and bilayered. Micropyle (5–7 µm) and oocyst residuum (8.0–10.0 µm) present; polar granule was absent. Sporocysts ellipsoidal, 11.8–13.6 by 8.0–9.6 µm (12.2 by 8.3 µm), with thin convex Stieda body and granular sporocyst residuum (4.0–5.0 µm). Molecular characterization of E. haematodi was conducted at 18S ribosomal RNA and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene (COI) loci. At the 18S ribosomal RNA locus, E. haematodi shared 98.1% genetic similarity to E. alabamensis from cattle in New South Wales, Australia . At COI locus, E. haematodi was closest (92.3% similarity) to E. praecox from domestic chickens ( Gallus gallus domesticus ) from Canada and China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainbow lorikeets ( Trichoglossus haematodus) have successfully adapted to urban environments and are today abundant in many Australian cities. Here they often form noisy communal roosts and may damage infrastructure. While extensive studies on problem birds (mainly passeriforms) and their roosts have been conducted in other parts of the world, no detailed studies exist in Australia, where non-passeriform birds (e.g. parrots) can cause problems. This study investigates the roosting preferences of rainbow lorikeets in Sydney (Australia) and establishes the site characteristics that typify these roosts. Lorikeets preferred three exotic tree species, namely the plane tree ( Platanus spp. including Platanus x hybrida), Canary Island palm ( Phoenix canariensis) and Norfolk Island pine ( Araucaria heterophylla). They were also common in brush boxes ( Lophostemon confertus), a tree native to Queensland, Australia. Rainbow lorikeets commonly roosted in tall trees with thick trunks and medium density foliage and the trees next to their roost trees were of the same species. Roosting trees were often in areas of high anthropogenic disturbance and close to streetlights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some Australian and South American cities, nectarivorous birds have become a conspicuous component of the avifaunal community. One mechanism that has been proposed to explain their success is an increased availability of nectar that is provided by suburban gardens and other ornamental plantings. To determine whether the amount of nectar within the suburban landscape is comparable to that of the natural environment, we measured floral density and nectar concentrations in 24 sites in Sydney, Australia. We also measured the density of four species of nectarivores and available nectar energy over a period of 18 months within the suburban landscape (streetscapes and remnant vegetation) and the natural environment (forest and heathland) to determine whether nectar availability explains nectarivore density. Two species of nectarivorous parrot, the rainbow lorikeet and musk lorikeet were present in higher densities within the suburban landscapes compared to the natural environment, and the suburban landscapes provided significantly more nectar than the natural environment during spring and winter. Both the rainbow lorikeet and musk lorikeet were associated with flowering of Eucalyptus spp. and red wattlebirds with the flowering of Grevillea and Callistemon spp. within streetscapes. Suburban landscapes appear to provide a constant supply of nectar for large-bodied nectarivores and provide for more efficient foraging, explaining the success of these species in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of hollow-bearing trees, and associated hollows, in urban habitats continues to decline as cities expand. Remaining hollows may be unsuitable for species of parrot that have specific preferences or requirements for certain characteristics of tree-hollows. To determine the distribution of hollow-bearing trees and tree-hollows in Sydney, Australia, we surveyed 264 sites within parks, streets, golf courses, patches of remnant vegetation and continuous forest. To determine whether species of parrot were associated with specific hollow characteristics, motion-activated video-cameras were installed to monitor use of hollows in remnant vegetation and continuous forest. The number of both hollows and hollow-bearing trees varied significantly among habitats, with all urban habitats having significantly fewer hollow-bearing trees than did continuous forest. There was no significant difference in the number of hollows within remnant vegetation and continuous forest. Hollow visitation by Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus), Sulphur-crested Cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) and Australian King-Parrots (Alisterus scapularis) was significantly associated with particular hollow characteristics, most importantly type of hollow, orientation of hollow and species of tree. Knowledge of the distribution of hollow-bearing trees throughout landscapes, as well as the characteristics of hollows that are associated with particular species of parrot, is crucial to conserve populations of hollow-dependent bird species in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is a recognised key threat for the conservation of parrots globally, causing morbidity and mortality of individuals in susceptible species. We present findings from a survey in 2012 to investigate the presence of BFDV in wild New Caledonian parrots, including the endangered Ouvea Parakeet (Eunymphicus uvaeensis). Blood and feather samples from seven Ouvea Parakeets and 13 New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus deplanchii), and feathers from 15 New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeets, five Horned Parakeets (Eunymphicus cornutus) and six New Caledonian Parakeets (Cyanoramphus saisseti) obtained from passive sampling, were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for BFDV. We identified a BFDV prevalence of 25% (95% CI 11-45%) in wild New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeets, suggesting this species may act as a reservoir for persistence of BFDV in the wild, placing other parrots in New Caledonia at risk. All other parrot species tested negative for BFDV. New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeets were introduced to Ouvéa Island in the 1970s, potentially bringing BFDV with them. As Ouvea Parakeets are restricted to this small island, we strongly recommend surveillance screening for BFDV in this species to guide future biosecurity and conservation efforts, and further understand the risk posed by BFDV to threatened parrots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isolated population of Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) in Perth, Western Australia, was founded by fewer than 10 birds introduced in the early 1960s. I recorded vocalisations of individuals in Perth, and from >2000 km away, at one site in South Australia and one in Victoria, to determine if the Perth population showed evidence of a founder effect in three common types of vocal signals. I measured spectral features of the calls of each recorded bird. Linear discriminant analysis indicated the three population samples differed significantly for all three call-types but there was no consistent trend suggesting the Perth birds retained evidence of a founder effect in these calls. Calls of Perth birds were not more simplified or more homogeneous in their acoustic traits. Although it is possible that there are founder effects for total vocal repertoires, which was not assessed here, there was no evidence for a founder effect in these most conspicuous vocalisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative approach is required to investigate the evolutionary origins of cognitive abilities. In this paper, we compare the performance of four parrot species, spectacled parrotlets ( Forpus conspicillatus), rainbow lorikeets ( Trichoglossus haematodus), green-winged macaws ( Ara chloroptera) and sulphur-crested cockatoos ( Cacatua galerita triton) in standardized string-pulling and string-choice paradigms. We varied the spatial relationship between the strings, the presence of a reward and the physical contact between the string and the reward to test different cognitive skills requiring means-end comprehension. The species tested showed a high individual and inter-specific variation in their ability to solve the tasks. Spectacled parrotlets performed best among the four species and solved the most complex choice tasks, namely crossed-string task and broken-string task, spontaneously. In contrast, macaws and cockatoos failed to identify the correct string in these two tasks. The rainbow lorikeets were outperformed by the parrotlets, but outperformed in turn the macaws and the cockatoos. The findings can be best explained by the variation in social complexity among species, rather than in their ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistence of wildlife in fragmented landscapes is predicted to rely on the presence of critical habitat elements. In urban landscapes, the persistence of hollow-dependent bats arguably depends upon the protection of roosting habitat, yet knowledge of bat roosting requirements within these landscapes is limited. We used radiotelemetry to locate day roosts of a species considered sensitive to urbanization, Gould's long-eared bat (Nyctophilus gouldi), in suburban bushland in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. We compared roost selection data collected for 9 individuals during the mating season (March--April 2009) and 10 individuals during the maternity season (November--December 2009). We found 41 roosts of N. gouldi under decorticating bark and in tree hollows, which were all located in 1 suburban bushland reserve (~40 ha), with roosts rarely located elsewhere, despite the abundance of available trees in smaller patches outside of the reserve. N. gouldi displayed a clear preference for trees with a greater amount of understory and canopy cover, and only roosted where the extent of forest cover in the local landscape was greatest. Maternity roosts also were predominately located in gullies, and closer to creek lines than expected. Roost switching differed significantly between seasons, with lactating females switching roosts significantly more often than nonlactating females, where roost switching occurred after 1 day on 71% of occasions. Because competition with other fauna for hollows has been suggested as a potential threat, systematic observations of hollow-using bird species, including rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus), were conducted. We observed birds occupying bat roosts on days following bat occupancy, and bats roosted in trees where there were fewer hollow-using birds than randomly available trees. We recommend that further examination of hollow competition be undertaken because abundant, urban-adapted, hollow-nesting birds may render hollows a limiting resource to hollow-users such as bats in urban landscapes. Protection of a network of potential roost trees in suburban bushland remnants, particularly along creek lines, will assist in maintaining this critical resource for bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Certain native species are able to tolerate the urban landscape to the point where they are sometimes found in higher abundance in cities than they are in the surrounding natural vegetation. To improve understanding of the resource requirements of Australian parrots, we investigated the seasonal abundance and habitat use of 13 species in different landscape units in the major urban centre of Sydney, Australia. The urban landscape was divided into four urban zones and 528 surveys were conducted over a period of two years throughout four habitats of remnant vegetation, golf courses, street scapes and recreational parks, as well as the surrounding natural landscape, during both breeding and non-breeding seasons. Significant seasonal differences in abundance existed for two granivorous and one nectarivorous species. Abundance was significantly higher in the outer urban zone than in the non-urban zone and species assemblage differed significantly between all urban zones and the non-urban zone during the breeding season but only between the city and non-urban zone during the non-breeding season. Remnant vegetation was also characterised by a significantly different community assemblage to other habitats during the breeding season. Understanding how fauna utilise the urban landscape, particularly high profile fauna such as parrots, has the potential to assist in both management and conservation of urban diversity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A variety of nectarivorous species have demonstrated a bias to ‘win-shift’ (shift away from/avoid locations that have recently yielded food, as opposed to ‘win-stay’ behaviour where the animal returns to such locations). Since recently exploited flowers contain no nectar, the win-shift bias is a candidate for an adaptive specialization of cognition. This bias tends to manifest as faster learning and/or better performance on a win-shift than a win-stay task. In standard win-shift/win-stay tasks (multiple two-phase trials where animals first find rewards in particular locations, and must subsequently avoid, or return to, such locations) noisy miners, Manorina melanocephala, and rainbow lorikeets, Trichoglossus haematodus, developed patterns of revisits/errors in the exploration phases that corresponded to the spatial contingency they experienced in the test phases: birds reinforced to shift revisited locations in the exploration phase that were unrewarded; birds reinforced to stay revisited rewarded ones. This was true even for birds that failed to shift or stay appropriately in the test phase itself. This suggests that the poorer performance of nectarivorous birds in win-stay than win-shift tasks may not be a consequence of an inability to learn the win-stay contingency. Our results suggest that these birds are equally sensitive to the win-shift and win-stay contingencies. This implies that, if the win-shift bias previously reported in nectarivorous birds is an example of a cognitive adaptation to the depleting nature of nectar, then the specially adapted mechanisms may have more to do with inhibition of the win-stay response than insensitivity to the win-stay contingency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The tendency to win-shift (to better learn to avoid, rather than return to, recently rewarded locations) has been demonstrated in a variety of nectarivorous birds and in honeybees. It is hypothesized to be a cognitive adaptation to the depleting nature of nectar. In the present study we report the first attempt to test for a win-shift bias in a nectarivorous parrot, the rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus hematodus). This species differs from others tested for a win-shift bias in that it is a facultative, rather than an obligate, nectarivore. We tested a captive-reared population of the birds on a shiftistay task at long and short retention intervals. The data show no evidence of either a win-shift or a win-stay bias. The birds demonstrated efficient spatial search ability and above chance performance for both shift and stay contingencies at long and short delays. These data suggest that an innate tendency to win-shift may not be present in all avian nectarivores, or that the role experience plays in shaping such behaviors is different for different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat studies are important for conservation, particularly for parrots, as many are threatened and their ecological requirements are often poorly known. Our aim was to contribute to the conservation of parrots in New Caledonia by examining their selection of habitat at a large scale. From 2002 to 2010, we documented 1,357 encounters with New Caledonian Parakeets ( Cyanoramphus saisseti) , Horned Parakeets ( Eunymphicus cornutus) , and New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeets ( Trichoglossus haematodus deplanchii) throughout mainland New Caledonia. We used GIS to infer habitat selection in relation to vegetation, forest cover, forest size, altitude, rainfall, and soil. New Caledonian Parakeets selected forested areas with oligotrophic soils, particularly those from ultramafic substrates. Horned Parakeets selected habitats with a high proportion of rainforest, as well as oligotrophic soils on metamorphic substrates, yet soil fertility was less important for them. Both parakeet species favoured large forests, and appeared to avoid areas with low forest cover. Altitude had a relatively minor influence upon habitat selection by parakeets. Rainbow Lorikeets favoured areas at low altitudes with minimal rainfall and mesotrophic soils, although they were not influenced by soil fertility to the same degree as the parakeets. We consider rainforests on oligotrophic soils at intermediate altitudes (200-800 m) to be most important for parrot conservation in New Caledonia, as these habitats are likely to support significant parakeet populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient mechanisms of glucose absorption are necessary for volant animals as a means of reducing mass during flight: they speed up gut transit time and require smaller volume and mass of gut tissue. One mechanism that may be important is absorption via paracellular (non-mediated) pathways. This may be particularly true for nectarivorous species which encounter large quantities of sugar in their natural diet. We investigated the extent of mediated and non-mediated glucose absorption in red wattlebirds Anthochaera carunculata (Meliphagidae) and rainbow lorikeets Trichoglossus haematodus (Loriidae) to test the hypothesis that paracellular uptake accounts for a significant proportion of total glucose uptake in these species. We found that routes of glucose absorption are highly dynamic in both species. In lorikeets, absorption of L-glucose (non-mediated uptake) is slower than that of 0-glucose (mediated and non-mediated uptake), with as little as 10% of total glucose absorbed by the paracellular pathway initially (contrasting previous indirect estimates of -80%). Over time, however, more glucose may be absorbed via the paracellular route. Glucose absorption by both mediated and non-mediated mechanisms in wattlebirds occurred at a faster rate than in lorikeets, and wattlebirds also rely substantially on paracellular uptake. In wattlebirds, we recorded higher bioavailability of L-glucose (96±3%) compared with D-glucose (57±2%), suggesting problems with the in vivo use of radiolabeled D-glucose. Further trials with 3-O-methyl-D-glucose revealed high bioavailability in wattlebirds (90±5%). This non-metabolisable glucose analogue remains the probe of choice for measuring uptake rates in vivo, especially in birds in which absorption and metabolism occur extremely rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although knowledge of the nutrient requirements of pet birds has increased a lot over the last few years, basic data on food and water intake and the energy requirements of nectarivorous species, such as lorikeets, are scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to try to generate some of these data for lorikeets kept at maintenance. Determination of the daily maintenance energy requirement enables calculation of the daily ration and thus, the appropriate nutrient concentrations in order to maintain body weight. Investigations were carried out with six Goldie's lorikeets (GL; Trichoglossus goldiei: 40–50 g BW; 1–4 years) and six rainbow lorikeets (RL; Trichoglossus haematodus haematodus: 120–140 g BW; 1–12 years). Three of the most commonly used diets/foods (commercial ‘lory soup’/apples/pollen: crude ash – 52.9/17.8/18.8; crude protein – 178/32.5/191; crude fat – 52.8/0.89/73.1; crude fibre – 17.9/40.5/30.4; starch – 139/not detectable/127; sugar – 522/859/418 g/kg DM; ME – 13.9/14.6/10.9 MJ/kg DM) were individually offered ad libitum. The measured dry matter (DM) intake (g/100 g BW) corresponded well to the values reported for granivorous bird species of similar body mass. Both lorikeet species achieved an apparent digestibility of organic matter of more than 90% for apples, approximately 82% for ‘lory soup’ and approximately 55% for pollen. The water content of the food affected the DM content of the excreta; 8% when fed ‘lory soup’, 2% for apples and approximately 30% when fed pollen. Regression analysis of body weight change relative to energy intake demonstrated constant body mass (assuming no change in body composition) when the daily energy intakes were 860 (GL) or 650 (RL) kJ ME/kg BW0.75. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the previous three decades, the rainbow lorikeet ( Trichoglossus haematodus Family Psittacidae) has increased in urbanized areas of Australia. To help understand the nature of this increase, we investigated the influence of road density, tree cover and season on the occurrence of the rainbow lorikeet in the Melbourne region. Bayesian logistic regression was used to construct models to predict the occurrence of rainbow lorikeets, using Birds Australia atlas data at 207 2-ha sites. The results demonstrate a strong relationship between tree cover and urbanization and the distribution of the species. The best model incorporated quadratic terms for road density and tree cover, and interaction terms, as well as season as a categorical variable. Probability of occurrence of rainbow lorikeets was highest at medium tree cover (40% to 70% of the site covered) and medium road density (9% to 12% of the surrounding area covered by roads). There was a close correspondence between the predictions of the model and new observations from bird surveys conducted at randomly selected field sites. The increased abundance of the species in urban areas has occurred despite a paucity of hollows that would act as suitable nesting sites, suggesting that only a small proportion of the population is breeding in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a case study of a four-year-old rainbow lorikeet in good physical condition which was presented with sudden blindness. Examination of both eyes; Information on the diagnosis of the rainbow lorikeet.

The article presents the results of a study on four common native birds that frequent the Burwood Campus of Deakin University in Victoria and visit the eucalyptus species Eucalyptus sideroxylon, Corymbia maculata and Eucalyptus muellerana. The four birds are Trichoglossus haematodus, Manorina melanocephala, Cracticus tibicen, and Platycercus eximius. The author emphasizes the important role of organizations in providing large trees to suburban regions as wildlife resources.