I had a delicious brunch of quiche lorraine in the outdoor seating area of Le Renaissance Cafe in Sydney last weekend. Two rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanuss) snatched a stick of raw cane sugar from an unattended table and began ravaging through it on a branch directly above me. I got up and snapped this shot.
Lovers on a sugar high: Rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanuss) ravaging through a stick of raw cane sugar
The photo reveals interesting aspects of the rainbow lorikeet’s natural history: 1. They stayed as a pair and shared the sugar, each taking one nibble at a time; and 2. They are not afraid of humans and preferred sugar over scraps of pastry.
Rainbow lorikeets are monogamous birds that remain paired for long periods, or even for life. They don’t have distinct breeding seasons so staying as a pair allows them to breed whenever the time is right.
Their preference for sugar is natural – lorikeets feed on nectar and fruits in the wild. However, some people are ignorant of their diet and feed rainbow lorikeets that visit their backyard bread instead. The lack of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients could lead to a myriad of health issues. I couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned. Sure, urban birds have adapted to our world, but do they face diet-driven health issues that simply go undetected? Would there be unintended consequences that only surface in the longer term?
Fun-fact that is not apparent in the photo: Rainbow lorikeets have brush-like papillae at the end of their tongues that make it all the easier to remove pollen and nectar from flowers.
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Cloudpot 