Pale Headed Rosellas Platycercus eximius | Mount Gravatt Environment Group

December 27, 2013

Christmas in Fox Gully

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Mt Gravatt Environment Group, Wildlife of Mt Gravatt Reserve | Tags: Brushtail Possums Trichosurus vulpecula, Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae, nest box monitoring, Pale Headed Rosellas Platycercus eximius, Squirrel Gliders Petaurus norfolcensis, Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps |
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By: Jude Fox

Kookaburra feeding chicks

On Christmas Day we noticed Kookaburras making regular visits to a nest box installed for Boobook Owls. Observing from the bush track, we watched as a parent Kookaburra landed in the entry of the nest box and heard a great chattering from inside as the parent bird’s head disappeared from view.

Later, using the go pro camera we were able to observe four Kookaburra chicks inside the nest box. Inspired by this finding, on Boxing Day we decided to investigate all the other nest boxes we had installed in the gully. This yielded three Glider boxes containing Gliders and two boxes containing Possums. The Possums were in a box intended for Pale Headed Rosellas and Kookaburras, proving that Possums don’t read nearly as well as do Gliders!!!

Including the nest box that the Lorikeets have used to hatch at least three clutches of chicks that we know of, this is a usage rate of about 75%…not bad for nest boxes that have only been in place just over a year.

December 16, 2012

Lorikeet chicks at Fox Gully and Koala near Ekibin Creek

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Wildlife of Mt Gravatt Reserve | Tags: Koala sightings, nest-box, Pale Headed Rosellas Platycercus eximius, Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus |
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By: Michael Fox

The outlook for Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve is looking good with good rain forecast through to February which will greatly enhance the habitat restoration at our Bushcare sites.

Rainbow Lorikeet chicks – click on photo to see colour of new feathers

We are also seeing positive signs with our wildlife. Two Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus chicks have been hatched out in one of the nest boxes installed at the Fox Gully Bushcare site.

When we first confirmed the chicks had hatched we were not sure that they were Rainbows but one week on there is now no doubt as their colours develop. Click on the photo to enlarge.

We have also had another Koala report this week from Ramita Street near Ekibin Creek.

Koala sightings – Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve

December 8, 2012

First chicks in Fox Gully nest-boxes

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Fox Gully Bushcare, Photography, Wildlife of Mt Gravatt Reserve | Tags: GoPro, Hollow Log Homes, Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae, mt gravatt men's shed, nest box monitoring, Nest hollows, Pale Headed Rosellas Platycercus eximius, Rainbow Lorikeets Trichoglossus haematodus, Southside sport and community |
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By: Michael Fox

Rainbow Lorikeet at home in Fox Gully

A pair of Rainbow Lorikeets Trichoglossus haematodus are the first to successfully hatch a family in our Fox Gully nest-boxes. Two chicks have been hatched out and seem to be doing ok although the parents are rarely home.

At least we think they are Rainbow chicks. This particular nest box was originally occupied by a pair of Pale Headed Rosellas Platycercus eximius who laid three eggs before they were kicked out by the Rainbow couple.

Rainbow Lorikeets chicks or Pale-headed Rosella?

Given the increasingly blue colour of the chicks we are wondering if our Rainbows are raising a pair of Pale-headed Rosellas.

This nest box was made by Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed and our nest-box monitoring equipment is a GoPro camera on a 7 metre pole and connected by WiFi to an iPad on the ground. The equipment was purchased with a grant from Southside Sport and Community Club.

Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae

I also checked the new Hollow Log Home nest-boxes but no eggs or chicks in any yet. However, as I was walking back I saw this Kookaburra sitting in the entry to the owl box. Unfortunately I was carrying the monitoring equipment and was not quick enough to get a photo of him actually sitting in the owl box.