They look like Big Bird’s baby twin sisters! Totally cooooooooool!

Very much!!!

These are Rainbow Lorikeets, and they are indigenous to north-eastern Australia (the rainforesty part). Every evening, just at dusk, they gather all together and go rocketing around all over town, in flocks of thousands – screaming and squealing big ball of colour. I watched a Christmas parade once that got totally overwhelmed by lorikeet action – fabulous.

Not having any birds as pets myself, it is striking to see how beautiful their colors can be.

Depends on whether they were wild-caught or hand-raised, Vicks. Here in texas we have several breeders who have done a wonderful job of providing humans with happy, healthy, non-wild-caught birds. Most of the pet stores in Central Texas won’t even LOOK at a supplier if he can’t furnish paperwork showing his chick’s pedigrees.

It’s a horrible truth that wild-catching is still a reality–but there are many good folks who are turning the tide. And hand-raised parrots are so much healthier, more trainable and friendlier too!

–TwoDragons

I used to work in the Lorikeet tent at the Buffalo zoo. The birds were very cute when they would sit on my arm or hang like monkeys from my keychain. They weren’t so cute though when they would chew on my jewelry or unbutton my shirt and threaten to chomp on my fingers when I tried to wave them away. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget all the pooping. Overall it was a fun experience though.
They are wild animals and legally aren’t supposed to be kept as pets, but I guess it happens anyway.

What fabulous colors! Not much of a bird person, but they are very beautiful!

OMG, I thought the nostrils were eyes! They look so cartoon like that way!

My goodness, they sound like me and my husband! Well, we are still newlyweds…

wendy – they have a walk through just like that in cornwall, england – s’called paradise park