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Scaley Breasted Lorikeet

Noisy Miner

Manorina Melanocephala

DISTRIBUTION: Eastern Australia, from about Cairns, Qld. south to Tasmania and west to about Adelaide, SA.

NOTES: Also called Soldierbird, Micky, and Snakebird. Frequents open forest and partly cleared land. It is a restless, bold, and noisy bird, keeping up a constant chatter of loud and sharp notes, especially at sight of intruders, hence the name Soldierbird. Lives in colonies, which co-operate in defending the colony's territory and in raising the young. Food; insects (is taking bread from food tray for nestlings) procured among the leaves and blossoms and on the ground; also pollen, native fruits and berries

NEST: Cup-shaped, made of twigs, strips of bark and grass, frequently decorated outside with wool (I have noted spiderwebs too); lined with grass and hair; placed in a bush or tree, up to seven metres from the ground.

EGGS: Three or four; pinkish-white, profusely spotted reddish-chesnut and purplish-grey. Breeding season: July to December or January

Noisy Miner chick, able to fly and just beginning to find its own food but still cheeping loudly for a parent to feed it.

Left: This juvenile has been named "Fatso" When he was a nestling I used to put large amounts of bread out and his parents made use of it to quiet his endless begging. The yeast, starch and salt made him fat. The amount was cut back and lately he has become slimmer but there was a lesson in it

The picture was taken shortly after the supply of bread was cut and he was following me about begging!

references from What Bird is That? Neville W. Cayley. 1931 revised by Terence Lyndsey. 1984 ...Angus and Robertson, Sydney Australia