Tuesday, May 22, 2012

High in banana tree.....


Well not really, it's a rubber tree, but Harry Belafonte never sang about a 'yellow bird high in rubber tree' and strictly speaking although the Rainbow Lorikeet does have splodges of yellow, it definitely couldn't be described as a yellow bird (gosh that song takes me right back, it was played a lot in our house when I was young). This beautifully exotic looking bird is not actually native to WA, it was accidentally released in the 1960's and has since increased in numbers to the point that it is in competition with indigenous birds in the hunt for food resources and nesting spots. I think visitors to Australia are often astounded and sometimes annoyed by our extremely strict quarantine regulations but when you hear about some of the things people try to smuggle in and also take out, thank goodness for them! The other thing I didn't realize until I took these shots, these spiky branches covered in what looks like berries, is actually the flower of the rubber tree, and delicious if the number of birds feasting on them was anything to go by. They weren't easy shots to take, the one thing that is actually true to the lyrics of the song is that they were very high up and the late afternoon sun so bright!! I hope the sun is shining in your part of the world today..p.s my computer is on 'go slow' (so frustrating) will catch up tomorrow.....

37 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous bird! Here, all parrots are green

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  2. AMAZING, both the bird and the blooming plant which I think I photographed at the Seychelles (I will compare it to my photo). These shots are just brilliant, Grace!

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  3. Fantastic captures for the day, Grace!! I love the beautiful colorful bird and such a wonderful tree -- we don't see either here in the northwest! Hope your week is off to a great start -- in spite of the slow computer!!

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  4. I like how colorful they are!They match well with the blue sky!

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  5. Estupendas las fotos, muy tropicales.

    Saludos!

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  6. wow, we can't see that in Italy !
    really beautiful...regards

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  7. il est toutcouleur et magnifique, superbes photos

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  8. Wow. You should sell that top photo for a lot of money.

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  9. Beautiful! It is lovely here today (still Monday) And a holiday so it is grand indeed!

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  10. What a colorful shot! Arianna

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  11. He/she is certainly having a feast :-).

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  12. For such a common bird I find that they're not so easy to capture in a good photo...this one is great. I get them outside my window, but they always seem to be on the other side when I want a picture. I guess they are camera shy!

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  13. Yellow bird up high in banana tree .... Now I can't get that song out of my head. My computers seems to be continually on go slow - they say it's been throttled because I over-use my plan allowance! Not happy.

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  14. Thank you for such beauty.

    Please have a good Tuesday.

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  15. What lovely colors!!

    It's true, the introduced species can wreak havoc in their non-native environment. We have a major problem with some crabs, mussels and aquatic plant life - and that's just the few examples I can think of without looking anything up. They choke out native species and threaten the entire ecology of the system they are invading.

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  16. Great looking bird and tree! We had sunshine here today followed by early evening showers and thunderstorm. A perfect day!

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  17. Those are some colorful feathers.

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  18. A color riot, especially the last one. I had to put on my sunglasses.

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  19. It is quite a bird, Grace. Non-native plants and animals are becoming a big problem in many places over here. We don't have native birds as colorful as this one.

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  20. I have 2 of these and sometimes they make such a racket but I do love their bright colours. Fiona

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  21. Nice work. Beautiful bird, but so noisy.

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  22. Wow!!!! Wow!!!! Wow!!!! great job here...

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  23. Let me pick myself up off the floor. These photos are spectacular. Bravo Grace.

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  24. A rubber tree, interesting and beautifully captured!

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  25. I didn't know the rubber tree had blooms! Very beautiful captures of the bird and the tree! Have a great evening!

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  26. Beautiful bird. I wish someone would release a pair here in Oklahoma.

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  27. Gorgeous, amazing colors, Grace!

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  28. woww how gorrrgeous are those pics !!!! absolutely love the crispness and the bright colours !! love this !!

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  29. Queste sono davvero fotografie coloratissime!! ti lascio un abbraccio tremolante (qui le scosse del terremoto continuano)...ciao

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  30. Love the colours in these images Grace and can also imagine the mess these birds are leaving after snapping off the berries.

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  31. Beautiful, bright tropical shots!
    Sorry about your Facebook fiasco :-( At least you dodged a parking ticket though.....

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  32. Gorgeous, so nice to be able to see these beautiful birds around! Have a nice week!

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