A Free Parrot Tour to Australia!

Polytelis Media

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Okay guys I was hoping I could get some feedback here. While I dont have the funds to actually share a free parrot tour with my friends who love parrots I did wonder something.

Let's say that someone actually did say you could have a free trip to Australia for about 2 weeks to see parrots in the wild. Since I have been to Australia now 3 times I have my favorite aussie parrots. But I am wondering what others think.

What would you absolutely have to see in Australia and if you didnt you would feel disapointed?
 

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RavensGryf

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Okay, I have an obscure one :)...
I think I'd have to see the Hooded parakeet (Psephotus dissimilis), and/or closely related Golden Shouldered parakeet. I had a handfed Hooded years ago. He was still pretty wild being a grass keet. If it ever becomes feasible for me to have a backyard aviary, I'd search for another Hooded. I think I got lucky, as they're hard to find over here.

I guess the Golden Shouldered I'd love to see even more, as I just searched Wikipedia, and after I read the paragraph below, I guess there's no chance of me getting my hands on one of these as a pet owner.

From Wikipedia:
The Golden shouldered parrot is scarce in captivity. A population of perhaps 1,000 birds in Australia and perhaps 300 held in overseas aviaries means a limited gene pool is available. A dedicated group of breeders in Australia have attempted to promote the species and ensure that a viable breeding population is maintained in captivity. Many international breeders are also working toward this same goal.

My mom has a Princess of Wales as in your avatar... I'd love to see them in their natural habitat.
 
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Polytelis Media

Polytelis Media

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Okay, I have an obscure one :)...
I think I'd have to see the Hooded parakeet (Psephotus dissimilis), and/or closely related Golden Shouldered parakeet. I had a handfed Hooded years ago. He was still pretty wild being a grass keet. If it ever becomes feasible for me to have a backyard aviary, I'd search for another Hooded. I think I got lucky, as they're hard to find over here.

I guess the Golden Shouldered I'd love to see even more, as I just searched Wikipedia, and after I read the paragraph below, I guess there's no chance of me getting my hands on one of these as a pet owner.

My mom has a Princess of Wales as in your avatar... I'd love to see them in their natural habitat.

Thanks so much! And this is definitely a legitimate quest. I had a fantastic encounter with Hooded and Golden Shouldered Parrots in 2008. Of course my favorite of all encounter was a flock of wild Princess Parrots in the Gibson Desert. Very difficult to find and film but they are also included in my parrot video series. But enough about that. Let's hear from more folks about their wish list in an Aussie Tour.!
 

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Bundiibird

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Coming from oz you don't have to go far to see the wonderful parrots that we have. Just this morning when I arrived at work, I was able to see bush stone curlews (not parrots but still birdies), corellas, plovers (again not parrots), galahs, sulphur crested cockatoos. And this was just walking form my car to the office - all of about 10 metres.
 

RavensGryf

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Red Bellied Parrot /
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Thanks so much! And this is definitely a legitimate quest. I had a fantastic encounter with Hooded and Golden Shouldered Parrots in 2008. Of course my favorite of all encounter was a flock of wild Princess Parrots in the Gibson Desert. Very difficult to find and film but they are also included in my parrot video series. But enough about that. Let's hear from more folks about their wish list in an Aussie Tour.!

Lucky you to see the GS in person!
If I ever make it to Australia, I'm pretty sure I'd be thrilled to see ANY parrot species! I had a Slender Billed Corella, so I'd love to see a flock of those too.

Are the Budgies ever in the city, or are they just found in huge flocks out in the bush away from civilization? Of course not talking about escaped pets.

It's even a little exciting whenever I see the wild Amazons and Conures we have here.
 

Bundiibird

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& Millie - BFA - hatched 29/10/14 & Willow - CAG - hatched 30/10/19
Are the Budgies ever in the city, or are they just found in huge flocks out in the bush away from civilization? Of course not talking about escaped pets.

Julie, where we are in central queensland, near a major city, you don't see flocks of budgies. I have seen flocks of cockatiels at work though. You can hear almost anytime of the day but first thing in the morning is usually when you will see lots of them. We are located in a residential area with the airport close by.
 
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Polytelis Media

Polytelis Media

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Are the Budgies ever in the city, or are they just found in huge flocks out in the bush away from civilization? Of course not talking about escaped pets.

It's even a little exciting whenever I see the wild Amazons and Conures we have here.

Generally you have to travel a good distance to see budgies in the wild. In Queensland I have found if you drive a full day and stay overnight in a rural area and then drive again the next day you will be in areas that have budgies.

I drove from Cairns to Georgetown in QLD and actually found budgies the same day. However if you fly into Alice Springs you can rent a vehicle and if you know where to go find budgies in a matter of a couple of hours.

Its amazing to see wild flocks of them whirling around and then coming down briefly to drink. One of my most favorite memories of OZ parrots!
 
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Polytelis Media

Polytelis Media

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I am surprised that there are not any Neophema fans here. People who love and want to see Scarlet-chested Parrots, Turquoise Parrots etc. But it seems that Budgies might be at the top of the list for folks?
 

strudel

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I tell you what, I've got my pet budgies and I'd love to see budgies en masse out in the bush. Never seen that, ever....

To be honest, I've never even heard of a lot of the more exotic parrots that live elsewhere in Australia, I know cockies and corellas and 28s and that sort of thing because they are all over the place and are pets. Can't really want to see what you've never heard about, but in general I'd like to see any sort of wildlife, familiar or "new".

We have good birds besides parrots, any travellers should go to sherbrook forest and see some lyrebirds, it's pretty out there, not just because of the birds. Bower birds are also stars of the bird world. (Are we allowed to like non-parrots? :D)
 
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Delfin

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Lyrebirds are unbelievable mimics. when you out camping and if there is any Lyrebird about , without you knowing that they are there. you will swear that you can hear people talking and laughing or cars revving up. But it's all the Lyrebird.
 

thekarens

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As a birder Australia is top on my list, right behind Ecuador. Of course I love parrots, but they wouldn't be my biggest priority if I ever got the opportunity to go birding there.
 

Scott

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RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Anything and everything would be a welcome site in the world of Australian parrots, but Cockatoos are my first love!
 

RavensGryf

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I am surprised that there are not any Neophema fans here. People who love and want to see Scarlet-chested Parrots, Turquoise Parrots etc. But it seems that Budgies might be at the top of the list for folks?

Neophema fan here :). My mom also has a rosy mutation Bourke's. Scarlet Chested are great! Unreal colors.

Lyrebirds and Bower birds I've seen tv documentaries of, and they're fascinating!
 

RavensGryf

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How about Aussie Kings and (the opposite colored) Crimson Winged parakeets? My vet kept a CW for a couple decades.
Those are pretty!
 

Betrisher

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Jun 3, 2013
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No one has mentioned our rather spiffy-looking Gang Gang Cockatoo yet. He's a dark charcoal grey with a striking bright scarlet head and crest. I get to see them fairly often around where I live (just north of Sydney), along with the Glossy Black Cockatoo, which has a monstrous heavy bill, just right for cracking the casuarina nuts it likes to eat. The Glossy's bill is to other Cockies as the Alexandrine bill is to IRNs. :D

I saw a mixed flock of Grass Parrots and Red Rumps at the end of my street just the other day and it's not uncommon to spot Turquoisines if you look for them. Rosellas seem to be making a comeback in the cities and I'm aware of a pair of Easterns calling in my street most mornings. I haven't seen the (to my mind more beautiful) Crimson Rosella in a while, but they're around. The nice thing about where I live is that we have lots of different habitats close by and only have to drive short distances to see a good variety of all birds.

If I were out searching for a rare and unusual parrot, I'd probably go for the little Orange Bellied Parrot, which is critically endangered and only has some fifty or so individuals left alive in the wild. :(

If I could choose the trip of my dreams, I'd go to Cairns and the Cape York Peninsula to get a good look at the tropical rainforest species (Palm and Eclectus) in their proper habitat. Then, I'd do the Katherine Gorge in the Northern Territory for the scenery and the Really Different Wildlife. Then Kakadu for the swamp species (I do love a good swamp and Kakadu's got the Best!). I'd round out my trip by visiting the inland to see the weird and wonderful species that live out there.

Just FYI, the really big flocks of cockatoos live away from the coast in the drier grain-producing areas. Black cockatoos are more coastal and generally live in what we call 'closed forest' or 'wet sclerophyll forest'. It's basically the rainforest you have when it's not really a rainforest. Technically speaking. Anyone who visits Queensland should stop at the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary, where wild birds come every day to be hand fed by tourists. I think most folk on the eastern seaboard of Australia have been photographed during their childhoods feeding the Rainbow Lorikeets at Currumbin. :)

Anyone who loves birds should visit Australia because we have over seven hundred and fifty species that are pretty much peculiar to our shores. And we have good weather... :D
 

RavensGryf

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Red Bellied Parrot /
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Trish, it sure sounds like you see a wide variety of birds where you are, many of which are parrots and parakeets!

The Glossy Black toos sound like something I'd like to see. The Orange Bellied grass keets too, I had no idea how critically endangered they were.

Going to Australia is on the bucket list. Not just to see birds :). A "bird vacation" also on the bucket list would be Loro Parque in the Canary Islands!
 

Mekaisto

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In my opinion, the best sights of Australia are the ones that take you by surprise.

Sitting in the shade of a gum tree, only to have a flock of bluebonnets share it with you.

Wandering around a dry forest, searching for those Major Mitchells you heard calling, only to be hit with a gumnut from above by a pink assailant.

Walking through a paddock, setting red-rumped parakeets up by your feet.

Obviously there are many beautiful sights in Australia, but in my opinion birds can't be treated like a checklist, you have to enjoy each experience with them :)
 

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