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ueuqreg - oloqd 'erl?.rlsnv lltg uaqlrou uo{ salladsqnsI parPllol-paraql ro splq a.t?/raPluuds 'ataq I e uo{ turluup uaas:ua7 a ueurqro.lautw _ olor{d 'q ad u! paqsllqplsa^llu€u.uad ?uolaq 'srea{ luaf,aru! .a^sqtulpllsnv u! 'gaa{trol I peards-aPMlsou aql ^,\oqureuI a6Ddsnonatd I

'€areusltlodo.tlaru aql puodaqIla,rppalds {pur qa?{rrol Moqurel '0002 pue ftai{ aql ,{q splq 000? tnoqe qrPar plnof, uollelndod aql ,asparf,ul .(llnsa.r Jo aler luasald aql lv l?lnllls e saqA'dllpUorllpue ssat3ns Burpaalq,azrs qllnll sp qf,nsslqsual3prpqf, paleurlsa pue u/v\ou)luo pas?q'lapou uoqPlndod e) sprrq 000e lnoq? lp palpurrlsaserr 966I Jopua aql le qlrad ur slaa{uol plr^ .eare JOraqunu lelol aql u€lrlodollau.r quad aql ol paurluor araM slaa{uol ^\oquler leql paleJrpur,{aMns aqJ 'rea^ lsPIlo JI?qpuof,as aql Fuunp sprq ar{l Jo uorleMasqoJo ^ruanba{ pue siaqunu'Eurpaa;q,saluaraJald 'rnonpq?q PooJ aql a^lasqoo1 p?lsrlua 'dpnls a.ra^slaalunlo^ 09 lnoq? aql qlr& dlaq oJ'saDadsa^rlpu ual?arql ol dla{rl sel^ Prrq aql lou lo laqlar{^\ auru.lalap 'quad ol ur laa{lrol r oqurerar{lJo ^pnls e palduold s(lJ ',{llerluEsqnspaspaDur uaasBuraq splrqJo raqurnu aql,aur] srql lnoqe lv sprrq000 I ueql alour l€ pools ,?66I 'spllq ateuns? s,BdV aql i{g 0U pu?0I uaa^qaqqlr/v1,sllou 0I u?ql arou pue spllq 7Z lo llolj e paprof,ar^a^rns e'286I uI quad ul slaaluol^ oqurpr?g ara.1araql lpql palpuqsa (gdv) plpog uolpalord arnllntuav aql ,?g6I uI SJSSYIUO'ISNIJNNOS lslu ala.{ slaalllol &oqulpl plr^/r lualaJJrpe sp slnJro lr daFaqulyaqt ul 'sPlei\\uopups0g6l-prur .loqrPIInN 'eru€rrrsel aqltuo.uealeaql aql Jo qlnos ulalspa-qUouur lu?lBp^e osle ur sauPrc uo4 pad?Jsa '?rlerlsnv leql sptrq uloq eare aall?uraql pu? splarploc uralsea sr1I qlnosol ssor)p,lseollsea pa^uaps?,1 '{lo uorppdod srqllpqlpalJadsns aql ol tno pup tsa l qlnos aql qtnorql aql u.\,\oplqau ad€Col ^aFaquly sr 'quad qtnos 1l pue q?noroq"ls l.rpd uoldurequoN Jo qlnos s€alp aallpru aql (xo4'?rFllsnvJopua dol aql ssorte ueursow ,,(qpapunoq p alFue4 ulqlr^^ lallp aql puespuelpoo/r pu? slsaroj uado ^llerqpupunoJ sr ll laa{uolppardsapr,r\ 'paqsrtqqsa [email protected] ssal ro alou ,{lluaucl.urad qrq?qur prrq stql lsoru s,erlpllsnvsr sarladsaqJ auplaq ^aql quadjo 'salls leql sqlnqnsutalsa{v\ Dlltsdossolg) taa{rrol Pau&o.rJ Surpaala^rlJnpord al€lol ol aql ur sp,1lr'la^a,1 oH (qlnossa4auolDl -ald.rndaql sr ?rl€4snv u.ralsa -qlnos alqou ^lqtrq aqol spaaupup,sa]rnosal urPqAurltou l?au '^eg 8€) flaJ€S pu€ ol a^qpulaaluolJo saDads^luo aqJ poo]^retodual slloldxaleql p.rrq? roj (r{lnossa4aurolDlotl .etuopal?J 'lqBIU ) ^a^rpH,(dtrraquo slru] InJasn pallp pue seq ,Paurnc IrMs lsea)IIIH fulaqasooCle uaasalan^ suarle ,raN puP saplrqaH /v\aN3ql prrq snoue8art^lqFrq srqJ .ateunld aq] 's0l,6l aqt ur 'quad '^ssola auqn( 896I Jo iaN-ended,prsauopululalspa-qlnos parnolo,^Fq3uq seqlr,slaaluol qrnqnsrauur up ',{alqual\ ur s?/r\plof,al ol spuaua ll pue sabadsqnsJo raqunu lsour a{r.l suip.rFOtI lnoqp Burqtlaa lxau aql 'u^{ou)l sl al al?uqln lnq lou J e qlr.r prrq alqeue^? sr taa{uol /l^oqul?r puPqlaual ur sarlaurluar0t lnoqe rraqJ puplsl .spu?lpoor lsaqlou uo tuu^? ue tuo4 aqJ'auoolg ol qlnos pue Eullnseaur'pllp4snVurlea{uoJJo saI]ads padmsa sprrq ua^aslo .096I .araH.laa{r.rol xls uaqrn slsa.roJleJldo4 sllqequrtl ua^asJo lsatrel aqty lsnpopuaDr.l ul elF.qsnv uralsa&-qlnos paprof,al ur Parellol-pa.laql sp u/vrou)lultoj lnolol snssolootlJtrJ\ laatllrol,roquler aq \r., f__-l o"" E E E E E Areaiavo!rabe lor Fa.bow

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Occuire.ce 1992(aller BUFIBIDGE1992) D slr buron 1968(afier COYLE 1988)

At present,rainborv lorikeets can be flexibilityin diethas, no doubt, played an lAboue:Thc knownrange of r:rinhtw lorikeetsin thcmetronolitan ('f seenfrom Fremantleto Wannerooand importantfart in lheir successin I irr(J I . fromCuildford to Armadale.They occur invadingnew areas. in areaswith a combinationof natural Duringthe 1995surr,'ey, most lAbooe lefl: Areit*ol the suuth-$,rst openwoodland, exotic vegetation, such \,\,ereseen feeding on the blossomsof I consideredfavourablr fur rainhow asparks. golf courses and other areas of localor introducedeucalypts, but coral I lorikeelcolnnisation. hisrJ on luhitirl, climaticsuitahility and agriculture activity. open space,and open rvater,such as treesweremostoften visited and preferred natural or artificial lakesand rivers. to other availablefood. It is interesting bottlebrusheslcallislemon spp.) were Matureexotic vegetation (usually from that rainbowlorikeets colonised Bali, alsoan importantfood source, together theeastern states), such as eucalypts, figs from nearbyLombok, after the coraltree with theseed ofsheoaks from the easterrr andpalms, has been a significantfactor wasextensively planted there. Cultivated statesand foliage ofNorfolk Island pines. in rair.rbowlorikeet colonisation ofPerth. They are thus attractedto the older suburbs,which were generally those first ,q settledby Europeansand thus carry matureexotic vegetation. FINDINGFOOD The food sourcesused by rainbow lorikeetsin Perth are similar to those rvithin its natural range. Rainbow lorikeets have traditionalll, been consideredto be nectarand pollen feeders, but recentobservations in Perth and elsewherehave indicated that their diet ismuch more general than this. Flower partsare a majorpart of their diet,rvith pollenand nectarbeing less important. Fruitsare important at times, and insects and seedsare occasionallytaken. Thrs

I Rr9h1:l-astern states eucillypls such as I thelemon scented gums in KingsPark, I havehelped lhe birds to establish in Peflh. Photo- trlariel,ochman

attlrrarff 19 7Yr0z

'llnssr ? self,elluol plnoJ?llasol 'aunf ulalsam ur laqlo qlea Surpaaluaas uaaq .sallnosal pooj aql s?qrns saDadsJoaauPl pue slaqulnu a^pq sprrq turunoJ .prl?rlsnv 'suorlpnlrs Jo lseol ruo4 ^€,,v\esualte aql a^olp pue slaa{uol aql ul patelu?Appsrp llrUuo3 lseaaqluo sapnlrlpl.telr(ursle ueqllarllpa aql uo salq4 aql paulnl spllqallleM aq plnoJ sarf,ads prurl alou.r alllll P ur8aqdeur quad ur Aurpaarg p3l saf,uPlsur rl aJ e ur ,la^a,l oH lpql slsa8Ensslaa{uol^ oqurpr^q u&\oqs .srossalFAe '^eM€ ,salrs splrqraqlo Aur^up Aurpaall? rnor^eqaq a^lssart3?aql,ssalaqua^aN aql {llpnsn alp slaa{rrol 'rrrPl InJssaltns aAtssattlPualo alpslaalrrol 11\oqu1BU sp qrns s.laMolJ '.ra^arroH's {olloq lddlplna uo4 sFulllsaulaa{uol .lsauaql IFurs uo ^lupruud spaaJpue si^olloqlsau uaas Eullrr^a uaaq osle a^eq,qq8ra ur Aur,rol3 spltqFuno^ aql toj uralordpue rallprussasn lr asneraqlaa{uol oqupl -^luar slaaluol /u,oqurel^q pardnlf,o L alplp^r{oqeJ }o ?Jrnosp apr^ord^lqeqord ratrpl ar{l ^q pareldsrpaq ol {lalrlun sr ^lluanbasqnsalar salrs lsau asaql sluErq?qur pasur rraql pue sdral aql lrraJJns plnof, laaluol pau^\orf,-aldrnd 'punol3aql ol paddolppue 'paqlleq sMolloqurorJ os FuraqalP Funo^ 6ueu uaqm aq]-ralleurs Suraq-lpql paurnsse pa8?erparar s8urllsau,lqtra-{luaMl, aun P sr srql .laqopo pue raqualdas aq lqalu l! allq ,\'arnlf,afuor sr sar)ads suorserJo uO.quau.raEuprrp lpla^as asaql Euunp genl pue qpr.ref sarl1^lpue a^rleuol Jo lealql e asodslaaluol ,,v\oqurer ra^o ?lqqenbsuaUo ,slqara-,{lua,,v\1,pu? ,gdoJS1NW ,luasald sa^ml url]o{ (266I Euuds leql uorlsaEFnsaql lV slaa{uol'ra^a,roH.(aDanaaDoou opJDOl ',sa^ea.I ,stua-I, .ellaso.l urnC pue s8ng aas)sdral utalsan sprrnqplool FulqEnelpue (D ldDJDSot .)lr€d u?alt IIrmqaa{uol ,l\oqulPu sFury aql se qtns s?rf,adsa^lleu prurl alou DnloJDJ) stleq?, (snLDuoz smpJourDq ,pasrFrnleu ,smollorl '{Jauauu ur {Jrelnrrued au?raq ls.tu aql atplup^ppslpplnoJ qf,rq^ u?rF4snvaquo sabadsqnsv 4 slaaluold oqupl ataqe\ealpaqlur luasald lsau alqErns roj uorlrladuor aq lqarur uralsaM-qlnosaql) slolpd,lqAla-rilua^q, ,ra^amoH are lDropottllr A) tun3 paluals-uoual araql salrsparpall ^lletued le tlllM Euoles.\^olloq snoraunu qlrd\saa4 'salrs pw \qqtuDra mjdnp)nq) ung palods se lsau ol ple?ar qI,1 alqeldepp atrel ur lsau ,{pu qaalr.lol 4\oqureu .quad 'surled qlns saa4Josaurlupld a^rsua$g ur are ^aql u,1oqs a^eq slaaluol moqulpl ur s,rolloq glp ,illpnpp {eur 'pasn lno qsrtqEsaol slaa{uolil oqurerpadlaq a^eq pup alp ueql salrslsau Fqualod slaa{r.rolMoqurpr palsaAtns l?ql lrodar qddplna salqs ulalspauo{ ruossolg alou dll€lauaga.le araql lsaloJ.ro auo'arref,salPsiolloq aa4araql,quad 'slsad .slorled plprp.rolof?u.t se sa^lasuaql puelpoorllunleu ul lpf,ols? aull lsa .\JolluDard ssaursnqaql ur pupUed 'sulled turqsrtqE$ ^llrrnb arpqaa{r.rol Moqurer auPs aql le paalq slaslUol &oqureu stury ul ^llpnads? uolloJ puealpp 'taqtualac ?rlprlsnv qlnos ur ,.ta^ae\oH.suaplea ur salrslsau lprlualod spuo{ paup aql saseqaql Jo }o Euoue aruoq auos ut alqelrp^e gurlf,adsu!uaas uaaq a^eq s.upd Auraq alrdsap au.Ios palJnrlsuoJ saurlauros ale s.laqueqr 'rta^lns ,saqlead 'laqualaC 'la^amoH r.{Uadar.{l ur ualea?uraq ul p?ploraruaaq s€q saurFsau turlsau Uenl pup qpllef .lsnFnv ro slolude sp qJns,qrn{ laqto Jo poorq puoras ? sautlauros a{rl saatl ur uauo ale slsaN Ios IPf,ol splo)al ou alar ,ssuraqJnu ^llea ^q paqJleq Euraq s!ur1153uq11,1 Jo alaql uo4 cNIJnOOUdSUUpdV arlpts alP suossolq uaqr!\a3tnos pooja^rleuralle ue apr^old^eut l{aql ,alEs pslelJrsapp sabua[dsrrB.rJueuq]o.LAllespn ralad opqd ur aurl auos loJ paqlellp .Ed/{l?Jna ureual ualjo I garru)rpdsuql laurqrcl rrpqprgJ)fltll - olor.ld slln4 as3ql sv,.laluh^ palnporluruo spaa;os;e.1saal-q1nos .aJrnos I pua aql ^Felnlrued ,relndod ,pJtqalleu I pooj parno^ej e I Jo lp osp aql ol a^rlpu pat aq1:aoogyl arE saqsnrqal oq palutrrlpT :4a1aooqy I aralwqrn{uled uollol puesalpp,strd Duringfield observations in Perth,about 70 per cent of interactions with other birds were aggressive,and lorikeetswere 10 times more likely to be the aggressor. ORCHARDRAIDERS Australianauthors from earlier this century unequivocallydamned rainbow lorikeetsas destroyersof fruit crops.In 1912,A.J.North described rainbow lorikeets 'incorrigible as fruit eaters...[which]do much damagein orchards,especiallywith the softsummer fruits'. Cregory Mathews statedin 1916that'they eatacertainamount ofpearsand apples that aresweetand pe'. Othersmade similar comments. Despitethese early comments,until recentlythere havebeen few reports of fruit damageby rainbowlorikeets. But it appearstheir potentialimpact was either grosslyunderestimated or there hasbeen a marked changein feedingbehaviour. Rainbowlorikeets are a gregarious Fiveyears ago. pesl cont rol authoritiesin the do not normallyoccur here.The I sleciesoften seen in largeflncks. rainbow lorikeet, however,has been I South Australiawere expressingfew I Photo- llarieI ochman concernsabouttherainbow lorikeet. Now, declarecJunprotected under the Act. the is consideredto beas big a pestin WHATCAN WE DO? that Stateas the introducedstarling. Somepeople enjoy the sightofthese In Darwin, rainbourlorikeets are chupTun. sean Hazeldenfound spectacularbirds in perth,while other. 1nd destroyingup to 90 percent ofcrops ofthe rainbowlorik€ets have grave concerns.They include escaped breedingin the tropicalfruit nmbutan, and up to 60 per immediateconcerns. such as noise levels Kalgoorliearea, which demonstratesthe cent of cultivatedmangoes on some near roosting sites and potential bird'scapability in colonisingnew areas' properties.In Queenslandannual crop problems,such as possiblenegative Sincewe knowthat they escape from lossesin avocadosand lycheesexceeds $1 impacts on native species or on captivityand becomeestablished in the million andmay be as high as$20 million. horticultural activities. wild, andhave a high potentialto become Soft fruit cropssuch as apricots,prunes A computermodel, based on climatic a seriouspest, it is impotant to reportall and peachesbeing grown in northern variablestogether with an assessmentof observationsof these birds outside the VictoriaandnearAdelaide are nowsuffering availability of suitable habitat, has Perth metropolitanarea (see map). ln increasinglyhear'y losses from rainbow revealeda numberof potentialsites in addition, rainbow lorikeets held by lorikeets.So, clearly, they couldalsobecome south-western . The most aviculturistsoutside Perth should be a seriouspest in WestemAustralia. suitablewere betweenBunbury and housedunder especially secure conditions. Atpresent,there is no effectivecontrol Albany,where there is a favourable mix of Whilethe implementationof control measurefor rainbowlorikeets. There are climaticconditions, native vegetation and will be verydifficult and expensive,the no knownways ofeffectively trapping or extensivefruit orchards.Interestingly, alternativeto doingnothing couldwellprove removingthe birds, and they fail to severalyears ago, CALM officers Andy to befar moreexpensive in the longterm. respondto avarietyofscare techniques. Researchinto the use of chemical deterrentsfor fruit crops is under way, DavidLamont is ExecutiveOfficer of the RoadsideConservation located but effectivemethods have not yet been Committ€e in CALM'sWldlife Branch at Como.He hasjust completeda post-graduat€study at developed.As rainbow lorikeets have not the Universityof NerrEngland investigating the changingstatus of rainbowlorikeets previously been considered an in south-westernAustralia, and their potential for rangeextension. David can be agriculturalpest in WesternAustralia, contactedon (09)334 0423. theyhave not been declared a peslspecies under the Agricultureand Related AllanBurbidge is a seniorresearch scientist with CALM'sScience and Information Division.He is basedat theWildlife Research Centre at Woodvaleand can be ResourcesProtection Act 1976.Perhaps contactedon (09)405 5100, or by e-mailat [email protected]. this statusshould nour be reviewed. Underthe Wildlife Conservation Act, Thecontributions of the 57 volunteerswho provided input to David'sstudy of all native to Australia are rainbowlorikeets in Perthare gratefully acknowledged. protectedin WesternAustralia, even if

,u"rrrorr' 27 ,.,i:-.i,4 "'* LAN DSCOPE"1;;iili), i'n VOLUMETWELVE NI.JMBER 1,SPRING 1996

SAVINGTHE GIANTS CLIFFWINFIEI..0

RAINBOWLORIKEETS: INVADERS INTHE SUBURBS DAVIDLAMONT & ALLAN BURBIDGE 17

DINKUMAUSSIE RATS A subspeciesof granny bonnets ANDREWBURBIDGE flsotropis cuneifoliasubsp. glabra)found in a threatmed communitg on the Swan SLUGSOF THE SEA CoastalPlain. Seestorg on page 35. KEVINCRANE Rqinbou lorikeets. Are they pests?WII they displaceour natiue birds?Do we THREATENEDPLANT COMMUNITIES ONTHE need to control their numbers, ond if SWANCOASTAL PTAIN so,hou? Find out more on page17. VALENGUSH, GREG KEIGHERY & JOHN BLYTH ,,,,,...... 35

THEMAGIC OF MAGENTA I\,IURMYCARTER, MAL GFAHAM & CHRISJOHNSON ,,...... 41

CBONINA:A NEWGENUS 'The Magic of Magento' co-author SUZANNECURRY Mol Graham clearing qn Aboriginal sook in Lake Magenta Nature Reseroe. A BLASTFROM THE PAST Seeour storg on page 41. ALEXBEVAN 50

INPERSPECTIVE

BUSHTELEGRAPH

ENDANGEBED:DUNSBoRoUGH SPIDER ORCHID ,,,,,,, 47

URBANANTICS 'Sauing A rat bu ana other name.} In'Dinkum In the Giants', read hou a neu Aussie Rqts'Andreu Burbidge discusses Tree Top Walk in WA'ssouth-aest is set the use of common and Aboriginal to becomeone of Australia's nature- namesfor natiue rodents. basedtourism icus.

tlanagingEditofi Ron Kawalilak Editor:David Gouoh CoDtbuting Editors: Mandy Clews, vema coslello, Penny Walsh, CarolynThomson, John Hunlel Nudibranchs,or sea-slugs, Scienlilic/technicaladvice: Andlew Butbidqe, lan Abbofl, Paul Jones, WestemAustralia's marine TonySlart and stall ol CAtII's Science& InfomalionDivision environment. Thegare found Deslgnand Foduction: Maia Dulhie, Sue Marais tremendousdiuersity of colour Flnlshedad: Gooitzen van der Meer form, the Ceratosomabrevicaudatum, lllustradon:Gooilzen van der Meer, lan Dickanson illustrated here, is a common Cadography:Promaco Geodrall inhabitant of south-uestem Ma (eting:Eslelle de SanMiquel r (09)3n4 0296 Fax 3340489 t uaters. Seepage 28 to Subscriptionenqoiri.s: (09)334 0481 ColourSeparalion by PrepressSeftices leam more about the 'Shtgs Prinledin Westem Auslralia by LambP nl of the Sea'- o ISSN0815-4,165 All male'ial copyighl Nopad ol lheconlenls oi the publicationmay b€ reproduced without the consent ol thepublishers LtI{DSCoPE O'|line: httpJ/$r,lw.calm.wa.qovau/ Publishgdbv DrS Shea,Executive Director Illustration by lan Dickinson Deoadmentol ConseNationand Land Management, 50 HavmanRoad. Como. Westeln Australia 6152.

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