Wild New Jersey Exclusive: Parakeets in New Jersey
Lucy, the Edward's Lorikeet
Photo Courtesy of Laurie Lane
By Grace Lawrence, WildNewJersey.tv correspondent
Meet Lucy…The beautiful Edward’s Lorikeet that is also known as a Rainbow Lorikeet, and is a small to medium sized bird native to Australia. These birds are primarily known for their vivid coloring and brush-tipped tongues that are conducive to their fruit-eating diet.
The fundamental difference between lorikeets and other parrots is their adaptation to pollen, nectar, and fruit diet and the subsequent development of their beaks. They eat while upside-down and in the wild they feed on nectar and pollen from plants and flowers. Domestic lorikeets feed on a diet of fresh nectar, fresh and dried fruits, and vegetables.
Lorikeets are found in rainforests, woodlands, mangrove forests, and parks around Australia and are usually up to fourteen inches long and weigh about five grams. Lucy is very playful and loves rolling around and hanging upside down.
While lorikeets are mostly found as pets in New Jersey, monk parakeets, which are relatives of the lorikeet, have established themselves as a wild breeding species in New York and New Jersey. Fortunately, monk parrots have caused no harm to the native eco-systems, unlike many other released birds, such as the European Starling. Lucy was bought at World of Birds, located in Chester, New Jersey.
The fundamental difference between lorikeets and other parrots is their adaptation to pollen, nectar, and fruit diet and the subsequent development of their beaks. They eat while upside-down and in the wild they feed on nectar and pollen from plants and flowers. Domestic lorikeets feed on a diet of fresh nectar, fresh and dried fruits, and vegetables.
Lorikeets are found in rainforests, woodlands, mangrove forests, and parks around Australia and are usually up to fourteen inches long and weigh about five grams. Lucy is very playful and loves rolling around and hanging upside down.
While lorikeets are mostly found as pets in New Jersey, monk parakeets, which are relatives of the lorikeet, have established themselves as a wild breeding species in New York and New Jersey. Fortunately, monk parrots have caused no harm to the native eco-systems, unlike many other released birds, such as the European Starling. Lucy was bought at World of Birds, located in Chester, New Jersey.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 4/6/2010 1:00 PM 
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Birds
Tags: chester european starling world of birds rainbow lorikeet lorikeet monk parakeet
Categories: WNJ Exclusives, Birds
Tags: chester european starling world of birds rainbow lorikeet lorikeet monk parakeet
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