Birds

Blue-faced Parrot Finch

October 28, 2012 by Clare M 4 Comments

Now I know you are already thinking….what’s this, Clare and Grant have done a quick trip to Cape York, Queensland to top up their year list? These birds are “rare in rainforest clearings and edges and mangroves in north-eastern Queensland south to Cairns”. Well, that didn’t happen! Maybe one day, but not this week!

Thursday evening we had just returned from a very windy walk along the beach and were sat outside on our back veranda. I suddenly saw a ridiculously brightly coloured bird fly out of one of our dense native bushes and land on the ground. I had never seen anything like it and it looked like the sort of bird a small child would colour in given only three colours to play with-bright green, bright blue and red! It was at ease with the other birds that visit and it didn’t bother them and nor did they bother it. We had a Blue-faced Parrot Finch in our garden!!

Blue-faced Parrot Finch and Peaceful Dove

Blue-faced Parrot Finch

It has a very shrill sound and it calls as it moves around the garden, which is very handy as it flits from one bright green bush or tree to another! We heard it just after 5am on Friday as it was already light and all the other birds were in to bathe, drink and feed.

Blue-faced Parrot Finch early morning

Although the lawn was not desperate for a cut I decided to mow it, because the Double-barred Finch enjoy it when I do. Shortly after it was mown they all congregated on the grass to pick through and get seeds. Of course the Blue-faced Parrot Finch joined in!

Blue-faced Parrot Finch and Double-barred Finches feeding on the lawn

It is using all of our various watering points that we have for the birds and is completely at ease with the other birds.

Blue-faced Parrot Finch and Brown Honeyeater getting a drink

It has accompanied a Brown Honeyeater onto our veranda and swung on the washing line with it and is happily flitting around all our native trees and bushes. It has fed on the lemon basil that has conveniently gone to seed as well.

Blue-faced Parrot Finch and Double-barred Finch

Blue-faced Parrot Finch

Now, this little bird must have escaped from somewhere and it would be nice to know how far it travelled to reach our garden. We have had the local radio station ask if anyone has lost a pet bird, but no-one has responded yet. It would appear that it really doesn’t matter too much, as it is living quite a luxurious life at the moment and there’s no reason why it should not continue to do so! It must be thinking this is a larger cage than it had before! Thankfully the weather in Broome is somewhat similar to Queensland and we hope to have our own “wild pet” bird for some time to come!

So, this bird has been put on my year list, because I want it to be on my year list…my list and my rules! I have noted it is an “escapee”, though!

But…wait…what if it is not an escapee and actually a Papuan Parrotfinch!?

Written by Clare M
Clare and her husband, Grant, have lived permanently in Broome, Western Australia since 1999 after living in various outback locations around Western Australia and Darwin. She has lived in the Middle East and the United States and traveled extensively in Europe. She monitors Pied Oystercatchers breeding along a 23km stretch of Broome's coastline by bicycle and on foot. She chooses not to participate in social media, but rather wander off into the bush for peace and tranquility. Thankfully she can write posts in advance and get away from technology!