Growing pains
There were heaps of rosellas, Crimson and Eastern, on the mountain today. One little family were perched in a spindly wattle tree and, as they didn't flee at my approach like the shy rosellas are known to do, I stopped to watch them for a bit.
Juvenile Eastern Rosella, on the lookout for a free meal
The group consisted of two adults and a youngster (well a youngish but fully fledged offspring) begging for food with these sweet little squeaks. One of the adults feed it a bit, but then clearly was sick of this rather obvious cheapskating. The adult moved further out onto a precarious branch and eventually the youngster followed. They did this dance a few times until the tiny branch was really dipping under their weight. Finally the adult flew off in disgust. The youngster almost got catapulted out of the tree! But it managed to hold on, with a lot of wing flapping and screeches of protest.
The youngster then joined the adult in a new tree and started the process all over again. Ahh, teenagers...
Juvenile Eastern Rosella, on the lookout for a free meal
The group consisted of two adults and a youngster (well a youngish but fully fledged offspring) begging for food with these sweet little squeaks. One of the adults feed it a bit, but then clearly was sick of this rather obvious cheapskating. The adult moved further out onto a precarious branch and eventually the youngster followed. They did this dance a few times until the tiny branch was really dipping under their weight. Finally the adult flew off in disgust. The youngster almost got catapulted out of the tree! But it managed to hold on, with a lot of wing flapping and screeches of protest.
The youngster then joined the adult in a new tree and started the process all over again. Ahh, teenagers...