I had thought noisy miners ate nectar and invertebrates, but this morning I noticed they were eating the fruits of my dianella. Sorry about the out of focus image - it was raining and dull and I had to capture the moment before I scared them off. It's great to discover something new in the backyard!
Hi Birdgirl.
Interesting observation on your part.
My local large Honeyeater (Lewin's HE) regularly eats berries of native plants, so I was not surprised, but have never seen ti myself.
BiBY Bird finder says:
"The Noisy Miner feeds on nectar, fruits and insects. Very occasionally they will eat small reptiles and amphibians. Food is either taken from trees or on the ground."
http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=10
So, it is recorded.
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
Hi Birdgirl and Denis
My garden is full of noisy miners as is the whole neighbourhood unfortunately. They can be a real nuisance as they drive the other birds away. I can tell you from our experience that they eat anything and everything it seems. They spend a lot of time eating the fruits of the palm trees in our garden and another tree with yellow/orange berries that I don't know the name of.
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Thanks Denis and Birdie
I looked them up in my Reader's Digest complete book of birds and it also mentions fruit. I have never seen them eat it before, although I have had the plants for years.
Very nice shots, birdgirl, you did good. Glad we don't appear to have them here though ... that 350km stretch of water between us and the big island has saved us from many an unwanted pest.
Regards, "Tark" - Olympus 4/3rds colour
Heres a White-gaped H E enjoying a dianella fruit in Townsville.
Ed Townsville NQ
Hi Tark - they are native birds and although territorial they share our backyard with all our beautiful parrots and other birds.
Great photo ed - aren't the fruits a beautiful colour?
Hi Birdgirl Nice photos
I had a lot of them in my yard and they kept all the other birds from the feeder they ate the seed then the magpies nested out in the front trees and chased them away and the small birds all moved back whitch is good to see