Exhibits
Lorikeet Forest
Imagine… walking down a winding path lined with a waterfall and trees. Overhead, you hear some chirping. It grows louder and louder until you spot them! Brilliantly colored lorikeets fill the air looking for a resting place. At last they find the perfect spot...your arm or even your head!
Transport yourself to the coastal lowlands of Australia when you enter Lorikeet Forest, a 3,200 sq. ft. outdoor aviary. More than 100 enthusiastic lorikeets fill the trees. Purchase a small cup of nectar, the lorikeets’ favorite food, to feed the birds as you walk through the exhibit. You will find them sitting on your hand, arm, shoulder or even your head to get a sip of sweet nectar!
Measuring approximately 10 inches in length, lorikeets exhibit a dazzling color combination, ranging from brilliant blues and greens to exquisite reds, yellows, and deep purples. When seen in full sunlight, these beautifully colored birds almost radiate an iridescent glow—a bright contrast to the thick, dark trees of their natural habitat.
The Aquarium’s Lorikeet Forest features five sub-species of Rainbow Lorikeets. Lorikeet Forest also features two close relatives of Rainbow Lorikeets and the Violet-necked Lory. Unlike lorikeets that have long tapered tails, lories have short blunt tails.
Lorikeets spend approximately 70% of their time feeding. They can feed on 30 to 40 eucalyptus flowers per minute! While searching for food, the birds can travel more than 30 miles daily, stopping in 10-second intervals to scan the area in search of food.
