Fox attack on lorikeets

The female lorikeet feeding its babies.THE Campbell family is relieved that a pair of lorikeets and their two babies are safe after a fox attacked them.

The lorikeet pair, which have been coming to their Lane Cove back yard for 10 years recently became a family with two eggs hatching under the family’s bird bath.

Kristen Campbell said the babies were about two weeks old and had just learnt to stand on their own.

“Being witness to the miracle of life seems like a wonderful and appropriate Christmas blessing,” Ms Campbell said.

“The adults usually come to our study window and tap the glass with their beaks wanting to be fed.

“We feed them natural things like apples, sunflower seeds, green grapes and wild bird mix.”

Sadly, the male lorikeet was attacked by a fox who came onto the Campbell’s property. The mother and babies were not injured, probably because the male managed to hold the fox off until Ms Campbell’s husband shined a light at the intruder.

“We were woken at 4am on Monday by the adult lorikeets screeching constantly which is not common, usually they are silent at night,” she said.

“My husband went to see what was wrong and he shone a small LED light at a fox that was digging under the bird bath to get at the lorikeets and their babies.

“The male lorikeet had two bloody claw scratches on his head both coming quite close to his eyes - he seems to be pretty shaken up but still able to fly and eat properly.

“I have lived in Lane Cove most of my adult life and this is the first time I’ve known foxes to inhabit the area. I guess this is evidence of feral foxes destroying the native wildlife.”