The Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) is one of Papua New Guinea’s most colorful parrots that can be found...

The Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) is one of Papua New Guinea’s most colorful parrots that can be found in densities of up to 50 birds per square kilometer in some forest gardens. 

The two birds pictured here are members of one of the seven subspecies (L. l.  salvadorii) that is found in northeast Papua New Guinea from the Aitape area to Astrolabe Bay.

Why are parrot densities occasionally so high?

Parrots and hornbills in Papua New Guinea’s lowlands eat the fruit primarily of 15 trees commonly found in logged forests, and flowers of nine plant species commonly found in forest gardens.

The Black-capped Lory has plenty to eat in such previously logged areas. But there’s a caveat. The Black-capped Lory and other parrot species still require the cavities in large, old trees as nesting sites. However, those trees are disappearing from unprotected areas. 

A study published in the journal Ibis said that 10-20 individual parrots of one species can be found nesting in a single cavity of one large tree. If those remaining trees are logged, even if food is abundant, parrots and hornbills, which are among the world’s most threatened birds, will be more threatened.

Concentrating parrots in a few trees also makes them vulnerable to the region’s largely unfettered illegal pet trappers. Parrots are popular pets in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and other countries in the region, and large numbers of wild-caught birds are sold daily. 

TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, observed 50 bird stalls between 1997 and 2001 in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province in Indonesia.

The 50 stalls displayed a total of 3,500 birds on any given day. Of the 300 bird species sold openly, 56 species were “totally protected by law in Indonesia,” according to a report in the journal Birding Asia.

“Dealers are highly aware of the status of protection of the various species, and demand higher prices for protected ones,” wrote TRAFFIC researcher Chris R. Shepherd. He said some species are increasingly difficult for trappers to find in the wild in Indonesia. Those species are being imported “from Malaysia and other countries.”

(Photo: Trans Niugini Tours)

The Black-capped Lory is commonly seen in the Sepik area of Papua New Guinea. Karawari Lodge is a popular birding destination in that area, and the Black-capped Lory and other parrots, bird-of-paradise species and many other birds are found there. Trans Niugini Tours runs seven award-winning birdwatching lodges in Papua New Guinea, including Karawari Lodge, providing guides, aircraft, vehicles, boats and luxury accommodations at all seven.

http://www.pngtours.com/lodge2.html

I believe that the more we watch, photograph, study and enjoy the Black-capped Lory, the better for the species, all birds, all wildlife and all humans.

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