Being keen fossickers found us in the Gemfields at Sapphire. We were in the middle of nowhere, in the Aussie Bush, when we got some visitors the first afternoon we were there. Rainbow Lorikeets! Absolutely beautiful... A very colourful little Parrot.....For a little while they hung around in the trees watching us. Chatting away to themselves.
My children being avid animal lovers, helped themselves to the bread (keep in mind we were on rations as we only had limited supplies until we went to town again) and the next thing we knew, the kiddies had them not only coming close to 'snatch' some bread off the ground at a safe distance. But had them landing on their outstretched hands and being hand fed! I was Gobsmacked!
After they had their feed, and their photo shoot... they hung around for a while in the trees still chatting to each other, watching us finishing set up our camp, then finally they took off to who knows where to roost for the night.
We were there to fossick for sapphires, but that night around the camp fire we we discussing that even if we didn't find any this trip, we had already had an awesome experience with the Fauna inhabiting the gem fields. And it certainly felt like a win.
We wanted to get up early the next morning to make a start with our quest in the hope to find some Sapphires and Zircons, but were not expecting to be woken up by the inundation of wild birds wanting their breakfast! They were at the caravan door, and hanging off the awning, on the roof, waiting for the kids!
And of course the kids obliged..feeding them with more of our precious bread. But how could I say no....I had flour to make some if need be, so off they went to 'play' with Rainbow Lorikeets. (otherwise know to us as Mountain Lorries in Central West NSW)
In the end they had them landing on there heads, shoulders, arms.....yes they were wanting a feed, but they also seemed to love the interaction, somehow knowing we didn't want to harm them or catch them, as apposed to just merely enjoying the whole experience of interacting with these amazing Parrots in their natural habitat.
The time we spent there, saw our little visitors stopping by every morning, and every evening until it was time for us to depart and head off to our next destination, and new experience. We even managed to find a few sapphires and zircons..
I grew up in the bush in NSW. Still live in the bush.....and never in my life have I experienced a wild bird to be so interactive with us out in the middle of nowhere. No bird feeders in sight. It is an experience we will never forget!
It is certainly a part of our trip that we talk about often, and one our children will never forget from our adventures of home schooling them on the road. They are back at school now, and have some precious memories and stories to tell.. They certainly don't forget camping with the Peacocks and Brahman Bulls either.. oops...sorry kids about that one!
