Wild Fischers Lovebirds

[Rahni]

Here are some Fischers lovebirds my boyfriend saw in Tanzania about a month ago.
They were nesting in the nest of a Marabou Stork.












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[Ashling]

They are sitting under a malibu storks nest!??!? Whyyyy!?? Silly little things!

[Andie]

Maybe the big bird is protection. This stork seems kind of gross eating similar food to vultures. It can take live food but according to wikipedia tends to scavenge rather than hunt. It could be a calculated risk to take shelter and the lovebirds are more agile than the big stork. So an eagle or something equivalently African would see the giant stork and fly right by, not expecting a lovebird entree hiding there too.

Just a theory but it is totally what Bird Andie would do!!

Plus, it keeps the rain off!

[misty83]

wow those birds are beautiful :)

[LovelySydney]

Gah they are so cute! Someone on craigslist claims to have seen a "flock" of fischers in or around the Detroit area. She/he said they may have gotten out of a breeding home. Wouldnt that be interesting to see that in Michigan! I hope they know to fly south : /

[diljaa]

Cuties! So small next to that stork. Maybe the stork and the lovies have an understanding, they get shelter and they sing to him instead or something. Or watch his eggs and yell real lous so he can hear if something's on. Maybe they're his burgler alarm or his doorbell. Ok, getting into cartoon animals mode here :oP

[Andie]

Originally Posted by diljaa

Ok, getting into cartoon animals mode here :oP

It is hard not to with lovebirds! They are so chirpy and cute and cartoon like!

[Lori~D]

I love Fischers - I think they are so pretty in their God given colors!

[Rahni]

Many birds will nest as close as possible to predators etc.
Like quakers will sometimes nest in huge eagles nests, ravens will nest near hawks, finches will nest near wasps nests...
I think the mentality is that nothing is likely gonna try and get the storks (eg they are too big for snakes and lizards to eat), so they wouldn't bother coming up the tree, so the lovebirds are safer.
Also the structure of the stork nest is probably appealing, it might be easy to make tunnels in etc and would have good visibility over the surrounding area.