In the heart of Pimpala Conservation Reserve, nestled within the City of Onkaparinga, a humble medium-sized parrot box became the stage for a fascinating mystery – one that required careful observation and deduction to unravel. Over the last 12 months, at least four different species called this single nesting site home, each leaving clues that told a story of competition, adaptation, and survival.

The Case Begins: A Nest with Unexpected Occupants

Spring is a busy season for breeding birds, and this particular nesting box was no exception. A pair of Eastern Rosellas had taken up residence, with an adult flying out and five eggs having been laid inside. However, something unusual was happening. A closer inspection revealed eight Wood Duck eggs alongside the Rosella’s clutch – a surprising discovery since Wood Ducks typically nest earlier in the season and are unlikely to abandon their nest for a much smaller parrot. To complicate matters further, scattered Galah feathers hinted at yet another previous occupant.

What had taken place inside this nesting box? The evidence suggested a tangled history of competition. To unravel the mystery, we needed to examine the past.

Piecing Together the Timeline

Clues inside the artificial hollow pointed to a sequence of events that had unfolded over the last 12 months. When the wildlife box was serviced in Autumn 2024, a Ringtail Possum was found inside, taking advantage of the shelter provided by the box. It was observed sitting atop the remains of a Galah’s nest of soiled eucalypt leaves from the previous spring.

Digging deeper, we found an even earlier layer of clean, dried eucalypt leaves – evidence that the Galahs had initially attempted to breed there. Galahs are known for bringing in fresh sprigs when nesting. The combination of clean leaves over the soiled 2023 nesting material, along with scattered Galah feathers among the mass of downy duck feathers, suggested they were the first to claim the space.

Then came the Wood Ducks. But had they moved in after the Galahs had already abandoned their nesting attempt, or had they pushed the Galahs out? Either way, they laid a clutch of eight eggs. However, for reasons unknown – perhaps an altercation with another species or external disturbances – the ducks ultimately abandoned the nest as well.

Finally, as spring progressed, Eastern Rosellas moved in, seizing what had become highly contested real estate in the local wildlife community.

A High Demand Space

Over the past year, this single artificial hollow had been home to at least four different species: Ringtail Possums, Galahs, Wood Ducks, and Eastern Rosellas. Each species had adapted to the opportunities and challenges of a nesting site in high demand.

This medium parrot box serves as a powerful reminder of the fierce competition for safe nesting spaces in the wild. In areas where natural hollows are scarce, artificial nesting boxes can provide vital shelter for a variety of species. But as this story shows, nature is full of unexpected twists, and even the most carefully placed nesting boxes can become battlegrounds in the struggle for survival.

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