Gleditsia trees.

[loxo]

I have a couple of these on the front lawn of our new place and have never had anything to do with them before. I'm wondering if they are OK to give to our Kakariki and/or other parrots? At the moment they are really flourishing producing big flower/seed pods and I'm sure our KAK would love to have a go at one as a change to his usual Eucaplypt branches.

I thought I had read a list of trees on site that where OK for birds but I can't for the life of me find it again. Anyone had anything to do with the Gleditsia or know if it's OK. I'm thinking it should be with the wild rainbows getting in it every day but wanted to be sure.

Thanks alot

Brett

[avinet]

I can't really help you with this one - I'm not especially familiar with it except it is native to Asia and North America and some species are considered a pest plant while others are quite common in gardens. Doesn't it have some pretty vicious thorns?

My general rule is to stick to what I am sure of - Eucalypts, Acacia, Grevillea, Bottle-brush, etc. However another possible rule is that if you see the lorikeets feeding from the nectar in the flowers then it is probably safe - however Kakarikis will eat the leaves as well, which Lorikeets don't, so perhaps that isn't a good rule after all

So I would suggest in the absence of a definitive OK from someone don't feed.

cheers

Mike

[loxo]

Ok, thanks Mike.