How Do You Find a Rainbow Lorikeet Roost Site?

Operation Rainbow Roost Guide

How do you find a Rainbow Lorikeet Roost site?

The information we have to date shows that Rainbow Lorikeets head to their roost sites from about 20 minutes prior to sunset. They are usually all roosted within a very short time after sunset.

The table on the next page shows the sunset times in Perth every 5 days for a 1 year period. If the sunset time is 5:20pm, then Rainbow lorikeet will be heading to their roost sites from about 5 pm and should be all roosted by 5:30 pm. Often lorikeets will gather in trees near to a roosts site and then very close to sunset they will fly into their roost trees.

You are likely to be at a roost site, or very near one,if you see or hear a large gathering of Rainbow lorikeets at or near sunset. If you see Rainbow Lorikeets flying about during this time window, they may be heading to a roost site.

A productive way to find new roost sites is to drive around in your car with the windows down or partly down, listening for flocks of lorikeets.

How do you count a Rainbow Lorikeet Roost?

As above, Rainbow Lorikeets head to their roost sites from about 20 minutes prior to sunset. They are usually all roosted within a very short time after sunset. The table on the next page shows the sunset times in Perth every 5 days for a 1 year period.

It is best to start the count 20 minutes prior to sunset and you should finish about 10 minutes after sunset, or when you notice Rainbow Lorikeets are no longer entering the roost site.

Count the number of lorikeets entering the roost site. Subtract from your tally any lorikeets that fly out. You can finish counting once it appears the lorikeets are no longer entering the roost trees and it is after sunset.

Send your roost count data to BirdLife WA by using the electronic form at or email the information to .

What to report?

BirdLife WA is keen for you to report where Rainbow Lorikeets nest and roost. When reporting this information please report the number of lorikeets seen, The date and time you saw them, the location details (if possible with latitude and longitude coordinates), your name and contact details, what the lorikeets were doing (roosting, perching, flying, feeding, nesting or other) and any other comments you think is important.

Perth sunset times

Rainbow Lorikeet Observation Form