The Talaud Islands are a group of islands situated in the northernmost region of eastern Indonesia, in the Celebes Sea, between Sulawesi and the Philippine island of Mindanao. The Talaud group is basically composed of three large Islands, including Karakelang, Salibabu and Kabaruan, along with eight small uplifted coral islands in the north. These forested islands are low lying, with some areas having hills rising to about 680 metres. Large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions regularly rock this area.

Talaud Red & Blue Lories foraging at Sunshine BirdWorld

Situated in the Sulawesi lowland rain forests ecoregion, the Talaud Islands are a hotspot of endemism and zoological diversity. There are several birds endemic to these Islands, including the Talaud Red-and-Blue Lory (local names : sampiri / luring). These beautiful subspecies of Red-and-Blue Lory once abounded in all the islands of Talaud and Sangihe, but due to large scale deforestation of these islands have now been severely restricted in numbers, and survive only on the Karakelang. Today human interventions have left minimal natural forests here. Two subspecies of the Red-and-Blue Lory, Eos histrio histrio and Eos histrio challengeri, which were also endemic to these Islands, have become extinct due to massive deforestations. The only surviving subspecies, Eos histrio talautensis, is today confined to only one island (Karakelang), with the current IUCN status of “vulnerable”. But their numbers are declining at such a rapid rate that this status may soon need a modification for a worse one. Currently, only a couple of thousands of these beautiful birds may be around in the wild.

Lories and Lorikeets are very special birds. Unlike other parrots, all Lories have a unique brush-like tongue, which allows them to remove pollen and nectar from flower blossoms. Pollen and nectar form the most important parts of the diet of a Lory. Red-and-Blue Lories are no exceptions. This species eats a primarily nectar and pollen based diet, supplemented with insects and fruits, and are thus known as nectarivores. In the wild these parrots are strictly arboreal and nest on matured trees. With a size of about 12 inches and weighing between 150 to 180 gms, these beautiful primarily red birds with purple/blue bands across the body, have been known to give screeches and whistles during flight. However, these birds remain rather quiet while feeding. In captivity these birds are quite vocal and are often seen to display a typical Eos Lory action : the male arches its neck, sways from side to side and makes a hissing noise, as if it is threatening the observer! Their clutch consists of two eggs typically, laid at a difference of usually two days. Incubation is about 26 to 27 days, carried out by both parents. The chicks hatch naked, with some greyish down and fledge at approximately 70 to 80 days.

At Sunshine BirdWorld, the Juveniles from all the different parents are flocked together so that they can socialise and choose their own mates. This goes a long way for future breeding success.

Sunshine BirdWorld has had phenomenal success in breeding these strikingly colourful gems of nature. Our programme with Eos histrio talautensis started in the year 2004 with only 37 birds. It was sheer luck that we had chanced upon a flock of these rarities at a temple complex in the Southern part of India, and the rest, as they say, is history. We are proud to proclaim that thanks to stringent enforcement of exceptional captive management protocols, Sunshine BirdWorld has been able to breed more than several hundreds of these beauties in course of 16 years (2005 to 2021). Considering the ever dwindling numbers in their natural habitat and the threats of meeting a similar fate as that of their other two extinct subspecies, these figures speak for themselves of our efforts to “SAVE THE AVES”.

A Talaud Red & Blue Lory chick being handfed at Sunshine BirdWorld Nursery

The highly energetic and vividly coloured Red-and-Blue Lory has an enchanting personality, which has endeared it to all bird lovers. Our diligence and perseverance to increase the number of this beautiful bird have found appreciation from all the world over.