Musk lorikeets appear usually in flocks in April, and cause more damage to sweeter mid and late harvest apple varieties, such as Fuji, Gala, and Pink Lady. Damage to all varieties of apples from Rainbow Lorikeets and White and Black Cockatoos is much less than Musk Lorikeets. Musk lorikeets are reported as causing the majority of damage to nashi and pears, again with much less damage from Rainbow Lorikeets and White and Black Cockatoos. Rosellas are reported to cause negligible damage to pears and nashi. Some growers reported negligible damage from Rainbow Lorikeets.
Lorikeet damage is negligible for early apples.
In all cases this damage is small compared to Musk Lorikeets, and Rosella damage greatly exceeds that caused by both Lorikeets. Damage by native bird species varies greatly with the availability of bush food, with damage higher about one year in three. Damage is also higher in smaller and in isolated orchards particularly those close to bush reserves. The range of the Rainbow Lorikeet in South Australia is limited to the south east corner. The recent decades have seen a marked increase in the number of birds around the Adelaide Hills, even though most of the area has been growing fruit since the last century.