
%0 Journal Article
%A Woinarski, JCZ 
%T Small birds, Lerp-feeding and the problem of Honeyeaters
%J Emu
%D 1984/09/01
%V 84
%N 3
%P 137-141
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/MU9840137
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MU9840137 
%X Honeyeaters often defend rich sources of carbohydrates such as nectar and lerps (exudates of psyllids). Lerps are also a major food item of pardalotes, and consequently these birds are attacked frequently by honeyeaters, especially in winter and spring. Up to 5% of daylight time and 9% of energy expended may be wasted by pardalotes escaping from honeyeaters. This susceptibility to attack may have been influential in the development of hole-nesting by pardalotes and may have deterred other small foliage-gleaning birds from eating lerps. 
