Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)

One of the delights of Tasmania for me has been encountering parrots as other than caged birds, zoo specimens, or pirates’ companions. Seven species are found in Tasmania. The Eastern Rosella is also found on mainland Australia, but Mr. R.H. Green suggests that, since the Tasmanian birds are both larger and more vividly coloured than the mainland ones they might well be considered an endemic subspecies.

The Eastern Rosella prefers eucalypt woodlands and dry open forest habitat. It’s principally a seed eater, most often feeding on the ground, but also can be seen feeding among eucalypt limbs, where it extracts psyllids (plant-lice) from galls. When agriculture took hold in Tasmania these rosellas quickly recognized introduced crops and orchards as food sources, and were considered by some to be a pest.

Rosellas nest in tree hollows, and lay 4-7 eggs. Their population has declined over the years, possibly due to habitat loss, though Green also suggests competition from starlings for those nest sites.

In spite of—or perhaps it’s because of—their brilliant colours, rosellas are difficult to spot in the trees, but not difficult to hear since they like to chatter among themselves as they feed. They are easier to spot on the ground around the base of trees where the grass isn’t too long.  

Some days ago now we went for a walk on the Queen’s Domain, a large park area overlooking the Derwent in Hobart. There we both heard and saw lots of rosellas, as well as magpies and noisy minors. The rosellas did not appear to be overly alarmed by humans, and allowed us to get reasonably close to them before flying off in a blurred flurry.