Green Rosella
Tasmania, like most of Australia, is a great birding spot. There are twelve endemic species on the island (meaning found only in Tasmania). All of them have never been recorded on the mainland. I was able to get decent looks at eight of the twelve. This is the only parrot that makes the list — the green rosella (although the endangered orange-bellied parrot and the swift parrot are known as breeding endemics — they breed only in Tasmania but migrate to the mainland outside of breeding season). Rosellas are beautiful birds, and in addition to the green rosella, there are five other species found throughout Australia and the surrounding islands (on a previous trip, I managed to photograph the crimson and the eastern rosella). The green rosella is the largest of the six species. They are actually a bit more on the yellow side, with blues, reds and greens mixed in. They typically feed on the ground and primarily eat seeds, berries, nuts, flowers and fruit, as well as the occasional insect. This guy was munching on a purple thistle weed and didn’t seem to mind all the prickers — at least not at the time.
Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second
Beautiful photo!!!
Thanks Larry.
Wow! You couldn’t have asked for a better pose, Sean. The bird, which is a real beauty, is perfectly parallel to the purple thistle weed and the combination of colors in the feather coupled with the green and lavender hues in the plant make for an awesome image.
Thanks Sue. I had to be really quiet to get as close as I did and then down onto the ground. After awhile, the rosella got comfortable and surprised me by moving over to, and eating that thistle plant.
—– Variously sweet
—– Gentle quiet aggressive loud
—– This feathered Jekyll Hyde .
I fall in love with each bird, reptile, animal you show us. They are so tender and vulnerable and I want the world for them! They really don’t ask for much and, these days, so many of them are struggling for the bare minimum to survive.
Thanks Ann. Couldn’t agree more.
great pic. good work
I am worried about ground feeding and nesting birds on North Bruny, like these lovely rosellas. On my walk on Nebraska Beach last week there were literally no sea birds – except a few ducks. In past decades there were many. There has been a population explosion of Eastern quolls on North Bruny and I wonder if they are the culprits. There is one living under my house and a whole family of quolls across the road – both next to the beach. I am aware of a big argument going on as to whether Eastern Quoll are native to Bruny or introduced. I know they are endangered and extinct on the mainland – but what about the birds? What about the fairy penguins and shearwaters at the neck – are they safe? I have no answers. Just questions.