This is the sight that greeted us when we rose this morning - three Rosellas feeding on the lawn. Sorry about the poor quality of the pics - they are very shy birds and I couldn't get too close.
We have flocks of Rosellas out on the orchard where they do cause damage to the kiwifruit. But this is the first time I have seen them here in town, and so brazenly feeding in view of humans and cats.
They are native to Australia and in the last ten years or so seem to have decided that NZ has greener pastures and have established themselves in some locations around the country. It remains to be seen how they affect the local bird population. They may occupy a niche that dosn't displace our own birds, especially if they don't live in the bush (forest).
Later:
I have been looking for more information and they have actually been in the country since the early 1900's! There is some worry that they will displace our native parrots - Kakariki - but this hasn't been proved. Kakariki are not often seen, only in isolated bush areas (NZ native forest is known here as 'bush')
5 comments:
Wow! I haven't seen rosellas in years... my nana had a pet rosella and he was gorgeous. What a lovely bright sight for you in the morning :)
p.s. the tiles you commented on are made on chip board.
Beautiful!! We only see birds with THAT kind of plumage in pet shops (and I feel terribly, horribly sorry for them...)
Lovely photos, as usual!!
Isn't that funny that they've been in NZ for over 100 years! The must not being too much damage--no possums are they! So very pretty, though!
Wow! Those are beautiful birds! I love their coloring! So pretty!
Shell - oh yes, chip board makes sense.
Candy - well we usually only see birds like this in pet shops in cages also! Some of our native birds are colourful but not that bright.
m - no certainly not like possums. A good possum is a dead one - an awful thing to say but sadly in this part of the world its true.
Chrissy - Australia must take the prize in this part of the globe for colourful birds. These Rosellas are just illegal immigrants.
Post a Comment