Eastern Rosella
On our visit last week to the Wittunga Botanic Gardens in the Adelaide Hills, I observed quite an interesting range of birds in the gardens and near the lake. There were plenty of Pacific Black Ducks and Wood Ducks, all clamoring for a piece of the action if any people came along – whether or not they looked like have a picnic. Ducks are ever hopeful of some food handouts.
I saw Eurasian Coots and Dusky Moorhens on the water and two Little Pied Cormorants perching on dead branches sticking out over the water of the lake. Two – perhaps a pair – of Masked Lapwings patrolled sections of the lawned areas used by picnickers. Welcome Swallows swooped low over the water and nearby bushy area. The trees were abuzz with Rainbow Lorikeets in a feeding frenzy. I also saw several Musk Lorikeets, a smaller parrot than the Rainbows but just as noisy. As for the larger parrot species I noticed several Galahs feeding on the lawns while a single Corella, I presume it was a Little Corella, flew overhead at one stage. I didn’t get a close enough look to be certain.
Eastern Rosella
One species I was delighted to be able to see and photograph was the Eastern Rosella. In South Australia this species is mainly confined to the South East region of the state and to parts of the suburbs of Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills. The above photo shows up its brilliant colours. This is one occasion when I didn’t have to chase the bird in question, as it seemed happy to pose for me on the edge of the path.
Two days after taking the above photo, I was surprised to see a single Eastern Rosella at the Murraylands Homes for the Aged in Murray Bridge. I was there visiting my mother-in-law. This is the first time I have recorded this species anywhere near here. My closest other sightings are at least 60km to the west. By its behaviour it could well have been an escapee from someone’s aviary.
Related articles:
This is the mix that was suggested to feed the young:
It consists of equal parts of High Protein Baby Cereal, Bread Crumbs, Chicken Starter Crumbs and a mixture we get from the health food shop which is a Linseed, Almond and Sunflower meal.
This is all mixed and run through the blender and then stored in the fridge until ready for use.
The very young chicks are fed with a spoon but as they get older we change to disposable plastic syringe with a plastic tube attached the main reason for the change is just speed in feeding the chicks
hey thanks for sharing that site http://www.birdcare.com.au/rosellas.htm
i was looking for a bird care info and some tricks…
jan
Hi I found a young Rosella, and it’s in a cane basket but it is really hot, I think the bird is very frightened and skreetch when ever we approach or take the towel off, I’ve left it some sunflower seeds, and water, and trying to leave it alone, but I’m warried it will get too hot. It is sitting in the water bowl. If you can answer ASAP it will be great help.
Elenor
hi trevor, i have a pair of rosella’s that i have had for 5 years and they were always happy with a certain brand of muesli this is now discontinued and they are not happy. any suggestions. cheers lynn
Hi there elenor – sorry I didn’t reply to your question – at that time I was travelling with no internet access. Hope things turned out okay.
Lynn – I’m sorry – I don’t have any experience in caring for rosellas. Can I suggest you contact your local pet shop or vet for advice, or look in your phone books for the nearest bird club.
hi hi…….
our puppy was PLAYING with a baby rosella. it was squarking and i think our pup thought it was her squeeky toy. she wasnt trying to hurt it. as i said she is a puppy. anyway she broke its wing and now we have it in a cage. a wonderful cage with branches and tree clippings and rocks etc. we are thinking of keeping it. we have named it DK for DONT KNOW if its a boy or girl……..anyway wish us luck in keeping it safe and its wing getting better…….thanks
We found an Eastern Rosella in our backyard yesterday. It is a female with no tail feathers. We have her in a cage with seed and water but not sure if this is the best option for her. The rest of her feathers look to have had a pretty rough time as she looks ‘hen-pecked’. There have been three other rosellas hanging around her cage. Are we doing the right thing in keeping her in the cage until the tail feathers grow back?
Hi carol,
I am fairly certain that the feathers will eventually grow back – unless the parrot has some disease which is causing it to lose feathers.
A more likely cause would be that a cat or dog has tried to catch its tail in its mouth, and was left with a mouth full of feathers.
I would certainly keep it in a cage until the feathers regrow. If in any doubt, check with your local vet, pet shop or wildlife carers – see the phone book for contact details.
We have two Rosellas, a boy and a girl.
They’re gorgeous. I’ve already had the boy stand on my hand, but the girl seems abit more wary, but she’s young.
The girl is a year and a half and the boy we are unsure.
They are the most gorgeous birds and I hope that eventually they will be able to trust us so that we can train them.
Hi
I have just purchased a pair of Red Pennants – Rosellas. The male was all fluffy when I got him, however he has now lost all the fluffy feathers and is bold all over his back and chest, is this normal or does he have a parasite??
Many thanks
Caroline
Hi there Caroline,
Many species of parrots are prone to various parasites and viruses, some of which result in feather loss and others are fatal. I have no expertise in this area so all I can suggest is that you contact your local pet shop, vet clinic or wildlife carers.
Sorry I can’t be of any help.
i have an eastern rosella and his name is pickles and he is just stunning ! x
Hi my name is Sharon and l have had my rosella for about 2 weeks now,not sure of age but its flying into things and feeding ok ..l think its about 6 weeks old.For the last two weeks l have had it in a cat cage, yes weird, but thats all l had when stinky came home after some big storms and and head covered in mud,and nearly getting run over by a ride on mower .Now my question..when can l put him in a cage and out of the cat cage?
He or she is quite tame likes to sit on our head with the nice little present left each time ..(poo shampoo)but it does fly off and crash into the windows ect,hasn’t hurt itself yet..so should l clipp its wings (not sure l like the idea)but also not liking a dazed bird either,if so how?
As you can see l have many questions.I went to the pet shop and ask and was told by a 16?year old that l need a cock cage to put him in and that not sure if millets is good for these birds (NO HELP)even l know that a big cocky cage is not good for a little bird ..ok my little bird and maybe the cost of $400 bucks might have made me erk up .So any help would be great thank you
Hi Sharon,
It must be the season cause my partner just rescued a young rosella last week as well. My son has a fascination with parrots and has taught us everything we need to know. I have been keeping ours in a bird cage – it cant fly yet and I have put some newspaper on the bottom of the cage so it doesn’t get its feet caught.
I have read that they can go in a cage once they can stand on the perch. Ours still has trouble standing up at all.
One website recommended an aviary 3-5m long! I think though a small cage will be okay until it gets bigger. I have read that they like to chew so maybe the kid was just trying to suggest a stronger cage. They should have some branches to chew on. And they like water bowls on the ground that they can bathe in.
You may be able to get a secondhand cage cheaper.
Hope this helps.
Bec
Hello Bec ,thanks for your reply .Stinky (that’s his or shes name) is thriving getting out of the cage flying around ..not well but a little better than before.
We feed ours on “Neo care” with a shringne for the first 3 weeks now it is eating everything .
Still a little iffy about wether to clip wings or not, both the dog and the cat still see it as dinner and it likes to land on the floor ,so both the dog and cat are locked in the bedroom together no fights there .There is another question l need to ask ….yes l know lm getting attached and yes l would feel sad but can it be released seeing its friendly .Ok again thank you
Sharon
my eastern rosella is loosing his feathers on the top of his head and he seams to be loosing a feathers as if he is multing is there a common reason for this and is there a cure