Tracking the Rosellas

A friend has been tracking the Eastern Rosellas that have been nesting in the golf course along  Elster Creek. He is studying the plumage variations from newly fledged through to adult by photographing and observing three generations of local birds.  The Rosellas managed to raise 4 chicks and all seemed to fledge but in recent sightings only two are being regularly seen. The area has roaming foxes, cats and dogs and the birds often feed on the ground. The juveniles are inexperienced and too trusting of approaching danger. Over the last few days I have been looking for and photographing the Rosellas to see how they progressing. They have favourite roosting and feeding spots and make feeding calls to each other – a lovely piping sound. They are one of my favourite local birds.

Platycercus eximius  – meaning “excellent broad-tail”.

Eastern Rosella, Elster Creek, Elsternwick, Vic, 5 Dec 2016

II

One of the juveniles, quite trusting on approach.