gOOd breeders." ROSELLAS; Modern avicultural literature clearly AN AUSTRALIAN VIEWPOINT indicates that the Crimson Rosella (per­ by Graeme Hyde, Elliminyt, haps the most strikingly beautiful of all Victoria, Australia the rosellas) continues to be a favorite parakeet, particularly in America, Europe, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and, to a lesser degree, in its Aviculture 0/the home country Australia. For example, in his excellent book Australian Cnmson Rosella Parakeets and Their Mutations, Herman Kremer the noted Dutch aviculturist comments, "Pennant's [Crimson] para­ keets are relatively easy to breed ... They are hardy birds which can with­ stand low temperatures." Subspecies ofthe Crimson Rosella Although some authorities claim that there are several subspecies of the Crimson Rosella I am, for the purpose of this article, concentrating on the nominate race Platycercus elegans ele­ gans and its northern form, P. e. nigrescens, which is found only in the wild in isolated areas of Queensland. The nominate race, sometimes known as Mountain Lowry or Red Lowry, is the form kept in aviculture around the world. The northern race, nigrescens, although commonly known as the Crimson Rosella (in Australia), is "the smallest in stature of all races of ele­ gans' (Hutchins & Lovell), being c g approximately 12 inches in length. a. E o This race (i.e., subspecies) seems to .c ~ ci follow Gloger's Rule of cHnal variation Q) (ij whereby "a bird of a single species o 1:). c which inhabits warm and humid parts co Q) 0> of their range tends to become darker "t) oo in color" (Hutchins & Lovell). o Q) Description o0> Q) Adult Male ­ ..0 The nominate race of the Crimson o (5 Rosella Platycercus elegans elegans is .ca.. approximately 14 inches long. The Preamble Introduction male is predominantly crimson-red in his striking rosella, Platycercus In the Avicultural Society of color, with violet-blue cheek patches elegans elegans, although wide­ Australia's informative book, Australian and black-edged-with-crimson feathers T ly known outside of Australia Parrots: A Field and Aviary Study, the on the mantle and back. It usually has by the alternative common name ­ authors Barry Hutchins and Bob Lovell, a larger, flatter head than the female. Pennant's Rosella - is (almost) uni­ discuss six species and 13 subspecies of Adult Female versally known as the Crimson Rosella the rosella genus Platycercus. Parrots The adult female is similar in color in Australian aviculture. As mentioned belonging to the genus Platycercus are to the adult male but usually has a in my opening article in this "Rosella commonly referred to as broadtail par­ smaller head and upper mandible. Series" ("The History of Rosellas in rots and collectively as rosellas. lmmatures Australian Aviculture") "it has never Hutchins and Lovell comment, In the nominate race (elegans) juve­ been widely kept as an aviary bird in "Generally all species and subspecies nile Crimson Rosellas have green Australia due, no doubt, to it being make good aviary birds once acclima­ plumage with some patches ofred and such a common species in the wild." tized, being long livers and reasonably the violet-blue cheek patches whereas

46 May/June 1998 As mentioned previously ("History" items in its wild state, ranging trom article) it is a common species where I seeding grasses to buds of trees, live in southwestern Victoria and is a Australian aviculturists offer their regular visitor to our garden through­ Crimson Rosellas a varied diet - from out the year, where it likes to alight a range of the usual dry seeds through and feed in the uppermost branches of to, and including, seeding grasses, one of the native gum trees. Its pres­ milk thistles, garden weeds, silverbeet, ence is usually evident either by the spinach, lettuce (in its various forms), Distribution of the Crimson Rosella o\;:]" swift flight of a pair or a small flock of green peas, and fruit including apple, on Australian mainland. four to six birds. orange, peach, apricot; pear, banana Because it is primarily a seed-eater, - plus a range of berries including the northern race (nigrescens) are the Crimson Rosella spends a lot of raspberries and blackberries. The basic almost red in contrast to the overall time foraging on the ground for food, seed diet consists of white millet, pan­ green coloration of elegans. including the seeds of grasses, both icum, canary, sunflower and hulled local and introduced (Le., exotic spp.). oats - with the latter two being given Distribution in limited quantity except when the The distribution map clearly shows Avicu1tural History breeding birds have youngsters in the the distribution of the Crimson Rosella In 1903, in his book, Parrakeets: nest. - from far north Queensland ­ Being a Practical Handbook to Those Mealworms are often supplied, down the eastern seaboard into south­ Species Kept in Captivity, David Seth­ together with a tree branch weekly, eastern South Australia. In a large part Smith of England wrote of Crimson which gives the birds the opportunity of its range (as Hutchins & Lovell Rosellas, "They have been bred in this to chew, as they have a natural affinity stateD "this rosella can be found at a country and on the Continent several with trees in the wild - especially fairly high altitude throughout a large times." The doyen of modern-day avi­ eucalypts. A varied and nutritious diet, area of the Great Dividing Range, cultural authors, Rosemary Low, in her preferably including soaked or sprout­ sometimes as high as 2,000 meters excellent book, Parrots: Their Care ed seed - fed daily, is important to [6,560 feet] above sea level." As readers and Breeding, comments, "For long a ensure success with this colorful para­ of Watchbird who have visited favorite bird with aviculturists, this par­ keet. Australia may know, the Great rakeet was bred in France as long ago In Australia fresh water is usually Dividing Range is a mountain range as 1874..." and in "...the U.S.A., the first supplied on a daily basis in either ter­ which extends along the whole of the breeding was probably by ]. C. racotta or stainless steel dishes. Either eastern seaboard of Australia from Edwards of Los Angeles in 1927." way, fresh water is essential for both Cape York Peninsula in the north to Unfortunately the Australian avicul­ drinking and bathing. Shellgrit and cut­ central-southern Victoria. tural literature hasn't recorded when tlebone are provided all-year-round. the Crimson Rosella was first bred in its Habitat in the Wild home country. The oldest avicultural One of the reasons why the Suitable Aviary society in Australia, the Avicultural Crimson Rosella is such a hardy avi­ A suitable aviary for this species Society of South Australia which was cultural species, both in Australia and measures 14 feet long, 4 feet wide and founded in 1928, eventually began the US (as well as Europe and the 7 feet high. It is important that a shel­ keeping records of first breedings for United Kingdom), is that its natural ter (house) section be included to a that state. The nominate race, range in the wild includes: depth according to the severity of the Platycercus elegans elegans, was first • tablelands with rainforests; local climatic. In warmer areas of "officially" bred in South Australia by E. • fern gullies; Australia [e.g., Adelaide, South B. Cox in 1936. (The same race, P. e. • heavily wooded mountains; Australia] an adequate shelter is 4-5 elegans, was, according to Coles, first • dense woodlands; feet deep by 7-9 feet high, with the bred [officially] in the United Kingdom • open forests; roof sloping to the rear. As the by H. ]ary in 1871.) • hilly and plains country; Crimson Rosella is aggressive to its This species has always been a • open forest country; own kind - as well as the other rosel­ favorite avicultural species despite its • seasonal snowcapped areas; la species - it is only ever housed one aggression toward its own kind. As is • occasional snow in other areas. pair to an aviary. so often the case, it is more highly It is essentially a parrot that has The use of heavy gauge wire mesh prized in countries other than its native adapted to a wet and/or cold climatic is an accepted practice in Australia for Australia. (In Australia it is not a com­ habitat. Where we live the annual rain­ aviaries housing rosellas except the mon aviary bird which, in part, is fall is approximately 35 inches smaller, non-aggressive, Stanley undoubtedly due to its abundance in (900mm) and the area, noted for its Rosella P. icterotis. A mesh such as 1 the wild in eastern, and southeastern, quality dairy industry, is officially clas­ inch x 112 inch solves the problem of Australia.) sified as a "wet climate" although we wire-ehewing. If Crimson or other have our share of glorious weather ­ Diet in captivity rosellas are housed in adjoining including hot summer days. As this rosella eats a wide range of aviaries the aviculturist concerned usu-

the afa WATCHBIRD 47 ally has additional wire mesh between from the top which should be large until 15-20 years old. It is usual for this each flight with such partitions being enough for the birds to enter. Place a species to be single brooded in the approximately two inches apart. suitable perch just below the opening wild and there are records of Crimson In Australia aviary floors for parrot to permit easy access to the entrance Rosellas breeding when still in species range from natural earth hole when the birds are entering or subadult plumage (Forshaw). (which I prefer) to fine gravel, small leaving the log" (Hutchins & Lovell). pebbles, concrete or concrete covered The usual material placed in the Mutations with river sand. Although opinions dif­ nest is wood dirt, sawdust mixed with The best known mutation of the fer among Australian aviculturists soil, potting mix or sawdust mixed Crimson Rosella in Australia is the blue about which type of floor is the most with peatmoss - to a depth of 2-4 which is now well established suitable for rosellas there are two inches. throughout the avicultural world. The things most would agree upon: The breeding season in captivity in cinnamon mutation of this species is 1) concrete facilitates easier clean­ Australia equates approximately with still in the early stages of being estab­ ing and better hygiene control; the breeding season in the wild, com­ lished. Although the "blue" Crimson 2) an earthen floor is more natural mencing in September and ranging Rosella is a beautiful bird, it is, in my for the birds which, in the case of the through to January. Spring "Down opinion, not as attractive as a fully-col­ Crimson Rosella, spends a lot of time Under" is from September to ored mature normal Crimson Rosella, feeding on the ground in the wild. November, with December to which quite simply, is a stunning par­ Regardless ofthe type offloor used, February being the summer months. rot - color-wise or personality-wise. a regular worming program is the Although clutch size can/does vary, norm, the birds usually being wormed References the usual clutch is between 5-8 white Coles. D. "First Breeding Records for Australian just before and just after the breeding eggs which take approximately 21 Birds Bred in the United Kingdom." season. days to hatch. Only the female broods. Australian Aviculture: 186-188, 1997. Forshaw, ]. M. Australian Parrots (second [rev.) The sitting bird only leaves the nest to ed.). Lansdowne Editions, Melbourne, captive Breeding feed with, and/or be fed by the male. Australia: 1981. As this beautiful rosella nests in the The young fledge about five weeks Hayward, J. The Rosellas. Aviculturist wild in hollows ranging from three feet Publications, Carteton, England: 1995. after hatching. A successful breeder of Hutchins, B. R. & Lovell, R. H. Australian to 50 feet above ground level, and the northern race of the Crimson Parrots: A Field and Aviary Study. maybe even higher, it goes without Rosella (nigrescens), FrankJohnston of Avicultural Society of Australia, Melbourne, Australia: 1985. saying that in a controlled environment Victoria, states, "I find that one young Johnston, F. "The Crimson Rosella, Platycercus (i.e., when housed in an aviary) differ­ will fledge by itself with the other elegans elegans." Australian ent pairs will select different nests ­ nestlings fledging one to two days Aviculture: 190-192, 1993. Kremer, H. Australian Parakeets and Their either natural logs or wooden nestbox­ later. The last young to hatch is obvi­ Mutations. Uitgeverij 'Grnis', The es - at different heights. Although ous because it isn't fully feathered at Netherlands, 1992. Australian breeders offer their rosellas Low, R. Parrots: Their Care and Breeding. the time of fledging." Blandford Press, Poole, England, different types ofnests, the actual mea­ They are poor flyers and, as 1986. surement for the nest would always be Johnston has observed, "The most crit­ Seth-Smith, D. Parrakeets: Being a Practical Handbook to Those Species Kept in about 24 inches deep, with an inside ical time for the young is 72 hours after Captivity, Part 5. R. H. Porter, measurement ofapproximately 7 inch­ they fledge. Placing tree branches, hes­ London, England, 1903. es. sian bags or shadecloth at each end of Wilson, K. A. Guide to ... the Rosellas. Australian Birdkeeper, Coolangatta, Australia, Experience has proven that it is the aviary does save a few bumps and 1988. wise to offer the breeding pair the bruises. Such protection can be choice of two nests, hung under shel­ removed after five to six days as, by Acknowledgments Map ter, and not too close to the roof that time, they are more balanced in John E. Buchan, Glen Waverley, Australia. because of the extreme heat the roof their movements." Reprinted from Australian Parrots: A Field and can generate on very hot days. Some Aviary Study with permission of the Avicultural Three to four weeks after fledging Society ofAustralia. aviculturists hang the nests at a 45 the young will be fully independent degree angle, others hang them verti­ and eating without any assistance from Photographs cally and, sometimes, when two nests their parents. This is the best time to "Crimson Rosella Habitat" Chris Hunt, Morwell, are provided one is hung at a 45 Australia. transfer them to a holding aviary. A "Crimson Rosella in the Wild" Author, Elliminyt, degree angle and the other vertically. close watch on the male's behavior at Australia. One successful method is for "the this time is important as he will often log to have the top open and hung in drive the young away - especially Legend a position with the entrance facing the young males. This species can be dou­ Australian Aviculturr!. Monthly journal of the back ofthe shelter and the other log to Avicultural Society of Australia, Melbourne, ble-brooded. Victoria, Australia. have both ends closed with the top In captivity the Crimson Rosella is Australian Birdkeeper. Commercial publisher end hinged so that it can be used as an known for its longevity -living up to which produces a bi-monthly magazine, Australian Bire/keeper, and "A Guide to .... " series inspection door. An entrance hole to 20-25 years. It will commence breed­ of avicultural books, Tweed Heads South, be provided about 10cm (4 inches) ing at two years of age and continue Australia. .,. 48 May/June 1998