c o (J) ; Q E o .c AN AUSTRALIAN VIEWPOINT r- ei cuQ.) by Tom De Graaff, o >. .D Melbourne, Victoria, o ~ Q..

\;Avicu ture of the Eastern Platycercus eximinius

Introduction Sexing he is one of the The hens of the speci~s have the first that' I kept and bred. same basic color pattern but the colors It wa recognizable to virtually are less intense and the red is less everyone who entered our backyard sharply defined. Hens vary greatly, as the "Tomato Soup ." A popu­ however, and some are difficult to tell lar Australian brand of soup called from the less well colored cocks. "Rosella" bears this as its logo. Interestingly, upon examination of My pair of birds has probably given the nestlings about one week prior to me the most fascinating sight and them leaving the nest, the sexes seem some of my favorite -related mem­ more distinct than when they fledge. ories. The following aviary notes are The young leave the nest as dull repli­ based on this particular pair which cas of their mother and carry a white bred for me over a period of many under-wing stripe. Young cocks lose years, rearing two broods each year. this wing-stripe after their first adult Being colorful and quite resilient, the molt, which may take up to 12 months 17.?e true Golden-mantled has a Eastern Rosella is a most appropriate to complete. Hens retain this wing­ rich yellow scalloped mantle instead q( the bird for anyone considering the larger stripe as adults. I have also noticed that green scallopr.; q(the Easten'l Rosella. Australian broad-tailed parakeets. gQ.) General Description (5 c o The Eastern Rosella is about 12 "tJ ~ (J) inches long with head, sides of neck, >. .D its chest, vent and under tail-coverts o 2 red. The lower breast is yellow blend­ Q.. ing to green on the abdomen. The nape ofthe neck is yellow and the bird sports white cheek patches. The back, mantle and scapulars are black and ­ typical of the rosella group - are given a scalloped effect by having the margins of each feather a different color; in this species, greeny-yellow. The bend of each wing is blue, lighter for outer secondaries and the under surface of the tail feathers but darker for the outer edges of the primaries. The bill is grey-horn color and the legs are grey. The rump is yellowish-green. When an Ea5iten'l Rosella ha..r;; this 1nuch t'ed coloration) it is called a Firey Rosella.

44 MarchiApril 1998 the heads of the male birds are notice­ vation on a regional level, agriculture, ably flatter on top whilst the heads of and welfare issues. Most breed­ females are more rounded. However, ers of native birds require a license, this can be variable. depending on the species kept. This license is needed to keep the Eastern Related Species and Subspecies Rosella. This same government, The rosellas comprise a fairly dis­ together with the Victorian Avicultural tinct group with their cheek patches Council, developed a Code of Practice and scalloped patterns on their backs. for the humane keeping of all birds. The Australian Ring-necked Parakeets The standards are sensible and the Bamardius spp. share many behav­ Eastern is subject to this Code. ioral and morphological similarities. Local Governments include city and [Editor's note: some taxonomists have shire councils and these usually attend merged the Barnardius genus into the to noise and pest issues on a local Platycercus genus as can be noted in Distribution of the Eastern Rosella neighbor-to-neighbor level. Distribution and of Birds of Despite the need for a license, the the World by Sibley andMonroeJ water where it feeds on a variety of Eastern Rosella is kept in modest yet Within the genus Platycercus, the seeds, nuts, berries and other fruits. safe numbers in my home state of Eastern's closest relatives seem to be This species is distributed through­ Victoria, one of the seven states of the Blue-cheeked, P. adscitus, and the out eastern Australia from about Australia. Victoria's state wildlife licens­ , P. venustus. Easterns Gympie in Queensland through New ing authorities list (as. at 31 March share with these other two species South Wales and Victoria (except the 1997) 852 people keeping 2123 East­ within the genus, certain characteristics dry north-west corner), Tasmania, ems including subspecies and muta­ such as variable sexual distinctions and some islands in Bass Strait, and ranges tions. In comparison, the same ·source their plumage patterns although the into South Australia as far as Tintinarra. lists 1068 people keeping 4187 colors are different. In fact, recent The species is also found around Princess of Wales Parakeets, Polytelis ornithological thinking places all three Adelaide including the nearby Mount alexandrae. species (and their associated sub­ Lofty Ranges in South Australia. The Eastern Rosella is, however, species) in the one, large complex largely underestimated in both dollars called the White-cheeked Rosella. calls and Behavior and in "enjoyability." In addition to the nominate sub­ This species exhibits all the typical species, there are two distinct sub­ behavioral characteristics of the rosella Housing species of the Eastern Rosella: group: My pair of Easterns were housed in P. e. ceciliae, the Golden-mantled • The undulating flight. an open flight aviary of timber con­ Rosella inhabits the northerly part of • The strutting, swaggering style of struction (made from the wood of the species' range from northern New the male birds. some old packing cases, in fact) and South Wales and into Queensland. Its • The tail-wagging during various measured approximately 9 feet long, 4 rump is bluer than the nominate sub­ displays, and the high-pitched, piping feet wide and 4 feet high. The shelter species and its scalloped mantle mark­ whistle consisting of sharp notes was small but snug with the perch ings are a rich yellow rather than repeated rapidly in quick succession. higher than any other perch - even green. By mimicking this call, you can the wire netting in the flight. Birds tend P. e. diemenensis, the Tasmanian prompt most rosellas (and certainly the to seek out the highest point in the Eastern Rosella, inhabits Tasmania. It is Eastern) to display and call in their typ­ aviary where they prefer to roost. This a larger bird being about 13 inches ical style. shelter perch provided that spot and long. Bergmann's Rule states that birds the birds soon became accustomed to of a species from the colder parts of its The Law using it each night. range are larger than those from the Australia has three levels ofgovern­ The floor was sand (being built over warmer parts. The cheek patches of ment and each can exert some effect my childhood sandbox). This drained this subspecies are also much larger on bird keeping. The Federal very well indeed and no worm prob­ and are snow white while the general Government is the national govern­ lems were ever evident. The brick­ coloration is somewhat darker and ment. It is responsible for import, paved shelter floor was easy to clean. richer. Gloger's Rule states that birds of export and the implementation of The aviary faced south which is far a species from the damper parts of its CITES. The Eastern Rosella cannot be from ideal but this was due to space range are darker than those from the legally imported into or exported from considerations. In Australia, the bad drier parts. Australia. weather emanates from the south. The Government of Victoria is a North gives us the winter sun and east, Distribution and Habitat state government similar to the state as in the Northern Hemisphere, gives The Eastern Rosella inhabits open governments in the U.S.A. It is respon­ us the morning sun. However, the forest and grassy woodlands near sible for wildlife management, conser- aviary was very close to the house and the afa WATCHBIRD 45 faced the kitchen window for easy many varieties. They had a smorgas­ When I came home from school, I observation. This provided enough bord every day to choose from and could see the sawdust on the floor and shelter from the winter winds. they sampled most of the items. know that breeding had commenced. Watching the Eastern Rosellas was Grit and cuttlebone were provided Between three and eight eggs are some consolation for having to wash at all times plus crushed eggshells as normally laid and the hen does all of the dishes at the kitchen window. My available. These provided the birds the incubation. She commences seri­ parents did not possess an automatic with calcium for bones and beaks plus ously incubating with the second or dishwasher. aiding digestion. third egg. Incubation lasts about 21 Whilst breeding, seeding grasses days. I have had as many as seven Mixing With Other Species were supplied daily. Being at high babies reach independence from the This species - as with the rest of school, I was unable to escape nightly one clutch of eggs. My pair was dou­ the group (with the possible exception homework duties but was always ble-brooded. ofthe P. icterotis) - is allowed to feed and check the birds I read once that it is a good idea to extremely pugnacious. They will attack first. However, this feeding did not provide two nesting si~es because the other birds and either kill or maim include scouring the back blocks of hen may go back to nest before the them in no time. I have seen terrible Ballarat (a Victorian country town) for first clutch fledges. I only provided one injuries such as toes and mandibles weeds every night. I would have to log and my pair was fledging young torn off through fighting, even through collect a week's supply ofgreens at the from the second clutch as late as 2 the wire mesh of adjoining aviaries. weekends and divide this into daily February, the last month of summer. Therefore, I believe they should be portions. Each was placed in a plastic In my experience, young remain in housed by themselves and should not bag sprayed on the inside with water the nest for between 33 and 35 days. even be housed next to other aggres­ and tied around the stems then hung At this stage, when the young are sive birds (including their own kind, of up in the shed which was cool and about to leave the nest, I have had course). dry. Each day I'd untie one of the bags some of my fondest memories in the Outside the breeding season, I have and distribute the still fresh grasses. bird world. The mother would feed kept Chinese Painted Quail Tumix Dock Rumex spp. thistle Sonchus the young at the entrance hole and chinensis with them briefly. However, spp and chickweed, See/laria media, then fly to the wire opposite, calling I did not entirely trust my pair of East­ were preferred and wild greens and for them to come out. We had a bird's ems and so I promptly removed the herbs known locally as Prince of eye view of this procedure from the quail when circumstances permitted. Wales feather, Amaranthus retro.flexus, kitchen window. The sight of the and fat hen, Chenopodium album, young birds with their yellow bills, Feeding were eaten later in the season. Dock bobbing their heads up and down, A dry seed mixture of two parts and thistle were literally demolished begging for food was an amusing sight. plain canary and one part each ofpan­ although the Prince of Wales feather Mother "Rosie" would be coaxing them icum, white, grey, and Japanese millet was taken sparingly. out and they would appear to hesitate, was used and eaten efficiently by the at times almost losing their balance. birds. In a separate dish I fed a 50-50 Breeding This would often occur just before din­ mixture of hulled oats and grey sun­ This particular pair of Easterns bred ner when my mother would be prepar­ flower seed. I rationed the larger seeds like clockwork. During late August ing the evening meal herself so I could to one handful per day during the (the last month of winter), I would sympathize with the baby birds. The summer months but during the winter. install the breeding log - the same name "Rosie" - derived from the col­ when I felt that the birds needed the one each year. It was a natural log loquial term for rosella - is the name extra oil content, I gave them unlimit- about 3 feet long with an internal our family gave the mother. ed quantities. . diameter of about 8 inches. The log At this time of fledging, it is also Virtually every food scrap from the had an entrance spout with an oval very important to watch the father. I kitchen found its way to the rosella hole about 4 to 5 inches wide. It found that, here again, the birds aviary and, from there what they did­ opened into a wide chamber which worked like clockwork. Exactly seven n't eat was placed in the compost heap then narrowed down to a straight hol­ days after fledging, the cock bird in the finch aviary. My Eastern Rosellas low in the nest area. Each year I would would seriously attack that particular took cooked meat, carrots, peas, beans fill the hollow with damp hardwood young bird. If two left the nest on the and other fruits and vegetables of sawdust to approximately one foot same day, he'd attack both exactly one deep. The hen would then scratch and week later. If none fledged on a par­ dig out most of the sawdust and start ticular day, then all would be calm for SELECT BREEDERS warming the nest, drying it out to her that day the next week. The father was PROVEN AND BONDED PAIRS ECLECTUS· UMBRELLA COCKATOO liking, so that about two weeks later aggressive but, fortunately, predictable ROSE BREASTED COCKATOO· MACAWS the first egg would be laid. in this regard. ~---- EIGHT PAIRS ..~ MAKE AN OFFER Putting sawdust in the hollow I had to remove each young one on Out Of Th.e .Blue Locust Valley, NY AViarIeS (576) 676-7907 meant that the hen would scratch it out the morning of its seventh day out of and leave sawdust on the aviary floor. the nest. 46 March/April 1998 Hybrids References Code ofPractice for the housing ofcaged birds The Eastern Rosella has produced (991). Victorian Government Gazette hybrids with a number of related 22 August 1990, Victorian species. However, I believe that this is Government Printer, Melbourne, Australia. not in the best interests ofaviculture nor De Graaff T. (989). "The Eastern Rosella." ofthe species involved. The hybrids are Australian Vol.43 NO.2. Hutchins B.R. & Lovell R.H. (985). Australian often fertile and second generation . A Field and Aviary Study. birds can be difficult to pick. Avicultural Society of Australia. In the wild, however, a small nat­ Melbourne, Australia. Immelmann K (968). Australian Parakeets. ural zone exists between the Association Ornithologique Belgique, Eastern and the Pale-headed Rosellas Belgium. where their ranges meet. Marshall R. (988). "The Melanistic Eastern Rosella Mutation." Australian Birdkeeper Vol. 1 No.5. Murray R. (undated). Slides of Seeding Grasses Mutations held in the archives of the Avicultural A number of mutations for this Society of Australia. Melbourne. Australia. species have been recorded over the Shephard M. (989). Aviculture in Australia. years. In Australia, there are lutino, cin­ Black Cockatoo Press, Melbourne, namon, red (also called "fiery" para­ Australia. Smith R.]. & Smith S.]. (990). "The Red Eastern ROSELLASj keet or rosella), and melanistic muta­ Rosella." Australian BirdkeeperVol. 3 A VIEWPOINT tions being regularly bred. It appears No. 1. U.S. Theodore B (997). Wildlife Return Transaction by Dale R. Thompson that all are sex-linked recessive except Summary for the Period Ending 31 for the melanistic trait, which is auto­ March 1997. Department of Natural Lemon Cove, CA somal recessive. This means that hens Resources & Environment, Melbourne, Australia. may be split for the melanistic trait. Vroegop P. (993). "The Eastern Rosella." Australian Aviculture Vol. 47 No.6.

The Pet Bird Acknowledgment The In my opinion, the Eastern Rosella Drawing of Distribution Map: John Buchan, is not an ideal pet bird. This bird is Glen Waverley, Australia. Reproduced from built for flight in open spaces. Whilst Australian Panuts. A Field and Aviary Study with Eastern becoming tame when hand-reared, the kind permission of the Avicultural Society of Australia, Incorporated. they are still easily startled and try to take flight quickly and strongly. This Further Reading: Rosella results in fluttering and crashing into a Eastern Rosellas on the World Wide Web corner of the cage. A superficial browse through the internet When tamed, Easterns can become uncovers some information on this species. in the US. However, most sites give only general field infor­ too familiar. Losing their fear of mation. These sites include: humans, they can then become bossy little feathered imps with ear-nipping The Australian Rosella and other mischief not uncommon. http://rosella.apana.org.au/bird-det.htm#Eastem he parrots known as rosellas Nonetheless, the Eastern has a great Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria, Australia have been favorite avicultural gift for whistling and has been a com­ http://www.zoo.org.aulhs/hsl13.htm subjects for many years. They mon pet bird in Australia in the past. I T are noted for their beautiful colors, would suggest, however, that most Lexicon ofParrots conspicuous cheek patches, and the such pet birds. - orphaned and/or http://www.arndt-verlag.com! scalloping on their back feathers. hand-reared from the wild - were There are eight species of rosellas, all caged and looked at, not petted and The On-line Book ofParrots Index ofParakeet Pictures inhabiting Australia; the Green handled as are the pet birds of today. http://www.ub.tu-elausthal.de/ (Yellow-bellied), the Crimson PAhtmllindeOO2g.htmI (Pennant's), Yellow, Adelaide, Eastern Conclusion Footnote (Golden-mantled), Pale-headed (Blue The Eastern Rosella is a hardy and Australian AViculture is the monthly Journal orMealy), Northern (Brown's), and the beautiful bird largely underestimated published by the Avicultural Society of Australia, Stanley. and overlooked by many aviculturists. Inc. The Department of Natural Resources & The Eastern is probably the best Environment (DNRE) is the Victorian State It I find it a fascinating species full of Government wildlife authority. The VAC Newsletter known of the rosellas. is one of the character and boisterous charm. This is is the monthly publication of the Victorian most beautiful parrots in captivity. a bird worthy of any breeder's atten­ Avicultural Council (VAC), the state body repre­ From its scarlet head and breast to tion and most suitable for the novice senting aviculture to government and the state afftl­ blues, greens, and golden yellows on iate ofthe Avicultural Federation ofAustralia (AFA). breeder of Australian parrots. other parts of its body, it is vividly col- • the afa WATCHBIRD 47