Platycercus eximius, was known as the ROSELLAS; Rosella Parakeet. Lee Crandall's List A U.S. VIEWPOINT 0926-29) gives W. H. Browning as the by Dale R. Thompson, first breeder of the Eastern Rosella Lemon Cove, CA around 1929. (The date was not recorded exactly.) Many other breed­ ers reproduced this rosella but F. H. Rudkin had the most recorded suc­ cesses. The Pennant's Rosella, Platycercus elegans, was first reproduced (record­ ed) in 1930 by Dr. Leon Patrick and San Diego Zoo (handfed from ten days). Dr. Patrick related, "They adapt themselves so thoroughly to Southern California climate that young produced here are larger and more brilliantly col­ Introduction varieties and sizes. The rosellas were ored." I personally do not know if it he rosella group ofparrots orig­ not too far behind. was the climate that intensified the inates from Australia and they babies' colors, but southern California T comprise one of the largest of Early History certainly has a climate that matches the the Australian parrot families~ There 1920s, '30s, and '40s climate where the Pennant's Rosella are eight representatives in the genus The history of rosellas in American originates in Australia. Platycercus one or the other of which aviculture first began in the late 1920s. F. H. Rudkin was probably the most are found throughout much of It was during the decade of the 1930s consistent breeder of Pennant's Australia including the island of when most of the rosellas were first Rosellas in those early years as he suc­ Tasmania. reproduced in America. Records are cessfully reared them almost on an The rosellas are truly among the scarce but Aviculture Magazine is the annual basis from 1932 to 1941. most colorful and beautifully marked best reference. One must remember During the 1930s and '40s, several parrots found throughout the world. It that all rosellas in this era were wild­ breeders have been recorded as repro­ is due to this great beauty that the caught and imported directly from ducing the Pennant's Rosella including rosella group has always been popular Australia or imported via Europe. The F. A. Vanderlip, A. G. Orean, W. J. in aviculture everywhere. wild-caught rosella is a far different Sheffler, Mrs. Gilbert Lee, and Mrs. Since Europeans first discovered bird from the rosella of today. The Olive Gilmer. Dr. R. Woods in 1943 Australia, the demand for all of wild-caught rosella is a very high­ referred to his "prolific" pair double Australia's parrots has been great. strung, nervous bird. Those birds that clutching. He stated, "... has a second Australian cockatoos, parrots and para­ made it to America in the 1930s were brood of three Pennant's in one sea­ keets have now been held in avicul­ transported by ship and usually these son, the hen laid her second clutch of ture for over 150 years. Obviously, the trips were very arduous and difficult three eggs long before they (the pair) Budgie or Shell Parakeet was one of for them. Many birds were lost and the quit feeding the first young." the very first to be reproduced in cap­ survivors often developed health prob­ Dr. and Mrs. Patrick first reproduced tivity and developed into many color lems. It was not easy to house high­ the Yellow Rosella, Platycercus elegans strung rosellas in small cages aboard a flaveolus, in 1929. At that time the bird ship that did not have adequate bird was known as the Yellow-rumped food and water. Parakeet. At an Avicultural Society Those that made it to America were meeting he stated, "Yellow-rumped WATCHBIRD BINDERS tough birds and, when acclimatized, Parakeets have young flying in the Hansome, sturdy binder holds a fu II year's issues of did quite well in captivity. All species aviary and are incubating their second The Watchbird (6 issues).Of rich brown leather-like vinyl embossed in gold. $7 00 of the roseIIas arrived in America dur­ clutch of eggs this season." • each ing these early years but some were in The Mealy Rosella, Platycercus ele­ CONTINENTAL U.S.-Add $4.00 Shipping/Han­ dling for one binder. Add 75ft for each additional very limited quantities. This is why gansflaveolus, is also called the Pale­ binder. there are many records of hybrid headed or Blue Rosella and was prob­ FOREIGN-Add $8.00 ShippinglHandlingforone binder. Add $2.50 for each additional binder. breedings between different rosella ably first reproduced by W. J. Sheffler Please remtt in U.S. funds. species. The two most colorful rosel­ in 1931 but he was not given the ~ Phoneorders accepted using las, the Eastern and Pennant's Rosellas award (no reason given). In the 1940s American Federation ofAviculture were the most popular and obviously the Mealy Rosella was reproduced P.O. Box56218 Phoenix,Arizona85079-6218 the most effort was given to these two quite well though there were not a lot (602)484-0931. fax(602) 484-0109 species. of breeders. A very good breeder of In these years the Eastern Rosella, Mealy Rosellas, Mrs. Olive Gilmer 50 Janualy/Febmary 1998 writes in 1945, "I know of several lied, were not recorded in Aviculture Obviously these stations were not fanciers who breed them as readily as except for hybridization with other monitored and they lacked any inter­ Zebra Finches." In the same year, Dave rosellas and non-rosellas. The Stanley national authority to make sure any West, another prolific rosella breeder Rosella was crossed with a Pileated and all birds actually did go through writes, "During the past two years two Parakeet, Purpureicephalus spurius, in the 30 to 60 day quarantine period. pairs of Mealy Rosellas in my modest 1929 and the Barnard's Parakeet, But this quarantine did have an collection have produced and success­ Barnardius barnardii, with a effect on the number of exotic birds fully reared a total ofthirty-two young, Pennant's Rosella in 1947. There is coming into the U. S. The late 1960s and both pairs are on eggs at this time. absolutely no need for hybridizing and early 1970s brought an increased In the spring of 1944 both pairs nested these now very common Australian interest in aviculture in the United quite early, the first week in February, parakeets and it should be avoided at States and many more people were and continued until the end of July. all costs. now acquiring exotic birds to put in Over this rather extended breeding On January 24, 1930, President their back yards. period (six months) seventeen young Herbert Hoover issued a proclamation Smuggling of parrots from Australia were reared, but one, unfortunately, prohibiting the importation of all was still going on during the 1960s and died, evidently from a broken neck. psittacines from foreign ports into the 1970s. Many a stevedore would come Each pair nested twice with one pair U.S. due to the excitement stirred up ashore with birds attached to his body rearing nine and the other eight by the media publicity as to the danger and there was a ready market. Using young. There were two nests of five to humans of Psittacosis. Budgies just two long woman's stockings, one bird young, one of four and one of three. happened to be the most widely and would be placed into one toe and They began breeding even earlier this commonly kept species ofpsittacine at another bird in the other toe. The season--one pair hatched young on that time hence the "Budgie Ban" as it upper ends of the stocking would be Christmas Day. This same pair already was called. A similar ban was imposed tied together at the top and one bird has reared twelve young from three in England, Germany, Switzerland and slipped through one armhole ofa long nests and as yet they have shown no Canada about the same time. overcoat and the other through the signs of wanting to quit. .. My other California imposed a law requiring that other armhole. With the overcoat over pair have reared four young so far this all Budgies be banded and this still his shoulders, two birds, be they a season and are again sitting as this is holds to the present day. cockatoos or rosellas, could thus be written Qune, 20,)." Australia banned the export ofall its taken down the gangplank without ]. D. Putnam recorded the only wildlife in the middle 1950s. This, being noticed. A transaction would reproduction of the Brown's Rosella, however, did not stop the smuggling take place in a nearby bar and the Platycercus venustus, prior to 1940. Of out of Australia. stevedore would instantly double his interest, Dr. Patrick writes in 1939 that, pay. "This species is possessed by but few Increased Interest in Rosellas ofour members, neither do they breed During the 1960s and 1970s Quarantine in the 1970s as freely as the other Platycerci, but There was no such thing as federal Due to the now famous and disas­ those who have reared young are to quarantine before the mid-sixties. Prior trous Newcastle Disease problem in be sincerely congratulated on their to this, if one wanted to do a self-quar­ 1973, a strict quarantine was placed on success." According to the records of antine, it was a personal choice. Any all exotic birds coming into the U. S. Aviculture, 1. D. Putnam imported a new arrivals that were injured (eye and Many U. S. Fish & Wildlife approved pair from the Keston Foreign Bird beak problems) or looked ill in any quarantine stations sprang up through­ Farm in England. In 1940 Mr. Putnam way were usually set apart from the out the U.