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Western Rosella: Inland Type aka Red-backed - the endangered small rosella of Western Australia

BirdCast

English - September 10, 2020 16:00 - 10 minutes - 7.27 MB
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The Red-backed Western Rosella (P. icterotis xanthogenys) now called the Inland Western Rosella is in serious strife in it's homelands.  Years of habitat destruction, agricultural sprays and invasions by other bird species have almost seen the end to this stunning bird. Coupled with the decline in backyard bird keepers choosing this beautiful bird to join their home, this smallest of the rosellas is in serious trouble.
Birdman Dad has kept Red-backed rosellas in his aviaries in years gone by, but now has only the family pet - Cagey Bird - who would be some 13 plus years old and even though he now resides in an outdoors aviary with his hen, he has never bred a single chick and would much rather chat with his owner than ever think of raising a family!
The Red-backed rosella is a truly beautiful bird.  Closely related to the nominate Western Rosella (P. icterotis) who many people see in the great southern region of Western Australia and who predominantly has a green back (rather than red) hence are often called Green backed rosellas.
Championed by the "Western Rosella Man" aka Ben Pearce, the Inland Western Rosella was finally removed from the permitted trapping licences issued by the government nature department of Western Australia a few years ago.  The Western Rosella Man continues to fight for the rights of this truly stunning bird and more information can be found in this article from the Avicultural Society of NSW,
http://aviculturalsocietynsw.org/_articles/WestRosellaMan-BPearce.htm#.X08_FcgzaM8
Hopefully this podcast will educate and inspire people worldwide to take an interest in this beautiful West Australian bird whom is most certainly going to be leaving our planet shortly if people keep doing what people do.