Birding The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Trees and plants attract birds so it was a good choice to go birding at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart, Tasmania.  It is a short drive from the hotel we spent the night at – the Customs House in Salamanca area of Hobart.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens map

The gardens themselves were beautiful as one might expect.

IMG_8051 - Copy IMG_8052 - Copy IMG_8054 - Copy IMG_8053 - Copy IMG_8056a - Copy IMG_8067 - Copy IMG_8068 - CopyThere is a really cool hide overlooking the garden with stunning views over the river and city.

IMG_8062 - Copy IMG_8063 - Copy IMG_8061 - Copy IMG_8064 - Copy IMG_8058 - Copy IMG_8060 - CopyOur visit was in the late afternoon and found that birds were more easily seen up near the entrance of the gardens.  Eastern Rosellas, Musk Lorikeets and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were easily seen.

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Spotted DovesIMG_8102a - Copy IMG_8116a - Copy

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)

The Eastern Rosella was named by George Shaw in 1792 and in my opinion is one of Australia’s most beautiful birds.

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Three subspecies of Eastern Rosella are recognised:

  • P. e. eximius, Victoria and southern New South Wales. Black feathers on the back have green margins. Rump is pale green.
  • P. e. elecica, northeast New South Wales and southeast Queensland. In the male the black feathers on the back have golden-yellow margins, and greenish-yellow in the female. The rump is bluish-green. This subspecies is also called the Golden-mantled Rosella.
  • P. e. diemenensis, eastern Tasmania. White cheek patches are larger and the red on the head is darker.

My photos above are the Tasmanian subspecies.  We saw them easily around Hobart in the Botanical Gardens and near the Travelodge Airport Hotel.  I have also seen the 2nd subspecies around the Girraween area in South-east Queensland.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT EASTERN ROSELLAS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

Birds in Backyards

Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife

VIDEO

Don’t be fooled, these are wild birds who set up housekeeping in someone’s backyard!