Range expansion of Eastern rosella?

[Brent Stephenson]

Hi all,

I was doing bird monitoring for the Hawkes Bay Regional Council today at a site near Porangahau. It is a large patch of native forest along the same range as the 'Worlds longest name'. On two occasions, separated by at least 4 hours, I heard Eastern rosella calling. This would be the first time I have heard or seen this species in Hawkes Bay, and wonder if it might be the first record? The Pohangina Valley in the Manawatu is only about 65km away as the 'Rosella flies', so not that far, but a substantial amount of open farmland between the two sites.

Cheers,

[tim]

I have seen them in hastings before many years back feeding on kahikatea berries in Frimely park, though I dont know if it was a captive released bird or a wild bird from the ranges.

[Peter Frost]

We have noted an gradual increase in reported sightings in and around Wanganui over the past couple of years. Prior to that, rosellas were found mostly in the northern part of the region, towards and beyond Raetihi. I've commented on this a couple of times in my Regional Roundup reports for Wanganui in Southern Bird (more in the next issue). Barry Hartley, the OSNZ's regional representative for Taranaki, told me that Eastern Rosella appear to spreading there as well.

Peter