Crimson Rosella Feeding on Grevillea

There are around 700 species of birds in Australia and they figure very prominently in our natural ecology. Many of them play an important role in the pollination of native plants. Others, such as crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans), do not.

Don showed some crimson rosellas feeding on a grevillea. Although they may have been pollinating the flowers, they were snapping off the flowers (or whole flowerheads) at the same time. In this case, the plant was the loser and did not benefit from its association with the birds.

Copyright CTC Productions 2002