Crimson Rosellas Poem by Francis Duggan

Quite common birds and by that i mean to say
Is that i see them by the dozen every day
And oft counted up to twenty on one tree
The fairest of rosella family.

Crimson rosellas are by no means rare
And in Shire of Sherbrooke see them everywhere
And each time i see them i can only stare
And admire them for the colours that they wear.

Juvenile crimson rosellas mostly coloured green
Quite different to the adult birds 'twould seem
And adults blue cheeked, blue tailed, crimson and brownish black
And mottled dark brown on their wings and back.

Their bell like notes sound much like kee kee kee
As they fly through wooded parks from tree to tree
Their distinct calls in memory will remain
You hear them once, you know their voice again.

They form their nests of dried leaves and debris
In hollow log or old gum cavity
And five to eight white rounded eggs are laid
In hole too deep for most predators to raid.

The most oft seen parrots in the Sherbrooke Shire
And their splendid colours can't help but admire
Quite common birds and by that i mean to say
Is that i see them by the dozen every day.