I thank my lucky stars for the rosellas that led to my career in ornithology

A flash of colour that caught my eye at the age of 10 in 1968 - that's how far back I trace a sense of obligation to care for the biodiversity that was here first

• Australian bird of the year poll 2021

A flash of colour that takes my eye at the age of 10 in 1968 and learning that it is an Adelaide rosella.

Reaching the edge of a vast swamp north of Birdsville in 1982 thinking, This is perfect habitat for grey grasswrens. They must be here." And they are! Right at the edge of the road - just the third population ever discovered until then of an inland Australian bird only described to science in 1969.

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