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 firstAustralian bird of the year poll 2021A 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.Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Continue reading...