Petroica phoenicea (Flame Robin)

IUCN Status: Near Threatened

The population of this species has experienced strong declines in sightings, and is no longer seen at all in the fringes of its range. It’s hardly seen now in South Australia or the Victorian lowlands, but is still somewhat common on the mainland in the dividing range highlands and in Tasmania.

I took this photo near the great lake in the Tasmanian highlands. We have friends with access to a hut up there. I’d stumbled on got ordinary photos of this species up there last year. This year I went with a plan and determination and was able to make some photos worth sharing. With tiny birds like this, the challenge is getting close enough. In this case that just meant being very still for long enough for the bird to get accustomed to my presence.