 Conversely in New Zealand, there is a report of "T. oreades" escaping into kanuka scrub from the trout hatchery gardens on the Tongariro River south of Lake Taupo.The prominent position and striking colour of "Telopea oreades" and many of its relatives within the subtribe Embothriinae—both in Australia and South America—strongly suggest it is adapted to pollination by birds, and has been for over 60 million years.Birds recorded visiting the flowers for their nectar include red wattlebird ("Anthochaera carunculata"), eastern spinebill ("Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris"), crescent honeyeater ("Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus"), yellow-faced honeyeater ("Lichenostomus chrysops"), brown-headed honeyeater ("Melithreptus brevirostris"), white-naped honeyeater ("Melithreptus lunatus") and silvereye ("Zosterops lateralis").