There was a time when I was regularly giving lectures or workshops with bird clubs around the country. Mostly my views, which at that point were rather uncommon in aviculture, but were well received. I do remember a presentation, “How to Get the Most out of Your Pet Psittacine,” which I thought was positively received judging from most of the audience’s reaction. Yet afterwards I was informed by friends that there were whispers going around the crowd about my techniques and suggestions. When I showed photos and demonstrated how important I consider it to give extensive individual attention to each fledgling in a hand-feeding nursery because they all seem to develop at differing rates, one commercial parrot breeder was heard to say, “I’d like to see him do that with a hundred babies!”
I have to admit, I got a little disheartened thinking about this, one more large bird producer failing to get my point. I could never use the baby psittacine feeding and training methods established at my aviaries with a seasonal output of one hundred chicks or more. In fact, in years past I was hard-pressed to raise ‘complete’ parrots that knew they were parrots when I had thirty or so fledglings in my care during one year.
For example, how could I ever leave dozens of chicks with their parents in the nesting box for three or four extra weeks, knowing that when they come out they are going to be shy, mistrustful, and hard to hand-feed for the first seven days or so? I would find myself swamped with assertive little psittacines that had already developed some independent attitude and needed so much time in extra holding, soothing, spooning of smaller amounts of formula more often, etc. until they came around and were comfortable away from their parents.
One hundred babies?
This story is from the July 2020 edition of Parrots magazine.
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This story is from the July 2020 edition of Parrots magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Parrot language issue
Puerto Rico’s endangered parrots are facing a new threat to their survival – their strange squawks. In a phenomenon never seen before, Puerto Rican parrots bred in captivity, with a view to being released into the wild, were communicating with a different dialect to the wild populations.
Regent parrots thriving in SA wetland
Passion drips from Tim Field’s every word when he speaks about eastern Regent Parrots. The wetland manager at Banrock Station in South Australia is, it’s fair to say, smitten with these striking birds. “September and October is Regent Parrot survey time,” Tim says, “So we’re up well before dawn to make sure we’re at the wetland’s to track the fly-in, fly-out breeding population.”
Landmark event for Philippine Cockatoo
Exciting news has recently arrived of a landmark event in the Philippine Cockatoo Conservation Program (PCCP), the long-term endeavour to bring about the recovery of this ‘Critically Endangered’ species endemic to the Philippines. For the first time ever, a Philippine Cockatoo rescued from the wild, and subsequently released back to its original site, has been recorded to breed and produce a healthy hatchling. Such rescue and release to augment the wild population is just one of a raft of conservation measures conducted by the PCCP and supported by the Loro Parque Fundación over many years.
Increasing Knowledge of the Most Endangered Parrots
Fifty years ago our knowledge of the status of parrots in the wild was limited. Few parrot species were known to be in danger of extinction and these were mainly Amazona parrots which were confined to small islands. At that time very few species had been studied in the wild.
Coronavirus threat to PNG's animal rescue centre
Port Moresby is the capital of Papua New Guinea and is home to its unique animal rescue centre that is now facing the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic, and could be shut down. Papua New Guinea is the most populous nation in Melanesia and faces a potentially devastating wave of Covid-19 infections.
Cucurbitaceae enrichment for our parrots
The group of cucurbitaceae is the one that includes cucumbers and pumpkins. Climbing or creeping plants that usually cover large areas to produce fruits that usually accumulate a lot of water. In nature, these plants defend themselves with a very bitter substance called cucurbitacin.
Rare macaw refuge destroyed
A rare bird sanctuary in Brazil, which is home to 15 per cent of the world’s population of Hyacinth and Lear’s Macaws, has been destroyed by fires, and there are now fears for the survival of these blue macaws. “It is very sad to see decades of my family’s work, years taking care and preserving nature, for this to happen,” said Ana Maria Barreto, owner of the São Francisco do Perigara, a cattle ranch and bird sanctuary of more than 61,000 acres in Mato Grosso state.
The value of animals
Children at a nursery and day care facility were delighted to receive a visit from some very special guests. Learning Land in Workington has a range of animals drop by, as part of an educational encounter paid for by the Co-op. The store has been working with animal specialists, Pet Encounter Cumbria, based in Workington, to deliver therapeutic and educational visits to children and the elderly.
Complete Psittacine Subtle Secrets for Feeding Psittacines – and Getting them to Eat
I have been daily feeding psittacines for 40 years now and there have been times in the past when I felt that was all I did each day – pets, breeders, babies, the birds at the shoppe in Santa Fe. The good news is this has taught me a whole lot about how to do it. And across all species groups, there are some really good guidelines for what to feed, when to feed, and how to make sure your parrots are actually consuming what you are giving them.
Calabash for parrots
Different types of calabash has grown this year very well within our organic crops and a big advantage for our parrots that are relishing every moment during this season.
