In June this year, I made my third visit to this fascinating country. I spent one week visiting three of their best zoos, at the invitation of my friends, Roland and Daisy Wirth, from Germany. We traveled by train because this form of transport is incredibly cheap, comfortable and fast. The welcome and hospitality we received at the zoos of Prague, Pilsen, and Ostrava was outstandingly warm and generous.
It was four years since my last visit to Prague Zoo, which is renowned for its curator, Antonin Vail. Under his direction, one of the best bird collections in the world has been assembled. The zoo is of outstanding interest for the range of unusual species, and not only birds, and for the high rate of breeding successes. Antonin’s knowledge of, and intense love, for birds, is extraordinary. It is such a pleasure to be in his company!
The methods he has used to provide a good diet, persuade pairs to produce chicks, then to ensure their survival, impresses me deeply. Some of the species reared have rarely or never been bred previously in Europe. Sustained successes with many difficult species would be impossible without the numerous off-exhibit breeding aviaries, which total well over one hundred.
In this article, I will describe only the parrots, but the extensive bird collection is one for the connoisseur with so many species that are not seen in other zoos! At the time of my visit, there was a limited number of parrots on exhibit, but this changed on 28th September when the new Parrot Pavilion opened. Antonin took us to see it.
In 2015, he had described to me his dream of a new parrot house. Each aviary would represent a certain region, with the appropriate plants, parrot species, and painted backdrop. Now this dream is a reality! Known as Rakos sÌHouse, which was named after the Czech breeder, Stanislav Rakos, who donated funds to Prague Zoo before his death for the construction of a birdhouse.
Esta historia es de la edición November 2019 de Parrots magazine.
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Esta historia es de la edición November 2019 de Parrots magazine.
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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.
