PHOTO: Making your way in this pandemic today takes everything you’ve got.
Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. Sometimes you want to go – but don’t forget your mask. – Photo by George Sommers
MORE COV-ADJUSTMENTS: Conflicting sources have Parrot Palooza, likely the biggest annual bird event on the east coast, either postponed – date TBD or “almost definitely canceled”. The three day Columbus Day event is sponsored by Bird Paradise, self described biggest bird store in the world. Along with a multitude of birds; it typically features contests, guest speakers and live shows by the New Jersey Bird Man along with a DJ and a free barbecue. Cancellation seems more likely given the pandemic, oncoming cold weather and little by way of a suitable alternative date slot for the remainder of the year. Also canceled (at least for the original dates) is the free round trip bus from Connecticut sponsored by Bird Paradise to pick up parrot loving New Englanders to attend, and presumably spend some dough. — The Seattle Parrot Expo will go on as scheduled 9/26-10/3. However, in an apparent first; following the lead of Zoom club meetings, the 7th annual event will be going virtual. Interactive content will include a virtual meeting space for professionals and learners, virtual vendor hall, an online auction and free content on social media platforms both live and recorded. — The Aloha Hawaiian Parrot Club’s last Zoom meeting was one of the most well attended ever and in addition to Hawaii included participants from Colorado, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Featured guest speaker was yours truly describing my experiences as a bird specialist freelance writer. I’ll try not to break my arm patting myself on the back! — Connecticut’s The Parrot Club’s annual picnic has been canceled, but the club will do an alternative program. Status of TPC’s Birdie Bash in November remains tentative. — In New York; the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo and NY Aquarium opened to the public on July 24th. Online reservations likely required for admittance.– Rhode Island Parrot Rescue has joined forces with Animal Talk, an online course for K-12 students that introduces students to local animal rescue organizations. The course will be taught via Zoom, and is a part of the Rhode Island Department of Education’s SAIL (Summer Academy for Interactive Learning) initiative. It runs on Thursdays July 23 through Aug. 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. The course is supplemental, and cannot be taken in lieu of another course for credit. Public school students can register for this course for free at http://www.ride.ri.gov/summer
EUTHANASIA VS. UNAFFORDABLE PET BILLS may be the unfortunate choice if proposed changes by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) go through. According to Marcy Bliss, President and CEO of Wedgewood Pharmacy; these changes could have serious and damaging ramifications for pet owners and pets and in a recent survey, veterinarians said if adopted, “financial euthanasia” will spike, as pet owners are forced to let their sick pets go because they can’t afford the medicines. Shelter veterinarians reported that others will surrender their pets to already over-crowded shelters and rescue organizations which will lead to an increase in euthanasia for tens of thousands of animals. The proposed changes include preparing animal medications with manufactured drugs, rather than bulk ingredients from FDA-registered suppliers. This would dramatically reduce access to compounded medications, lower their quality, and increase the cost of medications compounded for animals by an average of 300% and up to 3,000% in some cases. A bi-partisan group from the House of Representatives has written a letter asking FDA to withdraw this guidance. Concerned parties should
VASA FACTS, JACK: The primitive greater vasa parrot, native to Madagascar and nearby islands, is thought by some to be a modern day dinosaur and has some very reptilian habits . The eggs hatch in 18 days; the shortest time span for any parrot species. Vasas can change their feather coloring without molting. Females are larger and more aggressive and the mating ritual is done in more of a reptilian than bird like fashion. Vasas will take sun, dirt or water baths – unusual for most species to be into all three. Also unique among parrots is that vasas will hunt for and eat meat, although keas have been known to tear strips of flesh from sheep and eat it.
Featuring Michael “Parrot Wizard” Sazhin and Truman.
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLING HIGHWAYS: A rope bridge over the Hume Freeway in Victoria, Australia is intended for the safe crossing of sugar gliders, but cockatoos have been spotted using it as well. – From https://interestingengineering.com/29-of-the-most-heartwarming-wildlife-crossings-around-the-world?fbclid=IwAR11_D-DC0v4bm0mg0uYC84vKeNQ0Rs3wtPU1gT
A PLAGUE ON PLAGIARISTS: Someone posted that they lost their bird so a well meaning someone else shared a link to help. Barbara Heidenreich clicked the link and says she was quite surprised to read it was “almost” the exactly word for word from her own previous link (see below) and in a DVD Robin Shewokis and she made in 2005. The alleged plagiarized version was published in 2012.
WHAT’S ON TV?: A meowing Amazon parrot is featured on the teaser commercial for “The Incredible Dr. Pol”‘s episode on odd cases following the full moon. Also on “Animal Plantet”, the austral parakeet is one of the featured critters on “Wild Chile”. The austral parakeet, aka austral conure, or emerald parakeet is found from the southern tip of South America – further south than any other parrot – to as far north as Temuco.
PARROTRIVIA: In a classic “Jack Benny Show”, Benny playing Tarzan asks a young Carol Burnett as Jane if they are having cockatoo souffle for dinner. (Cockatoos in Africa?)
EXTINCTION STINKS:But there’s hope for the endangered Spix’s macaw. In 2009 there were only 68 of the critically endangered Spix’s left in captivity, and presumably none in the wild. And now 2020 there are 158 individuals; thanks to the efforts of Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP), Fondation Loro Parque, Fondation Lymington and Nest. – From a Facebook post
PARROT CONSERVATION SOS: Thank you so much to everyone who helped us to meet our matching goal in record time. Your outstanding generosity will make a significant difference in the lives of parrots and those working to protect them.
An “incredible outpouring of support”hasinspired an additional match of $7,500to boost the recovery of parrot conservation efforts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Parrot Trust planned projects as soon as life returns to normal, include
Rescuing and rehabilitating confiscated parrots so they may be returned to the wild
Working with local communities to build awareness and protection for native birds
Supporting breeding and release efforts where populations have declined
Conducting vital research to better inform conservation efforts
Building ecotourism initiatives as an alternative to destructive practices like poaching
HELP WANTED:Midland Parrots in Coalville, UK is looking for an animal care apprentice. Training will be provided. See their web or Facebook page for details.
HOT DATES: — 7/25,26:South Alabama Cage Bird Society Bird Fair and Gulf Coast Exotic Animal Expo.Proceeds benefit Avian Research. 9-5. Social distancing encouraged, and the number of visitors will be limited to 50% capacity. It’s at the ABBA shrine, but there’s no indication that the Swedish band will be there. Abba Temple Shrine Auditorium, 7701 Hitt Rd., Mobile, AL — BIRDS OUT LOUD Guest Debbie Schweikardt from the Arizona Bird Store. Grooming, DNA sexing, microchipping. Behavior modification/training consultation available by app’t. Kiko’s Toy Chest, 6404 Waller Rd. E. , Tacoma, WA — 7/31: LAST DAY FOR DONATIONS MATCH for the Kiwa parrot sanctuary in the UK. — 8/1:Southeast Exotic Bird Fair 9-4. 2301 W Oak ave Plant City Fl 33563 Strawberry festival grounds Teco expo hall.– CANCELLED: MIDWEST GET YOUR BIRD ON SHOWS Rolling Meadows IL 7/23 Joliet, IL 7/26. Check their sites for info on upcoming events.–- Many public events are likely to have been postponed or canceled. Best to check before making plans.
PHOTO: Farewell to the ringnecks of Seychelles.Hope it’s to the black parrots’ benefit. (See related story.) – Photo by George Sommers
WHERE ARE ALL THE GREEN WOMEN AT?: A lack of parrot ladies isn’t helping the already fragile wild swift parrot population. The ratio of male swifts to females was once roughly equal but is now almost three to one, thanks to a tiny predator introduced to Tasmania in the 1800s — the sugar glider. Sugar gliders can access nest hollows and kill female swifts while they incubate their eggs. More than half of the females die annually at their breeding grounds. Scientists at The Australian National University (ANU) have found the female shortage has led to love triangles, sneaky sex on the side, increased fighting between males and fewer babies. More than half of the nests had babies with more than one father. “This is remarkable for parrots because most species are monogamous,” said Professor Heinsohn from the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society. Mate sharing was not beneficial for anyone in the ménage à trois. “The overall number of babies born fell whenever the sex ratio became more male-dominated and shared paternity went up,” Heinsohn said. He adds,”We were aware of many nests where an extra male would hang around and harass the female, but were absolutely flabbergasted to find that the females were engaging in sneaky sex with them. We think the females are having sex with the other males for a range of reasons, but probably the main one is just to get them off their backs.” Proposed solutions include helping populations on islands where the gliders do not occur and devising predator proof nest boxes.- From https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181204095346.htm?fbclid=IwAR0n0nbbP_wzHaRU11C2jWQ5uthDXiB97NEG7pRSTH9a9YckxtBFPrFbgr4
THE PRINCE AND THE SAINT: Prince Charles’ visit last week to several nations in the Caribbean included a close up encounter with a St. Vincent parrot at the Botanical Gardens in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
GOOD NEWS FOR BLACK PARROTS IS BAD NEWS FOR RINGNECKS: Wild ringneck parrots have not been seen in the Seychelles for over a year and a half. The presumed last one was shot in 2017. While this may seem like sad news, the ringneck has become established as an invasive species in 40 countries outside of its native range including, until recently; the Seychelles – where it posed a potential threat to the native black parrot population. Although the ringnecks were restricted to Mahe, if they had moved on to the second biggest island of Praslin, they would have presumably aggressively competed with the black parrots for food and nesting sites. Ringnecks came to the Secyhelles as pets in the 1980s and 5 individuals were spotted in the wild in 1997. History is unlikely to repeat in this case as there is now a ban on the importation of parrots to the nation, and importation of other bird species has to go through an environmental and veterinary permitting process. – From http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/10712/Ring-necked+parakeet+declared+eradicated+from+Seychelles+after++years+of+work?fbclid=IwAR3ELKGJdAEWPrrs8kA7ao5oCl8psFHdbWnAyLqveCqdrI8MViN3G7J7kvc
MAGNA CUM LOUDY: The average call of the Moluccan cockatoo is 110 decibels, same as a large barking dog or crying baby- but has been measured sometimes at 130 dB – same as a jet taking off and enough to set off a car alarm. Hyacinth macaw alarm calls 106 dB. Most macaws average in home screaming 104 dB. Kashmir C.’s sneeze is 96 dB. Normal TV and radio listen for most people is 70 dB.
GHASTLY: A country council has written to the South Australian Government urging gas be used to cull corella cockatoo flocks. Some have claimed that there is a “massive overpopulation” of the birds and they are destroying people’s property. Others have come to their defense. One writes: “They bulldoze the scrub that the birds live in and then complain because the birds search for food”. Comments another: “What a ridiculous kneejerkreaction! These birds are suffering just as the rest of the state is suffering from not enough rain and lack of their normal feeding areas.” That view is shared by Gisela Kaplan, an expert in animal behavior at the University of New England.”It’s entirely inappropriate, cruel and ignorant,” Professor Kaplan said of the proposal. She said mass killing could lead to the birds disappearing in South Australia, and said bird numbers had not increased overalland that flocks were forming because of recent drought. Drones and noisemaking devices have apparently been ineffective. As a nonlethal alternative, Prof. Kaplan suggests, “One single bird of prey, particularly a peregrine falcon, flying over an area with a flock of 10,000 corellas will clear those corellas within two minutes to five minutes. What other farmers have done is encouraged birds of prey to stay on their properties by feeding them meat.” – From https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-28/corella-cull-by-gassing-proposed/10948214
TUBULAR, DUDE: Karl Berg, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley assistant professor of ornithology and ecology, enlisted The Brownsville Public Utilities Board’s help in the form of a bucket truck and personnel to install two nesting tubes for endangered red-crowned parrots at Lincoln Park. Joining the team were were Zachary Edelstein, a Boy Scout as part of his Eagle Scout Service Project and his dad, an assistant scoutmaster. Berg, who’s been studying parrots in Venezuela for three decades, erected about 10 of the nesting tubes around the UTRGV campus in 2016. It was late in the nesting season and the red-crowns had already staked out other nests, though black-bellied whistling ducks and woodpeckers moved right in, he said. The natural range of the red-crowned parrot is small — essentially the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, with only 650 or 700 living in the Rio Grande Valley. Success came last year. “Sure enough, in January or February 2018 they were vigorously defending our tubes, and went on to nest successfully,” Berg said. After Zachary Edelstein spotted his first nest tube in his uncle’s backyard during a barbecue, the uncle put him in touch with Berg, who put him to work making nesting tubes. “I gathered a whole bunch of my scout friends put together an Eagle project,” Edelstein said. “First we just kind of collected a whole bunch of old PVC that was donated to us. After that we built all of the nesting boxes with my friends.” The camouflaged tubes are made from heavy-duty PVC culvert pipe, surplus donated by the Nature Conservancy. They’re closed on each end, with hardware cloth lining the interior so the birds can get around, and feature a small access hole with a perch, Edelstein said, adding that he’s learned a lot about red crowns since going down this road.“It was really just kind of like a fun, cool project,” he said. – From https://www.themonitor.com/2019/03/16/utrgv-teams-help-red-crown-parrots/?fbclid=IwAR2K_wzzgP2egJlsqeIJjeOAHEg-Tj_rKGpzyj5W61LSjECt20ROG7dxq8I
GIMME A RING: A 2015 wedding in Castle Valley, Utah featured a rose breasted cockatoo carrying the rings up the aisle on cue.
PARROTRIVIA: A parrot that was part of a stripper’s act would sit on the sidelines and talk dirty, according to “MASH”‘s Hawkeye doing a stream of consciousness monologue to a non-English speaking Korean family.
THE REAL MACAW: The sound of birds is a sign of spring, but Carolin and Tommy Brown never expected the sounds of a macaw. “I hear this loud squawk and I looked up and he was there,” Carolin Brown said. The couple were returning to their Fort Worth home after having lunch Sunday when (not surprisingly) they heard a blue & gold macaw before they saw it. The Fort Worth Zoo denied ownership. They have posted online looking for the owner. They want someone to prove ownership before they had him over.“We’re hoping he’s reunited with them, or I’m going to build a big birdhouse,” Tommy said. Macaws will fly more than 15 miles for food, so it’s hard to say where the bird might have come from.The Browns have nicknamed the bird Alpha after their family plumbing business. Tommy used spare PVC pipe to rig up a quick perch for the macaw on their fence, and they have been feeding it apples and lettuce. While the bird has flown a few houses over, it returns to their roost. If you believe the Browns have your bird, contact WFAA TV and we will share your information with them. – From https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/macaw-lands-in-fort-worth-familys-yard/287-453f5e90-6dfa-4946-bd25-0e5200f8cd74?fbclid=IwAR0kI99GdxCyd-O5wxlgttOSk_Yu69BqYn
DIDJA KNOW: Cherry headed conures are also known as red headed conures or red masked parakeets. They are considered to be the best talkers of the parrot world.
STRICTLY COMMERCIAL: Jake the blue & gold macaw puts in his two cents as a couple discuss their financial portfolio with a representative from TD Ameritrade.
BUDGIE CRISIS: A budgerigar (parakeet) breeder in Arkansas had a stroke and is hospitalized, leaving some thousand birds in need of care. Louisiana Exotic Animal Resource Network (LEARN) is asking for help in placing and caring for them. Those able to assist can send a message, or email learnaboutcritters@gmail.com No phone calls, please. If you can donate to help cover the expenses of this effort: learnaboutcritters.org/donate
HELP WANTED: Is your dream job studying wild macaws in the rain forest? Applications for field assistants are being taken from April through October at http://vetmed.tamu.edu/macawproject The bad news: these are volunteer positions.
MATCH GAME: Creative Bird Toys is offering its 6th annual Rescue Match April 1-30. CBT will match your donation purchase from CreativeBirdToys.com only of up to $100 per order of CBT only offered toys &/or products with another selection of toys &/or parts of CBT’s choice. This special is ONLY open to verified U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue or sanctuary for both bird & small critter, guinea pig to rabbit within the Continental USA only. If your order is $25, we will drop ship them your order + the matching $25 of CBT’s choice! Orders will only be dropped shipped directly to your choice, no exceptions
HOT DATES: 3/30.31: FOSTER PARROTS MARCH MATCHING FUNDRAISER FINAL DAYS To donate, go to https://www.fosterparrots.com/support-us-page —3/30: Connecticut Parrot Society 12th Annual Featherfest Speakers: 10:30 am – MaryBeth Kaeser, Horizon Wings, a non-profit birds of prey rehab center . Live raprtor show. “A Case of Mistaken Identity.” 1:30 pm – Karen LaFollett, founder of FlockCall.com, award winning author, humorist, and parrot family flock consultant. “What a Relationship Is According to a Parrot – How Our Parrots See the Idea Of Communication, Friendship, and Having Us as Roommates.” Kathy will also be handing out free copies of “The Art of the FlockCall” and free samples of parrot food and toys courtesy of Christine’s Chop Shop and Birdie Box Bird Toys. Several regional American Federation for Aviculture members will be on hand including Concetta Ferragamo, Denise Cabral, Sharon Presner and Suzanna Dodd. Door prizes, teacup auction – and the Sugar Bakery Cupcake Truck.. 10-5. Admission $5/FREE for children under 12 and CPS members. Elks Club, 44 Maynard St., Middletown, CT. — THE GREAT FORAGING EXPERIMENT with Robin Shewokis. Admission: $27.50, includes “The Great Foraging Kit” brought to you by The Leather Elves. Parrot University. 1Pm 321 South Polk St. Pineville, NC — 3/31: EXOTIC BIRD AUCTION, Lucas Auctions 10 am. Bushnell, FL — 4/4-7: IAABC Animal Behavior Conference International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants cutting-edge, science-based and practical education for animal training and behavior professionals. IAABC 2019 offers individuals working with dogs, cats, parrots and horses the chance to learn and network together. Houston, TX — 4/6: WMassBird Expo FREE. 9-3. Ludlow Elks Club 69 Chapin St. Ludlow MA — Peninsula Caged Bird Society Bird Mart Free flying macaw demo, raffle, door prize. 9-4. Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Newport News, VA — 4/7: Florida West Coast Avian Society Exotic Bird Extravaganza 10-4. $5/ 10 & under FREE. Sarasota County Fairgrounds, Potter Bldg., Sarasota, FL — 4/9: PARROT TRIVIA/GAME NIGHT 7 pm. The Parrot Club, Veteran’s Memorial Clubhouse, 100 Sunset Ridge Drive, East Hartford, CT
FOUND: Congo African grey. Austin, TX. IS #A791507. Contact Austin Animal Center customer service for more information. animal.customerservice@austintexas.gov Fax Number: (512) 978-0616 — LOST: African grey ‘Tiki’. Maui, keokea Kula, HI. (808) 298-2626 or (808) 269-0770
PHOTO: Don’t worry about me- I’m just playing! Related stories: mystery disease effecting rainbow lorikeets; play and feed the lories at zoo. – Photo by George Sommers
RAINBOW MYSTERY: Over 20 rainbow lorikeets from parts of Queensland, Australia have been turned over for care due to a sudden paralysis.. “It’s like there’s something wrong with their wings,” says Tegan King, head vet nurse at the Proserpine Veterinary Clinic. “They’re holding them down and flat out, but they’re not broken. There’s nothing physically wrong with their wings, but they can’t move them.” President of Fauna Rescue Whitsunday, Jacqui Webb, said a number of the birds the organization has taken into care are also suffering from a number of conditions.”Some are quite lethargic and uncoordinated and their voices sound funny, not like a normal lorikeet screech at all,” Ms Webb said. King suspects that the birds may be effected by something they ingested and vets say the culprit may be the flowers of the African tulip tree — an invasive pest. There is also some speculation that a recent heat wave and excessive rain may have something to do with it. – From https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-01/mystery-condition-paralysing-rainbow-lorikeets/10861002?fbclid=IwAR2MSqb_8mD7DgSHog51aJLydtAb4acWVfwsWYOdfuZKG_WUsVjpxETyaHY
PARROT REROUTED FROM AIRPORT TAKEOFF: Hugo the female African parrot was spotted and grounded by a firefighter doing a routine safety inspection at Dublin Airport. “A live runway wasn’t a safe place for her so after some difficulty we eventually coaxed her into a makeshift carrier made from a cardboard box,” said rescuer Craig Wade. The airport was contacted by 4 people claiming to be Hugo’s owner; but none of them were able to provide the ID number on her leg band. Lidl Ireland, which oddly enough is a supermarket chain based in Germany, replied to Dublin Airport on Twitter, saying: “Guys this is going to sound unbelievable but there’s a ‘Missing Parrot’ poster in one of our stores. So we called the number to check and it’s his parrot!” it added. Lubomir Michna, who lives in Finglas in Dublin but is originally from Slovakia, was the man behind the poster. He said he could prove that the African grey was his and he had taught it some Slovak sayings. He sent an audio recording, which was played and “she instantly reacted”, said Dan Donoher, who looked after the pet before the reunion. Hugo had escaped through a door which had been left open in Michna’s house. Donoher said there was “no doubt in my mind that Lubomir was her rightful owner”. “As soon as the carrier opened, Hugo jumped onto Lubomir’s arm and cuddled into his neck,” he added.”You could see they have a really close bond, it was lovely.” – From https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47307685?fbclid=IwAR0eJGW4BESE3zq-0K7LgepjS3CWMA_Sud5G_m5Ggr8YEw_BYJ5U7IBnhTc
LORIKEET LANDING at the San Diego Zoo is an exhibit in which visitors can enter an aviary and feed and interact with 73 lorikeets.
DIDJA KNOW: Very well preserved mummified parrots from 3000 years ago have been found in Egypt.
GOOD (FOR A CHANGE) CONSERVATION NEWS:The Lear’s Macaw is one of the nine species that the Loro Parque Foundation has been able to save from imminent extinction thanks to its funding of conservation projects Six Lear’s macaws born in the Loro Parque Foundation’s facilities and moved last August to Brazil for their reinsertion in nature have already managed to adapt to the harsh conditions of their habitat in the Caatinga and are now flying free in the wild. The parrot is one of the most important projects of the Foundation, which has managed to move its category on the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from ‘critically endangered’ to ‘endangered’. Those last six individuals to arrive in Brazil have spent a period of adaptation in a large aviary based in a natural environment, with plants typical of the ecology of the species and where they have become familiar with the sounds of nature and with the conditions of the area where the Lear’s macaw was previously found.
During this process, the project team had to face several challenges: that the birds could adapt to eating the fruit of the licuri palm – which the species feeds on – at the same speed as other wild birds, given that they were accustomed to a softer meal, or that they stopped drinking water directly from a drinking trough and began to consume that which they obtained from the fruit of the palm trees are just two of them. However, all were gradually overcome and successfully, whilst they were also trained to increase their cardio-respiratory capacity and to react to sounds of possible predators. – From http://www.cbs8.com/story/40027242/loro-parque-foundation-reintroduces-six-tenerifeborn-parrots-in-danger-of-extinction-to-brazil
HELP WANTED: Southwick Zoo in Mendon, MA is looking to fill a seasonal position for keeper/attendant in the zoo’s Parakeet Aviary. Parakeet staff are responsible for the basic husbandry of a collection of 100+ parakeets/cockatiels- including diet prep, pressure washing, enrichment making, upkeep and monitoring. They also work alongside other parakeet staff to attend the aviary during zoo hours- including making/selling feed sticks, answering questions, and enforcing rules/monitoring the public. Parakeet staff also have the pleasure of watching precious male cockatiel, Damien, desperately beg for preening from his parakeet friends, only to be rejected and forced to preen himself- although sometimes the parakeets decide to be nice. If interested follow the link attached to the comments in Facebook to apply, or message the zoo for additional information.
HOT DATES:3/10: HernandoExotic Bird Club 21st Annual Bird Mart Surgical; DNA tresting by vet. Raffle hourly. $5/ Under 10 FREE. 9-4. 6436 Broad St. (US Hwy. 41) Brooksville, FL — 3/12: STRANGE AND INTERESTING CASES (hmmmm) are the topic of vet Dr. Kristin Sinclair, guest speaker at The Parrot Club. Also at the meeting will be Dean with some Creative Bird Toys. 6:30.100 Sunset Ridge Drive. East Hartford, CT — 3/15-17: Super Pet Expo Fri. 3-8, Sat.10-7, Sun. 10-5 – 14320 Chantilly Shopping Center Chantilly, VA — 3/16: KEEPING OUT PARROTS FLYING FREE conservation mini-conference. Speakers include Dr. LoraKim Joyner, Emenson Urtecho, Danika Orial-Marway, Dr. Lucy Spelman. Breakfast & lunch provided. Tickets $75. Foster Parrots/New England Wildlife Sanctuary. Contact http://www.fosterparrots.com/conservationconference — 3/17: RARE MUTATION SHOW featured at Tri-State Budgie Society meeting. Potluck supper and soup share. Public welcome. FREE, but please bring soup or food item to share. 2 p.m. Spotswood Reformed Church, 429 Main St., Spotswood, NJ — Treasure Coast Exotic Bird Club 22nd Exotic Bird Expo 9-4. $5/under 12 FREE. Martin County Fairgrounds, Stuart, FL
What are YOUR plans for World Parrot Day? – Photo by George Sommers
NORWEGIAN BLUE FOSSIL FOUND: Monty Python’s “Norwegian blue” parrot isn’t dead after all, or wasn’t, anyway, 55 million years ago. Palaeontologists discovered fossilized parrot remains in Scandinavia, indicating parrots once flew wild over Norway and Denmark. Modern parrots mostly prefer warmer climes but research suggests that they first evolved in the North, and earlier than ever thought. The fossil parrot was discovered on the Isle of Mors in northwest Denmark. Officially it’s named ‘Mopsitta tanta’ but it’s nicknamed the ‘Danish Blue’ from the ’70s BBC program. Dr. David Waterhouse, lead author of the paper, explains: “…the tricky bit is establishing that it was a parrot. As with many fragile bird fossils, it is a wonder that anything remains at all, and all that remains of this early Danish parrot is a single upper wing bone (humerus). But, this small bone contains characteristic features that show that it is clearly from a member of the parrot family, about the size of a yellow-crested cockatoo.” Mopsitta represents the oldest and most northerly convincing remains of a parrot. “When Mopsitta was alive, most of Northern Europe was experiencing a warm period, with a large shallow tropical lagoon covering much of Germany, South East England and Denmark. We have to remember that this was only 10 million years after the dinosaurs were wiped out, and some strange things were happening with animal life all over the planet,” says Waterhouse. “No Southern Hemisphere fossil parrot has been found older than about 15 million years old, so this new evidence suggests that parrots evolved right here in the Northern Hemisphere before diversifying further South in the tropics later on. As far as“pinin’ for the fjords,” “It’s a lovely image,” says Waterhouse, “but we can say with certainty that it was not. This parrot shuffled off its mortal coil around 55 million years ago, but the fjords of Norway were formed during the last ice age and are less than a million years old.” The ”Monty Python’ sketch is available at: http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=KmRdrsvdvaY – Fromhttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080516123153.htm?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3QPcd3FAtEd53NI99052zEDH8pgxXkFjkd4dM5bDgMiD8yonOEh9rZt3c_aem_AYLU3tu62K7g2hQgLJfMcBb2rZgSuua7yGZ2gEspTsSLLDWFzVTx5gM5-ZrniD0QrKXlF7ed3H-0O299lS61Dz8n#:~:text=Strange%20%26%20Offbeat&text=05%2F080516123153.htm-,Palaeontologists%20have%20discovered%20fossil%20remains%20in%20Scandinavia%20of%20parrots%20dating,is%20now%20Norway%20and%20Denmar
WORD PARROT DAY: celebrates its 20th anniversary on May 31st. Just in case you haven’t made plans yet, World Parrot has some suggestions. Celebrate on social media by sharing your stories, photos and videos of your favorite birds. Use the hashtag #WorldParrotDay to join the global conversation and share your love, inspire others and spread the word about the importance of protecting parrots in the wild and improving their lives in companion care. Follow World Parrot Trust on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok to share. WPT introduces an inaugural “Parrot of the Year” contest in which you can vote for your favorite rescued macaw from the Kiwa Centre, a parrot rescue facility in the UK. The contest winner will be featured in an upcoming issue of “PsittaScene” magazine, and be treated to an exclusive virtual tour of the Kiwa Centre. In addition, the winner will receive a Symbolic Adoption Kit, complete with a one-year membership to the World Parrot Trust. Vote by May 31 to be entered to win! Thanks to a generous donor, WPT will be doubling all gifts received until World Parrot Day up to $5,000 helping to continuer vital work in parrot conservation.
Enrichment tips for World Parrot – and all – days. From Facebook
HISTORY LESSON: A little tweaking of last week’s timeline on club history is called for. Not all local clubs started in the aftermath of the founding of American Federation of Aviculture. Massachusetts Cage Bird Association began in 1916, a full 58 years before the birth of AFA “We have a photo of a huge show in the old Horticultural Hall in Boston in 1937 or something, it’s on our website,” says current MCBA president Denise Cabral. The Massachusetts club holds its 94th annual show and mart on Sat., May 25. See HOT DATES. Nor is AFA the oldest national bird organization. “The oldest [citation needed] avicultural society in the United States is the Avicultural Society of America, founded in 1927.[6] The ASA produces a bi-monthly magazine, ASA Avicultural Bulletin. The ASA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focuses on breeding, conservation, restoration and education,” points out AFA’s Adrianne Mock. So even at 50, AFA is a relative youngster compared to some other clubs.
From Facebook
ADOPT; DON’T MURDER: One of the seamier sides of nature is that the male of some species will sometimes kill babies not of his in order to mate with a widowed female and pass along his own genes. One exception (occasionally) is the budgie sized green rumped parrotlet of Venezuela. However, green-rumped stepdads are as likely to adopt chicks as to kill them, according to a study published in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”. Surprisingly, the adoptive fathers wind up having as many offspring of their own as infanticidal males. Observations over 3 decades by Steve Beissinger, emeritus ecologist at the University of California, Berkeley and his students revealed that males outnumber females by almost two to one. Bonded pairs need a cavity or nesting box to raise their young. The limited number of homes leads to fights and evictions. The birds rarely divorce, and if one mate dies (particularly, the male), the other is besieged by suitors. At more than 250 of 2700+ nests monitored, nestlings were killed and eggs destroyed. Parrotlet pairs without homes were the killers in 69% of these cases; driving away the nesting pairs and stealing the houses. Stepdads (and in a few cases, stepmoms) were responsible for the other 31%. However, researchers noticed that adoptions of unrelated chicks by stepparents were just as common as infanticide. In more than half of the nests, infanticide didn’t occur when a female took a new mate. Sometimes this was because widows prevented stepdads from entering. But in other cases, the new parents did enter the nests and began treating the offspring as their own, even regurgitating seeds to them and defending them against other aggressive birds. Most surprisingly, adoptive males subsequently mated with widows, nesting at a younger age than their competitors. Indeed, stepdads went on to have as many chicks as did the killers over the birds’ lifetimes—upending the established idea that adoption is maladaptive and hinders a stepparent’s reproductive success. The bold decision can work out well for adopters, Beissinger adds, as the new dads—adopters and killers alike—“get both the love and the real estate.” – FromNew animal dads often kill their stepchildren. These parrots adopt them instead | Science | AAAS
MAILBAG: “Just one correction to the Oasis article – they do NOT adopt out birds. Every once in awhile one is fostered with a Board member if needed for some reason, but birds given to them stay there for the rest of their lives. I’ve volunteered there for years and just was there a week ago. Thanks for all you do!” – writesSher Buckner.
Why fly when you can have a human schlep you around in a carrier? – Photo by George Sommers
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES: Forget visiting or even viewing videos or photos of birds up for adoption through The Oasis Sanctuary of Arizona until further notice. The 1966 Animal Welfare Act was amended in 2020 to include birds. Fundraising via events, tours and even online forums is considered “exhibiting” and is forbidden without a Class C license under new guidelines – even for a nonprofit shelter. The licensing process is lengthy and described by the sanctuary as “formidable”. They’ve already been forced to cancel a May onsite event and has to put on hold all tours; visits and event. This impacts fundraising. .And that’s not all – they are prohibited from sharing photos and videos of their birds through social media, letters etc. Instead, any images shared will be – guess what – AI generated. To contact Oasis, email Lori_Bell@cox.net or call (602) 819-6140. .
WHO YA GONNA CALL: Feather picking:: ugly and heart breaking and often resulting from naturally sociable parrots being kept alone. But video chats could be the answer. Researchers from. Northeastern University, MIT and University of Glasgow trained 18 parrots and their humans to use touchscreen tablets and smartphones. The birds were taught to associate video calls with a bell, eventually ringing it on their own to connect with other birds. The birds were shown on screen photographs of different birds in the study. The parrot clicks with its tongue on its preferred chatting chum. Once presented, the parrots would hop towards the screen, let out loud squawks, and bob their heads. Some phone friends would “sing” in unison and some learned new skills, like foraging from observing others. In almost all cases, the caretakers claim the calls improved their birds’ well-being. Jennifer Cunha’s cockatoo Ellie and an African grey named Cookie, continue to call feathered friends nearly a year later. Unlike other creatures tested, parrots are particularly well suited for the video chats due to their high cognitive ability, impressive vision and flexible tongues. Parrots in the study appeared less interested in pre-recorded video calls of other birds. “We’re not saying you can make them [the parrots] as happy as they would be in the wild,” Northeastern assistant professor Rébecca Kleinberger said. “We’re trying to serve those who are already [in captivity].” – Fromhttps://www.popsci.com/environment/parrots-facebook-messenger/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3wZ1qXyeAzulMj7wdikSALxZ_VkzkFOIP2dv2
New arrivals at MAARS. – From Facebook
YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE A REFUGEE necessarily, even if you were rescued from the defunct Mayaguez Zoo in Puerto Rico. Thirteen canary wing parakeets found a new home 32,000 miles away at Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services, Inc. (MAARS) in St. Paul, MN. Six of them were born in the zoo’s detention center where animals awaiting rescue were moved. According to a MAARS FB post, “These juvenile canary-winged parakeets have a mob mentality. These little monsters almost seem to think and move as a single, coordinated unit! They’re so curious, fearlessly investigating everything, including the photographers!” Puerto Rico’s only zoo, the Mayaguez, closed to the public on 1/28/24 after over the course of a decade, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cited it two dozen times for substandard conditions and animal mistreatment. The last straw was the widespread devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria.
PARROTRIVIA: The “Big Bang”‘s Raj and Sheldon share an office but in an escalating feud, Raj brings a blue and white parakeet in to prank bird phobic Sheldon.
SNEAK PREVIEW: Normally, I hate to talk about fall events when summer is still several weeks away, but Seattle Parrot Expo in September will feature a full day workshop with Cassie Malina of Awesome Animal Solutions along with “an awesome Featured Speaker cast.” But wait, there’s more. The focus of Parrots of The World Aviary this year is South America including mascot bird, the green wing macaw.
DISEASE SHUTS DOWN SHELTER’: In December ’23, two parrots were surrendered to the Center for Avian Adoption, Rescue, and Education – Parrot Shelter in North Dakota. The female seemed fine but the male’s feathers looked rough. The male had been treated for a fungal infection by a veterinarian and the owner believed the female was overpreening the male, according to the surrender form. Shelter staff separated the pair and they had the male’s blood tested. Turns out that on that eve of Christmas Eve they were unknowingly delivered an unwelcome surprise – the male was diagnosed with Avian Circovirus Disease (ACVD), a contagious and potentially fatal parrot disease, also known as Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD), After consulting with a veterinarian, CAARE made the difficult decision to shut down indefinitely and the parrots quarantined. There will be no visitors other than a volunteer cleaning crew, and no incoming nor outgoing parrots. Testing will be undertaken on the resident parrots along with extensive facility cleaning, followed by use of F10 SV disinfectant known to kill the virus. Once testing, cleaning and disinfecting has been accomplished multiple times, environmental testing will be undertaken in order to determine which areas of the shelter may have been affected by the virus, if any. They will also check on any parrots who may have been on-site during the timeline, and the board will be reaching out directly to those whose parrots may have been exposed. Testing will be offered to those parrots. The CAARE avian warehouse store was closed Wednesday, May 8th and Saturday, May 11th, in order to conduct testing, cleaning and disinfecting. Pending testing results, they hope to re-open the store while the shelter remains closed to the public. It is strongly suggested that anyone purchasing a parrot from breeders or stores in the immediate area proceed with caution.
GOING FOR THE GOLD: Bird clubs have come and gone, but some; including Northeast Avicultural Society and South Bay Bird Society are hitting their 50th anniversary this year. This is no coincidence. The granddaddy of bird clubs, America Federation of Aviculture began in 1974 in response to the panic driven and needless mass euthanization of domestic birds because of an outbreak of Newcastle disease. — “We had 31 people join together in the reminiscing about some of the club’s previous events, past presidents and more. Everyone went all out on bringing outstanding food dishes to share at our pot luck dinner!!! Our cake was a beautiful design with parrots on it. It was great to see so many people who love birds all come together and be able to visit with one another,” says Gala Burkholder, South Bay Bird Society Communications Director of their anniversary event..
NOT EGGS-ACTLY: “Fresh Fertile Parrot eggs babies parrots available, contact me if interested.” If you DID contact them, you just might have been swindled. One prominent aviculturist fumes, “WHOA…NO ONE SELLS PARROT EGGS!! This outfit is clearly a scammer outfit…NO ONE…because parrot eggs are quite fragile…not like poultry eggs. What fool would sell an egg for a few hundred dollars when you could raise the baby parrot and sell it for thousands of dollars??? Nope. No one!!!!”
FROM THE POPE: Adoption fee free parakeets were available last Sunday at Pope Memorial Humane Society NH in Dover to celebrate their new hours, PMHS-CV also waived the adoption fee for rabbits and guinea pigs last Sunday. Contrary to popular belief, shelters are not all dogs and cats. Their just announced new hours are Sunday and Wed.-Fri. from 12-4 p.m. and Saturday from 12-6 p.m. Learn more about their adoptable animals at popememorialcvhhs.org/adopt/
Everyone listen up, the “beak” is here! – Photo by George Sommers
MY OH MAYO: Some Mexican/parrot trivia to impress the amigos while noshing on nachos and sipping a Cinco de Mayo margarita. The thickbilled parrot, native to Mexico, once thrived in New Mexico and Arizona, but no longer. Reintroduction efforts thus far have been unsuccessful. Conversely, cherry crowned conures are also native to Mexico, where they are near threatened- but their population as naturalized US residents is growing. They are the official animal of San Francisco and the subjects of “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” by Mark Bittner and made into a documentary film.There are 22 species of parrot in Mexico and that’s not even counting nonnative species that may have become established. And, of course parrots are popular icons on Cinco de Mayo oriented tchochkes such as Tshirts and as ceramic decorations in Mexican restaurants.
Aaron Peskin, candidate for mayor of San Francisco, features some of the city’s iconic cherry crowned conures in his campaign literature.
TAKE YOUR MEDS: Like human kids, parrots often hate taking medicine.·Many avoid being toweled for medication. Syringes are an option, however, sometimes birds will take the medication from the syringe, wait, and then either dribble the medicine out of the side of the beak or hold it in the bottom beak, wait until the coast is clear, and then either shake or dribble it out. African greys come to mind here. It doesn’t have to be Halloween to trick them with a treat by finding something a bird will eat in its entirety and thus consume all the medicine. Ellie, a Mexican red-headed Amazon boarder, didn’t fall for it. A tech noticed that Ellie had a small glob of something sticky in her feathers beneath her beak. He suspected she may have dribbled some of her medicine.The tech gave Ellie a shower to clean the sticky feathers. Ellie enjoyed the attention, but also also wanted to grab David’s glasses .Closely watch your bird when giving medications. If given on a treat, make sure your bird eats the entire treat. When giving medications from the syringe, make sure your bird gets all of it and doesn’t spit or dribble it out, or wait and shake it out. Don’t let your bird outsmart you. If your bird is messy, a shower is often the easiest way to get your bird cleaned and preening. – FromExotic Bird Hospital
PARROTRIVIA: A flock of parrots s called, appropriately enough, a “pandemonium”.
SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT: Foster Parrots/New England Wildlife Center has opened a new corvid aviary. The corvid group, which includes crows, magpies, jays and ravens; rival parrots in intelligence. The Hope Valley, RI rescue is bouncing back after a devastating fire a few years ago.. Check out the video on YouTube to see them exploring their new space.
NO SUCH ANIMAL: “Another spectacular sighting of the ever elusive Macawckatoo captured in its natural Bermuda triangle jungle” reads a Facebook post accompanied by an AI enhanced image of a cockatoo with blue fringed wings. Such fakery is only likely to become more prevalent in the age of artificial intelligence.
I SAY: After a 5-year break, the UK’s biggest show for pet parrots and their owners comes back to Kempton Park Racecourse on 6/9/24..
WE ARE NOT ALONE From Alaska to Florida and in nearly all 50 states, there are clubs where bird owners can socialize, learn and take part in special events. To find your local club, go to Regional Bird Clubs | myBird (myrightbird.com)
Pictured above is NOT what the first South Bay Bird Society meeting in 1974 might have looked like. – From Facebook
CONGRATULATIONS to South Bay Bird Society on their 50th anniversary. See HOT DATES for info about the celebration.
HOT DATES:5/3:Ask the Vetwith Tom Tully, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), DECZM (Avian) 3 p.m. EDT Lafeber Zoom webinar — 5/4: THE 4 R’s: Join Robin Sullivan and guest James Weeks of Straw Hat Parrots Rescue for a glimpse of rescue done right. Straw Hat Parrots Rescue’s mission is to Rescue, Rehabilitate, Retrain and Rehome any and all displaced, unwanted, mistreated, neglected and abused companion parrots as well as enhancing the lives of companion parrots through educating the public on proper parrot care. ear from James how they work towards that mission daily. Live on Leather Elves Facebook page; 7 p.m. ET. — 5/4: OHPA Bird Fair Medina, OH — 5/5: SOUTH BAY BIRD SOCIETY 50TH ANNIVERSARY: Potluck supper, auction, games, look back at club history and forward to future. The club will provide cake and beverages. Can’t attend? View the festivities on Zoom starting at 7 p.m. (no interaction or moderation). A link will be emailed close to meeting time. This meeting may be recorded. Clips will be used to promote SBBS on social media. If you are Zooming in but camera shy, keep your camera off. You may also change the name that appears for you. Kiwanis Club, 2525 Valley Dr., Hermosa Beach, CA — Apopka/Orlando Bird Expo Apopka, FL — Exotic Bird Meet and Greet and Macaw Free Flight Experience1-3 p.m. PDT Escondido, CA at Avian Behavior International $157 — SPRING CAGE SALE:Long Island Parrot Society of New York, Inc. has new and gently used shapes and sizes to suit most birds, small to large. Carriers and play gyms, too. Great prices.Make an offer. Cash, checks & credit cards accepted. 10-2. StorQuest Self Storage, 2021 Lakeland Avenue, Ronkonkoma NY. Call (631) 957-1100 upon arrival for gate code Rain date, Sun., 5/19. If it’s iffy on Sunday, please check Friends of LIPS FB page for updates, or call (631) 957-1100. — 5/9: All About Screech Owlswith Jim Wright 7 p.m. EDT – The Real Macaw Parrot Club Zoom webinar — Understanding Parrot Body Language in Behavior and Trainingwith Debbie Foster 7 p.m. EDT — 5/9: All About Screech Owlswith Jim Wright 7 p.m. EDT The Real Macaw Parrot Club Zoom webinar — Understanding Parrot Body Language in Behavior and Trainingwith Debbie Foster 7 p.m. EDT – Connecticut Parrot Society Zoom — 5/10: Avian Vet Insider: Wild Bird Diseases – Is My Parrot at Risk?with Dr. Stephanie Lamb, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) 3 p.m. EDT Lafeber Zoom — Rolling Meadows Bird Fair & Sale Rolling Meadows, IL
Quaker parrots have been getting some bad press lately. But is it fake news? See story below. – Photo by George Sommers
FAKE NEWS?: Non-native quakers and conures are “directly responsible for decimating the population of some of the most famous and loved birds of the USA,” including the eastern blue bird, red headed woodpecker and purple martin,” according to an apparent search engine description. “This is not proof. It is just someone’s opinion at best.It is also contradictory, I have looked into it. There are some problems in Europe with ringnecks, killing other birds and bats. There are no problems with them in the US killing native birds or bats,” argues a well known bird behaviorist. “Research should show that European starlings and house sparrows are direct competitors with native birds for nesting holes, and have been seen many times attacking and killing nesting bluebirds, woodpeckers, etc. They kill adults, chicks, and break and remove eggs. In contrast, monk parakeets build their own messy nests, leaving native birds alone,” adds a state parrot club president. — “Why Quaker Parrots are Illegal?” asks”Avian Whispers”, a blog about wild parrots. California is the only state where they are illegal. There are restrictions in Colorado and New Jersey. The article additionally claims they outcompete native species and are agricultural pests. This disregards that they’ve mostly colonized urban areas – already populated by such foreign invaders as pigeons, starlings and house sparrows. And rather than stripping Farmer Brown’s cornfield to the ground, the quakers prefer city dining including bird feeders and non-native garden fruit. According to one parrot behaviorist, “Sorry but this article is again just one person’s opinion and many parts of it are wrong. There is a tremendous amount of repetition in the article without any scientific proof to back it. There are some reputable sources that do not back up their claims, but they already have a reputation for accuracy. Even so they make mistakes too. This person is not a well-known and respected member of the avian community.” One credible point is that their huge nests are often built on, and become a potential fire hazard, on electrical wires. causing potential fire hazard. After all, election season also means a lot of fake, or at least misleading news.,
THEY’RE BAAAAACK: it’s been a while,. likely years; since Massachusetts has hosted any major bird events but plans are afoot for a Bird Show & Mart on May 25 in Charlton (it’s west of “Woostah”, aka Worcester). See further details about the Massachusetts Cage Bird Association Show/Mart in upcoming issues.
YOU DON’T SAY: Or do you? If you’d like speak at the American Federation of Aviculture’s 50th annual conference, 9/4-7 in Costa Mesa, CA., proposals should be submitted in the form of an abstract of two hundred (200) words or less, accompanied by a brief biographical sketch of one hundred (100) words or less, identifying your experience with the topic to be presented and contact information. And (duh) it should be bird related. If there is more than one author, please indicate if one or both will present. Submission forms with complete instructions are available: Click to download a submission form
WHERE THERE’S SMOKE: “I started joining bird clubs in 1982. I practically had to hold my breath at some MCBA [Mass. Cage Bird Society] meetings because of the tobacco smoke. Koff, koff!! Worse, when I went to the first October show, then the biggest and oldest cage bird show in the Northeast, attendees and the 900 birds or so were equally subjected to clouds of cigarette smoke, especially in the cafeteria space! Those of us who are sensitive to smoke managed to gradually reduce, then eliminate indoor smoking, thank goodness,” says Denise Cabral, MCBA president. It’s common knowledge that smoke is potentially harmful and fatal for birds with their delicate lungs. Back in the day along with the tobacco, for some common sense went up in smoke.
BANS OR BAND: Bird Medicine and Surgery, a full service veterinary office in Missouri, recently posted about a parakeet that came in with her foot swollen, partially due to the constricting effects of a leg band on already swollen tissue. She also had a strand of human hair that appeared to be the initial culprit for her injury. The post then cited this as a reason that leg bands should be removed.. “WHO is the vet recommending all bands be removed? Because in some states bands are required. Instead of saying NO to bands, why isn’t this vet stating that bands should be of the RIGHT SIZE for the species! We use bands on all our birds. Bands have enabled lost and stolen birds to be returned to their owners,” argues a prominent expert on avian legal matters. Other responses to a Facebook post were a mixed bag; with some in support of bands, others mentioning incidents with bands getting caught up in toys etc, and still others recommending microchipping as an alternative – but that, too, has issues.
MILLIONAIRE MAKES GOOD BY PARROTS: An anonymous donor has given a record $21m to conservationists to buy a 350,000 hectare cattle station that will be turned into parkland to save ‘one of the world’s rarest birds’ .The philanthropic move was said to be the single largest donation for land protection in Australia, and comes as the critically endangered night parrot was estimated at less than 250 individuals left in southwest Queensland and the Pilbara. The anonymous gift was brokered by the Nature Conservancy which partnered with Queensland’s Miles Government to ensure Vergemont Station becomes protected habitat – also helping the vulnerable yellow-footed rock-wallaby and highly restricted Opalton grasswren. – FromDonor gifts $21m to buy cattle station for endangered parrot – realestate.com.au
CONSCIENTOUS OBJECTIONS: We bird owners knew it all along.“The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness” was signed last week at New York University by nearly 40 prominent animal cognition researchers – including Dr. Irene Pepperberg. Far more animals than previously thought likely have consciousness, top scientists say — birds; of course, but also fish, lobsters and octopus – even insects.. The declaration says there is “strong scientific support” that birds and mammals have conscious experience, and a “realistic possibility” of consciousness for all vertebrates as well as many creatures without backbones. It marks a pivotal moment, as research on animal cognition collides with debates over how various species ought to be treated. There is no standard definition for animal sentience or consciousness, but generally the terms denote an ability to have subjective experiences: to sense and map the outside world and for feelings like joy or pain. In some cases, it can mean animals possess a level of self-awareness. Pepperberg is renowned for her work with Alex the African grey; offering convincing evidence that Alex understood much of what he was talking about. Pepperberg and Alex were recently honored with a play based on their training sessions. – More at https://www.nbcnews.com/…/animal-consciousness...
EARLY SIGNS OF PBFD IN COCKATOOS in cockatoos include the loss of powder down. When you touch a healthy cockatoo your hands and clothes should be covered in white powder. If you’re not getting white power on you and if it is not covering everything in your house, get your bird tested. In species that do not have powder down, you won’t notice any change until the bird begins losing feathers. The quills will look deformed and stumped. Deformed and stumped feathers can occur because of injury to a developing feather. So, there is no need to panic if you see one. Just be vigilant. If you go any place with birds wash up and change clothes when you get home. The reemergence of this disease should be taken seriously, so that it does not become a widespread tragic personal loss and a loss to the bird community as a whole. – FromInternational Celebration of Birds.
MAILBAG: Hold the onions – and the burger for that matter. Contrary to views expressed by some regarding the consumption of meat by parrots: “In the crop studies of New World parrots that have been going on for many years there is never any animal protein . In fact there is a famous photo of two beautiful scarlet macaw outside of their nest cavity (sorry for poor quality of reproduced image) ..and then the second photo showing inside their nest cavity …showing literally thousands of beetles and larvae at the lower part of the cavity …living off the leftovers from the chicks food and excrement . The parents only had to reach down a few inches to eat the bugs but crop studies always show they don’t touch animal protein,” writes .Angela Rosaria Cancilla, CPBC, IAATE, IAABC. The photos were taken byDr. Donald Brightsmith in Tambopata where Cancilla did volunteer field study. — Jan Odessky Squiciarino Joneslikely read the teaser but not the story, commenting, “Meet not meat.” The story was about the consumption of meat by parrots. and the title was a play on words.
CANCEL CULTURE: If you missed South Bay Bird Society’s Earth Day booth at Wilderness Park’s Earth Day celebration last week in Redondo Beach, CA , you weren’t alone. The booth had to be canceled. To make a long story short, an SBBS event organizer recommends against using an office chair with wheels as a stepladder. Plans are still on for SBBS representation at Whale of a Day om 4/23, which itself had to be postponed due to rain.. See HOT DATES.
HOT DATES:4/26: BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS: Join Robin Sullivan at 7 p.m. EST for an exciting chat about birds and their relatives, the dinosaurs with returning guest, Daniel Sigmon live on The Leather Elves Facebook page — A Look Back at the Phoenix Landing Wellness Retreatwith Lisa Bono, CPBC3 p.m. EDT Lafeber Zoom webinar — 4/27: Greater Kansas City Avicultural Society Spring Bird & Pet Fair Independence, MO —Southeast Exotic Bird FairDover, FL — WHALE OF A DAY: Public invited to greet nearby migrating Pacific grey whales and participate in multiple events..South Bay Bird Society plans to be on hand with an information booth and some parrots. This event was postponed from 4/7. .10-4 Port Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West in Rancho Palos Verde. CA — DAFFY BIRD SALE: Connecticut Parrot Society holds a fundraiser at the Daffodil Tag Sale, Deals to be had for humans and parrots. 9-2, Hubbard Park, 999 W. Main St., Meriden, CT Rain or shine. www.connecticutparrotsociety.org — Greater Kansas City Avicultural Society Spring Bird & Pet Fair Independence, MO — Alamo Exhibition Bird Club Bird ExpoGarden Ridge, TX — Southeast Exotic Bird Fair Dover, FL — 4/28: Joliet Bird Fair and Sale Joliet, IL — 4/30: MASSACUSETTS LOBBY DAY FOR ANIMALS: 10:00 a.m. Great Hall, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA — 5/4: OHPA Bird Fair Medina, OH — 5/3:Ask the Vetwith Tom Tully, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), DECZM (Avian) 3 p.m. EDT Lafeber Zoom webinar — 5/5: Apopka/Orlando Bird Expo Apopka, FL — Exotic Bird Meet and Greet and Macaw Free Flight Experience1-3 p.m. PDT Escondido, CA at Avian Behavior International $157 — SPRING CAGE SALE:Long Island Parrot Society of New York, Inc. has lots of new and gently used shapes and sizes to suit most birds, from small to large. Carriers and play gyms, too. Great prices.Make an offer. Cash, checks & credit cards accepted. 10-2. StorQuest Self Storage, 2021 Lakeland Avenue, Ronkonkoma NY. Call (631) 957-1100 upon arrival for gate code Rain date, Sun., 5/19 If it’s iffy on Sunday, please check Friends of Long Island Parrot Society Facebook page for updates, or call (631) 957-1100. — 5/9: All About Screech Owlswith Jim Wright 7 p.m. EDT – The Real Macaw Parrot Club Zoom webinar — Understanding Parrot Body Language in Behavior and Trainingwith Debbie Foster 7 p.m. EDT – Connecticut Parrot Society Zoom 4/26: BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS
FOUND: Budgie, blue/white male. Centereach, NY. Contact Long Island Budgie Rescue. — LOST: Conure, ‘Jorah’ West Islip, NY (631) 745-3959.
The beautiful nectar eating rainbow lorikeet is also a carnivore. – See feature story below. Photo by George Sommers
From Facebook
GUNS, ALCOHOL AND BIRDS: Not a good mix, according to Ziggy’s Bird Haven. Personnel at the Inverness, FL parrot sanctuary were unpleasantly surprised to learn of plans to convert a neighboring bowling alley to a combination liquor bar/restaurant and gun range. “The parrots under our care have exquisitely sensitive lungs, and the potential impacts of a gun range on their health are deeply troubling. Furthermore, Sportsman’s Bowling Alley has long served as a focal point for family fun and community gatherings, and its loss would be profoundly felt,” reads a statement directed at the local community. There are additional concerns about gun shot noise stressing out the birds, and others have expressed dismay in general over the combination of alcohol and guns. Ziggy’s is asking community members to sign a petition against the proposal, as well as making phone calls to the number on the sign (see photo) to express opposition.
BLUE HAWAIIAN: A rare mutant blue Patagonian conure was photographed on a volcanic cliff in Hawaii. The blue mutation is not known to exist elsewhere, even in domestic Patagonians. This mutation arose due to inbreeding within the small naturalized flock it belongs to. The South American conures, like other foreign exotics, have colonized Hawaii. Some, notably the mongoose, have led to the sharp decline and even extinction of many native species. – From Mutations and Hybrids
Debbie Goodrich and Jesse. – From Facebook
PSITTACINEMA: The competition was stiff, what with racing roaches, an acrobatic dog and a car driving cat, but the roller skating macaw was up to the challenge of “Stupid Pet Tricks”; a spin off of a popular segment of the “Late Night with David Letterman Show” now hosted by comedienne Sarah Silverman. Jesse, the 23 year old female blue & gold macaw, strutted her stuff on the show accompanied by owner Debbie Goodrich. Jesse also talks and plays basketball. Goodrich has an actual specialized light up disco rink but for the show, Jesse simply skated across the stage. And although the audience “ate up” Goodrich’s talk about conservation, including the Bird Endowment, that was cut in favor of photos from Goodrich’s wedding, which included Jesse’s “sister”, a scarlet macaw flying in with the wedding ring. Birds being birds, Jesse had no qualms about pooping on camera, which Silverman felt compelled to sniff. That’s show biz. Anyway, here’s Jesse the roller skating macaw on “Stupid Pet Tricks”.https://www.tbs.com/shows/stupid-pet-tricks/season-1/episode-10/late-night-memories?fbclid=IwAR2Hdtm5Mlvd2KTWyEs5EtboUM_MiooAOBKjlb4UWn9EqTVfUcamt4Rd7w4.
HISTORY OF AFRICAN GREYS: Their popularity as pets may lead to their ultimate downfall. Prior to 1455, European exposure to parrots from other continents was limited. The first Portuguese ship to transport enslaved people from sub-Saharan Africa set sail in 1455 also carrying approximately 150 parrots. In the post-colonial period, as traditional economic prospects waned for people living in the forests of west and central Africa, the parrot trade became an attractive alternative, which over time contributed to drastic declines in the grey parrot population. “Parrots were a raw material that fascinated Europeans,” says Nancy Jacobs, history professor at Brown University, RI; and author of “The Global Grey Parrot”. The book, scheduled for publication in 2026, traces their history from the 15th century to the present. And although trade in wild African greys was banned in 2016, it continues. Jacobs also mentions some of the drawbacks of parrots as pets: feather plucking, screaming and aggression but acknowledges ““It is endangered in Africa, but as a cage bird kept all over the world, it will not go extinct.” – More in:https://www.brown.edu/news/2024-02-29/grey-parrots?fbclid=IwAR3BTTv1l7LTh4JaCL82DhpBqJd3Sh5iKgoa5PggU5DgOAeNoOgCQquUCS8
YO, PAULIE: April 18 was the 26th anniversary of John Roberts’ “Paulie” Paulie the conure goes on several adventures after being separated from his little girl owner. Years later – let’s just say there’s a happy ending. Cheech Marin has a memorable role. Stan Winston and his team at Stan Winston Studio designed and created the animatronic bird puppet double for the movie.
FEATHER FACTS: Parrots molt their wing feathers in pairs, with each side losing the same feather within a few days of each other, ensuring balance in flight. – Feathers pierce through the skin covered in a keratin coating, which protects the new feather during its growth stage. Within the sheath there is a blood supply feeding the new feather with protein and minerals for a healthy and strong new feather. Once the feather has finished growing the bird will crumble the sheath away, revealing the feather. – The tiny facial feathers on a macaw’s face are unique to each bird, similar to a finger print. – Parrots and most bird species use their beautiful colors and appearance to attract a mate. The health of a bird’s feather helps a mate decide if that bird will produce healthy, viable babies to ensure the survival of their species. – FromWorld Parrot Trust ·
Who wears it better? – From Facebook
MY HOW THEY’VE GROWN: They being the wild yellow-naped Amazon chicks bein monitored at Bosque Escondido. The older ones are nearing fledgling age after spending around 65 days in the nest. This critically endangered parrot species faces threats from habitat loss and nest poaching. But thanks to the incredible efforts and protection provided by Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center-zoave, the population in Pilas de Canjel, Nicoya Peninsula, is thriving. –FromThe Macaw Societyat Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center- zoave.
MEAT THE PARROTS: By George Sommers When man bites dog it’s news. How about a parrot chowing down on a cheeseburger? The occasional picture on Facebook of a macaw gnawing on a chicken drumstick seems ironically amusing to some. A debate rages over whether parrots should be offered meat as part of their diet, or a treat – or at all. But are parrots naturally carnivorous, or at least omnivorous? As they say, “It’s complicated.” It’s no coincidence that owls, hawks and eagles have curved beaks -similar to those of parrots. In fact, the raptors and the psittacines split off from a common ancestor around the same time on opposite sides of the family tree. Clue #2.: New Zealand’s kea parrots naturally eat insects and carrion but have developed a taste for lamb chops and will actually attack and tear off bits of sheep flesh which, of course; did not sit well with shepherds, so the government put a bounty on their heads which led perilously close to their extinction. Antipodese parrots, also from New Zealand, will eat other birds. Gang gang cockatoos will hunt and eat mice. Cockatoos have gall bladders which make high protein items like meat easier to digest. Some ‘toos will eat flies and cockroaches which unfortunately can lead to potentially fatal sarcosystis. Tony Silva, whose interesting career spans from accused macaw black marketer to Loro Parque curator to respected parrot authority, says wild parrots eating meat is not uncommon. He has seen South American parrots picking at drying cow hides. Amazon parrots, he notes, will eat tetras (familiar to home aquarium keepers) and other fish from drying pools. My own Goffin’s enjoyed pieces of tilapia – maybe she thought she was an osprey! Birdwatchers in Queensland, Australia were startled to observe rainbow lorikeets eating meat left at feeders for kookaburras, magpies and currawongs. The colorful loris are normally vegetarians that feed primarily on nectar. Now for the bad news. Years ago, Dr. Greg Rich DVM demonstrated at some bird conventions how an amazon seemed to have an extra bone – but in reality had swallowed a chicken bone which became stuck in the crop. Another bird had internal bleeding from a broken bone. Feeding meat to naturally vegetarian birds can subject them to gout, fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis. Macaws, in particular, may be prone to D3 toxicity as well. Sadly, many pet birds that are fed meat succumb to heart disease and atherosclerosis. But wait, there’s more. Meat is high in D3 which stimulates sexual behavior. More than one owner of a large macaw or cockatoo has received a nasty bite from a horny bird. And studies have shown problems with stunted growth and even fatalities among chicks. Where’s the beef? The somewhat generalized bottom line is that some wild parrots may eat some form of meat sometimes and the protein is helpful for flying. Usually meat is not needed for pet birds that have little need for flying and it can be detrimental.This feature story was originally intended for the “Pet Gazette”, which ceased publication after their March ’24 issue
THE BLUES: In 2018, shortly after her death, Armonía named the Laney Rickman Reserve in Bolivia in tribute to her dedicated efforts “Saving the Blues”. This vitally important piece of land, comprised of former cattle ranches, protects 6,000 acres of primary breeding grounds for the blue-throated macaw in the wild. Over 150 years of land use has cleared almost all the older-growth trees, reducing suitable nest areas. To remedy this lack of nesting sites, Laney started the Nido Adoptivo supplemental nest box project with partner Armonía in 2006. To date, an incredible 128 blue-throated macaw chicks, including a record 15 chicks last year, have fledged from Nido Adoptivo nest boxes! This number of successful fledges is truly significant – approximately 25% of the wild population, and trending upward! The total number of fledges by year steepens around 2017 – 2018 coinciding with when the reserve became protected and, for the first time, a second-generation chick fledged. The project took 12 years for the first 64 chicks to fledge, yet only 6 years for the next 64 fledges, demonstrating the success of the project and holds promise for future population growth of this critically endangered bird. Now you can donate and be entered to win some great prizes. See The Bird Endowment for more info. If you would prefer to donate directly, visit: https://form.jotform.com/212524599347161or by check, mail to: Bird Endowment 1707 1/2 Post Oak Blvd. #194 Houston, Texas 77056.
MAILBAG: Jeff Delfratewrites: “Love the guys smoking standing next to the birds I smoke and nope! Down wind and several feet away maybe? Situational awareness, pretty simple but it sure does elude people.” EDITOR’S RESPONSE: Jeff is referring to last issue’s “cover” pic of a man smoking while unloading a cage of birds to bring to an expo. Jeff is correct and the photo was in no way meant to encourage smoking around birds.
Spring and thoughts turn to – bird fairs. Here, some birdy booty is being unloaded in preparation for last week’s Birds Of A Feather Expo in New Hampshire. – Photo by George Sommers,
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: Another day, another newspaper closes shop. This time, it is the Massachusetts based “Pet Gazette”. which distributed 10,000 copies monthly, in addition to an online edition and for which “beak” editor George Sommers (me) contributed feature articles on parrots and aquarium fish. March ’24 was the final edition. I started working for “PG” under publisher Josh Cutler, who later became a MA state representative and currently serving in the MA Gov. Maura Healey administration. The torch was passed to John Harvey, former publisher/editor of “Cape Cod” magazine and 4 weekly newspapers. See later in this column a slightly revised “Parrot Sniffers Anonymous” article, originally intended for the April “Pet Gazette”.
4/20 NOT FOR BIRDS: “It is absolutely 100% safe. I am an avid aviculturist with over 11 years of experience. I have rescued, fostered, and owned almost every bird you can imagine. I have PTSD and smoke marijuana everyday, with my birds beside me. My pineapple conure often steals buds from me and I actually have a tattoo of her holding a marijuana flower on my arm. (I have a sleeve of all 7 of my babies) Hemp seeds are found in bird foods/ seed mixes and most vertebrates have an endocannabinoid system which produce cannabinoids naturally when the animal feels stress of some kind. I have sat through lectures on this. I am a Zoology major, with a focus in Avian Science. I have also worked, and studied, as a vet tech. I would not steer you wrong, birds are my life. 110% positive! They’ve eaten the flowers, the stems, the seeds, and been near the smoke. And I would NEVER allow someone to smoke a cigarette even in the same house with them,” reads a recent Facebook post. The “devil’s lettuce” is becoming legal in more and more states and more socially acceptable, but most experts warn that any kind of smoke can be hazardous to birds. In the interests of better being safe than sorry, stoners should keep their stash, including gummies, spiked cookies and brownies; out of bird reach as well.
Falconer Rita Tulloh and Scarlett O”Hara the red tail hawk at last week’s B.O.A.F. Expo. – Photo taken by Ray Schwartz, B.O..A.F. VP & Marketing Director
ON WITH THE SHOW: Last weekend’s 24th annual Birds Of A Feather Spring Expo carried on despite a couple of inches of snow on the ground from a surprise April snow fall. Dozens of vendors were present; some selling completely out; along with hundreds of visitors. And, of course, there were birds – lovebirds, baby conures, an Amazon, cockatiels, budgies, etc. Special guests included Jasmine Raymond of RAAM Mobile Veterinary Care, who did double duty as free wing and nail trimmer as well as a presentation on the benefits of microchipping pet birds. Also on hand were Rita Tulloh and “Scarlett O’Hara” the red tail hawk for a talk about falconry, the sport of hunting with raptors. And never mind Easter baskets -the event also featured a silent auction with several baskets stuffed with all manner of bird related goodies. No worries if you missed it, B.O.A.F.’s 35th annual Fall Exotic Bird Show and Mart returns 10/26/24.
BUYER BEWARE: The Bird Expo held at New York Bird Supply (see HOTDATES) was criticized for a past event held during a bird flu outbreak . “Nobody at this expo was watching who was coming in so nobody even wiped their shoes before entering,” claims an anonymous emailer with an extensive background in bird care. Crowded cages and some aspects of the physical set up were also targeted.
KEEP ‘EM ROLLING: Kudos to Debbie Goodrich and Jessie, her roller skating macaw; for a successful and educational performance on “Stupid Pet Tricks”.; a revival of a segment of the “Late Night with David Letterman” show, now a full time program in its own right hosted by comedienne Sarah Silverman.
THE PARROT SNIFFERS:The following article was originally intended for the “Pet Gazette”, which recently ceased publication.
A figure bent over a table snorts up a white talc like powdery substance. If there’s a cockatoo involved, don't grab a straw or call the cops.
Parrot sniffing may seem odd, but it’s perfectly legal and no gag. Nor is it a tiny subset. Parrot Sniffers R Us, with some 6.8 thousand members, is one of at least two Facebook pages dedicated to the esoteric habit.
Why would anyone snort their bird? “It’s medicinal. It’s like the joy of kissing the warm fur of a dog or cat but magnified. My blue crown conure purrs contentedly like a cat when I sniff her,” explains one respondent to a recent online survey. “I could identify any parrot by smell alone. It’s amazing how different they all are,” says one woman. “My coworkers used to blindfold me and have me sniff feathers. I was always 100% accurate at guessing the species the feather belonged to on smell alone.” Yet another says, “If I could bottle the smell of a hormonal amazon, I’d be a millionaire.”
Some reported scents could come straight from a movie theater snack bar. “My bare eye smells like popcorn when he's excited,” says Adrianne Mock, an expert on parrot related legal matters, and a 2 year old Senegal has that hot buttered aroma as well. Or if you’d prefer, a bare eyed cockatoo smells like peanuts and an African grey Timneh also smells “nutty” – or how about some moluccan cotton candy? And you can wash it all down with the fruit punch scent of a greenwing macaw.
Food is a common denominator: Froot Loops or candy factory for macaws, clover honey for a peach front, sesame seeds for an African grey, citrus fruits for caiques, maple syrup for a green cheek and fruit salad for an amazon.
Some scent comparisons are downright odd. An African grey smells like a hamster.” (A hamster sniffer, too?) “My favorite Yankee candle smell is a clutch of 12 week old blue and gold macaws,” says Kashmir Csaky, International Celebration of Birds FB page administrator. They’re really reaching for new candle scents! One African grey smells like a (presumably human) baby, and still another grey smells specifically like baby’s breath. Grandma’s perfume rated a mention as did “heaven” and “love”.
On the other hand, “When I stick my nose to my moluccan it looks like I've snorted booger sugar,” says a respondent. And, caution: “My budgies have a subtle sweet smell, but it has a price: one sniff = one bitten nose.” A green cheek conure smells like seagrass mats, a galah “smells disgusting” and one moluccan ‘too smells like “bad breath”.
Some open ended answers included the sweet smell of lorikeets, musky odors of eclectus and amazons (a little more than eclectus); earthy and powdery.
Not everyone is with the program. Tom Marshall, author of “Why Parrots? Why Aviculture?”, says, “My caiques don’t emit any smells but they exude warmth.” And a woman calling herself Janine Bird says, “They smell like bird. “
FREEBIES: If it’s free, it’s for me – and it can be for you, too. Albertus Van Tonder’s April FREE standard magazine is ready to download. This edition comes with an offer of 3 free eBooks to choose from. Monthly subscribers receive 1 a month over 3 months. Supporting advertisers on the website make future standard editions possible.
WHALE DAY HARPOONED for now. Due to potentially inclement weather, the event has been postponed until April 27. South Bay Bird Society is encouraging members to step forward and their parrots to step up to (wo)man the information table they still plan on setting up.
HOT DATES: 4/12-14: Beyond Words – Dr. Irene Pepperberg and Alex play Final days. Cambridge, MA —Acadiana Bird Fair & SaleLafayette.LA — Keystone State Avian Society – Triple NCS Shows – Class C Chambersburg, PA — 4/13:THE BIRD EXPO: at New York Bird Supply. “The most highly anticipated event of the season”, as they modestly describe themselves. 8:30-5 ET. 3501 Rombouts Ave.Bronx, NY— Rolling Meadows Bird Fair & SaleRolling Meadows, IL —Bird Walk Celebrating Earth Daywith Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner from One Earth Conservation 9 a.m. CDT – Des Moines, IA — 4/14: Mid-American Exotic Bird Society Annual Bird Fair Hilliard, OH — 4/15-5/15:The 28th Great Texas Birding Classic state of TX. Keep an eye out for parrots! — 4/15: ANOTHER FUN HOUR OF MUSIC: with Roberta Fabiano, sponsored by Long Island Parrot Society Watch and listen on Frog Hollow Music FB page. 5-6 p.m. ET — 4/16 :UNSCHEDULED FLIGHTS: Imagine knowing your parrot will fly back to you if they fly away. Justice Bellar CPBT-KA has developed a technique that is effective and compassionate in training parrots to come when called. In addition, field researcher Grace Innemee will share info about flight and recall with wild parrots. $35 (US) for non-Parrot Club members. REGISTER HERE!FREE for PK Members! They’ll e-mail a Zoom link before the workshop begins. Replays will be available to members. —4/17-20: Spring Chirp Weslaco, TX * —4/18-21: Galveston FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Festival Galveston, TX*
“The beak” doesn’t normally include wild bird events, except when there is a good possibility of seeing naturalized or wild parrots involved.
Eclipse ’24: WTH? I thought dark comes later in spring. –Photo by George Sommers
THE BILL, PLEASE: Are thick billed parrots, once denizens of pine forests in Arizona and New Mexico; and occasionally in Texas and perhaps Utah due for a comeback? Like the extinct Carolina parakeet, thick bills can tolerate snow and cold temperatures. Thick bills still hang on in old Mexico, although considered endangered. Logging, deforestation and just plain being shot caused their extirpation in the United States. One model for reintroduction could be a program in Brazil where captive bred Spix macaws have been released in the hopes of restoring the species, which had become extinct in the wild. Early indications are that that program is meeting with some success. However, attempts at thick bill reintroduction have flopped. Warning signs may have been overlooked. “Remember the USFW agent who ‘proved’ reintroduction doesn’t work! He took thickbills housed in small cages with clipped wings, had the wings imped with new feathers, put them in a constructed flight in the woods for a few weeks, then released them during fall migration of hawks. He planned failure. So his example should be studied and not duplicated of course!” points out Tom Marshall, author of “Why Parrots? Why Aviculture?”
LIVE AND LET DIE: The sad side of nest monitoring is nest predation, notes The Macaw Society at Reserva Nacional Tambopata – Sernanp. A recent post from the group includes a photo of several large blue feathers scattered around a nest site. Fortunately, predation of wild scarlet macaw chicks in Tambopata is low, just 9 % of all chick deaths.Unfortunately this season, two nests were lost to predation, with two chicks that were near fledgling age. They are not sure what got them, but it is a stark reminder of the jungle’s unforgiving nature. Research suggests that a combination of nest characteristics (small entrance, deep cavities, isolated tree location) and high nest attendance by parents are key to preventing depredation of chicks.
PSITTACINEMA:
ECLIPSE AND PARROTS: There goes the sun and here comes the solar eclipse, which will be total in parts of 15 states; on April 8. People living in areas with total or near totality who own birds will see bigger changes in their pets than dog or cat owners. “Birds are almost like having a child with bedtimes,” says Dr.Emmy Budas, veterinarian at Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Massachusetts. And darkness in midafternoon may seem like bedtime. It’s 93% in this neck of the woods, so I guess my budgies will be 93% bedded down, but I won’t know for sure since I’ll be at a public eclipse viewing wearing my goofy glasses. – Read More:Massachusetts Veterinarian Shares How Eclipse Will Affect Animals | https://fun107.com/massachusetts-solar-eclipse-animals-pets/?fbclid=IwAR0ihgQ1nB_qEihI9XsoDkuHfoADdmSBJrvp7GK0QT68uft4Apv0fx5ifFE&utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
THE CELEBRI-TOO: A blizzard of videos starring Snowball the cockatoo and subsequent studies convinced scientists that humans aren’t the only species that move rhythmically to music – i.e.dance. The ‘too, who boogies to Stevie Nicks, the Backstreet Boys and others, has been featured on TV, in magazines and at least one book. Now Snowball is in a Japanese documentary on music that will be aired worldwide in Japanese and English. It’s produced by NHK Global Media. Also, he’ll be in an upcoming textbook that will also be available digitally worldwide. This is one bird who more than earns his keep in toys, food and treats, with hopefully a little extra for trainer Irena Schulz
SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK AND ROLL STAR: The Rockstar Rescue Tour 2024 featuring The Leather Elves is not an updated Woodstock but a collaboration with Bird Gardens of Naples aiming to provide quality enrichment and food to rescues and sanctuaries from Maine to Florida while promoting a love of aviculture. The plan is to depart Robin Sullivan’s base in Maine mid-July and wind the way down to southwestern Florida. Stops include participating rescues and pop up events, with daily reports. Participants include Rhode Island Parrot Rescue, Lonely Grey Rescue, Nana & Papa’s Nest Parrot Rescue, Cape Fear Parrot Sanctuary, Majestic Wings Rescue, Straw Hat Parrots, Feathered Friends Forever Ziggy’s Haven, A Helping Wing Parrot Rescue and Bird Gardens of Naples. To donate to your favorite, click this link, choose your package and choose the intended rescue from the drop down list. https://theleatherelves.ecwid.com/Be-A-Rockstar-c58989282
WHEN WHALE MEETS PARROT: South Bay Bird Society of California will join in the annual festivities with a table set up and members’ parrots on hand to help welcome migrating grey whales. The march of the Leviathans is viewable from land. More info in HOT DATES. — The club skips its April meeting but will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its May 6 meeting.
DEEP IN THE HEART OF: Texan bird lovers have several upcoming opportunities to photograph wild parrots, compete in a bird count contest or simply observe them with the help of experts. See HOT DATES.
MAILBAG: “I hate telling you this. The information about how birds talk is not 100% correct. Birds vocalize with the use of the syrinx a box at the base of the trachea. There are two lip like structures on either side of the syrinx. Each fleshy lip like structure has a tube that extend from the syrinx into one of the lungs. Using this muscular organ and by controlling the trachea birds vocalize. They can produce two distinctly different sounds using each lip like structure and regulating the air separately from each lung. Songbirds are famous for this ability. Parrots are capable of it. However, I have only heard one parrot that did this. He’s a cockatiel who repeatedly passed out from not breathing while vocalizing. They can vocalize for long periods of time, if they so desire, by breathing through one lung while vocalizing through the other, then switching to the other lung to breathe. Birds do have a larynx. However, its primary purpose is to prevent aspiration,” saysKashmir Csaky, International Celebration of Birds FB page administrator; updating information fromParrot Trust Scotlandfrom last week’s issue.
HOT DATES:ONGOING — 4/7: “WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL” Coast to coast showings of the remastered documentary film listed here: upcoming-2023-24-screenings/? —3/14-4/14: Beyond Words – Dr. Irene Pepperberg and Alex play Cambridge, MA — 4/5: PLANTING FROM THE AVIARY: Despite the surprise spring storm dumping a nearly foot of snow in her state of Maine, Robin Sullivan talks gardening for birds with Jason Crean in this week’s live presentation on The Leather Elves page at 7 p.m.ET —4/6,7: Phoenix Landing Wellness Retreat Asheville, NC many speakers $169 — 4/6: Peninsula Caged Bird Society Spring Bird Mart Newport News, VA — Birds of a Feather Annual Expo and Mart Plaistow, NH — 4/7: Lake City BirdExpo Lake City, FL —OHPA Bird Fair New location. Pittsburgh Bird Fair 10-4 Butler Vagabonds building in Butler PA. $5 /adults; kids 12 and under/ FREE. Feathered Friends, toys, food, perches, playgyms, education, cages and more. Free Parking. Free Behavior consultations and more. — Lengthening Cosmo’s Life with Michele Baker 2 p.m. Hoosier Feathered Friends Zoom webinar. — 4/7: Lake City Bird ExpoLake City, FL — OHPABird FairLyndora, PA — 4/8: SOLAR ECLIPSE: Will your bird think it’s birdie bedtime? — 4/13-14: Acadiana Bird Fair & SaleLafayette.LA — Keystone State Avian Society – Triple NCS Shows – Class C Chambersburg, PA — 4/13:THE BIRD EXPO: at New York Bird Supply. “The most highly anticipated event of the season”, as they modestly describe themselves. 8:30-5 ET. 3501 Rombouts Ave.Bronx, NY — WHALES ‘N’PARROTS mingle, sort of, at Whale of a Day: celebrate and witness the migration of Pacific grey wheels. South Bay Bird Society will have an informational table along with some of their parrot friends. 10-4 Port Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West in Rancho Palos Verdes., CA — Rolling Meadows Bird Fair & SaleRolling Meadows, IL — 4/14: Mid-American Exotic Bird Society Annual Bird Fair Hilliard, OH — 4/15-5/15:The 28th Great Texas Birding Classic .state of TX. Keep an eye out for parrots! — 4/17-20: Spring Chirp Weslaco, TX
AMAZING AMAZONS: Once in a while the conservationists win one. Reintroduced yellow shouldered amazons, or ‘Lora’, are flourishing in their natural habitat in Parke Nacional Arikok, according to Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba. They’re embracing their wild instincts, adapting to munch on cactus (ouch) and other native plants. They are exploring within and beyond the park, displaying confidence in their natural instincts. As they settle into their wild lifestyle, they’re becoming less dependent on human presence and feeding. They’re more alert to danger, communicating a soft prrrrrrr that signifies vigilance against potential predators, freezing and remaining motionless like statues. With their evolved behaviors, they’ve abandoned chicken-like feeding habits (eating when on the ground), now favoring natural foraging behaviors.
WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING VOCAL CORDS: Parrots don’t have vocal cords like humans. Instead of pushing air over vocal cords to create sound, parrots and many other species of birds including corvids and starlings can mimic sounds by using the muscles in their throat to direct airflow over the trachea (or windpipe) in an organ called the syrinx. They make different sounds by changing the depth and shape of the trachea. – FromParrot Trust Scotland
EGG-XACTLY: Best let the parrots enjoy looking at those colorful Easter eggs with their ultraviolet vision, but not eating them. According to some veterinarians, parrots’ digestive systems are not built for eggs, or meat; which can lead to a build up of plaque and potentially fatal diseases. It is a hot topic on social media sites lately as some like offering eggs as a “treat’ or it’s thought the protein is good for them. However, any beneficial aspects from eggs and meat can be had from other foods.
CONGRATULATIONS TO: Carolina Avian Research And Education; now a USDA licensed facility.
KEEP OUT, EASTER BUNNY: The Easter Bunny might want to forego deliveries to the mountainous region of New Zealand, for there lurks the bad boy of birds, the kea. Like it’s not enough that keas will steal food, eat or destroy anything human related and even make like feathered gremlins and move traffic cones around, disrupting traffic.They also (shades of Elmer Fudd) attack and eat rabbit flesh. They will even attack sheep and for that reason there was a bounty on their heads for many years.Apparently they ignore their doctors’ advice about parrots not eating meat.
OBIT: Duster, the famous umbrella cockatoo, passed away peacefully at his retirement home with his human mom & dad (Jennie, Florida Parrot Rescue Vice President & and her husband Owen) last week; a bit short of his 100th birthday of June 1, 1925. He was wild caught in Australia, then transferred to California taking up residency at Sea World, training and educating people about his species. Eventually he moved to the sunshine state of Florida where he took up residence in Weeki Wachee and was the star of the bird show in the 1970’s riding his birdie bicycle and roller skating. Weeki Wachee became Silver Springs and in 2012 they downsized to a nature park so in early 2013 the park relinquished Duster to Florida Parrot Rescue
Tell me more – I’m listening! – Photo by George Sommers
THE CASE OF THE DEFECTIVE BEAK: A fully feathered but flight challenged male eclectus parrot somehow stumbled his way into the lives of Larry and Carol. The bird had no band, made no sound, and had no distinguishing behaviors or markings – the only clue to its origins was a slight defect on one side of the beak. Larry and Carol scoured “Lost and Found” pages and contacted local pet shops, avian vets, police departments and rescues – but nothing checked out. Bird owners themselves; they reached out to their network of bird owning friends who in turn spread the word. And spread it did – some 50 people claimed possession or attempted to talk them into giving them the parrot outright. The beak defect was deliberately not mentioned. To bolster their cases, people sent pictures of empty cages, stock photos of parrots, receipts for nail clipping and “some of the saddest stories you’ve ever heard,” explains Larry, “Screening through all of this had us up until about 2 a.m. It was a very stressful experience.” They narrowed the suspects to two, but the bird did not respond to the names or other words/tricks/behaviors that they described. But – a breakthrough. A recorded phone message came with a picture of an eclectus perched on a young boy and other photos clearly showed the beak defect. The caller said the parrot’s name was Pickle. “I brought my phone in to show it to Carol (who was playing with the bird) and immediately, the bird got excited and began repeating “Pickle, Pickle, Peeeee-ckle !” Elementary! Larry called the man who explained he just moved to the area with his children. Pickles escaped on a bitter cold and rainy right. The man had laid the groundwork for his children, warning that their pet might not be found alive due to the cold or the abundance of feral cats in the area. He apologized to Larry for not having documentation – his ex might have all of that, but that there was no way he get it from her. Larry stopped him and said “Don’t worry about any of that. Pickle has already provided all the proof we need… come get your bird!”. Pickle and owner reunited 3 1/2 days after he was lost. He’s not only back home with his family, but Carol is now Pickle’s official babysitter when the owner has to leave town. – From a post on Parrot Poop
ENCOURAGING SIGNS FOR SPIX REINTRO: This past weekend Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots e.V. field staff on the ground in Brazil were monitoring some promising nest activity and got some footage of a wild pair of Spix’s macaws with 3 newly hatched chicks in the nest.
DORITOS SAVE THE DAY: A catalina macaw managed to elude attacking hawks and also, unfortunately; firefighters who couldn’t quite reach the escapee 40 feet high in a tree in Lewisville, TX. A reporter from the local CBS affiliate was summoned to cover the story – and unexpectedly became part of it. Meanwhile, the macaw relocated to a slightly lower tree with a long horizontal branch. The reporter, who keeps a stash of snack food in her car, grabbed some Doritos. Although the catalina’s owner doesn’t feed his bird junk food, s/he was enticed from the tree and into the owner’ arms by an offering of the salty (yeah, we know it’s bad for them) treat. – From CBS News
THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE: The wait for the real Easter Bunny is almost as eagerly anticipated as the annual naming of the Cadbury Egg Easter “bunny”. The winner between two finalists winnowed down from a field of 32 will be announced on 3/25. Unfortunately, Royal the hyacinth macaw; the only avian entry, failed to make the cut. Oh well, those “eggs” were always too sickly sweet for me anyway
ST. PAT’S RECAP: Brazil meets Ireland by way of New Zealand. A New Zealand band’s uniforms, drums, etc. were emblazoned with a logo of a macaw during the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Auckland.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS: “32 macaw (2nd egg chicks, ‘insurance’…younger and weaker and usually not noticed ) were hand raised tagged and successfully reintroduced in the wild in between 1992 and 1995, we named them chicos. So many of them yes still come ( with their wild mates )and are regular visitors of the lodge, and in certain occasions they also come to the spot at the claylick to visit the photographers there,” reports Angela Rosaria Cancilla from the Tamopata Reseach Center. The scarlet and greenwing macaws often come back to visit (with their wild mates keeping a watchful distance ) but not the b&g’s who stay in the palm swamp area (not far from lodge). “We don’t know why.” The photo is of Cancilla at the Tambopata Research Center lodge in 2004 with then 10 year old (wild) ‘Tequila,’
MOVIN’ ON UP:Evlyns’ Exotic BIRD Rescue & Adoptions is moving across the Susquehanna River from Plymouth to Naticoke. PA. The new building, which just passed inspection, is more spacious. than the former quarters and a grand opening is planned. The rescue was the dreamchild of 10 year old Evlyn Lyons, now thirteen, although we suspect her mother Linda Uren had more of a hand in it then she generally acknowledges.
Did the urban macaws of Caracas relocate on their own from the jungle or are they pet trade refugees? See one opinion below in MAILBAG. – Photo from Facebook
MAILBAG: “I see no reason that wild birds did not discovered food in the city and did not start flocking there, just like birds come to our feeders,” says International Celebration of Birds Administrator Kashmir Csaky; at odds with the views of others that say most of the blue & gold macaws in Caracas are pet trade refugees. Touching on some other issues, she continues, “Chlamydia pneumoniae is often mistaken for chlamydia psittaci. At one time the only test available was not sensitive enough to differentiate between the two diseases. That has changed, but I have no idea how available the more sensitive is at this time. There was a psittacosis outbreak in the Birmingham Zoo lorikeet exhibit in 2015 that was very virulent. During that time 44,000 people pass through the exhibit. Some of the people got sick including some employees. Not one had chlamydia psittaci. They tested positive for chlamydia pneumoniae. The birds did not have chlamydia pneumoniae.There have already been euthanasia cases in VA that are disturbing. A vet in VA reported a man for being four days overdue in euthanizing his dog, in the vet’s opinion. The man was charged and convicted of animal torture. He appealed the decision and won. But he went through extreme stress and financial loss in the process of defending himself at a time when he needed to morn and heal. A woman’s dog was hit by a car. Her vet attempted to save the dog and recommended a wheelchair. The dog’s recovery was slow and not going as well as they had hoped. People from a rescue talked her into taking the dog to their miracle worker vet, who happen to be the same vet who reported the above man for animal torture. He immediately euthanized her dog and turned her in for animal torture. She was also convicted. But, she did not have the money or the energy to appeal. There is more. This happened because in VA the Attorney General Animal Law Unit. No other state has an animal law unit. However, the DOJ may begin enforcing the AWC rather than the USDA, who have people working for them that know a thing or two about animals.” — Adrianne Mock, Education Consultant at BirdSmart, also mentioned the euthanasia issue, “Very frustrating that people are not being allowed to do what’s best for THEIR animals. Being accused of animal cruelty for not euthanizing right away when a vet INSISTS on it is not new. It’s been happening for some time now.”
LOST: Quaker parrot ‘Peekaboo’; female, green/grey. Kitchener area, Ontario, Canada. Call (519) 279 0527 or text (519) 577 7128.– FOUND: Parakeet (budgie) green/yellow, male. Contact the Boston Adoption Center (617) 522-5055 and reference Animal ID A440379. MSPCA is posting this pet with the hopes of reuniting him with his owner and are not taking adoption interest at this time. For information about adoptable animals follow on Facebook @mspcaangell , on Instagram @mspca.Angell and visit webpagehttps://www.mspca.org/adoption-search/?shelter=Bost — LOST Amazon ‘Kuko’; Hopewell Junction, Dutchess County, NY. Contact: (914) 354-1491 if seen/found. — FOUND: Parakeet (budgie) blue/white East Patchogue, NY (631-) 475-7239
How many pet birds are sporting green for St. Patrick’s Day? Amazons may spring to mind, but there also various types of conures, amazons, budgies, macaws, caiques and more. This conure’s got the bases covered with green and the other Irish flag colors – Photo by George Sommers
PARROT FEVER IS BACK: Psittacosis, aka parrot fever, is spreading in Europe with 5 reported deaths; the World Health Organization reports. It was first noted in ’23. Parrot fever is caused by Chlamydia bacteria in wild and pet birds and poultry. Infected birds don’t always seem sick, but they shed the bacteria when they breathe or poop. Humans can catch it by inhaling dust from an infected bird’s secretions, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or if a bird bites them or through beak-to-mouth contact but not by eating infected animals. Human-to-human transmission is rare. Affected humans have a mild illness that begins 5 to 14 days after exposure and can include headache, muscle pain, dry cough, fever and chills. Antibiotics can treat the infection, and it’s rarely fatal for humans. Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark have seen recent rises in cases. At least one person in Denmark got parrot fever from a pet bird. Of 19 cases in Germany, five reported exposure to sick pet birds or chickens. In the recent Dutch cases, eight reported no contact with birds, seven had contact with droppings from domestic birds. WHO is encouraging doctors to be on the lookout for the infection and warning people with frequent contact with birds to use good hand hygiene. Pet bird owners should keep cages clean and to avoid overcrowding. RELATED ARTICLEUnprecedented bird flu outbreak spreads to mammals in sub-Antarctic, UK says – Fromhttps://www.cnn.com/2024/03/05/health/parrot-fever-outbreak-europe/index.html
GUESS WHERE THEY’RE INVADING NOW: Parrots from South America are now invading… South America. More specifically, blue & gold macaws are living by the hundreds in Caracas, Venezuela where they’ve never before been known to exist naturally. In fact, of the 17 species of parrots enjoying urban living, only 4 are native to the area. The pet trade and/or people releasing their pets are considered the main culprits. However, the “parrot boy” an Italian immigrant who used to be followed around on his motorcycle by a b&g he rescued, had a hand in it as well. He took in, treated and released injured parrots. Their favorite roosts are on rooftops and balconies, often encouraged by people leaving food out for them. “They’re the best kind of pets,” says one resident. The tourist industry has hopped on the bandwagon, with one hotel offering breakfast with the parrots and some companies offering macaw tours. Unfortunately, there is a lot of inbreeding in the population resulting in some mutations as well as hybridization by different species mating. And they may be out of the forest but they’re not out of the woods. Their preferred nesting areas are in hollows of a local palm tree locals consider “ugly” and often cut down. – From PBS’ “The World” and various Internet news items.
AFA AT 50: American Federation of Aviculture celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Their annual conference, this year 9/4-7 in Costa Mesa, CA; is sure to be a gala event. An outbreak of Newcastles disease in the 1970’s led to the “euthanizing” of thousands of healthy exotic birds in private collections by the US Department of Agriculture. The State of California proposed legislation that would narrowly restrict or ban the private ownership of exotic birds. This legislation was the catalyst that brought many Southern California bird owners and clubs together to form the AFA in March of 1974 to serve as an avicultural umbrella organization.
YOU OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES: Ellie, cockatoo protege of Jennifer Cunha, continues to amaze. Now the tablet totin’ ‘too may be a movie star. Cunha’s unpublished, half-finished book, “Raising Ellie” has been licensed by Amy Herdy; an Academy Award nominated, multi-Emmy Award winning filmmaker, for a documentary feature about Ellie. The production crew arrived last week to Cunha’s house for almost a week of filming.
REPORTS OF THE DEATH of “Parrots” magazine’s print edition are somewhat exaggerated. In October ’23, they transitioned to focus on digital. However, it turns out that printed copies of current editions are still available. The bad news is, they’ve jacked up the price, although the new price does cover postage. Nevertheless, it’s a welcome development for those who prefer reading printed material over looking at a screen. “Bird Talk” was the American publication of record for years before it went under and had a brief revival before folding again. “Australian Birdkeeper” magazine soldiers on in print, with a recent change in management.
GOING, GOING: Go to the Birds Of A Feather Spring Expo/Mart in New Hampshire for a chance to win some fabulous bird booty before it’s gone. More than 25 silent auction prize bags are filled with food, toys, accessories, magnets, decorations, coasters…all kinds of birdie related stuff for two auctions at the event. More info to come inHOT DATES.
RABBITS DON’T LAY EGGS: but birds do; and Royal the hyacinth macaw poses on a bird sized bike with a bunch of colored Easter eggs (including a Cadbury egg) to make the point. Royal is among 32 contestants to be this year’s Cadbury Easter “bunny” – but faces stiff competition from a raccoon, bearded dragon, hippopotamus, mini horse and others. The adopted parrot lives in LaSalle, IL. The field will be winnowed out in brackets by followers of Cadbury on Instagram with the winner to be announced on 3/25.
HERE COME THE JUDGEMENT: A Massachusetts woman is going to court for not having her dog euthanized. The dog had a large, life threatening tumor and her vet suggested putting it to sleep. She refused and brought it home which brought on the charge of cruelty to animals. Could this set a precedent for dogs as well as other pets? – From WEEI radio
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