PHOTO: Macaw puppets at a high end grocery store. –Photo by George Sommers
BIRD SEIZURE UPDATE: A complainer called Columbus Humane Society and said something along the lines of…”I don’t see how she can properly take care of 600 birds”, setting in motion the confiscation of several birds from a prominent bird owner in Ohio recently; despite the opinion of several “in the know” that the birds were well cared for. While “parrot’s beak” has received some information about potential outcomes, which were reported in an earlier edition, a spokesperson wrote in an email to the editor, “Her attorney has told her not to put anything about the case on the net.” Out of respect for all parties in the case, we have removed that information until the case is officially settled.
NO CATS NEED APPLY as pets if a “pest plan” in the small coastal village of Omaui, New Zealand passes. It’s part of radical new proposals designed to protect native wildlife. Cat owners will have to neuter, microchip and register their pets with the local authority. After their cat dies, they will not be allowed to get another. The proposals have angered local residents, who accused the council of behaving “like a police state”. While parrots are not specifically mentioned, the flightless kakapo parrot was driven to near extinction after cats and other non-native invasive animals were introduced to the island nation. – From https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/new-zealand-pet-cat-ban-native-bird-species-kill-populations-predators-omaui-a8514266.html
EXTINCTION SCORECARD: It’s a mixed bag this week for the status of parrots in the wild. The bad news is, the glaucous macaw, once found in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil before the clearing of its palm grove habitat for farming saw it dwindle to one population in Paraguay and now considered to be one of the first 8 bird species in the 21st century declared extinct by BirdLife International. Oddly enough, the Spix’s macaw was also placed in the extinct category. While this is likely true for wild populations, there are Spix’s in cpativity and efforts are being made to breed and re-introduce the bird into the wild. On the good news front, the golden conure (aka Queen of Bavaria) is more widespread and abundant than previously thought – with an estimated population up from 2,500 to nearly 11,000 birds. US Fish & Wildlife may consequently downlist the golden conure from endangered to the less critical category of threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but it will remain protected as it still faces risks from deforestation and habitat loss. –From https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/04/first-eight-bird-extinctions-of-the-21st-century-confirmed?CMP=share_btn_fb and https://www.fws.gov/
WHO YOU CALLIN’ YELLOW?: An all red (no yellow markings) scarlet macaw was recently sighted in a zoo, igniting a small debate. Some say older scarlets tend to lose the yellow markings but others claim that there is a subspecies of the scarlet macaw. that should be officially named by early next year.
BIRDS BEST IN HER BOOK: “And so here I am training alligators, giraffe, primates, big cats, deaf and blind dogs, but at the end of the day when it’s time to sit down and relax, give me my birds to sit on my head, my lap, hanging off the back of my pants. They make me laugh. They are the most intricate and complex animals I have ever worked with. They give me butterflies in my stomach and I’ve found nothing else on this earth that makes me feel more fulfilled at the end of the day. I will forever be their advocate for doing better,” says :Lara Joseph of the Animal Training Center LLC.
DIDJA KNOW: Brazil in the early 16th century, was often referred to as Brasilia sive terra papa-gallorum, or the ‘Land of Parrots’.
MY BIRBIE TAKES THE MORNING TRAINING: Hidden in the word PARROT are six core principles of effective, humane behavior management: Power, Approximations, Reinforcement, Repetition, Observable Behavior, and Teaching Opportunities. https://www.parrots.org/lp/best-practice-teaching-animals/
AVIAN FLU MAY HAVE SEALED THEIR DOOM: An unusual number of dead seals have turned up on New England’s coastline this summer; with many exhibiting signs of avian flu. As if great white sharks weren’t already enough of a scourge! The disease is spread largely by wild birds, so certain precautions should be taken with domestic parrots, especially when going outside, to avoid being infected (see second link). – https://www.wmtw.com/article/hundreds-of-seals-found-on-maine-beaches-have-avian-flu-distemper-noaa-says/22810911 and https://www.thesprucepets.com/avian-flu-in-pet-birds-390394
BIRDS BEST IN HER BOOK: “And so here I am training alligators, giraffe, primates, big cats, deaf and blind dogs, but at the end of the day when it’s time to sit down and relax, give me my birds to sit on my head, my lap, hanging off the back of my pants. They make me laugh. They are the most intricate and complex animals I have ever worked with. They give me butterflies in my stomach and I’ve found nothing else on this earth that makes me feel more fulfilled at the end of the day. I will forever be their advocate for doing better,” says :Lara Joseph of the Animal Training Center LLC.
DIDJA KNOW: Brazil in the early 16th century, was often referred to as Brasilia sive terra papa-gallorum, or the ‘Land of Parrots’.
ANTIPOACHING STRATEGY: Nine parrot species, three of which are found nowhere else, make their home in North Maluku, Indonesia. A surge in poaching has driven dramatic population declines in species already threatened with extinction. Trees once alive with sound and color now stand empty. The biggest targets of this exploitation are the white cockatoo Cacatua alba (endangered), the chattering lory Lorius garralus (vulnerable) – endemic to the region – and the eclectus Eclectus roratus. Many blame social media, an easy way to advertise on the black market. Last April, Burung Indonesia (BirdLife Partner) organized a meeting to develop a plan to end the illegal wildlife trade. The conference included national parks, conservation NGOs, crime units and government environment departments. Several actions were agreed on including a shared database of wildlife crime, undertaking a population study of parrots in the region and parrot habitat management techniques. An important conclusion was the need to increase community knowledge and empower communities through the development of sustainable livelihoods. – From https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/news/new-action-plan-tackle-illegal-parrot-trading-indonesia
QUOTE O’ THE WEEK: Cracks me up when I’m out with one of my birds on my shoulder and people actually walk up and say “is that real?!” Like, lol, no it’s not real I just like to walk around with a fake stuffed bird on my shoulder….
PSITTACINE CINEMA: Budgie loves stuffed Sweet Pea budgie toy: https://www.facebook.com/Mimikoy07/videos/440056913054025/
NEW HOME WANTED for female black headed caique (Massachusetts). The owner passed away. Email georgesommers@yahoo.com for details.
(250) 479-0911 / (250) 213-1420 or info@fledsearch.ca
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