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.
MOVING EXPERIENCE: Rhode Island Parrot Rescue is asking for help as they relocate to their new, larger digs. https://www.401gives.org/organizations/rhode-island-parrot-rescue?mc_cid=35eaf963f8&mc_eid=UNIQID
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,” says Kashmir Csaky, International Celebration of Birds FB page administrator; updating information from Parrot Trust Scotland from 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 Bird Expo 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 Expo Lake City, FL — OHPA Bird Fair Lyndora, PA — 4/8: SOLAR ECLIPSE: Will your bird think it’s birdie bedtime? — 4/13-14: Acadiana Bird Fair & Sale Lafayette.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 & Sale Rolling 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
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