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. – From World 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. –From The Macaw Society at 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 Delfrate writes: “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.
HOT DATES: 4/17-20: Spring Chirp Weslaco, TX * —4/18-21: Galveston FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Festival Galveston, TX * — 4/19: BUILDING A BETTER BIRD TOY: Ever wondered what goes into designing bird enrichment? Join Robin Sullivan at 7 p.m. EST on The Leather Elves FB page for a discussion of how to create toys that your birds will love.– 4/20,21: Nashville Exotic Pet Expo Nashville, TN — 4/20: BOGART THAT JOINT: And don’t smoke it anywhere near your birds, for whom smoke can be fatal — 4/21: Southeast Exotic Bird Fair Kissimmee, FL — 4/27: Greater Kansas City Avicultural Society Spring Bird & Pet Fair Independence, MO —Southeast Exotic Bird Fair Dover, FL — WHALE OF A DAY: Public invited to greet nearby migrating Pacific grey whales and participate in multiple events.. South Bay Bird Society will 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 —4/28: Joliet Bird Fair and Sale Joliet, IL — 5/4: OHPA Bird Fair Medina, OH — 5/5: Apopka/Orlando Bird Expo Apopka, FL
- *The beak” doesn’t normally include wild bird events, except when there is a good possibility of seeing naturalized or wild parrots involved.
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