Flocks of parrots in California

PE.com | Inland Southern California | Inland News
Parrots have taken to the Californian lifestyle. They appear to be thriving. the question is "where did they come from?" They seem to be of good Amazon stock - Red-crowned (Amazona viridigenalis), Lilac-crowned (Amazon finschi), Blue-fronted (Amazona aestiva).

Parrots on stamps

An article in Gibbons Stamp Monthly discusses "Cage and Aviary Birds on Stamps, including a section on parrots. For anyone interested in birds and stamp collecting, there are a number of photos.

Technorati Tags: parrots, conservation, birds, psittacidae, stamps, Philately

National Wildlife Crime Unit

BBC NEWS | Magazine | What is wildlife crime?

"A new National Wildlife Crime Unit has been set up to target wildlife crime on a regional, national and international level. But what is it?"

Please follow the link for the full article...
Technorati Tags: wildlife, parrots, conservation

Conservation action saved 16 bird species

"Conservation action saved 16 bird species from extinction between 1994
and 2004. Although they represent just 1.3% of the world’s
threatened birds, these successes demonstrate that, given political
will and resources, we have the knowledge and tools to turn back the
tide of extinction."
Charismatic island dwellers saved from extinction

Technorati Tags: parrots, conservation, birds, psittacidae

Red and Green Macaw

Macaw

Ara Chloroptera, the Green Winged Macaw, is the second largest member of the Macaw family, next only to the Hyacinth Macaw, Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus.

They have been referred to as the gentle giants of the Macaw family because of their gentle, steady nature, when compared to close cousins, the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) and the Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara arauna).

Technorati Tags: parrots, pets, birds, macaw, psittacidae

Homes wanted for unwanted parrots

Woman seeks homes for unwanted parrots
Gateway Newspapers - USA
"... Other orphaned parrots, including four nanday conures, two white-fronted Amazons and a blue-and-gold macaw occupy the tiny house while several more abandoned ..."

Technorati Tags: parrots, pets

Parrots are as intelligent as young children

"An American scientist says the results of a 29-year study suggest parrots could be as intelligent as five-year-old humans.

Brandeis University Professor Irene Pepperberg says her study of Alex, an african grey parrot, shows parrots have an impressive intelligence.

"They're about the same intelligence as a five-year-old child but their communication skills, at least as far as we've looked at in the lab, are only about that of a two-year-old," she said." ...read more at abc.net

Technorati Tags: parrots, psychology, autism

African Grey Parrot in CITES Review

African Grey Parrot
Amid fears that existing trade controls are too weak, CITES is to review the status of the African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus).
African grey seeing red
"The CITES meeting comes as market research commissioned by the RSPB
reveals that more than 90% of people in the UK and Germany disapprove
of the wild bird trade. ...

'A permanent ban would not stop pet owners keeping these birds. Parrots
bred in captivity make much better pets and are better suited to life
in a cage than birds caught in the wild.'"

What is CITES?

Technorati Tags: parrots, CITES, RSPB, pets, birds, african grey

410 parrots in 5 cages?

Some 410 parrots seized in border smuggling attempt

This can't be right!! How can 410 parrots fit into five cages? 82 birds per cage? The cages were in a taxi so they can't be very big. The woman was caught moving them from taxi to bus.

This is a weird and tragic story. Weird because it appears to make no sense, tragic because so many birds were being transported [allegedly smuggled] in what must have been far from perfect conditions. Sounds horrific!

Technorati Tags: parrots, birds, pets, nature

Parrot Toy Ideas

www.squawkadoodle.com
mobiles, swings, perches, ladders, big toys, small toys etc.

www.greyfeathertoys.com
boing o bones, crunchee blast, baby birdy bucket, polly wolly doodle, love letters etc.

Technorati Tags: parrots, pets, toys

Where did parrots come from?

Well, apparently, the bird evolution missing link may have been found:

Discovery Channel : Ancient Bird Fossil Offers Missing Link "Dozens of fossils of an ancient loon-like creature that some say is the missing link in bird evolution have been discovered in northwest China.

The remains of 40 of the nearly modern amphibious birds, so well-preserved that some even have their feathers, were found in Gansu province, researchers report in Friday's issue of the journal Science."



Technorati Tags: parrots, birds, psittacidae, evolution, nature

Future Parrot Society Shows without bird trade

Council loses High Court test case over sale of parrots

"Mr Haynes, from Great Wyrley, had challenged Stafford Borough Council's decision to allow pet sales at the Parrot Society UK's show, held last October at the Stafford county showground.

Mr Justice Walker, sitting in London, ruled the local authority's decision to licence traders was flawed.

The judge said the 1951 Pet Animals Act made it an offence to carry on a business selling animals as pets "in a street or public place" or "at a stall or barrow in a market"."

The only wonder here is that it has taken so long for this to happen. Some of these halls are less than adequate for people let alone exotic birds. It has been "technically" illegal since 1951 - someone must have forgotten to tell the Parrot Society.

Animal Protection Agency Home Page

APA have an ongoing petition as part of their campaign against pet animal markets.

Technorati Tags: parrots, psittacidae, pets

Parrots in the street

Flyaway Parrots Lap Up Sunshine (from Thisisdorset)
"A pair of peach-faced parrots have mysteriously appeared at Littlemoor in Weymouth.
And tropical temperatures mean the birds are enjoying similar climates to their native Africa."


Technorati Tags: parrots, psittacidae, love birds

Grolar bears and pizzlies

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Hybrid bear shot dead in Canada

A white bear with brown patches has been shot in Canada. It is the offspring of a male grizzly bear and a female polar bear.

It was shot by a big game hunter. And what a great big game it was, shooting an unarmed grolar. Give it a gun, make it a real game. Give the poor pizzly a chance to shoot back.

Hidden Lovebirds Cause Flap on Airliner

Hidden Lovebirds Cause Flap on Airliner: "... two small African parrots were sneaked onto the early morning flight by a passenger who hid them in a 6-inch by 6-inch cardboard box, which he then shoved inside a carry-on bag and sneaked through security, said Todd Burke, a JetBlue spokesman."

...and of course one of them got out.

It was caught and put back and I suppose we can be thankful that there was no harm done but the question has to be asked...

Just how irresponsible can you be?

Fill out the damn forms. If you can't do it yourself ask someone else to do it. Be responsible.

parrot, parrots, psittacidae

Green Wing Macaw

Green Wing Macaws love to show off their beautiful wings. Red underneath, red, green and blue on top.
parrot, parrots, psittacidae, macaw

Oasis Sanctuary Benefit Auction

The Oasis Benefit Auction is taking place now. Follow the above link to find out how to place your bids.

About the Oasis Sanctuary (from their Welcome page)
"The Oasis Sanctuary is a life-care facility for captive Exotic birds. In particular we are a refuge for parrots, cockatoos, macaws and other Psittacine birds; although we do accept Passerines (finches and canaries) columbiformes (doves and "fancy" or racing pigeons) and other captive avian species. As a true sanctuary, we do not offer birds for adoption, however we work with and refer birds requiring re-homing to bona fide adoption programs around the country. (In Southern Arizona, we would encourage you to contact TARA if you are interested in adopting a bird.)" (for more follow the link)

Related News Link: The New York Times

Technorati tags: parrot parrots psittacidae

Tell Government to end the trade in wild birds

The current European Union ban on wild bird trade is a temporary measure which came into force at the end of last year as a precaution to help prevent the spread of the H5N1 strain of bird flu. This measure is due to end at the end of May. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds believes that, in the interest of conservation, this ban should be made permanent.

"Many species are under great pressure due to unsustainable demand from the current wild bird trade. Sadly, many beautiful and magnificent bird families, such as parrots, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the trade.

The grey parrot, the second most-traded species in the world, is in decline across the whole of its range. Repeated studies show that there should be a moratorium, but the EU continues to�allow thousands to be imported every year.

In addition to the threats which the current unsustainable practices poses to many birds' wild populations, there are also serious welfare concerns surrounding the way in which birds are traded. Many do not survive transit, with some estimates suggesting that up to 60% of traded birds die before they even reach the pet shops.�" Tell the Government to end the trade in wild birds - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Here at the Psittacidae blog we agree wholeheartedly with the proposal. The above link gives further information and suggestions for anyone who wishes to help the Government to make their decision.

Technorati tags: parrot parrots psittacidae h5n1; Bird Flu; Avian flu