Breedi ng the Plain Parakeet by Glen Cyoerick Sashkatchawan, Canada

Plain Parakeet

reeding the Plain Parakeet Europe, domestic-bred and closed tirica was a COlTI­ banded. I received them in late 1997, B bination of luck and and after a six week quarantine, set patience. ~ After trying for tnany years to find - ~ >. some pairs of its well known cousin, ~ Q) the Grey-cheeked Parakeet, I finally set- (5 '0

tIed on the Plains as there were a few Q)~ pairs being imported and offered to me. "to:8 Measuring about eight inches long, ~ they are the largest of the Brotogeris a.. family, but they also have the longest tail of the group. As well, the name given to them, Plain,doesn't give jus­ tice to their beauty. At a glance they appear to be a one-color , lime green, but in flight their colors come out. The outside wing color is mostly a dark blue, yellow appears sporadically on the tail and head. The beak is hom colored. I acquired one pair initially, and The Plain Parakeet isn't really completely then received two more pair in a later plain. Notice the yellow on the face and shipment. The initial pair were from the blue on the wings.

18 May/June 2000 thein up in a four foot long by three feet high by one and a half foot wide suspended cage. The nest box was by Kelly Davis, Oakton, Virginia hung horizontally and measured four feet long with eight inch square interi­ or dimension. Natural perches were reception honoring AF A's illustrious used in the cage. past presidents. This is your chance to The pair seemed quite calm, but I meet and mingle with the AFA past assun1e that was hecause they were preSidents and find out how much domestically hred. Aviculture has changed the past twen­ After about six months they statted ty-five years - and how much it has to use the nest that was provided. I stayed the same. Ms. Lee Phillips (AFA would catch the male exiting when I President 1983-1985) and Co-Chair of entered the room I kept theIn in. It was the AFA Legislative Committee will be not until about August that I first saw helping us organize the event. the female in the nest, and by early Great Events Don't forget to buy your AF A Super Octoher she would go to the opposite Raffle tickets. Tickets are available on end of the nest upon inspection - hut the cover of the AFA Watch bird, from she would not exit. Planned for the AFA office, and will also be avail­ She laid five eggs starting on able for sale on site at the Convention Octoher 15th, 1998, with a very unusu­ Convention 2000 2000. Win one of these 10 great prizes al pattern. The second was laid a full generously donated from special week after the first, Octoher 23rd, the ights, camera, action! Be sure to friends of the AF A: third on Octoher 27th, the fourth on send in your convention regis­ • $ 300 Gift Certificate from the October 30th, and the last on Ltration early and make your Exchange November 3rd. hotel plans ASAP - you don't want to • Signed & Numbered "Green­ On Iny inspection, the fen1ale would Iniss the fun and excitement of Los winged Macaws" by Gamini Ratnavira never leave the nest, and when feeding, Angeles and AFA Convention 2000. donated by Animology the male would gorge hitnself, then go In addition to all the wonderful • Premium Quality Nina Bird Cage to the nest hox entrance where he speakers, seminars, and exhibits at the donated by Avian Adventures would meet the female and feed her. AFA Convention, we also have • $300 Gift Certificate from Avitech Of the five eggs that were laid, only planned other activities for you. On Inc. one proved to be fertile. What I Wednesday, August 2, 2000, AFA will • Brinsea TLC-4 Brooder assume to be the third egg laid, he heading to the Los Angeles Zoo for donated by Brinsea hatched on November 21st. It was the a pizza party and a behind the scenes • Greater Vasa Parrot donated by smallest chick I had ever seen, and tour of the Condor Facility. Located in Featherlust Farm appeared to he naked. After a few the heart of the nation's second-largest • Toco Toucan Artist Proof by days he turned a fuzzy grey. I left him city, the LA Zoo has over 1.3 million Gamini Ratnavira donated by Hidden with the parents to raise, although visitors a year view a collection of over Forest Art Gallery. starting at about 10 days old, I took 1,200 anitnals from around the world. • $300 Gift Certificate from the him out everyday and played with him The LA Zoo became part of the new Higgins Group Corp. for about ten minutes so he would he California Condor Recovery Program • Humidaire Model 20 Incubator used to 111e. and in 1982 built the extensive "con­ IHatcher donated by Humidaire. On January 9th, 1999, I observed dOflniniuIns," still the finest and largest • $ 300 Internet Gift Certificate from the baby leave the nest for the first facility in the condor program. Don't the Kookaburra Pet Shop time but he returned to the nest at n1iss your chance to see the Condors night for about three days, after which up close and personal. Be sure to stock upon your tickets I never saw him go in again. In addition to the world famous today so you can win one of these ter­ I left him with the parents for about condors, the LA Zoo boasts an exten­ rific prizes! four months and then transferred him sive bird collection including softbills, to a cage of his own. psittacines, eagles, vultures, flamingos, AFA - Working Together for the The pair again laid five eggs and I hombills, roadrunners, starlings, plus Future of Aviculture am very happy to say all hatched and many more! Tickets to this event are were raised to weaning by the parents. not included in the registration fee and American Federation of Aviculture They have been introduced to their space is limited, so buy your tickets PO Box 56218 elder sibling and I hope to pair these early! Phoenix, AZ 85079-6218 up when the other unrelated Join us as our guest, Thursday 602-484-0931 fax 602-484-0109 pairs begin to breed. ~ August 3, 2000 for a special poolside http://www.afa.birds.orgiafa/ ~

the afa WATCHBIRD 19