The Magazine of the

Autumn 2013 Autumn 2013

From the Editor

New Look! More great content! We often joke in our house about those once-familiar product packages that suddenly sport the “New Look” emblem. It can be pretty surprising when the crackers you’ve known since childhood suddenly show up in a diff erent box. We hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised as you explore our new look, not just in PsittaScene but throughout our print and online publications. Glanmor House, Hayle Cornwall TR27 4HB UK www.parrots.org For many years we’ve been having fun making quiet little changes to the look and feel of PsittaScene to better highlight the stunning parrots themselves and to make the magazine more inviting and easier to read. We want you to relish it, to enjoy and covet it and for each issue to remain on your coff ee table until the next one arrives. These are lofty goals in an era CONTENTS when print publications are being budgeted out in favor of quicker and less fussy online versions. We certainly use the power of online publications too. But we’ve also surveyed our From the Editor 2 members and supporters and found that having the real thing – a print magazine – is of Joanna Eckles great value. We agree and strive to keep improving it and for you to enjoy using it to connect Feather Findings 4 to broader content online. Burrowing Parrot genetics 11 Foraging Fundamentals This year we worked with a fabulous designer, David Occhino, to refi ne the “look” of Blue-throated Macaw update the World Parrot Trust as a refl ection of who we are and the work we do. David helped 16 Flight Status us translate those ideas visually and then to bring that look and consistency to all our Keeping Parrots Flighted publications (see page 20) including PsittaScene. As we pulled this issue together we 20 Thank You ~ David Occhino discovered a fun coincidence – David recently adopted a Burrowing Parrot. What a pleasure Our new look! to feature this stunning species on the fi rst cover using David’s design. Read up on intriguing 22 PsittaNews new revelations about the genetics of these South American parrots; their origin, their Parrot News and Events history and their relatedness. WPT Contacts 23 In this issue we also have a fascinating update on the Blue-throated Macaws we returned 24 Parrots in the Wild home to Bolivia in March as part of our conservation project, and a great feature about the Plum-headed Parakeet benefi ts of maintaining parrots’ fl ight abilities. That article was prompted by a letter to our Ask-an-expert page on www.parrots.org which in turn inspired an excellent podcast on the subject. Enjoy this issue and check in online for extras like that podcast – Jim McKendry and Charlie Moores are both music to your ears.

And as always, let us know how we’re doing!

Joanna Eckles

Editor: Joanna Eckles Production: Karen Whitley ON OUR COVERS The World Parrot Trust does not necessarily endorse any views or statements made by contributors to PsittaScene. It will consider articles or letters from FRONT Burrowing Parrots (Cyanoliseus patagonus) are also known as Patagonian Conures. any contributors on their merits. Go to parrots.org/ They are famous for their massive breeding colony in northeastern Patagonia, publications for Guidelines. Anyone wishing to South America. The cliff at El Cóndor is home to 70,000 parrots in 37,000 active reprint PsittaScene articles in full or in part needs nests. New research using genetic analysis of feathers helps us understand the permission from the author/photographer(s) and relatedness and genetic mixing between populations. © Pablo Petracci must state that it was copied from PsittaScene. All contents © World Parrot Trust BACK The stunning male Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) sports the namesake cap. The species is found in Sri Lanka, peninsular India north to Pakistan, Printed by Brewers — Part of the Martin Luck Group Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. This wonderful photo was the winner of the WPT’s Tel: 01326 563424 Indian Parrot Photo Contest held in 2010. © Bishan Monnappa The locals were amazed to fi nd us inquiring about their seemingly ordinary noisy parrots.

Feather Findings, p. 4 © Pablo Petracci © Pablo

Autumn 2013 PsittaScene 3 The largest parrot colony in the world is home to tens of thousands of Burrowing Parrots in El Cóndor, northeast Patagonia. © Mauricio Failla

Feather Findings By Juan F. Masello and Petra Quillfeldt

magine an unending sandstone cliff facing the Atlantic Ocean. In front of A FRENZY OF NEST PREPARATION and the cliff, orcas, southern right whales, Rio de la Plata dolphins, sea lions and a digging, together with a noisy exchange I of news, surrounds us. We carefully multitude of other creatures swim and jump. But our attention is irresistibly drawn to the noise coming from the cliff. The screams and calls of 70,000 parrots watch, take notes, take samples and watch some more. We have been fl ying like skillful aerial acrobats. The Burrowing Parrots (Cyanoliseus patagonus – studying these birds and their breeding also known as Patagonian Conures) have returned to breed from their mysterious, behaviour since 1998. Every year, unknown wintering places. There, in front of us, in El Cóndor, northeastern something new and amazing turns Patagonia, is the largest parrot colony in the world! It runs along 12.5 kilometres up. But in 2007 and 2008 we set out (7.5 miles) of sandstone cliffs and contains 37,000 active nests! to learn more. We embarked on a phylogeographic study of Burrowing Parrots – that is, to learn how these birds arrived here, where else they exist and how the different populations are related.

In preparation for this work we did weeks of patient research. We screened the pages of dusty forgotten books and journals to create a list of 130 potential places to search for other Burrowing Parrot colonies. A handful of colonies were known to science, but more were suspected to exist.

The nests in the study sector are marked in order to track reproduc ve success. The same pairs reuse nests for several years. © Petra Quillfeldt © Petra

4 PsittaScene Autumn 2013 © Pablo Petracci © Pablo

WE LEFT EL CÓNDOR and started a long Our list contained the names of many beings, through our actions have journey across the Monte region of places, some long forgotten, but not affected the course of more than 4 Argentina. Monte is a formerly vast, many clues about how to fi nd them. billion years of evolution. It was an spiky and dry scrubland – a sometimes We hoped to fi nd all the colonies and amazing challenge worth the long harsh place that abounds in all forms of to unravel the species’ evolution. We hours of work in remote and lonely life. The Monte, with its unexpectedly hoped to understand how we, human places. high diversity of life and beauty, extends over half a million square kilometres (200,000 square miles), roughly a sixth of the Argentinean surface. Despite its value and beauty, the Monte is under serious threat: the expansion of the agricultural frontiers started to tear it apart, to fragment it. The annual rate of clearance of the native vegetation in the Monte, the most important habitat of Burrowing Parrots in Argentina, has been estimated at 3.7% annually in its southernmost portion. This clearance rate is 10 times higher than the world’s average (0.4%). Recently, soybean fi elds appear everywhere, ruining the soil and the ecosystems, and, after a few years of profi t, the farmers themselves.

Unending steppes are home to the Patagonian popula ons of Burrowing Parrots. © Mauricio Failla

Autumn 2013 PsittaScene 5 Andean Burrowing Parrot popula ons are much smaller than those in Patagonia. This photo captures almost all individuals belonging to this colony in La Rioja, Argen na.

(below) The search for colonies required long dusty treks, some mes along the dry beds of seasonal rivers. © Photos by Petra Quillfeldt © Photos by Petra

THE MAIN AIMS OF OUR STUDY were to:

1. Uncover the underlying population structure of the species, determine their geographic origins and suggest possible routes of colonisation;

2. Study the role of the Andes as a potential barrier to gene fl ow among Chilean and Argentinean populations. We headed for the foothills of the green and red feathers left behind after Andes, then for the Patagonian steppes. the parrots moulted. These naturally 3. Determine if a hybrid zone exists We drove long hours mostly along dirty collected feathers held the answers to between two subspecies C. p. roads, sometimes off-road. Approaching our questions. From them we would andinus (NW-W Argentina) and C. one of our potential sites, we stopped later extract DNA, analyze the genetic p. patagonus (C-SE Argentina), and in a small village where time seemed information within and weave together if individuals of a third currently to have stopped long ago. The locals the story and history of these beautiful recognized subspecies C. p. conlara were amazed to fi nd us inquiring about birds. (W-C Argentina) are hybrids as has their seemingly ordinary noisy parrots been suggested. – intrigued we found these lonely, dry places worthy of a research project. As 4. Ascertain the extent to which we talked, we discovered that someone ecological and climatic factors knew about the parrots; he had seen infl uence the population structure. them in that little valley, a long time ago. As more and more people emerged Considering the conservation value of to help, we found that someone else this key species, its potentially restricted had heard parrots close to the stream distribution with respect to climatic some days ago. With this information, factors, and the unchecked degradation we started out on long exploratory of its preferred habitats, these walks – hours under the hot sun, until questions are important in determining we fi nally reached a parrot colony. conservation strategies. There we collected samples: blue,

6 PsittaScene Autumn 2013 (le ) The cliff at El Cóndor is 25 to 30 metres (85 ) high which makes it safe for the parrots, but diffi cult for the researchers to access!

(below) A poacher’s ladder at a C. p. andinus cliff is a reminder of the toll the internal pet trade in Argen na has taken on this popula on.

(bo om) Many bird species use Burrowing Parrot burrows for nes ng and breeding.

In this way, one after the other, with of the Monte vegetation. We 3. Many bird species together with the help of enthusiastic people, we found this assertion to be correct. vulnerable bee and wasp species found the parrot colonies we were In places where we recorded a used abandoned burrows made by looking for. After two seasons of healthy, not fragmented Monte, Burrowing Parrots for nesting/ fi eldwork, driving 14,000 km (8,700 both species thrive. In places breeding. We have seen this mi) across Argentina and Chile, we where Monte is highly disturbed throughout the Monte region. In found what most likely represents all or gone, both species are totally many parts of this region, with the breeding colonies of Burrowing absent. This observation makes few large trees, the number of Parrots – 66 sites in total. We were able Burrowing Parrots (an easy bird holes available for nesting may be a to collect feather samples from 64 of to detect among dense vegetation) limiting factor for many species. Our the colonies. particularly useful indicators for recent observations suggest a very the long-scale monitoring of important role for the Burrowing DURING THE FIRST SEASON – 2007 the highly endangered Monte Parrot as a major provider of in Argentina – we made some very ecosystem; burrows for hollow nesters of the signifi cant observations that deserve Monte ecosystem. further study: 2. Several other bird species, among them vulnerable raptors, were 1. Several Argentinean ornithologists always present in Burrowing have pointed out that Burrowing Parrot colonies but usually Parrots and Elegant Crested absent elsewhere in the Monte Tinamous (Eudromia elegans)are the region. This suggests important most representative bird species relationships among the species; © Mauricio Failla

Autumn 2013 PsittaScene 7 © Carlos Yamashita (above) Four adults and fi ve juveniles (less than 4 months of age) show the very dark colora on of a C. p. andinus popula on.

(le ) Patagonian popula ons have a very bright red abdominal patch - a sexual ornament subject to mutual selec on. © Pablo Petracci © Pablo

BACK IN THE LAB our feather fi ndings with a single migration event across red list of Chile. This is because revealed a fascinating phylogeographic the Andes, giving rise to all current only 5,000 – 6,000 individuals picture of the Burrowing Parrots. A Argentinean lineages. This migration remain in two key regions of the picture full of surprises! happened some 126,000 years ago. country. The uniqueness of C. p. bloxami demonstrated in our First of all, our analysis confi rmed four ConservaƟ on implicaƟ ons genetic study, in addition with their population clusters: three in Argentina The clear separation between Chilean relatively low numbers, implies that we called Andinus, Patagonus 1 and and Argentinean populations is very that conservation efforts on this Patagonus 2 and a distinct and different important from a conservation point population are worthwhile and Bloxami cluster found exclusively on of view. Burrowing parrots are listed as that any further threats should be the Chilean side of the species’ range. It ‘‘threatened’’ species on the vertebrate avoided. is apparent that very limited gene fl ow across the Andes has rendered C. p. Historical and current distribu on of the diff erent morphological sub-species bloxami populations (= Bloxami cluster) of burrowing parrots shows strong range contrac on during the 20th century. both genetically and physically distinct from all other Burrowing Parrots. Thus, we found a clear separation between Chilean and Argentinean populations.

We found no support for the existence of the intermediate sub-species C. p. conlara. Thus C. p. conlara individuals are hybrids between the Andinus and Patagonus genetic clusters occurring in the province of San Luis, in central Argentina. The analyses also showed that in San Luis a hybrid zone has remained stable for several thousand years.

Lastly we were able to confi rm a Chilean origin for the Burrowing Parrot,

8 PsittaScene Autumn 2013 (right) Preening and socialising are a very important part of daily life.

(below) Just before sunset, thousands of Burrowing Parrots gather on the power lines near the colony at El Cóndor. An impressive display of colours, fl ight mastering… and very loud calls! © Mauricio Failla © Fabián Llanos © Fabián

BURROWING PARROTS ARE CONSIDERED (some 40,000 nests). But, we need to physically from C. p. patagonus. They agricultural pests in Argentina. This remember an important result of the comprise an evolutionarily signifi cant label remains despite the fact that phylogeography study: that the genetic unit that appears to be kept isolated very little actual crop damage has diversity in Patagonia is partitioned into by the Andes to the west and a stable been measured and where it occurs it two genetically distinct, yet physically hybrid zone to the southeast. We is only in very specifi c locations. Our (phenotypically) indistinguishable advocate here for a complete stop students have researched this issue populations (Patagonus 1 and of Burrowing Parrot trade in the and found actual crop damage due Patagonus 2). Argentinean provinces of Mendoza, to parrots in less than 1% of claims. San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca, Nevertheless, Burrowing Parrots have Because the birds look physically Tucumán, and Salta. This ban and the been traditionally persecuted as a pest, identical, they are impossible to manage development of local conservation and as a consequence several colonies separately. One additional problem with measures, particularly of the cliffs have been destroyed or severely reduced the C. p. patagonus genetic clusters is with colonies, are crucial for the in size. Unfortunately this was the fate that 93% of the individuals belonging survival of this population. of the formerly largest known colony to them are located in a single colony - of the species, located on the Quequén El Cóndor. Unfortunately, El Cóndor A new project in Chile Salado River, in the province of Buenos is still not legally protected due to During a visit to Chilean colleagues Aires. In the mid-1970’s this colony unending confl icts among local parties. from the Universidad Católica del contained some 45,000 nests. Only a It is also located in a Monte area which Norte, who cooperated with us in the few hundred remain today. is undergoing habitat degradation. phylogeography project, we learned Therefore, the continued existence of about the critical situation of the Collection of Burrowing Parrots the Burrowing Parrot in Patagonia is Burrowing Parrot colony at Cerro for the pet trade is traditional in uncertain. Tololo, IV Región, Chile. This colony Argentina and has seriously affected the has been subject to intensive poaching Patagonian populations. The damage A negative by-product of the protection over many years. It has managed to has been severe enough that the regional of the Patagonian populations is the survive, unlike many other colonies government of the province of Río evident increase in commercial value in Chile, thanks to the protection Negro has banned all hunting and trade. of the C. p. andinus population. Our organized (in their spare time and At the moment, this ban effectively recent survey showed that the total C. by their own means) by astronomers protects all but seven Patagonian p. andinus population numbers no more working at the Interamerican colonies, and includes the majority than 2,000 nests. These populations Observatory. On several occasions of the C. p. patagonus population are distinctive both genetically and during the parrot breeding season,

Autumn 2013 PsittaScene 9 © photos Petra Quillfeldt © photos Petra Burrowing parrots are impressive acrobats. Watching them arrive to their colonies is an unforge able experience.

the astronomers and their families colony managed to successfully raise This work was supported by the World Parrot camped in front of the colony in order fl edglings. Burrowing Parrot fl edglings Trust (WPT), the Research Commission of to protect it from poachers. When are easy to distinguish due to the whitish the German Ornithologists’ Society (DO-G), we learnt about this imaginative and bill, which turns black after the age of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, courageous conservation action, we four months. We hope to be able to and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). felt urged to help them to protect the continue our work at Tololo and that the Lab and statistical analyses carried out in colony. sky will be not only full of stars (for the cooperation with colleagues from the Konrad astronomers) but also full of fl edgling Lorenz Institute for Ethology (Vienna) and the In 2009, with support from the WPT, tricahues (for all of us)! University of Freiburg (Germany). we worked with Oscar Saa and Guido Castillo Iglesias, to develop actions for A nestling about six weeks old is banded during regular growth a renewed protection of the colony. monitoring. The whi sh beak turns black a er about four months. We fi rst designed an educational leafl et for the local people. Education has always been a centrepiece of our work with Burrowing Parrots. In 2009 and 2010, we visited the region around the Burrowing Parrot colony at Cerro Tololo, visited local schools, gave talks, delivered the fi rst leafl ets and got in touch with the locals in order to learn from them the local conservation situation. From that work, it was obvious that direct actions for the protection of the colony were needed. Together with Oscar and our colleagues at the university we agreed that the most effective way of protecting this colony would be hiring wardens during the breeding season. We started that direct action, with funds from the WPT, in the 2010 breeding season. As a result, “picos blancos” (white bills) were seen fl ying around the colony. This means that for the fi rst time in years the adult Burrowing Parrots breeding at that

10 PsittaScene Autumn 2013 By José Antonio Díaz Luque, Igor Berkunsky, Helen Müller Foraging and Katrina Heckendorn. Fundamentals . UPDATE: training macaws for release

Six Blue-throated Macaws bred at Paradise Park in Cornwall UK were repatriated to Bolivia by the World Parrot Trust in March 2013. Each bird is identifi ed by non-toxic paint on its chest.

is 6:30 in the morning here in Bolivia. It The day started out cloudy but there is no time to wait. We need to fi nd native food in the forest for our 6 birds. Our team of volunteers doesn’t care about the water level in the fl ooded savannahs or the number of mosquitoes trying to “eat” them. They just know how important it is to have all types of native fruits available in the parrots’ fridge for our daily work. They love this work and the parrots!

Autumn 2013 PsittaScene 11 captive Blue- measure the amount of food that the The six throated Macaws birds manipulate versus the amount (Ara glaucogularis) arrived from Paradise of food that they actually eat. We have Park, UK in March and made history refi ned our knowledge immensely by by being the fi rst of their kind ever learning along with these six wonderful repatriated to Bolivia (see PsittaScene, birds – Berto, Azura, Bella, Arlo, Cruz May 2013) for reintroduction to the and Chica. Their arrival at the Blue- wild. They are also a living laboratory for throated Macaw Conservation Center refi ning our procedures for diet change has been one of the most wonderful pre-release. parts of the recovery project.

In reintroduction projects, familiarising Food Presentation the animals with the native diet is a Food presentation is an art! We humans crucial step towards maximising survival enjoy arranging and modifying food to after release. The natural diet of the enhance its appeal. We did the same for Blue-throated Macaw includes a variety the birds. We offered a combination of of native fruits like motacú (Atthlea native and non-native foods and worked phalerata) and totaí (Acrocomia aculeata) slowly with the goal of: out with the old palms. Based on observations of wild and in with the new! Initially the macaws Blue-throats foraging, it is clear that the were given exactly what was offered motacú is especially important. Besides at Paradise Park including the Kaytee its crucial food value, these palms parrot pellets and a variety of non-native also contain cavities used for nesting. fruits, nuts and seeds. The selection of Establishing the relationship between shelled and unshelled nuts was slowly these birds and the motacú palm is a key reduced to Brazil nuts only (with shells), to their thriving in the wild here. in gradually decreasing amounts.

Motacú grow in bunches and the Native food included a variety of 20 individual fruit have a hard peel which native species, most of which were in protects the highly nutritious and fatty our database as foods that wild Blue- pulp which coats the seed. Macaws peel throats had been observed eating. We the motacú to reach the pulp which they also included native plant species that scrape off the seeds. At Paradise Park other parrots have been observed eating, the birds had a diet that included Kaytee especially other wild macaws found Exact parrot food (pellets), seeds, nuts in the same area as the Blue-throats and a variety of fruit not native to including Golden-collared (Primolius Bolivia. Prior to release, the birds need auricollis), Blue-and-Yellow (Ara ararauna) to be completely switched to a native and Chestnut-fronted Macaws (A. diet. We are happy to report that that severus). switch has been completely made during their fi rst few months in Bolivia. Native foods were only offered while each was in season. Some fruits were The evolution of the macaws’ dish In addition to the immediate goal of especially diffi cult to introduce, like the refl ects their remarkable transition from non-native foods including weaning the birds onto native foods, we motacú. It was initially offered unpeeled, grapes, bananas and even parrot also did extensive observation to test but the macaws weren’t interested! We pellets (top) to a diet made up exclusively of native local foods the effi cacy of our diet change strategy immediately began experimenting with in season like motacú, totaí and as well as the success of different different techniques; offering peeled sumuqué palm, ambaibo, coquino, techniques for introducing native foods. motacú, strips of pulp, then just the cuti, among others (bottom). We also tested various techniques to pulp wrapped around Brazil nuts and

12 PsittaScene Autumn 2013 then fi nally we added back unpeeled motacú. As the number of peeled motacú and strips consumed by the macaws increased, the brazil nuts coated with pulp were quickly reduced.

For the fi rst month we offered the non-native and native food together early in the morning. After that we began offering native food separately, 2 hours earlier, in order to continue Feeding observations all the food remaining after feeding. The increasing the bird’s interest in and Immediately after food was offered, difference between what was offered and consumption of the native food. the birds were observed for 2-4 hours what remained, i.e. the food removed, Along with the volunteers we spent almost daily, from a blind (hide), except was assumed to correlate with the food hours talking about the diet change when it rained during the feeding time. consumed. The macaws did not seem to process in order to share observations The six individuals are distinguished by remove and discard food they disliked of the birds’ behaviour and to make non-toxic paint in different locations on from the dish unless it was on top of steps forward every day. their chests. During observations all food something they wanted! items taken by each bird were noted. A total of 461 hours 04 In addition to the food offered in the min of observations dish, branches of native fruit were hung were made over 178 in the cage starting the very fi rst week to days summarized here. imitate natural feeding situations. Later The food dish was we started having one day per week when removed from the they were only offered food in branches. cage every evening and The only way for the birds to eat those food was not left in days was to eat from branches. Branches the cage overnight to were replaced when no fruit remained on increase the probability them, the fruit was over-ripe, the macaws of birds feeding during destroyed them or when branch day observations. We ended. In addition to natural branches of weighed all the food of motacú we created artifi cial bunches by each type being fed and spearing motacú onto wire attached to

The motacú palm fruit is a staple of the wild Blue-throated Macaws diet. The captive bred birds were wary at fi rst. But before long they learned to love and even prefer motacú to the non-native foods they grew up on. They also learned to eat it readily from natural bunches.

Autumn 2013 PsittaScene 13 The effort to collect local food in season becomes all consuming for staff and volunteers as the macaws make their transition to their natural diet. 

Cruz was our pickiestpickiest eater but now enenjoysjoys trytryinging the new ffood.ood.

“Arlo” is quite relaxed at the conservation centre in Bolivia. He, along with his fi ve fellow travelers, is adjusting extremely well to the sights, sounds and tastes of their native home where they will soon fl y free.

the stalk of an empty bunch so that the changes in their behaviour. They have behaviour makes their adaptation to the nuts could be easily removed. We had come so far from the days when they wild much easier. I cannot wait to see to do this because natural ripe bunches paid no attention to the branches at all. them perching in a motacú bunch and were not always possible to fi nd. Now when one of them starts to eat, eating fruits as fast as the wild birds! Sometimes when we do fi nd them and the other birds follow, having learned start to cut the branch down, all the fruit that the branches were not a dangerous Preferences starts to fall too. You can see how our thing. The birds are not only eating The Blue-throated Macaws ate many whole day was nearly consumed with all the fruits we are offering them in pieces of the non-native fruits during foraging for native foods! branches, they are also learning to land their fi rst months in Bolivia. Bananas at the branches like they do in the fi eld. and grapes were often taken, while Branch day is a day where we feel Instead of walking along the perch to oranges and limes were never touched. very proud of the work we are doing. look the branches over, they are fl ying Plums and pears were also offered, but Watching the birds we can really see the and landing on them directly. This were rarely observed being eaten. The

14 PsittaScene Autumn 2013 birds always ate all of their shelled and unpeeled motacú were offered again a considering the extreme care we take unshelled nuts! In general we observed month after arrival they were almost with funds for the conservation project. males eating more food and eating more immediately consumed by all the birds. The most important thing is that we often than females. Still, during that fi rst month, motacú can demonstrate for other colleagues was never observed being taken from and projects that this process, which To change the diet completely from the natural or artifi cial bunches. Now, is extremely important for the survival non-native fruits to native fruits took not only do the birds toss other foods of released birds, is also a wonderful us exactly 3 months. At this time we aside to get to motacú, they also eat it experience for the people involved. have observed all birds eating between readily whole from the bunches. 13-15 different types of native fruits Soon we will start to do the special per individual and 19 of 20 different Ground feeding, a no-no pre-release training of our birds. At types offered overall. Our daily feeding Early on, the macaws often dropped that time, we will start to offer native observations have been very important fruit prior to fully consuming it only fruit in branches daily and we will stop in monitoring the diet change process. to then eat it from the bottom of the offering food in the dish. This will cage. As Blue-throated Macaws do be the next new and exciting step at Motacú obsession not naturally eat from the ground, we the conservation centre and for these During the fi rst months of diet analysis wanted to discourage this behaviour. wonderful birds. We will be sure to let our focus was on increasing motacú We did so by modifying the cage so you know how it goes since you are consumption. Motacú is a huge part they could not get to food that was an extremely important part of our of our daily lives at the conservation dropped. This simple action decreased conservation work too. centre! When unpeeled motacú were the amount of food removed from the offered initially they were not observed bottom of the cage dramatically and We would like to express our thanks to being consumed. However, all birds sped up the transition to eating from the all the volunteers that have participated were observed consuming some type of bunches and branches. in the process. Special thanks to the prepared motacú (pulp, strips, peeled). local people at Sachojere who are In conclusion, our fi rst experience continuously helping us to fi nd native All but one bird, Cruz, were observed completely changing the diet of these food and are so interested in how the consuming motacú strips. There was 6 birds shows that it can be done. On birds are doing and when they will be a progression in all of the birds´ one hand the diet change process allows ready to be free. consumption from the prepared motacú us to dramatically increase the birds’ starting with the pulp coated nuts, skills prior to release, especially their From Bolivia, listening to our six Blue- followed by strips, peeled and fi nally ability to fi nd and manipulate native throated Macaws and many other native to the unpeeled motacú. It appears fruits in branches; on the other hand parrots echoing them from the fi eld, we that once accustomed to the taste, we reduced almost to zero our feeding just want to say !Eternal life to the wild consumption increased. By the time costs, which it is really important parrots!

Autumn 2013 PsittaScene 15 Pet| Pages Flight Status

From Bruce I recently read an article on the top dangers associated with injury and death in parrots. High on the list was not clipping your bird’s wings. The article noted risks of fl ying into windows, mirrors, hot pots and escape. They recommended that all pet birds be clipped. Another article I came across said that more than half of all birds Qlost were clipped and that fully fl ighted birds had a higher retrieval rate due to being better able to escape predators and often survive for long enough to be retrieved. I personally have had a few very close calls when my birds were clipped and stopped clipping about 2 years ago. I think having clipped birds made me complacent and gave me a false sense of security. With fl ighted birds I am far more aware of possible dangers. I have fi ve dogs and my neighbours all have dogs and cats so a clipped bird would not last very long if it got out. A fl ighted bird would at least stand a chance of surviving long enough to be retrieved. For me, fl ight is a better option. The ultimate solution would be an outdoor fl ight and fl ight training. There are a lot of contradictory opinions on the matter. While both clipped and unclipped have risks attached, is one necessarily a much less risky option than the other? I would like to get some more fr om our Experts thoughts on the subject. Thanks.

Jim McKendry is a parrot G’day Bruce! start to attempt to modify the anatomy behaviour consultant with degrees in teaching and of our parrots or create expectations of applied science. He has worked Thanks so much for contacting the them that are completely incompatible professionally as an avian World Parrot Trust for some advice with the expression of their natural trainer at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and currently and additional food for thought on biological tendencies that we experience delivers annual workshops what is, in my opinion, one of the “behaviour problems”. It shouldn’t be there on companion parrot A behaviour and enrichment. most signifi cant issues surrounding a surprise that when we keep parrots in the keeping of parrots as companion contexts that afford them opportunities He is a consultant with animals. to socialize, fl y, vocalize, establish individuals and organizations, territories, forage, breed and behave writes for the World Parrot Trust experts panel as well I am a major advocate of maintaining in biologically functional ways that we as for Australian Birdkeeper full fl ight capability of all parrots kept experience very few diffi culties with magazine. Jim provides parrot in captivity. I strongly feel that we their care. behaviour and enrichment consultation services via his need to make a fundamental shift away website at www.pbec.com.au. from 19th and 20th century paradigms In my nearly 20 years of keeping of thinking about what is acceptable parrots, and over 10 years of consulting See many more expert answers to parrot questions on our and not acceptable in regards to our with owners, wing clipping is, in Forums, Experts & Bloggers expectations of companion parrots. my experience, perhaps the number section of www.parrots.org We need to develop a 21st century one precursor to many of the most approach towards their care, training and signifi cant behavioural health issues management. I encounter. Subsequently it is one of they key reasons for failure in pet Simply – parrots are built to behave in a homes. I don’t subscribe to the common range of specifi c biologically functional thought that wing clipping is “a personal ways. The foundation of that functional choice”. Would that be your bird’s behaviour is fl ight. Indeed, it is when we choice?

16 PsittaScene Autumn 2013 © Chris Wyness

Keeping fl ighted companion parrots sets up a wonderful set of relationship building opportunities and challenges the carer to maintain training and interactions with their bird based on positive reinforcement of behaviours such as this recall fl ight.

If we are genuine and authentic about the analogy that if your pet dog ran I wrote a three-part article for Australian promoting relationships with parrots as out of the gate and bit the postman Birdkeeper Magazine back in 2008 that pets built on a foundation of respect, would you tie his legs up to prevent a provided a very thorough overview of trust and appreciation then such decisions recurrence or would you make sure the the keeping of fl ighted parrots. You can should be made based on what is best gate is locked and the dog is trained? access this material via backorder (details for the bird – not simply to cater for the at www.psittascene.org). The second and limitations of the owner’s experience or Parrots, unfortunately, are just about third articles provide insights into the abilities. the last of our companion animals that training and management of fl ighted are subject to socially endorsed physical companion parrots. The fi rst article in the A 21st century approach to companion modifi cation. We no longer tail dock series discusses much of the following parrot care embraces their fl ight capability. or ear trim dogs (at least not here in rationale for maintaining fl ight in It challenges owners to develop both the Australia) and educated people would companion parrots. appropriate training skills to manage fl ight consider de-fanging a captive venomous successfully and to create an appropriate snake inhumane. These are practices Let’s Defi ne the Boundaries environment to ensure that fl ight is safe. that were once accepted but are no Any discussion of fl ight and companion Ultimately – it’s our expectations of our longer. It’s a shame that some members parrots really needs prefacing with a clear parrots as pets and the environment of the veterinary community still seem distinction between the concepts of a that we provide for them that need to endorse wing-clipping. Promoting “fl ighted parrot” and a “free-fl ighted to be modifi ed – not their wings. The this approach to handling and training, parrot”. The focus of this article is justifi cations and rationale presented for provides much of the social validity for strictly on the philosophy, training and wing clipping really aren’t valid today. its continued practice. What we really management of “fl ighted” parrots – Flying into windows, getting stuck in the need to be advocating and striving for birds allowed full fl ight capabilities but toilet or the frying pan, escaping out the is improved education for a modern kept indoors or within a suitable fl ight door are all examples of problems with approach to the keeping of a parrot as enclosure. It is critical for parrot owners to the management of the fl ighted bird – not a pet and being progressive about our realise that successful and ethical keepers the capability of fl ight itself. I often use approaches to parrot care. of fl ighted companion parrots know

Autumn 2013 PsittaScene 17 © Photos by Jim McKendry

Well-designed outdoor enrichment aviaries provide opportunities for fl ighted companion parrots to fl y, explore, forage and be stimulated by movement and weather within a safe and secure facility.

their limitations, their bird’s limitations, fl ighted birds at Currumbin Wildlife development of stereotypical behaviour. and have a conscious awareness of Sanctuary, and through consulting Whilst fl ight is not the magic cure for controlling as many of the potential with pet parrot owners on behaviour all behaviours such as feather picking variables that come into play with the management, I believe maintaining and other signifi cant behavioural health keeping of fl ighted birds as possible. fl ight is so important for our parrots for issues, it is often a critical component This goal is only achieved through the a number of reasons: of a management plan to avoid implementation of proper training these developments or reduce their and the provision of suitable and safe Increase in functional behaviours: occurrence once established. housing. When we choose to keep a Parrots that have retained their fl ight fl ighted parrot we must also accept capabilities can be observed functionally Reduction in level of dependency: an essential set of responsibilities and engaging with their environment at The next step along a continuum obligations. These are: higher levels than parrots deprived of of behavioural development that is fl ight. We often perceive this enhanced supported through fl ight is a reduction • Ensuring the safety and welfare level of engagement as an increase in in the level of dependency on the of our birds at all times through confi dence and I would certainly agree human caregiver. Parrots deprived of careful arrangement of their fl ight with that. Functional behaviours, such fl ight often become almost totally reliant environment and; as foraging and exploratory behaviour upon humans for movement around provide the foundation for better their environment. Flight is important • Protecting the biodiversity and behaviour in companion parrots. Flight to a parrot in supporting physical biosecurity of our surrounding facilitates a signifi cant enhancement in engagement with its environment. natural environment by not allowing a parrot’s control over its environment With that engagement comes a degree a fl ighted parrot outside of a fl ight by providing more decision-making of independence that may reduce enclosure or secure indoor fl ight and choice. When empowered with behavioural problems associated with an space. these opportunities, parrots seem to over-reliance on humans for social and cope better and adapt more successfully environmental stimulation. Adhering to the above guidelines will to the limitations of the captive ensure that risks associated with fl ight environment. Enhancement of relationship with are minimised or completely negated. owner through improved training and Reduction in development of reinforcement schedules: Keeping Why have a fl ighted pet parrot? stereotypical behaviours: As an increase a parrot that can fl y challenges the In my experiences as a keeper of in exploration and engagement with companion parrot owner to develop fl ighted companion parrots for many their environment is observed, often their own skills. The training and years, working professionally with free- there is a corresponding decrease in the management of a pet that is empowered

18 PsittaScene Autumn 2013 Flighted companion parrots exhibit higher levels of engagement The anatomy of a macaw wingspan says it all. These animals are built with their enrichment and increased levels of confi dence in to fl y and should be provided with opportunities to do so in captive movement, coordination and functional behaviour. environments to maintain their behaviour and physical health. with independence and with greater parrot owners to consider constructing a me if one of my parrots is not 100%, infl uence over its environment is safe and secure outdoor fl ight enclosure simply based on my observations of challenging and empowering. It is a for their pet parrot. I have worked with their activity level, keenness to fl y to the wonderful learning and relationship a number of clients on the design of hand, and general mobility around their building experience for both the such enclosures and the shift in their enclosure. companion parrot and the owner. parrot’s experience has been brilliant to The relationship between an owner witness. Full fl ight of captive parrots offers and a fl ighted pet parrot demands so many benefi ts. I am really only a foundation of trust and positive Earlier diagnosis of change in health: scratching the surface of developing a reinforcement history. To reduce Early diagnosis of the state of health of full argument for maintaining fl ight in over-dependence and increase your a pet parrot can be absolutely critical in our pet parrots. Hopefully I have offered role as a teacher and positive presence ensuring that illness is treated quickly. a reasonable alternative to much of in your parrot’s environment can be There is no argument that a parrot that what you have read elsewhere. I would wonderfully rewarding and enriching. engages in fl ight as part of its daily encourage WPT members to access the repertoire will offer a more overt and article series I put together for ABK Therapeutic benefi ts for behavioural observable indication of a change of Magazine to develop a full picture of recovery and rehabilitation: I fi rst health than a wing-clipped or fl ightless my own philosophy and approach. Also started working with other companion parrot. Parrots that do not fl y already note the podcast noted below. A fl ighted parrot owners on supporting the tend to be inactive for longer periods companion is indeed a challenging one. behavioural and enrichment needs of the day than a fl ighted bird. Daily The 21st century companion parrot of their birds back in 1999. Flight food intake may also be less in wing- keeper will embrace that challenge has been critical in the behavioural clipped birds than in fl ighted parrots. and hopefully leave a legacy for future recovery of many birds I have worked Resting durations are often longer in generations of companion parrot with, particularly those that have wing-clipped birds and some may even caregivers that respects and caters for developed feather-picking behaviours. present less vocal behaviours than might fl ight in their birds. Often there has been a need to be expected from fl ighted birds. This establish outdoor fl ight enclosures to inactivity can result in a keeper failing further enhance the environmental to recognise early symptoms of illness scope and opportunity for functional normally associated with lack of activity, N›ó Öʗ‘ƒÝã! behaviour. Outdoor fl ight space offers lack of engagement in enrichment, Keeping Parrots Flighted immense benefi ts in reducing or and lack of interest in novel objects in completely avoiding behavioural health their environment. My morning walk Charlie Moores with Jim McKendry issues. I would certainly encourage around my aviaries will quickly inform www.psiƩ ascene.org

Autumn 2013 PsittaScene 19 Th anks...

Our heartfelt thanks go to David Occhino (left) for his contributions to the World Parrot Trust over the past two years.

David’s company, David Occhino Design, specializes in the creation of premium custom graphics for the advertising, television and motion picture industries. He has worked with many high-profi le clients, including the Walt Disney Company, NBC/Universal, Charles Schulz Creative Associates (owners of the Peanuts™ franchise), the author Jackie Collins, and various movie producers such as Mark Ordesky, executive producer of the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and others.

David donated his company’s design time to help us update our look and bring consistency to our publications. His skill, effi ciency and professionalism have made him outstanding to work with!

David initially approached the Trust as a new member and supporter - one who spent a year researching parrot needs before adopting a Burrowing Parrot (Patagonian Conure) named Bonsai. David is an extraordinarily talented individual who has very specifi c skills and a strong desire to share them.

One of David’s specialties is typography - the look and feel that can be created from text. He worked through an exhaustive process with us to capture the personality of WPT using text to create a special “wordmark” (above). At the same time David was working to defi ne and solidify our look using type, colour and imagery. That “new look” is now being systematically carried through our publications in print and online.

With the groundwork laid in typeface and colour, the next big project was a beautiful revision of our website (parrots.org - far right) and eNewsletter (Flock Talk - left). Both are packed with information and are increasingly the fi rst place people encounter WPT. Pulling together the same consistent look is a huge benefi t and helps visitors more easily recognize us elsewhere.

The next project was a brand new membership brochure (right), which is also a key point of contact with people all over the world. This important piece is one we had been hoping to update for some time. David’s engagement made it happen – with stunning results!

And lastly, PsittaScene! We worked with David this spring and summer to bring many of the new “design” elements into PsittaScene while continuing to focus on fabulous parrot photography and content. We are lucky to have access to a great stream of amazing images. We want the design of PsittaScene to be elegant and for parrots to remain center stage. David helped us to update our look while keeping the layout and functionality we have developed over time. We hope you like the look!

20 PsittaSceneene AutumnAutumn 20132013 WPT ONLINE parrots.org • New parrot care podcast “Preparing for Avian Emergencies” with Ellen Cook • And while you’re there listen to the podcast featured in this issue of PsittaScene (p. 18) - “Keep your Parrot Flighted “ with Jim McKendry and Charlie Moores

facebook

• www.facebook.com/ worldparrottrust • New: www.facebook.com/ Savelories • The Lory Conservation Network (LCN), fi rst formed in 2009 by the World Parrot Trust. LCN links zoos, bird parks, and lory exhibits around the world with conservation projects designed to protect lories and lorikeets.

twitter

twitter.com/ParrotTrusti • 2,799 followers

YouTube

youtube.com/parrotsdotorg • Check out several Burrowing Parrot videos

Other WPT websites: TheTh new parrots.org willillll go onlinelil ini parrots.org/fl yfree the next few months - stay tuned! parrots.org/wpt3 parrots.org/bossorange savelories.org

parrots.org/fl ocktalk • WPT monthly eNewsletter • Launched September 2007 For more of David’s design work • Keep in touch! Sign on today! visit davidocchino.com

Autumn 2013 2013 PsittaScene 21 Psitta| News

Events News

Susan Friedman Workshop Night Parrot Re-discovered Teaming with Disney Commons © Phil Wharton - License Creative October 19-20, 2013 Among Australian scientists and bird- The World Parrot Trust (WPT) has Seattle Parrot Expo lovers, the elusive Night Parrot (Pezoporus been awarded a $24,750 grant from Washington USA occidentalis) has been something of a Holy the Disney Worldwide Conservation Susan Friedman PhD will present a Grail. The small, ground-dwelling parrots Fund (DWCF). The conservation grant two day Behavior+ Works, Living and all but disappeared in 1912 and have been recognises WPT’s eff orts to conserve Learning with Animals workshop at observed only a handful of times in recent the Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrot the Seattle Parrot Expo. Saturday and years. A few were reportedly seen—but (Amazona barbadensis) on the island Sunday from 9-5 not photographed—in 1979 and 2005, of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, and two dead parrots were discovered in through their ongoing partnership www.behaviorworks.org 1990 and 2006. Scientists have spent near- with Echo, an NGO based in Bonaire. countless hours in the Australian bush seeking the lost species, but until now no Dr. Sam Williams, Director of Echo, IAATE 2014 birds have defi nitively turned up. states: “The ongoing support of the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund February 5-8, 2014 But in early July 2013, naturalist John is crucial to the long-term success of Dallas, Texas USA Young made a startling claim: After this project. Their commitment has The International Association of spending 17,000 hours and 15 years in the greatly assisted us in our eff orts to Avian Trainers and Educators (IAATE) fi eld looking for the Night Parrot, he has safeguard the parrots and to build 22nd annual conference will be not only photographed one but captured local support for conservation as a held in Dallas, Texas with fi eld trips, it on video for all of 17 seconds. He showed whole.” workshops, speakers and networking off some of his photos and six seconds events. IAATE was founded to foster of video at a closed-door session held at The Yellow-shouldered Amazon communication, professionalism, and Queensland Museum on July 3. He used (bottom) is a fl agship threatened cooperation among those individuals his own recordings to attract Night Parrots species restricted to a few islands in who serve Avian Science through in 2009 and 2012, but never got close the Caribbean and parts of northern training, public display, research, enough to see. Playing the audio again Venezuela. WPT and Echo are working husbandry, conservation, and on May 25 of this year, he said, led to his to address habitat degradation education. discovery and the resultant photographs. and the consequent human- wildlife confl ict through integrated www.iaate.org Source: blogs.scientifi camerican.com population monitoring to understand population dynamics and novel approaches to reduce parrot/human confl ict.

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund works to protect species and habitats, and connect kids to nature to help develop lifelong conservation values. Since its founding in 1995, DWCF has supported more than 1,000 conservation programs in 112 countries.

Source: WPT and Echo © Sam Williams

22 PsittaScene Autumn 2013 WPT CONTACTS

WEB

© Davide De Guz © Davide parrots.org psittascene.org

PsittaScene Editor Joanna Eckles [email protected]

Address change: parrots.org/addressupdate

MAIN — UK & World Karen Whitley [email protected]

USA Traffi cking Convictions Glenn Reynolds In late January of this year a large WPT provided funds for food, [email protected] shipment of wild-caught birds was seized veterinary care, a keeper, and the AUSTRALIA in Guinea, Africa. The confi scation of over pre-release aviary for this, the fi rst Nicholas Bishop two hundred birds included a hundred rehabilitation and release program for [email protected] Senegal parrots, a dozen Timneh parrots, confi scated parrots in Guinea. BENELUX parakeets and cockatiels, Red-headed Ruud Vonk lovebirds, and others. The organization The confi scations and releases were [email protected] Guinée Application de la Loi Faunique followed by the news of several arrests NETHERLANDS (GALF), a branch of the Last Great Ape – a welcome sign of enforcement Ria Vonk Organization (LAGA), led the confi scation not often seen in this area. In June a [email protected] and cared for the birds, with the help of Chinese man was arrested in Guinea- BELGIUM WPT-sponsored veterinarian Dr. Davide Conakry for traffi cking protected Ronald Coens de Guz. species including parrots. In August, [email protected] also in Guinea-Conakry, a major wildlife BRAZIL In July, after the birds were rehabilitated dealer, Ousmane Diallo, was arrested. André Saidenberg they were set free in two releases on He had been a fugitive since January [email protected] Tamara Island, off the coast of Guinea. and was fi nally apprehended, arrested They are doing well in the forests and sentenced in July to a fi ne and one CANADA Michelle Kooistra surrounding the release site. The released year in prison. And in Cameroon, fi ve [email protected] birds are fl ocking together and foraging parrot traffi ckers were arrested and on local foods as well as utilizing 75 Grey Parrots were confi scated. The INDIA Avin Deen supplemental foods provided by keepers. parrots are awaiting release at the Zoo [email protected] It is hoped that once they are established in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon. the birds will begin to breed. The traffi ckers are also behind bars. ITALY Cristiana Senni [email protected]

JAPAN MORE ONLINE TSUBASA [email protected] Read more online with easy links to related information including: SPAIN / CENTRAL AMERICA Rosa Elena Zegarra [email protected] • More amazing images of Patagonian Conures and the team at work SWEDEN • Links to our podcasts including Lars Persson [email protected] “Keeping Parrots Flighted” • Links to years of Blue-throated Macaw articles and updates Languages Available: • Links to all the websites in our articles, Dutch, German, Italian, news and events Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish www.psittascene.org

Autumn 2013 PsittaScene 23