The Cape by Dale R. Thompson, Lemon Cove, CA Eb Cravens, Waiohinu, HI

Natural History (Dale R. Thompson) he is the largest rep­ resentative of the T in Africa and there are three subspecies, two being found in The Cape PatrOt is well represented in Africa but not in American aviculture. South Africa. The smaller P robustus It is in the same as the African Grey and shares some similarities.

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4 May/June 1997 robustus is endemic to Eastern Cape writings (Avizundum, Dec. 1996/Jan. evening). and Natal where it can be found in the 1997) that she came across a reference The diet given to Cape Parrots high altitude forests which is dominated to Cape Parrots in The Gambia. Hans should consist of seeds and nuts, fruits by Yellow Wood or trees. Anderssen (984), who had lived in and vegetables and any type of the The larger subspecies, P r. suahelicus is West Africa for 16 years, sometimes "soft-type" of food diets. They are sim­ only found in the northern parts of the found dead juscicollis beneath the ilar to the African in their country which has much drier forests. roosting trees. They were nearly all high Vitamin A requirement. This will The nominate race is by far the females. He carried out autopsies on assist in eliminating recurring upper rarest in captivity and is seldom kept. them and noted that they all "had a respiratory infections, sinusitis and This subspecies is different from the very badly infected ovary and oviduct sinus abscesses. In fact, this is impor­ other subspecies in that it has a much and the spleen was black and enlarged tant for all Poicephalus . browner head. The other two sub­ on alL" Could this be possible with the Rosemary Low found Capes need a species, P r. suahelicus and P r. jusci­ other subspecies as well? fairly high fat diet but sunflower and collis are distinguished by a gray head Due to the destruction of their nuts can fill this need. Capes are espe­ coloration. The race suahelicus is the native habitat, the populations of Cape cially fond ofpine nuts. While she was most common subspecies found in Parrots are declining on a whole. at Palmitos park, Low found that captivity. Both the juscicollis and sua­ There are, however, several areas orange was their favorite fruit and she helicus subspecies are sexually dimor­ where they are still fairly common. fed the fruit of the Arecastrnm palms phic in their adult plumage. The Due to farming and forestry practices, which were oily and orange in color. female is more colorful with her fore­ large areas of indigenous forests have head up to the crown being orange in been cleared or have been replaced captive Notes coloration. Immature Capes are similar with non-indigenous trees which do (Eb Cravens) to the adult female having the orange not give the parrots the nesting sites I have been keeping Poicephalus head coloration but during the first and food supplies they need. This robustus suahelicus in my aviaries molt the maturing males will lose this leaves great gaps in the forests which since 1992, after being very taken with coloration. forces the parrots to fly great distances a pair on display in the exhibition hall Cape Parrots are noted for their between indigenous forest for food of the AFA National convention in San large oversized heads and beaks. sources. This is especially true during Diego. Those were the nominate Males usually have a larger beak than nesting times in which the parent birds P. r. robustus subspecies. the females and this can even be may have to fly to far distant new It is a considerable privilege for me observed when immature. This large forests to satisfy the feeding needs of to be involved with this rare captive beak of the Cape Parrot is very pow­ their growing progeny. There are still psittacine. Yet, it is also a relief and joy erful, especially because of its very some inaccessible forest where P r. to maintain a parrot species at my facil­ curved upper mandible descending to robustus exist is some numbers. ity which is strictly off-limits to the pet a narrow tip and powerful lower It is P r. suahelicus which has real­ trade. All the handfed chicks I have mandible used as an anvil. Cape ly suffered from the destruction of its known, fed or been involved with Parrots should always be given habitat and from the demand for cap­ have been carefully placed with con­ branches of trees or even timber to tive birds. scientious aviculturists who sustain an chew on and they will destroy this It has been found that handfed ongoing commitment to the Cape material with great efficiency. Capes do have some excellent pet Parrot. This is as it should be. Wild-caught birds can have a very qualities. But keeping this species as Poicephalus robustus is undoubted­ shy and nervous temperament and this pets should not be encouraged as the ly a psittacine under attack in its wild should be considered when placing captive populations of the Cape Parrot habitat. As long ago as the mid-1970s, this in a captive breeding situa­ are extremely low in their numbers. Joseph Forshaw reported that South tion. Well sheltered aviaries assist in Young Capes should be held back as African flocks were being pressured by giving this parrot a sense of security, future breeders, especially the females. trappers and those stealing young and having the nest entrance area dark If this is not done, this species may from nests to sell into the pet trade. will enhance this feeling. I personally easily disappear. Rosemary Low notes that wild-trapped use the L-shaped cage for this species Cape Parrots are similar to the Capes were being offered for sale in as I do with many of my wild-caught African Grey Parrot in voice and Great Britain the latter part of 1996. It Greys. The front foot portion of the L­ behavior. Male Cape Parrots will often would benefit the species greatly if, shaped cage is completely divided off drop their wings during courtship as worldwide, we were able to increase on the outside with plywood partitions do male Greys. When frightened, both the captive bred numbers and elimi­ and this is where I place their nest box. birds will make a growling sound and nate the trapping altogether. It seems that the great lack of try to get away and hide. Both the The Cape Parrot is generally not an females in captivity is the norm and African Grey and the Cape Parrot have easy species to reproduce in captivity. this may be part of the reason that this pleasant sounding voices when not Certain pairs in the U.S. and abroad species in not well reproduced in cap­ disturbed and will often make melodi­ have proven quite prolific and reliable. tivity. Rosemary Low relates in her ous whistling sounds (especially in the but we have found only a 25-400/0 suc- afa WATCHBIRD 5 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF AVICULTURE 'I!ie Mission ofthe .5't~.5't is to Pro11Wte tlie .5'ttfvanament of.5'tvicu[ture.

1997 OFFICERS

LAURELLA DESBOROUGH. President 510-372-61741 fax 510-372-0306· ROBERT J. BERRY, Executive Director 713-434-80761 fax 713-433-3731 RICK JORDAN, 1st Vice President phonefax 512-858-7029· GARY CLlFfON, 2nd Vice President 602-830-49201 fax 602-995-1707 JIM HAWLEY, JR., Chief Financial Officer 602-838-47701 fax 602-987-3389 • JAMI KENNEDY, SecretaIy 805-252-0437

MEMBER CLUBS NATIONAL A MID-ATLANTIC Central Mississippi Bird Club Midweat Avian Research Expo KANSAS REGION Greater Memphis Bird Club Stateline Bird Fanciers, Inc. State coordinator: INTERNATIONAL NORTH CAROLINA INDIANA ORGANIZATIONS Kayla Snyder, Director Bill Rider 816-452-9310 412-369-0908 fax 412-338-7862 State coordinator: State coordinator: B.E.R.D. Miki Sparzak, Director DELAWARE Greg Bacot 919-766-3766 * Kansas Avicultural Society, Inc. phone/fax 512-858-4136 Charlotte Metrolina Cage Bird Central Indiana Cage Bird Northeast Kansas Cage Bird Club State coordinator: African Lovebird Society Raleigh-Durham Caged Bird Society Michiana Bird Society LOUISIANA Nancy Selz 302-798-8625 American Society SOUTH CAROLINA Kentuckiana Cage bird club State coordinator: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Amazona Society State coordinator: Jeanne C. Murphy 504-833-4241 American Cockatiel Society, Inc. State coordinator: Beth Rowan 803-862-2852 MICHIGAN Acadiana Bird Club American Lory Society Tom Marshall 703-777-3252 Aiken Bird Club State coordinator: Bayou Bird Club Asiatic Breeders Association MARYLAND Palmetto Cage Bird Club ofAnderson Capitol Area Avicultural Society Asiatic Parrot Society • State coordinator: TENNESSEE Ann Arbor Cage Bird Club Gulf South Bird Club, Inc. Avicultural Society of America Debora Ready 410-838-9418 State coordinator B.E.A.K S. Louisiana Aviculture Society International Parrotlet Society Maryland Cage Bird Society, Inc. North Oakland Cage Bird Club MISSOURI Model Avicultural Program Renea Adams 901-854-69696 Southern Maryland Caged Bird Club Saginaw Valley Bird Club National Cockatiel Society Cage Bird Club of NE Tennessee State coordinator: Motor City Bird Breeders National Finch & Softbill Society NEW JERSEY Paddy Lambert 314-962-8186 Pionns Breeder Association State coordinator: FLORIDA/P.R. OHIO Gateway Parrot Club Waxbill Parrot-Finch Society Dan Lanetti 609-386-1435 State coordinator: Greater Kansas City Avicultural Soc. Central Jersey Bird Club REGION Missouri Cage Bird Association World Parrot Trust Dwight Greenberg, Director Diana Holloway 419-636-3882 Real Macaw Parrot Club Classic Feathers OKLAHOMA Ruffled Feathers 407-631-9800 fax 407-632-4338 Flightline Exotic Bird Society State coordinator: NORTHEASTERN FLORIDA (CENTRAL) REGION PENNSYLVANIA Golden Crescent Cage Bird Club Gary BlankenbiIler405-691-3553 State coordinator: State Coordinator: Great Lakes Bird Lovers Club Linda S. Rubin, Director Central Oklaboma Bird Club Lorraine Smith 215-348-7423 Suzanne Myers 813-689-7262 Greater Cincinnati Bird Club Oklahoma Avicultural Society 617-469-OSS7 fax 617-46~ Central Rorida Bird Breeders Miami Valley Bird Club TEXAS (NORTH) CONNECTICUT Central PeJlDsylvania Cage Bird Club Exotic Bird Club of Rorida Mid-American Exotic Bird Society State coordinator: State coordinator: Greater Brandon Avian Society Northwest Ohio Exotic Bird Club Bob Sunday 203-525-8338 Chester County Avian Society Linda Smith 817-790-8015 Delaware Valley Bird Club Imperial Bird Club WISCONSIN Connecticut Association for Bird Society of Waco Delco Bird Club Lakeland Exotic Bird Club State coordinator: Aviculture, Inc. Sun Coast Avian Society Cleburne Bird Society MAINE Erie Cage Bird Club Gloria Scholbe 414-496-1441 Dallas Cage Bird Society Philadelphia Avicultural Society Sunshine State Cage Bird Society Cream City Feathered Friends State coordinator: Treasure Coast Fort Worth Bird Club Seven Mountains Exotic Bird Club Kenosha Exotic Bird Club Plano Exotic Bird Association Margaret Fisher 207-935-3732 York Area Pet Bird Club West Rorida Avian Society Wisconsin Cage Bird Club, Inc. Maine State Caged Bird Society FLORIDA (NORTH) Texas Bird Breeders & Fanciers VIRGINIA TEXAS (SOUTH) MASSACHUSETTS State coordinator: State coordinator: NORTH CENTRAL State coordinator: State coordinator: Dawn Kopf703-594-3841 Alan Cooper904-234-2140 REGION Louise Dittoe 512-937-1991 Kathleen Viewig 617-739-2733 Emerald Coast Avian Society Commonwealth Avicultural Society James McCabe, Director Alamo Exhibition Bird Club Aviculturists of Greater Boston,lnc National Capital Bird Club Gainsville Bird Fanciers Capitol City Cage Bird Club Exotic Cage Bird Society ofNew Rorida West Coast Avian Society 612-753-5241 fax 612-753-6772 Parrot Breeders Association of IOWA Coastal Bend Cage Bird Club England Virginia West Pasco Exotic Bird Club River City Bird Club Massachusetts Cage Bird Assn. Tri-State Bird Club Jacksonville Bird Club State coordinator: San Antonio's Feathered Friends Northeastern Avicultural Society WEST VIRGINIA FLORIDA (SOUTH) Monica Sudds 712-642-4578 Triangle Bird Breeders Club NEW HAMPSHIRE State coordinator: State coordinator: Beakers Mid America Cagebird Society State coordinator: • Jody Lewis 305-253-7887 NORTHWESTERN • Aviary & Cage Bird Society of MINNESOTA Birds ofa Fealber Avicultural Society SOUTHEASTERN Southern Rorida State coordinator: REGION NEW YORK REGION Tropical Cocktiel and Lovebird Steve Estebo 612-432-4758 Natalie Frumin-Weiss, State coordinator: Wanda Elder, Director South West Rorida Avian Society Minnnesota Companion Bird Assn. Director Gulf Coast Bird Club Kristine Arnantea 914-355-2473 901-853-9988 fax 901-853-7030 NEBRASKA 206-927'{)983 fax 206-952-6983 Big Apple Bird Association Tampa Bay Bird Club, Inc. ALABAMA State coordinator: ALASKA Brilliant Pet Bird Society State coordinator: Panhandle Aviculture Society Broome County Caged Bird Club PUERTO RICO Greater Omaha Cage Bird Society State coordinator: June Hendrix 205-776-2992 Mark Lyke 907-346-2008 Central New York Caged Bird Club Central Alabama Aviculture Society Coordinator: Heartland Avicultural Society Alaska Bird Club Finger Lakes Cage Bird Association Rocket City Cage Bird Club, Inc David Negron 809-251-1153 NORTH DAKOTA Great Rochester HookbiU Assoc. South Alabama Cage Bird Society Organi Puertorriguena de Aves State coordinator: IDAHO Hudson Valley bird Fanciers Club GEORGIA Exoticas, Inc. State coordinator: Rochester Cage Bird Club • State coordinator: VIRGIN ISLANDS SOUTH DAKOTA Margie Loewen 208-939-9446 RHODE ISLAND Sherrie Miller 404-396-7938 State coordinator: State coordinator: MONTANA State coordinator CSRA Exotic Bird Association • Royce King 605-393-1720 State coordinator: Diane Patalano 401-885-0267 KENTUCKY MID-EASTERN Black Hills Cage Bird Club Laura Lee Neva 406-322-4444 VERMONT State coordinator: REGION SOU'IU CENTRAL Great Falls Cage Bird Society State coordinator: Jerry T. Clarice 502-935-5440 Janis Clark, Director OREGON Peter Lowry 802-754-6494 REGION State coordinator: Central Kentucky Cage Bird Club 419-825-2839 fax 419-825-2939 Richard Hazell, Director Feathered Friends Society • ILLINOIS 316- 942-8864 fax 316-942-9030 MISSISSIPPI Ernerald Exotic Bird Club State coordinator: ARKANSAS State coordinator: John Petty 815-962-8224 Mid Oregon Bird Club State coordinator: Northwest Bird Club Nancy S. Speed 601-673-8100 Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club Jim McGuire 501-965-2427 Rose City Exotic Bird Club 6 May/June 1997 cess rate in pairs set up for breeding­ the species. If we aviculturists are not especially when one or both of the dedicated or make too many casual birds is a second-generation handfed mistakes with this species, we may chick. To my knowledge, there is still well lose it to captive preservation. no record of a handfed male robustus Cape Parrots should be kept in a having successfully reproduced in cap­ stable, long-term situation with plenty tivity. of privacy, some dim light and securi­ This is an extremely sensitive ty. The emphaSiS should be on getting WASHINGTON SOUTHERN species of psittacine. Imported birds pairs to make the transition to parent­ State coordinator: CALIFORNIA are nervous. It is important that rearing their last clutch of the season. Jeri Wright, 206-838-9802 REGION Avicultural Society of Puget Sound Aletta M. Long, Director handfed Capes are raised with other We are years away from having the Avis Northwest Bird Club Cascade Canary Breeders Assoc. Phone/fax 316-596-7429 psittacine companionship and are not numeric base sufficient to release this Northwest Exotic Bird Society CALIFORNIA (SOUTHERN) too closely bonded with their keepers. psittacine into the pet trade. South Sound Exotic Bird Society SAN DIEGO AREA State coordinator: If this is not the case, mate abuse, There is little reason to handfeed all WESTERN Matty Muschinske 619-468-3201 weak bonding, and confusion of nat­ the babies, especially if handfed babies Finch Society of San Diego County REGION Hookbill Hobbyists ural gender roles can occur. are proving to lose some of the natur­ Kelly Tucker, Director North County Aviculturists The Cape Parrot is noticeably simi­ al savvy necessary to successfully 505·384-5490 fax 505· 384-5441 CALIFORNIA (SOUTHERN) ARIZONA LOS ANGELES AREA lar to the Grey Parrot in behavior and reproduce. It is interesting to note that State coordinator: State coordinator: intelligence. They tremble easily, the typical Poicephalus "greeting" of Michelle Rietz 602-973-9282 Joel Tatum 213-463-8262 Arizona Avian Breeders Assoc. Antelope Valley Bird Society growl, hide and bolt if forced to live in opening and closing the beak in a Arizona Aviculture Society Aviary Association of Kern an environment of frantic activity or silent "ya-ya-ya" is not firmly passed Arizona Seed Crackers Society East San Gabriel Valley Bird Society Avicultural Society ofTucson Hemet Valley Bird Society insecure cage privacy. Feather pluck­ on in the handfed Cape Parrots I have Tropical Bird Fanciers Hi Desert Bird Club ing is at least as frequent as it is in been around. They do re-learn it Yuma-Imperial Exotic Bird Club Long Beach Bird Breeders COLORADO Norco Valley Bird Breeders Greys. Hiding in a nest box hour after somewhat when introduced to a wild­ State coordinator: Orange County Bird Breeders hour can become habitual (to the caught bird, but it is not quite as pro­ Heidi Hopkins 303421-3344 Santa Barbara Bird Club South Bay Bird Breeders detriment of daylight/calcium need as nounced. Front Range Avian Society South Coast Finch Club Rocky Mountain Society of in the Greys). So, this is a clarion call to all con­ Valley of Paradise Bird Club Aviculture. Inc. Ventura County Bird Club Capes are avid chewers and servationists/aviculturists. It is not too NEVADA West Valley Bird Society State coordinator: destroyers of organic materials. They late to save this species. Let us cam­ Joanne Edwards 702436-0110 should be kept with an abundance of paign to leave the rest ofthe wild Cape • Position open: con­ Las Vegas Avicultural Society fresh, leafy boughs and rotting wood Parrots in the wilds. Let us pair up Reno Area Avian Enthusiasts tact regional vice presi­ NEW MEXICO stumps, etc. to satisfy their gnawing every single imported Cape Parrot we dent if interested. State coordinator: urges. know of, and keep them in profes­ Sandi Brennan 505-281 -7729 •• indicates 2 year Keepers should beware of alu­ sional conditions providing 'the best New Mexico Bird Club term has been fulfJ.lled. If Las Cruces Parrot Club minum bands to ring their birds. The opportunities to reproduce. And let us UTAH no new interested party strength of a Cape Parrot beak can do it without the need of selling them State coordinator: comes fOlWard and indi­ Steve Long 801-647-3653 damage or destroy such bands, creating into the pet bird business to finance cates a desire to serve, WasatchAvian Education Society a dangerous situation. Furthermore, we and reward our successes. Avicultural Society ofUtah incumbent remains in WYOMING know of at least two instances where Those of us who keep birds of this position. State coordinator: the aluminum has caused some sort of species need to join with others in the Lloyd Baily 307-468-2871 For information about allergic irritation which led to feather upcoming stud book, and make a NORTHERN contacting any of these plucking on that leg and belly side. commitment to pass any Cape Parrot CALIFORNIA member clubs, please Any aviculturist who presumes to on to an experienced and resolute REGION call that club's state coor­ obtain and try to reproduce robustus in keeper. Believe me, these birds are Donna Tondreault, Director dinator. 91fHi42-9050 fax 91fHi42-0874 captivity should be solidly devoted to worth it. • CALIFORNIA (NORTH) State coordinator: Diane Grindol408-384-6548 Butte County Bird Club Capitol City Bird Society Central Califontia Avian Society Central Coast Avicultural Society Contra Costa Avian Society Corporate Members Foothill Bird Fanciers Gold Country Aviculture Society Gold Country Bird Society Lyon Electric Company, Chula Vista, CA Golden Gate Avian Society Model Aviculture Program Monterey Bay Cage Bird Club Prevue/Hendryx, Chicago, IL Redwood Empire Cage Bird Club Redwood Exotic Bird Society Sun Seed Company, Bowling Green, OH Santa Clara Valley Bird Club HAWAII State coordinator: Sunshine Bird Supplies, Miami, FL Joe Baker 808-966-6966 Hawaii Parrot Fanciers Inc. afa WATCHBIRD 7