Maylayan Lang--tailed Parakeet by Singkata Tongyai Fort Meyers, Florida Of the genera of psittacine birds appearance. found on the Asiatic mainland, the The Maylayan Long-tailed Parakeet genus Psittacula is the most num (Psittacu/a /ongicaudaJ is, in my erous (12 species) and contains the opinion, one of the most elegant and largest species in size. Many members handsome species in the genus Psitta of Psittacula have rather long tails cu/a. Unfortunately, it is also one of which gives them a very graceful the most difficult to breed and raise from the time ofhatching. This species 'co is not confined to the Maylayan penin > 0> C sula but is also found on many islands ~ C in the South China Sea and in the east m .r=- ern Indian Ocean. Because its range is cac -,o wide and many islands are isolated, > .D there are five subspecies. en o Although the literature indicates that (5 .r= Q. the juvenile birds look like mature females, my male juvenile had the characteristic red-colored eye-brow The adultfemale has a green moustache feathers from the time he first and bib compared to the male's black. A parent-rearedyoung bird (male) can be seen on the rearperch.
The author with two six-monthjuvenile birds. They were hand raisedfrom day one.
Although most members ofthe Psittacula genus are notedfor their hardiness, the Maylayan Long-tailed Parakeet is not because it comesjrom the warm . climates oftheMaylayan Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra and 1nany other smaller islands. The n1ale Maylayan Long-tailed Parakeet is notedjorits long blue, white-tipped tail andpowder blue nape and baek. The top ofhis head is emeraldgreen. 8 Marchi April 1994 feathered out. rice) with a kind of ripened banana diate and intense veterinary care and The Long-tailed Parakeet prefers a called "Num Wa." The child then was saved. I later learned that the lowland habitat which puts it in some jammed the beak of the baby bird into remaining female (the one rejected by jeopardy as much of the lowland area her mouth. The starving babies thus the males) which I had gotten separ is being converted to agricultural use. ate the gluey food heartily until their ately, was the sole survivor of a big The bird finds sufficient food in the crops were filled. I asked, "How many shipment. Perhaps she is a carrier of palm plantations but doesn't fare as birds die?" She replied, "Very few." an unknown disease. well in other agricultural zones. Does this mean the child transferred Eventually I put this hen with my The population of this species is an antibody to the baby birds? I'd not surviving cock in hopes of breeding. declining not only through the suggest trying this. The courtship display was quite inter destruction of its habitat but also from The Maylayan Long-tailed Parakeets esting. On a perch, the male stands shooting, trapping, netting and the seem to have a poor resistance to vari erect, facing the female. His head is taking of babies from their nests. Dur ous diseases and only a very few sur held high. He jumps, making a 180 ing my many visits to the Far East, I've vive when they reach our market. degree turn, walks toward her and noticed fewer and fewer numbers of Those that do survive may be carriers jumps twice more - each time the various members of the Psittacula of some sort of disease not treated in making the 180 degree turn. He then genus. This holds for wild birds as quarantine. I had an unhappy experi commences bowing or making a well as captive birds in the various ence when I lost two birds and almost repeated gesture of feeding her. She local bird markets. lost my present male. will peck him if she is not ready. In the bird markets there is no such I put two pairs of Long-tailed Para Indeed, the typical bossiness and thing as sanitation. Birds are jammed keets together so they'd be free to nastiness characteristic of females in into filthy holding cages and must choose their own mate. Two males the genus Psittacula show up even in share water from a communal bowl chose the same hen so they had a immature females of this species. which, I believe, has never been skirmish. Standing straight, heads held Eventually, though, the female cleaned, let alone sterilized. Dead high, they faced off. Soon one realized accepted the male's advances and birds are removed and thrown away that he was shorter than his opponent they bred. without a thought of determining the so he quit the fight. Shortly thereafter, All the babies produced from this cause of death. Oh yes, a few "scien the pair came down with an intestinal breeding died within three weeks of tific minded" shop keepers throw vari disease and both birds died within hatching. Despite veterinary care prior ous antibiotics into the drinking water two days. The male who lost the fight to, during and after breeding, we but without knowing the disease, the also became sick but was given imme- couldn't keep the babies alive. dose or the duration oftreatment. As a r------ result, these birds often develop prob lems they wouldn't have had other wise and many microbes become resistant to the antibiotics. These are the birds that are shipped overseas. Thanks to our quarantine system, not many sick birds get through to our market. People in the Far East seem to enjoy having birds in their possession but very few have any intention of breed ing them. These birds are, therefore, essentially dead as far as conservation is concerned. Unfortunately, most of these birds will not live very long after being exposed to diseases in the hold ing cages. Those that do live will suf fer from malnutrition as very few of the people have any knowledge of bird husbandry. In northern Thailand, I saw an amazing method of feeding baby parrots (Blossom-headed and Slaty headed). These babies were brought down from the mountains by tribes men after removing them from tree holes to be sold to traders. In this Year Round. Nationwide Shipping instance, the trader's five year old daughter had the duty of feeding the Guaranteed live Delivery baby birds. The child chewed up (800) 735-8537 cooked rice (every animal eats cooked
afa WATCHBIRD 9 Necropsy results from Texas A&M but I decided that I will use only showed no evidence of virus. This is human baby food and materials for good news. There was some gram the first seven days at least, as it is 1994 COMMITTEES negative bacteria. This gives us a good made under very strict sanitation chance to do something about the rules. AVIAN RESEARCH problem. I use Pedialyte (oral electrolyte William Sager, D.V.M. (508) 486-3101 For subsequent breeding, I decided maintenance), Gerber's "1st Food" AFA IN BRIEF (monthly newsletter) Cheryl Jones (509) 226-0611 to use two plans - one for artificial and "2nd Food" (oatmeal with FAX (509) 326-6725 incubation (two eggs) and the other bananas) and bottled baby food such AVYAWARDS for the parents to incubate and hatch as Garden Mixed Vegetables, Apple Dale Thompson (80S) 252-4871 the eggs remaining in the clutch sauce, Papaya with Tapioca and CAPTIVE BREEDING SURVEY (usually three). The following meth Chiquita Bananas. Commercial live Starr Kirchoff (616) 327-3399 ods were successful for me so I "Lactobacillus acidophilus" is a must CITES present them for your consideration. for the incubator babies. I keep this in Prior to the early breeding season the freezer. CONSERVATION (January or February), do the fol To contain the tiny babies, I use a Kevin Gorman (716) 865-6414 lowing: small, clear box size 11-1/2" x 7-1/2" CONSERVATION SMALL GRANTS 1. Make a nest box. I used 1/2 inch and 6-3/4" deep as a brooder box. Joanne Abramson (707) 964-4380 plywood. The box measures 24" deep The cover is plastic mesh with small CONVENTION COORDINATOR 1994 x 8" x 11" with an entrance hole 2" in holes for the thermometer. I found Mary Perry (801) 277-8607 diameter. Put a I" x I" wire ladder these boxes in a pet store. I made a CONVENTION SALES from the hole to the bottom. I disin 1/4" x 1/4" wire mesh platform to Mary Perry (801) 277-8607 fected the box by soaking it for 30 support the babies in the box by COOPERATIVE BREEDING PGM. Sharon Garcee (916) 784-1314 minutes in a 9: 1 solution of water to bending all four sides of the mesh household bleach. Rinse with clear down so the platform is 10-1/4" x EDUCATION AND MEDIA SERVICES Bob Smith (517) 764-5170 water and dry. Put three or four inches 6-1/4" and 1/2" deep. of pine shavings in the bottom. Hang This box will be placed inside a ETHICS Larry Ring (916) 885-7868 the box as high as possible in the avi larger, clear box (Rubbermaid) FINANCE ary with the entrance facing south or keeper-size 16" x 11" x 9" deep also David Smith (602) 516-0561 east. with a wire platform in the bottom. ILLEGAL BIRD TRADE 2. Take the pair to a good avian The platform supports the small box Marty Muschinske (619) 468-3201 veterinarian for a thorough examina and separates it from the bottom LEGAL COUNSEL tion including lab work. Try to find a which contains wood chips and water Gary Lilienthal (617) 345-0770 veterinarian who is familiar with avi for humidity. Between the sides of the LEGISLATION culture rather than just pet birds and small box and the large box I insert a Janet Lilienthal (617) 345-0770 work with him or her throughout the heating pad. Be sure not to put the NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS breeding cycle. heating pad on the bottom of the Jeri Wright (206) 838-9802 3. Before the birds are returned to small box or you will have a roasted Dwight Greenberg (407) 631-9800 the aviary, disinfect it with the same baby bird. Set the thermostat to PARLIMENTARIAN solution used for the nestbox. Soak number one and put the brooder Gary Clifton (602) 830-4920 the walls, wire, perches, etc. for 30 boxes in a nursery room that main PUBLIC RELATIONS Cheryle Jones (509) 226-0611 minutes, then rinse with clear water. tains a constant temperature. FAX (509) 326-6725 4. During the breeding season, I When the first baby hatched in the PU BLiCATIONS provide more food that is high in incubator, I put it in the small brooder M. Jean Hessler (714) 548-3133 calcium and also add vitamin E. box near the wall with the heating FAX (714) 548-0420 5. While breeding is underway, use pad. The temperature in the box was all methods to promote sanitation. I 95°F to 97°F. BUSINESS OFFICE use rubber gloves to handle eggs and Four hours after hatching, I used a Phoenix Office (602) 484-0931 Brenda Traul, before taking eggs to the incubator I small spoon with a narrowed tip to Carollnderrieden (602) 484-0931 cleanse them according to my vet's feed a small amount of Pedialyte plus FAX (602) 484-0109 instructions. a sprinkling of Aviguard. I filled the 6. The incubator should be fumi crop only half full. These feedings WATCHBIRD STAFF Dale Thompson/Editor-in- gated and sterilized according to your were repeated every two hours for Chief (805) 252-4871 vet's instructions, then set up in a seven feedings, then I increased the Sheldon Dingle/Editor (213) 223-7449 room dedicated to incubation. The amount to fill the crop three-fourths M. Jean Hessler/ FAX (714) 548-0420 Art Director, Production (714) 548-3133 room should be easily cleaned and full. On the eighth feeding, I mixed Jack Clinton-Eitniear/Managing sterilized and should maintain a some Gerber's 1st Food with Pedialyte Editor (210) 828-5306 nearly constant temperature. I set my and heated it to 175°F at least (or Phoenix Office/Advertising (602) 484-0931 or FAX (602) 484-0109 incubator at 98.5°F at least five days almost to a boil) in the microwave Jack Clinton-Eitniear/ prior to hatch time. oven. The food must be stirred thor Advertising (210) 828-5306 I have been very successful in rais oughly and cooled to 102° to 104°F ing baby birds using my own formula before sprinkling on some Aviguard. I as well as other commercial formulas prefer to make a new batch offood for 10 March I April 1994 each feeding. This routine is followed for two days. If the crop is empty within two Corporate Members hours, I increase the amount of food Grasslands Exotic Finches Sun Seed Company, Bowling Green, OH and continue to watch how the crop Hagen Inc., Rolf C., Canada Sunshine Bird Supplies, Miami, FL empties. If all goes well, switch to LIM Animal Farms, Pleasant Plain, OH White Bear Products, Indianapolis, IN Gerber's 2nd Food plus the Pedialyte Luv Them Birds, Miami, FL Zoogen, Inc., Davis, CA and Aviguard. Increase the Gerber's as Picture Perfect Parrot, Walton Hills, OH you go. I prepare a mixture of egg yolk and honey (honey should be heated to 175°F, then cooled) mixed together and keep it in the freezer. By the Commercial Members fourth day, I add a bit of this gummy mixture to the baby food to be Aardvard Imports, Santa Monica, CA Kellogg, Inc., Milwaukee, WI reheated. About Birds, Hebron, IL Kentucky Down Under, Horse Cave, KY On the fifth day I replace half of the Absolutely Aussie, Salem, OR Lake's Unlimited, Inc. Pedialyte with clean water. Aviguard American Bird Center, Goulds, FL L'Avian Plus Pet Products, Stephen, MN is still added to each meal when it American Bird Company, Lima's Exotic Birds, Woodland Hills, CA cools to 102°F. This is the time to Falls Church, VA Living Design Inc., Sioux Falls, SO increase both the Gerber's 2nd Food And Feathers Bird Studio, Chicago, IL Loriidae Production Network, and the honey-egg yolk mixture. Animal Environments, Carlsbad, CA Woodlake, CA By the seventh day, I've replaced all Animal Exchange, Rockville, MD Lu-Chow Aviaries, Ft. LaUderdale, FL the Pedialyte with water and I add Avian Kingdom Supply, Inc., Dallas, TX Lyon Electric Company, Chula Vista, CA Chiquita Banana to the formula. Care Avian & Animal Hospital, Largo, FL Magnolia Bird Farm, Anaheim, CA fully monitor the crop. Should it fail to Avi-Sci, Inc., Okemos, WI Max Sharpe, Plant City, FL empty within five hours, go back to Bay-Mor Pet Feeds, Cressona, PA Mountain Lake Aviary, Brooksville, FL the Pedialyte and Aviguard formula Bayou Bird Club Inc., Sulphur, LA K.K. Muser for one meal. If the crop moves well, Bayshore Pets, Anchorage, AK Nekton USA, Clearwater, FL start again with the regular formula. Bird Country, Lewistown, MT Nest Box Aviary, Miami, FL On the eighth day, combine Ger Bird-on-a-Stick, Merrillville, IN Ohio Association of Animal Owners, ber's 2nd Food with a small amount of Bird-Safe Co., Humboldt, AZ Pleasant, OH Mixed Garden Vegetables and, as Bird's Haven, Inc., Elmhurst, IL Parkwood Animal Hospital, Woodland always, add the Aviguard. Increase the Brian Lee Leahy, Santa Monica, CA Hills, CA Mixed Vegetables to equal the amount C & F Parrot Farm, Corpus Christi, TX Parrot Jungle & Gardens, Miami, FL of Gerber's 2nd Food. At this point, I C & J Parrot Pals, Phoenix, AZ Parrot River, Richmond, VA alternate the above formula with Citrus Park Animal Hospital, Tampa, FL Pittman International, Anaheim, CA Gerber's 2nd Food and egg yolk Corners Ltd., Inc., Kalamazoo, MI Pollywood Parrots and Supply, honey plus Papaya. By this time, the Country Critters, Ltd., Medford, NY East Point, MI baby should have doubled its hatch Creative Bird Accessories, Darien, CT Premium Nutritional Products-Zutpreem, weight. Crest Aviaries, Boerne, TX Topeka, KS I believe in giving a variety of foods Crofton Animal Hospital, Crofton, MD Gwyn Poor and teaching the babies to eat every Di Vinci Ltd., Las Vegas, NV Precious Hearts Aviary thing that is given to them. You may ORB Bird Ranch, Deming, NM R.B. Exotic Birds, Thousand Oaks, CA use your own formula or any of the East Coast Aviaries, Conway, SC Collen Richardson commercial foods from this point on Exotic Animal Rescue Service, Roscoe's Aviary,.Seattle, WA but I believe it is wise to continue to Carmel Valley, CA Santa Barbara Bird Farm, use AViguard. I also sprinkle Prime Fancy Feathers, Sparta, NJ Santa Barbara, CA vitamins and minerals on the food. Fancy Publications, Mission Viejo, CA Schults Bird Farm, Langhorne, PA Baby Maylayan Long-tailed Para Feathering Heights, Scotts Valley, CA Seven Seas Aquarium & Pets, Auburn, WA keets grow quickly and will feather Featherwood Farms, Phoenix, AZ Swan Creek Supply-Grumbach out in less than two months and may F.M. Brown's Sons, Inc., Sinking Incubators, Saginaw, MI be weaned by then also. I give saf Spring, PA Swell and's Cage & Supply Co., flower and sunflower seeds to them to Greenfield Bird Farm, Solvang, CA Ramona, CA play with and they soon learn to eat Gulf Coast Exotic Birds, Panama City, FL The Bird Shop, Sacramento, CA them. I always spoonfeed the weaned H.F. Birds, Oklahoma City, OK The London Zoo, Watertown, MA babies just before they go to sleep at Highland House of Birds, St. PaUl, MN Tropical Paradise, Fountain Inn, SC night to be sure their crops are full. By House of Tropicals, Inc., Glen Burnie, MD Turner, Drs. Stanley & Kathleen, two months, the babies can fly very JDP Enterprises Inc., Cooper Canyon, TX Hilton Head, SC well. They are always very sweet and Jewels on Wings, Elko, NV Waylyn Enterprises, Onyx, CA want to be with me at all times. The JimaNI, Inc., Lee's Summit, MO West Coast Bird Farm, Chino, CA baby that was raised by its parents is Kaytee Products, Inc., Chilton, WI beautiful but very wild.• afa WATCHBIRD 11