can indicate such findings as kid ney disease, presence of excessive Conservation glucose or sugar in the urine (may be suggestive of diabetes), kid ney function, and possibility of heavy metal poisoning. and Aviculture • Polyomavirus - This deadly virus disease may be identified with by Rick Jordan use ofthe DNA probe test, from the Kutztown, Pennsylvania droppings of affected and shedding birds. • Liver disease - Decreased func TVJ't:at is conservation? Webster doing some good for the future of tion, inflammation of, or infection W defines the word as "the act of certain bird species? or insult to the liver may be sug keeping from depletion." How does A controversy has arisen between gested by a change of the drop this relate to breeding birds in captiv aviculture and "in the wild" conser pings (usually the urate portion, vation. Suddenly there seems to be which normally is white in col ity? If you ask this question of an oration, is affected). Further diag aviculturist they will say they are competition between the captive nostic tests such as serum breeding birds so theywill exist when breeders and the field biologists who chemistries or specific tests for the habitat has been totally destroyed both seek the same goal, to save birds psittacosis may be warranted. and no more specimens exist in the in the wild. This competition is not • Psittacosis (Parrot Fever) - sever wild. That certainly qualifies as "the helping the birds but, instead, ham al diagnostic tests are available act ofkeeping from depletion." Ifyou pering captive breeding efforts for that detect the presence of or react ask a conservationist how aviculture many rare and endangered birds. to the presence of the causative is related to conservation they will Birds that are in need of assistance if organism of psittacosis, Chlamydia usually tell you there is little correla they are to survive in their natural psittaci. tion between the two. So who is the habitat for years to come. Amy B. Worell, DVM Dipl. ABVP. most correct? Are we, as aviculturists, The relationship between captive West Hills, CA. ,. wasting our time or are we actually breedingand conservation inthewild
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afa WATCHl3IRD 45 is very difficult to define. Perhaps destroyed! The only way for this and the results of this captive-breed there is no relationship between the species to recover is to restore the ing farce were used to deny captive two. Perhaps we must all adjust our habitat to what it was and make it safe breeding as a viable option. The thoughts to accept the fact that, in for the birds to nest successfully. species continued to decline in the these changing times, there are two Interestingly enough, this biologist wild. As far as anyone knows, this bird distinctly different sectors of conser is very anti-captive breeding. She feels is still in decline. Hundreds of thou vation, captive breeding and that the demise of most of these rare sands of dollars have been spent by conservation in the wild. Unfortu birds was due to collection for the the tax payers to save this bird and yet nately, most of the regulations that trade. However, in all my world travels the results of this project are difficult have been promulgated by our gov and all the aviaries, public and private, if not impossible to acquire. My guess ernment are geared towards the that I have visited, there are NO is that the project has done little to benefit of the species in the wild. This representatives of this species in cap save this bird. If it were a successful eliminates the participation efforts of tivity. Whoops there goes another one project wouldn't the biologists in captive breeding in any given conser of those... charge want the world to know what vation program that is funded by the Right about the same time, there they have done? government. It also gives the field was another governmentally funded I would like to congratulate one biologist the upper hand when seek biologist trying to re-establish a parrot conservation effort by Mr. Paul Butler ing justification for a new "program" species in an areawhere it has notbeen and his associates. It appears that the to be funded by the government. seen since the 1930's. This habitat is educational campaign that he has The above scenario is a sad one hostile and full of predators. Could been involved with in the lower indeed. It does not consider the one this have been the reason thatthe birds Caribbean Islands has resulted in an fact that has led to the demise of most disappeared from here in the first increase in the number of birds that species in the first place, habitat place? I guess not. The biologist con are inthewild. Keep up thegoodwork destruction. Although collection for tinued to release birds into this area Mr. Butler, could you possibly share the pet trade and breeder trade is only to find them killed or missing some of your knowledge and inSight blamedfor the disappearance ofmany completely. Surely there must have with the biologists in these other species in the wild, man's interference been another reason these birds have programs? in the habitat is really the cause of it moved out of this area. Another conservation effort that all. So we are funding more interfer This same species has another warrants mention is the Mauritius ence, ignoring captive conservation, range. A range where it is quite Parakeet project that is funded, in and continuing to cut the habitat on common and not in a highly threat part, by the World Parrot Trust, a a daily basis. In the mean time, "save ened position, unless of course group of captive breeders and others the world biologists" are out there someone decides they need the lum I might like to add. This project shows hanging unnatural nests, counting ber. Why not release birds into this great potential and is beginning to birds, shooting birds, and writing area where they already exist in demonstrate a connection between their doctoral dissertations on the adequate numbers and the newly captive breeding and wild habitat possible extinction of yet another released can learn from the birds that management. species of bird. Then there are a few are already there. Ofcourse this would Why am I so cynical, you might ask. who are participating in release pro not be such an exciting project and Am I the only one that sees that the grams that boggle the mind with may not receive as much press and governmentally funded projects justified, governmentally funded, stu prestige as starting an entirely new around the world are not working? pidity. group in an uninhabited area. Instead, How many Kakapo have been bred On one isolated island we have a the final published result of the pro since the government stepped into biologist who needs to get a doctorate ject is summarized as "reintroduction that project? How many Puerto Rican degree. What does she do to get it of birds is not feasible, captive bred Amazons? The list can go on but it except sit in the wild and observe a birds are not suitable for release." would only be depressing. Remem very rare species of Amazon parrot Strike another blow against avicul ber, "You can't fight City Hall." attempt to nest in a new habitat filled ture. Let's take a look at an interesting with feral cats. Did she ever stop and If you really want to see conserva conservation effort for the Spix's consider that perhaps the decline of tion at work, take a good look at the Macaw. Oh the scandal it is. There is this bird was due to exactly that which government project on one of the only one left in the wild. In this case, they are observing. Common house northern Caribbean Islands. In the collecting for the trade did in fact cats that have gone wild are destroying early 1980's there were an estimated deplete the wild, but there were only the nests, and in some cases, even the 50 representatives in the wild. Every a few left in the wild anyway. If we laying hen in the nest. Did this field one jumped through the hoop to help had waited for the many "do right" biologist do anything to help the birds save the bird. Of course none were governments to step in there would or did she only study the nests, write taken off the island and placed with have been none. So, pairs of this bird a dissertation and collect her new captive breeders who could have were taken from the wild and ended degree and move on to a new job? As done some good with them. Instead, up in private collections around the I an aviculturist, the first thing that I captured pairs were set up on the world. There was a "kind of hush, all I would have done is have the cats island (some pairs were two females), over the world" as to who had them. 46 September/October 1995 j Only a few would announce the breeders? work tOgether. If we must view the existence of these birds in their col It appears that many laws are being world as two separate "groups," those lections. My hat goes off to you... that passed that are contrary to conserva born in captivity, and those born in tOok a lot of guts. tion. Some of this can be blamed on the wild, then so be it. But, at the same So, there are maybe five or six pairs ignorance, but some of it is, beyond time we cannotallow someone to StOp in captivity around the world, about any doubt, due to some type ofhidden captive breeding or there will only be nineteen in the zoo in the country of agenda. Someone doesn't want birds one group that remains, the most origin, and a few in pet homes, as bred in cages. These same people vulnerable group of all. Why can't single birds, in the country of origin. believe that extinction is part of the conservation be content to know that I Should mention that there are sev natural order and should nOt be the bird does in fact, live, breath, and eral hundred dead ones in the interfered with. I am sure glad these breed in a cage somewhere in the museums around the world that have same people are not in charge of world? In the end there will be no been shot by ornithologists but, I am finding a cure for the many illnesses habitat to release any wild animals sure they would not have bred any that plague mankind. We would all into. It will be as absurd as a release way, right? In any case, none have be doomed to die an early death. program for Tigers in downtOwn Los been bred in the country of origin, Conservation and aviculture can Angeles. ~ none have been bred by the pet owners, but many have been bred by the "collectOr" who managed to get them. Yes, you heard me right, many have been bred in captivity. Does this The World's Most justify conservation? I say, "hell yes." Renown Supplement The world's population of this species has been almost doubled by the few for Breeding, pairs that are in the hands of the CeDe Conditioning and breeders. One point for aviculture! How about the Blue-throated ma BIRD FOODS Special Treat caw from Bolivia? A few years ago CeDe is sold in 40 countries through 25 main distributors scattered over five continents, a fact which speaks for itself. they were extremely expensive to CeDe nestling foods are mode with egg crumbs, whole grain crumbs, honeys, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, all purchase because they were so rare in laboratory balanced, which makes the mixes indispensable for daily feeding, breeding pairs, during moulting time and captivity. ow, thanks to captive as treat or snack. CeDe comes in five different formulas, depending on the type of birds yau will be feeding. breeding they are available and are WHY USE CeDe FOODS? not much more expensive than the Animal protein (eggs) has a high biological value (VERY IMPORTANT WHEN BREEDING BIRDS) as well as carbohydrates and lipids. Astock of amino acids and phosphorus is a prime importance even more than calcium and fat. It must be well common Blue and Gold Macaw. An balanced with vitamins and, never to be forgotten, precious minerals, which will give excellent results in breeding, grow other point for aviculture! ing, plumage, in other words a beautiful finished specimen. Isn't it a good reason to use only the best? ..CeDe Blue-throated Conures, Crimson CeDe Parkieten bellied Conures, Hoffman's Conure, CeDe Egg/aad Queen of Bavaria Conure, Cuban for Budgies and Haokbills 101 (unaries and finches 1kilo box (2.2Ibs.112 per cose Amazon, Vinaceous Amazon, H ya and general use 1 Kg. box 55.30 +shipping cinth Macaws, Ducorp's CockatOos, 1kilu Lux (2.2Ibs.112 per case White-eared Conures, all are now 1Kg. box 55.30 + shipping available as captive bred birds from many breeders across the world. There are upward of 200 species CeDe Eggfaad Red - Color enhancer for more colorful Canaries CeDe Mix for. Parrots available from breeders somewhere. and other birds such asGoulds. 500 grams (1.1 Ibs.l Captive breeding is working. It is 1kilo box (2.2Ibs.112 per case 10 per case 500 gr. 54.BO + shipping "keeping free from depletion" those 1Kg. box 56.25 + shipping birds that are in need of help. It even helps to conserve wild flocks. If breeders can buy captive bred birds from other breeders they will not CeDe Universal for Sohbills CeDe Handfeeding for Baby birds fruit/insect eaters. need to look to the wild for any more (Maybe used for lorikeetsl 1kilo box (2.2 Ibs.l 6per case birds. So, I guess conservation in the 500 grams (1.1 Ibs.l 10 per case 1 Kg. box 55.50 +shipping wild and captive breeding do have 500 gr. box 54.70 +shipping B.Blbs. aluminum bog something in common. Why then is 51B.00 +shipping it so difficult to get the two groups to Visa· Master Card or AMEX orders are shipped within 24 hours work tOgether? Why does our own government pass stupid laws like the • ~•..• ..:,c:..:.o:;;a;::::1 A Division of The Higgins Group Corp. "Wild Bird Conservation Act of 8535 NW 56th Street· Miami, FL 33166 1992" and make it so difficult to Ph: (305) 593-2666 • Fax: (305) 591-9567 import captive bred birds from other
afa WATCHJ3IRD 47