Program Supporters Support for the Spix's Macaw recovery program has been provided by the following organizations: Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources (IBAMA); Fundacion Loro Parque: 6 Boticario Foundation; ASHOKA Foundation; Herbert Levy Institute; Birds International, Inc.: WWF­ Brazil; BirdLife International: Houston Zoo: Parrotlets Grupo Relampago; AZA Brazil Conservation Sandee and Robert Molenda, C.A.S. Action Partnership: The Moulton School; Santa Cruz, CA Funda~ao Parque Zoologico de Sao Paulo; Santa Ana Zoo; Central Hydroelectric Company ofSao Francisco; and many individ­ uals involved in the program. In the United States, the Committee for iny, terrific and talented, par­ are weaned and their bonding instinct the Recovery ofthe Spix's Macaw is working rotlets are quickly becoming is strongest at this time. However, this with the American Federation of Aviculture very popular among people does not mean that older birds do not (AFA); International Aviculturists Society T who want all the personality of a big make wonderful pets - they can. If (lAS); American Zoo and Aquarium (AZA) parrot in a small, quiet bird. Parrotlets the parrotlet is placed in a loving and Brazil Conservation Action Partnership; and are adorable, intelligent, playful, sexu­ caring home, it will quickly become a Houston Zoolog'ical Society to explore fund­ ally dimorphic, and make wonderful member of the family. Females more raising avenues to directly support projects, pets when handfed. They can learn to often than males can become "one­ including field research, land acqUisition, the talk, need little space, are easy to person" birds. However, the younger rural schoolhouse program, reintroduction, breed and care for, and are incapable the bird is adopted and the more peo­ and other priority programs. of screaming. ple handle it, the more likely it is to tol­ Internationally, the Loro Parque Relatively unknown until a few erate all people. Since many species of Foundation of Spain has been the primary years ago, parrotlets are rapidly parrotlets are rare, only Pacific, Green­ funding group of the field program and has becoming one of the most popular rumped, and Spectacled Parrotlets played an essential role in raising funds for parrots in aviculture. They are also one ought to be sold as pets. the conservation of this species. If you are in of the world's smallest species and are Pet parrotlets are usually bundles of interested in supporting the Spix's Macaw often confused with lovebirds. Being energy, spending hours swinging, program, please contact one of these groups true parrots, however, they are most climbing and playing with lots of toys for information. closely related to the large Amazons. which their cage should accommo­ There are actually three different gen­ date. Ropes, ladders, leather chew References era of parrotlets: Touit, Nannopsittaca toys, bells, beads and Olympic rings and Fotpus, all of which are found in which are particular favorites, They are Barros, Y. M. (999) "Conservation and Management of Spix's Macaw: either Mexico or South and Central amaZing acrobats and often play with Successful Experience of Parental Care America. Parrotlets from the genus several toys at once. They can also be in a Hybrid Couple." Book ofAbstracts, Fotpus are the only ones bred in the taught to use a playpen but they must VI Neotropical Ornithological Congress, United States. be monitored as they will often come October 4-10, 1999, Monterrey and looking for their person. Being intelli­ Saltillo, Mexico. These little parrots are various gent and fearless, their natural curiosi­ Collar, NJ., Gonzaga, L.P., Krabbe, N., Madrofio­ shades of green with patches of yel­ Nieto, L.G" NaranjO, TA, Parker & low, gray, and blue which identify the ty can get them into trouble if they are Wege, D.C. (992) Threatened birds of not supervised species. Identification of the male of a the Americas. The ICBP/IUCN Red Data Parrotlets, particularly hens, should Book, Cambridge: ICBP. species is made upon the particular Juniper, A.T. and Yamashita, C. (991) The habi­ shade and location ofblue he possess­ be at least a year old before they are tat and status of Spix's Macaw allowed to breed or they can become es. The females are more difficult to Cyanopsitta spixii. Bird Conservation egg bound and die. Males who are too identify so close attention must be paid International 1: 1-9. young often do not provide enough Schischakin, N. (999) "The Spix's Macaw to small details such as subtle changes food for the hen and the babies which (Cyanopsitta sPixit) Studbook and in the shades as well as the distribution are then abandoned or destroyed. Population Management Plan of the of yellow and green feathers. IBAMA Permanent Committee for the Young pairs can be kept with one Recovery of the Spix's Macaw." Parrotlets kept as single birds make another until they go through their first Houston Zoological Gardens, Houston. the best pets. Ideally, the young par­ molt, then they should be separated Sick, H. (984) Ornitologia Brasileira, Uma Introdw;:ao. 3rd. ed. Editora rotlet should be placed with its new until they are at least 11 months old, It Universidade de Brasilia, Brasilia. .,. owner at six to 10 weeks of age. They is not uncommon to have handfed

the afa WATCHBIRD 55 birds begin laying as young as seven sometimes birds will bury their eggs on the soft foods. Most hens will months - which can be disastrous. and lose them in the shavings. devour massive amounts ofcuttlebone The birds breed best when there are Mexican Parrotlets seem particularly immediately before they lay eggs. It is more than one pair in the facility and prone to this habit. If this is the case, common for a hen to eat a six-inch they can hear but not see each other. remove the shavings a little at a time cuttlebone once a week for several Pairs can be separated by wood barri­ until the problems ceases or try using weeks prior to laying. If the hens do ers, foliage, burlap or even cardboard heavier shavings. In any case, by not receive enough calcium they will between the cages. Handfed birds gen­ checking nest boxes daily, you will be certainly become egg-bound. erally make the best parents as they are able to monitor the pairs and deal with The male will usually investigate the not as sensitive to stress and are used any problems as they arise. Also, fol­ box first and, when he deems it safe, to people. Be careful, however, lowing a routine will teach the birds to will try and entice the female into it. handfed birds have no fear of people tolerate your interference. Once mating has taken place, the hen and, females especially, will inflict a Use open food dishes as parrotlets will lay from four to eight eggs painful, bloody bite if given a chance. often will not stick their heads into a although Pacific hens have been Parrotlets also have a much deserved dish with a hood and can starve. Water known to produce 10 fertile eggs. She reputation for not letting go once' they should be provided in a glass tube will hardly leave the nest box from latch on. When removing babies, a fountain. Often, parrotlets use their several days prior to laying until the piece ofcardboard can be used to hold water dishes to bathe in and will last baby is gone, which can be as long the hen back as she will not usually splash out all of the water. If provided as nine or 10 weeks. Females lay one leave the box the way males do. with a canary-sized bath, they will play egg every other day. In most species, Females have been known to attack and splash until they are soaked. the babies take 18 to 21 days to hatch. babies as they were being pulled so the Parrotlets will also bathe in wet Remember, Mexican and Yellow-faced utmost caution must be used. spinach or lettuce by rolling every inch Parrotlets are the exception and usual­ A single parrotlet should have a of their body on the wet leaves. ly take 24. In all species of parrotlets, cage no smaller than 18 inches tall, 13 Parrotlets are extremely active birds the females incubate the eggs and the inches wide and 14 inches deep. Most and require a great deal of fuel. Gram males provide food and protection. species breed well in a minimum cage for gram, they eat more than a macaw. Sometimes the hen will allow the male of 18 inches tall, 24 inches long and 24 Pairs feeding babies will often consume into the box and even to incubate the inches deep. Cages should have pull three times the normal amount of food. eggs but this seems to be an individual out trays with grates to keep the birds Handfed parrotlets should be intro­ preference in each pair. off the bottom. They can also be bred duced to a wide variety of foods while As with all baby parrots, parrotlets successfully in three- to six-foot-Iong young. A good-quality small hookbill are blind, deaf, and almost naked flight cages. Both Mexicans and or Cockatiel seed mix should be fed. A when they hatch. Even so, they have Yellow-faced breed much better in large hookbill seed mix can be provid­ loud cries for their tiny size as Green­ flights than in small cages. Not surpris­ ed, however, parrotlets are unable to rumpeds, Blue-wingeds and ingly, many breeders feel their birds crack open the nuts often contained in Spectacleds can often be heard beg­ are in much better condition and have these mixes. They can also be fed a ging for food when only a few hours more production with large flights. commercial pelleted diet, although par­ old. They are extremely tiny when Food and water should be placed so rotlets require some seed in the diet ­ they hatch - no larger than a bumble they are not soiled by droppings. particularly breeding pairs. Fortunately, bee. Unlike many species of parrot, Natural wood perches of varying sizes they will usually eat both seeds and parrotlet hens begin incubating almost must be sturdily attached to the cage. pellets, unlike most parrots. Whether immediately after laying the first egg, Infertility can sometimes be traced to fed seeds or pellets, they still require therefore the babies hatch in the order wobbly or unstable perches. fresh fruits, vegetables and greens the eggs were laid. This leaves a great Breeding pairs should have nest daily. Breeding pairs also need sprout­ deal of age difference between the boxes that are six inches wide by 10 ed seed, egg food, cooked beans, oldest and youngest babies, especially inches tall and seven inches deep, whole-grain breads, potatoes, rice, and in large clutches. which should be hung on the outside pasta which should be fed several Most breeders who handfeed, leave of the cage and filled with about two times a week. Fresh water, mineral the babies with their parents until they inches of untreated pine shavings. block, and cuttlebone should be avail­ are 10 to 14 days old. Babies should be Boxes should be placed on the front of able at all times. Vitamins should be placed in a brooder which is set at 890 the cages so when the birds look out, sprinkled on the soft foods several F. and checked often to make sure they they only see the inside of their cage. times a week. Spirulina can be added are comfortable. Birds that are younger Some birds, particularly Green­ to the egg food, if desired. than eight days, particularly Green­ rumpeds, are fond of throwing the Finally, the importance of calcium rumpeds and Spectacleds, need a tem­ nest material out of the box so be sure to breeding hens cannot be stressed perature of 91 0 or higher. They are fed to keep it replaced. Babies can devel­ enough. Cuttlebone and mineral block every four hours beginning at 7:30 A.M. op crippling orthopedic problems if should always be available and calci­ and ending at 11:30 P.M. Younger left on the bare floor. Conversely, um powder should also be sprinkled chicks are fed more frequently and

56 November/December 1999 given a 2:00 A.M. feeding. Parrotlets can feather out. At about five weeks, they of the Green Rump subspecies Forpus he fed with a spoon or syringe. Ten­ are placed in a large weaning cage passerinus deliciosus. day old habies generally take between with low perches and food is fed on As with all bird breeding opera­ one and two cc's per feeding, gradual­ paper plates or small flat dishes placed tions, cleanliness and sterilization is an ly working up to a maximum of six by on the hottom of the cage. By the time absolute must. While common chlo­ the age of three weeks. the birds are six weeks ofage, they are rine bleach is okay for disinfecting As with any good breeding pro­ usually completely weaned. However, most equipment such as feeding dish­ gram, accurate records are a must. birds are individuals, if one is weaning es, cages, baskets, tubs and scales, a Each baby should be closed-banded more slowly than the others, he should virucide/pseudomonacide such as and all information as to parent identi­ continue to be fed .. It is better to con­ Wavecide, Viron, Rocal-D, Avinol or fication, date egg was laid, date of tinue feeding a few more days than Kennesol such be used for soaking hatch, date baby was pulled, and med­ have a tragedy. Some species, such as syringes, feeding spoons, brooders ical or veterinary information should Blue Wings and Spectacles take longer and anything that has been in contact be recorded. In addition, babies to wean, usually eight weeks rather with either babies or a sick bird. Also, should be weighed each morning than six. use common sense such as never prior to their first feeding so as to mon­ The sex of parrotlet babies can be bringing strange babies into the nurs­ itor gains and losses. detennined when they are about three ery and always quarantining new birds Bahies show an interest in solid weeks old. By the time their pin feath­ for at least 60 days. foods when they are approximately ers are growing in, you can see the Whether breeding parrotlets for the four to five weeks old. They should be blue feathers of the males. Mexicans, pet market or trying to establish cap­ given millet spray, finely chopped Spectacles and Blue Wings sometimes tive breeding cooperatiyes for conser­ fruits, vegetables and greens, whole take as long as their first molt to pro­ vation, these diminutive parrots have a grain bread, small seeds such as finch duce the blue feathering on the rump, lot to offer. They are beautiful, intelli­ and cockatiel, pellets, cooked rice and but it is evident on the wings as soon gent, quiet, hardy and relatively easy to pasta. Dry foods are scattered over the as they hegin to feather out. Coloring breed. Hopefully, as aviculturists, we bottom of the brooder; cooked foods enhancement after the first molt can can find a place in our hearts as well are placed in flat dishes. The tempera­ also occur in various subspecies such as our aviaries for these fascinating ture in the brooder is gradually low­ as the hens of the Pacific subspecies birds so they will be available for ered to room temperature as the babies Forpus coelestis lucida and the males future generations. ~

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the afa WATCHBIRD 57