Eclectus Parrots in Australian Aviculture

Photos and Text by Paul Stevens Woodberry, NSW, Australia

INTRODUCTION. any people would think that the beautiful Eclectus M Parrot would be one bird kept in great numbers in Australian aviaries, but this is not the case. Although the larg , E. 111acolivray species flies wild in this country up in the far north parts of Queensland, it is very rarely seen in aviculture. The main reason for this is the expensive price tag it car- ries. Although I cannot peak for other bird keepers, I personally A happy pair of Eclectus po~vchloros have seen only around six birds Pan~ots in their A ustralian Aviary 111yself in two different a vicultural set ups around the state of N.S.W. To Iny knowledge, in polychloros) E. solomonensis, and, Au tralian aviculture the sub­ as n1entioned earlier, E pecies, E. roratus) E vosmaeri) E. macgillivray, are the only ones

A typical nest-log as c01nmonly used in Australia but seldom used in the u.s. T7'Je female looks outfrom the nest while the male stands guard on top. 54 Fourth Quarter 2002 kept. Again to my knowledge, the many people use either the Z type, PERSONAL NOTES E. polychloros, or Red-sided, is the or the T type nest boxes. The Z I have always had somewhat most widely kept at around 80%, type box has one entry at the top of an interest in Eclectus Parrots, with the other subspecies coming with the inspection door at the and although it took me some time in at around 5% each. side, with the T type box having before I was able to purchase Although Eclectus Parrots are two entries at the top and the some, I now have two pairs of the most beautiful birds, even the E. inspection door at the side. All E. polychloros subspecies in my polychloros, are somewhat expen­ three types, logs, T, or Z boxes, collection. My birds are kept in sive to the average Australian bird have had reasonable success. Most conventional type aviaries measur­ keeper. And they are very noisy, Eclectus chicks are taken away ing 9ft long x 5ft wide x 6.6ft high. with a high pitched screech that from the parents at an early age for They are kept in a bank of aviaries could pose a problem in most back hand rearing purposes. This allows which also house birds such as yard collections, and in this country the parents to start preparing earli­ Gang Gang, and Leadbeater's they not as easy to breed as some er for the next clutch. Cockatoos, and Alexandrine Par­ people make out, although some rots. This bank of aviaries has a aviculturist do have good success PROBLEMS walkway at the front, (great for with them. In Australia we have some easy access for cleaning purposes), I would say that less than 8% problems with worms, such as has a draining system running in of Australian aviculturists would round, tape, and book worms. the middle of them, (again for either keep a single pair or a few These are easily treated with med­ cleaning and drainage purposes), pairs of Eclectus Parrots in their ications, and discouraged by keep­ has an automatic watering and collection. Eclectus Parrots give ing nice and clean environments sprinkler system, (I believe this to that extra bit of colour to a collec­ for the birds. Other problems with be a must for our Australian weath­ tion of parrots, and of course the the Eclectus Parrots, is of course er conditions), and a third of the people who own them always have the noise factor (neighbours may floor being concrete at the rear, people admire them for their char­ not approve of the high pitched with the other two-thirds being acter and beauty. screeching), and the hen bird can river pebbles at the front. The roof­ get very aggressive towards its ing is the opposite to the floor, the HOUSING ECLEC11JS mate, and owner when breeding. rear section is two-thirds sheeting Eclectus Parrots are housed in It is common sense to pair up a and the front section one-third two types or forms in Australia - slightly older cock bird with an open to the elements. Feeding is conventional aviaries and suspend­ aggressive hen. done with specially designed seed ed or noble cages. (Space being the hoppers at the rear of each aviary, main reason for which way they LICENSING but supplementary foods, such as are housed). Eclectus Parrots are In the state of New South fruit and vegetables etc, is fed in usually housed as single pairs, but Wales, there are some conditions stainless steel containers along the are known to be housed in a for keeping different type of birds, front of each aviary from the front colony with other Eclectus Parrots whether they are native or foreign. walkway. or with other larger species of par­ (Note: there are some birds rots or cockatoos. exempt from any registration at CONCLUSION all). For instance, with Eclectus Although the Eclectus Parrot DIET Parrots, the E. macgillivray is not a widely kept parrot in Eclectus Parrots are fed a sta­ species, which is native to this Australian aviculture, I believe it is ple diet of mixed seeds, such as country, is on a National Parks and still one of the most attractive of all sunflower, safflower, hulled oats, Wildlife Services registration. The parrots. I also believe that in years canary seed, and milo, but do need E. polychloros species, which is to come as the high price falls, that a great amount of fruit and vegeta­ native to the Papuan Islands, New it will find its way into more col­ bles in their diet. Guinea, and the Trobriand Islands, lections around the country. There needs not to be on any registration are some kept for pet birds, but SUPPLEMENTAL DIET at all. That means people can buy they are normally kept for their This consists of fruit such as this species from anyone without beauty and for breeding purposes apple, pair, orange, Kiwi fruit, papers. The other species, which in aviary collections. After reading banana, and vegetables such as includes the E. roratus, found in this article, I hope I have answered corn, mung beans, peas, beans, Buru, Amboina, and Southern some questions for someone on carrot, spinach, and sprouted Moluccas, the E. vosmaeri, found the Eclectus Parrot in my country, seeds, sprouted mung beans, and in northern and central Moluccas, Australia. I would like to personal­ sprouted corn. and the E. solomonensis, found on ly thank my good friend and fel­ the Solomon Islands, must be on low aviculturist, Anthony Catt, for BREEDING the Exotic Bird Scheme of his help with information in this Eclectus Parrots are known to Australia. article, and for allowing me to breed in large natural logs, but photograph his birds. .:.

the afa WATCHBIRD 55