c o en Cl. E o .c. ~ ex: Q.) oCO .c>­ .9 o .c. The World of the Q..

by Dale R. Thompson Canyon Country, CA

INTRODUCI10N he Tanygnathus group of par­ rots originate from the T Philippines, Sulawesi (Celebes), Borneo and other smaller islands of Indonesia. All are known for their The male Great-billedpan"ot is notedfor its very large head and bill. Not large, heavy bills and relatively short, commonly reproduced in captivity, there see1ns to be a lopsided ratio of rounded tails. This gives them a top­ females over males heavy look. They are very beautiful with their shades of brilliant blues and greens contrasted by a large reddish­ orange bill. Some have greenish-yel­ low scalloping on the primary and median wing coverts. The feathers on the chest region are often hair-like in appearance. This feature is well known in the Parrots. In earli-

Female Great-billed Parrots that were removedfrom the nest (at seven weeks) forphotographs. These youngsters were completelyparent-reared.

The Blue-naped appears to be repro­ duced more successfully in recent years than its two close relatives, the Great-billed and the Muller's Parrots. It is important that these species be held backforfuture breeding.

4 MarchiApril 1997 er times both the Tanygnathus and maintain a minImum distance from two males whose heads were much Eclectus Parrots in Germany were each other. Often head-plucking is a larger than of the same species I known as "Edelpapagei" or noble par­ problem. later observed in the 1980s. I can only rots. This term is still being used today. •A reddish-colored bill is very assume that I was observing a differ­ Indeed, both groups are very noble in prominent in this group, often found ent, and larger, subspecies than those their appearance. only in the males. This red or coral col­ now seen in aviculture. Checking with oration does not seem to fade as is the books, I probably was observing SPECIES AND DISTRIBUTION seen in many museum specimens the largest subspecies, T m. sumbensis, Great-billed Parrot, Tanygnathus even after many of the feathers have from Sumba in the Lesser Sunda megalorhynchos, is found on the begun to fade. Islands. islands of western Papua, Tanibar and • Eye blazing is often a characteris­ The Great-billed Parrot has been Lesser Sunda, the Moluccas and off­ tic with this group. This is a threaten­ imported in small to moderate num­ shore islands of Sulawesi (Celebes), ing action. bers over several years. The greatest Indonesia. Joseph M. Forshaw's • Feather coloration. If the parrot number was brought into the U.S. dur­ Parrots ojthe World gives it eight sub­ species has feathers ofa different color ing the last few years before parrot species. on its back, rump or nape other than importation came to a halt (in October, on the hody, it is usually hlue. This can 1993) due to the enactment ofthe Wild Blue-naped Parrot, Tanygnathus be seen in the blue rumps of the Conservation Act [WBCA] of 1992. lucionensis, is found in the Philippine Great-billed and Muller's Parrots and There was little to no success repro­ Islands and offshore islands of Borneo the nape of the Blue-naped Parrot. ducing the Great-billed Parrot in the and Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is given This color difference changes to red on U.S. until it was accomplished byJoan three subspecies. the rump coloration of the hanging Davis in 1989 (May 25) in Fremont, parrots. Often the tails are tipped with California. Prior to this, a number of Muller's Parrot, Tanygnathus suma­ yellow, red or orange, which gives aviculturists had infertile, and some­ tranus, is found in the Philippine them a more threatening (or in a times even fertile eggs, but with no Islands, Sulawesi and the smaller courtship, desirable) display when success. These poor captive reproduc­ islands ofthe Sulu Archipelago, Talaud spread. tive results were due to several rea­ and Sangir, Indonesia. It is given six • Behavior. Due to the dominance sons, the main cause probably being subspecies. of the female, many of these parrots incompatibility between the mates. Black-Iored Parrot, Tanygnathus have quite a courtship display. The The dynamics of female-dominant gramineus, is found on the Island of male will go through number of head species is not easily understood under Buru, Indonesia. It is monospecific. and body movements to entice the captive conditions. Aviculturists are female. This is often manifested by the more used to pairs witli. dominant Rufous-tailed Parrot. This parrot is male bowing and stretching its body, males that often drive the females to taken from one specimen (type), pre­ drooping or lifting its wings and sway­ go to nest. With the roles reversed, it sumably from Sulawesi; regarded as an ing from side to side. Often the male often results in a shy and somewhat aberrant specimen of T sumatranus will jump up and down or spin on its intimidated male. I feel it is important (Forshaw 197: 193). perch. The bright plumage and the to allow these birds to choose their Only the first three species are coral bill coloration ofthe male is cred­ own mates. This is seldom done found in American aviculture. ited as being part of this courtship. because it is difficult to obtain several birds to place together for bonding. BEHAVIOR GREAT-BIIJ..ED PARROT Wild-caught Great-billed Parrots can The Tanygnathus parrots belong to (Tanygnathus megalorhynchos) be quite shy, .and placing two new the Subfamily Psittaculinae which also This parrot is aptly named as its birds in a cage can be very stressful to include Eclectus, the ring-necked very large head and bill are almost both of them. Although incompatibili­ group, king parrots, hanging parrots, "macaw-like" in appearance. These ty does not usually result in serious blue-rumped parrots and lovebirds. large green parrots 06 inches) do not aggression, other symptoms often They have several intriguing features have the long, pointed tails ofthe large result. Feather chewing and plucking and behaviors that are different from macaws but have medium sized tails may result when there is serious most other parrot groups. Although that are rounded. They have a blue incompatibility or after long term bick­ not identical in each group, their simi­ rump and yellow-tipped green tail ering or confrontations occur. Often a larities are unique enough to be feathers and have beautiful outer wing bird in perfect feather condition will grouped together. These include: feathers (coverts) that are black with pluck out its chest feathers completely • The females are usually dominant orange to bronzy-gold scalloping or in only a few hours. Sometimes the in behavior. margins. Both sexes have the coral-red birds, mostly males, will soon have • This group strongly prefers to not bill with the adult male's usually being fuzzy feathers along their primary wing touch each other (exception-love­ much more massive than the females. coverts. birds). Even though one-way or mutu­ I observed my first Great-billed Feather chewing and plucking can al preening is done, the sexes usually Parrots in the early 1970s. They were also be caused by an inadequate diet

afa WATCHBIRD 5 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF AVICULTURE 'l1ie :Mission ofthe 5tFJ'I. is to Promote the J'l.avanament ofJ'l.vic.u[ture.

1997 OFFICERS LAURELLA DESBOROUGH, President 510-372-6174/ fax 510-372-0306· ROBERT 1. BERRY, Executive Director 713-434-8076 / fax 713-433-3731 RICK JORDAN, 1st Vice President phonefax 512-858-7029· GARY CLIFTON, 2nd Vice President 602-830-4920/ fax 602-995-1707 JIM HAWLEY, JR., Chief Fmancial Officer 602-838-4770/ fax 602-987-3389 • JAMI KENNEDY, Secretary 805-252-0437 GARY LILIENTHAL, Legal Counsel, Vice President, AFA office, P.O. Box 56218, Phoenix, AZ 85079-6218 602-484-0931/ fax 602-484-0109 MEMBER CLUBS NATIONAL A DELAWARE Raleigh-Durham Caged Bird Society MICHIGAN LOUISIANA INTERNATIONAL State coordinator: SOUTH CAROLINA State coordinator: State coordinator: Nancy Selz 302-798-8625 State coordinator: * Jeanne C. Murphy 504-833-4241 ORGANIZATIONS DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Beth Rowan 803-862-2852 Ann Arbor Cage Bird Club Acadiana Bird Club Jerry McCawley, Director State coordinator: Aiken Bird Club BEA.K S. Bayou Bird Club phone/fax 512-858-4136 Tom Marshall 703-777-3252 Palmetto Cage Bird Club of Anderson North Oakland Cage Bird Club Capitol Area Avicultural Society African Lovebird Society MARYLAND TENNESSEE Saginaw Valley Bird Club Gulf South Bird Club, Inc. American Budgerigar Society Motor City Bird Breeders Louisiana Aviculture Society State coordinator: State coordinator Amazona Society OHIO MISSOURI Debora Ready 410-838-9418 Renea Adams 901-854-6%96 American Cockatiel Society, Inc. Cage Bird Club of NE Tennessee State coordinator: State coordinator: American Lory Society Maryland Cage Bird Society, Inc. Southern Maryland Caged Bird Club Diana Holloway 419-636-3882 Paddy Lambert 314-962-8186 Asiatic Breeders Association Classic Feathers Gateway Parrot Club Asiatic Parrot Society NEW JERSEY FLORIDA/P.R. Golden Crescent Cage Bird Club Greater Kansas City Avicultural Soc. Avicultural Society of America State coordinator: REGION Flightline Exotic Bird Society Missouri Cage Bird Association International Parrotlet Society Dan Lanetti 609-386-1435 Dwight Greenberg, Director Great Lakes Bird Lovers Club OKLAHOMA Model Avicultural Program Central Jersey Bird Club 407-631-9800 fax 407-632-4338 Miami Valley Bird Club National Cockatiel Society Real Macaw Parrot Club State coordinator: FLORIDA (CENTRAL) Mid-American Exotic Bird Society National Finch & Softbill Society Ruffled Feathers Gary Blankenbiller 405-691-3553 State Coordinator: Northwest Ohio Exotic Bird Club Pionus Breeder Association PENNSYLVANIA Central Oklahoma Bird Club Suzanne Myers 813-689-7262 WISCONSIN Oklahoma Avicultural Society Waxbill Parrot-Finch Society State coordinator: Central Rorida Bird Breeders State coordinator: TEXAS (NORTH) World parrot Trust Lorraine Smith 215-348-7423 Exotic Bird Club of Rorida Gloria Scholbe 414-496-1441 State coordinator: Central Pennsylvania Cage Greater Brandon Avian Society NORTHEASTERN Cream City Feathered Friends Linda Smith 817-790-8015 Bird Club Imperial Bird Club Kenosha Exotic Bird Club REGION Chester County Avian Society Lakeland Exotic Bird Club Bird Society of Waco Wisconsin Cage Bird Club, Inc. Cleburne Bird Society Linda S. Rubin, Director Delawara Valley Bird Club Sun Coast Avian Society Dallas Cage Bird Society 617-469-0557 fax 617-469-0368 Erie Cage Bird Club Sunshine State Cage Bird Society Philadelphia Avicultural Society Treasure Coast NORTH CENTRAL Fort Worth Bird Club CONNECTICUT Plano Exotic Bird Association York Area Pet Bird Club West Florida Avian Society REGION State coordinator: TEXAS (SOUTH) Bob Sunday 203-525-8338 VIRGINIA FLORIDA (NORTH) James McCabe, Director Connecticut Association for 612-753-5241 fax 612-753-6772 State coordinator: State coordinator: State coordinator: Louise Ditto 512-935-1991 Aviculture, Inc. Dawn Kopf703-594-3841 Alan Cooper904-234-2140 IOWA MAINE Alamo Exhibition Bird Club Commonwealth Avicultural Society Emerald Coast Avian Society State coordinator: Capitol City Cage Bird Club State coordinator: National Capital Bird Club Gainsville Bird Fanciers Monica Sudds 712-642-4578 Coastal Bend Cage Bird Club Margaret Fisher 207-935-3732 Parrot Breeders Association of Rorida West Coast Avian Society Beakers San Antonio's Feathered Friends Maine State Caged Bird Society Virginia West Pasco Exotic Bird Club Mid America Cagebird Society Triangle Bird Breeders Club MASSACHUSETTS Tri-State Bird Club Jacksonville Bird Club MINNESOTA State coordinator: WEST VIRGINIA FLORIDA (SOUTH) State coordinator: NORTHWESTERN Kathleen Viewig 617-739-2733 State coordinator: State coordinator: Steve Estebo 612-432-4758 REGION Aviculturists of Greater Boston,lnc Jody Lewis 305-253-7887 Minnnesota Companion Bird Assn. * Natalie Frumin-Weiss, Exotic Cage Bird Society of New SOUTHEASTERN Aviary & Cage Bird Society of NEBRASKA England Southern Florida State coordinator: Director Massachusetts Cage Bird Assn. REGION Tropical Cocktiel and Lovebird Wanda Elder, Director 206-927-6983 fax 206-952-6983 Northeastern Avicultural Society South West Rorida Avian Society Greater Omaha Cage Bird Society ALASKA 901-853-9988 fax 901-853-7030 Gulf Coast Bird Club NEW HAMPSHIRE Heartland Avicultural Society State coordinator: State coordinator: ALABAMA Panhandle Aviculture Society NORTH DAKOTA State coordinator: PUERTO RICO Mark Lyke 907-346-2008 State coordinator: Alaska Bird Club Birds of a Feather Avicultural Society June Hendrix 205-776-2992 Coordinator: * IDAHO NEW YORK Central Alabama Aviculture Society David Negron 809-251-1153 SOUTH DAKOTA State coordinator: State coordinator: Rocket City Cage Bird Club, Inc Organi Puertorriguena de Aves State coordinator: Margie Loewen 208-939-9446 Kristine Arnantea 914-355-2473 South Alabama Cage Bird Society Exoticas, Inc. GEORGIA VIRGIN ISLANDS Royce King 605-393-1720 MONTANA Big Apple Bird Association Black Hills Cage Bird Club Brilliant Pet Bird Society State coordinator: State coordinator: State coordinator: Laura Lee Neva 406-322-4444 Broome County Caged Bird Club Sherrie Miller 404-396-7938 * SOUTH CENTRAL Central New York Caged Bird Club CSRA Exotic Bird Association MID-EASTERN Great Falls Cage Bird Society Finger Lakes Cage Bird Association KENTUCKY REGION REGION OREGON Great Rochester Hookbill Assoc. Richard Hazell, Director State coordinator: Janis Clark, Director State coordinator: Rochester Cage Bird Club 316- 942-8864 fax 316-942-9030 Jerry T. Clarke 502-935-5440 419-825-2839 fax 419-825-2939 RHODE ISLAND ARKANSAS Emerald Exotic Bird Club Central Kentucky Cage Bird Club ILLINOIS State coordinator Feathered Friends Society State coordinator: Mid Oregon Bird Club State coordinator: Diane Patalano 401-885-0267 MISSISSIPPI Jim McGuire 501-965-2427 Northwest Bird Club VERMONT State coordinator: John Petty 815-962-8224 Rose City Exotic Bird Club Stateline Bird Fanciers, Inc. KANSAS State coordinator: Nancy S. Speed 601-673-8100 State coordinator: WASHINGTON Peter Lowry 802-754-6494 Central Mississippi Bird Club INDIANA State coordinator: State coordinator: Bill Rider 816-452-9310 Greater Memphis Bird Club B.E.R.D. Jeri Wright, 206-838-9802 NORTH CAROLINA * Kansas Avicultural Society, Inc. Avicultural Society of Puget Sound MID-ATLANTIC Central Indiana Cage Bird REGION State coordinator: Northeast Kansas Cage Bird Club Avis Northwest Bird Club Greg Bacot 919-766-3766 Michiana Bird Society Cascade Canary Breeders Assoc. Kentuckiana Cage bird club Kayla Snyder, Director Charlotte Metrolina Cage Bird Northwest Exotic Bird Society 412-369..()908 fax 412-338-7862 South Sound Exotic Bird Society

6 MarchiApril 1997 or the lack of sufficient water to bathe attentive to each other and will be dili­ in. A large open crock or bowl in gent in their duties as parents. The which the birds can stand in, is ideal. babies grow fast, and a chart for early The bathing bowl should not be same weight gains can be found in the source as their drinking water as the January/February, 1994 Watchbirdarti­ large bathing bowl can be easily pol­ cle on breeding the Great-billed Parrot luted with dirt, feathers, old food, or authored by Ma. Regina R. de Dios and fecal matter. An overhead misting sys­ Roger G. Sweeney. By the 32nd day of tem is also a good way for these birds age, both babies mentioned in their to bathe. Polluted water should always article'topped the 400 gram mark. This be changed immediately. breeding was accomplished at the The Great-billed Parrots have a very facilities of B.I.I. (Birds International raucous voice which can be quite Incorporated) in Quezon City in the annoying. This is especially true if one Philippines. WESTERN SOUTHERN keeps them in a residential area where There is a preponderance of REGION CALIFORNIA their noise may disturb the neighbors. females in captive Great-billed Parrots Kelly Tucker, Director REGION These birds usually do not sound off both as wild-caught birds now avail­ 505-384-5490 fax 505- 384-5441 Aletta M. Long, Director ARIZONA Phone/fax 310-596-7429 unless disturbed and this loud voice able and as domestic babies. Why State coordinator: CALIFORNIA (SOUTHERN) can even be emitted from youngsters there are so few males hatched and Michelle Rietz 602-973-9282 SAN DIEGO AREA inside a nest that has been opened for Arizona Avian Breeders Assoc. State coordinator: reared in captivity compared to Arizona Aviculture Society Marty Muschinske 619-468-3201 inspection. females is still a mystery, Even the Arizona Seed Crackers Society Finch Society of San Diego County Even though these birds have a Avicultural Society of Tucson Hookbill Hobbyists Arizona aviculturist, Barry Sky, noted Tropical Bird Fanciers North County Aviculturists sedate personality, they can make for his great reproductive success in Yuma-Imperial Exotic Bird Club CALIFORNIA (SOUTHERN) COLORADO LOS ANGELES AREA interesting pets. They are often kept as the Great-billed Parrot and the other State coordinator: State coordinator: pets in their home country of the Tanygnathus parrots has a very lop­ Heidi Hopkins 303421-3344 * Philippines, but due to the difficulty sided sex ratio of extra females, Front Range Avian Society Antelope Valley Bird Society Rocky Mountain Society of Aviary Association of Kern and low numbers being reproduced in Of great interest is a certain dietary Aviculture, Inc. East San Gabriel Valley Bird Society captivity, these large parrots should be NEVADA Hemet Valley Bird Society supplement Barry Sky gives to his State coordinator: Hi Desert Bird Club held back for future breeding stock. Great-billed Parrots, While reading in Joanne Edwards 702436-0110 Long Beach Bird Breeders Usually two to three eggs are laid Thomas Arndt's LEXICON of PatTots, Las Vegas Avicultural Society Norco Valley Bird Breeders Reno Area Avian Enthusiasts Orange County Bird Breeders per clutch and there is now a concert­ Sky noted that this parrot species read­ NEW MEXICO Santa Barbara Bird Club South Bay Bird Breeders ed effort to have the parents do some ily consumes the flower of the Coral State coordinator: South Coast Finch Club or all of the feeding. Pulling eggs for Tree, Erythrina sp. He then proceeded Sandi Brennan 505-281 -7729 Valley of Paradise Bird Club New Mexico Bird Club Ventura County Bird Club artificial incubation has to be done if to plant and grow several Coral trees Las Cruces Parrot Club West Valley Bird Society UTAH the eggs are broken or abandoned in on his property for consumption by his State coordinator: the nest. But more and more avicultur­ Great-billed Parrots, He feels this is * Position open: con­ Steve Long 801-647-3653 ists are allowing their pairs to feed the one of the key ingredients for his WasatchAvian Education Society tact regional vice presi­ youngsters for at least two weeks. excellent reproductive success. Avicultural Society of Utah dent if interested. WYOMING Several are allowing the babies to be State coordinator: ** indicates 2 year completely parent-reared which will MUlLER'S PARROT Lloyd Baily 307-468-2871 tenn has been fulfilled. If be ideal for future breeding as they (Tanygnathus sumatranus) no new interested party NORTHERN will have gained the needed parental The Muller's Parrots are medium­ CALIFORNIA comes forward and indi­ instinct for rearing future clutches later sized birds l)1easuring from 12 to 13 REGION cates a desire to serve, Donna Tondreault, Director on in their lives. inches in total length, The males have incumbent remains in 916-642-9050 fax 916-642-0874 Compatible pairs tend to be very a coral-red bill, while the females have CALIFORNIA (NORTH) position. State coordinator: For infonnation about Diane Grindol 408-384-6548 Bune County Bird Club contacting any of these Capitol City Bird Society Central California Avian Society member clubs, please Central Coast Avicultural Society call that club's state coor­ Contra Costa Avian Society Corporate Members Foothill Bird Fanciers dinator. 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 WATeRBIRD 7 a whitish or hom-colored bill. Adult was removed for handfeeding. This abundant, the importation of the Blue­ males appear to be slightly more bril­ was a very compatible pair. naped Parrots came to a complete halt. liant in feather condition than females. As with the Great-billed Parrots, the This was because the Republic of the This parrot is also known as the Muller's Parrots are also prone to Philippines stopped exporting its Muller's Great-billed or Philippine become feather pickers. Many avicul­ wildlife. Thus two very important Great-bille/d Parrot. Sometimes it is turists working with Muller's Parrots Philippine large parrots, the Red-vent­ referred to as the (Mueller's) Blue­ find incompatibility a problem ( unlike ed Cockatoo and Blue-naped Parrot, backed Parrot due to the blue patch of the pair above). Another similarity is began to decline within the u.S. feathers found on its lower back. the overabundance of males in this From past literature, it appears that Of the six subspecies, it is thought species, especially in the offspring. A the Blue-naped Parrot was successful­ that the Everett's Blue-backed Parrot, secluded environment with a good ly reproduced in the 1930s and 1940s. T s. everetti, was the most commonly diet appears to be key ingredients in Records show that Mrs. H. S. Bonestell imported subspecies. The Muller's reproducing the Muller's Parrot along of California bred them in 1935 and Parrot is another Tanygnathus parrot with the importance of having a com­ years following. Dave West also repro­ that was not common until the latter patible pair. duced the Blue-naped in the 1940s years when U.S. importation was still and he wrote that they were "easily allowed. It has never been very com­ BLUE-NAPED PARROT bred." Considering the low numbers mon. (Tanygnathus lucionensis) reproduced in recent years, it would The first successful reproduction of This Tanygnathus parrot is mainly be difficul~ to assume that they are eas­ the Muller's Parrot in the U.S. was emerald green in coloration with a ily reproduced. I can only assume that accomplished by M. D. Moll and K. K. beautiful shade of blue found on its the scarcity of this species in present Muser in 1984 (February 21) in Fort nape, oftentimes extending into the day American aviculture is the main Lauderdale, Florida. Their pair was cheeks. The color of its chest feathers reason for this. housed in a 4 X 3 X 3 ft. cage placed range from light green to olive-green Mrs. Bonestell described the high off the floor. They had a vertical and they are very fine in texture, simi­ courtship behavior of the Blue-naped nest box measuring 12 X 12 X 24 in. lar to the chest feathers of Eclectus as weird. The male stretched out his with a 3 in. entrance hole placed off Parrots. They also have the distinctive body and swayed back and forth in center and 20 in. above the bottom of yellow-margined wing coverts similar front of his mate. The male then slow­ the box. to the Great-billed Parrot. Both sexes ly flapped his wings and blazed his A courtship was observed where of the Blue-naped Parrot have coral­ eyes to where they showed mostly both birds would hang from the top of red upper and lower mandibles. The white. Mrs. Bonestell also related that the cage. Mutual preening and feeding Blue-naped Parrot has never been her breeding pair of Blue-naped was done from this position. Both par­ imported in substantial numbers in the Parrots built a very compact nest of ents were observed participating in the past. During the latter years of impor­ feathers, bamboo leaves and small incubation duties. The baby was par­ tation when Great-billed Parrots and sticks, bits of string and any other ent fed for eight days before the chick Muller's Parrots were becoming more types of material on the top of the nesting material (peat moss and leaf mold) she placed in the bottom of the nest box.

DIET LIVE PET FOOD From reading in the literature, it appears that the Great-billed Parrot is a specialized feeder. In the wild it feeds MEALWORMS on the fruits from trees found on the SUPERWORMS beach and in mangrove areas, primar­ ily from Sonneratia alba. The internal CRICKETS gut tract of the Great-billed is quite WAXWORMS complexwith its long length and folds. It is believed that this parrot needs a FLY LARVAE diet made up of fibrous plant material. It is not surprising to read of the CALL FOR FREE BROCHURE captive diets given to Great-billed 1-800-222-3563 Parrots byJoan Davis and the Muller's 24 HOUR FAX Parrot by the Moll/Muser team. The OrubcS Great-billed Parrots were fed corn-on­ 1-513-874-5878 INCORPORATED the-cob, carrots (at least one or two VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT BOX 15001 per day per pair), green beans, http://www.herp.com:80/grubco/ HAMILTON, 0810 45015-0001 Chinese peas in the pod and Brussels

8 March/April 1997 sprouts. Their fruit included apples these appear to be too shallow. ing conditions. Early reports show they and pomegranate (some pairs even ate Shallow nest boxes may be one of the are very different. the skins of this fruit). The seed mix­ reasons that so many eggs disappear Communication and the sharing of ture was fed in a cornbread form. or are buried or broken under these information will be extremely impor­ The Muller's Parrots were supplied parrots. These parrots are very shy by tant. Aviculturists must be ready to give a 20-30 % .diet of whole seeds (sun­ nature, especially the wild-caught their long-time commitment to these flower, parakeet and canary seeds, ones, and secluded nest boxes should pan'ot species for they must be con­ buckwheat and safflower), peanuts always be supplied to them. Nest sidered one of the more difficult peppers. oats, hemp, hard corn and boxes do not seem to be the key to psittacine groups to establish in captiv­ squash seeds. The diet also included reproducing these parrots. Diet, com­ ity. These parrots will certainly be chal­ chopped whole wheat bread, carrots, patibility and seclusion, however, do lenging to maintain, let alone repro­ apples, chicory, whole kernel corn and appear to be very significant. duce in captivity. All of these parrot a variety of other seasonal fruits and groups are good candidates for dedi­ vegetables. FUfURE OF THE cated and well run consortiums. Each of the above diets is high in TANYGNAlHUS PARROTS fibrous plant material. If the gut and Although there is a slow break­ References bowel systems of the parrots do through in the reproduction of the Arndt, T. (988): Pan-ots - Their Life in tbe Wild. Bomlitz. require a specialized diet rich in Tanygnathus parrots, it would be very Arndt, T. (989): LEXICON ofParrots. Bomlitz fibrous food, these breeders certainly unwise to place any of the offspring in Davis, J. (990): Per. comm. supplied it. Whether this aided in their the pet market. This is especially true de Dios. Ma. R. G. & Sweeney, R. G. (994): reproductive success is unknown but it regarding the males. Every adult male Breeding the Great-billed Parrot, A.F.A. Watchbird XXI (No. n, 37-39. is important to note that these two first that is a pet or a single bird should be Fergenbauer, A. (992): Edelpapageien. Bomlitz. breeding successes did include a high placed in a breeding situation and all Forshaw, J. M. (978): Parrots ofthe \'(/orld. 2nd fibrous diet for the birds. male offspring should be held back for ed., Melbourne. breeding in one's own aviary or sup­ Low, R. (980): Parrots, Their Care and AVICULTURE plied to other dedicated breeders of Breeding Poole, Dorset. Low, R. (984): Endangered Parrots. Poole, Most pairs of the Tanygnathus par­ Tanygnathus parrots. Dorset. rots now set up in breeding situations Although a goodly number, Luczak, P. (980): Breeding Blue-naped Parrots, are housed in suspended cages mea­ presently and in the future, will end up A.F.A. Watchbird, VII (No.4), 34-36. suring from 3 to 4 feet in width by 3 to as pets, American aviculture is still a Moll, M. D. & Muser, K.K.(987): First Breeding of the Muller's Parrot, A.F.A. 4 feet in height and 4 to 6 feet in long ways from establi hing these Watcb'bird XlV (No.3), 32-34. length. Suspended cages are recom­ beautiful parrots. There is so much Sibley, G. S. & Monroe, Jr., B. L. (990): mended as the food and water can be more to learn about their unusual Distribution and Taxonolny of Birds placed in the cages through small behavior. We do not know for sure if ofthe World. New Haven & London. ky, B. (993): Per. comm. doors, thus allowing more privacy for the domestic birds will act like their Smith, G. A. (979): Lovebirds and Related the birds. Wild-caught counterparts under breed- Parrots. London. +- These parrots, however, can be reproduced in 8 to 10 foot flights, but entering flights can be extremely dis­ turbing to these birds. I say this with some trepidation as at the present time I am documenting two baby Great­ billed Parrots being parent reared in a long, narrow flight or aviary that reach­ es the floor. est boxes usually are the standard FIND OUT WHY HUMIDAIRE grandfather-type, being vertical in EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN THE shape. Measurements range from 12 CHOICE OF ZOOS, PRE­ in. X 12 in. X 24 in. to nest boxes that SERVES AND PROFESSIONAL are deeper in depth. The most suc­ BREEDERS WORLDWIDE FOR cessful breeder of Great-billed Parrots OVER SIXTY-FIVE YEARS. (Barry Sky) in the U.S. and probably in WRITE, CALL OR FAX FOR the world uses vertical wooden nest YOUR FREE CATALOG! boxes that have a smaller width at the top than they do at the bottom, similar in shape (not size) of an outside P.O. BOX 9, NEW MADISON, OH 45346 U.S.A. bricked chimney. I have observed TELEPHONE [U.S.A.) TOLL·FREE (BOO) 410-6925 cockatiel-sized nest boxes hung on the INCUBATOR COMPANY WORLDWIDE (513) 996·3001 • FAX (513) 996·3633 cages of Tanygnathus parrots, but afa WATCHBIRD 9