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OPINIONS Scribe A softbills discussion group (with a purview which includes corvids): http://www.onellst.com/sub­ OPINIONS scribe. cgi/ SOFfBILLED_BIRDS I am very much a "newbie" to corvid aviculture myself. I am current­ ly working on being able to breed some non-native ones, and I would like to become a licensed rehabilitator of the native ones. I don't claim to be an expen, but I do have a strong impression that many aviculturists don't realize there are highly intriguing crows, ravens, magpies, and jays legal­ ly available for US aviculture - birds vary similar to native-to-the-US corvids. I strongly and independently urge all softbill and corvid breeders and Dear Editor, AFA Watchbird, native corvids introduced into keepers to consider writing articles and In the March/April issue of the American aviculture in a similar man­ letters to the Watchbird, so as to fur­ Watchbird, I was pleased to see an ner as the native "game" birds are. ther educate the avicultural communi­ article about some Common Ravens. And, also of note, native raptors are ty about softbill and corvid aviculture. At the end of the article are some legal to breed and keep, for falconry. In my view, only a limited number italicized statements where it is stated Sincerely of birds from the wild would be that ravens can be aggressive, unpre­ ~ohtltMn d-{~ required to begin a successful captive dictable, and destructive, and "there­ AFA Life Member fore do not make good pets. Keeping breeding program for the native or breeding ravens is illegal." corvids. These takings could be moni­ tored and limited by the U. S. Fish & While I understand why these state­ My Dear Higbee Wildlife Service. The Service could ments were made, I have some obser­ Ve1Y good letter. You address some impose banding schemes on such vations I would like to,share with you excellent points. Ofcourse I put the dis­ birds, similar to how they do for the and your readers... claimer in the raven a/1icle to inform native "game" birds and native raptors, Cenainly we are all well aware that ourreaders that it is illegal to go into the to ensure that only captive bred off­ many psittacines, legal-to-keep soft­ field and gather baby cOlvids. The spring are sold. There does need to be bills, and legal-to-keep native raptors ravens in the al1icle were in a licensed sufficient interest from us though, to are also aggressive, unpredictable, and rehab facility but some our readers push this issue forward. destructive. I submit to your readers may not have taken note ofthat. In any case, there are many non­ that ravens make no worse "pets" than I am myself a very great fan ofthe native corvid species available, for any other independent highly intelli­ coruids. I commendyou for asking for import, for breeding, and on a smaller gent bird that is zero to three genera­ more coruid al1icles in the Watchbird. I scale, as pets. tions removed from the "wild." should very much like to see more of May I share with you and your There are many different types of them. readers a few of the web sites I rec­ non-native corvids (crow family birds) Indeed, my Dear Higbee, the first ommend people visit to learn more answer to your request is Associate available for us aviculture, whether as about this issue: imponable birds which can serve as Editor Carolyn Swicegood's Blue Jay article in this velY issue - a wondelful breeding pairs, or as the captive bred Myown~ offspring of pairs already here. story of her experience with a C01vid­ http://www.geocities.com/Athens a charming BlueJay. The African Pied Crow, Corvus /Atrium/1424/ albus, for example, is very similar to I suggestyouproduce the next al1icle - corvid ofyour choice. I shall follow our own native crows and ravens. The Softbills.com web site: with my own corvid al1ic1e (and I have There are many other types. http://www.softbills.com/ somegood tales to teLD. Perhaps, we can I submit to you and your readers get the ball rolling. that there is an increased need to A site that proftles some native corvids begin breeding the non-native corvids to give you an idea of what the non- ' Many thanksfor your letter. and other softbills while they are still native ones would be like for you: legal to impon. http://www.shades-ofnight.com/ I am also interested in seeing the aviary/ She!dOJ1 'lJiJ1jle, editor .".. the afa WATCHBIRD 9.
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