Gran Canaria by Rosemary Low Curator, Breeding Centre Canary Islands, Spain

Breeding Pretre sAmazon at Palmitos Park, Gran Canaria by Rosemary Low Curator, Breeding Centre Canary Islands, Spain It is interesting to reflect on the tat destruction and, due to this and to avilability of Amazona species this excessive trade, was placed on century: only three have been freely AppendiX 1 of CITES in 1989. The available: the Orange-winged (A. Tucuman is another avicultural new amazonica), the Blue-front A. comer, being virtually unknown until aestiva) and the Yellow-fronted or the late 1970s. Although the two spe Yellow-crowned (A.o. ochrocephala). cies are very close in plumage colora During the 1980s however, more spe tion and size, their personalities are cies became available than at any different. Much as I like the Tucuman, other time in avicultural history. All I would have to describe pretrei as those from continental or mainland one of the friendliest, most cheeky South America, with the exception of and cheerful parrots in existence! It the Mercenary (A. mercenaria) were seems almost inherently fearless available - and even the latter was but usually without the vicious streak imported into the U.S.A. on at least which accompanies fearlessness in one occasion.. some of the larger Amazons. It is a One species which was virtually truly delightful bird to keep. Most unkown in aviculture until the specimens will whistle or call out to decade of the 1980s is Pretre's Ama attract attention when anyone passes zon (A. pretrei). However, it remains the aviary. very rare so that most Amazon breed It is a small Amazon weighing ers have never seen it. As with a approximately between 240 grams number of other parrot species and 310 grams and measuring 12 during the past 20 years, its sudden inches (30-31cm). Several books chiCk appearance in aviculture was indica quote a larger length, even up to day tive of the fact that its habitat was 35cm - but this is incorrect. 11 fic 12fc 10 fie being disturbed. Unfortunately, the At Palmitos Park, Gran Canaria (one 2 16fc 17 1/2 15fc 14 fc numbers of this Amazon, also its of the Canary Islands, politically 3 23fc 23 fie 18 ne 19 fc range, is declining rapidly in the wild. Spanish but located not far off the 4 30 vfc 32 fc 24 1/2 23 1/2 It is now known to occur only in Rio coast of West Africa), Pretre's Ama 5 39 fc 43 fc 34 vfc 33 fc Grande do SuI in southeastern Brazil. zon is well represented in the off 6 44 fc 59 vfc 45 fc 48 vfc 7 51 ne 68 fc * 50 fc 51 e Possibly it survives in adjacent exhibit breeding centre. The genus 8 60 1/2 74 ne 64 fc 63 fc Misiones in northeastern Argentina. It Amazona is the prime interest of 9 70 1/2 * 8e 1/2 78 vfc 80 fc was formerly found in southern Sao Klaus Paulmann, the founder of 10 78 fc 100 fie 84 nf 92 fc Paulo and perhaps in southeastern Palmitos Park. He had been breeding 11 94 fc 108 nf 86 nf 104 fc 12 110 fc 114 1/2 108 fc 110 1/2 Paraguay, although there is no endangered species of Amazons, such 13 120 fc 140 fc 124 fc 130 fc evidence that it was a resident there; as the Cuban (A. 1. leucocephala), 14 126 nf 152 fc 144 fc possibly it occurred as a vagrant, Yellow-shouldered (A. barbadensis) 15 146 fc 170 fc 148 1/2 ifat all. and the Tucuman, also threatened 16 160 fc 176 fc 158 fc 166 nE 17 182 fc 196 fc + 182 vfc There has been a substantial species such as the Hispaniolan (A. 18 186 1/2 224 vfc 200 ne decline in irs numbers since the ventralis) and the Green-cheeked or 19 194 fc + 200 1/2 216 1/2 1970s mainly due to destruction of its Mexican Red-headed long before I 20 214 fc § 232 ne 222 fc specialized habitat. It is associated joined the staff of Palmitos Park in 21 238 e 226 fie 23 246 nf 250 1/2 234 fc with Araucaria pine forest - and little February 1989. 25 270 fc 250 fie 268 fie virgin forest of this type now survives In 1990, the following Amazons 27 266 1/2 284 1/2 274 fie within its range. The ripe pine seeds were reared: Cuban, Hispaniolan, 29 260 e 268 e are its principal food during much of Yellow-lored (A. xantholora), 39 242 the year. This Amazon migrates early Lilac-crowned (A.jinschi), Yellow 43 240 45 310 each year, from the southern part of shouldered, Yellow-fronted, Double 46 274 Rio Grande do SuI, to the north. This Yellow-head (A. ochrocephala Key: vfc - very full crop * ....; ears nearly open movement occurs after the breeding oratrix) and Pretre's. All were reared fc _ full crop + _ wing feathers erupting season. by Amazons with the exception of fic - food in crop §- tail feathers erupting Pretre's Amazon is closely related one Hispaniolan which had to be 1/2 - half full to the Tucuman Amazon (A. tucu hand-reared due to a bacterial infec ne _ nearly empty e _ empty mana). It, too, is endangered by habi- tion and some of the barbadensis. 56 Jooe / July 1991 ~ .3 space for a flowering hibiscus. The >, hibiscus not only break up stark out ro E lines, but create a pleasant environ CD o(J) ment. Each aviary (most of those in a: >, this block house Amazons) measures ..0 (J)o approximately 8 feet (2.4m) x 4 feet (5 ..c (1.2m) x 7 feet (2.1m) high. 0.... On April 20, probably 25 days after the first egg was laid, a pip mark was seen. Early on the morning of April 22, there was a chick in the nest. The following morning there were two chicks. The third egg was pipping on the morning of April 24 and the chick had hatched by 3 p.m. the next day. The fourth egg was pipping on April 26 but the chick did not hatch until the morning of the 29th or the previ ous evening. I assume the latter. It would appear that the eggs hatched after 26 and 27 days. Three of the four chicks were weighed on the day they hatched. Weights were 11 grams (with a little food in the crop), 12 grams with the crop full and 1°grams with some food in the crop. Continues on next page }bung Pretre's Amazons aged ten, nine, seven and three days. Pretre's Amazons hatched at Palmitos Park7 aged 29, 32, 34 and 35 days. aviary. At this point it should be stated block of aviaries. One had only to tap that it is easier to separate this partic gently on the nestbox for the female ular male and female by behaviour, to leave. The box measures 11 inches the female being more subdued, than (29cm) square and 15-1/2 inches by appearance, although the male (40cm) high. Wood shavings were does have marginally more extensive placed in the bottom. The Pretre's Amazon is often referred to red on the carpal edge ofthe wing. The aviaries are of the traditional as the Red-spectacled Amazon. It is an We were delighted to discover that walk-in kind, with part of the roof, endangered species listed by both the U. S. all four eggs were fertile. Nest inspec one side and the front of welded Endangered Species Act(ESA) and CITES. tion was simple, being carried out mesh. On the mesh side, each aviary It is found from southeastern Brazil to from the service passage in the next is divided from the next by sufficient northwestern Argentina. afa WATeRBIRD 57 From hatching to about seven days, green, whereas in adults they are ·AUSTRALIAN· pretrei chicks have quite dense white partly red. The iris is pale grey BIRDKEEI!ER down on the back and much sparser (chrome yellow in adults) and the down on the head. By the age of six beak is ivory; in the parents it is ivory days, the back is darkening with the tinged with orange on the side of the feathers growing under the skin. Due upper mandible. to this, by the beginning of May the The young left the nest on June 9, 1 Year's three eldest chicks had a grey appear 12, 13, and 21. I believe that they Overseas ance; their eyes were still closed. By fledged in the following order: Subscription: Air May 13, many of their wing feathers second, third, first and fourth, after $A56.50 had erupted. The red forehead and 53, 48, 49, and 55 days in the nest. red carpal edge of the wing already Even if I am wrong and the eldest left distinguished the eldest as apretrei. first, it would have been after 49 days. The chicks were closed-ringed As is usual with Amazons, they started when aged between 12 and 14 days to feed on their own within two or Regular colour features and articles on all popular cage/aviary birds written by top breeders/aviculturists with 9. 5mm bands (internal measure three days of leaving. At the time of from all over the world. Also veterinarian reports and lips. Everything for the Birdkeeper. ment) - but I later realized that 9mm writing, the beginning of August, the is the correct size. The young grew family group is still together and well; their crops were always bulging appear most harmonious.

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