PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN PARROT CONSERVATION AVICULTURE AND WELFARE World Parrot Trust in action Vol. 11 No.1 February 1999

Announcing World Parrot Month New Neotropical Projects Echo News

psittacine (sit’a sin) belonging or allied to the parrots; parrot-like Announcing World Parrot Month

Editor Rosemary Low, P.O. Box 100, Mansfield, Notts., United Kingdom - August 1999 by MICHAEL REYNOLDS NG20 9NZ In our August 1998 PsittaScene we launched a ‘New Global Campaign for the Par rots’. Central to this was the ‘Parr ots Need Help’ logo shown in the centre of this page. We CONTENTS inser ted a car sticker of this logo in every copy of that issue of PsittaScene, and promised a revised educational leaflet intended for new pet parr ot owners. We reminded readers of Announcing World Par rot the aims of the Trust and listed the 22 species of thr eatened parrot given financial Month ...... 2-3 support from WPT. We said: ‘Our intention is to maintain this campaign for the parrots for a period of two years, with the clear objective of making the general public achieve a New Neotropical Projects fr esh understanding about parrots.’ ...... 4-5 Well, a quarter of our two years Conscious of the need for a new 1999. In response to requests Wild Echos ...... 6-7 has gone by, and not much has initiative to expand our from zoos, however, we decided been done to promote our campaign to r each a wider that a full month of parrot Recent Research on campaign, apart fr om audience, we thought of having related activities would be mor e Amazon Parr ots ...... 8-10 distributing that issue of a global ‘World Parr ot Day’, productive for all involved, so PsittaScene to a wider media where our various national ‘WORLD PARROT MONTH’ it is. WPT Projects ...... 11 branches could hold parroty audience than usual. We asked John recently made a fascinating for a sponsor to help pay for events in city centres. All ver y News from Paradise Park well, but exactly how do you television programme about the ...... 12-13 printing our ‘educational leaflet’, release of some lemurs in and - not for the first time - one expand what is essentially a Madagascar, and is much Steve Martin ...... 14-15 of our most loyal and generous ‘special interest’ subject into concerned with the conservation members in Switzerland one which will interest almost everybody? of wildlife and habitats. He Psitta News ...... 16-18 answered the call. We have now helps a wide range of charities printed a first run of our new The involvement of a major in several areas, and wants to be WPT Info Page ...... 19 leaflet ‘How to have a happy, international celebrity would known simply as just one of the healthy parrot’, and a copy is Parrots in the Wild ...... 20 help, but who is there who supporters of WPT, not as our inserted in this issue. You will would have any connection with one and only champion. So this see that it is intended simply to parrots? The idea is absur d. video is a one-off oppor tunity, give very basic information to Almost as absurd and crazy as but with considerable potential somebody who knows virtually the famous ‘dead parrot sketch’ for expanding the scope of our nothing about parr ots, except done by the Monty Python team activities to a wider audience, that he or she wants to keep years ago. At this point we and educating the general public one. You obviously don’t need it found that John Cleese’s about why the parr ots deserve yourself, so may we ask you to stepson, Clinton Eichelberger, serious attention. take it to one or two local pet was one of our team working stores, ask if they would like a with the Echo Parakeet in We don’ t want to give away too supply for new parrot Mauritius! This happy much about our planned video, purchasers, and let us have their circumstance gave us the but as you might expect, it does addresses with the numbers opportunity to speak to John refer to the dead par rot sketch required? It wouldn’t take you Cleese, and he agreed to make a and the ‘Norwegian blue’. John much time, and could help give short video for the World Parrot Cleese also mentions the slogan a better quality of life to many Tr ust, to be used to launch our that has been on our letterhead parrots. ‘World Parrot Day’ on August 1st since our start in 1989: ‘If we can save the parr ots, we may yet save ourselves’. Per haps it is COVER PICTURE The World Par rot Trust does fortunate that we don’ t have to not necessarily endorse any The Scarlet Macaw Ara macao is a new species to receive support come up with a convincing views or statements made by from the World Parrot Tr ust. In pages 4 and 5 you will read that scientific justification for that contributors to PsittaScene. WPT has funded 12 new projects In Latin America and the slogan, but we can draw some It will of course consider Caribbean, and three of these are concerned with the Scarlet Macaw parallels between the thr eats to articles or letters from any in Mexico, Belize and Costa Rica. Thse locations demonstrate that the survival of the parrots - contributors on their merits. this macaw has an extended range, and that it is increasingly habitat destruction, trapping for threatened throughout its range. trade, shooting for the cooking pot - and thr eats to the survival

2 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 WORLD PARROT MONTH Highlighting the charismatic parrot family, in the wild and in our homes. In the month of August 1999 we will ... RECOGNISE the urgent need to protect and pr eserve par rots in the wild, especially the 90 species in danger of extinction. CELEBRATE the companionship that millions of pet par rots give to people in every country in the world. MOTIVATE ever yone who cares about the conservation of wildlife to see the parrots as logical ‘spokespersons for nature.’ The character and beauty of these bir ds can help save rainfor ests and other habitats for the whole of nature, of Homo sapiens - pollution, can help in achieving this aim. including ourselves. disease, global warming, Perhaps, in August 1999, we nuclear disaster, over- can all make a special ef fort to RAISE FUNDS for parrot conservation and welfare. population etc. In both cases take our wonderful combined we can clearly identify the parrot show on the road in a What will the World Parrot Trust be doing? threats and discuss them in a variety of imaginative ways, First, we will invite every organisation and publication rational manner, but also in and educate the public until interested in parr ots to join us in promoting WORLD PARROT both cases we find it very they can’t take any mor e! MONTH. difficult to take effective The World Parrot Trust has action to minimise the threats. Second, we will invite everyone who keeps parrots in already had encouraging captivity, studies or protects them in the wild, or just car es So if we apply our brains and offers of cooperation fr om about their wellbeing, to join us in publicising their needs. our resources to solving the major publications, zoo parrot pr oblem, we are likely organisations, and Third, we will contact the media and zoos ar ound the world to learn lessons that will help international conser vation and ask them, during this special month, to infor m and us ensure the continued bodies. The opportunity to tie educate their audiences about par rots. survival of our own species. in marketing activities with an Fourth, we will pr ovide a range of materials, which will event spearheaded by John include: Another vital factor is the Cleese is very attractive to A VIDEO MADE SPECIALLY FOR US BY JOHN CLEESE. This will presence of parrots in our many businesses. We will, homes. Millions of them, in however, be looking for great follow on fr om the famous ‘dead parrot sketch’, and will every country in the world. support from our WPT convey an important conservation message. We expect this to Wildlife conservationists ar e members, and anyone else be used by many news and other pr ograms worldwide, and to very skilful in alerting us to who wants to help educate promote further discussion and inter est. the threats faced by the lar ge folks in general - but OUR ‘PARROTS NEED HELP’ LOGO. This comes in several sizes, charismatic mammals, the so- especially new parrot owners - from a car window sticker to an individual adhesive badge. called ‘flagship species’: and raise funds for parr ot This logo car ries our website address, which provides gorillas, tigers, whales, conservation and welfar e. Let extensive information on the World Par rot Trust and its elephants, pandas and so on, us not lose sight of the main conser vation aims. but none of these share our aim of World Parrot Month, POSTERS AND LEAFLETS. These will come in a range of sizes, homes and our daily lives as which is to find new sources the parr ots uniquely do. Try intended for display in zoos, pet stor es, vets’ offices, schools of funding to enable The etc. telling them they’re not World Par rot Trust to help the flagship species! Common survival of more par rot sense suggests that the loud, species in the wild. What can you do? colourful, dynamic proximity CONTACT OUR UK OR USA OFFICES. We will supply posters, lapel of these semi-domesticated REGISTER YOUR NAME AND/OR ORGANISATION WITH US. birds puts them in a key badges and leaflets to those position to influence our who register with us. Ther e We can then keep in touch and plan how to make the most of attitudes to the survival of will have to be a small charge this unique opportunity to help the parr ots of the world, and their conspecifics in the wild. to cover the cost of producing at the same time help many other species, including our own. Whenever possible we should and mailing these items. In use our birds to tell our addition, we will have tee- UK: shirts and caps if requested. friends, neighbours and local Call Mike Reynolds (founder and Hon. Dir ector of WPT) media that if we save a habitat We would like to think that on Sunday August 1st ther e will 01736.753365. for the parrots, we also save it be thousands of ‘parrot Or call Sarah Graham (UK Administrator) on 01736.753365 or for countless other species parties’ breaking out all over email: uk@worldpar rottr ust.org including our own. the world, wher e the parr ots Or write: WPT-UK, Glanmor House, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 4HY, UK. Educating the general public will first be celebrated for on the threats to parr ots is at their undoubted contribution USA: the top of our list of World to our human society, and Call Sonia O’Donnell (USA Administrator) on 941.766.7262 or Parr ot Tr ust aims, first stated then generously supported email: [email protected] g in 1989. Every parrot keeper with donations for the work of Or write: WPT-USA, PO Box 49766, Sarasota FL 34230. has feather ed associates who The World Parrot Trust.

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 ■ 3 New Neotropical Proj e c t s for the World Parrot Trus t by MICHAEL REYNOLDS In r ecent months WPT has become involved in an exciting new development with conser vation organisations in the United States. This began when we got together with Mike Par r, Director of Pr ogram Development for the American Bird Conser vancy (ABC) based in Washington DC. Mike is also co-author, with Tony Juniper , of Parr ots - a Guide to the Par rots of the World which we r eviewed in our November 98 PsittaScene. At the suggestion of Kim Sams of the pr estigious Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund we teamed up with ABC to pr epare a joint application for par rot conser vation funds, and we will be pursuing this with Disney during 1999. In discussion with ABC, however , we learned about their ‘Small Grants Program’. This was announced on the Inter net, and invited field biologists and others to apply for funding of up to $5,000 for pr ojects in the neotropics, ie Latin America and the Caribbean. 33 applications wer e received, of which 17 r elated to parr ots. These applications were carefully and exhaustively reviewed by a team, including four ‘parrot experts’, under the chairmanship of W illiam Belton of ABC. Red-tailed Amazon Imperial Amazon Meanwhile a ver y useful fund the ratings among themselves use by Mealy Par rots in Amazon at the Superagui was building up. World Par rot (entirely by email), revised them Guatemala. Robin Bjork. National Park, Brazil. Suzana Trust USA pledged $10,000, to as the debate proceeded, and 3. Ecology and conser vation of M. Padua. come from the legacy received ended up with a list of 14 the Blue-winged Macaw in a 6. Red Bank Scarlet Macaw last year from the estate of the projects that will receive forest fragment in SE Brazil. Conservation and Avitourism. late Kyle Brown (see our r eport funding. 12 of these are for Maria Flavia Nunes and Mauro Edilber to Romero, Program for in PsittaScene for August 1998). parrots, and here is a brief Galetti. Belize. ABC contributed $12,000 and a description of them: grant fr om the Barbara Delano 4. Distribution and population 7. Scarlet Macaw conser vation Foundation, and a pr oposal to 1. The Ognorhynchus Project in size of Jamaica’s Amazon ecology and biology in the the United States Fish and Colombia. Paul Salaman. Par rots in the Cockpit Lacandona Forest, Chiapas, Wildlife Service brought the total 2. Effects of tr opical forest country. Herlitz A. Davis, Mexico. Gerar do C. Arroyo. to almost $60,000. Univ. West Indies. alteration on Psittacid 8. Par rots in Peril: rapid The team of r eviewers gave community dynamics and on 5. An envir onmental education conservation studies as the ratings to each project, debated spatial and temporal habitat pr ogram for the Red-tailed foundation for conser vation

Yellow-eared Conure (Ognor hynchus Project) Yellow-headed Amazon Above two photos taken by kind permission of R. Low & R.& V. Moat from Parrots in Aviculture Scarlet Macaw

4 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, Februar y 1999 Mealy Parrot Blue-winged or Illiger’s Macaw Yellow-billed Amazon Red-necked Amazon action for the threatened 2. The r eview system used Above four photos taken by kind permission of R. Low & R.& V. Moat from Parrots in Aviculture Amazon Par rots of Dominica. cr eates a consensus of expert The next closing date for Specifically, and because this Emily J. Ross. opinion, leading to a fair and making applications for the programme is restricted to the 9. Great Green Macaw honorar y logical distribution of the ‘Small Grants Program’ is 15th Americas, I would like cor dially warden pr ogram in Ecuador. available funds. September 1999, contact: to invite such important and Fundacion Pr o-Bosque. 3. Results fr om the projects will Michael Par r, American Bird r elevant bodies as the American 10. The Belize Zoo Yellow-headed be made available on the Conservancy, 1250 24th St., NW, Federation of Avicultur e, the Parrot Project. Heather Inter net and elsewhere (for Suite 400, Washington DC International Aviculturists Gartner. example, in PsittaScene) and 20037, USA or visit ABC’s Society, the American Zoological will thus help r esearchers website at www.abcbir ds.org. Association, and any other 11. Conservation of the Scarlet generally. Macaw in the Curu National Decisions on pr ojects to be zoological, conservation, or Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica. 4. A format has been established funded will be announced early avicultural or ganisation to get in Jose Millan Araujo. that may be used on a long in December 1999. touch with either Mike Parr or 12. Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot term basis to ensure a myself to discuss this golden Pr oject, Brazil. continuity of incr easing oppor tunity to work together to funding for neotr opical parrot An Invitation These projects will take place in conser vation. incr ease the total funding nine countries, and I would Everyone involved in this available for the next r ound. It submit to our WPT members, This appears to be the first time programme wishes to invite could be possible to ar rive at a every organisation with an and any other readers of this that a conservation body such fund of over $100,000 for the as the World Par rot Trust, inter est in parr ots to consider publication, that the whole Millennium. scheme represents quite a representing a primarily joining in the good work. breakthrough in the avicultural community, has Speaking just for WPT, I must conservation of the parr ots, for linked up with conser vation say how satisfying it is to know I would also invite WPT the following reasons: groups primarily committed to that our ver y limited funds have members who may like to be representing bird watching been combined with others to involved to contact us at WPT - 1. The ‘Small Grants Program’ interests. provides an oppor tunity for enable our tr ust to help the UK or WPT-USA. We could try to locally based scientists to The funds allocated for 1999 survival of twelve par rot species match our $10,000 for the year state their case for financial will be on their way to in nine countries, five of which 2000 with a similar sum fr om help from a group of potential recipients by the time this are ‘new’ countries for WPT our membership. What a funders. PsittaScene reaches you. funding. triumph that would be!

Buffon’s or Great Green Macaw Black-billed Amazon Blue-fronted Amazon

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 ■ 5 will leave them two chicks and monitor their weights daily to ensure they are putting on weight. The extra chicks are either taken to the aviaries at the GDEWS or transferr ed to Wild Echoes: Echo wild pairs whose nests have failed thr ough infertility. Daily monitoring of youngsters through the crucial first 10-20 days allows us to act decisively if the parents ar e unable to care Parakeet Field for them. Weighing is done quickly and carefully and the health of each chick is assessed while the female is being fed by the male away from the nest cavity so that the adults are not being hampered in any way. We Season 1998/99 have had great success this by LANCE WOOLAVER season with recor d weights in As we near the end of the Echo Parakeet field season her e in Mauritius, we can all look chicks of 198 and 201 grams back with a sense of satisfying accomplishment in being involved with the most despite it being a very poor productive season on r ecord! Under the professional leadership of New Zealander Grant fruiting due to dr ought. Care Harper, the season has gone exceedingly smoothly. A total of 8 chicks have fledged in the and respect for each individual wild to date with three more expected to fledge within the next few weeks. All ar e doing chick allows us to help the Echo well. Ten handraised chicks are planned for the r elease part of the program which begins at a species level by ensuring January 22. This season’s pr oduction of 21 fledglings is a significant addition to the 1997 that each season’ s production is minimum wild population of 73. high with the greatest number of fledglings in the wild. The By far the most exciting news fr om this season was the first nesting success of a released results are cer tainly there with female, Gabriella. Gabriella was one of the original trio of Parakeets (along with Pablo and 11 fledglings in the wild this Sanchez) released in July of 1997. Pablo is still fulfilling his function as Echo-Human year. ambassador and makes regular appearances for VIP visitors and film cr ews, although his hourly rate has increased substantially with his gr owing fame. Look for him on the Rolf New Nests Found Harris television show ‘Rolf’ s Amazing World of Animals’ on the BBC in May of 1999. Five new cavities wer e found The early part of the season very quickly lost when an Echo a good idea of all the present this season, two of which wer e (September and November) was was sighted or heard or any new breeding pairs (16 including used by established pairs who very physical. T rails needed to information on them was Gabriella) there are still some had pr eviously used other be recut to known nest sites and gained. The individuals on the areas where we hope new pairs cavities nearby. We now know of 3 hour watches wer e made at Echo team seemed to thrive on may be found. Apart from approximately 25 potential known nest cavities to this intense activity which was Gabriella and her male, we nesting cavities. It appears that deter mine what established often followed by time spent didn’t find any new pairs this Echo pairs likely know of several pairs wer e up to. This involved watching, learning and year but a 2 year old wild potential cavities within their days of hiking up and down the contemplating. fledged female was observed traditional nesting area and are gorges in the national park, A considerable amount of time examining a new cavity and we able to use alternate cavities if often in ver y wet weather with was spent and a lot of ground are hopeful that she will nest their prime cavity is occupied hungr y mosquitoes for was covered looking for new there next season. by a competitor. There are still company. Any discomfor t was pairs. Although we feel we have problems with competition for Management nest sites, primarily from White- tailed Tropicbirds, Mynahs, Techniques Ring-necked Parakeets, bees and Our main management termites. At the moment we ar e technique at the moment is one preparing cavities for next of downsizing nests. Due to season to discourage use by for est loss and degradation, the these competing species. Since availability of native foods is a Echoes will use a deep cavity limiting factor. Echoes lay from with a small entrance, it is fairly 1 to 3 eggs but have difficulty easy to exclude most feeding more than one chick. competitors although it still Echo chicks have starved in the requir es a fair amount of work past. We remove extra chicks and patience when you ar e from a nest when they ar e old hanging 10 to 40 feet up a rope. enough for travel (10 days) Each season we have mor e leaving the parents a single success and more firsts as each chick to feed. If a set of parents team builds on the hard work has shown themselves to be and efforts of those befor e Pablo, Sanchez and Gabriella. competent in past seasons we them. The help fr om Dale

6 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 grew well. She was tolerant of our daily checks and would wait until we wer e finished before going into the cavity to feed her chick. At 12 days old, both of Pippin’s eyes wer e open. On day 13, Pippin was fitted with colour rings for identification (black on the left, light gr een on the right) and alr eady weighed 65 grams. Gabriella continued to use the established supplementar y feeding stations in Brise Fer as well as her own personal feeding hopper we had placed in a tree near her cavity. By day 37, Pippin weighed a r espectable 159 grams and was r eady for a day of fame. On the 16th of December, Pippin was filmed for the BBC television show Rolf ’s Amazing World of Animals while Gabriella sat in a nearby tr ee keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings. In the late afternoon of Kirsty Jenkin with Echo chick. Gabriella at a feeding station. December 29, Pippin was seen Jackson of the World Parrot pride in their accomplishment. found a cavity of her own! Later per ched in a tree adjacent to the Trust was invaluable as he They soon began spending most that day, Echo leader Grant nest cavity with Gabriella. He proved himself an excellent field of their time exploring their Harper climbed up to the nest was 56 days old and finally worker and his experience with great new forested world, and found a single egg. As she fledged. Fledglings are ver y handling young birds was of returning to Plaine Lievr e for an was not afraid of Grant, there quiet and nothing was seen or great help to the team. evening feed and to roost for was a tense standoff between hear d of Pippin although the night. In late October the the two and Gabriella made it Gabriella was r egularly seen on Gabriella’s Story three released Echoes were quite clear to Grant with her her own in Brise Fer and at frequently seen spending time body language and strong eye Plaine Lievr e. Gabriella was bor n 12/10/96 to with a wild juvenile of their flashing that he had better captive parents at the Gerald same age, Zip. They wer e often behave himself. Two days ago, January 20, 1999, Durrell Endemic Wildlife observed feeding alongside Zip I was walking in Brise Fer and Sanctuary (GDEWS) in Black on wild fr uits, their favourite Unfortunately, the egg was saw an adult male Echo feeding River. She was r eleased in July being bois de lait, found to be infer tile. A plastic on flowers of bois de lait. I then of 1997 at Plaine Lievre near the Tabernaemontana mauritiana. It dummy egg was placed in the saw a younger bir d with him Conser vation Management Area took another few months befor e cavity while we planned our and knew it was Pippin. Pippin next move. One of the main of native forest at Brise Fer. She Zip reciprocated by learning to was also feeding on the flowers use the supplementary feeding goals of the Echo project is to and Gabriella was nearby. was released with two juvenile produce as many fledglings in males of the same age, Pablo hoppers we had provided for the release birds. It was Gabriella the wild as possible so it was Another Season and Sanchez. Gabriella was very important to us that always the most dominant of the that he was seen feeding with at This experience has given all of the hopper in Januar y of 1998. Gabriella be given a chance to three, even though she was raise a chick. us associated with the field and smaller and lighter than her release parts of the Echo pr oject companions. Finding a Mate incr eased confidence that our Being the first ever release Nearly a year later, while Rearing a Chick efforts will work. Next season group of Echo Parakeets their searching for new nests on the We were able to transfer a 6 day we hope that some of the 6 daily progress was closely 26th of October, 1998, Echo old, 29 gram chick named female Echoes r eleased last year, monitored. For the first two team member Dar yl Birch saw a Pippin, from another wild nest still around Brise Fer and Plaine months they spent most of their single Echo fly into a tr ee near which had two hatchlings. Much Lievr e and doing well, will time exploring the area around the Brise Fer management plot. to our relief, Pippin immediately follow Gabriella’s example. their release aviaries. As they He took a closer look and found began putting on weight. All of All of us her e in Mauritius became more confident with what looked like a nest cavity us were anxious to see whether involved with the Echo Parakeet their flying and orientation but didn’t see any more activity such a young female would be Pr oject would like to thank Mike skills they began to venture that evening. The next day Dar yl able to car e for a very Reynolds and the WPT and its further afield but still spent sat and watched the cavity for demanding Echo chick. Pippin members for their continued much of their time nearby. It three hours. He saw a female was weighed daily. The nesting suppor t of our work. We would was an immense thrill when I Echo leave to be fed for thr ee material was treated with also like to thank Kirsty Jenkin saw their inaugural flight over minutes by an adult male before carbaryl to protect Pippin from for her help with handraising the forest of Brise Fer in late going back into the cavity. The nestflies and mites. Gabriella Echoes again this year and Dale September. It caught me by female was Gabriella. She had handled herself like an Jackson for being par t of the surprise and I felt a feeling of paired with a wild male and had experienced Echo and Pippin Echo team.

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 ■ 7 Recent res e a r ch on Amazon Parrot s by ROSEMARY LOW (photographs by ROSEMARY LOW) It is just over one year since Volume 4 of Handbook of Birds of the World was Education Center (TEC) is published. It contains an authoritative tr eatise on the cur rent status of parr ots. Most of making an ef fort to save the entries for par rots, except Cockatoos, wer e made by Nigel Collar of BirdLife belizensis, in conjunction with International, a highly respected resear cher with countless worldwide contacts. the school and village of La Another recent and valuable addition to our sour ces of information is Parrots: a guide Democracia. The objective is to to the par rots of the world by Tony Juniper and Mike Parr. Amazon Parrots (genus provide a strategy which will Amazona) remain one of the most popular gr oups in aviculture so it might be an foster an atmospher e of appropriate time to r eview the cur rent status of the genus. environmental awareness and Taxonomy of this gr oup is still contentious, especially regarding the ochr ocephala promote active conser vation of complex, which is here treated as one species. I personally pr efer this treatment. Of the birds and their habitat. The the 29 species recognised in the Handbook seven are classified as vulnerable, five as World Par rot Trust and American endanger ed and one as critically endanger ed. In a recent review of neotr opical parr ots Bird Conser vancy are helping to made by Mike Parr of the American Bir d Conservancy, this assessment is upheld, with fund the parrot pr oject for the one addition. The ‘Yellow-headed’ Amazon (Amazona oratrix) is listed as endangered. I 1999 academic year (see our could not find the definitions of the categories within the book so will suppose that report on pages 4 and 5). Great these follow IUCN categories. These ar e as follows: strides have been made in educating the community so far. Critically A.o.belizensis such as fire during the dr y The Yellow-headed Parr ot season, the delicate ecosystem curriculum is multi-disciplinary Endangered Several sub-species of the of the pine forests is now in nature, combining aspects of Double Yellow-headed Amazon endangered. Vast areas have Faces an extremely high risk of science, language and social (Amazona ochrocephala oratrix been destroyed. studies. This approach provides extinction in the wild in the or A.oratrix oratrix, depending immediate future. The Puerto The other threat to this Amazon students with a variety of on your taxonomic viewpoint), is trapping by hunters. Its activities, materials and the Rican Amazon (A.vittata) is the are thr eatened with extinction. only species thus classified. reputation as a good talker has necessary tools for developing a These include belizensis from contributed to its status. It is well-rounded perspective of Belize in Central America. It the favourite pet parrot of the parr ot conservation and Endangered differs from most races in the people of Belize. The collection awar eness. Not Critically Endangered but fact that it nests in pine trees. In of chicks from nests was a big Belize the pine forests are being Students are invited to come to still faces a ver y high risk of seasonal business but the the zoo - more than 1,000 of extinction in the wild in the near lost at an alarming rate. This is gradual loss of habitat means of due to clearance by the citrus them in 1997, for example, plus futur e. This applies to the Red- course that the trade is in teachers and parents. They have spectacled (A.pretr ei), Green- industry, clearing for farming decline. and for housing projects. one-day sessions. In addition, cheeked, Red-tailed, Vinaceous nest-boxes are constructed and and Red-br owed (rhodocorytha). Combined with natural threats, The Belize Zoo and Tropical positioned - and are being used. The parrot is seen on a r egular Vulnerable basis in the area of the zoo but Faces a high risk of extinction in flock sizes are very small, the wild in the medium-ter m ranging from two to five bir ds. future. The project is so important for the parrot’s survival. It is the I think we should all note these children who take part who will ter ms because most of the eventually deter mine whether species which we describe as the biodiversity of today will endanger ed are, if we are technically correct, ‘only’ survive for future generations. VULNERABLE. So which Amazon Some members of the Par rots fall into this categor y? ochrocephala complex are well They ar e the Black-billed, repr esented in aviculture and Yellow-faced (xanthops), Yellow- two or three are bred in shouldered (barbadensis), St substantial numbers. This is not Lucia, St Vincent and, from true of belizensis which has Dominica, the Red-necked and never been common. In the Imperial. A.o.belizensis (less yellow on face) with an oratrix which is not fully mature. addition, it may be perceived as

8 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 Red-necked Amazon from Dominica Blue-crowned (Mealy) Amazons less desirable as it has less which weighed about 3% of the conser vation and reser ve design during the morning and evening yellow on the face than the bird’s body weight. The parrots’ throughout lowland tr opical activity periods. Calls and better known oratrix forms. I local and long-distance forests. sightings were cor related feel that belizensis should be the movements were tracked. After between adjacent stations to subject of a studbook in Europe their young fledged, all three Cayman Brac develop maximum and in order that br eeders can stay birds moved nor th about 60km minimum count estimates. The in contact. I suspect that (37 miles) outside the protected Parrot 1997 census showed no breeders are few. zone and into the multiple-use significant dif ference in region of the Maya Biosphere The Cayman Brac Amazon abundance fr om the two Blue-crowned or Reserve. It appears that the (Amazona leucocephala previous ones., ie 93-134 Mealy Amazons moved to this hesterna) is a vulnerable sub- par rots. species of the Cuban Amazon, Guatemalan Mealy area in r esponse to availability This Amazon is mainly of fruits. One of the bir ds later found only on the tiny island of Amazon Cayman Brac. This island is only dependent on old-gr owth dry flew about 100km (62 miles) evergreen woodland which south-west to a highly degraded 38 sq km (10 square miles) in The Mealy Amazon (Amazona extent. (It is one of the Cayman covers much of the Brac’s farinosa) has a very wide range site in the buffer zone. This elevated plateau. This habitat is over northern South America; movement cor responded to Islands, situated north-west of Jamaica.) Studies made from also important for a wide range one of the sub-species which point count obser vations of of flora and fauna, including an occurs in Central America is large numbers of these Amazons 1991 to 1994 indicated that approximately 400 par rots abundant neotr opical bir d influx guatemalae. While farinosa is flying in a south-westerly during the winter. Recent not of immediate conservation dir ection. In 1999, it is planned existed ther e, according to Burton and W iley (in prep). This incr ease in road construction interest, it is appropriate to to radio-tag a lar ger sample of and development are cause for study some species before this the Amazons. statement conflicts with the survey carried out by the concer n. Renewed deforestation is the case. A study of it in Tikal One of the aims of the study is pressures on the Brac’s National Park and the adjacent National Trust for the Cayman to examine the effects of Islands in February 1991, which woodlands may degrade this buffer zone of the Maya tropical forest alteration on diverse and rich habitat and Biosphere Reserve (Peten), resulted in an estimate of 93- parrot habitat use and 134 parrots. Certainly 400 further thr eaten the Cayman norther n Guatemala, has been reproductive success. Canopy Brac Parr ot’s precariously small under way since 1997. A three seems a surprisingly large frugivores, such as the Mealy, number for such a small, population. or four year project is have received little ecological envisaged. Field work human-inhabited ar ea. The This sub-species is almost resear ch, partly due to their population is said to have been unknown in captivity outside its commenced in February 1998. wide-ranging habits and the Canopy platforms were stable during the period 1991 to native island. It was bred in a difficulty of estimating 1997, after a lull from nest- collection in Florida but constructed at nine sites and abundance. Some of those monthly point counts fr om them robbing and hunting, habitat maintaining a captive species probably use large areas destruction and the intr oduction began in June. Habitat and occur in low densities, thus population with a genetic base preference and seasonal many protected areas will not be of exotic predators and of only two or thr ee birds patterns ar e emerging. Nests in large enough to provide for competitors. proved to be impossible so, lar ge natural cavities were long-term populations. The The population is censused at unlike the Cuban Amazon, for located and all the nest tr ees Maya Biosphere Reserve is one three year periods. The last example, there is no captive had an average diameter of of the largest pr otected areas in census occur red fr om February population to r ely on should a nearly 1m (3ft). Central America, yet it may not 7 to 14 1997; 62 fixed catastr ophe decimate the wild Of particular interest is the include the range of habitats observation stations were population. telemetry work. Three adult and specific localities used by occupied and these sampled Dr James Wiley of Grambling parrots with active nests wer e some parrot species thr oughout about 50% of the land ar ea, University, who has been radio-collared. They were fitted their annual cycle. The results including all major habitats. connected with the r esearch for with a collar-mounted, brass- of this study could have far- Stations were occupied for several years, suggested in encased adjustable transmitter reaching significance to parrot approximately thr ee hours 1991: ‘A carefully managed

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 ■ 9 Dear Rosemary The parrots were scarce and hard to find. The few that were there could be monitored daily as they moved slowly up and down the Bluff to forage on whatever was available. This was usually mangos or papayas growing in what the local people called their plantations. This consisted of limited ar eas where the red soil had accumulated between the sharp rocks. The south side of the Bluff is sparsely vegetated. The land that extends from the foot of the Bluff to the sea is very limited. In all the time we spent exploring caves we never saw a parrot there. We believe that this was in part due to the high winds constantly lashing this side of the island. Also, the edge of the top of the Bluff is very arid, supporting only cactus and agaves. It presents little in the way of sheltering shrubs or trees until one goes inland approximately 150 metres, where stunted trees and shrubs begin to gain a hold. Parr ots regularly descend from the Bluff to the wooded areas on the Male Cuban Amazon (left) with female Cayman Brac Amazon nor th side of the island where in places the land stretches 350m (1,150ft) from the Bluff to the sea. This is mostly in the region of Stake captive propagation pr ogramme the farmers who illegally kill Bay , about one third of the way from West End. Here the trees ar e lush seems appropriate in view of the and disturb the birds, in the and there are ample fr uiting trees for the parr ots to feed in. The small population size and belief that the parr ots are par rots usually return to the safety of the Bluff to roost. r estricted range.’ This was not damaging their crops. In the initiated, despite the fact that grant application the statement One January we discovered a group of about 50 birds which consisted captive birds on the island could is made that efforts are needed mainly of pairs with one to three offspring still being fed and in have been used for this purpose. to reduce the tension between juvenile plumage. The flock also contained single birds and pairs In 1986 Patricia Bradley farmers and par rots, and to without young. As we daily followed these birds we began to recognise estimated that there wer e more relocate nesting habitat for certain individuals by more or less colour. In time we could get very than 200 in captivity ther e. This parrots through ar tificial nest close to them. By ascending the Bluff at 4am by torchlight and was sur ely an over-estimate; cavity restoration in new car efully picking our way over the treacherous path, we usually many or even most of the watersheds on the island. It is intercepted them at the break of day. Sometimes we would settle captive birds are likely to have also stated that a total of 30 ourselves befor e daylight and wait - only to discover the parrots were been Grand Cayman Par rots nests of each species will be alr eady there. They began to call to one another - often right above our heads. There wer e as many as five of us sometimes, deployed (A.l.caymanensis). The main located through construction dif ferences between the two around the open area of the plantation. We all counted the birds we and use of parrot obser vation saw . The total numbers ranged between 44 to 50 parrots. This was the sub-species ar e the significantly towers at key locations. Thir ty smaller size of hester na, smaller case during all of Januar y and part of February, or until the group might seem like an optimistic began to break up in pr eparation for the breeding season. ar ea of pink on the head and number where the Imperial is larger area of vinaceous on the concerned. In six months we cover ed the entire Bluff, east to west and north to underpar ts. south, wherever there was any semblance of a path. The dangerous The Cayman Brac Par rot has the Also, in view of the fact that the terrain of sharp r ock and grass covered deep fissures. Records exist of smallest ar ea of distribution of Imperial has been the subject of ‘Bracers’ being seriously injured or killed in such natural traps. any Amazon Par rot, not heightened conservation inter est for 20 years (and 20 years ago At the east end of the island lies Spott Bay, one of the largest excepting the Imperial settlements. Here the Bluff rises to about 45m (150ft). It has only the (A.imperialis) from Dominica. the number of parrot conservation projects could be occasional tree, usually mango. This large ar ea is very windy. No This species was much in the parrots go there unless there are mangos in season (April and May). news between one and two counted on the fingers of one decades ago, especially after hand) it is surprising that a The West End is well populated with hotels and homes, and the airport. Hurricane David str uck study of this kind was not Only rar ely are parr ots seen there and then in Mr Scott’s many mango Dominica in 1979. Estimates as undertaken a decade ago. It is tr ees that surround the old family homestead. low as 50 Imperials for the true of course that due to the In other words, the parrots’ habitat on this small island is very limited, entir e population wer e made. mountainous ter rain, fieldwork with limited food source and very few nesting sites. This would The Natur e Conservancy, on on Dominica is difficult. But the preclude ther e being a population of 400 birds. In a small area a behalf of the Dominica Division magnificent Imperial Parrot, a single bird flying low from tr ee to tree could easily be counted twice. of For estry, recently applied for flagship species for the Unlike the Grand Cayman Par rot, they do not fly above the canopy but a grant for resear ch on the Caribbean region, surely make short flights from tr ee to tree. We found only three nest trees: Imperial and Dominica’ s other deserves priority. one in a huge mango at Stake Bay and the others in gumbo limbo Amazon, the Red-necked tr ees on top of the Bluff. Tr ees large enough to form nest cavities are (A.arausiaca). In so doing the Ramon Noegel has had a long ver y scarce. The flora is mostly scrub. We found no evidence that the current estimated populations interest in the Cayman Brac par rots used holes in the cliff for nesting. are described as 80-100 and 500 Parr ot. In 1975 he rented a individuals respectively. cottage on the island, in order During our last visit to Cayman Brac in 1991 we saw captive birds at Agricultur e (especially citrus to study the parrots. He has only thr ee places- no more than ten. We believe that this was the total and sugar) has resulted in returned on a number of of Cayman Brac Par rots in captivity. Everyone knows what everyone sever e habitat loss for these two occasions since then. Asked to else has along a nine mile road. species. Citr us plantations have comment on the population Yours also cr eated a perceived conflict estimate of 400 birds, he wrote Ramon Noegel between foraging par rots and to the author:

10 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 World Parrot Trust Proj e c t s Past, present and future by MICHAEL REYNOLDS When the World Parrot Trust was St. Vincent Amazon Golden Conur e Citr on-crested Cockatoo founded in 1989 - by Andrew Imperial Amazon Guaruba guarouba Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata Greenwood, David Woolcock, my Red-necked Amazon wife Audrey and myself - we St. Lucia Amazon realised that, to have any Red-tailed Amazon credibility, we would have to find Cuban Amazon ways of supporting the Red-spectacled Amazon conservation of parr ots in the Green-cheeked Amazon wild. Today, this seems an almost Moluccan Cockatoo absurd statement of the obvious, Red-vented Cockatoo but it wasn’t so obvious ten years Goffin’s Cockatoo ago. Some of the major bird Red-tailed Cockatoo protection or ganisations funded Palm Cockatoo We have long been concerned This project is already partly studies of ecosystems and Kakapo about this Brazilian species, funded by a generous donation habitats that were helpful to some Cape Parrot which has suffered from from a member in Switzerland, parr ot species, but direct, Black-cheeked Lovebird tremendous loss of its rainforest but more is needed during 1999. focussed investment in the Echo Parakeet habitat, and being a highly sought We received a proposal from Drs. parrots was a considerable rarity. after bird for trade. While at the Mar garet Kinnaird and Tim O’Brien, To the above list of 22 we can Tenerife convention last already working in Ceram for the Our friends and mentors at the now add a further eight species September I met up with Glenn Wildlife Conservation Society. A Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust from the group of Neotropical Reynolds (no relation) of group of 12 cockatoos is being (JWPT) brought to our attention par rots described on pages 4 and Springfield, Vir ginia, USA, and held by the Indonesian the desperate plight of the Echo 5 of this issue of PsittaScene as found we had a mutual interest in conservation authority PHPA, and Parakeet in Mauritius. Only 12 or being ‘new to WPT’. We should this species. We decided to set up these provide an oppor tunity to 15 birds were left, but Carl Jones also add some we had temporarily a WPT ‘Golden Conure Fund’, and fit them with radio collars and and his team were then beginning forgotten; these are Golden- members can consider this study their movements and a programme that has now raised plumed Parakeet, White-necked launched right here and now. behaviour on release. We expect numbers to almost 100. Together Parakeet, and Red-faced Parrot (all We have contacted Dr. Carlos to include a full r eport on this with the Parrot Society we helped studied by field biologist Jeremy Yamashita, Brazil’s leading parrot pr oject in the May 1999 PsittaScene. buy a vitally needed four wheel Flanagan in Ecuador, with funding biologist who has conducted The latest infor mation on all the previous research into the Golden white cockatoos is extremely drive vehicle, and both specialist from WPT), and the African Grey Conure and its needs, and is parr ot organisations have helped Parrot. Also to be added is the anxious to do more to help its wor rying, and the Citron-cr ested the Echo ever since. Cuban Conure Aratinga euops, pr eservation. Funds from WPT in particular appears to be moving funded for three years by would be very welcome, and the close to a ‘critical’ position. The way it seems to work for WPT Canadian WPT. is that first, we provide some sooner fresh studies can begin, A NEW TOTAL the better. We will publish a funds for a parr ot project, then So let us now add: detailed proposal from Dr. These two projects bring us to a we tell people what we are doing Scarlet Macaw Yamashita in the May 1999 grand total of 37 species helped and ask them to help build up our PsittaScene. by funding from WPT. You can funds. When funds come in we Blue-winged Macaw Yellow-eared Parr ot The Golden Conure Fund will be take it that the tr ustees and adopt a new parrot project, tell based in our WPT-USA office (see committee members of all WPT the world about it, and ask for Mealy Amazon Black-billed Amazon new address on page 19), and branches ar e pleased to have more financial help. In this way Glenn Reynolds (8338 Terra achieved so much with the we stack one brick on top of Yellow-billed Amazon invaluable suppor t of the Yellow-headed Amazon Grande Ave., Springfield VA another, and try to build a 22153, USA, fax: 703.644.6415, membership. The steady flow of thriving, expanding commitment Blue-fronted Amazon email: goldenconur efund@breeders membership fees is vital, but in on behalf of the whole ‘parrot Golden-plumed Parakeet blend.com) will be pleased to hear the last couple of years we have community’ to put some of their White-necked Parakeet from anyone who has a special been greatly helped by an money where it ought to be, out Red-faced Parrot interest in this species, or wishes incr easing number of unexpected there in the wild helping the African Grey Parrot to contribute in any way. We DONATIONS. For example, we parr ots to survive despite the Cuban Conure suggest that everyone who holds have today received a cheque for many depredations of man. this species should consider £1000 from members who have This brings us to 35 species sending $20 or £15 for each bird just sold their apartment in In our PsittaScene for August helped during the first ten years to our new fund. (We have five at London and wish to ‘share their 1998 we listed 22 species of of the World Parrot Trust. So if Paradise Park, UK, and have windfall with WPT’. This is so CITES Appendix 1 parrots that had anyone asks you what WPT is already sent $100 to get the fund generous and hear twarming, and been helped by funds from WPT. doing, you could tell them about started.) WPT-USA will match the helps us to ‘keep up the good These were: that, and suggest they join us so first single donation of $1000 to work’ as requested by many who this fund. The outstanding Spix’s Macaw they can add to our ability to save write to us. the parr ots from extinction. wildlife artist David Johnston has Lear’s Macaw agreed to provide a painting of In addition to making donations Hyacinth Macaw To close this report I would like to the Golden Conure, and tee-shirts when possible, our membership Blue-throated Macaw let you know about two additional will be available by May 1999. could also consider leaving a Buffon’s Macaw ‘new’ projects for WPT . The first is: The second species is: legacy to the WPT in their wills.

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 ■ 11 News from Paradise Park by MICHAEL REYNOLDS Chough, Cornwall’s national bir d. The Summary of the BSC’s Carlton TV programme condemned: adjudication was transmitted at peak time on Channel 3 TV and Paradise Park vindicated also published in The Times , at Readers may recall that in our Febr uary 1998 issue of PsittaScene I wrote a rather ill- the expense of Carlton tempered article entitled ‘Enough is enough’. In this I mentioned a television pr ogramme Television. The Summar y, or the ‘The Big Story’ that had libelled both Paradise Park and the World Par rot Trust. We full adjudication, is available to decided not to pursue libel action against Carlton Television (why make lawyers rich?), all from: Broadcasting Standar ds but instead made a complaint to the Br oadcasting Standards Commission. This was Commission, 7, The Sanctuary, successful, and there follows a press release we issued in January 1999. London SW1P 3JS. The Summary can also be found on the BSC website at www.bsc.org.uk. CARLTON TV PROGRAMME UNFAIR TO PARADISE PARK Although we have been fully The independent television watchdog, the Br oadcasting Standards Commission has deter mined that vindicated by this adjudication, Carlton Television broadcast a programme which was unfair to Paradise Park in Cor nwall, and the fact remains that many infringed the privacy of its owner Michael Reynolds. people had their confidence in us undermined, we r eceived a The ‘Big Story’, transmitted on 30th October 1997, alleged that Paradise Park sold an Illiger ’s Macaw few poison pen letters, and our without due care, but the Commissioners found major er rors by the pr ogramme makers. critics (as we all know, if you Paradise Park, established by the Reynolds family in 1973, is a r espected conservation centre with ever create anything worthwhile an outstanding record for breeding rare birds. As well as giving a home to the W orld Parrot Trust, it in life, you will also create is one of Cornwall’s major tourist attractions, and Michael Reynolds believes the pr ogramme has critics) had a field day. We also caused lasting harm to the Park and to the charity. ‘The programme was deeply flawed, especially in had to spend an unbelievable the use of hidden cameras and by the biased editing. My family and the Paradise Park staf f were amount of time and energy to extremely distr essed by what was shown - and what was left out - and I would like to thank the BSC pursue our determination to be for helping us through the investigation of our complaints. I am par ticularly angry that as a found ‘not guilty’ of the charges consequence of the programme memberships and donations to the W orld Parrot Trust may be made against us in this pathetic tenth-rate programme. Time that reduced.’ could have been better spent In the nine page adjudication and summary, the Commissioners found ‘Paradise Park’s track record working for the parrots. suggest that they wer e acting in good faith on the information they had been given in r elation to the While on this subject, you may sale of the parrot.’ and that ‘the use of Wildlife Direct as a bogus company to investigate Paradise like to know that one of our Park resulted in unfairness.’ national representatives has ‘The Commission does not consider that Paradise Park was given an adequate opportunity to been subjected to a bar rage of respond to the criticisms in the pr ogramme. This was unfair.’ ‘Secret filming and recording of emailed complaints about WPT. telephone conversations, in these circumstances, amounted to infringement of privacy.’ This was mostly tr ying to keep going with the complaint that Paradise Park is satisfied that the integrity of the programme has been thor oughly undermined, but we dispose of bir ds from is still tr ying to get the Illiger’s Macaw featured in the programme r eturned as he has not been Paradise Park carelessly (now paired with a female as pr omised. A letter has been written to Carlton Television to give them an disproved, see above), but also opportunity to of fset the damage done by making a donation to the World Parrot Trust, but their saying that we were not too Chairman, Mr Michael Gr een, r efused our request. efficient in dealing with membership applications on the An Afterthought Internet. I don’t think this is true, as we r outinely receive Perhaps he is shor t of funds after paying a £2M fine for transmitting a pr ogramme about dr ugs that new members via our website at contained faked scenes. If you feel that Mr Green should r e-consider our request for a donation, you www.worldparr ottrust.org but could write to him at: Carlton Television, 35-38 Por tman Square, London W1H 0NU, UK. even if we are less than At the same time you could ask him to arrange for our Illiger ’s Macaw to be returned to us. It is perfectly efficient, this is currently being held by an alleged ‘wildlife consultant’ in Ireland, and is incorrectly paired up with a because we put every possible Hahn’s Macaw, not a mate of his own species as pr omised to us. penny, or cent, towards parr ot conser vation, rather than salaries for staff.

12 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 One of our members, Mr. W. was inhabited by the Chough, a years, and has always suppor ted MacIntosh, has asked us to make most attractive red-legged and every aspect of its work. more of the fact that we run the red-billed member of the cr ow World Parr ot Trust with only two family. Although the Duchy of Our daughter Alison, who looks part time staff, one in the UK after the ‘inside’ responsibilities Cornwall’s ‘national bird’, the of Paradise Park while our son and one in the USA. Everyone Chough dwindled in numbers Nick looks after the ‘outside’, else works for free, or more and finally became extinct in than free, because we all, both Cornwall in the early 1970s. We surprised us just before Christmas by sneaking of f and in the UK and in our national maintained a small group of branches, meet much of our getting mar ried to her long time Choughs at Paradise Park, with companion Ray Hales. We were costs personally. I would the aim of eventually re- delighted by this happy suggest that anyone who feels introducing them to the cliffs our efficiency needs development, and since none of where they belong. We funded us car e for formal events, the improvement should send us a Dr. Richar d Meyer’s PhD thesis donation to be used exclusively lack of a flashy wedding was no aimed at identifying the loss at all. for administrative purposes. requir ements for a successful reintr oduction. Now we have To close this story that began Kea Bird News with an Illiger’s Macaw, let me enough knowledge, and have hark back to the Pet Bir d Report bred enough of these bir ds to ceased to be good enough for We have long enjoyed a close Convention last October in attempt a r elease programme our discerning visitors. The working relationship with Jersey Oakland California. Ther e I was during 1999. bir ds to live there will include Zoo and the Jersey W ildlife shown this charming picture of Red-tailed Black, Leadbeater’ s Preservation Trust (JWPT). This A new release aviary has been and Roseate Cockatoos, various an Illiger’s with her newly hatched built, 100ft long by 22ft wide by began in 1973 when the late chick. Howard and Jane McKee of Australian Parakeets, Gouldian Gerald Durrell generously 12 ft. high, and three pairs of Finches, Kookabur ras, and a San Diego, Califor nia very kindly Chough are making the most of agr eed to let us have a pair of sent us a copy of the pictur e, gr oup of young Keas. Our flock White-ear ed Pheasant, then just the airspace and the prevailing of Green-naped Lorikeets will be and report that Gracie hatched Southwest winds to build up bred for the first time at Jersey. and rear ed a clutch of five. on hand to give visitors the We went on to work with JWPT their flying strength. In early thrill of feeding them fr om summer we expect to organise a on Thick-billed Parrots and the When people criticise aviculture small cups of nectar, and the ‘soft release’ based on the St. Vincent Parrot, and our I try to explain to them the planting will all be based on curr ent breeding female is on nature of the challenges techniques employed in Australasian for ms. Whether or loan from them. involved, and the thrill of Mauritius for the Echo Parakeet, not our staff will be wearing and with all the birds carr ying succeeding in providing all the hats with dangling corks is still Jersey are the only people to conditions necessary to achieve radio transmitters. It will be under discussion. have St. Lucia Par rots outside of rewarding to attempt to give back a good breeding result. Down the island itself, sent to them by the ages, sound animal to Cornwall its emblematic bird, with its distinctive wild cry. the government as a r esult of husbandry has always been its News about people the work they have done to help own reward. This picture seems It came as quite a shock to lear n the species ther e. Their Curator to express the fulfillment of New Australasian that my wife, Audrey, had to of Bir ds David Jeggo and his both the birds and the br eeders. have cardiac bypass sur gery in team have been successful in Exhibit February. Fortunately this has breeding this stunning Something to crow It has taken quite a while, but gone very well, and she is now Caribbean parrot, and recently we are close to finishing the recovering at home. Our thanks sent us two males that ar e not about? building of a range of new to the many friends who have needed for their programme. By Paradise Park is at Hayle, near aviaries for Australian and New sent us their good wishes. early summer these birds will be the picturesque fishing town of Zealand birds. These r eplace a Audrey is a founder trustee of on view in a prime position in St. Ives in Cornwall. For large ‘walk-through’ aviar y that the World Parr ot Tr ust, has our beautiful Victorian walled millennia the coast of Cornwall was first built in 1974, and had worked tirelessly for it for ten garden.

Illiger’s Macaw and Chicks St. Lucia Parr ot

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 ■ 13 How Steve Martin and Tex a s helped WPT help 13 Parrot s by MICHAEL REYNOLDS There must be people out ther e who ar e greatly entertained by parr ot shows featuring experience wildlife like I did Moluccan Cockatoos riding bicycles along steel wir es. All I can say is that such a sight when I was young. Even though I makes me very sad. I know it’s clever of the trainer to achieve such a spectacle, but to grew up in the city, there was me it is an affront to the dignity of such a magnificent cr eatur e. wildlife all around me. I could see 20 or more species of bird in At Paradise Park in Cornwall UK, where WPT is based, we have never attempted anything my back yard alone. Today, of this kind, although we have for years pr esented shows with a variety of bir ds doing things that come naturally to them. By this I mean flying bir ds of prey to the lur e, having development has squeezed barn owls demonstrate that they hunt by using their phenomenal hearing, and having natur e out of so called ‘civilised’ parrots fly over the audience to collect a twig or a coin. areas. For many children, their distorted perception of animals So when I first saw one of Steve fellow trainers to the aim of Crow and Hawaiian Hawk comes fr om television or zoos Martin’s presentations at San educating the general public programmes. and does not promote true about conservation in all its Diego Wild Animal Park, I was An extract from Steve Martin’s appreciation or a valid pleased to discover that ther e forms. Since this show is seen understanding of their shar ed was an alter native to having by around 400,000 people every ‘Employee Welcome Letter’ will kinship with the living ear th. give you an idea of his par rots riding bikes, firing year, it must be one of the most effective initiatives anywhere to philosophy: We have the power to bring cannons, hauling up flags and nature to the people. Very few all that rather out-dated advance knowledge of the many “I have always felt very fortunate ‘business’. Steve’s company is and varied threats to our planet, to be able to work in this field. In people have the unique opportunity to be in a position to accurately named Natural and every life form it supports fact, it is difficult for me to including parrots and people. remember ever having a ‘real’ teach others about natur e. No Encounters Inc., and he puts on matter what kids learn in school, pr esentations at a considerable Throughout his work he makes job. It was a childhood dream for r ead in books, or see on TV, it number of zoos in the United it clear that he and his team are me to be able to work with animals when I grew up. I loved cannot compar e with the close States, for example, at Los working with wild animals that encounter with a living animal Angeles Zoo and Sea W orld, San can be encouraged to animals and everything about them. It was my fascination for that we can provide. W e have the Diego. For the new Disney Wild demonstrate and perhaps power to open people’s minds Animal Kingdom in Florida he expand their natural skills animals and my r espect for the and touch their sense of wonder. natural world that got me into has provided a team of 19 through ‘positive reinfor cement’. We can introduce humans to the trainers. At no time does he give any this business, and those things still inspire me today . intricacies of life and help people support to misguided understand their role in the Every year he ar ranges a special ‘anthropomorphism’, wher e show for the Texas State Fair Training animals is certainly balance of natur e. We have an animals are regar ded as ‘little better than working for a living, opportunity to reach millions of that occurs in Dallas each people’. September for 20 days. I’ve seen but there is more to our people each year and make a a tape of the show, and apart Steve is especially pr oud to be company, much more. The significant contribution towards fr om being original, fascinating behaviour consultant to the natural world is disappearing saving the natural world. With and funny, it demonstrates the California Condor Recovery before our ver y eyes. Most this opportunity comes commitment of Steve and his Project, and to the Hawaiian children lack the oppor tunity to r esponsibility. Nature has given

Steve Martin with his amazing singing Amazon ‘Groucho’. An African Pied Crow collects a dollar bill.

14 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 At the Texas State Fair the audience ducks as an Andean Condor sweeps over . Conservation Booth me so much in my lifetime; I feel Conservation is an area of our with the purchase of a four biologists, the World Par rot it is my responsibility to give company that I plan to develop wheel drive vehicle for Biobrasil, Trust, and the Committee for the something back. I hope you feel further. We will continue to raise an NGO based in Salvador, Bahia, Preservation of Lear’s Macaw will the same. money for our conservation Brazil. You can read a report on set out to co-or dinate their efforts (each year we donate their efforts to save Lear ’s effor ts to beat the trappers. The coming years will bring several thousand dollars to Macaw in the November 1998 More news on this in the May much growth and challenge to conservation projects), but I issue of PsittaScene. 1999 PsittaScene. Natural Encounters Inc. We will would like to see us do more. In continue to develop all areas of The donation fr om Natural The remaining $2000 of Steve’s our company are the best animal donation went towar ds the our company and branch out trainers and educators in the Encounters Inc. enabled us to into some new endeavours. Our world. I would like to find a way send $8000 for this, and $10000 total WPT-USA is giving bird shows will continue to for us to tap into our company together with other funds a to the new group of par rot expand and evolve in quality and resources and make better use of good used vehicle has been projects described in the ar ticle quantity. We will add new road our staff expertise to make a bought. It will be used to sear ch in this issue headed ‘New shows and school pr ogrammes more significant contribution to for mor e new populations of the Neotropical Parrot Pr ojects for as the staffing and bird macaw, and to help protect the WPT’. So this ver y welcome and saving species and educating generous donation is alr eady at collection allow. people. We need to exploit our ver y vulnerable known populations. work in countries helping the On the near horizon, I see incredible power of influence for the good of all species.” survival of twelve parrot branching out into some new You may be interested but species. areas of conservation education. horrified to know that we have We were fortunate that Steve Steve Martin is undoubtedly a With our exper tise in animal selected World Par rot Trust USA received reliable infor mation training and show production we to be featured at the 1998 Texas that 52 Lear’s Macaws wer e great supporter of the have the ability to engage, State Fair, as this resulted in stolen fr om the wild in the last conservation of parr ots, as well inspire and empower audiences some important publicity for two years. That may leave only as being an expert in their of all ages and all walks of life at our trust, quite a few new about 100 in the wild, so it is behaviour and training. His most any venue imaginable. I members, a lot of our tee-shirts timely that a meeting is to take exper tise is available in a range want to see us take our place in Sao Paulo on Mar ch of training videos. For details, sold, and a magnificent please write to: Natural conservation message outside donation of $10000. 12th at which IBAMA, the our comfort zone and send it Brazilian government Encounters Inc., 9014 Thompson loud and clear to all who will This arrived at the exact time we conservation agency, a number Nursery Road, Lake Wales FL listen. were looking for funds to help of Brazilian NGOs and par rot 33853, USA. Who won the Lory Book Competition? We received over 50 entries for this competition, a high number that group of parrots ever made by a single person. An exciting and colourful reflects the great interest in this outstanding book by Rosemary Low. book, it contains 175 colour photographs in its 432 pages. There are The winners of the two copies were drawn from 20 correct answers, and maps, diagrams and dozens of tables showing the weight development they were: of chicks. The Wild Family, Leamington Spa, Warks. UK Encyclopedia of the Lories is available And: Bo Gerre, Angered, Sweden. in the UK from Insignis Publications, P.O.Box 100, Mansfield, Notts NG2O 9NZ, The long-awaited Encyclopedia of the Lories by Rosemary Low was UK. Fax: +44 (0)1623 846430. The price is published last year. It is a mine of information - the largest study of one £46.50 post free in the UK and £51 post paid in Europe. Airmail postage outside Eur ope is extra.

Bird A: Duivenbode’s Lory Bir d B: Red or Moluccan Lory

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, Februar y 1999 ■ 15 A special thank you is due to Queensland. Rotterdam WPT Benelux will give Cynthia Webb, who has worked We will shortly be writing to three workshops about the aims so hard as USA Administrator zoos around the world inviting of WPT. Up till now we have a for four years. She has attended them to join in WORLD PARROT very positive score in selling many conventions and shows MONTH, and asking them to goods and making new members for us, and we hope she will display one of our boards on a for WPT. But it takes a lot of us, continue to do this for us as similar ‘sharing’ basis. We Ruud, Romain, Jacques and our may be convenient. Richard believe ‘WORLD PARROT MONTH’ families in time and preparation. and Cynthia have organised a is an excellent opportunity for We are looking into 1999 with a smooth handover of equipment, zoos to add a new element to positive and promising view, and stores, computer infor mation their marketing activities in a look for ward to World Par rot and responsibilities, and WPT- peak holiday month. Month in August. Our best wishes News about WPT USA is extremely grateful to to all in WPT. Ruud.’ them both. Branches WPT Benelux New Zealand Some changes to report her e I use the word ‘branches’ rather WPT Italy Keas loosely, because our suppor t also. Two long term members of We would like to thank the our board r esigned, Juim Fiege According to Josh Kemp, a groups take a number of European AAV organising zoology graduate based at the different forms. Some are fully and Stella Roomans. Both these committee for granting a free ladies have done great work for Otago University Zoology r egistered charities in their own booth to the World Parrot Tr ust Department, some Keas ar e right, such as WPT-USA and the tr ust, and the parr ots, and in the next European AAV we are most grateful to them. doing well in the wild. These ar e Canadian WPT, while others are conference which will be held in pairs whose breeding success is r egistered with their national Pisa, Italy, 17-22 May 1999. A new member, Jacques Gardien, related to the availability of supervisory bodies, and others has joined the boar d, which is unnatural food sources again are mor e simple financial We are particularly grateful to now as follows: (pr esumably camps and dumps) Dr Lorenzo Crosta who has been close to human habitation. The entities. instrumental in this decision. Ruud Vonk - President, Chairman of Education Committee pairs in his study ar ea tend to WPT-USA Freddie Virili Romain Bejstrup - Vice President, nest in forested sites. Thr ough Cristiana Senni hours of study he has observed Some substantial change has Treasurer WPT-Italia Gerben Althuis - Secr etary that fledglings make their way taken place her e, with Dr. from the forested sites to higher Richar d Porter resigning as Peter de Vries - Administrator WPT Australia of Members areas of forest and alpine Treasurer and Secretar y, and the terrain. In some cases young of fice being moved from Undoubtedly our most far-flung Han Assink - Boar d Member World Parr ot Tr ust board is this Jacques Gardien - Boar d Member birds spend up to two days Memphis Tennessee to Sarasota walking to the intersection Florida. The principal r easons one at Currumbin Sanctuary, Jan Hooimeijer - Board Member Roelant Jonker - Boar d Member where they spend the next thr ee for these changes ar e firstly, Queensland, Australia. Standing or four weeks lear ning to fly, that a dif ference of view by the board is Liz Romer, Ruud Vonk reports: and r eturn to the intersection to emerged about the method of conservation of ficer at the ‘Sad to say that our 31 years old be fed by their parents. development of the Trust in the Sanctuary. An impor tant Opel Blitz promotion bus didn’t conservation project at Kakas USA, and secondly, that it pass the MOT, repairs are far too As at June 30 1998 there were seemed logical to base the Currumbin is a breeding much for us and we tr y to sell programme for fig parrots, 53 North Island Kaka in captivity administrative suppor t of WPT- him. At short notice I had to (including the three in Stuttgart USA in Sarasota wher e I spend which are closely related to the create a new design for our Zoo in Germany). They consisted almost half of each year. endangered Coxen’s Fig Par rot promotion booth. The wife of and can provide valuable data to of 31 males, 19 females and five This leaves Charles Munn, Jacques Gardien, Janny Gardien, young birds. The good news is help in its recovery. We will has donated a fabulous that during the 1997/1998 Andrew Greenwood and myself hope to bring more information as Directors of WPT -USA, and we showscreen. Another WPT season some Kakas wer e on this in a later issue of member Wim de Schampelaer e permitted to br eed, thus five have appointed Sonia O’Donnell PsittaScene. as Administrator , and also did the sophisticated printing of were rear ed this year. [The Deputy Dir ector to help her In the meantime, all funds the 12 large info-boar ds. We can former DOC policy was to smash make the most of her extensive raised by our board at erect a black column 3m high eggs - Editor.] Twelve of the 13 marketing experience. The new Currumbin ar e shared equally with the WPT logo on top in Kaka released at Mount Br uce in addr ess is: WPT-USA, PO Box between the Coxen’s Fig Parrot floodlighting. This can be seen 1996 and 1997 are still in the 49766, Sarasota FL 34230. project and our own WPT from all over the exhibition hall. reserve. The captive population Phone: 941.766.7262. project for the Palm Cockatoo in We ar e attending shows and of South Island Kaka remains at Fax: 941.766.9581. the Cape York ar ea of trade fairs in six locations. At eight birds. There are no viable Email: usa@worldpar rottrust.or g. We are all immensely appr eciative of the help given by Richard over the past four years, not only personally to WPT but also, with Luanne and its other directors, from the International Aviculturists Society. We hope to continue to work ef fectively with IAS for the benefit of the parr ots, and wish them well in their futur e initiatives. WPT Board at Curr umbin, Queensland, Australia The new WPT Benelux exhibit.

16 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 breeding pairs. “virtually all modern advice on breeding facilities across the US. been receiving blood samples Antipodes Island Parakeet pet parrot behaviour and Not only does this allow young fr om around 100 chicks fr om (Cyanoramphus unicolor) upbringing is based on the bir ds to learn to use their wings nests that are being monitor ed There are 49 captive bir ds (33 premise that no responsible skilfully, but it allows them to by Neiva. Those samples, once males and 16 females). The ban owner will allow full flight...” socialise with other parr ots and the DNAs are extracted, ar e on breeding from them has now and “This is the general view in those of their own kinds, and being used to estimate the been removed. The genetic value the U.S.A. and first-rate encourages the weaning process genetic variability, sex ratio and of these birds has been publications pr omote it with an by naturally burning off calories r eproductive behavior of this compromised by the breeding almost religious fervour”. at a rapid rate. population. This data, together ban. (Some of them may now be For more than fifteen years as As for publications touting such with Neiva’s field work can be too old to breed.) an aviculturist, speaker, writer modern methods, the best ones used for conser vation purposes. and trainer of psittacines All the above information was have had many ar ticles and On several occasions, our published in the 1998 Annual throughout the US, I have opinions mentioning flight - focused upon the necessity of biology students have stayed in Report of the NZ Conservation Watchbird Magazine, The Pet the Pantanal, during their Management Group (CMaG). flight training in captive birds, Bird Repor t, World of Birds, and its health aspects, mental and vacations, helping Neiva and UK’s own Par rots Magazine, to learning how to monitor wild Letters to the behavioural effects. I can assure name a few. you that the keeping of fully bir d populations. Thus, we can Editor and par tially flighted pet parrots Most sincer ely, assure that the field laborator y Importation of Gr ey Parrots is alive and doing well in our E.B. Cravens (or school house as stated by Dear Rosemar y, country. There ar e literally Projeto Arara Azul Harold Armitage) that was being thousands of psittacines being built in Fazenda Alegria had to I work for the Italian branch of São Paulo, 21 January 1999 allowed their wingspans to do To the Editor be transferred to Caiman, WPT and I read your article what comes naturally! because some problems with the about the importation of wild- We were surprised by some owners of Fazenda Alegria made caught Greys into the EC. In the I even know of conures, comments by Harold Armitage June 1998 issue of the Magazine amazons, macaws, cockatoos, the previous project unviable. cockatiels, lories, quakers and about Neiva Guedes’s blue One of our graduate students is of the Parrot Society , the Editor macaw project published in announced that it was no longer ringnecks, just to name a few, curr ently based in this house in who are allowed outside to fly PsittaScene vol. 10 No 4, 1998 Caiman, monitoring chicks. permitted to impor t Grey Par rots pages (14-15). As our laborator y into the EC. I believe that he was beneath sky and trees with owner supervision. I know of at the Department of Biology, Preliminar y results of the DNA referring to EC regulation University of São Paulo, Brasil studies on the wild population 2551/97 which limits cockatoos br eeding in the treetops each spring, conur es has several collaborative studies of the Hyacinth Macaw from importation of wild-caught with Neiva, we feel it is Pantanal have been presented at birds, allowing them fr om a who come to owners’ arms on command, lories let out daily to necessary to clarify some National (Brazilian) Genetics, reduced number of countries. I misleading information Ornithology and Zoo Congr esses have a copy of the regulation prance around in the gar dens, even a pet hyacinthine macaw presented in this ar ticle. First of as well at the 22nd Inter national and although imports of Greys Ornithological Congress, Durban are no longer allowed from most who goes to the beach with his all, it is ver y hard for us to of the countries of origin, it owner, then flies the quarter understand why someone tries 16-22 August, 1998 and the does not state ‘from all mile home when he wishes! to defame the image of a field abstract was published in countries of origin’ as it does for Of course, pet owners must biologist who, for the last ten Ostrich 69: 441, August 1998. some other species. I have tried realise that flight outdoors is years, has been studying the The final r esults are being without success to find out what fraught with danger and for biology of the blue macaw and prepar ed for publication. the situation is. experts only, but limited flight has been doing such a har d As your journal aims to pr omote Cristiana Senni, Italy. indoors can be a joy for both work nearly alone in the field in excellence in parr ot you and your pets, and an order to preserve this Dear Cristiana, conservation and has certainly important cardiovascular health threatened species. no r eason for discrediting a The October 1998 issue of the benefit besides. Her work has already r esulted in conservationist r esearcher, it is CITES BULLETIN gives the What is more important, the reduction of poaching, and our suggestion and desir e, and (annual) export quotas for 1998 breeders and pet stor es are for species listed in CITES in the involvement of the local especially in consideration for beginning to get the point that it population in habitat your respectable r eaders and the Appendices. Those relating to is ESSENTIAL that hand-raised Grey Parr ots are as follows: conser vation and information on serious work developed by captive-bred parr ots be taught poaching activities. Local Neiva Maria R. Guedes, that Botswana 12,000 to fly and land in control BEF0RE schools are involved, using her some meritable member of your Ivory Coast 2,000 (Timneh) any initial wing trimming is project as an example for society should make the ef fort Guinea 450 (Timneh) initiated. To this effect, our Sierra Leone 1,000 (T imneh) environmental education. Her to get more information on the progressive wingclip method work has provided information Projeto Arara Azul from the I contacted the World specifies that one or two flight on the limiting factors involved Pantanal and write an ar ticle Conservation Monitoring Unit feathers on each wing be in the reproduction and survival trimmed at a time. Then when about the real situation of and they told me that they of this threatened species and Neiva’s pr oject. believed there are no the parrot has lear ned to flap harder to perform manoeuvr es the measures necessary for its Sincer ely yours, regulations to prevent the recover y are being implemented. importation of Gr eys into and landings, another is Anita Wajntal, PhD and Cristina Europe from these countries. trimmed (about 7 days later). We are sure that it is impossible Yumi Miyaki, PhD Editor Such technique makes the bir d for a single person to monitor stronger and does not curtail all the nests that exist in Associate Pr ofessors, Free Flying Par rots wingflapping exercise, even Pantanal and it is possible that Department of Biology Dear Editor when final clip is achieved and any tourist guide can show Bioscience Institute, University of São Paulo, Brazil In the August issue of the parrot is limited in range. some nests that are not being PsittaScene, a letter by Kristin Chick fledging cages and rooms monitor ed by Neiva. However, We hope to publish such an Shay of London remarked: are becoming the norm in many we want to state that we have article in due course. Editor

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 ■ 17 ‘Happy Parrot ’ Le a f l e t In this issue of ‘PsittaScene’ you will find a copy of our new parrot welfare leaflet ‘How to have a Happy Healthy Parrot’. This is intended to give very basic information for new parrot owners, in most cases, those buying a single pet bird from a pet shop or store. We will do our best to place these leaflets in the large multiple stores, but our members are invited to offer them to their local stores, vet’s offices, and any other location where they may help parrots. These leaflets cost us £3 or $5 per hundred, or 3p (5c) each, plus the cost of mailing. So if WPT members wish to distribute them, we would appreciate reimbursement of the cost at £4 or $6 per hundred leaflets. Do n a t i o n La b e l This new ‘Donation Label’ is intended to offer an opportunity for manufacturers or retailers of parr ot- r elated products to demonstrate their commitment to supporting parrot conservation through the World Parrot Trust. We sell a pack of 50 labels for £50, or US$100, or CAN$150. (£1, $2 or $3 each), direct to the manufacturer or retailer, who then attaches a label to his parr ot cage, toy, incubator, food pack etc. This label shows the customer that the vendor - whose name is stamped on the label - is supporting the aims and work of WPT. This will surely encourage the customer to buy the product. On the reverse of the label, which the customer will take away, is an offer to enrol them as a new member of WPT at a special discounted price. So the label is working in two separate ways to raise funds and increase membership for WPT. Will it work? Who can tell at this stage. We will mail samples to advertisers in parr ot publications, and invite them to try our labels and see if they increase business. Readers may like to bring our new label to the notice of their suppliers. Please refer any enquiries to our UK office.

18 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 Working for Parrot Co n s e r vation and Wel f a r e Wor l d w i d e The World Parrot Trust was founded in 1989 as UK Registered Charity Parrots’, and to win over the majority of aviculturists and scientists to No. 800944. International expansion has been rapid and the Trust now its point of view. The task is huge Ð our resources are limited. We need has linked charities and support groups in Africa, Australia, Belgium, the commitment of everyone in the ‘parrot community’: those who keep, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, Switzerland br eed, study and protect the parr ots. Beyond those special interests, we and the USA. look for support from everyone who understands the crisis facing the world through the loss of biodiversity. We aim to continue using the Funds raised for the parrots have now reached £800,000 ($1.3M) and special char m of the parrots to win the hearts and minds of thoughtful have been used to initiate and support conservation and welfare projects in 20 countries for 37 species of parrot. Despite this wide- people everywhere. ranging activity, the Trust is run on a volunteer basis, with only two part Michael Reynolds time administrators worldwide. This uniquely cost-effective approach is Founder and Hon. Director made possible by substantial financial and logistical support donated by World Parrot Trust Paradise Park, the UK home base of the World Parrot Tr ust. The objective of the Trust is to promote the survival of all parrot species Mike Reynolds meets ‘Pablo’, and the welfare of individual birds. It pursues these aims by funding a hand-reared Echo Parakeet field conservation work, research projects and educational programmes. released to join critically The Trust seeks to promote the concept of ‘responsible aviculture’ where endangered wild Echoes in the interests of the parrots themselves are given priority over Mauritius. commercial, political, car eer or other human concerns. The World Parrot Trust and its members wish to be recognised as the ‘True Friends of the Join us Aims of the Trust If not alr eady a member, please join. Receive our PsittaScene The sur vival of parrot species in the wild, and the welfare of captive bir ds. newsletter, know that you ar e actively contributing towards our These aims are pursued by: aims and projects. Educating the public on the threats to parrots. Opposing trade in wild-caught parrots. Help fund our Projects Preserving and restoring parrot habitat. Studying the status of parrot populations. We are cur rently suppor ting parrot conservation, education and Encouraging the production of aviary-bred birds. welfare projects in 20 countries. Y our generosity towards the Creating links between aviculture and conservation. parrots could help us expand cur rent schemes and star t new Promoting high standards in the keeping of parrots. ones. Supporting resear ch into veterinary care of parrots.

WPT NATIONAL CONTACTS Switzerland YES, I WANT TO HELP SAVE THE Lars Lepperhoff, Lutschenstrasse 15, 3063 Ittigen United Kingdom Tel: (41) 31 922 3902 Sarah Graham, Administrator, PARROTS OF THE WORLD Glanmor House, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 4HY Germany Tel: (44) 01736 753365 Fax: (44) 01736 756438 Jür gen Oertel, Einsiedel, Pappelweg 6, email: [email protected] D-09123 Chemnitz SUBSCRIPTION RATES (please tick) Name...... Mike Reynolds email: [email protected] Italy Address...... USA Freddie Virili, via Matarus 10, 33045 Nimis, Udine. Sonia O’Donnell, PO Box 49766, Sarasota FL 34230 Cristiana Senni, email: [email protected] UK and Europe (Single) £15 ...... Tel: 941 766 7262 Fax: 941 766 9581 Email: usa@worldparrottr ust.org Australia ...... Mike Owen, 7 Monteray St., Mooloolaba, UK and Europe (Family) £20 Benelux Queensland 4557. Peter de Vries (Membership Sec.), Jagershof 91, Tel: (61) 7 54780454 email: [email protected] ...... 7064 DG Silvolde, Netherlands ...... Tel: (31) 315327418 email: [email protected] Africa Fellow (Life Member) £250/US$400 Zip/Postcode Belgium enquiries: Romain Bejstrup (32) 32526773 V. Dennison, PO Box 1758, Link Hills, Corporate (Annual) Please charge my Mastercard/Visa No. Netherlands enquiries: Ruud Vonk (31) 168472715 Natal 3652, S. Africa Canada Tel: (27) 31 763 4054 Fax: (27) 31 763 3811 Mike Pearson, PO Box 29, Mount Hope, All overseas Airmail £17/US$25 Spain Exp. date ...... Amount £/US$...... Ontario L0R 1W0 Andrés Marin and Ana Matesanz, (or equivalent curr ency, payment Tel: (1) 905 385 9500 Fax: (1) 905 385 7374 C/La Majadita no 16 Guinate, Maquez, Signature ...... email: cwpar [email protected] 35541 Las Palmas, Spain by Visa/Mastercard preferred) Tel: (34) 928 835745 email: [email protected] OR: Denmark (Scandinavia) Michael Iversen, Hyldevang 4 Ð Bur esoe, WPT Web Sites: 3550 Slangerup Plus donation of £/US$ ...... I enclose a cheque made payable to the WPT Central: http://www.worldparrottrust.org email: [email protected] USA: http://www.funnyfarmexotics.com/WPT France Canada: http://www.worldchat.com/par rot/cwparrot.htm J. & G. Prin, 35 Rue de la Fassier e, 45140, Ingre. Italy: http://www .mediavillage.it/wpt Or join us on our website: www.worldparrottrust.org Tel: (33) 2 38 43 62 87 Fax: (33) 2 38 65 90 60 Denmark: http://www.image.dk/fpewpt

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 1, February 1999 ■ 19 Parrots in the Wild Br own-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus) feeding on the figs of Ficus sycomorus. This photograph was taken by Lars Lepperhof in the Kruger National Park in the north-east of South Africa. In this 20,000 square kilometre reserve more than 500 species of bird are found. Established in 1926, it is one of the oldest national parks

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