Cucurbitaceae Enrichment for Our Parrots Study of the Presence Of
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Parrots and climate change Cucurbitaceae enrichment for Study of the presence of our parrots pheomelanin in parakeet Page 4 Page 23 feathers VOL 32 Page 24 NO 8-11 CONTENTS 3 VoLume 32 / Number 8-11 Editorial 4 Parrots and climate change 6 MY BREEDING WITH THE AFRICAN DAMARALAND PARROT The Brown parrot, as they are called in Africa, are widely spread in six sub-species over a big part of Africa, from Southern Chad, Sudan and Ethiopia, to the more southern countries like Angola, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. 12 Survey confirms upward trend of the Blue- » p.6 throated Macaw in Bolivia Getting birds to reproduce in controlled spaces is a process that requires dedication, a lot of attention, resources and, above all, knowledge. Only in this way can good results be obtained. In the past, scientists had to resort to museum skins collections to obtain samples or to observe biological parameters in dissected animals. 14 Bleeding Heart Pigeons Gallicolumba is a mid-sized genus of ground-dwelling doves (family Columbidae) which occur in rainforests on the Philippines, Indonesia Islands and in the Pacific region. They are not closely related to the American ground doves (genus Columbina and related genera). Rather, the present genus is closest to the thick-billed ground pigeon. » p.22 22 Calabash for parrots 23 Cucurbitaceae enrichment for our parrots 24 Study of the presence of pheomelanin in par- akeet feathers The colors in a bird’s feathers are formed in two different ways: pigments and light refraction caused by the structure of the feather. Each bird species can be recognized by its own typical plumage, and is actually a result of millions of years of evolution. 28 birdshop - September - October » p.24 2 Avizandum Birdkeeping Magazine November 2020 www.avizandum.co.za EDITORIAL CONTENTS VOLUME 32 NUMBER 8-11 s can be seen by our cover, Profile is back, whilst in this edition for the breeding season. the Avizandum Magazine he is not South African, but breeds The avian Veterinarians are has taken on a new look. our African parrots. Thank you also back in circulation, make AAvizandum has been in Rinus for your contribution. Should sure to contact your closest Bird existence since 1989. At the end you wish to market yourself and club to find out when the Vets of 2019 the magazine changed your collection, or just share your are going to be in the area. hands for the first time ever. The trials and tribulations, feel free to The popular Bird Shop is featured new team has been honing its fill in the online questionnaire so in this magazine, make sure to skills and learning the ropes, as we can do a Profile of you in our keep your copy safe for future always it will be hard to fill the next publication. This is not just reference, or contacting a seller shoes of the Dennison family, but for the big successful breeders, in a few years’ time. Look out for we will always strive to uphold all and sundry are welcome, the price comparison from the Bird the standards they have set. as we can all learn from you. shop of the 80`s and now, makes Whilst we have been bird Our feature on the Bleeding for some interesting reading. How breeders for many years, being Heart Pigeon, shows what can be different are the prices really? editors and scribes was never lost if we do not protect a species` Thank you for supporting the part of the vision. It has taken habitat and do not have successful Avizandum, we hope you enjoy us a year to get to this stage of captive breeding programs reading this issue as much as the learning process and finally, providing goal specimens. what we have enjoyed compiling it. due to constant requests and South African spring has sprung, support, Avizandum will again and the birds are actively nesting. Team Avizandum. be published in a print media. COVID-19, has placed additional We are proud to announce that constrains on the transporting this issue is the first of many, yes of our avian species, but some there will be trials and tribulations, entrepreneurs have but to have the Avizandum made use of the available on the shelves of our opportunity to start up favourite pet shop and book stores transport services to is a dream come true. Whilst cater for the breeders only a few copies will be printed, of all avian species. make sure to subscribe to future These couriers are copies to ensure you get yours. well marketed within Remember advertisers in the the respective avian Avizandum help cover the printing WhatsApp groups. and postage costs, should you With livestock want to make use of this great being moved advertising space that is offered by around the country Avizandum, please contact us at there has been [email protected]. The new life breathed more adverts we sell the better into the online priced the Avizandum becomes. and WhatsApp Met elke terugslag, kom daar ook auctions, and n geleentheid, soos met die skade they are gaining aan ons rekenaar hardeskyf en die momentum daily. verlies van ons Tydskrif “Template” With exporters het ons ook n nuwe formaat vir opening the way die tydskrif. Ons vertrou dit sal for marketing our aanklank vind by ons lesers. offspring, we as Avizandum will print articles in breeders only both English and Afrikaans, when need to ensure available or once translated, to that we can ensure all readers preferences are meet demand. met. The once popular Breeders Goodluck www.avizandum.co.za Avizandum Birdkeeping Magazine November 2020 3 LORO PARQUE FOUNDATION PARROTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE Rafael Zamora Padrón, Scientific Director, Loro Parque Fundación n the Canary Islands, changes in temperature and humidity are not usually abrupt, and the mild climate allows parrots to adapt gradually to Ichanges. September is especially an important month for many of the parrot species that are maintained at our facilities. It coincides with the slight reduction in daylight hours, a step before autumn. Animals perceive these subtle changes and for most it means a period of rest as regards the reproductive phase. All species that are native to the southern hemisphere, however, are preparing for breeding if they have not already started. This is the case with Australian black cockatoos, which are many that are stimulated at this time. In fact, for them, that the taken advantage of the stone as a platform offering temperature drops or rainy days come, is another to bite into its environmental enrichment. It must be incentive. said that both species are a great challenge in terms of management, especially because of their great For the chicks of the first months of the year, in these ability to quickly break down the wood and any natural months they must change part of their plumage and branches offered. In it they look for calcium and exercise. Their flights in the early hours of the day elements that complete their diet. In fact both species and late in the afternoon, suppose their social training eat pine bark in nature. For this reason it is important and skills development. And it is here when our to give them options to work with their beak. conservation team begins to observe the aptitudes of each specimen. It is impressive to see how parrots appreciate such type of materials. Recommendable for all species In Loro Parque the pairs of the different species are but especially for patagonian conure, slender billed also active and many require stimuli that are included parakeet, golden shouldered parrot, red-crowned in their environmental enrichment. parakeet and northen rosella. With all of these species we have seen an inmediate interaction. Sometimes, One of the elements that our conservation team uses not because they peck at it, also because they use is pumice, which is of volcanic origin and is usually it to perch on top. Something useful in suspended found in Tenerife, where one of the largest eruptions of cages, where a chunk of this rock can be used as a this material on the planet is located. We could call it deposit for grit. volcanic foam, since it is a stone that despite reaching large volumes, its internal formation is air bubbles. At this moment are still parents with their second or Our curator Marcia Weinzettl observe that this material third clutch and it is necessary to supplement their is hard but at the same time, soft and porous, it can food in abundance so that their chicks can become float on water. Its color depends on the proportions of independent quickly. The parents will go soon into minerals it contains such as calcium, sodium, silica their well-deserved fall break to prepare for their next and potassium among others. As a lightweight material season. it is useful for many species. Chicks that have been born in recent weeks: For the Maroon fronted Parrot, Rhynchopsitta 2 Lorius h.devittatus terrisi, species that nests on rocky cliffs, we have 2 Aratinga weddellii taken advantage of the pumice stone as a nest 2 Glossopsitta porphyrocephala offer. And for the Thick-billed Parrot, Rhynchopsitta 2 Pyrrhura perlata pachyrhyncha, species that nests in trees, we have 1 Diopsittaca nobilis 4 Avizandum Birdkeeping Magazine November 2020 www.avizandum.co.za LORO PARQUE FOUNDATION www.avizandum.co.za Avizandum Birdkeeping Magazine November 2020 5 PROFILE MY BREEDING WITH THE AFRICAN DAMARALAND PARROT POICEPHALUS MEYERI DAMARENSIS Article by Rinus van den Broek. he brown parrot, as they are called in Africa, POICEPHALUS MEYERI SUB-SPECIES are widely spread in six sub-species over a big part of Africa, from Southern Chad, Sudan and The meyeri is the smallest measuring 21 centimeters TEthiopia, to the more southern countries like Angola, and the Reichenowi is the biggest sub-species Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.