Photo by Crissy Carlile Pairing Eclectus for Breeding Carolyn Swicegood, Hollywood, Florida clectus parrots (Eclectus roro­ selecting birds for breeding so the help of tus) are prolific breeders 0 be someone who is knowledgeable about E careful what you wish for when the identifying characteristic of each setting up pairs for breeding. Thi par­ subspecies is invaluable. Some Eclectus rot species breeds year round in captiv­ experts have predicted that in the near ity and most pairs do not voluntarily future, pure subspecies specimen will take the rest breaks nece sary for con­ exist only in the wild, and the habitat of So 111 171)' and Hayley, SOI01110/1 Island pair owned by Chrissy Carlile tinued good health. One or two wild Eclectu is disappearing as quickly Eclectus pairs can keep an owner bu y as the pecial characteristic of the indi­ recognizing the subtle clue. Because of year round raising chicks. vidual Eclectus subspecies in captivity. thi difficulty, Eclectus pairs are some­ There are several Eclectus sub­ It is e pecial1y difficult for the times matched on the basis of an educated species from which to choose and care novice to determine ubspecies identity guess at the male's subspecies identity. By must be taken to pair bird of the same of Eclectus Inales. In fact, subspecies the time a mismatched pair matures and subspecies. Crossbred Eclectus parrots, identification of the male Eclectus i produces female offspring (by which sub­ often referred to as hybrid , are so preva­ sOlnetimes a challenge for experienced species pmity can be judged), the pair is lent in aviculture that one cannot easily Eclectus breeders. The differences likely to have been together for severa] find a proven pair of same subspecies between Eclectus males are subtle and year . S01ne owners are reluctant to break birds for sale. A first-time Eclectu buyer one must observe numerous males of the the pair bond, and unable or unwilling to can make numerou costly mistakes in variou subspecies to become adept at obtain new mates of the appropriate sub­ species for each bird. Choosing a Subspecies The difficulty of locating pure subspecies birds is sometimes the factor that determines a new breeder's choice. The la t shiplnents of wild Eclectus par­ rots imported into the United States were Solomon Island Eclectus, so it is believed to be easier to acquire pure birds of this subspecies. Another factor that attracts breeders to the Solomon Island subspecies is that the smaller sub­ species are capable of reproducing at an earlier age. Solomon Island can repro­ duce as early as eighteen months to two years of age. The larger subspecies such as the Vosmaeri Eclectu can take two to three years longer to mature. Aviculturi ts in the United State who breed Eclectus parrots on a large scale often choose to breed all four of the comn10nly available subspecies. Breeders who maintain only a few Eclectus pairs might choose to specialize and breed only one subspecies. This is advantageous to the breeder because any unrelated birds can be paired when one member of a pair A beautiful pair of E. r. \ osmaeri subspecies of the Eclectus Parrot. is lost or the bond is broken within a pair. 32 S~cond Quarter 2003 Photo by Darla Mirabal The subspecies most common in Australian aviculture is the Red-sided Eclectus (E. r. polyehloros). Although the Macgillivray (E. r. maegillivrayi) is nati ve to Australia, there are re triction that limit their numbers in captivity. Eclectus Subspecies Available in the U.S. Commonly available in the U.S. • E. r. roratus (Grand Eclectus) • E. r. vosmaeri (Vosmaeri Eclectus) • E. r. s%mensis (Solomon I land Eclectus) • E. r. polyeh/oro (Red- ided Eclectus) Other Eclectus subspecies: • E. r. aruensis (Aru Eclectus) A little fencing sometimes indicates a pair isforming and working Ollt the details. Ajier these Available little jousts the pairs often settle down one notch closer to bonding. • E. r. maegillivrayi (Macgillivray Ec1ectus) Available in Australia the purchase of single bird to place pairs by carefully purchasing unrelated • E. I~ biaki (Biak from Biak Island) together as potentia] breeding pairs. male and females to pair for breeding. Very few in U.S. Inexperienced buyer would do well to • E. r. cornelia (CorneJia Eclectus) Acquiring Individual Birds enlist the help of an experienced Eclectus Very rare The new Eclectus breeder is more breeder to check out potential breeding • E. r. riedeLi (Riedeli Eclectus) likely to acquire problem-free breeding stock. One cannot count on luck for thi Ex tremel y rare important step in setting up an Eclectus • E. I: westermani (Westermani Photo by Carolyn Swicegood breeding program. Without healthy. Eclectus) Unavailable unrelated stock of pure subspecies, the resulting problems can be endle '. Buyer Caution Reputable Eclectus breeders occa­ Pairing Males and Females sionally go out of business and their prob­ Once the acquisition of individual lem-free breeding pairs become available, males and females has been accom­ but these pairs most often go to fliends or plished, the next hurdle is the succe s­ fellow breeders who know the birds' his­ ful pairing of the bird. One method is tory. Proven breeding pairs without prob­ to acquire young birds and raise them lelTIS are not often advertised to the public together in a spacious cage or aviary. and the opportunity to buy such a pair is They should have ample space for both rare. Proven pairs that are adve11ised for exercise and play. By the age of six sale frequently have problems, such as months, properly weaned Eclectus have one or both birds destroying their eggs learned to eat a variety of healthful and babies. Reputable breeders reveal foods and have mastered most of their such problems to the potential buyer but life kills. They can perch, manipulate unfortunately, there are ellers who toys and other objects, swing, climb, choose not to disclose this infomlation, and fly. At thi stage of life, they wel­ leaving the buyers to leaIl1 for thenlselves come interaction with other Eclectus. "how they got so lucky" to find a proven One advantage of pairing bird at an breeding pair for sale. It can be treacher­ early age is that most six- to twelve­ A curly rope toy gives this young male a ous for a new breeder who is attempting to pleasant place to perch and well as a wild ITIonth old Eclectus are not yet aggres­ acquire good Eclectus pairs for breeding, and tangled rope to play with and beatup si ve enough to cause each other harlTI but there is a good alternative and that is j,>\'hen the urge strikes. when rough play and sparring occurs. the afa WATCHBIRD 33 c o (/J c ..c -,o 'w (/J ~ >. .0 o ..co D... This Red-sided Ecleclus pair is blessed j,vith a hllge play pen ill which they have all the luxuries nature con prO\ ide. The) are able to fly, perch, look for something to eat, and do almo t eve/~whil1 J their wild COltsillS can do. They IOl'e their breadfruit tree seen here. Another advantage is that younger tive family for him did not come along time I decided to pull the eggs and Eclectu are more curious about other at the tilne. Unfortunately, I did not replace them 'rvith unbreakable ceramic birds and therefore are more accepting have an unrelated female to pair 'with eggs. Sure enough, one of the parent of the companion hip of a mate. him at the time. Meanwhile, because of birds tried unsuccessful!) to break the Ideally, if a breeder acquire the name on his favorite food dish, this eggs yet again. Even though I was numerous young birds for pairing, and male Eclectus became known as Dog. unable to actuall) see him do it, I ha a pace large enough for all of them "Last _ear I was approached by the believe that it was Dog who tried to to live together, the young birds can be owner of Dixie, a pet female Eclectus that play soccer with the egg!). ob erved a they eat and play together. If had become hormonal. The owner did not "U'1fortunatel.v, Dixie s eggs which any males and females repeatedly gravi­ want to deal with this temporary stage of I placed in an incubator pro\led to be tate toward each other and eat and play development because Dixie was doing infertUe. The next time she laid, I again together, these birds are obviou candi­ some screaming. Dixie is about six took her eggs away and replaced them date for pairing. At thjs stage, careful months older than Dog, and since the with fakes. Again, the clutch was il?f'er­ observation and note taking can increase opposite age difference is preferable, I tile, but this time I waited until the eggs the chance of succe fully pairing bird was a bit skeptical about pairing them, not were due to hatch and replaced the fake that will fonn a strong bond and eventu­ to mention that Dog is not a very assertive eggs with one of her own infertile eggs - ally become good breeders. Many male. Ne~ertheless, I introduced them and one fertUe egg which I took from one Eclectu breeders agree that females slowly and gm e them a nesting box after of 171.' fertile pairs that had laid at the mature earlier than male and con ider it I obsen ed him feeding her. same time Dixie laid. Not only did the ideal to pair young males that are at lea t "Dixie took to the nest box right fertile egg hatch, but Dixie quickly ix month older than their Inate.