PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN PARROT CONSERVATION AVICULTURE AND WELFARE World Parrot Trust in action Vol. 11 No.4 November 1999

Pesquet’s Parrot The Golden Conure Cape York Palm Cockatoo Study An Island Diary – Kaka

psittacine (sit’˚a sîn) belonging or allied to the parrots; parrot-like The Pesquet’s or

Editor Rosemary Low, Vulturine Parrot P.O. Box 100, Mansfield, Notts., United Kingdom NG20 9NZ – a species in need of study CONTENTS by ANDREW L. MACK, Wildlife Conservation Society. Pesquet’s or Vulturine New Guinea and its offshore islands are home to about 56 species of a four year residence, we Parrot – A species in need parrots, of which two are considered “vulnerable” and seven “near observed dozens of feeding of study ...... 2-3 threatened.” None are considered “critical” or “endangered” by episodes and all were at two BirdLife International. The solid status of many New Guinea parrots varieties of a single fig species. The Golden Conure Survival stems from the relatively low human population of the area and At another site in three months Fund...... 4-6 extensive intact forests and wilderness areas on the island. One of we observed Vulturines at two Kaka – ‘Island Diary’ ...... 7 the species considered vulnerable is the Vulturine Parrot (Psittrichas other species of fig. Local hunters who know these birds Illegal Traffic in Brazil’s fulgidus), also known as Pesquet’s Parrot to avoid confusion with the Wildlife ...... 8-9 unrelated Gypopsitta vulturina of Brazil. well, tell us that they eat only a few species of figs and all the Bolivia, Blue-throated Psittrichas is a monotypic genus, summarize what we have data from museum collections Macaws and Macaw Wings highlighting how these birds learned here. Our hope is to indicate figs. Among published for Sale ...... 10-11 differ from all other parrots. stimulate research and records, most are of figs, but Cape York Palm Cockatoo The genus is sometimes conservation efforts. The key to some ornithologists have Study ...... 12-13 considered a lineage that successful conservation is to observed that the birds also diverged from other parrots identify threats before they are occasionally eat flowers of a Index & Paradise Park early in the evolution of the irreversible and develop Newsletter ...... 14 couple of species found in the family. Psittrichas have sparse, initiatives that will avert a rainforest canopy as well. If Parrots could really speak, short bristle-like feathers on the critical situation. what would they tell us? ..15 head, giving them a naked- Whether these birds are indeed this specialised will need Psitta News ...... 16-18 headed look like vultures. The Specialised skin at the base of the mouth corroboration from more WPT Info Page ...... 19 extends onto the bill, giving Frugivores detailed field study. Extreme them a tube-like gape. Relatively dietary specialisation among Parrots in the Wild ...... 20 The data we have been able to frugivores is uncommon few birds are kept in captivity gather, and the observations we because most fruiting plants and captive breeding has been have made suggest that these bear edible fruits only during particularly difficult, due to birds are extremely specialised certain seasons. Birds need to difficulty of finding a proper frugivores. We suggest they feed switch among species as diet for chicks. Breeders almost exclusively on a few different plant species come generally find that chicks species of fig. At one site during into season. However, figs are require a diet substantially lower in protein than typical parrots, an observation that fits with what little we know about the diets of wild birds (see Cover Picture below). Other than basic Pesquet’s Parrot has the morphological information and dubious distinction of being some observations of captive hunted in Papua New Guinea birds, little is known of these for its feathers, considered to birds in the wild. In the course be more valuable for trading and ‘bride price’ than those of various field studies in New of birds-of-paradise. Guinea beginning in 1987 Debra The World Parrot Trust does not Wright and I have been fortunate necessarily endorse any views or to make a number of field statements made by contributors observations of wild birds and to PsittaScene. reared three captive chicks and It will of course consider articles released them. Based on these or letters from any contributors on their merits. experiences we have published a All contents © World Parrot Trust couple of technical papers (Mack At an event like the Goroka Show, a careful observer can find the red and black 1994, Mack & Wright 1998) and feathers from Vulturine Parrots and dozens of other species.

2 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 unusual in this regard. Different individuals within a population bear fruits asynchronously; in the home range of a Vulturine Parrot there could easily be at least one or two trees in fruit at any one time. Thus, if a frugivore were to specialise on just a few food plants, figs would be the best group to specialise upon. If these parrots are indeed as specialised on figs as we suspect, it would be wise to Young Vulturine Parrots about 1 year old. These birds were acquired from local hunters who were taking them to the city to assess the effect of logging and sell. They were hand-reared and released back to the wild. We kept a perch with food on the veranda of the house to which they would come for food less and less frequently. After several months they rarely came back to feed, though they would other increasing land uses on perch nearby. the figs in question. Birds with narrowly specialised diets are walled and weaker-billed birds neighbours who do use the but the real impact is domestic vulnerable to forest can open them. Thus, quite feathers. Thus, as human use by traditional hunters and perturbations. If the few species possibly the figs and parrots are population grows and as traders. Thus the fine efforts by of fig disappear with logging, in a fairly tight mutualism; Vulturines are hunted out of conservationists monitoring the specialist Vulturines might be anything that impacts one will areas, the demand is transferred international parrot trade will unable to switch to alternative ultimately affect the other. The to those areas where Vulturine not unveil the extent of foods. Dietary generalists are parrots need the figs for food populations are still intact. Vulturine exploitation and we often more flexible in the face of and the figs need the parrots to Indeed, with hundreds of small are reduced to guessing its habitat modification because put their seeds on host tree landing strips across the island, impact. Furthermore, without they can switch to other, limbs. It is an example of the the demand for feathers can basic natural history possibly less-preferred, incredible complexity of the reach even the remotest part of information on diet, population resources that survive or rainforest that highlights the the island. In many remote areas densities and reproduction we establish after logging. need for good field research one of the most profitable will be unable to determine how before we can fully understand endeavours can be the sale of vulnerable the species is even if how to conserve any particular live wild game and feathers we do obtain data on domestic Parrots need figs species like the Vulturine Parrot. because these can be flown trade. At the moment we cannot and figs need more economically than coffee categorically say the species is or other produce. Adult birds in serious danger, nor can we be parrots Hunted for their are either hunted directly or complacent that it is secure. The figs Vulturines eat are feathers more commonly nest trees are Certainly populations have been hemiepiphytes, or stranglers. cut down to capture the chicks. extirpated from large areas in Habitat modification and the These chicks are then raised recent times. Hemiepiphytes have evolved an Vulturine’s narrow diet are, effective strategy to win the until their red feathers appear however, not the only threat to and then sold for a hefty price. competition for light in the the species. The bird is largely Management rainforest canopy. The seeds of This practice undoubtedly slows black, but the belly and wings reproductive success as the nest options hemiepiphytes must be have feathers that are bright dispersed by birds (or other tree is usually completely cut If proper study indicates red. These few red feathers down or the nest chamber arboreal / volant animals), to could prove the Vulturine’s populations are indeed the limbs of other (host) trees. hacked open. If the nesting pair threatened by hunting, then downfall because they are highly survives, they must find another There they germinate and send prized as trade items and for there might be options for roots down along the host tree’s suitable tree and excavate a management that could both ornamentation among the many chamber. Establishing a new trunk. So instead of starting out ethnic groups of New Guinea. In maintain populations and allow as a seedling in the deep shade nest would probably delay the people of New Guinea to some areas Vulturine Parrot nesting for a full year because of the forest floor, feathers are the third most carry on their rich cultural hemiepiphytes begin as suitable trees are hard to find. heritage. Possibly less common trade item (after pigs The rainforests of New Guinea seedlings high in the well-lit and money). Many groups use destructive methods of hunting canopy. Eventually the growing might be short on nest sites could be encouraged or the wing feathers, particularly relative to other tropical forests fig encloses and “strangles” the the half red-half black alternatives to Vulturine host tree, whereupon it becomes because there are no feathers introduced to the trade. secondaries, in their traditional woodpeckers on the island. a free-standing tree. Strangler headdresses. Although Ideally, we have the opportunity figs are one of the hallmark Hunters that cut down hollow to preserve the traditional use westernisation has diminished trees in order to extract cavity- images of tropical rainforests. many customs, the people of of a wild parrot species and Fig seeds that fall to the ground dwelling game exacerbate this populations of that parrot. New Guinea still maintain many shortage. cannot germinate and grow of their traditions and dances, These two objectives are often in conflict where human upward. In fact, experts in fig breaking out the special attire We desperately need data on populations are increasing and evolution hypothesise that the for parties (singsings), weddings how many birds are being forest cover decreasing. Solid sub-group of figs the Vulturines and other big events. traded, how they are hunted and eat actually are evolutionarily where trade skins are coming field research will enable us to specialised on parrot-mediated Even where Vulturine Parrot from. There is some determine how to conserve this dispersal because the figs have a feathers are not traditionally international trade in Vulturine bizarre parrot without hard receptacle wall that parrots used, people still trade them, Parrots, mostly out of the jeopardising the diverse cultural can open. Most figs are soft- for considerable sums, to Indonesian side of New Guinea, traditions of New Guinea.

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 ■ 3 The Golden Conure Survival Fund by GLENN REYNOLDS What is aviculture? The Webster’s Dictionary states that aviculture is, “The rearing or administration costs of this fund keeping of birds”. I have spent the last 22 years of my life chasing the meaning of this so as not to dilute the word. I, as most of us, started out with only a few small birds. Observing the beauty, the contributions. Mike started the habits, and the intelligence of these creatures mesmerised me and the addiction grew. I fund by pledging $20.00 US for have learned through the decades, the more appropriate defining factors separating a each of his seven Golden bird owner from an aviculturist, are in the knowledge obtained through years of Conures, and I followed by experience managing and raising parrots. More appropriately, aviculture is a contributing the same for each collaborative effort of individuals, groups and organisations to compile and disseminate that I hold. We are asking that information that will enhance and extend the lives of captive birds and preserve wild all keepers of this species do the populations and the ecosystems that they reside in. The techniques that we have same. Mike challenged the cumulatively learned through captive breeding programmes are now helping to save the avicultural community for the rarest species of parrots in the wild. I have found the true meaning of the word first private donation of aviculture in my association with the World Parrot Trust. $1,000.00 by offering a dollar in my inquisitiveness, as he obtain an endangered species for dollar match from the WPT- How It Began owned Golden Conures himself, permit prior to ownership. I USA. We received the $1,000.00 In the month of September which had just produced their couldn’t understand this donation, from WPT member 1998, I met Mike Reynolds, first offspring. After a short dilemma. Why was something Susanne Schrader soon after the founder of the World Parrot conversation about these considered to be so rare for so official beginning of the fund in Trust, for the first time at the IV wonderful birds, Mike said that many years not getting any help May 1999. International Parrot Convention he would check into the matter from the conservation in Tenerife, Spain. My name and get back to me. I didn’t community? Thanks to Good Progress being Glenn Michael Reynolds realise that I had just planted electronic mail Mike and I We have come a long way in just and his being Michael Reynolds the seed that has now grown rapidly agreed that this bird a few months. Contributions are had inadvertently brought us into the WPT-USA Golden Conure needed our help. We both share now over $7,500. Cyd Riley of together: One evening I entered Survival Fund. a passion for this species and Firefly T shirts has produced a my hotel room and found a we concluded that the WPT-USA A few weeks after the stunning Golden Conure package for Michael Reynolds. I would bear the burden of raising Survival Fund T Shirt. Grant wondered; was this a mistake, convention Mike emailed me the funds for this project. I stating that he couldn’t find any Hacking, a world renowned did someone forget to put my volunteered myself as the wildlife artist, has agreed to do first name on the package, or documented data on the Golden primary fund-raiser. Conures and that as far as he an original oil painting of the was there someone at the Hotel I have been informed that only Golden Conure and donate it to named Michael Reynolds? I had knew there had never been a once before in the history of the the fund. Charles Munn has been a supporter of the WPT for formal study done on this WPT has there been an written the formal proposal for years but didn’t make the species. I had previously read independent fund set up for a the field project. And I have association with the name. I was that these birds had been specific species. It was for the spent a huge amount of my time soon introduced to Mike. I considered endangered as far back as 1946. In the United Hyacinth macaw, and that fund writing letters asking for thought that our meeting was a donations and travelling about fluke but as I think about it States, because of the rarity of was very successful. I have tried this species, I was required to to personally absorb any lecturing on our fund to bird today, writing this article for the clubs and organisations. PsittaScene, it was not a fluke, it was fate. A detailed list of contributors can be found at the end of this I had been seeking information article, which was current at the on Golden Conures for a web time of writing. I would like to site and had run into dead ends personally thank each and every everywhere that I inquired. The contributor for helping to make US Fish and Wildlife Service and this project a reality. Every the US Office of Scientific donation large or small will go a Authority had no viable long way toward the end result information on these birds. of saving this species and the Upon my introduction to Mike, I entire ecosystem that it resides inquired about any knowledge in. A few of the contacts I’ve he may have on the status of the made have expressed concerns wild populations of the Golden that donating to this project will Conure. He was very interested Young hand-reared Golden Conures not help the WPT as a whole,

4 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 stating that, this money is together all day to forage in the specifically earmarked for the forest and then return each Golden Conure Fund. This is a afternoon to play just outside stand-alone fund, which isolates and then finally to roost in a the financial burden of itself single, conspicuous cavity in the from the rest of the WPT funded trunk or branch of a large projects. In turn, it frees up an canopy tree. Their fidelity to equal dollar for dollar amount specific roosting cavities (which within the WPT International also are used for nesting by the Fund to go toward the numerous adult breeding pair in the other projects the WPT is nesting season) makes these currently supporting instead of birds easy to trap. supporting this project; therefore, supporting this fund There are two favoured trapping will indirectly support all of the techniques: One involves WPT projects. erecting a pole with glue- covered branches near a Cyd Riley has stated that the roosting tree and tying a live Golden Conure T Shirt is a hot calling conure near the pole. seller. She has shipped nearly When the family clan hears the 200 of them since the first calling conure and comes to printing in late August 1999. It investigate they get stuck to the bears a beautiful Cyd Riley branches. The trapper will then original of the Golden Conure on remove them from the branches the front and a map of Brazil using water to loosen the glue. highlighting the rapidly The other method involves shrinking range of the Golden loosely wrapping a nesting tree Conure on the back. Cyd very with a net to cover the cavity elegantly utilised the space on entrance during the night. the back of the shirt for stating Pounding the tree will then what little information we startle the birds scaring them currently have on this species into the net. and a tactful plea for help. The The beautiful design donated by Cyd Riley of Firefly T-shirts. All profits from T Shirt is now available through this shirt go to the Golden Conure Survival Fund. The thrust of this project would the US and UK administrators. be to find and map active most beautiful of the 150 Brazil, the species seems to roosting and nesting trees. Once Grant Hacking is a South African species of New World parrots occur at greatest density in the identified, appropriate acreage wildlife artist who has moved to (its only competition being the tall rainforests south of Belem in surrounding these trees could Isle of Palms, South Carolina, four most colourful species of the eastern Amazonian state of be purchased by WPT and USA. He is world famous for his large macaws). Yet it has never Para, particularly in the drainage BioBrasil Foundation and African wildlife oil paintings. I been studied in the wild and no of the Cupim River. There are guarded year round by trained have seen his work, and it is data exists about the status of enough organised conure guards. An ecotourism site spectacular. His paintings are as its wild populations. trappers in that part of the could be developed, so visitors defined as a photograph and Furthermore, there are no Amazon that without urgent could take predictably high- usually full of action. The depth targeted conservation projects action, the species could melt quality photos of these amazing of his work is three-dimensional. for this species or for its away without the slightest birds. Since moving to the US, he is rainforest home, which is the analysis of the situation or shifting his interest to eastern part of the Brazilian concerted attempts to save it in The project would provide for indigenous wildlife and he has Amazon. Surely this species the wild. This part of the guards and guard dogs to patrol also found a passion for parrots. should be able to generate Amazon is also under great the proposed sites around the Grant will be doing an oil support to save itself and large threat from deforestation for clock for the first year. Once painting of the Golden Conure portions of its rainforest home cattle ranching and other trappers have been deterred, the and donating it to the project to if the conservation community agriculture as well as from human guards could be reduced help generate income. I will try can provide modest funding destructive logging, so any in number and guard only to get a good photo of it upon now to jump-start what should incentive or projects to save during daylight hours. The completion to be printed in a become a self-financing major portions of this forest are night-time hours could be future issue of PsittaScene. We conservation programme extremely important. Properly adequately guarded by a have not yet decided whether it supported by visits by studied, protected and visible in reduced number of dogs. It may will be auctioned off or if prints photographers, filmmakers, and the wild, this beautiful parrot be necessary to erect modest will be made and sold. parrot enthusiasts. Currently, species should be able to save but impassable barbed wire the only way this species is considerable tracts of wild fences around the roosting and utilised is as a cage bird, but forest. The initial funding is nesting trees, eliminating the The Proposal with the support of ABC and critical to start this conservation need to fence the entire tract of Charles Munn writes; In an WPT, the Golden Conure should process. land. The purchased tracts could application for ‘Small grant become an internationally then be patrolled on foot, dirt funds’ to American Bird famous flagship species for the What little is known of the bike, horseback or by car once Conservancy (ABC) The Golden conservation of Amazon biology of the Golden Conure or twice a day or several times a Conure (Guaruba guarouba), rainforests. suggests that it lives in what week depending on necessity. which also is known as the appear to be family clans of Once conspicuous and Golden Parakeet or the Queen- Though found over a large approximately 8-15 birds. All aggressive guarding has been of-Bavaria’s Conure, may be the swathe of the Eastern Amazon of the birds in one clan travel established, bird trappers would

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 ■ 5 project is slated to be done between March 1, 2000 and June 30, 2000. The best way to evaluate the success of this project is to send an experienced, Portuguese- speaking biologist to visit the identified nest sites after July 1, 2000. BioBrasil has a full-time field staff of four employees working in other conservation projects in Brazil, who can provide advice to the field staff of the conure project. Help from Brazil’s Greatest Parrot Expert Carlos Yamashita will contribute Carlos Yamashita and Charlie Munn are supervising our WPT his field expertise at no charge Golden Conure Project. Golden Conure in juvenile plumage. Photo: M. Reynolds in order to be able to observe Golden Conure behaviour in the probably give BioBrasil forests a likely to serve as jetports for programme for this amazing, wild. Having Brazil's greatest wide berth and protection costs visitors who wish to predictably but little-known species. parrot expert available to help would drop accordingly. see protected Golden Conures. design and execute this project The objectives of this proposal Symbol of is an enormous opportunity and Ecotourism would be to search for and Conservation should greatly increase the survey the species and locate chance of success in locating Development roosting and nesting trees in the The importance to bird nest sites. Mr. Yamashita is Income from ecotourism should area of Cupim River south of conservation would be to show pursuing a doctorate at the eventually support year round Bele. that a bird that is primarily University of Campinas. His protection of the mapped out known as a cage or aviary bird thesis topic is the genetics of This search would pinpoint the could become a symbol of nesting and roosting sites. This best roost trees in accessible Golden Conure clans, so after project will be modelled after a conservation of intact Amazon the ABC survey project ends, he sites, which will allow BioBrasil forest and pay for its own very successful ecotourism site to unlock earmarked funds that may wish to visit some roost that BioBrasil has established to protection in the wild. Of trees to take small blood currently are restricted to two course, if Golden Conure nests protect a large flock of Hyacinth activities: One is habitat samples from a few clans. Macaws in Piaui. On June 15, can be used to generate purchase around the nests of protection of the entire forest 1999 BioBrasil purchased 2,000 this species and two is hectares (5,000 acres) of dry ecosystem, then this project will Contributors List implementation of an have generated protection of tropical rainforest to protect the ecotourism infrastructure. For Aviculture Care & Nutritional Hyacinths. From May 1, 1999 about 300 other species of birds Research Inc. each dollar that ABC/WPT as well. The Eastern Amazon through August 15, 1999 the Barker, James contribute to the search for forests of the state of Para are BioBrasil preserve has hosted Baughman, Anne Marie roost trees, BioBrasil should be under particular attack now by numerous scientific researchers able to access as many as 5-15 Baughman, Elaine and Wayne and photographers, and most the forces of destruction, and dollars of matching funds for any model projects that can add Carlson, Jan recently a TV crew from the Fox- purchase of forest tracts and for Central Indiana Cage Bird Club Family Channel. The gross value to that part of the Amazon the installation of permanent is particularly important. Christian, Colleen receipts from this camp are guards and a rustic ecotourism Cirino, Joan about $14,000.00 of which half site. The matching funds are The lack of even the most basic Conners, Daniel and Dawn Case are profit. It is projected that rigidly restricted to forest survey data on Golden Conures CSRA Exotic Birds the income from this camp purchases and protection of the makes it impossible to design a Feiner, Frances should be between $100,000.00 purchased habitat and cannot be conservation strategy for the Horne, James C and $200,000.00 in the year used for the initial research. species. All current efforts at Hubbard, Elaine 2001. This same strategy should Thus $5,000 of support from conservation of this popular King, Bruce work with the Golden Conure in ABC could unlock from $25,000 bird focus on captive breeding Luescher, Andrew areas identified as feasible and to $75,000 of restricted funding. without regard to the dire Majestic Cocka2s purchased by WPT and BioBrasil To unlock this funding, the nest situation of the wild population. Mertens, Kathy Foundation. tree search must be successful. We feel that the best hope of Mitchel, Leslie The most viable sites for The potential for ABC’s support ensuring the species’ survival National Capital Bird Club tourism-financed protection of to unlock 5-15 times as much lies in first surveying and Peninsula Cage Bird Society Golden Conure nests would be funding should make this mapping roost trees and then Reynolds, Glenn those that can be reached easily project especially attractive, implementing a programme of Reynolds, Mike by conventional road or river because it greatly increases the land purchase and ecotourism to Shrader, Susanne and Alan Lurie transport from airports. In chances that the initial seed pay for recurrent protection of Southern Maryland Cage Bird Club practice, Belem and Santarem money will produce an ongoing, the sites. Walling, Miriam are probably the two cities most self-funding conservation The research portion of this WPT-USA Matching Funds

6 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 3, August 1999 indicative that it was a male and he was released. The birds, the forest and our team then settled until the speakers were working again and the air was again filled with Kaka calls. Two tui An Island Diary aggressively chasing each other by GLEN HOLLAND. resulted in one bird in the net. Put an Australian, a South African and two Kiwis (one of whom is of half Irish and the As I approached the bird, Ron other person of half Chinese descent), on an island for two weeks and ... No not the start shouted “don’t need to warn you of a good joke, rather an expedition to capture and transfer female Kaka from Codfish about its claw!” ... Hang! I Island to a mainland population at the Nelson Lakes. Project Leader, Ron Moorhouse, is thought I had just taken a Kaka currently studying the success of predator control around Kaka nest sites in relation to out of the net and he is worried fledging success and required the females to boost his mainland study population of 5 about a little tui. I felt my eyes breeding pairs and numerous spare males. Ron’s assistant Les Morran, Matthew Low, an begin to water and the pain was Australian Vet and I were the other team members. With this combination of nationalities unbelievable as the tui sank its we decided it would be safer to avoid the topics of cricket and rugby! needle sharp claws into my hands, and pierced the quick of After checking ourselves for my finger nail. After Les seeds and dirt stuck on our “purring” to the bird, while it lay clothing and shoes, and being on its back, Ron called us to informed how to ensure we did lower our end of the net. After not carry any rodents in our some discussion it was decided baggage, we were cleared to that we needed a recording of leave. Within minutes the the local Kaka dialect which chopper was approaching and differed considerably from the soon we had our mountain of Nelson Lakes dialect we were food, capture equipment and using and both differed general baggage loaded roof considerably from the North high in the chopper. Twenty Island birds with which I was minutes later we landed just familiar. After a series of above the high water mark on capture sites, each of which the island. A quick flurry of off- took a least a day to prepare loading and the chopper was and the use of the recorded gone. Immediately thereafter I local dialect which Ron managed began to feel that this was to obtain we had our four somewhere special, a pristine females in the aviary. We had environment and no sound apart caught a number of birds which from the waves and the birds. were clearly male, their large While wheelbarrowing the beaks identifiable even when equipment to the hut, we had hovering above us in the nets, the first Kaka flying overhead, but we also released a number calling loudly. While wandering of birds which we felt were around the hut to survey the gas female but their beak and water supply, I was met by measurements fell outside the an excited family of brown parameters for females. One creeper and a red-crowned male had a bill length of 58mm, Kakariki which remained hidden, the largest Ron had recorded chattering continually from a and he felt that all these birds thicket. were possibly a little larger than their more northern cousins. The first afternoon and Yellow and red-crowned following morning were spent Kakariki, tui (which I now constructing the aviary which Kaka at Kapiti Island, New Zealand. Photo: Rosemary Low respected) and bellbirds were all was to house the Kaka prior to part of the by-catch which were their transfer. finally had the first of what through the forest. Almost released. would be many sites ready. A immediately a group of Kaka The following morning we set laborious process which Ron arrived to investigate the As the helicopter turned us off to locate and prepare a and Les were obviously well commotion and suddenly a bird away from the group of friends capture site for Kaka. Firstly we accustomed to, Matt and I were dropped from the canopy on the beach, I had mixed required a gap in the canopy of getting rather anxious at having straight into the net. The net feelings of pleasure at the the forest with tall emergent been on the island for a few was carefully lowered and thought of getting back to see anchor trees at each end - not days but still not having caught amongst a host of growling and my family, a piece of me too far off close apart and a Kaka yet. Finally the clicking sounds the bird was wanting to remain and some sufficient perching trees conditions were just right - not carefully removed from the net. trepidation at what was waiting alongside the capture site. After too much sun, no wind and Kaka The rest of the flock became for me in my in-tray at work. hours of searching and then a calling in the area. Hidden under quite agitated and their loud This experience however gave days work on preparing the site camouflage nets, Ron turned on “kraak” alarm calls echoed about me great insight into some of to ensure the net would not the audio system and soon we us, The large size of the bird the diversity which exists in snag on surrounding trees, we had the sounds of Kaka echoing and in particular its bill, was New Zealand.

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 3, August 1999 ■ 7 to smuggle birds to other countries is to hide the animals in the false bottoms of trunks, or to fasten them to the lining of the trafficker’s suit. The eggs of some species (principally Illegal Traffic in macaws and parrots) are transported in portable hatching incubators instead of the real specimen, thus impeding the identification, control and inspection of the species by the Brazil’s Wildlife competent agencies. Four stages of by PEDRO C. LIMA and SAMPAIO DOS SANTOS, CETREL S.A. (photographs by Pedro C. Lima) Approximately twelve million sylvan animals will simply vanish every year in Brazil due trade to the illegal traffic of rare and exotic species. International environmental entities The trade of sylvan animals can estimate that Brazil accounts for US$700 million per year corresponding to 10 to 15 be divided into four stages: percent of the clandestine market in sylvan animals, responsible for the circulation of 1. Non-endangered specimens US$10 billion per year in the world. Concerning money circulation, the traffic of sylvan captured exclusively for animals is exceeded only by the arms and drugs traffic. As in any illegal traffic, the subsistence and traded in animal trade exploits human destitution, driving the needy and ignorant to this activity street free-markets and along for subsistence and causing irreversible harm to the environment, namely the extinction the roads, especially finches of species. The damage produced by this type of commerce is appalling and eventually and cardinals. irreparable: besides the problems caused to the ecological balance, the sowing of seeds The damage that is affected as well as the control of diseases and plagues and the maintenance of the life one single person can do to cycle equilibrium in the diverse ecosystems. some species in a given region is powerful. This accounts for depend solely on their rarity. include: starvation, thirst, the extinction of some species Many animals The rarest species are the prime disease, excessive heat, death by in several areas of our territory, exported target of the traffickers. asphyxia in non-ventilated even though they are species not listed as endangered. The About 30 percent of the International environmental areas, and death by crushing in extinction of the Blue-fronted Brazilian sylvan animals entities estimate that overpopulated spaces. Amazon (Amazona aestiva) in captured by the traffickers are approximately 90 percent of the With parrots, macaws and several areas of the state of sent abroad; the remaining 70 animals die before they reach parakeets the traffickers will put Bahia is a typical example. percent are transported to their final destination. The out feathers from adults to sell clandestine animal husbandry death rate is directly linked to as baby parrots. Occasionally Critically endangered species the hardships endured by the areas or delivered to collectors, they will colour the parakeet’s (i) Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta but the great majority of the animals during their plumage similarly to the parrot’s transportation from the place of spixii) has been reduced to one birds are traded in the street feathers to simulate baby male in the municipality of capture to the trading site. The parrots. Among the innumerable free-markets. The value and Curaçá, located in the arid possible causes of death ways devised by the traffickers availability of the animals region Bahia. This species has been critically reduced, chiefly due to the illegal traffic. In the early eighties, the only birds captured were the nestling specimens and a few adults. By the end of the decade, all adult birds that inhabited the municipality of Curaçá and neighbouring areas had been captured by several groups of traffickers originating from the state of PiauÌ. However, illegal capture is not the only element to threaten this species. (ii) Lear’s Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) is the second most endangered species of this region. However the illegal traffic still stands as the major force to threaten the extinction of this blue macaw. We have been informed that more than 50 adult birds have been A pair of Spix’s Macaws in Sao Paulo 1992. Photo:M. Reynolds captured by the traffickers

8 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 during the last 5 years, out of an percent are young birds ready to estimate of 130 birds. be reintroduced to the brushwood covered region 2. The second stage is (caatinga) inhabited by the ordering the bird. This species. The adult birds seized activity is generally carried out from private residences are in residences, street markets or destined for reproduction and roads. The birds are transported their offspring will be to the selling sites and reintroduced to their natural temporarily hidden in the habitat. We have adopted the neighbourhood. The rare species same procedure for the macaws. are commercialised with potential buyers in the street markets under the false Co-operating pretence of buying/selling common birds. In this kind of organisations commerce the birds for sale are We would like to list all the usually baby macaws, parrots, organisations which are toucans and other equally contributing to the eradication valuable species. The order of the traffic in our state: trade has been developed in the IBAMA-BA (Salvador, Teixeira de last ten years, exactly when Freitas and Bom Jesus da Lapa); IBAMA started to be active in the IBAMA-PI (Teresina); CRA street markets. (Salvador and Freitas de Not wild-caught, this tame Blue-fronted Amazon enjoys meeting people. 3. The third stage focuses on Santana); Politica Ambiental rare animals - those birds Brazilian birds hatched in Successful reintroduction should (Salvador); Environmental which are not exhibited in the captivity. Considering that the include specific procedures such Department of Feira de Santana; street markets and are intended traffic of chicks and eggs as arranging feeders with Public Ministry of Feira de for a particular type of buyer. (especially of the parrot and different types of food in Santana; State University of Rare species as well as other macaw species) is growing strategic locations for their first Feira de Santana (EEA - special animals are captured steadily, these two factors can days of freedom. In the next 15 Environmental Education Team); upon the request of some sometimes be used by to 20 days the birds will be able FENATEST - National Federation Brazilian collectors, who either unscrupulous breeders to to search for food in their new of Safety Technicians of Feira de keep them or export them legalise chicks and eggs habitat. Santana; Zoological Garden of abroad. The animals can be originating from the clandestine Of the birds received, 68 Salvador; BioBrasil Foundation; traded for other rare species, or market. The procedure is to percent have been freed, 11 WCS (Wildlife Conservation sold. This traffic is made easy band these birds afterwards. To percent will be set free and 21 Society); World Parrot Trust; by the lack of knowledge of the avoid this practice, it is percent have died. Of the 22 Leari Blue Parrot Preservation airport customs officials on the necessary to adopt a special Brazilian species. species ready to be introduced, Committee; and all anonymous legislation which requires DNA some deserve to be mentioned: persons who voluntarily donate 4. The fourth stage is related testing to determine the the Blue-fronted Amazon their birds to CETREL to be to the egg traffic of rare parentage of the birds traded in (Amazona aestiva xanthopteryx) reintroduced to their natural species. This is an activity the official market. totalled 105 specimens; 80 habitat. which has been increasingly developed during the last ten Reintroduction years due to several factors. Currently, effective initiatives to programme eradicate the illegal trade of CETAS (Sylvan Animals Selection animals are being intensified at Center - CETREL/IBAMA) was airports in an attempt to stop founded in 1997 by CETREL and the bird traffic. Also the project IBAMA to reintroduce implemented by CITES includes confiscated birds to their the control of the species in natural habitat. Other aims were other countries and promotes to develop efficient ways of the repatriation of the birds to curing diseases which affect their country of origin. birds and to prevent their Furthermore modern technology dissemination; and to research has led to improvements such reintroduction techniques to as efficient portable incubators facilitate the safe release of for egg hatching, and balanced birds to avoid procedures which food rations developed by could jeopardise birds in the international companies, thus wild. Operating for one full year, rendering the egg traffic more CETAS has already received lucrative and a safe alternative. 4,805 birds of 121 different Another factor which should be species, many being passerines. taken into consideration is the When admitted, they receive official sanction of the Brazilian antibiotics (penicillin and sulfa), government to the trade of vermifuge and vitamins. Lear’s Macaws near Curaca, Brazil. Photo:Claudio Marigo

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 ■ 9 Bolivia, Blue-throated Macaws and Macaw Wings for Sale

by SUSAN AND HARRY ARMITAGE We hear things are getting a bit crowded around Puerto Maldonado and the Tambopata Candamo reserve in Peru these days. Sixteen thousand visitors to Puerto Maldonado last year! We can’t stand crowds personally and there are alternatives.... We had heard that there are lots of parrots in Bolivia. Clearly it was time to do a bit of internet research. Bordering Peru but less densely populated and less frequented by tourists, Bolivia is the next place to go. However once again no-one wants to tell you the facts. There are many large foreign tour firms willing to take you to all parts of Bolivia for the most incredible sums of money, (bearing in mind that this is a third world economy). Information has to be prised from the internet. A pair of Blue-throated Macaws in the wild. Photo: H. Armitage Gonzales, who together with her Ara glaucogularis? numbers of macaws are to be The department of sister, runs a small travel found. This possibility is a. In the past many have been agency, ‘Paradiso’. Lyliam is a viewed with alarm by local Beni, home of the trapped and exported to parrot nut and with her we were conservationists. North America, long after it Blue-throated able to see the blue throated was illegal to do so. This is macaw and many others. The e. Lyliam Gonzales and Macaw less so at the moment due to land in this area is all privately ‘Armonia’ are conducting an the fact that they are now On the brink of extinction (less owned but Lyliam is friendly education programme of local extremely hard to find. Prices than 200 individuals left) this with the owner of the Estancia people and are trying to get have fallen as they are bird is now the target of the Cutal and we were able to visit, the local land owners co- apparently fairly easy to world’s twitchers. It was known staying in a log cabin and dining operation to preserve the breed in captivity. However, a for many years in captivity on standard cowboy fare, here palm island habitat. known trapper has been in the before Charles Munn located its cattle is king. The road to Cutal vicinity asking questions f. Very little research has been origin. No-one wants to tell you, is long, hot, dusty and/or about blue throated macaw. done into the blue throated but its range is now very muddy. The palm island where macaw and how it interacts discontinuous and lies to the the blue throated macaw are b. The grassland surrounding with the far more numerous North of Trinidad, capital city of located has no road at all and the palm islands where they Ara ararauna with which it the department. It resembles a lies another 30km into the live and hopefully breed is mingles freely. smaller blue and gold macaw Pampas. burned on a regular basis. but the eye patch stripes are Should the fire spread into an blue as is of course the throat. At and around the Cutal we saw island (and it could easily) Home of the Red six Ara glaucogularis and also this would be catastrophic. When we arrived in Santa Cruz other parrots including Ara Fronted Macaw: the temperature was a sizzling c. Habitat destruction. Every ararauna, Ara chloropteris, Ara In the border between the 35°C with hot gusty winds. After year the islands become severa, several different departments of Santa Cruz and a long night bus journey and smaller due to burning and amazons and many parakeets. Cochabamba, there are thought several adventures we arrived in browsing by cattle. the hotter still (43°C) humid city to between 1500 and 2000 Red- of Trinidad only 15° South of the What We d. A well known American Eco- fronted Macaws remaining in the Equator and an experience all on Discovered tourism firm is proposing to wild, so whilst not as critical as it’s own. fly well heeled foreign the blue throated macaw things So what did we find out about tourists into the Estancia San clearly are not good. As far as I There we met one Lyliam this highly endangered species, Miguel, where the largest could find out, only Hermano

10 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 imprisoned in tiny cages are virtually every macaw you can think of, the giant Andean condor and the mighty harpy eagle. Urchins throw popcorn at the rare spectacled bears and jaguars. The maned wolf has died through neglect. This institution is, according to local conservationists, a clearing house for the rarest of collectable animals, which disappear and are replaced Macaw wings on sale in the shop in Trinidad. Photo: H. Armitage regularly. Andrés is looking out for the The macaws migrate daily from are now abandoned. Birds and animals confiscated red fronted macaw. It is the only their nesting and roosting places by customs and park officials (c) The scrubby trees and cactus macaw to live in this elevated to their feeding places. Hermano are sent here, not one has ever where this species feeds is and arid habitat. As far as I Andrés has been keeping track been released into the wild. being cleared and burned so could discover the place to look of their numbers and reducing their habitat. is near Tambo, not shown on movements for years, however Needless to say they are not The Grisly Little any map I could lay my hands is the first to admit to not welcome on the farmer’s on. We could discover no other having a complete picture by a Shop in Trinidad maize crops that replaces it details. long chalk. A much wider and have been shot in the During our wanderings about geographic study has been past (and may still be). Trinidad we stumbled across ‘La The Red-fronted Macaw is carried out by Robin Clark. Ganaderia’, one of several craft known locally as the “Loro (d) A study was carried out some shops to be found in Trinidad. Burro” (Donkey Parrot) as it So what did we years ago by ornithologist won’t speak. It lives in a very Robin Clark. Virtually all of It has a large stock of goods different habitat to the Blue- find out about the his recommendations were made from animal parts in throated Macaw, living in the ignored, indeed the situation which the macaw figures highly. medium altitude semi-arid Red Fronted has worsened dramatically Macaw wings and tails complete scrubland of the Eastern Macaw? since that time. were for sale for about £2.00, foothills of the Andes. Thorny Macaw skulls were for sale for (a) This bird is also protected bushes and trees along with about 50 pence. Also for sale under CITES, but in the past The Santa Cruz giant cactus dominate the were head-dresses (not Indian has been heavily trapped. style made from the longer tail landscape. The temperature can Zoo The method used was to We also paid a visit to the Santa feathers but tourist style made range from sub-zero to 30°C. spread nets over bait, when Cruz Zoo where we had heard from the wing feathers). Other Rain usually arrives in the form the birds landed their feet items were made from ocelot of tropical storms. that there are both Ara became entangled in the glaucogularis and Ara and jaguar skins, anaconda and When we arrived in nets. Hermano Andrés has rubrogenys. This indeed proved caiman. Pampagrande cold rain was been actively promoting the to be the case, at the time there conservation theme so I am pleased to say that our falling with intermittent being eight of the former and hopefully in his area at least, webpage report has resulted in thunderstorms. Hermano Andrés between fifteen and twenty of an absolute deluge of this activity has been the latter. runs a small bunk house with curtailed. complaints. Several international primitive facilities which was At this zoo are kept, mostly in organisations have taken up this where we stayed. However it (b) The Red-fronted Macaw nests appalling conditions, nearly case and I hope the pressure put was a palace compared with how in cliffs, but many of the everything that walks and flies on Bolivian authorities will the local people live, in the most nest sites used in the past in South America. Here cause them to act. desperate of poverty and squalor. There is one small eating house which we used, also from time to time we dined with the good brother’s parishioners. The next morning it was still raining, the local river thundered by, heavy with silt and debris. Suddenly however over our heads flew a flock of Red-fronted Macaws, in the near freezing rain close to the cloud base. This is the only macaw I have seen that will fly in such conditions. More headdresses. Photo: H. Armitage Macaw skulls. Photo: H. Armitage

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 ■ 11 component of the study will be an analysis of the genetic variation among the remaining populations of palm cockatoos. This will give us information about the past and present Cape York Palm relatedness of the populations, thereby allowing us to quantify individual movement between populations. Cockatoo Study So far.... by STEVE MURPHY As can be imagined, much paper-work and logistical Recent genetic evidence suggests that when compared to other cockatoos, palm planning has had to go into cockatoos are the most distantly related species. But this may not be that surprising organising such an ambitious when you look at their suite of quite unusual characteristics. They are the world’s only research project. So far, I have all black-plumaged cockatoo; they perform percussion displays with instruments which been able to obtain all the they make themselves; they have naked cheek patches which they can conceal or even necessary permits to begin field change colour according to mood; they have a very long, erectile crest; they have a work and I have also consulted variety of calls including an almost human-like ‘hello’ and other ear-splitting calls; and the local Aboriginal people, who they have one of the largest and most formidable beaks of all birds. Despite all of these I hope to involve in the characteristics, little is known about the biology of wild palm cockatoos. On top of all research. Thanks to the WPT, I this, it has been suggested that palm cockatoo numbers are declining in all parts of their have also acquired a field range (New Guinea, the Aru Islands and Cape York Peninsula, Australia). All of this meant vehicle and much of the that when I was given the chance to study these birds as a PhD project, I jumped at it. necessary equipment that I’ll The project is based at The have an advisory panel consisting and support from The Stuart need for working in the field. Australian National University in of Dr. Stephen Garnett, Dr. Sarah Leslie Fund for Bird Research Together with generous support Canberra, Australia, and the field Legge, and Dr. Mike Double. (from the Royal Australasian from the Palm Cockatoo Species work is being conducted on Cape Funding for the project comes Ornithological Union). Survival Project and the York Peninsula - the only place from the World Parrot Trust who Avicultural Breeding and palm cockatoos are found in have generously provided Research Centre, I am also in the Australia. Academic supervision A$30,000. In addition, I have Project Aims process of importing a stuffed is provided by Dr. Rob Heinsohn received an Australian The general aim of the research palm cockatoo from the United and Prof. Andrew Cockburn, and I Postgraduate Award Scholarship, is to fill the large gaps in our States which I’m hoping to use understanding of palm cockatoo as a decoy to catch wild birds. ecology. This is so that we may I’m also hoping to use it in be able to identify any current territoriality experiments. or potential threatening processes, thus placing But it hasn’t been all desk work. ourselves in a better position to Early in July, I and two manage this species in the colleagues from the ANU future. Specifically, I will be travelled to Adelaide Zoo to trial monitoring nest sites for a dummy radio-transmitter on a breeding activity, which will captive palm cockatoo. I decided help to define the breeding to trial a 16g tail-mount season (if there is one) and transmitter which, as the name allow us to determine the suggests is glued and stitched to breeding effort and success in the underside of one of the the study area. Also, I hope to central tail feathers [see photo]. catch and radio-track several After three days we checked the birds to determine how far transmitter for signs of damage, individuals move, where they go but it appeared that very little and what they do when they get damage was done, which was there. This information will be very promising given the size of used to determine home range that formidable beak! The Zoo size (including potentially wide- has kindly allowed us to keep ranging seasonal forays for the transmitter on the bird until food) and time budgets so that it drops off (or is eventually we can understand which pulled off). In addition to this components within palm trial, I and Richard Hill (who is cockatoo habitat are essential researching southern red-tailed requirements for survival. I black cockatoos) have been would also like to radio-track trialing dummy radio- newly fledged or juvenile birds transmitters on captive yellow to investigate the vagaries of and red-tailed black cockatoos post-fledging survival. The last owned by the Gowland famliy A rare shot of a Palm Cockatoo in the wild, Cape York area. Photo: Peter Marsack

12 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November1999 near Canberra. Thanks to the has a relatively large population fallen fruits, using a flip-trap effort and breeding success. support from both the Gowlands of palm cockatoos, and several specially built for the purpose at So, in this first report of the and Adelaide Zoo, the results of known nests that Queensland the ANU. It is possible that palm Cape York palm cockatoo these trials will place myself and Parks and Wildlife ranger Daryn cockatoos may be moving research project, I am pleased to Richard in an excellent position Storch worked on several years around, following the fruiting of announce that things are finally to decide which approach to various trees. By catching birds ago. Daryn showed me these up and running. With this take with wild birds. feeding in areas which have a and other nests in the April field progress, especially after seasonal supply of food, we trip. The last objective - to find achieving my aims from the first I have had two small field should be able to find out accommodation - was fulfilled two field trips, I’m hoping that it sessions so far this year; one in whether or not these birds are by the generous offer of local is a sign of great things to come. January and another, much well-known naturalist Brian either residents of the place wetter one in April. The aims of Venables who has kindly offered where they are caught, or do these two trips were: (a) to his house at Cape Weymouth. indeed move over large areas to Further Reading choose and then familiarise forage. We are also hoping to fit Brown, D. M. and Toft, C. A. myself with a study area; (b) to transmitters to breeding birds start finding some nest sites; To come.... (1999). Molecular systematics that we trap in the vicinity of and biogeography of the and (c) organise some The first priority of the current nests. This will be important to accommodation. The main area I cockatoos (Psittaciformes : field session (which has only determine the home range and Cacatuidae). Auk. 116:141-157. will be concentrating my efforts just begun) will be to trap and extent of any foraging forays upon is a large patch of tropical fit radio-transmitters to as many that breeding birds make. Forshaw, J.M. and Cooper, W.T. grassy woodland which has palm cockatoos as possible. Eventually, I hope to use these (1981). Australian Parrots. several rainforest-boarded We’re hoping to catch about 10 data to understand the Second Edition. Lansdowne creeks passing through it. It also adults while they’re feeding on relationship between foraging Editions. Melbourne.

Palm Cockatoo is anaesthetised before radio transmitter is fitted. Photos: Steve Murphy

How you can help our Palm How you can help Pesquet’s Parrot (See pages 2 and 3) cockatoo project: WPT is not currently contributing towards the work on Pesquet’s Parrot in Papua New Guinea. This is part of a major long term The World Parrot Trust made a commitment to find A$30,000 program funded and carried out by Wildlife Conservation Society (approx. £12,500 or US$20,000) over three years. Our fourth in PNG. However, when corresponding with Andrew Mack and his payment of A$5,000 is due in January 2000. Half of this will be associate Dhananjaya Katju, we asked if there were something we provided by our Australian branch, but the rest, about £1,050, could do to help, and they replied asking if we could supply a must come from our UK funds. Any contributions towards this, good spotting scope and a pair of Leica 10x42 waterproof perhaps from owners of Palm Cockatoos, or members who binoculars. The latter are listed at £689 ($1,100), and the scope simply want to help this excellent project, would be very would be similar. So here’s an opportunity for a WPT member to help fund these essential items. Also, if anyone has any unwanted welcome. Please send cheques to our UK office. binoculars, please send them to our UK or USA offices - they are always welcome in any of our field projects. Many thanks.

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 ■ 13 At last - the PsittaScene Index Since we published the first issue of PsittaScene in October 1989 we We are pleased to report that our new UK administrator Karen have frequently been asked for an Index of the entire contents of Allmann has celebrated six months with us by producing this long PsittaScene, now up to 40 issues. Such an index would clearly be awaited Index. We illustrate a sample of it here, but the whole thing helpful to scientists and students interested in the ten years work of can be downloaded from our website (www.worldparrottrust.org), or the World Parrot Trust, together with the many reports of other you can send us £3 or $5 for a hard copy. organisations’ parrot conservation activities.

Vol.No Content Page Author 11.3 Parrots in the wild - Red-tailed amazon parrot 20 Paulo Martuscelli 11.3 More on Spix-Macaw 18 Michael Reynolds 11.3 Intl News Round Up - mess. Sumba Indonesia, Thailand island habitat destroyed, 16-18 Margaret Kinnaird, Canada symp, new WPT T shirt, Parrot nutrition info req, UK conf, young Kakapo Don Merton okay, WPT benelux, ABC/WPT cons grants, Award parrots, Major Disney grant ABC/WPT, Birds 99 conf Aust. 11.3 Cockatoos and Peanuts at Lakeland Australia 14-15 Stephen Garnett 11.3 Project Proposal - The ecology and status of the Cape Parrot in South Africa 13 Colleen T Downs 11.3 Final Blows for the Cape Parrot? 12 Mike Perrin, Colleen T Downs, Craig Symes 11.3 Listening to Echos and Searching for Ghosts - parrot conservation on Mauritius 10-11 Carl Jones 11.3 Monty Python in Zambia - Black-cheeked lovebird, Brown-necked parrot, Meyers parrot 9 Louise Warburton 11.3 So where do we go from here: WPT 8 Michael Reynolds Paradise Park Newsletter We illustrate the latest newsletter from Paradise Park, Hayle, Cornwall, UK, where the trust is based and receives much logistical and financial support. This newsletter is designed primarily for Paradise Park’s season ticket holders, adopters of birds and mammals (otters, red pandas, marmosets, red squirrels), and supporters of our programme to reintroduce the Chough to Cornwall. This red legged Crow is the ‘national bird’ of Cornwall, went extinct in Cornwall in 1971, and aviary bred birds will be released to the wild from Paradise Park in early 2000. The park also plans to release a group of eight Red Squirrels bred at the park, also once native to Cornwall, and also not seen in the wild there for nearly thirty years. Paradise Park would be happy to send a copy of the newsletter to UK residents who send in a SAE (stamped addressed envelope) of 12 inches by 9 inches. Outside the UK, please send £3 or $5 to cover postage and handling. If anyone would like details of the Paradise Park Animal Adoption Scheme, please ask. The charges for this range between £30 and £200 a year, and many very rare parrots are available, such as St. Lucia and St. Vincent parrots, Keas, Hyacinths, Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, Golden Conures, Leadbeaters and other Cockatoos. Please note that these funds go to Paradise Park, not the World Parrot Trust. But anything that helps Paradise Park, also helps the Trust! W orld Par rot T rust t Cat New World Parrot Trust talog

Le ar’s Maca by D w - L avid imit Joh ed Ed Ch nson ition oose (25. Pri fro 5 x 1 nt m ou 8in) and r ran send ge of you Parr r ord ot re G The ers late E Ph lanm Wo direc d ite mai one: or rld P tly t ms l: uk 00 4 Hou arr o: Catalog @wo 4 1 se, H ot Tr rld 736 ay us par 75 le, T t rottr 3365 R27 ust.o Fax 4HB rg W : 00 , UK ebs 44 ite: 1736 www 756 .wor 438 ldpa This is included as an insert in this issue, and we would like to point out that all orders will now rrott rust be handled from our UK office. We will shortly have this catalogue on our website, and this should open .org up new opportunities to win funds for the parrots.

14 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 If parrots could really speak, what would they tell us? - Some thoughts for the millennium The World Parrot Trust believes that these beautiful, Would the parrots speak in We seek the concern and sensitive birds would have a sorry tale to tell. Their favour of this development? We practical assistance of everyone association with our species has not benefited them, believe they might, provided the who recognises the special indeed they have been exploited by us for hundreds highest standards of bird breeding charm and importance of the of years, and especially so in the past thirty years. and pet keeping are achieved. parrots, and the extreme threats It is true that many pet parrots are kept in excellent to their survival. The aims of the World Parrot conditions by devoted people who give them a good In particular, we strongly believe Trust are the survival of parrot quality of life. The birds respond by giving that everyone who keeps parrots species in the wild, and the intelligent companionship of a high order. should accept a share of welfare of captive birds. We responsibility for helping fund It is also true that parrots are still trapped in the have now launched our the survival of parrots in the wild in large numbers and sold for trifling sums of ‘PARROTS NEED HELP to survive wild. Even more so, the money in local markets. From here they are likely to in the wild, to thrive in our businesses that benefit from be traded on to national and international markets. homes.’ campaign. This is For every bird that survives this process, at least parrot created income of at least intended to focus public four will die along the way. $10 Billion a year worldwide concern on the parrots and their should put substantial sums If the parrots could speak they caught birds into the US. problematical future. would ask to be spared, to be Unfortunately for the birds, the back into the conservation of left in their natural homes. European Union has no such The new IUCN/SSC PARROT these birds. legislation, and no plans to ACTION PLAN (largely funded by The parrots would demand Since the World Parrot Trust was introduce any. The World The World Parrot Trust) states nothing less. But let’s face it, formed ten years ago it has Parrot Trust is seeking that 89 of the 350 species of parrots cannot really speak. campaigned for a complete end support for a European ‘Wild parrot are threatened. The The World Parrot Trust tries to to trade in wild caught parrots. Bird Conservation Act’. World Parrot Trust has provided speak on their behalf, and so This trade has been reduced, funding for the conservation of does John Cleese in our ‘Live but still continues, and The trapping and importation of 37 of these threatened species. Parrot Video’. constitutes a threat to the wild-caught parrots is not only These projects are ongoing, survival of many species. The cruel and wasteful, it is no expensive, and represent only a United States has a ‘Wild Bird longer necessary. This is fraction of the situations Conservation Act’ that prevents because the hobby of aviculture needing help. the importation of any wild- has developed its skills to the point where it can breed in captivity all the young birds needed to supply the growing demand for pets. What is more, these aviary-bred parrots are likely to become more satisfactory pets because they He says: ‘Can we really accept are accustomed to humans. the extinction of these beautiful creatures? The parrots desperately need our help, so please support the international conservation work of The World Parrot Trust.’

...to survive in the wild A final thought: ...to thrive in our homes IF WE CAN SAVE THE A WORLD PARROT TRUST CAMPAIGN PARROTS, WE MAY YET SAVE Hong Kong Bird Market www.worldparrottrust.org OURSELVES

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 ■ 15 satellite-based estimate. Spix macaws have always lived and the Illiger as an equal Nepstad estimated that 217,000 near Curaca, a backland’s town partner, she vanished just seven square miles, or 16 percent, of of 6,000 inhabitants located weeks later. Her whereabouts the original rain forest has been along the south bank of the Sao remained a mystery until a spoiled over the years. Francisco River. goatherd recently admitted that he had witnessed her death but The findings trouble some In the denuded landscape, the sole survivor engages in a daily kept it secret for four years for scientists and environmentalists fear that the project would end. because perhaps a third of the survival routine, foraging for world’s plant and animal species food among cactus, sage and The female Spix, he said, had live in the rain forest. prickly, stunted trees known as collided with an overhead wire. caatinga. Each day, he flies off at Most recently, biologists placed “As we lost species, we don’t daybreak to a treetop nest to know which one is the critical nine Illiger chicks in the nest to News Study: Rain pick up his female companion of see if the Spix and Illiger would one, the keystone species that the past eight years, a green results in the whole system make adequate parents. The forest fading faster Illiger macaw. falling apart”, said Robert couple immediately began than thought Sanford Jr., a University of They spend the entire day feeding the baby macaws and by JEFF DONN, Associated Press Denver ecologist. searching for food, flying an teaching them how to fly and find food. Brazil’s Amazon rain forest is The researchers also worry average of 24 miles on their being destroyed or badly about huge quantities of carbon forays. In March, the young Illigers set damaged more than twice as dioxide entering the atmosphere “When it comes to finding food, off on their own and are now fast as previously believed, from the fires and rotting wood he has more patience than any monitored via radio collars. according to a study that relied left by loggers. Carbon dioxide human being I know”, said Jorge Editor’s comment: on airplane surveys and on-the- is thought to cause global Souza Rose, who has monitored Information on Spix’s Macaw is ground interviews instead of warming. the bird’s movements by foot, satellite images. hard to get, and although we Also, some scientists fear that jeep and bicycle since 1991 and cannot guarantee the accuracy The researchers said their damage to the rain forest, which considers himself the Spix’s of this article we thought it method more accurately gives off enormous amounts of “bodyguard”. worth printing. We also have an water vapour and keeps the measured the effects of logging When the avian couple return at unconfirmed report that Birds and burning in the 1.3 million- ground from drying out, could sunrise, the Spix waits until his International in Manila, square-mile rain forest. throw the Earth’s climate out of Philippines, have offered to balance. mate enters her nest in a “It’s perhaps even more caraibeira tree before flying to return six young aviary-bred frightening”, said Bill Mankin, The researchers called for more his bachelor digs inside a cactus Spix’s Macaw to Brazil, to join the Director of the Global Forest judicious logging, more bush. To date, the Spix and the single male in the wild. If Policy Project of two major prevention of accidental fires Illiger have produced infertile correct, Mr. De Dios is to be environmental groups. “It’s and curbs on roads, power grids eggs. congratulated on moving this going to creep up on us, and and water systems. vital project forward. people may not even be crafting In 1995, biologists decided to a solution because they don’t mate the male Spix with a Funds from WPT - realise there’s a problem.” female of his own species. Since The study was carried out largely the female Spix had been raised Italy in captivity, scientists put her by ecologist Daniel Nepstad of A group of members of WPT through an intensive seven- the Woods Hole Research Center Italy visited Paradise Park in month training to build up her in Massachusetts and colleagues September, and brought with at the Institute of Environmental flying stamina and help her them a substantial donation of Research in Belem, Brazil. They adapt to a new diet of seeds £1000 to go toward WPT’s fund interviewed 1,393 wood mill from local trees before releasing Going, going.... for Lear’s Macaw. Most of this operators and 202 landholders, her into the wild. was collected by Giancarlo and checked the effect of fires News: The World’s Although the female was Macchiavelli, who is currently from an airplane at 1,104 eventually accepted by the Spix building some very large aviaries sample points. Rarest Bird Their findings were published in Report from San Francisco recent issue of the journal Chronicle by JACK EPSTEIN Nature. The Spix macaw, a 2 foot long They concluded that analysts bird with dark blue plumage, who study satellite images are grey-blue head and bright missing much of the damage yellow eyes, was thought to be from logging and fires set to extinct in the wild until clear land for farming or discovered nine years ago by a pasture. Birdlife International expedition Nepstad put the loss at 17,000 (40% funded by the WPT - Ed). square miles last year, or three The last of the species is a male times the official Brazilian believed to be at least 13 years estimate of 5,7000. But 1998 old. Although he is the last of was an especially bad year his kind the wild, he is not because of El Niño drought alone. World-wide, there are 44 conditions. He estimated that in Spix macaws that have been At Paradise Park (l to r): Karen Allmann (WPT Admin.), Audrey Reynolds, Mike an average year, actual damage smuggled out of Brazil or born and Judy Owen (WPT Australia), Cristina Ratti, Cristiana Senni, Giancarlo is at least twice the official, in captivity. Macchiavelli (WPT Italy).

16 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 for breeding macaws, and asked to say that the people in our International Airport in the the materials suppliers to audiences really responded by northern city of Kano. “At the contribute towards WPT. helping us raise $671.61. The airport, I saw a man carrying a show of support was very crate being prepared to export News from WPT - encouraging for conservation. It five chimps, one gorilla and, in a was wonderful for us to see that separate compartment, 250 USA people seemed to be concerned African grey parrots.” says Pugh. by GAIL BUHL and happy that they could The poachers’ gain is however A third of the world’s parrot contribute at least a little to the Ikodi’s loss as the poachers’ species’ are declining. Some are solution of some of the activities threaten the very endangered, like the problems facing parrots in the community’s local economy Hyacinth macaw featured in the wild. which is based on the World of Birds Show at conservation of the parrots. Minnesota Zoo. Even though in Smugglers trap Though the villagers are mainly the wild, these parrot live farmers and fishermen, they halfway around the world, in the Nigeria’s also sell feathers of the parrots show we talked about how the Endangered Grey An African Grey Parrot which fall off naturally to people of Minnesota can do there is not known. But the augment their income. Each something to help. All of us can Parrots to Brink of parrots which live on the feather is sold for N15 (about 15 recycle more, reduce what we clustered tall palm trees of the cents) to middlemen who come use and reuse materials more Extinction community’s forest is estimated to the village to buy the feathers effectively. This helps us locally Earth Times News Service by to run into several thousands. in bulk to resell to people for but helps global habitats by ABIODUN RAUFU The tall palm trees protect the ornamental purposes and as reducing pollution and habitat 26 September 1999 birds from predators, while the vital ingredient in making local destruction. People can also trees’ clustered nature gives drugs for a number of illnesses. support conservation Lagos, Nigeria. Until recently them a sense of communality. Easy accessibility to the parrot’s organisations like the zoo, or when the people of Ikodi village feathers has reduced poverty in organisations like the World raised alarm about the rapid The poachers having failed to induce the Ikodi people to trap Ikodi and no one goes hungry Parrot Trust. rate at which African Grey when all it takes to feed is to parrots were being smuggled the parrots for them went to the The World Parrot Trust (WPT) neighbouring villages where walk into the community forest out of Nigeria, the illegal export to pick feathers. was founded in 1989. They of the colourful bird had largely they hired young men to raid designated August as World been going on for years the Ikodi community forest to Local people are forbidden by Parrot Month. What they strive unnoticed. Each parrot sells for trap the parrots. The trappers age-old custom from killing the to do is raise funds to donate to at least $500 on the are paid about N1,00 (about birds or felling the trees on people / organisations that are international pet market, most US$10) for each parrot. The which they live. Bush burning doing field conservation work ending up in Europe, result has been violent clashes near the parrots’ habitat is also directly helping parrots in the between the trappers and the prohibited. The villagers wild. To date, they have particularly Scotland which is regarded as the main base of the Ikodi villagers. conserve the birds also because contributed to projects in 22 of the tourist potential. “We different countries helping 37 international market in African One such clash recently left two grey parrots. Ikodi youths dead. Efforts by the want this settlement to be made different species of parrots. One a tourist attraction in of the other goals of the WPT is The parrot, Psittacus erithacus, Ikodis to get justice has so far been unsuccessful as local conjunction with the to promote the welfare of is mainly found in the swamps community,” says Chief Aleme. individual parrots kept in and mangrove forests of West authorities have been unwilling to get involved. “My appeal is “If we have a road, water and captivity by providing funding African countries like Nigeria, light, those who want to see to educational programmes and Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra that government should come to our aid,” says Chief Wilberforce these birds can come easily in promoting high standards in the Leone, Ghana and Liberia. In and out and see them.” keeping of parrots. Ikodi village, which is locally Aleme, the embattled head of known as parrots paradise, on Ikodi village. Nigeria has a 14 year old law The Bird Show staff decided that which prohibits poaching or one direct way we can help is the south-eastern coast of the Meanwhile, the poaching of the country, the grey birds with a parrots continue unabated as trading in endangered species. not only promoting World Parrot But so far no one has been Month in our show, but to “walk scarlet tail can be found on the the poachers attempt to satisfy bank of Orashi River. the high demand for the birds. successfully prosecuted under the talk” and try to raise money the law which prescribes six- for the organisation. I am happy The exact number of parrots The African grey parrot is valued as pet because of its month sentence without option beauty and intelligence which is of fine if caught. While calling reflected in its unusual ability to for immediate government mimic human beings. intervention, ERA recently called for the use of forest guards into Mike Pugh of the London-based the parrots abode, prosecution World Society of the Protection of poachers responsible for the of Animals (WSPA) who has been recent killing of Ikodi youths, on the trail of wildlife smugglers and enforcement of the law on says unscrupulous local officials endangered wildlife. are bribed by smugglers to provide the necessary clearance In addition ERA “calls for papers. Pugh also says he international pressure on the discovered that the airport Nigerian government to take through which most of the steps to live up to its wildlife are exported out of commitment as a CITES Gail Buhl fundraising for WPT at Minnesota Zoo. Nigeria is the Aminu Kano signatory”.

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 ■ 17 (legislation), World Parrot Trust of breeding the Bearded Barbet, Stewart Pyper, 21 Primrose Hill, Letter (conservation) and the Psittacine a trip to see the Bali Starling, Nunney, Frome, Somerset BA11 from TOM MARSHALL, Leesburg, Research Project, Univ. of CA at hand-rearing a Superb Fruit 4NP, England. UK membership is to Joanna Eckles WPT USA Davis (research), and learning all Dove at London Zoo and the £18 per year, and overseas I just received my renewal notice I can about the two pairs of husbandry and breeding of the membership £21, in sterling. yesterday and decided after White-bellied and two pairs of Papuan Mountain Pigeon at much thought to “bite the bullet” Black-headed Caiques I keep as Vogelpark Walsrode. While for Honour for and renew as a Life Member. I breeders, companions and as parrot enthusiasts there have certainly support the goals and prototypes of all 300+ species of been articles on breeding the Paradise Park programs of WPT and I think it parrots in the world. Whiskered Lorikeet, the biology The prestigious ‘GOOD BRITAIN and husbandry of the Purple- makes sense to make this type Sincerely, Tom Marshall GUIDE 2000’ has chosen of commitment at this time. bellied Parrot, and captive breeding programmes for the Paradise Park (home of The This decision has a great deal to Volunteer work Red-browed Amazon. No. 4, World Parrot Trust) as ‘Family do with the long time respect and 1999 will be devoted largely to a Attraction of the Year 2000’ admiration I have had for Editor requested review of parrots bred in zoos in for the County of Cornwall. This and Board Member, Rosemary Eighteen year old Sarah Gaskin the USA, and will include lists of is the UK equivalent of Florida Low. I think that Rosemary Low, is keen to take part in a parrot all the species bred, the in tourism terms, and means the more than any other individual, conservation project before she numbers and the zoos in which park has beaten over 300 has had the largest single starts university in October next they were bred. competing attractions. impact on the practice of year. She would like ‘front line’ The Membership Secretary is Here is what they said: aviculture and the growing experience. In addition to concern for the conservation of parrots, she is interested in To S ee and Do parrots in the wild. rainforest ecology. Anyone who I was ‘hooked’ on breeding can offer her work is invited to contact her at 25 Granville CORNWALL Family Attraction of the Year parrots and their conservation HAYLE SW5537 Paradise Park Plenty for families at this colourful after first hearing Rosemary Low Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9EU, UK. place, the headquarters of the World Parrot Trust. Since the park first speak on endangered Amazon opened in 1973 they’ve successfully bred over 200 species of birds from parrots at the AFAConvention in all over the world. Some of the beautiful current residents are showcased San Diego, California in August, to spectacular effect in the huge Parrot Jungle, a splendid mix of waterfalls, The Avicultural swamps and streams, and in their daily free-flying show (usually at 1981 and after reading her 12.30pm). Star of the show is Sam the Cockatoo, who’s been trained to Endangered Parrots, published Magazine collect coins from volunteers and pop them into a collecting box for the in 1984. Edited by Malcolm Ellis, covers charity. For another splendid show, try feeding some parrots in the new The work of Charlie Munn, Carl the keeping and breeding of a Australian aviary - 40 rainbow lorikeets swoop down for the nectar that wide range of birds including, of you can buy for 50p at the shop. As well as rare and exotic birds they have Jones and Paul Butler, et. al. lots of animals, including their own otter sanctuary with entertaining with World Parrot Trust course, parrots. It is published feeding times twice a day; they usually pick out volunteers to help, and if association has sold me on the four times a year by the it’s your child’s birthday you can usually fix it in advance so their name will job WPT is doing. In addition, I Avicultural Society, which has a be called out. Other highlights include penguin feeding shows, and a daily worldwide membership that display of eagles, owls and falcons. Times for these are displayed at the enjoy reading WPT’s entrance, or you can find them in advance on the park’s information line. accomplishments in the includes most of the top More animals to feed at the Fun Farm, though they limit sales of feed so PsittaScene and I am in complete aviculturists (a name for bird that the animals don’t stuff their faces all day. There’s a big adventure play agreement with the philosophy keepers coined by the first area decked out as a mock fort, with an adjacent picnic area, and quiz behind the creation of ‘A editors of the magazine back in trails with badges as a prize at the end. Adults may prefer the Victorian 1894). Subscribers also include walled garden (lovely clematis arches in May) or the pub that brews its Manifesto for Aviculture’. own real ale, and there’s a narrow-gauge railway rattling gently through In the United States, I believe the leading zoos, bird gardens, the grounds. Though there’s a good deal of shelter, this isn’t really ‘responsible aviculture’ is, in conservation organisations and somewhere to come on a wet day. Meals, snacks, shop (and plant sales), research institutes. mostly disabled access; open every day; (01736) 751020; £5.99 (£3.99 part, supporting the American children 4-14). You can usually get good-value return tickets. Federation of Aviculture A recent issue included accounts

in the German language. Book Review It tells the story of a macaw who was hand-reared by Indians and sold to a dealer. The Indians needed the money because the by ROSEMARY LOW destruction of the rainforest had left them impoverished. Arinos Arinos big journey – by Lars was exported to Europe and ended up in a pet shop - as Lepperhoff and Rosmarie thousands of his kind had done before him. One day a family Wüthrich visited the shop and the son called Peter persuaded his parents to buy Arinos. What better way could there be to foster an interest in parrots It was not long before his new family realised that Arinos was among children than by creating bored and lacking in stimulation. They built a big aviary in their the character of Arinos, a Blue garden and bought a mate for Arinos. At last the macaw was and Yellow Macaw, and making contented - but he had suffered a lot on his journey from the him the subject of a children’s rainforests. The moral is there: only buy captive-bred parrots. story book? Our Swiss With its imaginative and colourful pictures on every other page, representative, Lars Lepperhoff, this book will give pleasure and a first hint of environmental aviculturist and macaw breeder, has done just that. Alas! the issues such as deforestation. book is in German - so only German speakers will benefit. Arinos Grosse Reise (ISBN 3 85580 393 5) is published by Nevertheless it is a real benefit for no similar type of book exists Blaukreuz Verlag Bern. It costs Sfr 25/DM 26.50.

18 ■ PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November1999 Working for Parrot Conservation and Welfare Worldwide The World Parrot Trust was founded in 1989 as UK Registered Charity Parrots’, and to win over the majority of aviculturists, pet owners and No. 800944. International expansion has been rapid and the Trust now scientists to its point of view. The task is huge – our resources are has linked charities and support groups in Africa, Australia, Belgium, limited. We need the commitment of everyone in the ‘parrot community’: Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, Switzerland those who keep, breed, study and protect the parrots. Beyond those and the USA. special interests, we look for support from everyone who understands the crisis facing the world through the loss of biodiversity. We aim to Funds raised for the parrots have now reached £1,000,000 ($1.6M) and continue using the special charm of the parrots to win the hearts and have been used to initiate and support conservation and welfare minds of thoughtful people everywhere. projects in 20 countries for 37 species of parrot. Despite this wide- 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 Trust. 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, career 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 already a member, please join. Receive our PsittaScene The survival of parrot species in the wild, and the welfare of captive birds. newsletter, know that you are 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 currently supporting parrot conservation, education and Encouraging the production of aviary-bred birds. welfare projects in 20 countries. Your generosity towards the Creating links between aviculture and conservation. parrots could help us expand current schemes and start new Promoting high standards in the keeping of parrots. ones. Supporting research 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 Karen Allmann, Administrator, PARROTS OF THE WORLD Glanmor House, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 4HB Germany New Nos: Tel: (44) 01736 751026 Fax: (44) 01736 751028 Representative needed – email: [email protected] Call WPT-UK SUBSCRIPTION RATES (please tick) Name...... Mike Reynolds email: [email protected] Italy Address ...... USA Freddie Virili, via Matarus 10, 33045 Nimis, Udine. Joanna Eckles, PO Box 50733, St. Paul, MN 55150 Cristiana Senni, email: [email protected] UK and Europe (Single) £15 ...... Tel: 651 994 2581 Fax: 651 994 2580 Email: [email protected] Australia ...... Benelux Mike Owen, 7 Monteray St., Mooloolaba, UK and Europe (Family) £20 Queensland 4557...... Peter de Vries (Membership Sec.), Jagershof 91, 7064 DG Silvolde, Netherlands Tel: (61) 7 54780454 email: [email protected] Fellow (Life Member) £250/US$400 ...... Zip/Postcode ...... Tel: (31) 315327418 email: [email protected] Africa Belgium enquiries: Romain Bejstrup (32) 32526773 V. Dennison, PO Box 1758, Link Hills, Netherlands enquiries: Ruud Vonk (31) 168472715 Corporate (Annual) Please charge my Mastercard/Visa No. 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 Tel: (1) 905 385 9500 Fax: (1) 905 385 7374 Andrés Marin and Ana Matesanz, (or equivalent currency, payment C/La Majadita no 16 Guinate, Maquez, by Visa/Mastercard preferred) Signature ...... email: [email protected] Denmark (Scandinavia) 35541 Las Palmas, Spain OR: Michael Iversen, Hyldevang 4 – Buresoe, Tel: (34) 928 835745 email: [email protected] 3550 Slangerup Plus donation of £/US$ ...... I enclose a cheque made payable to the WPT WPT Web Sites: email: [email protected] Central: http://www.worldparrottrust.org France Canada: http://www.worldchat.com/parrot/cwparrot.htm J. & G. Prin, 55 Rue de la Fassiere, 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 43 97 18 Denmark: http://www.image.dk/fpewpt

PsittaScene Volume 11, No 4, November 1999 ■ 19 Parrots in the Wild

National Park, Zambia, in late September. The drinking flock eventually numbered eight, and they were joined by Long-tailed Starlings and Black-cheeked Lovebirds. In the Nanzhila region Meyer’s parrots were commonly observed, usually in flocks of 4 or 6 birds Meyer’s Parrot calling noisily as they flew between feeding trees or to water. They were found across all the regional habitat types which covered grassland plain, miombo, mopane and riparian vegetation and were Poicephalus meyeri often observed feeding on the sausage fruit of the Kigella africana by LOUISE WARBURTON tree, Combretum seeds and Julbernadia pods. Local people report Meyer’s or Brown Parrots are Africa’s most widely distributed parrot that flocks of over 40 Meyer’s visiting their maize fields at crop- species. They are found in six geographical variations, ranging ripening is not uncommon. Little is known about their ecology in the across Central Africa, south to the northern tip of South Africa. The wild; it would certainly be very interesting to study the factors race found in Zambia is the Poicephalus meyeri transvaalensis. behind this species’ success. Observations showed there to be considerable colour variation Listed as a CITES II species, Meyer’s Parrot is not considered to be between individuals, some having a yellow crown, others with very globally threatened, although numbers in northern South Africa and little yellow at all. parts of Zimbabwe have been considerably reduced by habitat The Meyer’s in the photograph were seen coming to drink in Katue destruction.

Printed by Brewers of Helston Ltd. Tel: 01326 558000