preference is to house the birds in that flighting the birds without nestbox­ aviaries 4 feet wide, 8 to 10 feet high es and resting them in the off-season and 8 to 12 feet long, depending on has improved production in all caged '"~ L, .. ~ species and space available. Psittacula species. Moving them to a new cage or /}~ species can also be successfully bred aviary, and then returning them to a in cages. Cages ought to be a mini­ breeding cage or aviary is actually stim­ murn of 4 feet wide, 4 feet high and 6 ulating and not negatively stressful as feet long with only one pair of birds once thought. per cage or aviary. When resting your birds, you want to minimize squabbles so it's best to Colony Breeding put the hens of one species in a flight Colony breeding has been accom­ together, and ~ __~des of the same plished in very large flights, but the species together in an adjacent flight. breeding success has been spotty. Very large cages can be used for rest­ The Psittacula of Asian parakeets are highly territorial ing flights if no aviary space is avail­ during breeding season, and deaths able. Typically, they would be 4 feet South East Asia from territorial battles are not unheard high, 4 feet wide and 8 feet long, of. Achieving a "balanced chemistlY" again, females in one cage, males in and Indonesia of pairs that will breed and raise a another. Ten to 15 birds can be placed hrood in the same aviary is not an easy in a cage this size during the off-sea­ by Lyrae Perry, Dripping springs, Texas task. Colony breeding is therefore not son. The birds should be observed fre­ sOlnething I would recommend. quently to be sure all birds are getting along, and that each is getting enough here are six species of Mixed Species. Aviaries to eat and drink. I generally put more Psittacula that are indige­ Is it likewise not advisable to put dif­ than one food bowl in a large cage for T nous to Southeast Asia and ferent species of Psittacu/a in the same this reason. Nestboxes should never Indonesia. The habitats range from sub cage or avialY. I have done it, and got­ be left in resting flights. tropical to tropical. Psittacula in gener­ ten away with it, however the aggres­ al are hardy and healthy birds, rarely sion between the different species Nestboxes needing veterinalY care. Most breed made it necessary to separate them. My favorite nestboxes are the grand­ freely in captivity, and are excellent This past year I had a group of father clock style. They are inexpensive, parents. Asian parakeets are generally newly weaned Slaty-headeds and easy to hang, maintain, check eggs, and spring breeders, but the tropical Blossom-headeds in the same large best of all, the birds do well with them. species like the Long-taileds and some weaning cage. They had grown up I use three sizes. Small birds like of the Moustached Parakeets may nest together in the nursery and had been Blossom-headeds, Long-taileds, and at any time of the year if the conditions getting along just fine. After three Slaty-headeds get a box that measures 6 are right otherwise. months in the weaning cage something in. x 6 in. x 18 in. deep. Medium sized changed and it was apparent that the birds like Moustached Parakeets would Banding Slaty-headeds were ganging up on the get a box that measures 9 in. x 9 in. x All immature Psittacu/a look similar Blossom-headeds. Feathers were miss­ 24 in. deep. Larger Asian parakeets like to adult females. In adult plumage, ing, toes were bloodied, and the Alexandrines are given a 12 in. x 12 in Psittacu/a are clearly dimorphic with Blossom-headeds were not getting a x 36 in. deep nestbox. If possible it's three exceptions - the Java Moustached fair shake at the food and water. The preferable to use a #3 ground wood Parakeets. If necessary to know the Blossom-headeds were removed and fiber instead of shavings for nesting gender prior to the adult molt, surgical placed in another cage with one year material. sexing or DNA sexing will be required. old Blossom-headeds and are fine now. Banding or microchip identification will Diet be necessary to avoid inbreeding. The Off-season Flighting Asian parakeets are not primarily bands we have been using on our birds Maintaining strength and breeding seedeaters in the wild. They eat a var­ range from Cockatiel size for the condition of the birds is of utmost ied diet of plant materials, flowers, Blossom-headeds and Slaty-headeds to importance. Therefore the breeding fruits, vegetables, grains, and probably exotic size 10 for the Alexandrines. The pairs housed in small cages during the insects in the wild. In captivity, they medium sized birds can be fitted with a breeding season should be flighted in can be fed a seed diet, but they will not 9 or a 9 112 exotic band. the off-season. In other words, they be able to raise young on a strictly seed should be removed from any breeding diet. There are the occasional pairs that Housing cage or aviary and put into the largest will feed babies on a seed diet, but Housing requirements are similar cage or aviary possible so they can these are the exception, not the rule. for all species of Asian parakeet. My exercise and fly around. We have found It's not because they are bad parents,

the afa WATCHBIRD 35 it's because the volume of food neces­ ing legumes, it's best to cook them sep­ pose. The two different subspecies are sary to adequately feed the average arately since the different sizes require keenly aware of their differences even clutch of 5-6 chicks is just incredible! different cooking times. If you cook if we are not, and breeding success is The parent birds would be exhausted lentils and black-eyed peas together, always improved when the birds are cracking two or three cups of tiny seed you would end up with a pot of black­ paired with their own kind. each day just to feed the little ones. So eyed peas in thin lentil "gravy" - this is Himalayana and finchii both are we make it easy for the parents with because the lentils take one-third the available in this country, and they are chicks and give them soft foods first time to cook as the black eyed peas and reasonably good breeders. They have thing in the morning. they just cook down to a fine mush. a good disposition and have the same The soft foods can be any ofthe fol­ You might want to sprout the lentils requirements for care as do other lowing: frozen mixed vegetables instead. It is easy to do and the birds Psittacula. (thawed before the birds get them), love them. Slaty-headed Parakeets are spring cooked brown rice or whole grains of breeders like most other PSittacula, any kind, seasonal vegetables like Species Prof"tles and they lay 3-4 eggs per clutch and squash, snow peas, snap beans, New Slaty-headed Parakeets they are easily handfed. Zealand Spinach. We feed grated carrot Psittacula himalayana himalayana and chopped celery every day to our and P.h.finchii Blossom-headed Parakeets Asian parakeets. The parent birds will The Slaty-headed Parakeets are often p. roseata roseata and P.r. juneae appreciate extra celery for the hatch­ overlooked by breeders because they It is difficult to make clear identifica­ lings after the third day. It has been my lack the brilliant coloration so typical of tion between the two Blossom-headed experience that the parents rarely the other members of the Psittacu/a species based on the descriptions in choose to feed fruit to the chicks. They genus. They are still quite elegant birds. Forshaw's Parrots of the World. prefer to feed vegetables instead. Slaty-headeds of both subspecies are Forshaw states that P. roseata roseata Since vegetables alone will not pro­ unusual in that both males and females intergrades with P. roseata juneae in vide enough protein for the growing have the same colored bill. head, body, the Tripura area of Southern Assam. It chicks, the birds should be offered the and both have full neck-rings. But they is likely that P. r. roseata, the bird with proper foods for complete protein are still dimorphic in adult plumage. the smaller alar patch on the wing, is groups. This is easily accomplished by Males have a maroon alar. or wing the only Blossom-headed Parakeet in feeding cooked legumes along with patch, and females do not. Both hens American aviculture. There may have corn or preferably brown rice. and cocks have a coral red bill with a been a few individuals brought into the It should be noted that legumes are yellow tip. The dorsal side of the tail is United States that belong to the sub­ not digestible unless completely and blue, and the ventral side is yellow species P. r. juneae, but I have not had thoroughly cooked, and we have had tinged with orange. the privilege of seeing any of them in evidence that undercooking beans Identification between the nominate the last 20 years. may be linked to visceral gout in birds. and the subspecies is little more difficult The Blossom-headed Parakeet is the Some of the seed coatings on legumes than distinguishing between the sexes. smallest member of the Psittacula are toxic when undercooked, primari­ It is almost necessary to view the two genus. They have a pleasant nature and ly the red beans. Legumes are cooked birds side by side. The tail tip color is are easily bred if given favorable condi­ well enough ifthey are the texture that often chosen as a method for distin­ tions. These birds are dimorphic when is pleasing to humans, which is very guishing the two, but this is not reliable fully mature. Adult plumage and col­ easy to do. since the tail tips of both tend to wear oration is attained at about 27 months Soybeans are a legume, and while off and both take on a creamy yellow of age. The Blossom-headed Parakeet is they very high in protein and look like color in a very short time. The under­ sometimes mis-identified and paired they are easy to handle, they are not. side of the tails also have an orange with the Plum-headed Parakeet which Soybeans need to be cooked twice as tinge which adds to the confusion. has similar markings. Blossom-headeds long as other legumes, and it must be at If you are so fortunate as to be able are handsome birds in their own right, a prescribed temperature for a specified to view the two subspecies side by and deserve to be maintained as the period of time just to make them side, you would find that p.h. distinct species they are. digestible. This is beyond what most of hima/ayana is larger, and lacks most Males have a rose pink colored head us have time to do for our birds any­ of the iridescent turquoise on the hind­ with a heavy iridescent blue overlay way. There are many other legumes neck that is quite obvious in P.h. and a thin black neck-ring. Females that are much easier to handle than soy­ finchii. P.h. him/ayana also holds the lack the pink on the head, (theirs is a beans and they offer adequate nutrition. head with the beak closer to the chest silvery gray) and have no black neck­ Some of the most nutritious legumes and the feathers of the nape slightly ring, but do have a slightly yellowish to use are lentils, black-eyed peas, and raised when resting. Both birds are band of feathers enCircling the neck. black beans. Black beans w:ere not capable of holding the head in this The body and wings are a bright green favored much by my birds, but lentils position, but it is hima/ayana that is and both hen and cock have maroon and black-eyed peas were. When cook- most often taking that characteristic wing patches. The tails are long and

36 July/August 2000 tapering with a cream white tip. The dorsal side of the tail is a rich blue. The Blossom-headeds also begin pairing in the late summer or early fall, Corporate Sponsor but have been known to wait until early spring before getting serious about Sun Seed Company nesting. They usually are on eggs Bowling Green, Ohio around March or April at the latest. They typically lay from three to four Charter Life Members Life Members eggs in a clutch and are good parents. They will double clutch if the first clutch Gerald and Elizabeth Jennings Robert Harrison is pulled in for handfeeding when the Marilyn & Jim Hawley, Jr. oldest chick is 14 days. Jonathan Higbee Honorary Life Members Barbara Hill Alexandrine Parakeets Frank and Mary Kozeluh Veta & Bob Hollaway Psittacula eupatria, five subspecies Diana Holloway The Alexandrine parakeet is a beau­ Robert J. Berry tiful bird and a wonderful aviary sub­ Jeff Humphries ject. They are seldom offered as pets, Peregrine Fund Founders Mitsuo Kuribara because the birds are purchased Tom J. Cade, Ph.D. Felicia Lovelett quickly by other aviculturists wanting William Burnham, PhD. Thomas C. Marshall the birds for their own breeding pro­ Frank M. Bond Douglas L. Martin gram. Alexandrines are about twice Robert B. Berry Noella & Dan McCormic the size of a Rose-ringed Parakeet, and James Weaver Julie Weiss Murad the overall body coloration is similar. Esther & Ken Ohta The rose pink band on the hindneck is conSiderably wider at the nape on the David Pesco Alexandrine male than on the Rose­ Life Members Louis B. Pieper,Jr., DVM ringed Parakeet. The thin black mous­ Laura Barwick Luanne Porter tache-like line that runs from the base Marion Beal Richard Porter, MD of the lower mandible across the Mark Sargent Susan Boyer cheeks is also wider. The males have a Ellen Schrieber large head and heavy red bill, with a Sandi & Martin Brennan Nancy Selz yellow tip. Both male and female birds Yvonne Catena Martha Siegrist have maroon red wing patches, and Janis & Jeff Clark Nancy & Joe Speed beautiful long tapering tails that are Jim Cobb light turquoise blue on the dorsal side Larry & Gayle St.Cyr Belkys Colter and yellowish green on the underside. Kathleen and J.c. Szabo Linda L. Compton Alexandrines are dimorphic in adult Michelle Torrey Delia & Bill Colman plumage which is attained at about 27 Richard Towill Wanda & Bill Elder months. There are some domestic Dr. & Mrs. Robert G. Travnicek stocks that are molting into the adult Susan Kay Ferguson Peter Via plumage earlier than this however. Sharon Garsee Natalie & Steven Weiss Alexandrine hens are only slightly Beth & Dwight Greenberg smaller than the males. They lack the Laura & Bruce Winter Earl Haga heavy head, bill and neck-rings. Young Jan & Don Winter birds look similar to females, and, Mark Hagen Don & Sandra White although it is sometimes possible to dis­ Robert Hansard Henry Wojtaniec tinguish the sexes based on the size of the head, this method of sexing young Corporate Member should not be relied upon. There are many variances between individuals Sunshine Bird Supplies and subspecies. Miami, Florida Forshaw lists five subspecies and at least three have been imported into A full 70% of money from Life memberships stays in a perpetual endowment fund the United States. The three we can with only the interest from it being used for AFA operations and projects. verify are P. e. eupatria, P. e. mag­ nirostris and P. e. nipalensis. There are

the afa WATCHBIRD 37 many crosses and it may he nearly dri and two suhspecies P a. kangea­ and Long-tailed Parakeets are clearly impossihl'e to identify suhspecies in all nensis and Pa. dammermani are the defined. They occupy areas immedi­ cases especially without henefit of only Psittacula where the sexes are not ately adjacent to one another, but each comparison. The prohlem of identifi­ clearly dimorphic as adults. Both males species occupies a specific area with cation for breeders may he even more and females have coral red hills and little or no overlap. complex as there is evidence suggest­ look so similar in appearance that most All adult Moustached are dimorphic ing "tribal" or geographical variations are taken for adult males of other five in adult plumage (not to be confused within subspecies in the wild. Moustached suhspecies. with the bill colors in the three suh­ Alexandrines hreed from November In the remaining subspecies, males species mentioned above). Adult hens to April in the wild. In captivity, we have a coral red upper mandihle with all have a "bib string." This bib string is have found the breeding season is typ­ a yellow tip. The lower mandible is a continuation of the hreast feather ically begun late summer with the pair black. The hens have black upper and color that forms a thin line running bonding. The first eggs appear late lower mandibles. Descriptions given between the moustache marking on the December or January. Alexandrines lay for the various Moustached Parakeet face and the feathers of the nape. In the two to four eggs per clutch depending subspecies are remarkably similar. adult male birds, the moustache mark­ on suhspecies and will produce a sec­ The variances are slight and involve ing touches the nape feathers which are ond clutch if chicks are pulled in for shifts in coloration of the breast, lower either green or gray depending on suh­ handfeeding when the oldest chick is abdomen and the head. There is some species. The back, hindneck and wing 14 days old. difference in size between the sub­ color is a medium green and wings of Handfeeding Alexandrines is quite a species and personality can vary both sexes have a large yellow-green pleasant task, as they are not high somewhat too. patch. The tail is blue on the dorsql side strung, fearful or aggressive. Many of the Moustached subspecies and more yellowish on the underside. come from small islands and therefore The upper chest is salmon pink with a Moustached Parakeets have restricted ranges. They typically variahle amount of lilac or hlue suffu­ P a/exandri, eight suhspecies inhabit foothill and lowland areas, pre­ sion depending on subspecies. The There are eight different subspecies ferring light secondary jungle to the abdomen is turquoise or blue-green, of the Moustached Parakeet. The nom­ dense forest. It is interesting to note the intensity ,of which will also vary inate race, Psittacu/a a/e.xandri a/e.xan- that the territories of the Moustached with subspecies. The head color can be pale silvery gray to bluish-lilac. The hen Moustached Parakeets will generally have a more intense iridescent blueish color on the head than the males of the Looking For The Best same subspecies. Reproduction has been reported in Lory Diet? all months of the year for the wild stocks of the birds with monomorphic bill col­ You Just Found It! oration. The nesting season for those hirds with dimorphic bill coloration is Lory Life Powder &Nectar roughly from December to June. Moustached Parakeets lay two to four eggs per clutch. The babies can be left I-r\, with the parents and they will do a fine AUlea job of raising them. Our Moustached Breeders of wries & Softbills pairs have not been inclined to double clutch when the chicks were pulled. Also offering: Cuttlebone, Spray Millet, This may be due to the year-round breeding season in the wild. Soak & Cook, Nest Boxes, Spirulina Blyth's Parakeet KAYT~ct P caniceps ~CT NUTRITION· NO MESS This bird is indigenous to the Nicobar Islands of Kondul, Montschall, CUTTLEBONE PLUS Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar. The P.O. Box 305, Fallbrook, CA 92088 Blyth's Parakeets reportedly prefer perching in the tall leafy trees. Little is (760) 591-4951 known of these birds except that they Orders only: (800) 747-9878 are commonly kept as pets in the .. Nicobar Islands. None have ever been 38 July/August 2000 imported to the United States to the go to nest and produce young. They Rick Jordan, a veteran breeder and best of anyone's knowledge. were good breeders and attentive par­ expert on management of neonates, There were 10 specimens of this ents if chicks were left for them to raise. Long-tailed Parakeets are extremely sus­ species captured and described as ref­ Chicks can also be pulled in for hand­ ceptible to sarcosistus, a parasite trans­ erenced in Forshaw's Parrots of the feeding at 14 days. They are as easily mitted from opossum droppings carried World. These were all presumably raised as Indian Ring-necked Parakeets. to the birds by various insects and flies. adults. The males and females are The handfed birds were similar in per­ Sarcosistus cases have been reported dimorphic. The overall length of the sonality to the Moustached Parakeets. from all areas of the USA where the Blyth's Parakeet is about 56 em., just The little males begin talking during the opossum can be found. slightly longer than the Derbyan weaning period and are quite feisty. The problem of keeping the Long­ Parakeet, although they are not quite Whether handfed or parent raised, tailed Parakeets alive may also be as heavy bodied as the Derbyan. The the domestic birds manage to live to dietary even though the birds are not upper mandible of the males is red, breeding age, and then promptly drop picky eaters. They may be eating some­ lower mandible black. The females off the perch just as breeding season thing containing a vital nutrient in the have an all black upper and lower commences. They will be in perfect wild of which we have no knowledge, mandible. The Blyth's parakeet is the feather and of good weight. Necropsy and there is little research data in this only member of the Psittacula genus and tests have been inconclusive. I area. Most of the imported birds have with an orange-red colored iris. have talked with other breeders and it been lost, and there are just a handful The head color of both sexes is gray. is possible that these birds are extreme­ of breeders who still have a chance at The females facial feathers are more ly susceptible to PDD. According to reproducing them. ~ strongly tinged with blue than the males, a characteristic shared with Derbyan and Moustached hens alike. Blyth's Parakeets also have a moustache Limited Edition Fine Art Print Sale like marking crossing the chin and Two well known artists, Lyrae Perry and Beth Greenberg, have completed the first five bird lower cheeks. The body color is green, prints depicting the subjects from five of our CITES committee lapel pins. with a long tapering tail that is grayish on the dorsal side and tipped in yellow. Collectors Series The bird is thought to be closely related Collectors Series prints are being offered mounted and framed with a CITES pin depicting to the Moustached Parakeets. the avian subject of the art imbedded in the matt. The number of these Collectors Series matted and framed prints is very limited with only 30 each of the Spix's Macaw and the Long-tailed Parakeet Crimson-bellied Conure available. (Crimson-bellied Conure pin to be released prior to the p. longicauda, all five subspecies AFA Convention in August) . Also included in the framed Collectors Series are four prints of Long-tailed Parakeets are incredi­ the Mascarene Parrot, five of the Scarlet Macaw, and nine of the Toeo Toucan. The bly beautiful birds. They don't have Collectors Series editions are $100 each plus $10.00 each for postage and handling. the iridescent feathers like most of the Limited Edition members of the genus, but they more Limited Edition, signed and numbered prints, mounted and framed without the collector than make up for that with a complex pins are available of each subject listed above. Only 50 of each subject are being offered pattern of brilliant colors. In the wild at $90 each plus postage and handling. these birds are said to be restless and unpredictable in their movements. Unframed Prints Long-tailed parakeets are acrobatic For those of you who desire to choose your own frames, matted, signed and numbered prints flyers and enjoy dashing from one are available for $45 each plus the $10 postage and handling charge. tree to another. There are four distinct Future subjects are planned and are in the works now. In the near future, the Palm Long-tailed Parakeet subspecies, but it Cockatoo, Hyacinth Macaw, and Queen of Bavaria Conure prints will be available at the is the nominate species Psittacula same prices. Monies raised by the AFA Conservation! CITES committee will allow the AFA longicauda longicauda that we see in to have a voice at the various CITES meetings where the trade in captive-bred birds is the USA today. This bird is indigenous being discussed and regulated. The conservation of our avian interests is very important. to Singapore, Borneo, Sumatra, Nias, Please support your AFA CITES Committee through the purchase of our limited edition art Bangka, and Anambas islands as well prints, and the continuing issues of our limited edition lapel pins. as the southern part of the Malay These beautiful limited edition prints are now on sale through the AFA business office, Peninsula. and at the AFA website, (hUp:!lwww.afa.birds.org), but hurry because quantities are The establishment of this species in very limited. For more information, contact: aviculture has so far eluded American aviculturists. These birds are difficult to AFA Business Office, keep alive for long periods of time, P.O. Box 56218, Phoenix, AZ 85079-6218 especially the males. I have been fortu­ Phone 602-484-0931 nate enough to have had several pairs

the afa WATCHBIRD 39