Politics, Animal Rights, Fear and Ignorance: A Recipe For Extinction © 1995 Rick Jordan and Gary P Lilienthal, Atl Rights Reserved May not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without permission. magine how flabbergasted I was to might explain the sworn secrecy. The offered the story of their existence. It Isee an entire basement full of cages old man stood there beside me with a appears that his father was one of the containing one species of conure, a grin on his face that only magnified my very few people who was interested in small parrot-like bird indigenous to confusion. I moved closer to take a stab breeding birds as a hobby way back Central and South America. There were, at identifying the mysterious birds. when. "He started before I was born." literally, hundreds. Pairs, singles and Suddenly I felt the blood drain from my Few parrots were available to the hob­ colony cages of colorful yellow and head and the skin crawl on my back as byist in those days so his father and a green birds that appeared to be the rel­ I asked, "Are these what I think they are?" couple ofbuddies began to trap Carolina atively common variety called ]enday The old man laughingly replied with, Parakeets from the nearby orchards Conures. Having been sworn to secre­ "That depends. They are, if you think that once surrounded their property. cy before I was even allowed to enter they're Carolina Parakeets." I was "Why not? Ifwe could shoot 'em, why the aviary, I could not imagine why this speechless, in shock. They were sup­ not trap 'em and keep 'em." His story breeder wanted to keep a group of posed to be "extinct." The man took my was so fascinating that I could hardly wait ]enday Conures secret. arm and led me upstairs. for the next sentence. It was like reliv­ It all started on one ofthose kinds of After returning upstairs where we ing an era that I could have only read nights when you expected something could talk, my mind was reeling with about. to go wrong. The phone rang. "Figures," questions that had to be asked. "How From his story, I gathered that his I said. A lawyer/bird breeder friend of could this be?" "Where did they come father and one ofhis father's friends had mine was calling with a problem.. "Here from?" "Who... ?" I was groping for the managed to trap and cage about 25 wild I go again," I mused. right words, the right question. Not Carolina Parakeets in the very early It seems that he had been contacted knowing what to do next, I asked for 1900s. Knowing that my newly-found by a man in his seventies who had a glass of water to buy time to collect friend was in his '70s, "it works," I per­ heard through friends about this lawyer's my thoughts. The man showed me ceived. As a young boy, he and his broth­ interest in laws relating to exotic birds. where to sit and left the room. I drift­ er were charged with the feeding and The lawyer explained that this man ed into another dimension. maintenance of this group of birds, was concerned that his birds be cared The Carolina Parakeet, the only but he was warned, from the earliest time for, protected and not split up "after he species of parrot native solely to the he could remember, that no one could was gone," "Not me," I thought. United States, became extinct in 1918 ever know. At first, the birds were set when the last member of the species, up in one huge flight cage with sever­ The lawyer had been sworn to secre­ a captive-bred bird, diee! in the Cincinnati al nesting boxes provided for the hens cy (confidentiality I believe lawyers Zoo. Extinct - extinction is forever? to breed. He claims that for many years, call it) by his client. After talking with At one time the Carolina Parakeet had eggs were laid, but any chicks that did his client, he told him that what he need­ "blackened the skies" of mid-Atlantic manage to hatch were killed by other ed was not a lawyer, but a reliable America. It was hunted and ruthlessly members ofthe colony. Mortality in the aviculturist, someone who was dedicated pursued by farmers as a crop pest. adult birds was very low and he could to birds and had the experience and facil­ Even naturalists hunted and killed it to only recall ever having lost three birds ities to care for these birds. "That's study it. But zoos and aviculturists, during those first years of keeping me," I laughed, "no money, old reliable." those who keep and breed birds, did­ them. The old man agreed the lawyer n't keep it or breed it so that it would He claimed that the other friend of could call me in as a consultant as be preserved. After all, who would his father who had also maintained a long as the lawyer promised him that have ever thought - extinction! Oh, colony of these birds gave the other I too would keep secret everything I yes, and our government doesn't allow group of birds to the old man's broth­ heard and saw. people to keep birds native to the er. His brother lived close by. Having I waded through the almost intoler­ United States and. although gregari­ seen the impossible for myself, I believed able screaming that was emanating ous. they were not to be kept as pets him. He then told me he had received from the breeding area. As I approached either. There was no interest in breed­ the lawyer's name from a local veteri­ the cages, I was stricken by the massive ing or protecting it. They were a prob­ narian who knew ofthis lav.yer's work size oftheseJenday Conures. Coloring lem, a pest, and always would be. That on bird issues and on aviculturists' was off. I concluded that they must be is, until it was too late. rights issues over the years and trusted some kind ofcross-breed - a hybrid. That The old man interrupted me and him. However, not knowing anything 16 November/December 1995 This Campaign supports major funding for: • AFA Red-Fronted Macaw Recovery Project • AFA Red Siskin Breeding and Field Support • AFA Aviculture Promotion Activities ets show the true level of excellence and commitment that a L dedicated GRASS ROOTS Avicultural Organization can accomplish "For The BIRDS" we care for and love. Contributions supporting the success of these important cam­ paign programs can have major impact on the future status of WORI(ING aviculture in this country. TOGETHER, FULL MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT IS CRITICAL TO THE WE CAN SUCCESS OF THIS CAMPAIGN. DO IT. We ask that members pledge a minimum of $5.00 per month for the next twelve months (or a one time donation of $50.00 or • As a member more). Your contributions will provide monies for the continua­ ofAFA, tion of these outstanding, totally AFA supported, conservation projects and help to increase the effectiveness and scope of our • Step forward organizations avicultural promotion activities. Our 1995 funding and be goal is $275,000.00. counted... Others often focus on the worst of us. • Stand behind ItS time, we show them the best of us. what we believe... send in your pledge or donation TODAY Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed. • Help promote a positive image American Federation of Aviculture of aviculture! P.O. Box 56218 • Phoenix, AZ 85079-6218 (602) 484-0931 • Fax (602) 484-0109 afa WATCHBIRD 17 " about me, he was concerned about collections. the story ofhow these birds came to be whether I would be the best person to I was so amazed at what was hap­ preserved over the past 80 years, they continue their work with these birds. He pening right before my eyes that I refused to believe it. After much per­ told me that he trusted me, but need­ could not come up with any addition­ sistence, they agreed to "send a man ed to know more. Flattered, but unsure, al intelligent questions to ask. We vis­ over" to look at them, probably to pla­ I continued to question him about the ited his brother who had similar stories cate me. establishment ofthe birds themselves. to tell, and he showed me a collection We met the representative from the He told me that, after his father died, ofabout one hundred more birds. In the ornithological association the next day. he and his brother decided to try to sep­ follOWing few days, we counted the birds He arrived late, camera in hand, with a arate the breeding pairs from the remain­ and determined that the total number smug story about how often people claim der of the colony. In order to identify was about 256 birds between the two to have seen a Carolina Parakeet or Dodo the pairs, he put different colors of of them. In the nestboxes there were or Passenger Pigeon, all extinct. He wet paint around the entrance hole to eggs and chicks that we did not count. had a real attitude. I immediately told each ofthe nests. When the hen entered Not exactly sure what to do about all of him that I had not claimed to see only the nest, she was marked on the breast this. and not sure exactly how legal these one, but hundreds, and I planned to by the paint.