T H E PR E M I E R PE T & AV I A RY B I R D M AG A Z I N E
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T H E P R E M I E R P E T & AV I A RY B I R D M AG A Z I N E VO L 3 2 I S S U E 10 • AU G -S E P 2019
FOCUS
Spinifix Pigeons
TURQUOISE PACIFIC PARROTLETS
Firetail
Lutino Superb Parrot
FINCHES Timneh Grey Parrots Aviary Design
CONTENTS august–september 2019 VOLUME 32 ISSUE 10
T H E P R E M I E R P E T & AV I A RY B I R D M AG A Z I N E VO L 3 2 I S S U E 10 • AU G -S E P 2019
FOCUS
Spinifix
TURQUOISE PACIFIC PARROTLETS
Firetail
Lutino Superb Parrot
FINCHES Timneh Grey Parrots Aviary Design
COVER IMAGE RED-EARED FIRETAIL PAIR, FEMALE ON LEFT P ODEKERKEN
D PACE
Pigeons
FE ATU RES
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SUPERBLY YELLOW By Jade Welch Share Brett Cook’s experiences in developing the Lutino Superb Parrot in Australia, as he carries on the work begun by fellow Tasmanian Greg Ratcliffe.
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THE ELEVATED AVIARY—PART 1 By David White David shares his latest venture into aviary design, concluding that he may have come up with the (almost) perfect aviary.
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THE SPINIFEX PIGEON By Adam FitzGerald Adam has kept ‘Spinnies’ since the early 1990s and, despite them being hard to find at times, says they can make an awesome addition to a finch or softbill aviary.
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TIMNEH GREY PARROTS By Bob Lee A breeder for over 50 years, Bob shares his experiences with the endangered Timneh, and compares it to the African Congo Grey. BIRDS OF EDEN SANCTUARY By Lara Mostert Birds of Eden sanctuary co-founder, Lara, shares the story behind its birth, its success and its philosophy that all birds deserve to live wild and free.
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P ODEKERKEN
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RARE FIRETAILS OF AUSTRALIA By Peter Odekerken Peter examines the habitat, behaviours and needs of Beautiful and Red-eared Firetails in the wild and in captivity.
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HOBBY HINTS: THE NO-FUSS HOT BOX By Paul & Michelle Court
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MUTATION MUTTERINGS: TURQUOISE PACIFIC PARROTLETS By Paul Court and Ray Chapman
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BREEDER PERSPECTIVE: BUYING BIRDS—A FEW CONSIDERATIONS By Andrew Rankmore
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FINCH CHARM: THE BEAUTIFUL SPINIFEX PIGEON By David Pace
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HOOKBILL HOBBYIST: LIFE CHANGE—IT’S TOUGH ON CHICKS AND HUMANS By EB Cravens
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THE WISE OWL: A SILENT THREAT TO WILDLIFE IN OUR BACKYARDS By Dr Milton Lewis
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ABOUT BIRDS: FERAL HONEY BEES—THE THREAT TO HOLLOW-NESTERS By Kit Prendergast
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PET PARROT BEHAVIOUR: SECONDARY REINFORCERS By Hillary Hankey
CONSERVATION: • WPT: Blue-throated Macaws By Carolyn Pradun • LPF: The Last Population of the Pitihi By Dr David Waugh
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A PARROT’S LIFE: BREAKING HAND FEAR DOWN By Rachel Ward
WILD CORNER: VITO, THE NOISY MINER By Dr Claude Lacasse
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AVIAN HEALTH WITH DR BOB: THE MYSTERIES OF MACRORHABDUS By Dr Bob Doneley
LAST CHIRP: • African Lovebird Society Grows Community Spirit By David Horn • Orana Avicultural Society 35th Annual Show By Geoffrey Wheeler
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Fine feather detail is apparent in this Beautiful Firetail
I HAVE NEVER HAD THE PLEASURE of keeping these magnificent species— the Beautiful Firetail Stagonopleura bella (previously Zonaeginthus bellus) of Eastern Australia and the Red-eared Firetail Stagonopleura oculata (formerly Zonaeginthus oculatus) of south-west Western Australia. They are largely coastal forest species, or at least found in habitat that has dense foliage for the birds to avoid predators, for nesting and protection from the elements.
RARE Firetails AUTHOR AND IMAGES PETER ODEKERKEN IN THE WILD Habitat and Behaviour The Beautiful Firetail is found from the Newcastle region in New South Wales, through Victoria to south-eastern South Australia. It is also found on Kangaroo Island and in Tasmania, and is generally more common in this region due to agriculture and development leading to loss of habitat on the mainland. Tasmania has large tracts of natural habitat, such as in the state’s World Heritage-listed Southwest National Park and Beautiful Firetails can easily be seen, for example, at remote Melaleuca. The Red-eared Firetail is found from Mundaring Reservoir, about 40km east of Perth, to Esperance, along the southern coast of Western Australia. It is found in riverine habitat or in close proximity to creeks and the dense foliage that usually occurs near permanent water. Both species feed largely on grass seed and the seed of open Casuarina nuts and partake of the occasional insect found on foliage. Small snails have also been recorded as part of the diet of the Redeared Firetail. The calls of both species are similar but the identity call of the Beautiful Firetail is more monosyllabic. Their calls are quite mournful and can be heard from a considerable distance, no doubt necessary in the dense vegetation in which they are usually found.
OF AUSTRALIA
This Red-eared Firetail came in to feed at a farm near Donnybrook, Western Australia BIRDKEEPER.COM.AU | VOL 32 ISSUE 10 | AUG-SEP 2019
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Lutino Superb Parrot female and wildtype male
Superbly Yellow Establishing the Lutino Superb Parrot in Australia J WELCH
AUTHOR JADE WELCH IMAGES BRETT COOK
Wildtype Superb Parrot male
L ti S Lutino Superb bP Parrott ffemale—the l th bi birds d are fed f d Pyracantha P th and d Cotoneaster berries when available
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BIRDKEEPER.COM.AU | VOL 32 ISSUE 10 | AUG-SEP 2019
AN AUSSIE NATIVE, the Superb Parrot has long been a captive favourite. These parrots have a peaceful disposition that lends itself to a range of situations. Furthermore, their care is not at all difficult, they are straightforward to breed, visually appealing, not noisy and, to top it off, they are inexpensive. In addition to the wildtype, there are a number of mutations being worked on in the species both overseas and within Australia. The Lutino mutation, which is still quite rare, is eye-catching to say the least. The red on the throat and forehead of the male combines with the attractive yellow body to produce a strikingly beautiful bird. The female, a different shade of yellow to the male, has red undertail feathers. HISTORY The first Lutino, a female, was bred by Greg Ratcliffe, of Tasmania, from two normal wildtype birds in 1994. Having done so, Greg set about sourcing unrelated stock from around Tasmania to outcross, and produced more coloured birds. Through test breeding, Greg was able to confirm the mutation to be sex-linked in inheritance, like the majority of Lutino mutations. Later, some birds were sold on to a fellow Tasmanian breeder. In 2006 Brett Cook (another Tasmanian breeder) acquired from that second breeder two wildtype males that were split to Lutino. Unfortunately, one bird passed away and the other did not breed. Three years later, in 2009, Brett was offered Greg’s remaining Lutino Superb Parrots, except for two—a Lutino male and a split Lutino male. The birds obtained from Greg were two Lutino females, two split males and three possible split males. Unfortunately, one female was lost, leaving Brett with just one female. Since this time, Brett has worked to outcross the birds he purchased. Before we look at Brett’s experiences, and his work to establish the mutation, we will examine his feeding and housing of the species. DIET Brett’s Superb Parrots receive a dry seed mix of plain canary, white millet and hulled oats. This dry seed mix worked well for the Neophemas Brett kept and bred prior to obtaining the Superb Parrots.
MU TAT IO N M UTTERI N G S AUTHOR AND IMAGES PAUL COURT & RAY CHAPMAN
TURQUOISE
Pacific Parrotlets
Turquoise Pacific Parrotlets TurquoiseBlue Pacific Parrotlet wing colours
WE TOUCHED ON ONE of the two new Dark factor mutations in the Pacific Parrotlet Forpus coelestis in the FebruaryMarch issue. However, we are also hearing a lot of interest in the Turquoise mutation across conversations, so thought it timely to discuss here. DESCRIPTION Before we get into the specific mutation, we will touch on Pacific Parrotlets in general, for those who are not familiar with this species. They are a small bird, with the rough body size of a wild bush Budgie, without the tail length. But don’t be mistaken into thinking this little bird has a diminutive nature to match its size. Pacific Parrotlets are absolute pocket rockets, with attitude to burn, and are beautiful little birds to have in your collection. They are generally quiet birds, but at times like early in the morning, late
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afternoon or at feeding time, they can be quite excitable and sound much like lovebirds. Food-wise they will have a chew on most things once introduced to them, including their owners! BREEDING Pacific Parrotlets are dimorphic, so easily sexed and paired. They are not hard to breed, and are generally dedicated parents. The average clutch is 4–6 eggs which are incubated for about 18 days. However, be aware they can be quite finicky when you inspect the nest, and have been known at times to chew the babies up because of the disturbance. As a general rule, it is best to just feed them and let them be when it comes to breeding time. TURQUOISE MUTATION The Turquoise is a Parblue mutation that works the same in other parrot species. It is an allele of blue and can reduce the
BIRDKEEPER.COM.AU | VOL 32 ISSUE 10 | AUG-SEP 2019
psittacin in the feathers from 20–90%, giving the bird a greener look when compared to a Blue bird but not as green as in a normal green bird. It comes in two forms—Type1 is Heterozygous TurquoiseBlue and Type 2 is Homozygous Turquoise. Heterozygous birds carry two different alleles, one turquoise and one blue. Homozygous carry two of the same alleles, both turquoise. In terms of what the bird looks like, a heterozygous bird displays visually distinct areas of turquoise and of blue. In the homozygous form, visually the bird will show a lot more turquoise. These birds are sometimes mistaken for Normal Green birds at first glance, but there are definite differences and they are not Green but are Turquoise and TurquoiseBlue. What this means for your breeding is that if you have a heterozygous TurquoiseBlue (which we will refer to as TurquoiseBlue) and you pair it to a
FI N CH CHARM AUTHOR AND IMAGES DAVID PACE The purple colouration on the wings is spectacular in sunlight
The Beautiful
Spinifex Pigeon
Wild Spinifex Pigeons perched on a rocky outcrop at Mornington Sanctuary, Western Australia
THE SPINIFEX PIGEON Geophaps plumifera has always captivated me as an avicultural subject. It is a small Australian native species, compared to the size of other native doves and pigeons. Surprisingly, measuring 20–24cm, the Spinfex is the same length as Diamond and Peaceful Doves. However it is ‘chunkier’ than these two species and lacks the elongated tail feathers. The Spinifex Pigeon is a rusty brown colour, perfect for camouflaging among rocky outcrops and the red sands within Australia’s dry interior. The red, black and white facial colouration and distinctive crest make this a species that is easily recognised in the field. The purple feathers on the wing, when highlighted by sunlight, make it a very eye-catching species. DISTRIBUTION The Spinifex Pigeon is a ground-dwelling species, spending almost all of its time on the ground, and favouring rocky outcrops in
areas dominated by Spinfex grass. There are three races. There are two white-bellied forms—the nominate race, Geophaps plumifera plumifera, located in northern Western Australia’s Kimberly region, and G. p. leucogaster, within the Northern Territory and western Queensland. The red-bellied form, G. p. ferruginea, is found in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. I have fond memories of viewing this species in the wild on several occasions. My first encounter was in the car park at Kings Canyon, Northern Territory. There were many running about and stopping at our feet. They appeared completely tame, as they do in captivity. Decades later, while photographing finches at a waterhole at Mornington Sanctuary, Western Australia, our party noted a lone Spinifex Pigeon watching us from high on a rocky outcrop that overhung the waterhole. It wasn’t long before we counted a dozen, all peering down at us, possibly waiting to see if it was safe to come to drink. It was a memorable sight. BIRDKEEPER.COM.AU | VOL 32 ISSUE 10 | AUG-SEP 2019
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H OO K B I L L H OB BYI ST AUTHOR EB CRAVENS IMAGES JADE WELCH
Life Change EB CRAVENS
it’s Tough on Chicks and Breeders
The more b Th birds i d iimpress upon h humans, the h lless naturall their h i mannerisms
We devise all sorts of techniques to help neonates identify as parrots first
THIS ISSUE we continue our look into the different factors influencing the ways neonate psittacines begin their life in captivity, by examining the monumental changes a chick experiences after being taken from its nest box birthplace … There are two days in my avicultural life which I steadfastly abhor—the day of fledgling chick-pulling (er, stealing!), and the very rare fledged and weaned youngster shipping day. Today is the former and, once again, that sinking, depressive feeling of guilt and frustration has set in. It’s no wonder I attempt to avoid this day like the plague. It involves waiting and procrastinating; trying all sorts of methods to keep those chicks in the dark with their parental family just one, two, or three extra weeks. At the same time, we go to great pains to keep chicks calm and docile in preparation for their future life as pets. These two detestable days are one of the main reasons April and I cut back to only raising three, maybe four psittacines a year when requested by someone we trust. Oh, it’s easy to keep fledglings way past weaning time; to do our level-best and train offspring to be curious and outgoing, skillfully flighted, accustomed to dogs, cars, strangers, lawnmower and television noises etc. They grow up well and travel well and end up loved, to be sure. Yet, in some ways, that is all just rationalising what we have done to the little tykes—it certainly does not make those two days any easier on us!
Except this time…This time they are out for good, and the transition does not take long to sink in. We do this at dusk so chicks will be full of food and prepared to sleep away the first night out of the parental nest. But first there is a new basket with a dark towel; a new motion, being carried out to the guest house for absolute peace and quiet overnight; new background noises in human-speak and aviary calls from afar. Now the chicks are alone, and the transition which I always regret begins. The change I refer to could be called the ‘humanisation’ of the baby parrot. They came into the world as birds; were raised precisely by their parents as birds; knew only Yellow-front touch, family vocalisations, and the security of the dark. Neither their eyes nor their delicate personalities were stressed or stretched too far or too fast. Until now…Now sensory overload is taking place. Beak-to-beak feeding, the ultimate baseline in everything they have done so far in life, will change abruptly. We have along ago abandoned syringe-feeding, that inserts something into the parrot’s mouth, in favour of a small plastic cup which dispenses food more like a beak when squeezed carefully and vibrated. Still, the formula is different and the times of meals are different. The amount of hunger they experience increases because parents feed anytime chicks peep and beg, and keepers cannot. We leave them for night-time sleep. What’s more, with advanced-age babies this alert and aware, if the bird keeper does not take pains to feed in the dark, or at least much-diminished lighting, the parrots are going to experience instantaneous lighted visual impact and tension. In the nest box, it is all touch and feel. Now they are forced to ‘see’ things and, believe me, for chicks that are left with parents as long as ours are, seeing can be a very frightening experience at first. The more a facility’s nursery set-up is strange compared to a nest box, the more anxiety a chick is likely to feel when first moved there. That’s why we put the babies where there is no human sound or input for the first night or two. Sometimes, if
IT BEGINS TODAY Today is ‘pulling day’ for the three neophyte Yellow-fronted Amazons in Tia and Killer’s aviary nesting box. They are six-plus weeks old. It appears to be one boisterous, protective boy and two shyer, smaller females. They are basically tranquil. We have visited them, gently taken them out and cleaned their feet, and resubstrated their nest site several times, so they come to know that after this intrusion they will end up back in the dark under Mum and Dad’s care.
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Timneh GREY PARROTS AUTHOR AND IMAGES BOB LEE
P ODEKERKEN
Bob Lee has been a keeper of Grey Parrots, the Congo Psittacus erithacus for near 30 years and the Timneh Psittacus timneh for the last 10 years.
Timneh Grey Parrot
The Timneh Grey Parrot is ‘ smaller, darker and has a smaller white eye patch, ivory-coloured beak and maroon tail compared to the African Congo Grey
’
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