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BIRD WORDS EVERY MONTH April 2016
Moustache donÂ’t need big aviaries
Bouncing cockatoo eggs? Preparing What do exhibition you teach pet birds? pigeons Diabetic Tri-colour NZ parrots nun finch put down sociable
Canary melanins explained
Rat lung worm goes for brain
THIS MONTH IN YOUR MAGAZINE Australasian feathered news in brief 3 Avian vet directory 16 Aviary Marketplace 26 Budgies: Greys, grey greens useful 12 Canaries: Three melanins explained 10 Club and avian vet listings 29 Club news 27, 28 Conservation round-up 16 Fancy pigeons: Show preparation 13 Finches: Tri-coloured nuns sociable 11 Forthcoming events 28
IT seems that I opened a can of
worms last month when I said the Queensland Finch Society magazine was the best bird club mag in Australia. Quite a few callers/emailers contacted me to let me have their opinions on club mags, ranging from clubs with basic news sheets to the Qld-based Parrot Society of Australia, which has the best looking club mag in Australia. All club mags should keep members up to date with what is happening, not just in the club, but in other areas which affect its members, as well as printing information about birds, and most club mags do a great job, regardless of format/aesthetics. Several callers were members of the PSOA who got in touch to talk up their mag, which as I said earlier, is the best looking club mag in Australia — an A4-size, full colour, glossy mag which is published six times a year. In the adjacent report the new president of the PSOA said his club’s mag is something the group can be proud of. It costs PSOA members $10 to join and $70 a year, which, as far as I have been able to ascertain, is the most expensive annual fee of any bird club in Australia.
EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING Lloyd Marshall Telephone.............................03 5983 2566 Email................. lloyd@talkingbirds.com.au Website .............www.talkingbirds.com.au PO Box 216 Balnarring VIC 3926 Australia DEADLINES FOR ADVERTISING BOOKINGS AND COPY May 2016 edition Display advertisements.................April 18 Aviary marketplace........................April 25 SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions to Talking Birds, which cost $4 a month anywhere in the world, can be arranged by filling out the subscription form on the final page of this edition and sending it together with the appropriate payment or credit card details. The form can also be found at www.talking birds.com.au COPYRIGHT Copyright for all editorial copy and photographs published in Talking Birds remains with the author or photographer and cannot be reproduced in any media without the author s/photographer s permission.
Health: Rat lung worm deadly 15 Huge bird s ancestor in Queensland 27 International feathered news in brief 4 Mining company loses legal case 25 Parrots: Do cockatoo eggs bounce? 5 Parrots: Moustache parrots 7-8 Parrots: National convention 17-24 Parrots: Old bird feeds whinger 6 Parrots: Rare diabetic birds put down 6 Parrots: Singapore centre drama 25 Pet birds: What are you teaching? 14
COMMENT ■ TOP PARROT MEET: The biennial Parrots 2016 convention, organised by the PSOA, will be held from July 1-3 this year. It is always a superbly-run event and one which is well worth attending, to learn and socialise, with all attendees sure to find it a really good experience. Talking Birds is proud to sponsor the convention, with information published on pages 17-24 of this edition. ■ MELANIN EXPLAINED: I have to confess that, because I’ve only ever had a passing interest in canaries, I’ve never considered melanin and the way it works. This month canary expert Jeff Leaney delves into that subject and I can now say I understand a little bit about it. I hope you learn something about it as well. ■ EGG PROBLEMS: Most bird keepers would have experienced problems with broken eggs and this month parrot man Bob Philpot relates one of his experiences in that area and also tells of a spinster bird which took on the feeding of a whingeing baby of another species. I hope you enjoy this edition, which, as always, every month, is chock-full of useful info.
— Lloyd Marshall
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Cassowary centre saved
A STRUGGLING Queensland cassowary centre has been saved, with the new operators planning to set up an extra facility in the state’s far north. The Garners Beach Cassowary Rehabilitation Centre at Mission Beach was earmarked for closure last year after previous operator Rainforest Rescue ran out of money.
The not-for-profit Rainforest Reserves Australia will manage the centre, the only one of its kind in the world, for the next three years. It will work to have a second facility on the Atherton Tablelands up and running this year. The state government had previously provided emergency funds to keep the centre open.
By LLOYD MARSHALL THE newly-installed president of the Queensland-based Parrot Society of Australia, Scott Hovelroud, who was elected at last month’s annual general meeting, wants to attract old-style breeders back to the club. “I think any club should be transparent, I have no specific plans for the future but I would like to get more of the older, breeder-type members back because they have a wealth of knowledge to share,” he said. “I would certainly like the club to be a friendly club. The shop is to be still run by the club and I do not envisage that will change.” Mr Hovelroud, who replaced longtime president Stewart Williamson, said he had only one vote on the society committee. He told Talking Birds he would abide by the majority vote on any issue and that no-one could foretell the future. “I am sure that years ago you did not think Talking Birds would only be online. I am sure in years to come all forms of media will only be available online but I personally will hate to see that day come,” he said. “The club joining fee will be looked at. I personally would like to see it removed but I am only one vote. “The club membership fee I think is good value because we all get six high quality magazines a year, as well as a calendar and discounts at the shop.” He said in future he would love to see the shop subsidise membership fees because he thinks that is the fairest way to utilise any profit that
the shop makes in future. “While that is my plan we still have a way to go because we are reinvesting in stock at the moment,” he said. “I personally love our magazine as it is, so I have no plans to change it.” He said all members he has asked about the magazine want to leave it the way it is. “As far as I can see our magazine is not a business but something our club can be proud of,” he said. Mr Hovelroud said all clubs have had a steady decline in membership during the past few years. “Our kids on the whole are more interested in Ipads and games than pets of any description,” he said. “Our main committee position to fill now is vice-president but we are talking to a member about that. I am a man of my word and I expect the committee to be the same.” He said all speakers who have been invited to lecture at the PSOA convention in July this year will stand. “I only stood last year as vice-president and I am happy I did because I gained a lot of experience, but I don’t think my previous business experience will help in my new role. “I have in the past been president of a couple of aquarium clubs but nothing to compare with this,” he said. “I am one person in a club of nearly 1000 members and I will do my best for all members. “I will always be open to new ideas and suggestions from all members, and hopefully I can steer the club into the future without too many mistakes, but I am just a normal guy who stuck his hand up to help out.”
PSOA wants more old-style breeders
Commuter bird
A BLUE-AND-GOLD macaw seen riding escalators on the London underground was unable, or unwilling, to explain why he was down there. The bird was seen at Waterloo by photographer Rob McWilliam, who said there was no owner in sight. If parrots have genuinely learned how to use public transport it is an alarming development. Mr McWilliam said: “Last night I was travelling to meet friends for drinks in soho when I encountered the macaw on the conveyor
ODD SPOT
heading towards the Bakerloo line at Waterloo. “I looked and couldn’t see anyone around who looked like an owner, whether it had flown away from them I’m not sure but it caused gridlock on the travellator.”
PHOTO: BOB PHILPOT. COVER: MALE FASCIATA MOUSTACHE PARROT. SEE: MOUSTACHE DOESN T NEED A LARGE AVIARY PAGES 7-8.
Talking Birds, April 2016 2