Bird Research

Do birds recognise their own eggs?

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease

Murdoch University (Companion Animals)

Golden Shouldered Parrots in the Wild

Protein etc

Where have all our Parrots gone?

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It is estimated that seven and a half million birds are taken from the wild annually. The reduction in range is hard enough on wild populations without the added pressure of trapping for the pet trade. Since 1600 one hundred and nine species of bird have become extinct. Man has been to blame in almost all cases.  The reasons are many - habitat destruction, exotic species introduction, hunting, capture, disease pollution and pesticides, human disturbance, an acre of rainforest which took hundreds of years to grow can be levelled in one hour..

The collection process is probably the safest part of the parrots' journey to civilisation. It is reported that "in order to meet world-wide demands for 7.5 million live birds, 30 million birds (four times that number) must be captured." Of these birds, only one in a hundred lives to become a pet. Hugh losses which occur at quarantine stations are not reported.

In Florida flocks of up to 8000 budgerigahs are established in the wild. Elderly residents resent any attempt to eradicate them; in fact people encourage them to visit their backyard feeders..

The Hyacinth Macaw, which is indigenous to Brazil, is smuggled into Bolivia or Paraguay when it is then legally shipped.

It is hard to understand the pure exploitation of a beautiful wild animal for nothing but profit margins. The trapper catches a Blue and Gold Macaw, he is paid $2 - $5 for it by a middleman, who then gets paid $5 - $10 from an exporter, the exporter sells it to the importer for $60 - $90, the wholesaler pays $160 - $190. He sells it to a pet store for $700, who in turn sells the poor bird to the public for $1200 - $1500. The international trade in wildlife is estimated to be $6 billion (US)

Captive Breeding may not only help reduce the strain on wild populations, but it may be the only salvation for some endangered species. The ultimate aim of captive breeding of endangered species is the possible introduction into the wild. We cannot allow the continued over-exploitation of wildlife without dire consequences.