Jan-Feb 2015, Volume 25 Issue 1

We saw some Sun Conures at a pet shop and fell in love with them. At the time they were around $3600 a pair. We decided to get a pair and looked around for a decent breeder. While there, we also saw some Eclectus Parrots and my previous interest in aviculture grew into a passion that Jeannie and I still share 14 years later. Blue-fronted Amazons can make good pets and have the ability to talk (although, we have found, not as pitch perfect as Eclectus) and were the cheapest and easiest to get so these were the way to go. The plan was to have breeding success with the view to acquiring rarer and more expensive birds in the future.

November on Cape York Peninsula brings rising temperatures and humidity. It is when the end of dry season storm rains herald a transformation from dust-covered trees to a time that produces flushes of new emerald green growth. It’s also the end of another Palm Cockatoo research season for Professor Rob Heinsohn and affiliates from The Australian National University. 2014 has been extremely exciting for the researchers studying the breeding biology of these birds across the Peninsula. Two new Palm Cockatoo food trees have been identified, both of which had previously never been recorded. 34 drumming displays were video-recorded and 121 potential nesting hollows at which Palm Cockatoos have been seen inspecting or displaying on have now been GPS recorded, logged onto a data system and named.

Having a planted aviary is something that many parrot enthusiasts should consider as part of their hobby. For many aviculturalists, suspended cages are now a preferred way to house parrots due to the need for less space and cleaning and perhaps because of a tendency to make the birds concentrate more on breeding. While a planted aviary takes more time, planning and maintenance than suspended cages or “ready made” enclosures, providing a sanctuary for your birds and yourself is well worth the effort. Being able to watch your birds exploring natural surroundings full of carefully selected plants in a well designed environment is a real pleasure for both you and the birds that you keep.