| the toucan is not a parrot |
A bit of Parrot history
The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote about his pet parrot named
Psittace and thus the order of parrots owes its scientific name to Aristotle' s
pet parrot. The word parrot is a generic term used to designate the 350 or so
species of birds that belong to the Psittaciforme order. Parrots first made
their appearance in Europe about 50 million years ago..Parrots have had a
very interesting European history. In ancient Rome, some parrots had their
own slaves assigned to them as caretakers, while others were fed to the
lions by a roman emperor as legend would have it.
The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote about his pet parrot named
Psittace and thus the order of parrots owes its scientific name to Aristotle' s
pet parrot. The word parrot is a generic term used to designate the 350 or so
species of birds that belong to the Psittaciforme order. Parrots first made
their appearance in Europe about 50 million years ago..Parrots have had a
very interesting European history. In ancient Rome, some parrots had their
own slaves assigned to them as caretakers, while others were fed to the
lions by a roman emperor as legend would have it.
 |
How to recognize Parrots and where to find them in the wild
Parrots are a very large family of birds easily recognized by their hook bills and , quite often, their
predominantly green plumage. With a few exceptions ( see Thick -billed parrot), their range is
restricted to the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Parrots favour the warm regions of the
world. South and Central America as well as Australasia house the greatest number of parrots by far.
Although many can be found in the Pacific Ocean islands, India, southeast Asia, the southern
regions of North America, and Africa. Some parrots can be found in the Caribbean countries
exclusively. Parrots range in size from the huge macaws and cockatoos to the tiny parrotlets, budgies
,and African lovebirds. In the wild they survive on a diet of seeds, fruits, nuts, greenery. Some parrots
species have very long life spans often reaching the age of 50. The most commonly owned pet
parrots such as budgies, lovebirds, conures, cockatiels, and parrotlets have short life spans.
Parrots are a very large family of birds easily recognized by their hook bills and , quite often, their
predominantly green plumage. With a few exceptions ( see Thick -billed parrot), their range is
restricted to the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Parrots favour the warm regions of the
world. South and Central America as well as Australasia house the greatest number of parrots by far.
Although many can be found in the Pacific Ocean islands, India, southeast Asia, the southern
regions of North America, and Africa. Some parrots can be found in the Caribbean countries
exclusively. Parrots range in size from the huge macaws and cockatoos to the tiny parrotlets, budgies
,and African lovebirds. In the wild they survive on a diet of seeds, fruits, nuts, greenery. Some parrots
species have very long life spans often reaching the age of 50. The most commonly owned pet
parrots such as budgies, lovebirds, conures, cockatiels, and parrotlets have short life spans.
Parrot Behaviour
Parrots are charming and very sociable animals. They are well known for their ability to imitate speech, their
great agility and their propensity for performing tricks. They are also very affectionate and mischievous.. They
are very challenging pets however. Many have realized that parrots are not obedient like dogs and cats, and
that they also do not understand punishment. They are very demanding and high maintenance pets. Parrots
are known to bite although strangely enough wild parrots are not known to bite other parrots. Wild parrots have
screaming matches but do not bite each other..Larger parrots demand an enormous amount of attention.
Captive parrots are still wild animals. The very traits that we find endearing can make them difficult as pets.
They are undomesticated animals hard wired to live in the wild. As pets, they will not be living in an environment
in any way similar to life in the wild and old habits die hard if at all. Some parrots also never learn to talk, or do
trick, and some are not interested in entertaining people.
Parrots are charming and very sociable animals. They are well known for their ability to imitate speech, their
great agility and their propensity for performing tricks. They are also very affectionate and mischievous.. They
are very challenging pets however. Many have realized that parrots are not obedient like dogs and cats, and
that they also do not understand punishment. They are very demanding and high maintenance pets. Parrots
are known to bite although strangely enough wild parrots are not known to bite other parrots. Wild parrots have
screaming matches but do not bite each other..Larger parrots demand an enormous amount of attention.
Captive parrots are still wild animals. The very traits that we find endearing can make them difficult as pets.
They are undomesticated animals hard wired to live in the wild. As pets, they will not be living in an environment
in any way similar to life in the wild and old habits die hard if at all. Some parrots also never learn to talk, or do
trick, and some are not interested in entertaining people.
Parrots can be pricey
Parrots are highly prized pets and, sometimes, very highly priced ones as can be seen by the very high
market value of some of the rarer species. In the US, at present, the Blue Mutation Amazon will fetch
$18-20,000.
Parrot culture in the wild
Parrots are beautiful, intelligent and highly sociable birds. In the wild, it is still commonplace for them to use
wide tracts of forest for foraging and nesting. These forests are found in the warmest and most bio-diverse
parts of the planet, and are quite inhospitable to humans. Parrots gather in flocks that can best be described
as parrot communities of varying sizes where they shares common "dialects" and communal activities. A
parrot is never alone in the wild. I recall watching a TV documentary several years ago about the parrots of South
and Central America, mainly the larger Blue and Gold Macaws, Scarlet and Hyacinth Macaws. These are
among the largest parrots of the order and easily the flashiest and most conspicuous parrots. Their flight is
like that of jumbo jets and with wingspans of up to 4 feet wide Macaws are able to reach speeds of up to
35mph. Macaws can fly 100s of miles daily foraging for food. Or, in the case of this documentary, to eat "dirt".
It was documented on film that large flocks of wild colourful parrots numbering a 1000 plus birds will make
occasional trips to eat clay off mountains and river banks. There is an element in this clay that works as an
antidote tp the poisonous substance found in the seeds that make up a large part of their diets.
Parrots are highly prized pets and, sometimes, very highly priced ones as can be seen by the very high
market value of some of the rarer species. In the US, at present, the Blue Mutation Amazon will fetch
$18-20,000.
Parrot culture in the wild
Parrots are beautiful, intelligent and highly sociable birds. In the wild, it is still commonplace for them to use
wide tracts of forest for foraging and nesting. These forests are found in the warmest and most bio-diverse
parts of the planet, and are quite inhospitable to humans. Parrots gather in flocks that can best be described
as parrot communities of varying sizes where they shares common "dialects" and communal activities. A
parrot is never alone in the wild. I recall watching a TV documentary several years ago about the parrots of South
and Central America, mainly the larger Blue and Gold Macaws, Scarlet and Hyacinth Macaws. These are
among the largest parrots of the order and easily the flashiest and most conspicuous parrots. Their flight is
like that of jumbo jets and with wingspans of up to 4 feet wide Macaws are able to reach speeds of up to
35mph. Macaws can fly 100s of miles daily foraging for food. Or, in the case of this documentary, to eat "dirt".
It was documented on film that large flocks of wild colourful parrots numbering a 1000 plus birds will make
occasional trips to eat clay off mountains and river banks. There is an element in this clay that works as an
antidote tp the poisonous substance found in the seeds that make up a large part of their diets.
Parrots are forest dwellers
Their natural habitats are definitely inhospitable to human . In the vast tracts of the tropical and subtropical forests that parrots
inhabits, they have plenty of food supplies and the luckier large parrots still have a sufficient number of big old trees in which to nest
and roost. Parrots normally fend very well for themselves in the wild. They have established flock structures that meet their
requirements for safety and communal living.. However their status in the wild is presently threatened by outside forces such as the
very active pet trade,deforestation, urban and agricultural development, and in some countries the perception of parrots as crop
pests. A third of the 350 species of parrots are on the endangered list at present. The rights of parrots are now protected in most
countries and many conservation groups are actively involved in the maintenance of wild parrot populations.
Their natural habitats are definitely inhospitable to human . In the vast tracts of the tropical and subtropical forests that parrots
inhabits, they have plenty of food supplies and the luckier large parrots still have a sufficient number of big old trees in which to nest
and roost. Parrots normally fend very well for themselves in the wild. They have established flock structures that meet their
requirements for safety and communal living.. However their status in the wild is presently threatened by outside forces such as the
very active pet trade,deforestation, urban and agricultural development, and in some countries the perception of parrots as crop
pests. A third of the 350 species of parrots are on the endangered list at present. The rights of parrots are now protected in most
countries and many conservation groups are actively involved in the maintenance of wild parrot populations.
Parrot communities
In the wild, parrots need vast tracts of forest to live out their lives.
There they gather in flocks of varying sizes and do most of their
everyday activities communally whether it is eating, bathing,
preening, establishing their nesting territories etc...This strengthens
their bonds and offer them also a sense of safety against would-be
predators. There is safety in numbers .Young parrots learn from
other flock members all the information they need for their survival
such as where the best sources of food can be found, where to
sleep,nest, and group dialects.
In the wild, parrots need vast tracts of forest to live out their lives.
There they gather in flocks of varying sizes and do most of their
everyday activities communally whether it is eating, bathing,
preening, establishing their nesting territories etc...This strengthens
their bonds and offer them also a sense of safety against would-be
predators. There is safety in numbers .Young parrots learn from
other flock members all the information they need for their survival
such as where the best sources of food can be found, where to
sleep,nest, and group dialects.
Parrot survival in the wild
The things needed for the survival of parrots seem simple enough. Assuming the weather conditions are met, the parrots require a
wide enough range of forests for foraging and nesting. They also need stable food supplies, and a sufficient number of trees for
their nesting and roosting activities. However with all the logging, urbanization and agricultural developments taking place in their
natural habitats, the wide tracts of forests needed for their survival is becoming more and more scarce. Scarcity increases the
market value of these forests. The trees that provide the parrots with food and the large old trees parrots use for nesting areas are
also becoming scarcer on account of logging activities and they too have an increasing market value. The land where the trees are
growing is also becoming a rare commodity due to agricultural activities and urbanization and it is also increasing in market value.
And finally as many species of the most beautiful parrots are also becoming rarer, and in some cases almost extinct, they too have a
high market value and this makes them very vulnerable to trapping for the pet trade.
The things needed for the survival of parrots seem simple enough. Assuming the weather conditions are met, the parrots require a
wide enough range of forests for foraging and nesting. They also need stable food supplies, and a sufficient number of trees for
their nesting and roosting activities. However with all the logging, urbanization and agricultural developments taking place in their
natural habitats, the wide tracts of forests needed for their survival is becoming more and more scarce. Scarcity increases the
market value of these forests. The trees that provide the parrots with food and the large old trees parrots use for nesting areas are
also becoming scarcer on account of logging activities and they too have an increasing market value. The land where the trees are
growing is also becoming a rare commodity due to agricultural activities and urbanization and it is also increasing in market value.
And finally as many species of the most beautiful parrots are also becoming rarer, and in some cases almost extinct, they too have a
high market value and this makes them very vulnerable to trapping for the pet trade.
The illegal trade of parrots
The illegal trade of wildlife is known to be a very lucrative activity. It may well be an exaggeration but some rank its profits in
second place after illegal drug trafficking activities. It is difficult t to quantify dollar value of black market activity. It is however
possible to measure with a reasonable degree of accuracy the number of animals involved in this trade. One third of the 350
species of wild parrots are currently on the endangered species list and this is due in about equal measure to the pet trade and
habitat loss.. Parrots are very highly prized in the pet trade on account of their beauty, exoticism, vocal abilities and the and the
general belief that they are very good pet material. Wild parrots are more vulnerable to the pet trade than any other Wild parrots
are more vulnerable to the pet trade than any other bird species. In fact, one of the major causes of the decline in their Wild parrots
are more vulnerable to the pet trade than any other bird species. In fact, one of the major causes of the decline in their population is
the poaching of little parrot chicks from their nest. Sadly, half of the birds captured do not survive the trip to their intended foreign
destination. The methods used in their transportation are too barbaric to mention. Wild caught parrots can be had at a cheaper
price than those raised locally in aviaries and that also creates a market demand for them The market demand for large rare
parrots and the large profits involved in the trade of these birds make the poaching of parrots an economic activity in itself
..Ironically, the rarer the species the higher its market value.Species on the endangered list such as the Hyacinth Macaw can
easily fetch over $10,000 retail. In 1992, the US congress enacted a law that makes it illegal to import wild caught birds, and the EU
imposed a ban on imports in 2005. These laws have somewhat dampened illegal pet trade activities but so has the conservation
efforts and various eco-tourism projects.
The illegal trade of wildlife is known to be a very lucrative activity. It may well be an exaggeration but some rank its profits in
second place after illegal drug trafficking activities. It is difficult t to quantify dollar value of black market activity. It is however
possible to measure with a reasonable degree of accuracy the number of animals involved in this trade. One third of the 350
species of wild parrots are currently on the endangered species list and this is due in about equal measure to the pet trade and
habitat loss.. Parrots are very highly prized in the pet trade on account of their beauty, exoticism, vocal abilities and the and the
general belief that they are very good pet material. Wild parrots are more vulnerable to the pet trade than any other Wild parrots
are more vulnerable to the pet trade than any other bird species. In fact, one of the major causes of the decline in their Wild parrots
are more vulnerable to the pet trade than any other bird species. In fact, one of the major causes of the decline in their population is
the poaching of little parrot chicks from their nest. Sadly, half of the birds captured do not survive the trip to their intended foreign
destination. The methods used in their transportation are too barbaric to mention. Wild caught parrots can be had at a cheaper
price than those raised locally in aviaries and that also creates a market demand for them The market demand for large rare
parrots and the large profits involved in the trade of these birds make the poaching of parrots an economic activity in itself
..Ironically, the rarer the species the higher its market value.Species on the endangered list such as the Hyacinth Macaw can
easily fetch over $10,000 retail. In 1992, the US congress enacted a law that makes it illegal to import wild caught birds, and the EU
imposed a ban on imports in 2005. These laws have somewhat dampened illegal pet trade activities but so has the conservation
efforts and various eco-tourism projects.
see http://www.internationalparrotletsociety.org/smuggle.html
http://www.american.edu/TED/parrot.htm
http://www.awionline.org/pubs/Quarterly/sp03/0603p11.htm
http://www.internationalparrotletsociety.org/smuggle.html
and [PDF] Nest Poaching in Neotropical Parrots see www.cnr.berkeley.edu/~beis/Pubs_PDF/pub_docs/PoachCB.pdf
Parrots are left handed
very expensive
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A WEBSITE ABOUT PET, FERAL AND WILD PARROTS
parrot map
The Best Selection Of Bird Cages
http://www.birdscomfort.com
All kinds of bird cages , bird carriers , bird stands, bird toys,
bird perches and birds food - by BirdsComfort .com
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All kinds of bird cages , bird carriers , bird stands, bird toys,
bird perches and birds food - by BirdsComfort .com
Parrot News
http://www.pipress.org/category/parrot-news/
http://www.superparrots.com/blog/?cat=
http://www.brooklynparrots.com/
http://www.pipress.org/category/parrot-news/
http://www.superparrots.com/blog/?cat=
http://www.brooklynparrots.com/
Concerned about the illegal trade of parrots? Watch this.
Foreign currency traders, follow
The Parrotster Forex
http://www.eparrots.biz/blog
The Parrotster Forex
http://www.eparrots.biz/blog
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EPARROTS.BIZ
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parrot family crest
Parrots now
Nowadays we have about 350 species of parrots. The order is broadly divided between 2
families: true parrots and cockatoos. Parrots are known for their vocal abilities and some are
indeed great talkers. They will imitate human speech, household appliances, other animals and
various other sounds. It is truly remarkable given that they do not have vocal cords..
Nevertheless some parrots develop 1000 plus word vocabularies. Technically that makes hem
fluent does it not? There is some dispute;as to whether parrots can use language ,i.e,
associate words with their meanings and use them in context, or simply imitate human speech
in the same manner that they can and likely will imitate any other sounds. However, wild parrots
do have flock dialects and their imitation of human speech may be, for them, just another dialect
they learn to bond with their human flocks..
Nowadays we have about 350 species of parrots. The order is broadly divided between 2
families: true parrots and cockatoos. Parrots are known for their vocal abilities and some are
indeed great talkers. They will imitate human speech, household appliances, other animals and
various other sounds. It is truly remarkable given that they do not have vocal cords..
Nevertheless some parrots develop 1000 plus word vocabularies. Technically that makes hem
fluent does it not? There is some dispute;as to whether parrots can use language ,i.e,
associate words with their meanings and use them in context, or simply imitate human speech
in the same manner that they can and likely will imitate any other sounds. However, wild parrots
do have flock dialects and their imitation of human speech may be, for them, just another dialect
they learn to bond with their human flocks..
