| 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.
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..
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.
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..
 |
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.
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.
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 naturalencounters.com/images/Publications&Presentations/.) They demand an
enormous amount of attention. Captive parrots especially 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 naturalencounters.com/images/Publications&Presentations/.) They demand an
enormous amount of attention. Captive parrots especially 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
Forex traders please
visit
www.eparrots.biz/blog
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www.eparrots.biz/blog
very expensive
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