Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!intercon!ooblick@intercon.uucp
From: ooblick@intercon.uucp (Mikki Barry)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Wild caught v. domestic (was Birdwatchers vs. bird owners)
Message-ID: <1316@intercon.UUCP>
Date: 31 Jul 89 17:08:24 GMT
References: <3012@nmtsun.nmt.edu>
Sender: news@intercon.UUCP
Reply-To: ooblick@intercon.uucp (Mikki Barry)
Organization: InterCon Systems Corporation
Lines: 30


In article <3012@nmtsun.nmt.edu>, john@nmtsun.nmt.edu (John Shipman) writes:
> Finally, I'd like to throw one entirely gratuitous flame in
> the direction of the bird owners.  Please try to avoid
> buying birds that were taken from the wild.  There are many
> species being bred in captivity, so whether you like them
> small or large, quiet or vocal, you have many choices that
> don't diminish dwindling wild populations.  I commend the
> efforts of breeders to establish self-sustaining captive
> populations.

I've been thinking about this issue quite a bit.  It was generally my opinion
that catching birds from the wild for export was a bad thing.  But after
speaking with some owners of quarantine stations, they justify it by saying
that the birds that are now coming in are in such sorry shape due to habitat
destruction and lack of adequate nutrition, that the birds will soon die
in the wild if they are not taken for pets.

Personally, I think that taking some from the wild as breeders with the goal
of perpetuating the species (especially if it is in danger of extinction
as are many of the amazon parrots and macaws) is ok if done in moderation.
Also, Moluccan cockatoos are apparently in danger of extinction, and generally
are so adaptable to their situations that they come to like their owners
and seem happy as pets.

I'd appreciate any information from those who know more about the situation.
I'm sure there is a lot more to both sides of the argument than I am aware
of.

Mikki Barry--