Path: utzoo!utgpu!cunews!cognos!stewartw
From: stewartw@cognos.UUCP (Stewart Winter)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Behavioral Problems - Macaws
Message-ID: <9000@cognos.UUCP>
Date: 2 Nov 90 19:53:44 GMT
References: <1990Oct31.174425.13520@cs.ucla.edu> <155@tivoli.UUCP>
Reply-To: stewartw@cognos.UUCP (Stewart Winter)
Distribution: na
Organization: Cognos Inc., Ottawa, Canada
Lines: 34

In article <155@tivoli.UUCP> lark@tivoli.UUCP (Lar Kaufman) writes:
>Second, hyacynth macaws are rare birds.  I consider them a threatened 
>species.
   
   In fact they are an endangered species listed on CITES Appendix I.


>A side note.  Support captive breeding (and limit bird abuse and loss of 
>indiginous populations) by buying birds that were hatched in captivity. 
>These can be identified by their seamless metal legbands and proper, 
>verifiable papers.

  Unfortunately smugglers capture babies in the wild (and band them and
raise them).  Also, they are now using bone-softening chemicals to allow
them to slip a closed band on the birds leg.  Don't assume because the
bird is banded that it is domestic bred.  Run down the baby bird's
ancestory.  If you are willing to put some effort into it (and the breeder
is legit) you should be able to track down the grandparents or at least
some previous owners of the parents.


>(Sorry for the preachy tone - I know it's not your bird - but this is 
>a very important issue in birdkeeping.)

    Keep on preaching ... the aviculture hobby needs more of it!

  Stewart


-- 
Stewart Winter                Cognos Incorporated   S-mail: P.O. Box 9707
VOICE: (613) 738-1338 x3830   FAX: (613) 738-0002           3755 Riverside Drive
UUCP: uunet!cognos!stewartw                                 Ottawa, Ontario
The bird of the day is .... Peach Fronted Conure            CANADA  K1G 3Z4