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1
Lowry, Hélène, and Alan Lill. "Ecological factors facilitating city-dwelling in red-rumped parrots." Wildlife Research 34, no. 8 (2007): 624. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr07025.
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The red-rumped parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), which appears to be undergoing range expansion, started colonising metropolitan Melbourne ~30 years ago. The factors that have facilitated this colonisation have not been evaluated. We investigated aspects of the parrot’s ecology at six parkland sites through late autumn and winter 2006 to elucidate these factors. The predominantly ground-feeding red-rumped parrot consumed mainly seeds of exotic grass and herb species, four of which were particularly important in providing a continuous winter food resource. Two of these species were common turf grasses and their visible and concealed seeds provided >50% of the diet. Sites occupied by parrots had relatively more native trees, tall trees and dense canopy cover than unoccupied sites; this may be important in providing suitable daytime and nocturnal roost sites. Little aggressive interference competition occurred with other ground-feeding birds. Mean population density in occupied sites was 1.3 parrots ha–1. Mean flock size was 10 ± 6 and, on average, males comprised 67 ± 19% of a flock’s members. We suggest that abundant, continuously available food (seed) resources, apparently limited competition for food and the presence of suitable roosting sites are probably important in facilitating winter occupancy of parkland by red-rumped parrots in Melbourne.
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Nandika, Dudi, Dwi Agustina, Robert Heinsohn, and George Olah. "Wildlife Trade Influencing Natural Parrot Populations on a Biodiverse Indonesian Island." Diversity 13, no. 10 (September 30, 2021): 483. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13100483.
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Indonesia has been identified as the highest priority country for parrot conservation based on the number of species, endemics, and threats (trapping and smuggling). It is crucial to understand the current population status of parrots in the wild in relation to the illegal wildlife trade but the ecology and population dynamics of most parrot species in this region remain poorly understood. We conducted a parrot survey around an area of high biodiversity in the Manusela National Park, in Seram Island, Indonesia. We used a combination of fixed-radius point counts and fixed-width line transects to count multiple species of parrots. We recorded nearly 530 wild parrots from 10 species in and around Manusela National Park. The dominant parrot species were Eos bornea, Trichoglosus haematodus, and Geoffroyus geoffroyi. We applied the Savage selectivity index to evaluate poaching of parrot species in proportion to their abundance and which species had higher than expected poaching pressure. This study has important implications for the conservation status of endemic parrots (Cacatua moluccensis, Lorius domicella, and Eos semilarvata) and shows that parrots in the Manusela NP are largely threatened by poaching.
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J. Marsden, Stuart, and Craig T. Symes. "Abundance and habitat associations of parrots at a hillforest site in Papua New Guinea." Pacific Conservation Biology 12, no. 1 (2006): 15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc060015.
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Despite New Guinea's importance for parrot species, there is an almost total lack of quantitative data on abundances or habitat associations of parrots on the island. We present such data for 15 parrot species within the species-rich (21 species) Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Papua New Guinea. The four most abundant parrot species made up 70% of all parrots recorded in primary forest and 76% in old gardens. Several species had estimated densities of 10?60 birds per km2 and we suggest that the most abundant species on New Guinea are at least as common as those on the surrounding islands. Two species of particular conservation importance, Palm Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus and Pesquefs Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus had estimated densities of just one bird per km2, while several other notably rare species included Dusky Lory Pseudeos fuscata and the fig-parrots Cyclopsitta diopthalma and Psittaculirostris desmarestii. Most parrot species were strongly associated with the lower and flatter areas of the site, where mature secondary forest dominated. Again, this is a pattern shared with parrots on nearby islands, and the finding emphasizes the importance of protecting lower-altitude mature forests within the region.
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Kleeman, Patrick M., and James D. Gilardi. "Geographical Variation of St. Lucia Parrot Flight Vocalizations." Condor 107, no. 1 (February 1, 2005): 62–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/condor/107.1.62.
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Abstract Parrots are vocal learners and many species of parrots are capable of learning new calls, even as adults. This capability gives parrots the potential to develop communication systems that can vary dramatically over space. St. Lucia Parrot (Amazona versicolor) flight vocalizations were examined for geographic variation between four different sites on the island of St. Lucia. Spectrographic cross-correlation analysis of a commonly used flight vocalization, the p-chow call, demonstrated quantitative differences between sites. Additionally, the similarity of p-chows decreased as the distance between sites increased. Flight call repertoires also differed among sites; parrots at the Des Bottes and Quilesse sites each used one flight call unique to those sites, while parrots at the Barre de L'Isle site used a flight call that Quilesse parrots gave only while perched. It is unclear whether the vocal variation changed clinally with distance, or whether there were discrete dialect boundaries as in a congener, the Yellow-naped Parrot (Amazona auropalliata, Wright 1996). The geographical scale over which the St. Lucia Parrot's vocal variation occurred was dramatically smaller than that of the Yellow-naped Parrot. Similar patterns of fine-scale vocal variation may be more widespread among other parrot species in the Caribbean than previously documented. Variación Geográfica de las Vocalizaciones de Vuelo de Amazona versicolor Resumen. Los loros aprenden vocalizaciones y los individuos de muchas especies son capaces de aprender nuevas llamadas incluso cuando son adultos. Esta habilidad otorga a los loros el potencial de desarrollar sistemas de comunicación que pueden variar notablemente en el espacio. Se estudiaron las vocalizaciones de vuelo de Amazona versicolor para determinar la ocurrencia de variaciones geográficas entre cuatro lugares diferentes de la isla de Santa Lucía. Un análisis espectrográfico de correlación cruzada de la llamada común, conocida como “p-chow”, demostró diferencias cuantitativas entre los distintos lugares. Además, la similitud entre estas llamadas disminuyó con incrementos en la distancia entre los lugares. Los repertorios de llamadas de vuelo también difirieron entre lugares: los loros de las localidades de Des Bottes y Quilesse emplearon una llamada de vuelo exclusiva para cada uno de esos sitios, mientras que los de Barre De L'Isle usaron como llamada de vuelo una vocalización que los de Quilesse sólo emitieron cuando estaban posados. No queda claro si las vocalizaciones cambian clinalmente con la distancia, o si existen distintos tipos discretos de vocalizaciones, como en su congénere A. auropalliata (Wright 1996). La escala geográfica a la que se da la variación vocal en A. versicolor es bastante menor que aquella a la cual se presenta en A. auropalliata. Patrones similares de variación vocal a pequeña escala pueden ser más comunes en otras especies de loros del Caribe de lo que se ha documentado hasta ahora.
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Chen, Jing-Yuan, Meng-Chi Wu, Zih-Syun Fang, and Hui-Wen Chen. "Serological Surveillance and Risk Factor Analysis for Parrot Bornavirus in Taiwan." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 2024 (April 13, 2024): 1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/7811540.
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Parrots are traded globally and pose a substantial risk for disease transmission involving parrot-specific pathogens. Parrot bornavirus (PaBV) belongs to the Bornaviridae family and encompasses two clades: alphapsittaciforme (PaBV-1 to -4, PaBV-7, and -8) and betapsittaciforme (PaBV-5 and PaBV-6). These clades cause proventricular dilatation disease, a chronic disease affecting all parrot species. PaBV infections can persist for varying durations in parrots, but the transmission routes are still not well understood. Therefore, surveillance of PaBV-infected parrots is necessary for disease control and improving psittacine aviculture. This study used isolated PaBV-4 NTUCL7 and PaBV-5 NTUCL54 strains to establish and validate two serological diagnostic methods: immunoblotting (IB) and immunocytochemical staining (ICC). To determine the prevalence of PaBV in parrots in Taiwan, 370 clinical serum samples were collected from 13 collaborative veterinary hospitals during a 1-year surveillance period. Serological surveillance revealed a seropositivity rate of 25.68%. Among the seropositive samples, 91.58% were infected with alphapsittaciforme PaBV, demonstrating the predominance of this viral clade in parrots. An analysis of risk factors also demonstrated an association between seropositivity and parrot genera, age, and clinical signs. Cohen’s kappa coefficient analysis showed a high degree of similarity (kappa value = 0.975) between the IB and ICC results, which shows that these serological diagnostic measures are robust. This study established two reliable serological diagnostic measures that are instrumental in serological surveillance, particularly in one of the major parrot-exporting regions. The surveillance results increase the understanding of PaBV infection and associated risk factors and allow methods to be devised for the conservation and protection of parrot populations.
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Lee, So-Young, Sung-Seok Lee, Young S. Lyoo, and Hee-Myung Park. "DNA Detection and Genotypic Identification of Potentially Human-Pathogenic Microsporidia from Asymptomatic Pet Parrots in South Korea as a Risk Factor for Zoonotic Emergence." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 77, no. 23 (September 30, 2011): 8442–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.05343-11.
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ABSTRACTWe detected and identified genotypes of human-pathogenic microsporidia in fecal samples from 51 asymptomatic captive-bred pet parrots in South Korea. Microsporidia were identified in 8 samples (15.7%); 7 parrots tested positive forEncephalitozoon hellem, and 1 parrot tested positive for bothE. hellemandEncephalitozoon cuniculi. In genotypic identifications,E. hellemwas present in genotypes 1A and 2B andE. cuniculiwas present in genotype II. Pet parrots might be a source of human microsporidian infection.
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Davis, Catherine E. J., Adrian H. Bibby, Kevin M. Buckley, Kenneth P. McNatty, and Janet L. Pitman. "Unique oestrogen receptor ligand-binding domain sequence of native parrots: a possible link between phytoestrogens and breeding success." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 30, no. 2 (2018): 262. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rd17045.
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The New Zealand (NZ) native parrots kākāpō, kākā and kea are classified as critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable respectively. Successful reproduction of kākāpō and kākā is linked to years of high levels of fruiting in native flora (mast years). To assess a possible hormonal link between native plants and reproductive success in these parrots in mast years, we examined the ligand-binding domains (LBD) of the progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) in NZ native (kākāpō, kākā, kea and kākāriki) and non-native (Australian cockatiel) parrots and compared them with those in the chicken. The amino acid sequences for PR, AR, ESR1 and ESR2 shared >90% homology among the NZ parrots, the cockatiel and, in most cases, the chicken. The exception was for the ESR1 LBD, which contained an extra eight amino acids at the C-terminal in all the parrots compared with the chicken and with published sequences of non-parrot species. These results support the notion that the ESR1 LBD of parrots responds differently to putative oestrogenic compounds in native trees in NZ during times of intermittent masting. In turn, this may provide important information for generating parrot-specific bioassays and linkages to steroidogenic activity in native plants.
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Setiyani, Ayu Diyah, and Mukhtar Amin Ahmadi. "An overview of illegal parrot trade in Maluku and North Maluku Provinces." Forest and Society 4, no. 1 (April 26, 2020): 48. http://dx.doi.org/10.24259/fs.v4i1.7316.
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Maluku is widely considered as a global avifauna hotspot. However, illegal parrot trades threatens numerous species to extinction. To date, there is no study on the extent of illegal trade in Maluku, which as a result, hampers efforts at targeting conservation initiatives. The aims of this study are to identify the pattern of illegal parrot trade, to identify factors that contribute to illegal parrot trade, and to identify actors involved in illegal parrot trade in Maluku and North Maluku Provinces. The study found that the number of wildlife rescued in 2018 was 1,402 individuals. Surprisingly, 84% (1,177 individuals) of the rescued wildlife were birds and approximately 96% (1,135 individuals) of the birds were parrots. Furthermore, the most commonly rescued parrots (90%) were from illegal trade seizures, and the remainder were handed over voluntarily by local communities. These trends indicate that the traffic of illegal parrot trade is extremely high. Meanwhile, the small number of handovers for birds indicates that there is an insufficient understanding and awareness among locals about wildlife laws and ecological values. The study identified three factors contributing to illegal parrot trade, which are the high potential for obtaining parrots with exotic appearances; the economic value of wild-caught parrots; and overall accessibility. The characteristics of the trade involved actors that can be defined as subsistence and opportunist harvesters, that work with several intermediaries, and consumers demand for pets. To overcome these challenges, there are two strategies which are proposed based on this research: (1) expand the upstream strategy focusing on protecting parrots in their habitats and empowering local communities to be involved in conservation; and (2) engage more on downstream strategies of emphasizing law enforcement and raising awareness.
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Tamalene, M. Nasir, Said Hasan, and K. Kartika. "Local knowledge and community behavior in the exploitation of parrots in surrounding area of aketajawe lolobata national park." Biosfer 12, no. 1 (April 28, 2019): 24–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.21009/biosferjpb.v12n1.24-33.
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Parrots include in birds of Aves class and Psittaciformes order. In Indonesia, parrots in known by their local species names such as Nuri (true parrot), Kakatua (Cockatoo), and Perkici (Loriini). Parrots can be found almost in all type of habitat in Halmahera Island, Maluku Utara Province, from mangrove forest to tropical rainforest in lowlands and highlands in Halmahera Island. The research aims to describe community activities in the exploitation of parrots around the Aketajawe Lolobata National Park, Halmahera Island. The study uses the ex-post facto method with the questionnaire as the instrument to interview the communities consist of the catcher, seller, and owner of parrots. Research result data is analyzed descriptively and presented in the form of tables and charts. The result shows that there are five kinds of parrots that are caught, sold, and raised by the communities of Gitaraja, Bale, Koli, and Kosa Village. The exploited birds are Kasturi Ternate (Lorius garrulus) Nuri Kalung Ungu (Eos scuamata), Nuri Bayan (Eclectus roratus), Kakatua Putih (Cacatua alba) and Kakatua Jambul Kuning (Cacatua galerita). The number of parrots being caught during 2013-2016 is 327, 320 are sold, and 213 are raised. The highest percentage of parrot catching and selling is 21% in 2013, and the lowest is 2% in 2016-2018. The highest percentage of raising is 8% in 2015, and the lowest is 3% in 2018. Kasturi Ternate (Lorius garrulus) is the species with the highest rate of exploitation.
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Juliusson, Carl Magnus. "Litteraturens mest mänskliga fågel." Tidskrift för litteraturvetenskap 45, no. 4 (January 1, 2015): 43–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.54797/tfl.v45i4.8938.
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Literature’s Most Human Bird: Beckett and His Parrots.
Perhaps more so than any other animal, the parrot has achieved a unique status as a cultural symbol and cliché in Western literature. Ever since its first introduction in Europe by Alexander the Great, the parrot’s ability to imitate human language has been a never-ending source of fascination for human society. In literature, the talking parrot has always evoked the question of what it means to be human, reminding us of the painful possibility that language and thought might be merely a product of mindless imitation, and thus of no greater value.
The parrot features as a significant presence in practically every work written by Samuel Beckett during his first thirty years as a writer. This article inscribes Beckett into a tradition of utilizing parrots as means of satire, in which the meaninglessness and mindlessness of everyday language and inveterate phrases are compared with the pure sound-imitations uttered by the bird.
The parrot may be studied as a motif more deeply integrated into the Beckett oeuvre than his complex web of quotes and references to the literary tradition and writers such as Gustave Flaubert and James Joyce. One can argue that the parrot embodies the Beckettian theme of repetition and difference, present at almost every level of his writing. In this article, this assertion is explored through an interpretation of Lucky’s monologue in En attendant Godot (1952), based on the principles of aural similarity and repetition gone wrong.
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Kim, Jung-Il, Jong-Won Baek, and Chang-Bae Kim. "Image Classification of Amazon Parrots by Deep Learning: A Potentially Useful Tool for Wildlife Conservation." Biology 11, no. 9 (September 1, 2022): 1303. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biology11091303.
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Parrots play a crucial role in the ecosystem by performing various roles, such as consuming the reproductive structures of plants and dispersing plant seeds. However, most are threatened because of habitat loss and commercial trade. Amazon parrots are one of the most traded and illegally traded parrots. Therefore, monitoring their wild populations and global trade is crucial for their conservation. However, monitoring wild populations is becoming more challenging because the manual analysis of large-scale datasets of images obtained from camera trap methods is labor-intensive and time consuming. Monitoring the wildlife trade is difficult because of the large quantities of wildlife trade. Amazon parrots can be difficult to identify because of their morphological similarity. Object detection models have been widely used for automatic and accurate species classification. In this study, to classify 26 Amazon parrot species, 8 Single Shot MultiBox Detector models were assessed. Among the eight models, the DenseNet121 model showed the highest mean average precision at 88.9%. This model classified the 26 Amazon parrot species at 90.7% on average. Continuous improvement of deep learning models classifying Amazon parrots may support monitoring wild populations and the global trade of these species.
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Luck, Gary W., Shannon Triplett, and Peter G. Spooner. "Bird use of almond plantations: implications for conservation and production." Wildlife Research 40, no. 6 (2013): 523. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr13079.
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Context Farmland crops may suffer damage from native animals, but also provide a critical resource during times of food scarcity. We know little about bird use of almond crops. Aims To examine factors influencing temporal and spatial variation in the use of almond crops in north-western Victoria by bird species, including the threatened regent parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus), and to record levels of crop damage. Methods We measured bird occurrence in 15 transects during the almond-growing season of 2009/10, and 32 transects during 2010/11. Crop-damage assessments were conducted in 2010/11. Spatio-temporal variation in bird occurrence was related to seasonal factors, landscape variables and bird-control activities. Key results Significantly more regent parrots and small parrots (e.g. Platycercus elegans and Psephotus haematonotus) were recorded in almond plantations in 2009/10 than in 2010/11. Rainfall and wheat production was much higher in 2010/11, and we hypothesise that the availability of alternative foods reduced parrot dependence on almonds. Regent parrot occurrence did not differ across months within a season, but more small parrots were recorded during almond nut maturity. Regent parrots appeared to prefer locations where almond crops abutted native vegetation, but only during 2009/10, a dry year with likely limited food availability. Small parrots occurred more often in crops close to riverine vegetation and distant from farm offices. Nut damage was generally low, with only 7 of 32 transects sustaining >4% total damage, but damage assessments were conducted during a season of high rainfall, with likely greater availability of alternative food. Percentage damage was significantly correlated with the number of regent and small parrots. Shooting activity did not deter birds from using almond crops. Conclusions Parrots appear to rely more on almond crops for food when environmental conditions limit other food resources. A key strategy for managing bird impacts on almonds while supporting species conservation is to provide decoy crops of preferred native plants. Implications Rapid loss of almond plantations may lead to population declines in the threatened regent parrot if the availability of alternative food is not simultaneously increased. The role of production land uses in supporting native birds needs to be recognised by conservation management agencies.
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Biddle, Rebecca, Ivette Solis-Ponce, Martin Jones, Mark Pilgrim, and Stuart Marsden. "Parrot Ownership and Capture in Coastal Ecuador: Developing a Trapping Pressure Index." Diversity 13, no. 1 (January 5, 2021): 15. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13010015.
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We located rural communities with pet parrots and used these locations to predict the probability of illegal parrot ownership across coastal Ecuador, using variables related to demand for pets, parrot availability, and trapping accessibility. In 12 pet keeping communities, we carried out in-depth interviews with 106 people, to quantify ownership, trapping, and interviewees’ attitudes towards these behaviours. We combined these data to calculate a trapping pressure index for four key roosting, feeding and nesting sites for the Critically Endangered Lilacine or Ecuadorian Amazon Parrot Amazona lilacina. We found that 66% of all communities had pet parrots and 31% had pet Lilacines. Our predictive models showed that pet parrot ownership occurs throughout coastal Ecuador, but ownership of Lilacines by rural communities, is more likely to occur within the natural distribution of the species. The number of people per community who had owned Lilacines in the last three years varied from 0–50%, as did the number of people who had trapped them—from 0–26%. We interviewed 10 people who had captured the species in the last three years who reported motives of either to sell or keep birds as pets. Attitudes towards pet keeping and trapping differed among the 12 communities: 20–52% believed it was acceptable to keep pet parrots, and for 32–74%, it was acceptable to catch parrots to sell. This being said, most people believed that wild parrots were important for nature and that local people had a responsibility to protect them. We conclude that trapping pressure is greatest in the southern part of the Lilacine’s range, and urgent conservation measures such as nest and roost protection, and local community engagement are needed.
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Tamungang, Simon A., Robert A. Cheke, Gilbert Z. Mofor, Richard N. Tamungang, and Fritz T. Oben. "Conservation Concern for the Deteriorating Geographical Range of the Grey Parrot in Cameroon." International Journal of Ecology 2014 (2014): 1–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/753294.
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The need for information on Grey Parrot distribution and vegetation associations for informed management and policy decisions was the basis for this study. A nationwide survey of the Grey Parrot population and habitat status was carried out, using questionnaire and point count methods. From the results, the extent of the contemporary range of the parrots was restricted to Southern Cameroon, which harbours the rainforest. Regional parrot population means ranged from 3,487 parrots in the Littoral to 1,351,275 parrots in the East Regions. The extent of the contemporary range as a percentage of the whole country was 25.4% and as a percentage of the regions with rainforest was 44.5%. The historic range of the bird has been reduced by over 55.5%. Estimated percentage of forest lost per region ranged from 20.4% in the Centre to 57.1% in the East and South Regions. At a global level, Cameroon contributed 9% to the total extent of the range of the Grey Parrot in Africa. The range is increasingly fragmented, contracted, and lost through land-based socioeconomic activities. These degradation pressures on the range called for urgent conservation considerations for long-term survival of the parrot species and its associated biodiversity in Cameroon.
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Valle, Simon, Nigel J. Collar, Martim Melo, and Stuart J. Marsden. "What can the abundance of Grey Parrots on Príncipe Island tell us about large parrot conservation?" Journal of Tropical Ecology 36, no. 6 (November 2020): 293–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467421000031.
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AbstractWhile populations of the Endangered Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus have collapsed across its range, the species remains remarkably abundant on the island of Príncipe, Gulf of Guinea. We examine how aspects of its ecology interplay with local environmental conditions, to inform conservation strategies for this species and other large parrots. On Príncipe, parrots breed in large trees of common species, with nest densities (42 ± 34 km−2) greatly exceeding those for any comparably sized parrot. Productivity is high (1.9 chicks per cavity), probably reflecting the absence of nest competitors and predators. Food sources are abundant and much of the island is inaccessible to trappers, so many nests are successful each year. Historically harvest has involved taking only chicks from trees in a few traditional patches. These conditions have combined to allow Grey Parrots to thrive on Príncipe, while elsewhere nest trees are timber targets, nest competition and nest predation are likely to be more intense, trapping is indiscriminate, and few areas remain unexploited by trappers. Preservation of large trees as breeding refugia, and vigilance against the indiscriminate trapping of adult birds, are identified as key conditions to stabilize and recover mainland Grey Parrot populations and indeed large parrots generally, given their very similar ecological traits and anthropogenic circumstances.
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Ważna, Agnieszka, Mateusz Ciepliński, Weronika Ratajczak, Jacek Bojarski, and Jan Cichocki. "Parrots in the wild in Polish cities." PLOS ONE 19, no. 6 (June 20, 2024): e0304484. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304484.
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Amateur breeding of parrots as pets has contributed to many species being found in areas where they never occurred in the wild, particularly in warmer regions, but also in the temperate climates of North America and Europe. Climate change is likely to exacerbate this process. We hypothesised that parrots occurred in the wild in the cities of Poland, especially the rose-ringed parakeet, as there are reports of breeding sites in the literature. Using information on lost, found and sighted parrots posted on social media, we have analysed the extent of parrot emergence in Poland. In a period of less than two years (from October 2018, through 2019 and from June to the end of December 2021), 2,675 parrot specimens of 49 species were found in the wild. The most frequently observed species were cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus (N = 962), budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus (N = 884) and rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri (N = 182). Parrots were most frequently observed in urban areas, in regions characterized by a higher population size, a higher income and a higher proportion of people with a university degree. Our study shows that the occurrence of parrots, especially rose-ringed parakeets in the wild, needs to be monitored as new breeding sites may appear.
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Reuleaux, A., N. Bunbury, P. Villard, and M. Waltert. "Status, distribution and recommendations for monitoring of the Seychelles black parrot Coracopsis (nigra) barklyi." Oryx 47, no. 4 (August 8, 2013): 561–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605312000300.
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AbstractThe Seychelles black parrot Coracopsis (nigra) barklyi, endemic to the Seychelles islands, is the only surviving parrot on the archipelago. Although originally classified as a subspecies of the lesser vasa parrot Coracopsis nigra evidence now indicates that the Seychelles population may be a distinct species, in which case its conservation status also requires reassessment. Here, we address the status of the C. (n.) barklyi population on the islands of its current and likely historical range, Praslin and Curieuse, assess the effect of habitat type on relative abundance, and identify the most appropriate point count duration for monitoring the population. We conducted point count distance sampling at 268 locations using habitat type as a covariate in the modelling of the detection function. Density on Praslin was estimated to be 0.14–0.24 individuals per ha, resulting in an estimate of a total of 520–900 individuals (95% confidence interval). The highest densities occurred in endemic palm and mixed forests. Habitats with a high proportion of palms were more likely to support parrots than habitats without palms. As no parrots were detected on Curieuse the number estimated on Praslin is the global wild population. The small size of this population necessitates its categorization as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Our main recommendation for the conservation of C. (n.) barklyi, in addition to continued monitoring, is the preservation and expansion of the parrot's endemic palm forest habitat.
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Engebretson, M. "The welfare and suitability of parrots as companion animals: a review." Animal Welfare 15, no. 3 (August 2006): 263–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600030475.
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AbstractIn recent years there has been an increased interest in studies related to the welfare of avian species commonly kept as companion animals, specifically those in the order Psittaciformes, commonly referred to as ‘parrots’. During this time the biology and behaviour of wild parrots has also become better understood, aiding the assessment of welfare in captive environments. The impact of the pet trade on wild parrot populations has also become clear. This order now has more globally threatened species than almost any other major group of birds. Many significant aspects of parrot behaviour in the wild, such as flocking, social interaction with conspecifics, foraging on a variety of foods and flight, are denied to varying degrees to parrots kept as companion animals. Captive parrots show high levels of stereotypy, suggesting poor welfare. Welfare may be improved by appropriate environmental enrichment and changes in the social environment of captive parrots kept as companion animals; however, such changes require that caretakers have sufficient knowledge, resources and motivation to accommodate such conditions. The concept of companion animal suitability is an important consideration when developing regulations or policy aimed at improving the welfare of animals kept as companions. Although individual exceptions exist and the level of suitability may vary depending on species, in general, their presence in the pet trade has resulted in serious animal welfare and conservation challenges for parrots, indicating that these animals may be unsuitable as human companions.
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Valastanova, M., M. Petrikova, L. Kulikova, and Z. Knotek. "Psittacine beak and feather disease virus and avian polyomavirus detection rate in clinically healthy captive birds in the Czech Republic." Veterinární Medicína 66, No. 2 (February 2, 2021): 72–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/22/2020-vetmed.
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The aim of this study was to document the detection rate of the beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) and avian polyomavirus (APV) across clinically healthy captive parrots in the Czech Republic. The presence of the BFDV and APV was tested using a nested polymerase chain rection (PCR) in 177 parrots originating from 34 facilities (breeding facilities, private owners). Positive BFDV results came from 38 parrots (21.5%) within 12 facilities (35.3%). Two parrots (1.1%) originating from two different facilities (5.9%) tested positive for APV. The results show a high detection rate of BFDV in the clinically healthy captive parrot populations in the Czech Republic. Preventive measures to stop the spread of this virus are, thus, essential.
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PIRES, STEPHEN F., JACQUELINE L. SCHNEIDER, MAURICIO HERRERA, and JOSÉ L. TELLA. "Spatial, temporal and age sources of variation in parrot poaching in Bolivia." Bird Conservation International 26, no. 3 (December 14, 2015): 293–306. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095927091500026x.
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SummaryParrot poaching and the subsequent illegal trade in the Neotropics are exacerbating the decline in parrot populations. Little is known, however, on where, when and how parrots are poached. The goals of this study were to identify the spatio-temporal patterns of parrot poaching in order to identify ways in which poaching could be reduced, using parrot data (9,013 individuals from 27 species) collected daily in a major illicit wildlife market in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, in 2005. Parrot data identified the individuals by species, age, date of arrival at market, and the poaching location. Parrot poaching strongly varied seasonally, with differences among municipalities, species, and age classes. While almost 90% of parrots were poached within a 234 km radius of the market, 84% originated from seven municipalities in which two of them accounted for 56% alone. With regard to species, six of the 27 market species accounted for nearly 90% of total individuals. A disproportionate share of parrots (47%) arrived between July and September. Poaching of adults and juveniles peaked however at different times of the year, offering valuable information for species where very little is known about their breeding phenology. Contrary to the idea that most parrot trade comes from nest poaching, most poached parrots (c.70%) were adults, which outnumbered juveniles in 21 out of the 26 native species. Therefore, the detrimental effects of parrot poaching are higher than simple trade numbers would suggest when considering that harvesting of adults has a stronger impact on the population viability and risk of extinction of long-lived species. Based on the findings, we recommend the allocation of police and conservation resources to patrol particular areas at particular times of the year in order to reduce the likelihood of poaching by species, age classes, and conservation status.
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Engeman, Richard, Desley Whisson, Jessica Quinn, Felipe Cano, Pedro Quiñones, and Thomas H. White Jr. "Monitoring invasive mammalian predator populations sharing habitat with the Critically Endangered Puerto Rican parrot Amazona vittata." Oryx 40, no. 1 (December 7, 2005): 95–102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0030605305001286.
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Critically Endangered Puerto Rican parrots Amazona vittata are one of the rarest birds in the world. Several exotic mammal species capable of preying on Puerto Rican parrots cohabit the Caribbean National Forest with the only wild population of these parrots. We used tracking plates, monitoring blocks and trapping to index black rats, small Indian mongooses and feral cats in parrot habitat and in public-use areas in the same habitat type. We had high trap success for black rats at all sites (42% of all sites combined), among the highest reported in the world. Rat response to monitoring (nontoxic bait) blocks was universally high, regardless of ground or tree placement. Mongooses were present at all sites, with a greater proportion of plates tracked within the forest than at public-use sites. Cats were present at all forest sites and one of the public-use sites. Presence of the three species did not appear to be linked to human disturbance. Because only 30–40 Puerto Rican parrots survive in the wild, with as few as three pairs nesting in 2002, we concluded that the abundance and pervasiveness of exotic mammalian predators poses a greater threat to the parrots than has been generally acknowledged. This is evidenced by mammalian predation during recent parrot breeding seasons, including six fledglings taken by mongooses and one nest failure from rats during 2000–2003.
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Schmidt, Elizabeth, Patricia Serafini, Elenise Sipinski, and Antonio Paulillo. "Plasma protein concentrations of the young and adult Amazona brasiliensis parrots." Veterinarski glasnik 71, no. 1 (2017): 44–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/vetgl170117008s.
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Introduction. The Red-tailed Amazon parrot (Amazona brasiliensis) is an endangered species of the Psittacine family, and for which various data are important for a comprehensive preservation plan. Data about plasma protein gel electrophoresis of Amazon parrot blood are scarce. The purpose of this study was to determine plasma protein concentrations and concentrations of major protein bands in blood of young and adult Red-tailed Amazon parrot (Amazona brasiliensis). Materials and Methods. Blood samples from eight young and eight adult healthy free-living parrots were obtained. Plasma protein concentration and fractions were determined using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare variables. Results and Conclusions. Six major protein bands with the following molecular weights were identified by SDS-PAGE: 170 kDa, 117 kDa, 85 kDa (putative ovotransferrin), 60 kDa, 45 kDa and 23 kDa. Adult parrots had significantly higher concentrations of total proteins, albumin and other proteins with similar mobility (around 60 kDa). Young birds had significantly higher levels of 23kDa proteins. The concentration of putative ovotransferrin (85 kDa) was not different between young and adult parrots. Plasma protein gel electrophoresis patterns in Red-tailed Amazon parrots are similar between young and adult animals, but specific protein bands differ in their absolute concentrations. This finding should be taken into consideration when clinical pathology data are analysed.
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Villaseñor-Sánchez, Emma Ines, Rodolfo Dirzo, and Katherine Renton. "Importance of the lilac-crowned parrot in pre-dispersal seed predation of Astronium graveolens in a Mexican tropical dry forest." Journal of Tropical Ecology 26, no. 2 (January 29, 2010): 227–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467409990447.
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Abstract:Parrots represent a large biomass of canopy granivores in tropical forests, and may be effective pre-dispersal seed predators. We evaluated the importance of the lilac-crowned parrot (Amazona finschi) as a pre-dispersal seed predator of Astronium graveolens (Anacardiaceae) in tropical dry forest. Seeds were collected in fruit-traps beneath 22 trees to compare pre-dispersal seed predation by parrots and insects, and determine whether intensity of seed predation was related to fruit-crop size or the aggregation of fruiting conspecifics around focal trees. Ground-level exclosures were established to compare post-dispersal seed predation by vertebrates and insects. The lilac-crowned parrot predated 43% of seeds pre-dispersal, while insects predated only 1.3%. Intensity of pre-dispersal seed predation by parrots was significantly greater in high-fruiting 0.79-ha resource patches, and was not related to fruit abundance of the focal tree. Foraging parrots also discarded immature fruits below the tree, causing a total 56% pre-dispersal loss of seed production, which was greater than post-dispersal removal by vertebrates, mainly rodents (51%) or insects (36%). Our results show that parrots play an important role as pre-dispersal seed predators in tropical dry forests. The reduction of parrot populations in tropical forests may have consequences for seed predation, affecting recruitment patterns of canopy trees.
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Heinsohn, Robert, Stephen Murphy, and Sarah Legge. "Overlap and competition for nest holes among eclectus parrots, palm cockatoos and sulphur-crested cockatoos." Australian Journal of Zoology 51, no. 1 (2003): 81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo02003.
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We examined the extent of overlap in the characteristics of nest holes used by eclectus parrots (Eclectus roratus), palm cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus) and sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) in patches of rainforest and woodland in and around Iron Range National Park, Cape York Peninsula, Australia. Eclectus parrots nested only in rainforest and palm cockatoos nested mostly in eucalypt woodland adjacent to rainforest. Sulphur-crested cockatoos nested in both habitats. Nest holes of eclectus parrots and rainforest sulphur-crested cockatoos were in trees of larger DBH (diameter at breast height) and higher off the ground than those of palm cockatoos and sulphur-crested cockatoos in woodland. Palm cockatoos differed from the other parrots in their use of deeper holes with entrances that faced skywards rather than sideways. Both palm cockatoos and woodland sulphur-crested cockatoos used nests with smaller entrances than eclectus parrots and rainforest sulphur-crested cockatoos. All species showed intraspecific competition for nest holes. Behavioural conflict was also common between sulphur-crested cockatoos and the other two species. Each year 9.7–25.8% of eclectus parrot nests were taken over either permanently or temporarily by sulphur-crested cockatoos. Only one palm cockatoo nest was taken over by sulphur-crested cockatoos. Nest-holes were destroyed by natural causes at similar rates in rainforest (3.8% per annum over 174 nest-years) and woodland (5.4% per annum over 93 nest-years). Four nest trees fell over, and the floor of the nest collapsed at a further four holes. Three woodland nest trees burnt down during dry-season fires (August–October). New eclectus parrot and rainforest sulphur-crested cockatoo holes originated from incipient hollows on the tree that were modified by the parrots. We discuss the intense competition between these large parrots in light of the apparent shortage of appropriate nest holes in Cape York rainforest and eucalypt woodland.
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ALOYSIUS, SCOTT LI MENG, DING LI YONG, JESSICA G. LEE, and ANUJ JAIN. "Flying into extinction: Understanding the role of Singapore’s international parrot trade in growing domestic demand." Bird Conservation International 30, no. 1 (June 14, 2019): 139–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0959270919000182.
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SummarySouth-East Asia’s bird trade is of global conservation concern as it has massively depleted wild populations of many species. Parrots (Order Psittaciformes) are especially vulnerable because they are the most heavily traded group of birds globally under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) appendices. Singapore’s involvement in the global pet bird trade as a transhipment hub is well documented, particularly for parrots. Yet, much less is known about the links between its domestic and international trade. We attempt to quantify this relationship by comparing bird trade data on the CITES database with past market surveys of pet shops, complemented with semi-structured interviews with 30 parrot owners in Singapore. We report a decline in total imports and exports of CITES-listed birds in Singapore from 2005 to 2016, consistent with global trends after the European Union trade ban on wild bird imports. However, parrots continue to make up the majority of total imports; and there was a yearly increase in the percentage of parrot imports out of total imports. In addition, we report a difference in imports and exports of 54,207 CITES I, II and III listed birds into Singapore i.e. birds imported but not re-exported. A substantial proportion of these birds were possibly channelled into the domestic pet trade or used as breeding stock. Interviews with parrot owners confirmed the growing demand and popularity of parrots and particularly of larger species. We conclude that the domestic demand for parrots may have been previously underestimated, and make recommendations to manage Singapore’s international and domestic pet bird trade such as implementing a licensing and records system to track the movement of birds.
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Costa, Pierluca, Elisabetta Macchi, Emanuela Valle, Michele De Marco, Daniele M. Nucera, Laura Gasco, and Achille Schiavone. "An association between feather damaging behavior and corticosterone metabolite excretion in captive African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus)." PeerJ 4 (September 13, 2016): e2462. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2462.
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BackgroundAfrican grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) are kept as pets and are frequently hand-reared. It has been observed that hand-reared African grey parrots may develop behavioral disorders such as feather damaging behavior (FDB). It is well known that chronic stress is involved in behavioral disorders in captive parrots. The main glucocorticoid in birds is corticosterone; its quantification provides information about adrenocortical activity and is considered to be a reliable indicator of stress levels in birds. We analyzed the differences in the excretion of corticosterone metabolites (CM) in the droppings of African grey parrots characterized by: 1. different rearing histories (parent rearing vs. hand rearing); and 2. the presence or absence of FDB in hand-reared parrots.MethodsA total of 82 African grey parrots that were kept in captivity were considered. According to breeding methods, three groups of birds were defined: 1. The parent-reared (PR) parrots included birds kept in pairs (n= 30 pairs) with a conspecific partner of the opposite sex. All of these birds were healthy and never showed FDB signs; 2. The healthy hand-reared parrots (H-HR) included pet parrots individually kept, that were hand-reared and did not display any sign of FDB (n= 11, 7 males and 4 females); 3. The FDB hand-reared parrot (FDB-HR) included pet parrots individually kept, that were hand-reared and displayed FDB (n= 11, 7 males and 4 females). Droppings were collected in the morning over three alternating days in autumn 2014 and spring 2015. The CM were determined using a multi-species corticosterone enzyme immunoassay kit. Split-plot repeated-measure ANOVA was used to examine any differences using group, season and group × season as the main factors.ResultsDifferent quantities of CM in droppings were found for the three groups. The mean CM value was 587 ng/g in the PR parrots, 494 ng/g in the H-HR parrots and 1,744 ng/g in the FDB-HR parrots, irrespective of the season. The excretion of CM in FDB-HR was significantly higher than in PR or H-HR parrots. CM in droppings were not influenced by the season (autumn vs. spring); furthermore, the interaction between group and sampling season was not significant. Limited to the H-HR and FDB-HR groups, a trend in the significance of the difference in the mean CM excreted by male and female birds was observed, with the levels excreted by males being higher than those excreted by females. When the effect of age was considered (in the two separate groups), there was a statistically significant positive correlation only for H-HR.ConclusionsThe highest amount of CM excretion was found in FDB-HR parrots, and a positive correlation between age and CM excretion was found in H-HR. Given that the CM excretion of both PR and H-HR parrots was similar in our study, future research is recommended to investigate the specific aspects of hand-rearing to improve parrot welfare.
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Carter, Paul. "Parrot Interpreter: Representation, Extinction and the Electronic Information Environment." Cultural Studies Review 12, no. 1 (August 5, 2013): 89–103. http://dx.doi.org/10.5130/csr.v12i1.3416.
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Humans, it seems, can’t get enough of parrots. Ethnography, folklore, psychology, and, of course, imaginative literature all offer copious evidence of our fantasy of living with, communicating with and even being parrots. The natural history of parrots and the cultural history of parrots present something of a conundrum: on the one hand, a massive destructiveness (illegal bird and feather trade, environment destruction, scientific collections); on the other, an often erotically inflected sympathetic identification leading to the production of new forms. It’s strange to realise that Europe is infested with a shadow population of captive and inbred budgerigars, whose numbers far exceed those remaining in the wild and who can never return to their origins. If, as our privileged other, our uncanny mimic and double, the parrot still fails to survive, what does this tell us about our economy of desire? It seems that to know is to consume and destroy; and that the apparent contrast between the operations of the rainforest loggers and bird-trappers and the sentimental representations and transformations parrot suffers in human society is overdrawn. How is this contradiction to be explained?
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Olah, George, Brian Tilston Smith, Leo Joseph, Samuel C. Banks, and Robert Heinsohn. "Advancing Genetic Methods in the Study of Parrot Biology and Conservation." Diversity 13, no. 11 (October 23, 2021): 521. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13110521.
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Parrots (Psittaciformes) are a well-studied, diverse group of birds distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. Today, one-third of their species face extinction, mainly due to anthropogenic threats. Emerging tools in genetics have made major contributions to understanding basic and applied aspects of parrot biology in the wild and in captivity. In this review, we show how genetic methods have transformed the study of parrots by summarising important milestones in the advances of genetics and their implementations in research on parrots. We describe how genetics helped to further knowledge in specific research fields with a wide array of examples from the literature that address the conservation significance of (1) deeper phylogeny and historical biogeography; (2) species- and genus-level systematics and taxonomy; (3) conservation genetics and genomics; (4) behavioural ecology; (5) molecular ecology and landscape genetics; and (6) museomics and historical DNA. Finally, we highlight knowledge gaps to inform future genomic research on parrots. Our review shows that the application of genetic techniques to the study of parrot biology has far-reaching implications for addressing diverse research aims in a highly threatened and charismatic clade of birds.
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Davis, Rebecca, and Molly Rogerson. "Parrot awareness week 2023." Veterinary Nurse 14, no. 6 (July 2, 2023): 278. http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/vetn.2023.14.6.278.
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Parrot Awareness Week was launched in July 2023 to promote improving welfare for pet parrot-like birds, aiming to highlight several important themes with respect to parrot welfare in captivity, to help owners provide their parrots with the best care possible.
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Dickinson, Edwin, Melody W. Young, Daniel Tanis, and Michael C. Granatosky. "Patterns and Factors Influencing Parrot (Order: Psittaciformes) Success in Establishing Thriving Naturalized Populations within the Contiguous United States." Animals 13, no. 13 (June 24, 2023): 2101. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani13132101.
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Parrots (Order: Psittaciformes) represent one of the most striking and ecomorphologically diverse avian clades, spanning more than two orders of magnitude in body size with populations occupying six continents. The worldwide diaspora of parrots is largely due to the pet trade, driven by human desire for bright, colorful, and intelligent animals as companions. Some introduced species have aptly inserted themselves into the local ecosystem and established successful breeding colonies all around the globe. Notably, the United States is home to several thriving populations of introduced species including red-masked parakeets (Psittacara erythrogenys), monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus), nanday conures (Aratinga nenday), and red-crowned amazons (Amazona viridigenalis). Their incredible success globally begs the question as to how these birds adapt so readily to novel environments. In this commentary, we trace parrots through evolutionary history, contextualize existent naturalized parrot populations within the contiguous United States, and provide a phylogenetic regression analysis of body mass and brain size based on success in establishing breeding populations. The propensity for a parrot species to become established appears to be phylogenetically driven. Notably, parrots in the family Cacatuidae and Neotropical Pyrrhua appear to be poor at establishing themselves in the United States once released. Although brain size among Psittaciformes did not show a significant impact on successful breeding in the continental United States, we propose that the success of parrots can be attributed to their charismatic nature, significant intelligence relative to other avian lineages, and behavioral flexibility.
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Blanco, Guillermo, Pedro Romero-Vidal, Martina Carrete, Daniel Chamorro, Carolina Bravo, Fernando Hiraldo, and José L. Tella. "Burrowing Parrots Cyanoliseus patagonus as Long-Distance Seed Dispersers of Keystone Algarrobos, Genus Prosopis, in the Monte Desert." Diversity 13, no. 5 (May 12, 2021): 204. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13050204.
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Understanding of ecosystem structure and functioning requires detailed knowledge about plant–animal interactions, especially when keystone species are involved. The recent consideration of parrots as legitimate seed dispersers has widened the range of mechanisms influencing the life cycle of many plant species. We examined the interactions between the burrowing parrot Cyanoliseus patagonus and two dominant algarrobo trees (Prosopis alba and Prosopis nigra) in the Monte Desert, Argentina. We recorded the abundance and foraging behaviour of parrots; quantified the handling, consumption, wasting, and dispersal of ripe and unripe pods; and tested the viability of soft and hard ripe seeds wasted and transported by parrots. We found a high abundance of burrowing parrots. They predated on soft seeds from unripe pods while exclusively feeding upon pulp wrapping hard seeds from ripe pods. Frequent pod wasting beneath the plant or transport at a distance invariably implied the dispersal of multiple seeds in each event. Moreover, soft seeds retained viability after desiccation outside the mother plant, suggesting effective seed dispersal after partial pod predation due to a predator satiation effect. In about half of the foraging flocks, at least one parrot departed in flight with pods in its beak, with 10–34% of the flock components moving pods at distances averaging 238 m (P. alba) and 418 m (P. nigra). A snapshot sampling of faeces from livestock and wild mammals suggested a low frequency of seed dispersal by endozoochory and secondary dispersal by ants and dung beetles. The nomadic movements and long flights of burrowing parrots between breeding and foraging sites can lead to the dispersal of huge amounts of seeds across large areas that are sequentially exploited. Further research should evaluate the role of the burrowing parrot as a functionally unique species in the structure of the Monte Desert woods and the genetic structure of algarrobo species.
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M, Ashraful Kabir. "Inbreeding Fact of Exotic Wild Psittacids in Bangladesh." Journal of Ethology & Animal Science 2, no. 2 (May 24, 2019): 1–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.23880/jeasc-16000114.
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Captive breeding of short-tailed parrots (4) and long-tailed parakeets (16) out of 20 species were remarkable. These colourful birds were very nice in common appearance. Casual cages were used for their breeding especially for smaller birds. Parrots and parakeets are mainly reared as hobby and due to remarkable production and public acceptance only budgies are commercially abundant in Bangladesh. Parrot, Parakeet, mutated form of Ring-necked Parakeet, Lorikeet, Lovebird, Budgie, Conure, Rosella, Amazon Parrot, Cockatiel, and Cockatoo are common in all pet shop. In aviary, Budgie rearing is common then Lovebird, Cockatiel, and Macaw. Psittacids breeding accessories and its care are more complicated and vary from species to species. In breeding season most of the birds are shown aggressiveness to their pair and human too. Colourful feather, huge variety, nice voice, activeness and for talking ability these birds are excellent pet. Mortality rate of parrots and parakeets were found high. This study was performed in the year 2019
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Sorokinа, N. H., O. K. Halchynska, and V. S. Lepushynska. "ОРНІТОЗ У ПАПУГ." Scientific Messenger of LNU of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies 18, no. 3(71) (October 13, 2016): 105–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.15421/nvlvet7124.
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Psittacosis – a zooanthroponosis infection. In humans, the disease can manifest atypical pneumonia, enteritis, peritonitis, encephalitis. In parrots the disease starts with loss of appetite, drowsiness, weakness, fever, appearance of conjunctivitis, rhinitis and diarrhea. The causative agent of psittacosis in parrots are obligate intracellular microorganism Chlamydophila psittaci, which enters the body through the epithelium of the mucous membranes of respiratory tract. Its reproduction and accumulation occurs in the epithelial, and lymphoid reticulohistiocytosis cells. Chlamydia capable to long time cellular localization, can penetrate into the various organs and systems: the lungs, the nervous, cardiovascular system, liver. Parrot, who had been ill for psittacosis, is usually long remain carriers of Chlamydia. This article contains the definition of «psittacosis» as the disease, etiology, pathogenesis, main clinical features of parrots, pathological changes, especially the diagnosis, treatment and prevention. This materials are can help to owners of parrot and veterinary professionals to understand the disease, clinical signs, modern methods of diagnosis, prevention and therapy of psittacosis.
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Ragusa-Netto, J. "Extensive consumption of Tabebuia aurea (Manso) Benth. & Hook. (Bignoniaceae) nectar by parrots in a tecoma savanna in the southern Pantanal (Brazil)." Brazilian Journal of Biology 65, no. 2 (May 2005): 339–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842005000200018.
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Neotropical parrots forage for various food items such as seeds, fruit pulp, flowers, young leaves, and even arthropods. While foraging, many species wander over large areas that include both open and closed habitats. In this study, I examined parrot foraging activity during a brief synchronous and massive flowering in August 1998 in a tecoma savanna (dominated by Tabebuia aurea) in the southern Pantanal. Six parrot species, ranging from the small Brotogeris chiriri to the large Amazona aestiva, foraged for T. aurea nectar, but Nandayus nenday was by far the major nectar consumer, and the results of each of their visits, like those of the other species, was damage of a substantial proportion of the existing flower crop. Parrots foraged mostly during the afternoon, when nectar concentration tended to be higher. Nevertheless, compared to bird-pollinated flowers, which produce copious nectar, T. aurea had a smaller mean nectar volume per flower. Hence, presumably the amount of damage wreaked by these parrots resulted from their efforts to obtain part of their daily energy and water requirements. Thus, the synchronous and massive flowering occurring in such a brief period in the dry season may be related to, among other factors, the necessity of satiating predators such as parrots, which are still abundant in the Pantanal.
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Renton, Katherine. "Lilac-Crowned Parrot Diet and Food Resource Availability: Resource Tracking by a Parrot Seed Predator." Condor 103, no. 1 (February 1, 2001): 62–69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/condor/103.1.62.
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Abstract The pattern of food resource availability and use by Lilac-crowned Parrots (Amazona finschi) was evaluated in tropical dry forest of the Reserva de la Biosfera Chamela-Cuixmala, western Mexico. Monthly fruiting phenology transects were conducted throughout the year in deciduous and semi-deciduous forest to determine temporal and spatial variability in resource abundance. Resource use by parrots was evaluated through observations of diet and habitat use. There was significant temporal and spatial variability in food resource abundance, with semi-deciduous forest providing greater food resources for parrots during the dry season, whereas food resource abundance increased in deciduous forest during the rainy season. The critical period of food resource scarcity occurred during May–June at the end of the long dry season. Lilac-crowned Parrots were pre-dispersal seed predators, and exhibited high flexibility in diet, incorporating dietary switching, as well as niche-breadth contraction and expansion, which corresponded with temporal variations in food resource availability. There was low overlap in parrot diets between seasons, with parrots exhibiting a narrow food niche-breadth during the late dry season when resource availability declined. Parrots also demonstrated spatial variation in habitat use, corresponding to fluctuations in the availability of food resources in different habitats. This flexibility in foraging enables parrots to closely track and exploit seed resources which exhibit high temporal and spatial variability in abundance.
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Abdullah, Abdullah, Ahmad Ardiansyah, Michela Balestri, Marco Campera, Jessica Chavez, Tungga Dewi, Anna Fourage, et al. "Parrot Trade and the Potential Risk of Psittacosis as a Zoonotic Disease in Indonesian Bird Markets." Birds 5, no. 1 (March 7, 2024): 137–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/birds5010010.
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Wildlife trade, both legal and illegal, is increasingly recognized as a key factor in the rise of emerging viral infectious diseases, and this is especially apparent in Asia, where large numbers of wildlife are openly offered for sale in bird markets. We here focus on the risk of Psittacosis becoming a zoonotic disease in the wildlife markets of Java and Bali, Indonesia. Psittacosis is particularly prevalent in parrots (hence the name), and the trade in parrots was instrumental in the Great Parrot Fever Pandemic in 1929/1930. Between 2014 and 2023, we conducted 176 surveys of 14 bird markets, during which we recorded 4446 largely wild-caught parrots for sale. On average, each market had nine genera on offer, and the diversity of genera increased with the increasing presence of parrots (up to 16 genera). For most of the bird markets during each survey, parrots from different genera and originating from different parts of the world, were offered for sale alongside each other. Genera offered for sale together did not cluster into natural (geographic) groups. We found no temporal difference in the sale of parrots. We conclude that the omnipresence of wild-caught parrots from various geographic regions in large numbers within the same bird markets increases the risk that psittacosis is present and that this poses a real risk for the zoonotic spread of avian chlamydiosis to humans.
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Ragusa-Netto, J., and A. Fecchio. "Plant food resources and the diet of a parrot community in a gallery forest of the southern Pantanal (Brazil)." Brazilian Journal of Biology 66, no. 4 (November 2006): 1021–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842006000600008.
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Neotropical parrots usually forage in forest canopies for nectar, flowers, leaves, fruit pulp, and seeds. As they have no all-purpose territories, these birds usually exploit vegetation mosaics in order to use plentiful resources as they become available. In this study we examine the use of a gallery forest in the southern Pantanal (Brazil) by a diverse parrot community that ranged from Brotogeris chiriri (a small species) to Ara chloroptera (a large one). Plant food resources principally used by parrots were abundantly available during the rainy season (fleshy fruits), the annual floods (fleshy fruits), and the dry season (flowers). While both smaller and larger species foraged on fruits, parakeets largely consumed the pulp, while larger parrot species used pulp and seeds. In the dry season parakeets foraged extensively on nectar, especially Inga vera nectar that was abundantly available during the last two months of the dry season, the harshest period of the year. Among larger parrots, only Propyrrhura auricollis frequently harvested nectar. Fruits maturing during floods, despite being fish- or water- dispersed were extensively used by the parrots. Hence, unlike what happens in most other Neotropical dry forests, occurrence of a fruiting peak during the annual flooding, which occurs in the transition from the wet to the dry season, constitutes an extra and significant episode of food availability, since in this period, fruit production normally declines. Therefore, the unique and abundant availability of flowers and fruits in this gallery forest may account for the presence of large parrot populations in the southern Pantanal.
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Richardson, KC, and RD Wooller. "Adaptations of the Alimentary Tracts of Some Australian Lorikeets to a Diet of Pollen and Nectar." Australian Journal of Zoology 38, no. 6 (1990): 581. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo9900581.
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Lorikeets, which eat mainly nectar and pollen, show a suite of adaptations to this diet not found in granivorous and frugivorous parrots. Lorikeet gizzards are much less muscular, and their intestines shorter, than those of other parrots of the equivalent size. In lorikeets, but not other parrots, the proventricular and pyloric openings of the gizzard lie in the same plane, potentially allowing a rapid transit of both pollen (which is mostly digested in the intestine) and of nectar. Lorikeet tongues differ from other parrot tongues in that they are longer and narrower, with a rougher dorsal surface and a papillate tip. These features may enable lorikeets to harvest more efficiently the pollen so essential to their balanced nutrition.
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Sánchez-Mercado, Ada, Oriana Blanco, Bibiana Sucre, José Manuel Briceño-Linares, Carlos Peláez, and Jon Paul Rodríguez. "When good attitudes are not enough: understanding intentions to keep yellow-shouldered Amazons as pets on Margarita Island, Venezuela." Oryx 56, no. 2 (October 8, 2021): 209–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s003060532100017x.
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AbstractUnsustainable harvesting to supply the demand for pets is the second most significant threat to parrots (Psittacidae). Given that parrot keeping is widespread, in-depth and culturally sensitive research is needed to inform and develop interventions targeted at changing consumer preferences and purchasing behaviours. Parrot keeping is thought to be driven mainly by a desire for companionship (the affection hypothesis). Alternative hypotheses include a deeply ingrained culture of parrot ownership (the tradition hypothesis) or the influence of socio-economic context (the contextual hypothesis). We used the theory of planned behaviour to evaluate the relative importance of behavioural and contextual factors influencing the intention to keep the yellow-shouldered Amazon Amazona barbadensis as a pet. We interviewed 150 owners and non-owners of parrots in two locations in Macanao Peninsula, Margarita Island, Venezuela, where the primary population of this species is located. We found mixed evidence supporting both the affection and contextual hypotheses: intention to keep parrots was higher in non-owners with high education level, strong affective attitudes regarding human–animal relationships, and higher expectations about social norms (41% of explained variance). Our study expands previous research on the illegal parrot trade by taking into account behavioural measures beyond attitudes, highlighting the role of social norms frequently ignored in such research. We discuss how a behaviour change campaign could redirect affective attitudes in the human–parrot relationship, and promote new social norms that support parrot conservation. Future research should consider the inclusion of moral and injunctive norms, and monitoring of intervention effectiveness.
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Kiacz, Simon, Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, and Donald J. Brightsmith. "Presence of Endangered Red-Crowned Parrots (Amazona viridigenalis) Depends on Urban Landscapes." Diversity 15, no. 7 (July 23, 2023): 878. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d15070878.
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Many species of plants and animals thrive in urban habitats and stand to gain from the global trend in increased urbanization. One such species, the Red-crowned Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis), is endangered within its native range but seems to thrive in urban landscapes. While populations of endangered synanthropic species may be uncommon, they can act as genetic reservoirs and present us with unique conservation and research opportunities. We sought to determine the red-crowned parrot’s level of dependency on urban areas, as well as the climatic and anthropogenic drivers of their distribution throughout the United States. We built national level species distribution models for the USA using Maxent and correlated presence points derived from field work and citizen science databases to environmental variables for three Red-crowned Parrot populations: two naturalized (California and Florida) and one native (Texas). We found current occupancy to be 18,965 km2 throughout the three states. These three states also contained 39,429 km2 of high- and medium-quality habitats, which, if occupied, would represent a substantial increase in the species range. Suitable habitat showed a strong positive correlation with urbanization in areas where average monthly temperatures were at least 5 °C. The current and predicted distributions of Red-crowned Parrots were closely aligned with urban boundaries. We expected populations of Red-crowned Parrots and other synanthropic species to grow due to a combination of factors, namely, continued urbanization and the effects of climate change, which increase the size and connectivity of a suitable habitat. For some imperiled species, urban habitats could prove to be important bastions for their conservation.
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Leal de Araujo, Jeann, Ian Tizard, Jianhua Guo, J. Jill Heatley, Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann, and Raquel R. Rech. "Are anti-ganglioside antibodies associated with proventricular dilatation disease in birds?" PeerJ 5 (April 11, 2017): e3144. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3144.
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The identification of Parrot bornaviruses (PaBV) in psittacine birds with proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) has not been sufficient to explain the pathogenesis of this fatal disease, since not all infected birds develop clinical signs. Although the most accepted theory indicates that PaBV directly triggers an inflammatory response in this disease, another hypothesis suggests the disease is triggered by autoantibodies targeting neuronal gangliosides, and PDD might therefore resemble Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in its pathogenesis. Experimental inoculation of pure gangliosides and brain-derived ganglioside extracts were used in two different immunization studies. The first study was performed on 17 healthy chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus): 11 chickens were inoculated with a brain ganglioside extract in Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) and six chickens inoculated with phosphate-buffered saline. A second study was performed five healthy quaker parrots (Myiopsitta monachus) that were divided into three groups: Two quaker parrots received purified gangliosides in FCA, two received a crude brain extract in FCA, and one control quaker parrot received FCA alone. One chicken developed difficult in walking. Histologically, only a mild perivascular and perineural lymphocytic infiltrate in the proventriculus. Two quaker parrots (one from each treatment group) had mild lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis and myelitis. However, none of the quaker parrots developed myenteric ganglioneuritis, suggesting that autoantibodies against gangliosides in birds are not associated with a condition resembling PDD.
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Auersperg, Alice M. I., and Auguste M. P. von Bayern. "Who’s a clever bird — now? A brief history of parrot cognition." Behaviour 156, no. 5-8 (2019): 391–407. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-00003550.
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Abstract Parrots are renowned for their intelligence and ability to imitate human speech ever since they have been kept as pets. Despite of impressive pioneering work on the cognitive abilities of parrots, research on parrot cognition has only recently gained momentum, probably given the new wave of interest in possible convergent evolution of complex cognition within the vertebrates. Together with corvids, they often parallel primates if not great apes in cognitive performance and have become important model systems to study the evolution of cognition. We briefly review the history of parrot cognition within the field of comparative cognition and introduce some of the laboratories that have contributed to this special issue as well as the studies they present.
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Calzada Preston, Carlos E., and Stephen Pruett-Jones. "The Number and Distribution of Introduced and Naturalized Parrots." Diversity 13, no. 9 (August 29, 2021): 412. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13090412.
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Parrots have been transported and traded by humans for at least the last 2000 years and this trade continues unabated today. This transport of species has involved the majority of recognized parrot species (300+ of 382 species). Inevitably, some alien species either escape captivity or are released and may establish breeding populations in the novel area. With respect to parrots, established but alien populations are becoming common in many parts of the world. In this review, we attempt to estimate the total number of parrot species introduced into the wild in non-native areas and assess how many of these have self-sustaining breeding populations. Based the public databases GAVIA, eBird, and iNaturalist, 166 species of Psittaciformes have been introduced (seen in the wild) into 120 countries or territories outside of the native range. Of these, 60 species are naturalized, and an additional 11 species are breeding in at least one country outside of their native range (86 countries or territories total). The Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) and Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) are the most widely distributed and successful of the introduced parrots, being naturalized in 47 and 26 countries or territories, respectively. Far and away, the United States and its territories support the greatest number of naturalized parrots, with 28 different species found in either the continental US, or Hawaii or Puerto Rico. Naturalized species as well as urbanized native species of parrots are likely to continue increasing in numbers and geographical range, and detailed studies are needed to both confirm species richness in each area as well mitigate potential ecological impacts and conflicts with humans.
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Beaufrère, Hugues, Drury Reavill, Jill Heatley, and Leonardo Susta. "Lipid-Related Lesions in Quaker Parrots (Myiopsitta monachus)." Veterinary Pathology 56, no. 2 (September 24, 2018): 282–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0300985818800025.
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The Quaker parrot has been used as a psittacine model to study clinical lipidology and lipid-related disorders. However, while Quaker parrots appear to be anecdotally susceptible to a variety of spontaneous dyslipidemic disorders and lesions caused by excess lipid accumulation, epidemiologic data are lacking. A multicenter retrospective study on 652 pathology submissions (411 necropsies and 243 biopsies) from Quaker parrots was performed by recording the final pathological diagnoses, age, and sex for each bird. The prevalence of lesions associated with lipid metabolism, such as hepatic lipidosis, atherosclerosis, xanthomas, adipose tumors, coelomic steatitis/steatonecrosis, endogenous lipid pneumonia, and acute pancreatic necrosis/pancreatitis, was reported. Multiple logistic regression models were used to characterize the effects of sex and age on these lesions, and the prevalence of hepatic lipidosis and atherosclerosis was compared to those in a random sample of control psittacine birds. The raw prevalence of atherosclerosis and hepatic lipidosis was 5.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4%–7.8%) and 21.2% (95% CI, 17.2%–25.1%), respectively. While the prevalence of atherosclerosis was similar to other psittacine species, hepatic lipidosis was more common in Quaker parrots. Quaker parrots also showed a unique susceptibility to acute pancreatic necrosis with a prevalence of 12.9% (95% CI, 9.7%–16.1%). Male parrots were found to be more susceptible than females to lipid accumulation lesions ( P = .0024), including atherosclerosis ( P = .018) and hepatic lipidosis ( P < .001). This retrospective study confirms the high susceptibility of Quaker parrots to lipid-related disorders and presents epidemiological data that may be useful to avian clinicians, pathologists, and researchers using Quaker parrots.
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Krasheninnikova, Anastasia, Roberta Berardi, Mari-Ann Lind, Laurie O’Neill, and Auguste M. P. von Bayern. "Primate cognition test battery in parrots." Behaviour 156, no. 5-8 (2019): 721–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-00003549.
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AbstractSystematic, broad phylogenetic comparisons of diverse cognitive abilities are essential to understand cognitive evolution. Few studies have examined multiple skills comparatively, using identical tasks across species. Previous research centered on primates, but recent evidence suggests that complex cognition may have evolved in distantly related taxa. We administered the tasks of the primate cognition test battery (PCTB) to 4 parrot species for a first direct comparison with primates. The parrots did not perform significantly worse than the previously tested primates in all but one of the test scales, but remained at chance levels throughout. Chimpanzees outperformed them in the physical but not the social domain. No differences between the domains nor across the parrot species were detected. It remains questionable whether the chance level performance reflects the parrots’ cognitive capacity or results from task constraints, which would limit the suitability of PCTB for phylogenetic comparisons. Possible implications for the field are discussed.
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Munshi-South, Jason, and Gerald S. Wilkinson. "Diet Influences Life Span in Parrots (Psittaciformes)." Auk 123, no. 1 (January 1, 2006): 108–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/123.1.108.
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Abstract Evolutionary hypotheses regarding longevity predict that life span should increase as extrinsic mortality rates decrease. Specifically, a decline in age-specific survival and fertility should evolve and decrease life span in proportion to the magnitude of the mortality risk. We examined these ideas using a new data set on maximum longevity, ecology, and life history of 162 parrot species (Psittaciformes). Parrots are generally long-lived but exhibit remarkable variation in life span between similar-sized genera, with particularly long-lived species occurring in the Cacatua, Calyptorhynchus, and Amazona. After controlling for both body size and phylogenetic ancestry using a phylogenetic supertree of all 352 parrot species, type of diet and communal roosting explain significant variation in parrot life span, but the influence of communal roosting is statistically dependent on an association with diet type. We suggest that extreme longevity in parrots has evolved in response to species-specific characteristics of diet, habitat, and behavior that influence extrinsic mortality rates. La Dieta Influencia la Longevidad en los Psittaciformes
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Huang, Jinghan. "Study on the Impact of Global Warming on Parrots and Countermeasures." Highlights in Science, Engineering and Technology 69 (November 6, 2023): 205–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.54097/hset.v69i.11905.
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Parrots, with their vibrant plumage and remarkable intelligence, play a crucial role in ecosystems worldwide. They contribute to seed dispersal, plant protection, and overall ecosystem functioning, influencing plant life cycles and contributing to ecosystem stability. However, the ecological importance of parrots is threatened by habitat loss and the impacts of global warming. As climate change intensifies, parrots face challenges such as shifts in geographical ranges, disruptions in synchronized relationships with plants, habitat loss, and increased vulnerability to extreme weather events. Effective conservation strategies are crucial for safeguarding parrot populations, including preserving key habitats, establishing protected areas, and implementing sustainable management practices. Tailored approaches, education, addressing land tenure issues, and promoting ecotourism are among the key solutions to mitigate the effects of global warming and protect these ecologically important birds.
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Krasheninnikova, Anastasia, Roberta Berardi, Mari-Ann Lind, Laurie O’Neill, and Auguste M. P. von Bayern. "Primate cognition test battery in parrots." Behaviour 156, no. 5-8 (2019): 721–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-0003549.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Systematic, broad phylogenetic comparisons of diverse cognitive abilities are essential to understand cognitive evolution. Few studies have examined multiple skills comparatively, using identical tasks across species. Previous research centered on primates, but recent evidence suggests that complex cognition may have evolved in distantly related taxa. We administered the tasks of the primate cognition test battery (PCTB) to 4 parrot species for a first direct comparison with primates. The parrots did not perform significantly worse than the previously tested primates in all but one of the test scales, but remained at chance levels throughout. Chimpanzees outperformed them in the physical but not the social domain. No differences between the domains nor across the parrot species were detected. It remains questionable whether the chance level performance reflects the parrots’ cognitive capacity or results from task constraints, which would limit the suitability of PCTB for phylogenetic comparisons. Possible implications for the field are discussed.
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Evans, Peter G. H. "Status and conservation of Imperial and Red-necked Parrots Amazona imperalis and A. arausiaca on Dominica." Bird Conservation International 1, no. 1 (March 1991): 11–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0959270900000514.
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SummaryPopulations of both Imperial and Red-necked Parrots on Dominica have declined during the present century with substantial contractions in range, particularly from the southern portion of the island. Parrot densities may be relatively low anyway due to the effects of centuries of hunting. However, declines have been accelerated by habitat destruction and loss of food plants and nesting sites as a result of both human encroachment on the forest and damage caused by Hurricanes David and Allen in 1979 and 1980 respectively. The hunting of birds for meat and for the live cage-bird trade were important threats in the past but conservation education programmes over the last 10 years, and enforcement of legislation prohibiting those activities, have greatly reduced these pressures. Ten years after the debilitating effects of the two hurricanes, the populations of both parrot species (but particularly Red-necks) are showing signs of recovery. Present estimates (May 1990) are of c.80 Imperial Parrots and c.300 Red-necked Parrots in the wild. The major threat to both parrot species is presently habitat destruction, with forested areas being cleared at an accelerating rate for the planting of tree crops, particularly bananas. This process has been aided by recent development programmes towards the building and improvement of feeder roads, making previously remote areas much more accessible. The need for the north-west portion of the Northern Forest Reserve (which includes the entire Morne Diablotin massif) to be declared a national park is ever more critical if the two parrot species are to survive in the long term.
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Anderson, Patricia. "A Bird in the House: An Anthropological Perspective on Companion Parrots." Society & Animals 11, no. 4 (2003): 393–418. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853003322796109.
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AbstractAlthough companion birds are the third most-common animal companion—after dogs and cats—in U.S. households, few anthrozoological publications focus on them. This study examines the role of companion parrots in American households. The study combines a literature review with the results of a survey of bird owners and participant observation. The study uses the resulting qualitative and quantitative data in addressing the social dynamics of companion parrot ownership in the household. The data support the impression that companion parrots increasingly are being considered family members, or "Fids" ("Feathered Kids"), thus following current trends in American society that accord companion animals in general a greater investment in time, money, and emotion. However, the general public is not well informed about the complexities of captive parrot care, and psittacine wellness is an important concern.