rare birds in cages in pet shop in Sydney

[lorne <>]

Thanks for the BW PARROT info. Melbourne people and others. I am touched
and pleased!

The other day, in a pet shop in Hornsby, in Sydney's north, I was
surprised to see some 10 Gouldian Finches, 2 Hooded Parrots and 2
Princess Parrots. The owner said breeders who all had licences supplied
them. In Peter Slater's new book he predicts that the Gouldian Finch
will be the next bird extinct in OZ. 

Should I be alarmed with the appearance of these finches and parrots in
the pet shop? Do the NPWS actually police how much trapping/capturing is
going on in terms of wild populations of these birds? Is smuggling
rampant in Australia? Perhaps the birds I saw were all bred from cage
birds anyway, and I don't need to worry. I am concerned nevertheless. 

Anyway, Happy New Year and all that festive stuff. 

LORNE.