birding-aus
Philip A Veerman wrote:
>
> Anthea,
> The "blackish headed species" are Masked Lovebirds (Agapornis
> personata). It
> is most certainly not Fischer's Lovebird (A. fischeri). Fischer's
> Lovebird
> have a sort of multi-hued orange to apricot head, the colour of which
> is
> somewhat similar to the monotone pink face colour of the most common
> species, the Peach-face Lovebird (A. roseicollis) (which has pink face
> but a
> green top to the head, but there are many other differences other than
> the
> face colour). Those are the three commonly kept species. Nyassa
> Lovebirds
> (A. liliane) are yet another species and as far as I know, they are
> rare or
> very rare in captivity in Australia. "Nyassa" is not a group name and
> if it
> is used that way, it is in error. There are all sorts of domestic
> forms that
> make the job even more confusing.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Fleming <>
> To: RUSSELL DEAN WOODFORD <>
> Cc: <>
> Date: Wednesday, 17 February 1999 20:47
> Subject: Re: birding-aus Feral Parrots in Geelong
>
> >birding-aus
> >
> >RUSSELL DEAN WOODFORD wrote:
> >>
> >> birding-aus
> >>
> >> This is mainly addressed to people around Geelong or others who
> know
> >> the
> >> birdlife here.
> >>
> >> A work colleague mentioned some "introduced parrots" that she sees
> >> near
> >> her home (somewhere between Waurn Ponds and Grovedale, W to SW of
> >> Geelong,
> >> Vic). Apparently, a breeder released 7 or 8 "small African
> parrots"
> >> several years ago - stories differ as to whether it was an
> accidental
> >> release, or deliberately done, either by the breeder or by someone
> >> with
> >> unpleasant intent. Now, the birds number "about 200" which could
> be
> >> anything from 20 to 1000 I suppose! My colleague is somewhat of a
> >> novice,
> >> but is planning to video the birds and show me the tape so that I
> can
> >> identify them (!!). I might arm myself with a copy of Forshaw or
> >> something, but if anyone knows about these birds I'd be grateful if
> >> you
> >> let me know. I'm sure the Dpt of Natural Resources & Environment
> >> would be
> >> interested in such an apparently successful introduction.
> >>
> >> I'll let you all know what the outcome is if I find out anything
> more.
> >> Maybe I should do a video capture and put a photo on the
> Birding-Aus
> >> page?
> >> I'll see how clear the video is first, and eliminate things like
> >> Little
> >> Lorikeet (which is a possiblity based on her description!!).
> >>
> >> Russell Woodford
> >> PH: 03 52 739237
> >> MOB: 0419 395 100 FAX: 03 52 739371
> >> Aural Online http://www.shc.vic.edu.au/music/index.html
> >> Birding-Aus Pages http://www.deakin.edu.au/~russwood/
> >>
> >> To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to
> >>
> >> Include "unsubscribe birding-aus" in the message body (without the
> >> quotes)
> >If they really are feral African parrots, they could be assorted
> >Lovebirds (sometimes called Nyassas in the cagebird trade). I have
> seen
> >Peachfaced and a blackish-headed species (?Fischer's) in petshops.
> > I hope they will turn out to be Lorikeets. Lovebirds are classed as
> a
> >potential agricultural pest in WA. Native parrots have a hard enough
> >time finding Starling- and Mynah-free nestholes as it is.
> > Anthea Fleming
> >To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to
> >
> >Include "unsubscribe birding-aus" in the message body (without the
> quotes)
> >
Dear Philip, thanks for correction re Lovebirds. As a teenager in the
50s, I recall a bird-keeping friend with the first pair of Peachfaces I
ever saw. Released from a very small travelling box, after life in a
shop with 5 other pairs in a small canary-cage, they rushed screaming up
and down the 12 ft aviary for about an hour. I'm sure it was pure joy
at being able to stretch their wings at last. The dealer was definite
that they werent lovebirds, they were Peach-faced Nyassas.. At various
times I have found dealers to be most deceitful/misleading about species
names. "No, of course they're not Regents, they are Rock Pebblers, or
Smokers, or anything else.." I was also told (c. 1985) that the only
Princess Parrots in existence are captive birds, the wild ones were
completely wiped out by the Maralinga atom tests, and it's a very good
thing that they were bred in captivity etc etc....
I hope that nowadays official controls on the bird trade insist on
correct identification by official names. I'm all in favour of keeping
up knowledge of the colloquial and unofficial names of birds (I still
call the grey fantail 'Cranky Fan', but with parrots and finches in
particular I feel they are often used as commercial camouflage. "What
Bird is That?"(hardback) is a good source for alternate names.
Anthea Fleming
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