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Bird mutations.

To: <>
Subject: Bird mutations.
From: "Max O'Sullivan" <>
Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 18:56:20 +1000
The talk of escaped Cockatiels and whether they are cage-developed mutations raises the question about the possible dangers of such mutations if they succeed in breeding with native stock.
 
How does this affect the gene pool of the wild birds and does the mutation eventually disappear with little or no "visible" damage to the native birds?
 
In other words, is the mutation sufficiently recessive for it not to affect the purity of the native stock in the long term?
 
I have seen the odd blue budgerigar in flocks of budgies in western NSW and was assured that they would have no effect on the basic green native form even if they managed to avoid predators and breed.
 
With so much emphasis in one area of aviculture into mutations of all finch and parrot species, I often wonder what would happen if a collection Cockatiel mutated birds were set loose in an area where they could mix with a flock of native birds and interbreed - that's assuming they could survive in the wild.
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