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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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