Sorry David I'd have to disagree.
"This could equally apply to people being more attracted to certain breeds
of dog rather than the ancestral beast or to different cultivars of rose, or
other flower, than the wild form."
Its not a matter of these birds being produced because they are a different
mutation or 'breed' of that species - these are two separate species mated
together to produce a hybrid for aesthetic purposes only. If this were to
occur (and it does) with captive populations of threatened species how can
you be certain of their genetic integrity? Such as what happened years back
in regards to aviculturalists hybridising Golden-shouldered Parrots with the
cheaper and easier to breed Hooded Parrot so they could make a better
profit.
I have nothing against aviculturalists producing new mutations for the pet
trade (some of them are quite stunning!), but I myself think that there is
enormous potential to be learned about species in captive populations and
also by maintaining populations of wild-type birds that are not carrying
manufactured genotypes. Therefore I see the deliberate cross-species mating
to produce hybrids for aesthetics and money as a step backwards for those
aviculturalists who maintain wild type specimens, especially since there has
been a greater interest in the keeping of subspecies across the avicultural
community in the last 12-19months.
There are also benefits in the deliberate mating of closely related species
or subspecies for conservation (ie as attempted with the Norfolk Island
Boobook), if these programs are carried out by relevant
authorities/zoologists/biologists/organisations ect, who have the adequate
knowledge and resources for that species - not bob
the-backyard-bird-breeder. Unfortunately more of these programs fail than
are successful :(.
My 2c worth!
CS
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