Rosemary Low highlights the issues of what will happen to your birds when you are no longer around

The Probate Practice commissioned a survey of the general public about wills and probate and found that a shocking 60 per cent of people have not made a will.  The survey asked the question, “Would you want to inherit a relative’s pet?”  Forty-one per cent of people said “No”.  In the list of items that people would not want to inherit were worn furniture that came out at 40 per cent, holiday souvenirs at 28 per cent and sporting memorabilia at 21 per cent.  But more alarming was that pets were at the top of the ‘do not want’ list!

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Galah or Rose-breasted Cockatoo

In Australia these beautiful cockatoos are usually referred to as Galahs. Other names for these spunky birds are the Roseate Cockatoo and the Pink and Grey Cockatoo.  Their range is throughout Australia and man's changes to the Australian landscape have actually increased the numbers of these cockatoos and they continue to increase in numbers.

They are persecuted because many farmers consider them to be an agricultural pest.  The word Galah is Aboriginal in origin and has come to mean "fool" and the expression "as crazy as a Galah" is often used in Australia.  Rose-breasted Cockatoos have been hybridised with both Major Mitchell's cockatoos and cockatiels creating some pretty odd looking specimens.

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By Jim Hayward Jnr

In this second part of Jim Hayward Jnr’s article, he continues to suggest how dedicated hobbyists can play an important role in saving our planet by utilising their back gardens.

Can small back garden breeders play such an important role as zoos in conservation work?  If they specialise in one or two species, the answer is yes.  Zoos are often at a disadvantage in many ways.  First, zoos make their living mainly from exhibiting, but many parrots don't appreciate the constant attention and noise, and consequently won't breed, or take years to settle before they will breed. Exhibition aviaries are also too open so visitors can view birds, but this doesn't offer protection from the elements or from predatory hawks.

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Janet Brubaker is a Director and Exhibitor of SPBE (Society of parrot breeders and exhibitors) of America.  Here she tells us about Harley, her Duyvenbode's Lory.

Have you ever had a chance encounter with a parrot that truly changes your life?  I was shopping at a bird fair checking out the toys and the beautiful variety of parrot species on display for sale.  Nope, not going to buy a bird - famous last words, huh?
In the back of the room I saw my favourite breeder.  Looking forward to reconnecting and catching up, I moved through the crowd toward her, but I was not prepared for what came next.  As I approached, I scanned all of the birds she had on display, and peering out of the bottom cage of several stacked cages, I saw an amazing bird with bright yellow markings surrounding the face.  Wow!

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