Enrichment - to combat behaviour problems, Breeding Plum-heads

Issue 85 - February 2005

The Complete Psittacine with EB Cravens – I don’t believe in parrots being food junkies – It would be hard to list the number of times I have assumed care for a mature Psittacine who was categorised by the previous owner as being a habitual ‘food junkie’. In the olden days it was “He is addicted to sunflower seeds,” or safflower seeds, or: “He goes crazy for ice cream, cheese, potato chips, even chocolates!” Plum protection – Janice Hoadley emphasises the importance of safeguarding birds from bad weather and predators when breeding Plum-headed Parakeets. Living with a Yellow-fronted Amazon – Rosemary Low has lived with Lito, her Yellow-fronted Amazon for the past 37 years – and even dedicated a book to her. She tells us about sharing almost four decades of her life with this parrot. Biting – what it means and how to deal with it – When biting or hard nibbling is a learned behaviour, it can be modified by changing what precedes or by changing what follows. Sonny Stollenmaier explains. Loro Parque Foundation – ten years on – Rosemary Low describes the unique breeding centre at the Loro Parque Foundation and how the young produced there help to fund conservation work. Parrots in Focus by Cyril Laubscher – Black-capped Conures are now more frequently bred worldwide. Saving the Kakapo – a beacon for parrot conservation – Craig Symes describes how he helped with New Zealand’s conservation measures to protect the world’s heaviest and only flightless parrot. Using enrichment to solve stereotypical behaviour – Marcus Kreft conducted a study to look at using enrichment techniques as a tool to combat stereotypical behaviour – such as feather plucking and excessive vocalisation – in parrots. Introducing birds to each other – Do you feel guilty about leaving your parrot alone all day while you are at work? Rachel Grant looks at how best to introduce a friend to a lonely pet.

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