Field Notes and Observations on Birds
Winter Bird Feeding – Rare Bird Update and Some Useful Products
Dec 13th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Winter brings with it unique bird-watching opportunities, as cold weather forces otherwise-shy species to visit feeders in search of food. Rare visitors driven south by severe weather and others blown off course during migration also brighten birders’ days. Today I’d like to alert you to several new (and standard) bird feeding products, and highlight some ways to see the unusual avian visitors to your neighborhood.
Birding Surprises
Wherever you are located, winter birding is an exciting prospect. Often, unexpected birds tend to stay put for quite awhile, due to disorientation and the need to remain near a newfound food source. Checking with the many on-line and telephone services (yes, phone-based reports still exist, check here!) is a great way to remain aware of what’s going on nearby; if luck is with you, you can then go out and see the bird that has been reported. More >
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Loading ...Blue-Throated Macaws Cling to Survival in a Single Bolivian Reserve
Dec 2nd
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Parrot conservation news has been somewhat dismal lately (please see here for some examples), so today I’d like to highlight a bright spot. Surveys have shown that Bolivia’s Barba Azul Reserve supports a breeding population of Blue-Throated Macaws (Ara glaucogularis), a species so rare that it was believed extinct until its “re-discovery” in 1992. Maned Wolves, Orinoco Geese, Bush Dogs, Pampas Deer and other rare animals are also making themselves at home in the reserve’s 12,300 acres.
Wildlife Oasis amid Ranches
Managed by the World Land Trust, Barba Azul Reserve is comprised of tropical savannas, “forest islands” and marshes. I had the good fortune to work in a similar area inVenezuela, and can attest to the incredible diversity of wildlife that such habitats support. As was true for protected areas in Venezuela, Barba Azul is surrounded by huge cattle ranches. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Is a Macaw the Right Pet for You – a Species-by-Species Review
Nov 30th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Many parrot enthusiasts view macaws as the ultimate avian pets. Huge, personable, gorgeous and enormously intelligent, macaws seem to embody all that is desirable in a pet parrot. However, macaw ownership is not to be undertaken lightly…while the rewards are great, there are many responsibilities and “downsides” to consider as well.
General Considerations
If you’ve ever been surprised by the volume of noise a budgie or lovebird can generate, consider what their massive relatives can do! Macaw vocalizations must be heard to be believed. I’ve observed Scarlet Macaws and others on Venezuela’s wide open grasslands, and have worked with them in huge zoo exhibits – even in these habitats, their calls were often deafening. Highly social, it is in their nature to vocalize almost continually. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Illegal Drug Pushes India’s Vultures to the Brink of Extinction
Nov 22nd
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Vulture welfare tends not to arouse much concern, even from bird enthusiasts. However, several species are now at the center of a growing extinction crisis in south Asia. The story illustrates just how complicated things can become when the needs of livestock, people and wildlife collide, and why we must look below the surface when we consider the conservation of any bird or other animal.
A Double-Edged Sword
Diclofenac, a drug used to treat both people and livestock, is at the heart of the troubles afflicting India’s vultures. Dead cattle and water buffalos, many of which have been medicated with Diclofenac, are a major source of food for at least 3 species of Indian vultures.
Diclofenac is fatal to vultures when consumed, and has been identified as the major reason behind the steep decline in their numbers in India. In the 1980’s, the White Rumped Vulture was considered to be the world’s most abundant large bird of prey. It has now declined by a staggering 99.9%! Populations of Indian and Slender-Billed Vultures are now at 3% of their 1990 levels. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Mate Aggression in Parrots – Why Parrots Fight with their Partners
Nov 18th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. In the wild, the pair-bond between mated parrots often lasts a lifetime. Captive pairs, however, face unique “relationship challenges” that often complicate the mating process. Owners may find it difficult to find two birds that get along, and even long-established pairs may suddenly begin to fight.
Mate Choice
Parrot breeding is rarely as simple as putting 2 birds of the opposite sex together…both males and females can be quite choosy when it comes to selecting a mate. Coloration, behavior, vigor and a host of factors that we do not fully understand all come into play, with the ultimate goal being the production healthy offspring. The process has evolved over millions of years, and works fine in natural situations, where the birds can choose from numerous potential mates.
Captives face an entirely different situation. Even in large breeding groups, they are limited to a fraction of the potential mates that would be available in the wild. Being naturally social, many parrots “give in” and accept whatever mate, or same sex friend, presents itself; parrots that live alone often transfer their need for companionship to human owners. More >
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