That Bird Blog – Bird Care and History for Pet Birds

Hemochromatosis, or iron storage disease, is a condition wherein iron absorption is not properly regulated; over time, too much of the mineral is stored in the liver and other organs. Most commonly seen in captive mynas, it also crops up in other fruit-eaters, including toucans, lorikeets and other parrots. During my tenure at the Bronx Zoo, several birds-of-paradise came down with the disease.Oranges and other citrus fruits are often identified as contributing to the disease’s onset. Prompted by a recent blog comment, I’d like to address the matter in this article.

The Citrus Connection
Citrus fruit is a potential concern because ascorbic acid renders the iron in plant foods more biologically available, and hence easier to store. In general, the iron in plants is not readily available to birds, but that in bananas, raisins and grapes is an exception to this rule…these too should be avoided where appropriate.

Research and Theories
Research on the issue has led to somewhat conflicting results. Birds maintained on low iron diets have come down with the disease, while over-supplementation of iron has led to liver lesions indicative of hemochromatosis in some but not all experiments.

One interesting school of thought proposes that populations of birds living on iron poor diets in the wild may develop unusually effective iron storage abilities, leaving them prone to the disease when fed typical captive diets. This might explain why mynas and others vary in their iron tolerances.

In humans, folic acid and choline deficiencies seem to pre-dispose one to iron storage disease…further research is needed here as well.

What to Do
Many generations of mynas, birds of paradise and other species have been bred without incident on diets containing moderate amounts of citrus fruits, so at this point the matter begs more research. Perhaps the iron levels in commercial softbill pellets should be investigated more closely.

Those who are unsure should consult their veterinarians…radiographs and blood tests can disclose liver problems, which may be indicative (but not diagnostic) of hemochromatosis, and can help to point one towards a healthful diet.

Dietary Variety for Frugivores
Frugivorous birds do best when provided with a wide variety of tropical fruits and some vegetables – not an easy task in certain seasons and locations. Please check out our extensive line of freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, including mango, raspberries, papaya, sweet potatoes, peas and others, for some ideas.

Further Reading
For information on growing your own fruits, flowers and other bird foods, please see my article Gardening for Birds.

 

The vibrant colors and unique erectile head crest of the hawk headed or red fan parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus) have long rendered it a favorite pet in its native South America.  After the first exports in the mid 1800’s, the bird achieved instant stardom in zoos and private collections worldwide.

The Unique Crest

The first hawk headed parrot I encountered,  a wild caught male at a bird importers decades ago, surprised me in a way that only this bird can – it flashed a head crest of deep red, blue-edged feathers and hissed menacingly.  The unexpected display of size and color stopped me in my tracks, as well it might a predator.  I was later fortunate enough to glimpse a pair in the wild, and have cared for a number in captivity.

Hawk heads are the only parrots to possess a feather crest that encircles the head. They are the sole members of their genus, and their relationships to other parrots are unclear.

In addition to its role as a threat display, the crest is raised by courting birds as well.  Some observers report that displaying birds also glide earthward from above in succession.

The Name – Origin and a Thought

The “hawk headed” part of the name is said to arise from the barred pattern on the head crest, which resembles that of some hawks.

I wonder, however, if the name does not somehow relate back to the magnificent harpy eagle, which shares some of its range.  One of the world’s largest birds of prey, the harpy also has a head crest, and features prominently in local lore wherever it occurs.

Physical Description

The rest of this bird’s plumage is no less spectacular than the crest.  The back, wings and thighs are a fluorescent green, and the breast and abdomen feathers are dark red edged in bright blue.  The blue-edged green tail feathers have distinctly rounded tips.

Range and Habitat

Two subspecies range from Ecuador through southern Columbia, northern Peru and Venezuela to Guyana, and south to northwestern Brazil.

They favor forest edges, and roost in hollow trees rather than on branches as do most other parrots.

Hawk Headed Parrots as Pets

Hawk headed parrots are not all that common in the pet trade, but are well-worth searching for.  The smaller subspecies, known as the buff-crowned (D. a. accipitrinus) is more commonly bred than is the southern (Brazilian) subspecies, D. a. fuscifrons.

They are affectionate and talk well.  Even more so than many other parrots, individualism is the rule…some bond strongly to one person, others are accepting of most anyone.

Nearly all change drastically when breeding, however, becoming very aggressive towards people and, surprisingly often, towards one another.

Feeding

Fruit forms a significant part of the natural diet, and captives need a wide variety of types if they are to thrive.  Tropic Fruit Pudding and freeze dried fruits are a convenient means of providing important dietary variety.

Hawk heads tend to be picky eaters, and may balk at pellets and most seeds.  Nutriberries are designed for such situations, and are usually readily accepted (it may help to feed fruit at one meal and only Nutriberries at the other).

 

Further Reading

An article on the behavior of hawk headed parrots in the wild, published in The Condor, is posted at http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Condor/files/issues/v093n01/p0177-p0180.pdf.

Image referenced from Wikipedia and originally posted by Bobby.

Prepared bird diets  have greatly eased the task of providing balanced nutrition to feathered pets of all types.  I can well recall times when the diets of birds other than seed-eaters were, of necessity, prepared from scratch…please see my article Alternative Bird Foods, Yesterday and Today  for details and some useful products.  However, along with the innovations that have come about in the field of avian nutrition, it seems a few of the finer points have been lost.

Aquatic Foods for Terrestrial Birds?

Today I’d like to focus on what may perhaps seem an odd food for most pet birds – freeze dried shrimp and shrimp-like creatures such as Daphnia and Gammarus.  Widely used as tropical fish foods today, in years past zoo and private bird keepers relied upon these as important protein sources for finches and softbills such as bulbuls, shama thrushes, Pekin robins and white eyes.

Although most of these birds likely never encounter aquatic invertebrates in the wild, decades of experience has revealed that these creatures none-the-less contain well-accepted and useful nutrients.  Shrimp also help maintain the red coloration of many birds…among zookeepers it is well known that flamingos and scarlet ibis deprived of whole shrimp (or a substitute) soon fade to washed-out, pink “shadows” of their former selves.

Some Useful Freeze Dried Invertebrates

At That Fish Place/That Pet Place, we carry an extensive line of freeze dried shrimp and similar invertebrates, many of which will be well-accepted by a variety of birds.  Please give Daphnia, bloodworms, baby shrimp and mini krill a try.  You can either mix these foods into your pets’ usual diets, or offer them directly.

Further Reading

Wild and commercially-bred insects are also of great use to aviculturists. For information on collecting wild insects with the Bug Napper Insect Trap  and the use of canned insects in bird collections, please see my article Feeding Insects to Pet Birds .

 

Image referenced from Animal Pictures Archive and originally posted by K. W. Bridges.

With warmer weather (finally!) here, I’d like to present some thoughts on plants that can be grown and provided to finches, parrots, softbills and other pet birds as both food and “playthings”.  Wild plants provide important nutrients that are often in short supply in commercial foods.  Also, your pets’ enthusiastic attacks on novel foods will leave no doubt as to the value these have in stimulating appetite and behavior.  In some cases, the provision of fresh leaves and branches, or a new flower or fruit, even helps to spark breeding behavior, much as similar factors do in the wild.

Wild Visitors

Your “bird food garden” will provide the added benefit of attracting local birds, perhaps some that you have not seen in the past.  If their attentions become “too enthusiastic”, consider installing one of our bird feeders and keeping it well supplied with wild bird food  – most birds will prefer ready-to-eat foods over those which they must harvest themselves!

Using Home-Grown Foods

Bark, leaves and flowers provide exciting play and beak-trimming opportunities.  Some of these, along with seeds, buds, fruits and berries, are also readily consumed – having your pets work at breaking up a fruit or seed head will be of great value in keeping them occupied and active.

Do not limit your thinking to parrots when considering food and activity opportunities.  Canaries and other finches also take quickly to poking about leaves and sharpening their beaks on rough bark.  Leafy branches are particularly attractive, and will be investigated thoroughly for the presence of small caterpillars, aphids and other insects.  Softbills such as Pekin robins and shama thrushes will do the same, and many enjoy sampling flower nectar as well.

Pesticides

Be sure to avoid the use of pesticides in your garden, and to collect wild plants only from areas that are not sprayed with such toxins.

Consult your local pest-control authority for information concerning West Nile Virus control efforts – the toxins used are said to be mosquito-specific, and to dissipate within 24 hours, but harvesting should probably be avoided during peak treatment periods.

Further Reading

Information on pesticide free gardening is posted at http://groups.ucanr.org/slomg/documents/Pests_&_Diseases3865.htm.

 

Image referenced from Wikipedia and originally posted by Snowmanradio.

Oxford University researchers played recorded calls of antbird pairs to other pairs resident in a specific territory.  The resident pair responded as expected – male and female sang together in a vigorous display of unity, showing their willingness to defend their home. 

Reaction to a Single Female

However, when the song of an unattached female antbird was played, the situation changed dramatically.  The resident male responded with a mating call – in essence “flirting” with the new female.  Amazingly, his mate began singing loudly over his song, in an apparent attempt to “jam” the notes and render him less attractive to the interloping female!

Not to be outdone, the would-be Romeo then began altering his call in an effort to avoid the interfering song of his mate!

Female Inca Terns Tolerate No Nonsense!

Research is now being conducted to determine if other birds act in a similar fashion…I’m betting that many do.  The Inca terns (Larosterna inca) pictured here are part of a flock of 30 that I cared for in a huge outdoor exhibit at the Bronx Zoo.  I noticed a great deal of interaction during the breeding season, with single females vying for the attentions of males that were already paired and in possession of desirable nesting cavities.

Female terns are, however, a bit more “assertive” than their antbird cousins – a few sharp pecks to the male’s head generally put a quick end to any thoughts of “wandering”!

Further Reading

Antbirds are quite beautiful and interesting.  The common name arises from their unique mode of hunting.  By following hoards of foraging army ants, they are able to capture many fleeing insects that would otherwise be difficult to locate in the underbrush.

I was fortunate enough to observe this spectacle in a Costa Rican rainforest – it is a “must see” for birders, I assure you!  You can read more about antbirds and see photos of many species at http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/warblingantbird.html.