Australian Breeders Market

An interesting story in the Times (UK) on the fortunes of “Metal Mickey”, a southern ground hornbill in captivity at Birdland, Gloucester.

According to the report, Mickey lost the bottom half of his lower beak mandible in either a fighting or collision accident.

Without intervention, the hornbill would have starved, but staff fitted a stainless steel replacement, and the bird has never looked back.

With proper feeding and lessons, we may see his pop up in a James Bond Movie in the near future.

Southern Ground Hornbill from Wikipedia

The Age reports that the Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell will be contributing $3.2 million over two years to saving the orange bellied parrot – including habitat protection, as well as predator control.

The announcements were made on King Island, where the parrot co-exists with the controversial wind turbines – the same turbines that brought the parrot into the news in the Gippsland area in the first place. The Gippsland plant is still waiting on a submission from the developer that will probably include money for the parrot.
There have been no King Island wind turbine related bird fatalities recorded.

Despite the rather tongue in cheek dramas surrounding the orange bellied parrot of late, the plight of the small parrot is a serious one. The orange bellied parrot is reported to number only 200, with only fifty breeding pairs. As The Age states, this is as rare as the Chinese Giant Panda.

Other Links:

• Parrot Society of Australia
• Wikipedia entry on the orange bellied parrot

I read a fair few articles around the web, and it makes me a little uneasy when I read some of the American Newspapers online.

There are so many articles and stories describing various breeds of doves – how beautiful they are, how to attract them, and what they look like in flight.

I read a little further. This information is given so that you can easily pick them out and shoot them for sport. I am a little concerned about this, more as a reflection on society than on bird fancying. Is this just an American thing, or do we have a large bird shooting population here in Australia?

I would like to hear from anyone who has an experience in the bird shooting area, and whether or not it happens on such a large scale, or I am just reading the wrong articles.

A report on BirdLife International has given us all reason to continue the support of conservation programs.

A paper studying the effects of conservation on some of the most endangered bird species on the planet has shown that in some cases they have been brought back from the brink of extinction through the conservation programs.

This is good news, but the report also hints at the fact that most cases are rather politically friendly, and do represent only 1.3% of the population. A massive 45% of threatened bird species have deteriorated over the study period.

Habitat distruction, illegal trapping and improper treatment of human societies byproducts are still causing many species to hover on the brink of extinction.

In the end not really a heart warming story, but it does show that if things are done right, conservation is worth the effort.

The American Tri-City News has an interesting article on the American Cowbird and its breeding habits.

The Cowbird (originally attracted to bison, but now to the more common domestic cattle) adapts to its migratory habits by laying its eggs in the nests of other birds, leaving the other species to raise the baby, similar to cuckoo behaviour.
The columnist touches on an interesting point about the changing behaviour of the cowbirds, with some sighting of adults feeding young cowbirds. The theory is that now that cattle are more sedentary, as opposed to the migrating bison, the adult cowbirds no long need to be on the move and can rear their own young.

An interesting topic, and I would be interested if someone knows more about it.

Those that have been following the plight of the orange bellied parrot may rest easy today.

The Herald Sun reports that the proposed wind farm has now been moved to the Colac Region of Victoria. The old Bald Hills project is now moved a little further from the spotlight.

The Colac plant will not effect the orange bellied parrot, although there may be some concern for brolgas…

The Canberra Times has a report on the success of the Canberra Bird Show. The bird show attracted 500 people and a showing of about 800 birds.

Here at the Breeders Market, we would like to not only report on the success of the bird shows around the country, but would love to promote any up and coming events that you would like to share.

If your society or club has a bird sale, bird show or fundraising event, contact us and we will get it posted as soon as we can.

The more information that you send, the more relevant the Breeders Market will become.

Remember, listing and sending information is free – all it takes is your time to type up an email.

The New Scientist (UK) has reported on studies that state food depravation in early stages of growth prevent the areas of the brain that control bird songs from developing properly.

Studying sparrows, starlings and zebra finches, birds suffering from food depravation and other stress factors could not learn and reproduce songs required to attract mates.

They theorise that this may be a natural response, as females will be less likely to be attracted to males that are less healthy than there full throated songbird rivals.
So breeders, fatten those babies up early.

In an update to the orange bellied parrot vs wind farm story, the company behind the wind farm is trying to ease fears for the parrots future by throwing money at the problem…, I mean investing in the parrots protection.

The Australian reports that developer Wind Power has stated that if the  project goes through, then they will contribute what will add up to millions of dollars to revegitation of the orange bellied parrot’s habitat.

On the other side of things, supporters of the parrot have shown exactly what they think of the project in the traditonal green response.

Monitoring stations have been cut down with a hacksaw or boltcutters.

The rather plain looking ground finch from the Galapagos Islands must be the most famous finch of the moment. Its “Instant Evolution” is the subject of debate at the moment.

The story started a few months ago, when a study determined that the finches have evolved over a period of about a two decades in response to the reduction in the availability of food for the finches. The larger beaked finch died out as larger seeds disappeared, and the smaller beaked variety emerged through the hard times due to its preference for smaller seeds.

Rather than a commentary on the ground finch, it has turned into a debate on the merits of evolution versus intelligent design. Evolutionists are scoring points with the findings, while opponents to the theory are claiming that a single generation is too fast.

Apart from the little finch in the picture, it has very little to do with finches, but it makes for good reading if you find the evolution/creationist battle interesting.

Read:

• National Geographic Story
• Australian Christian old-Earth creationist/IDist biologist blog against evolution,
• Response from the Smoky Mountain News
• Darwin’s Finches