Australian Breeders Market

The opening of the Mornington Station Wildlife Sanctuary has made the job of studying the wild gouldian finch a little easier.

As The Australian reports, the addition of DNA testing equipment means that samples can be processed without the need to send them to capital cities.

With the breeding population down to approxiamately 2500 pairs, the effects of fires and cattle grazing can have a drastic effect on the birds. The scientists are studying the effects that these particular factors have on the seasonal grasses of the area, the main food source for the Gouldian finch and other endangered species in the area.

Researchers have concluded from studies that parrots are similar to certain primates and dolphins in that they have unique calls for they babies.

The HindustanTimes.com reports that studies on colonies of the small Columbian spectacled parrot showed that distinctive cries from the mother were only responded to by the particular baby parrot, while other birds ignored the cries completely.

As the report states, it will again open the debate into the complexity of language in the animal kingdom. The report is the first relating to parrots and birds in general, and points out the unique skills that parrots use in their social relationships. The researcher (a German by the name of Rolf Wanker) avoids stating whether or not this proves that humans are not the only ones to use complex linguistic structures.

The endangered Orange Bellied Parrot is in the news at the moment, although it is a little unclear what for.

The proposed wind farm at Gippsland was knocked back originally, stating that it would endanger the habitat of the small australian parrot. TheAge.com.au reports that there may be other reasons for the Federal Environment Minister to block the development, after he is said to have recieved advice that there was no threat to the orange-bellied parrot.

Senator Campbell is said to be reconsidering the decision, probably due to legal action being taken by the Victorian State Government. Although it is admirable that the environment comes first in decisions of this magnitude, as this editorial in The Australian points out, sometimes you have to wonder at the main motivational factors…