gmr044@leah.Albany.Edu (Gregg Recer) (10/13/89)
With regard to the "most common bird" discussion, in a book I have, _The Complete Birder_ by, I think the name is Jack Conner, he suggests that the most numerous breeding bird in NA is the red-eyed vireo. I have no data to confirm or reject this, just throwing it out for general consumption. These certainly aren't as conspicuous as starlings or house sparrows but my wife and I do find them quite frequently during the summer in the Adirondacks. If they're not the most numerous, they are certainly the most vocal birds we've heard. In the above-mentioned book reference is made to a record where one observer counted the same song repeated something like 20000 times from one individual bird during one day. BTW, I strongly recommend this book. The narrative is quite entertaining and at the same time there is a lot of useful information on identification techniques for the toughest groups of birds. On a different front, Rick Faltersack writes: >I am interested in keeping some pet birds outside. A small >flock of budgies, maybe cockatiels. How would one go about >acclimating pet-store birds to year-round outside living >(in Portland ORE) ? I figure it must be possible: >(1) These birds live outside in the wild. >(2) There is a flock of ring-neck parakeets living wild >in Hilsboro, OR, presumably offspring of escaped pets. >I know I could go to the library and look it up, but its >more fun to ask You! >-rcf I assume that you're considering an outdoor aviary set-up of some kind. Since I don't keep pet birds I don't have any useful advise but the idea does concern me somewhat. As you observed yourself escaped cage birds can become established, if only locally, under some circumstances. This kind of exotic introduction is something to be avoided at all costs, even though these kinds of things allow birders the opportunity to find such interesting things as red-whiskered bulbul's and European goldfinches right here in the US :^). I realize that this kind of occurrence seems like only a remote possibility but this kind of thing is not uncommon, especially in places like Florida where the climate is closer to that in the native habitat of many exotic bird and fish species which are kept here as pets. The source of most of the established escapes in Florida, and perhaps elsewhere, has been fish and bird farms but your aviary could just as easily be a source of a new population of budgies, or whatever, in the Portland area. This may seem trivial but the effect on indigenous wildlife can be severe in these cases (perhaps more true for introduced fish than for birds but I don't know that bird introductions have been studied much). In any event, I hope you take this issue under serious consideration as you plan your aviary. Gregg ******************************************************************************* "In future you should delete the words crunchy frog and replace them with the legend crunchy raw unboned real dead frog!!" -- Inspector Bradshaw, The Hygiene Division *******************************************************************************
stewartw@warpdrive.UUCP (Stewart Winter) (10/19/89)
In article <2084@leah.Albany.Edu> gmr044@leah.Albany.Edu (Gregg Recer) writes: >>I am interested in keeping some pet birds outside. A small >>flock of budgies, maybe cockatiels. How would one go about >>acclimating pet-store birds to year-round outside living >>(in Portland ORE) ? I figure it must be possible: >>(1) These birds live outside in the wild. >>(2) There is a flock of ring-neck parakeets living wild >>in Hilsboro, OR, presumably offspring of escaped pets. >I assume that you're considering an outdoor aviary set-up of some >kind. Since I don't keep pet birds I don't have any useful advise but >the idea does concern me somewhat. As you observed yourself escaped >cage birds can become established, if only locally, under some >circumstances. This kind of exotic introduction is something to be > ... >has been fish and bird farms but your aviary could just as easily be a >source of a new population of budgies, or whatever, in the Portland >area. This may seem trivial but the effect on indigenous wildlife can >be severe in these cases (perhaps more true for introduced fish than >for birds but I don't know that bird introductions have been studied >much). In any event, I hope you take this issue under serious >consideration as you plan your aviary. The colonies of parrots that have managed to set up in colder areas (I think Portland fits in that category), never really seem to grow to any sustantial numbers. The birds really aren't equipped for sub-zero fareheit temperatures. Probably the best documented such case is a colony of Quaker parakeets in Chicago. The USDA has expressed concern about the birds, but they certainly would have to migrate south for the population to grow to any level. The reason for concern is not based on indigenous wildlife (parrots are vegetable and seed eaters primarily), but rather on damage to AGRICULTURE. Many parrots do have the potential to be crop pests, again, if they could grow to sufficient numbers. Your government shares your concerns, so I wouldn't say they are unfounded, but still are unlikely to lead to trouble. Also, keep in mind that anyone setting up an outdoor aviary doesn't want to lose the birds, and if they are lost it is probably due to an act of vandalism. Typically, birds in an aviary lead a healthy, happy life. Stewart -- Stewart Winter Cognos Incorporated S-mail: P.O. Box 9707 VOICE: (613) 738-1338 x3830 FAX: (613) 738-0002 3755 Riverside Drive UUCP: uunet!cognos!stewartw Ottawa, Ontario "The bird for the day is .... parrotlet." CANADA K1G 3Z4
stewartw@warpdrive.UUCP (Stewart Winter) (10/19/89)
>On a different front, Rick Faltersack writes: > >>I am interested in keeping some pet birds outside. A small >>flock of budgies, maybe cockatiels. How would one go about >>acclimating pet-store birds to year-round outside living >>(in Portland ORE) ? I figure it must be possible: >>(1) These birds live outside in the wild. >>(2) There is a flock of ring-neck parakeets living wild >>in Hilsboro, OR, presumably offspring of escaped pets. > >>I know I could go to the library and look it up, but its >>more fun to ask You! > >>-rcf Well, if I remember my US geography Portland should get sub-zero temperatures (probably less often than here, but still happens?). You want your birds to have a place where they can get out of the wind. Should be a concrete, brick or other solid structure. Also, there should be a heated area where the birds can congregate to escape the really cold temperatures with 3 or 3.5 sides blocked from wind. As far as acclimatizing them to the cold, put them outside in the late spring/early summer. Their fall moult will come in thickly feathered. Accept the fact that some birds may not be ready the first fall, if they have been inside for several years. These birds can be placed in an insulated (no drafts!), but basically unheated building. You will have a higher death rate in your birds, but the survivors should actually live longer as they will be hardy birds. Note that some breeds of birds, like gouldian finches, just can't handle below freezing temperature and should not be placed in such an environment. Stewart -- Stewart Winter Cognos Incorporated S-mail: P.O. Box 9707 VOICE: (613) 738-1338 x3830 FAX: (613) 738-0002 3755 Riverside Drive UUCP: uunet!cognos!stewartw Ottawa, Ontario "The bird for the day is .... parrotlet." CANADA K1G 3Z4