|
#154965 - 02/19/08 09:11 PM
Re: postcard from Australia/Sydney :)
[Re: 1wingwonder]
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,162
Charlie
Admin
|
Admin
Chained to the Computer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,162
Covington, LA USA
|
She did ask me why the black cockies were not popular pets in America as the whites are so popular??? I will venture a good guess. Greed! The exportation of birds between Australia and the U.S. stopped in 1992. Before that, they were trapped and shipped out based on demand. Yes, white cockatoos are popular but have you ever wondered why there are so few of the Galeritas, the nominate race of the Greater Sulphur-crested cockatoos, as pets? It's because it has been a pest in Australia for half a century and who would want a trash bird? I suspect the same thing happened, more or less, to the Blacks. People have always wanted things that are different not things that fly in flocks hundreds or thousands. Of course this was fine with the retailers that were touting the rarity and the sky high prices. Guess what is becoming one of the more expensive birds in the western markets, the Galerita! Why, because they are unavailable! There is hardly any breeder stock in the west because breeders didn't want trash birds then either! 
|
|
|
|
#154976 - 02/19/08 10:03 PM
Re: postcard from Australia/Sydney :)
[Re: Snowy'Mommy]
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 541
Heide1
Lives Here
|
Lives Here
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 541
Port Charlotte, FL
|
If I lived near where you took those photos I don't believe I'd ever be anywhere but there. . .heck I'd never go to work! I'd LIVE in those parks. .LOL. Shoot, then I'd be the homeless crazy bird lady. Now, I'm just the crazy bird lady.  Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing!
Last edited by Heide1; 02/19/08 10:04 PM. Reason: Added text.
Heide
"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds." (Aesop)
|
|
|
|
#155002 - 02/20/08 12:44 AM
Re: postcard from Australia/Sydney :)
[Re: Heide1]
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22
Gala
New Member
|
New Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22
Sydney, Australia
|
She did ask me why the black cockies were not popular pets in America as the whites are so popular??? ========== I wouldn't say they are not popular. I would say it is hard to get them and they are much, much more expensive than white ones (s.crested and correlas). And that is good. Black cockies are magnificent birds. We have red tailed ones in Western Australia and yellow and white tailed even here, in New South Wales. Speaking of pests: you might know or not, but in some rural areas here in Australia, these parrots are considered as pests: both long and short billed corellas, sulphur crested cockatoos and galahs. I was crying while reading an article in a parrot magazine about special device which catches corellas and s.c.cockatoos and gas them very quickly. Why? Because they destroy crops and in one case huge flock of corellas was making such a noise (more than 120 decibels) in the small town populated with shift workers plus damages around their homes (destroyed wooden parts) they couldn't take longer. Unfortunatelly, that is the world we live in: on one side we have beauty we appreciate, love and worship and on the other, we destroy that very same beauty... Sulphur crested cockies are silly birds as well in some way, despite their inteligence: they tend to fly very low over roads sometimes and get hit by cars. It is heart breaking every time when I see... All parrots here are protected in the sense they can't be exported from Australia. In the other hand, they are taken for granted. Like pigeons and sparrows in Europe or other birds somewhere else. Here is the link from my webshot place. There is one album with beautiful cockies you will find really funny. I love them to death. And I am crazy bird lady as well.  Sadly, no one around from my family or friends feel the same. Not being able to share one's love for something or someone leaves you a bit lonley sometimes... http://pets.webshots.com/album/554080631sXIiqVOf course, you are welcome to have a look at other albums as well. More postcards from Sydney. enjoy
|
|
|
|
#155454 - 02/23/08 04:28 PM
Re: postcard from Australia/Sydney :)
[Re: BE2Cassie]
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22
Gala
New Member
|
New Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22
Sydney, Australia
|
I've got a few nips and poos so far. Some parrots can come close to pull my shirt asking for attention and there were some who wanted to nip stronger but, they are not vicious. Some observe from distance, some would nip, some allow a quick pat. No big scratches although claws can leave red skin. I don't hold them often and don't like them for too long on my shoulders or head, that is no no. Years a go I was in ZOO and amazed with one sulphur crested cockatoo (I am coming from the country where the native birds are pigeons, crows, sparrows etc.). I was scratching him around his ear through the cage wire and he looked ok with it. Next thing he grabbed my left index finger and bit me so hard, to the bone. I ended in the hospital, stitches, tetanus injection, pain. Still there is a scar. But, I didn't develop any fear. Bird confided to the cage is frustrated being and it is easily understood: free bird is a happy bird. These parrots of great intelligence do understand so much. ------------------------- http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/8543/dsc02682bs8.jpghttp://img120.imageshack.us/img120/5297/dsc02669di5.jpg
Last edited by Gala; 02/23/08 04:58 PM. Reason: added links with photos
|
|
|
|
|
