I Pictured above, Top Left - Princess Parrots (Polytelis alexandrae) - AKA Princess Alexandra Parrots, Rose-cheeked parrots.  Male (L) with longer tail.  Centre Top - Princess parrots eating breakfast of fresh fruit and vegies.  Top (R) - Breeding Pair of Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans), Bottom centre - male crimson rosella at nesting box, female inside box, bottom right - Gouldian Finches (Erythrura gouldiae)(some in nesting boxes) AKA Lady Gouldian finch or Gould's finch; are now listed on the EPBC act as Endangered in QLD and NT, and Rare in WA.. Air sac mite is thought to be among the main reasons for decline of these lovely birds.  The best treatment I know of is one drop of Ivermectin between the shoulder blades for treatment of air sac mite, however a number of aviculturalists preferred a drop of Ivermectin to the tip of the beak - one very scarey practice!!!.  This aviary setup - totally enclosed in shadecloth was a temporary setup at our last acreage property, a majority of dowel perches were only used for a short time due to the shortage of natural timber for perches at our last property.  Natural perches of native plants in varying thicknesses of course being important for the health of the birds feet.

 

The one thing that I can honestly admit with great pride is that I have never in my entire life exploited birds or any other animal for commercial purposes.   As a former ranger for QNPWS I do not believe in commercial exploitation (dealing) in wildlife, and that breeding programs for all fauna should be strictly limited to scientific and/or educational purposes only, with a view to future release programs of depleted species in the wild.  Many years ago, according to Avicultural organizations in Queensland my Turquoisine parrot breeding program was the most successful and prolific program from Central QLD to North and far north QLD, if not the whole of QLD, with many aviculturalists citing difficulties either in obtaining pure breeding stock or with breeding these lovely birds, which to my experience was no more difficult than breeding budgies, if you adhered to a few simple rules of management, and the varying needs of the particular species of bird. Turquoisine grass parrots almost became extinct in the wild in the 70's. 

 

All of my aviaries always kept in immaculate hygienic conditions, and all birds fed a highly nutritious diet being a balanced mixture of commercial and natural foods, and supplements where necessary: including fresh fruit and vegies, native fruits, flowers mainly from Myrtaceae family, grass seeding heads, natural fresh branches of native plants with leaves - casuarina branches being a favourite particularly with the princess parrots, seeds and fruits attached, (used also for perches), etc; high quality commercial seeds, powdered high quality Vetafarm amino acid and trace element rich commercial foods; probiotics, etc.  Hygiene, knowledge of bird diseases and their transmission, top quality nutrition, etc; all played an important role in the success of my breeding program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Email: Cheryl Murkin THURINGOWA   QUEENSLAND  4815 Australia