Parrot Breeding Programme
Parrot breeding programme with cutt fish, shell grit and green foods. Is an adequate diet for small parrots that are not breeding. However additional energy protein vitamin and minerals are need during the breeding seasons.
Parrot Breeding Programme Dr Marshall’s Soft Food PDF file for recipe and preparation instructions is the simplest, Best and safest method for providing these additional nutrients for breeding and moulting parrots.
Dr Rob Marshall’s nutritional products may also be provided in a soak seed mix but ensure the seed batch has been culture test prior to soaking. Refer to pag of “The Budgerigar” book for a more detailed description of soft seed recipes for breeding budgerigars.
Turbobooster Lecithin enriched E-powder and F-vite are the powerhouse ingredients of this highly successful soft food recipe that uses boiled eggs and Passwells finch crumbles to form a light fluffy and highly palatable soft food that is readily accept by breeding birds.
Recovery
The Western Ground Parrot is one of 22 bird species nationally which the Australian Government has prioritised for recovery.
The last remaining stronghold of the population now persists only in Cape Arid National Park and Nuytsland Nature Reserve (WA) – with no more than 150 individuals thought to remain. The species is very particular about their habitat, requiring diverse near-coastal heath with patches that have not burned for a decade. Management of threats including feral species and wildfire risk reduction is considered critical to their survival.
In 2003, the then Department of Parks and Wildlife established the Western Ground Parrot Recovery Project. Field monitoring of population trends, radio tracking and a captive management program have added to the body of knowledge about this cryptic species. At the same time, fire suppression has been improve and introduce predator control, in particular feral cats, has continued as a key focus. A three year trial translocation was initiate in 2021, with a small number of birds being moved from Cape Arid National Park to a conservation east of Albany. This trial’s goal was to establish an insurance population. Perth Zoo activitely participated in many of these activities, including in the support of the recent translocations by providing essential animal care and veterinary expertise.
Study of Biology and Behaviour for Breeding
Eight hundred kilometres north from their native habitat, Perth Zoo has created a specialised home for a very small number of Western Ground Parrots – custom-designed aviaries where we can monitor them 24-7 via CCTV and develop husbandry and breeding requirements. By increasing knowledge of their behaviour, social interactions and even dietary preferences, we are achieving a better understanding of their needs. This is improving the chance of successful breeding for these mysterious birds, as well as informing studies of wild birds.
So far we have identified unique behaviours, calls and social requirements which has enabled us to refine their husbandry, resulting in a number of the birds attempting to breed. Challenges with egg viability and calcium metabolism have been encounter and we are working to overcome these. More recently, collaboration with international specialists enabled us to examine the reproductive viability of males and the potential for assisted reproduction methods that could further support the species recovery in the future. Providing species specific optimised conditions is a very important step in developing a successful breeding program and we are working towards this goal.
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