Wild Macaws and Eclectus parrots

[Tiaris]

If anything this simply proves what avicultural representatives have been saying to government all along on the exotic species regulation issue ie. No system of regulation of law abiding aviculturists will prevent illegal actions by those who are that way inclined. Macaws are all included in the latest version of exotic species regulation and that hasn't prevented the apparently willful release of these birds by someone with more dollars than sense. The exotic laws also include housing requirements with safety doors, etc. In this case you in all likelihood have someone as wealthy as Singo (see the attached links) who thinks it would be "nice" to have his Macaws free-flying around his rural properties and who obviously also feels sufficiently disinterested in the laws associated with keeping exotic species as to not care about any possible flow-on effects of further regulation of aviculturists by those with a regulatory mindset. Deliberate release of exotic species is also a stated very high compliance priority in the current exotic species laws. I hope they are trapped by someone who keeps them or onsells them. If these birds were deliberately released & if the regulations are worth the paper they're written on these birds should be traceable by microchip to a registered owner & the book should be thrown at them in no uncertain way. However, if this occurs I'll eat my hat.

[E Orix]

This whole thing doesn't ring true.
I am not saying that a Macaw/s were not free flying but I find it highly unlikely that they were not under strict control and being watched closely.
Even Singo wouldn't let a $13,000 + bird just fly around unattended.
Believe me if they were a feral population there would be several hundred or more out trying to catch them.

[jusdeb]

I gotta tell you I did fall asleep last night wondering what effect these rather largish birds would be having on the environment .

Nesting spots , roosting spots , food all in short demand as is .


After seeing this I think free flying of exotics should be banned .
Exotics should be monitored .
And idiots excluded from keeping birds .

Another thing , though Im no expert these birds pictured look a bit ratty compared to what an acquaintance of mine has . Her aviary birds look bigger , stockier and in better feather so Im thinking what parasites are these birds spreading ?

Yes an awesome sight but sheesh ...so wrong in so many ways.

[jusdeb]

...I would much rather see wild flocks of native parrots in the trees than those birds

Guess that wont happen while they are free flying ...yes location please , posse with nets and carry boxes . It must be clean up Australia Day some time soon.

[SamDavis]

Nathan,
Where did you go on holidays?
Was it north, south, west?
They're clearly not wild, more likely handraised and hungry given they came down to you for a feed. Maybe some boneheaded bozo, "birds should be free", animal liberation numskull do gooder has stolen someones birds and thought they'd set them free?

[Diane]

And if they were just allowed to roam at will, that's a lot of trust to place in a bird to come back, regardless of how many treats you give it.

[jusdeb]

True BB the urge to breed is going to out weigh the need for a snack especially once they learn to forage .
Territories get bigger and soon there's no chance of them coming back.

[Nathan Morleyy]

Deb ,
Do you think I should of caught them or dos that count as stealing?.

Thanks Nathan

[gomer]

Sounds like your getting a posse together Nathan.All you have to do now is work out where they were.Perhaps next time when on holidays, looking out the window taking in all the scenery will be more beneficial then playing on your ipod.Great photos excellent experience free flying or what ever.

[toothlessjaws]

it surprises me that a kid who was claiming that they wanted a hand raised eclectus parrot just a week or so ago, when faced with a free ranging tamed bird and a MACAW didn't and bird nap them on the spot! certainly if they were unattended i would have tried.