ForumNews
THIS PAGE WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE LATEST NEWS...
IF YOU HAVE LOST/FOUND A PARROT OR URGENTLY
REQUIRE ASSISTANCE OF SOME KIND YOUR NOTICE SHOULD APPEAR HERE.
CONTACT WANTED notices are here. Free line-ads of Breeders' birds are here. Business ads are here
(Handy hint - to find something specific on a page, use ctrl + F)
21/04
News reaches me, from a normally reliable source, that bird movements in Belgium are restricted as a result of Newcastle Disease. Also, apparently, Holland has Avian 'Flu. If anyone knows any more, please contact me.
It is with great amusement that I learn that Mr and Mrs Langdon are back on the committee of The Amazona Society UK (TASUK). Having originally introduced the legendary Mr and Mrs Hand to this Society, you would think that they had already done enough. Maybe the erstwhile Iraqi Information Minister, "Comical Ali" (aka "Baghdad Bob") would like to join this esteemed group............
In their home patch, W.Wales, Mr and Mrs Langdon are as popular as Mr and Mrs Hand.
I have recently received a positive comment regarding North Cornwall Aviaries.
Anyone interested in helping a student involved in a study of Parrot talking ability, contact ehg02@students.stir.ac.uk
WHY ARE WE STILL IMPORTING WILD PARROTS? One very good reason is MONEY ! |
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|---|---|---|
| Safari Select Trade Price | S.S. Retail | |
| Young Greys | £175.00 | £225.00 |
| B&G Macaws | £495.00 | £695.00 |
| OW Amazons | £85.00 each | £245.00 (pair) |
| Prices obtained from S.S. Website and Trade List. Other dealers/importers would be similar | ||
| If you halve the Trade Price you are probably near what S.S., and others, buy at | ||
| It's a good little earner....... unless you are the poor wild Parrot! | ||
April 1st (this may be a joke...)
News reaches me that Mr & Mrs Langdon, friends of the notorious Mr & Mrs Hand, have recently re-appeared on the committee of The Amazona Society UK. Those of you with long memories may recall that it was Mr & Mrs Langdon who originally introduced Mr & Mrs Hand to the Society. Mr & Mrs Langdon have obviously been forgiven? Could this be the same Mr Langdon who had a brief, tempestuous period on the Parrot Society committee? (See below)
March 17th
I am advised that there may be a group of people currently stealing Parrots/ exotic birds in the Plymouth (Devon) area. If you are in the area, be aware! (11/03)
If there is a UK Lory Group- can you please contact Djmhusson@aol.com (France)
Lost: 13/03, Orton/Peterborough area, Congo Grey called "Max". Wearing ring: 824JFGA 98V.Please contact ghingres@hotmail.com Tel 07762 590045
Those of you who saw the recent BBC "Worst Pet Shops in the UK" will have noticed "Sanbob" of Wigan, an old favourite of this site. Do you have any good, or bad Pet Shops to recommend? I have had two messages about North Cornwall Aviaries; one happy customer who has never visited and one who visited and thought it OK.
March 7th
Recent information regarding CITES and YC/YN/DYH Amazons may have been incorrect (it came from the Parrot Soc. Mag!) If in doubt, contact DEFRA!!
Lost: On Sunday March 2nd, Kingsbury NW London. Congo Grey, "Chico". Please call Christopher: 02082055358 / 07736280466
February 9th
It has been brought to my attention, by a normally reliable source, that
there are two large consignments of African Parrots just in the UK, with
Beak and Feather Disease.
I have had a message regarding North Cornwall Aviaries from a happy customer
who admits that he has never visited the premises but buys unseen.
As of February 13th, the following Parrots will be on Appendix One:
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Amazons: Yellow-crowned (A. o. ochrocephala)
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Yellow-naped (nominate, Rotan and Parvipes)
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Double Yellow Head (oratrix, tresmariae and belizensis)
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Blue-headed Macaw
You will need papers to sell these birds.
January 27th 2003 - Croydon Beware!
I am informed, reliably or otherwise, that the lovable Mr Dobinson, well known bird-lover and trusted trader, is moving to Capital House, Vicarage Rd, Croydon. If you have any suggestions, other than 'Safari Neglect', for his new venture, please let me know.
December 18th 2002
The following places have been reported to me as ones to avoid if you are looking to buy Parrots: people have taken the trouble to send unsolicited reports.
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North Cornwall Aviaries
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Someone called "Sanbob" in Wigan (Bob Taylor)
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Brunos Parrot Warehouse
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Widmer Feeds
If anyone would like to stick up for these places, other than the owners (!), I will gladly mention the fact.
December 10th
I get a lot of messages along the lines of "I have bought a Parrot, please can you tell me what it is....". I am in the process of compiling a collection of photographs, many taken from old magazines. I intend to put a selection on the site, but if you need help, I may be able to send you a photograph to compare with your Parrot. If you wish to send me photographs that would be very useful.
December 9th
According to The Guardian newspaper, quoting from a report "Switching Channels", produced by WWF and Traffic, the UK is a key location in wildlife smuggling. Based on figures of wildlife seizures from 1996-2000 by C&E, the top three UK ports are airports at Heathrow, Manchester and Gatwick. Even Waterloo Station in London was mentioned.
Apparently there is evidence that Russian Mafia gangs and drug cartels are involved.
Some of the smuggling routes are very complicated; one route for illegal birds from Guyana, including Lears Macaws, involved Surinam, Grenada, Barbados, Cuba, Moscow and Hungary before the birds were moved into western Europe.
The report claimed that the United Arab Emirates, UAE, was heavily involved, and that it was possible to buy endangered species openly in markets in that area.
Seizures included one of 21,600 Treeferns, live rare bird hatchlings mixed with chickens, and a live snake worn as a belt. Sadly however, many of these poor creatures arrive dead.
Although it was not mentioned in this report, there is a feeling that legal bird shipments may be used to conceal illegal trade - another reason for stopping the trade. Visit the CITES website.
December 6th 2002
Is the UK Parrot Society going mad?
Firstly they actually get a decent Chairman, they they belatedly realise that the continuing importation of wild Parrots may be a bad thing, and now they let a WOMAN on the Council.
I am informed that Mrs Chisholm, an experienced and caring Parrot breeder, has strong opinions which she is happy to share. So, if any male Council members expected a "girl" to do a bit of organising and make tea, then I suggest they may be in for a shock.
Previously.................
Those of you who are members of the UK Parrot Society will know that, according to the August Magazine, 72% of the members who voted in the recent referendum would support a total ban on wild caught Parrots entering the UK. Also 66% said that they would support only close rung Parrots entering the UK.
The Society will now look for suggestions as to how it might give support to a total ban on wild Parrots entering the UK.
As a member I am relieved that, after years of embarrassing silence on this subject, the "new regime" has had the insight to deal with this issue. After years during which the Society seemed reluctant to be involved in any issue that could be considered at all contentious, the new management, under Chairman Alan Jones, has led this organisation blinking into the daylight.
My humble suggestions would be:
1. Ban all recently imported birds from PS Shows. Since anyone can spot them, and their vendors, this would not be too difficult. Make it perfectly clear, in advance, that such birds will not be allowed in.
2. Work with the World Parrot Trust who already have an online petition in place.
I was also amused to see, in the same PS Magazine, that Sharon Hand ("The Parrot-killer of Carmarthen"), a great favourite of this site, has resigned from the PS! It's a shame they didn't throw her out before but............Interestingly, when Mr and Mrs Hand became involved in The Amazona Society UK (TASUK) about 5 years ago, several experienced, and in some cases, founder, members of the committee departed. In at least one case this was as a direct result of the arrival of the Hands. At least one committee member warned TASUK Chairman Dave Hall of rumours already circulating about them but Mr Hall was not interested. Looking back, I wonder if he would react differently.