Descrição
Estes fascinantes periquitos dos neotrópicos têm sido os favoritos de Rosemary Low. Encantada com todos os aspetos destas aves, a autora escreveu um livro que atrairá criadores, donos de aves de companhia, observadores de aves e conservacionistas.
Este livro é o resultado de mais de 30 anos de experiência em reprodução destas espécies, assim como da observação na natureza – na Argentina, no Brasil, na Colômbia, no Equador e no Panamá. O interesse apaixonado de Rosemary Low por estes fascinantes periquitos é evidente em quase todas as páginas. Nos capítulos de avicultura, enfatiza aspetos que melhoram a sua qualidade de vida: instalações espaçosas, uma dieta variada, incluindo muitos alimentos obtidos da natureza e evitando a reprodução excessiva para o comércio de animais de estimação. Os capítulos sobre conservação mostram a sua preocupação com a sobrevivência (11 das aproximadamente 30 espécies são de interesse para a conservação) e descreve o que está a ser feito para salvá-los da extinção.
Descrição original:
Cage & Aviary Birds, January 15 2014 “A must-read for conure lovers”
Some 32 species of these little jewels are now recognised and there’s no finer guide to them than Rosemary Low. A devotee of the genus since the 1960s, Rosemary has vast experience of Pyrrhura in captivity. She has also travelled all over Latin America to study them in the wild.
Rosemary’s superb new book, Pyrrhura Parakeets (Conures): Aviculture, Natural History, Conservation, is in two parts. The first tells us what a Pyrrhura is and summarises the history of the genus in captivity. This is largely recent: major imports to Europe commenced in the 1970s and the next two decades saw demand and supply both peak, as breeders savoured the variety of species available. Recently the focus has changed to smaller collections and the breeding of colour mutations of the green-
cheeked conure (P.molinae).
Rosemary goes on to offer a masterclass in practical husbandry. This is grounded in first-hand experience and is pure gold for the beginner who wants to know the basics of housing and feeding, but also needs expert advice concerning health issues and breeding problems. She then proceeds to the lifestyle of wild Pyrrhura and connects this with conservation issues. Many of these species have small ranges in the wild and, inevitably, are under threat in the wild. Aviculture must help by maintaining pure captive stocks, insists Rosemary.
Part two of the book offers a pen portrait of every Pyrrhura species, with unique detail on its behaviour, history and status. In fact “unique” is the best word for this book. I doubt anyone else could have written it. If you love conures, snap it up.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Introduction
Part I
1. What are Pyrrhura Conures?
2. Captive History
3. Housing
4. New Stock
5. Companions in the Home
6. Health Concerns
7. Diet and Nutrition
8. Breeding in Aviculture
9. Breeding Problems
10. Hand-rearing and Weaning
11. Mutations
12. Food Sources in Nature
13. Life in the Wild
14. Aviculture and Conservation Potential
15. Conservation: Present and Future
Part II
THE SPECIES
1. Species with pronounced breast markings:
2. Species with lighter coloured beaks, less pronounced breast markings and red or reddish ear coverts:
3. Blue-throated P. cruentata
Epilogue
References Cited
Index of scientific names (Pyrrhuras)
Index of common names
