Burrowing parrots (Cyanoliseus p. patagonus) gather at end of the day, Balneario El Condor Patagonia, Rio Negro, Argentina
Sadly, the survival of the Burrowing Parrots is under threat. Argentinean National Law of Vegetable Health 6704/63 from 1963 declared the Burrowing Parrots an agricultural pest. Poisoning and shooting have been used for eradication. The birds are also trapped for the pet trade. Initially, export quotas were unlimited. In 1991 it was reduced to 9000 a year and today it still stands at 7500. One of the birds ringed at the El Condor colony by Drs Quillfeldt and Masello was found a year later in Spain, the main recipient of Burrowing Parrots collected in the wild. In 2002 Spain officially imported 1500 birds, followed by Mexico 220, Singapore 100 and South Africa 50. Having seen them flying free, constantly interacting with each other, I was not surprised to hear from Rosemary Low that they are often distressed in captivity and prone to feather plucking. Their vocalisation is often not appreciated in confined spaces and as a result they end up as unwanted pets in need of a new home.
Size: 5120px × 3336px
Location: Balneario El Condor, Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina
Photo credit: © Krystyna Szulecka / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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