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by Nikki Buxton

It’s confession time.

Much as I would like you all to feel as smug about the releases as I did when I wrote my last blog, I can’t keep up the pretence any longer.

We had a call the other day from a neighbour a mile or so down the road who was merrily hand-feeding Chac & Chell bread, thank you very much. When I got there, the two offenders were perched on their (thankfully cold) barbeque and their two mad white-fronted friends were bouncing around on the washing-line. It was hard to know who to grab first, so I made a right pigs-ear of it and they all ended up in the surrounding cohune trees. I waited until dusk but they showed no signs of coming home. Having 2 hours to reflect, perched on the tailgate of the truck, I spotted a flaw in the recent ‘no interacting with the birds’ policy that we have adopted. Basically they aren’t the least bit interested in anything I’ve got to say: they’ve never heard me talk to them and I’m clearly a very boring human. And they certainly aren’t going to follow me home to life in a cage with pumpkin and celery when they have a crop full of yummy tortillas and a ton of trees to play in.

The next morning came and the little beggars (literally) had moved to the next family. And then the next. Until horror of horrors they were flying around the village shouting ‘catch me if you can’. Well, guess what?

I am not going to enter into the embarrassing details of their return. Suffice to say enough people wagged their finger at me and called me stupid for letting them out, that makes me never want to go back there again. I am once again desperately grateful for the leg bands, without them they would be just another bird, instead of crazy gringo-lady's bird.

Apparently the two white-fronteds “flew back-so, Miss” and were not “rescued” / ”helped” / ”looked after” in the way that Chac & Chell were. Unfortunately, so far only one of them has found their way back to the aviary. Let’s hope he’s just lost, or has met some girl in a bar or something…



Chac & Chell are back behind bars on half-rations until I can work out what to do with them. That was their second chance. They’ve done exactly this before, which is why we were given them in the first place. At least this time they didn’t come back with a crew-cut. So, do I let them go for three strikes on a local release, or shall I drive them way out into the bush as far from people as possible and then pretend they’ll be okay? There’s no wonder rehabbers don’t give them names: it‘s much easier to say “sorry old chap, GOBFD018 didn’t make it” than to wring your hands and wail about the absence of poor Esmeralda.

On a positive note, we have 9 merry birds winging their way around the place: a happy, comfortable flock of Amazon parrots...
…and one parakeet.
Oh come on - nobody’s perfect.

Posted by Nikki Buxton on 02/23 at 02:08 PM
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Freedom!

by Nikki Buxton

It’s been a while, and I apologise.

Exciting things have been happening, probably the most of which is our Big New Release. We let go 13 birds in the end, a mix of 4 white fronted (Amazona albifrons) and 8 red loreds (Amazona autumnalis).

The birds had been ready for a week or so, but we waited for Jamie Gilardi’s visit so that someone with a halfway decent camera was around to record the event.
Unfortunately we had been delaying the inevitable and had not yet banded several of the birds in the vain and foolish hope that we could band and release all in one great bit tan-ta-tarrrra. Yes, of course we know parrots. Yes, of course we should know better. And with someone pointing a camera at us, it was bound to end it tears. Mine mostly. I have to publicly thank Jamie for showing me the ‘how to immobilise a beak’ technique the day AFTER I lost 3 pints of blood.

In the end we got the required birds out whilst retaining the un-required birds safely behind bars. It was a biggie for Belize - nothing like Brazil and Guatemala’s numbers - but it was the first time we had released such a large group together. It certainly pays off: they are flocking together and you literally can hear and see the delight that they are taking in their new found freedom. We even got Timba out – he’s a crazy loon on his 3rd attempt at release – and finally loving it. I honestly think he’s smiling in this picture!


A moment when I knew they were going to do well when was on Monday morning they were nowhere to be seen at breakfast time. In amongst the panic, I realised that 13 birds can’t all disappear at once, despite the best efforts of some of our fellow Belizeans, and sure enough, there they were on a gumbo-limbo tree (Bursera simaruba), enjoying the morning sun and snacking out on berries. Wonderful.


Almost a week after release and they are still hanging around the area. There’s a little tension between the free Bibi and incarcerated Michael, who did not do quite well enough in the feather-growing department to join his friends (and enemies). Michael was sporting an all-too-familiar toe injury today: something that wouldn’t happen on a remote release and one of the down-sides to releasing bird around their old home and cage-mates. I don’t think he’ll lose the toe - I tried to get antibiotic cream on it this morning but he was having none of it, awkward idiot. If I had a million, I would put another layer of wire and a separator to act as toe-guard. The released white-fronted are their usual scrappy selves too - fighting for space in our cramped 50 acres! Whatever makes you happy, I guess.


Speaking of millions: we have the go ahead for the yellow-head project and we should start getting our first birds next week. It’s exciting a daunting all at once and I have a lot of homework and fundraising to do if this is going to succeed. So many question, so few answers, and of course the uncertainty of human nature can thwart any of our achievements in a heartbeat.

The first job is to build a new flight aviary way back in the bush and relocate the rehab birds there - we are very aware that the existing flight aviary is too exposed to human activity to give potential release candidates their best chance. Then we can use the old aviary for the yellow-heads: our crazy, unreleasable oratrix can handle a few dogs barking and cars passing with no ill effects, given that they will have been caged for years around people and can probably all sing the National Anthem. Of course, once we've made our second million, it may be a different story...!

Posted by Nikki Buxton on 02/20 at 12:50 PM
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There goes another year

by Nikki Buxton

As you may have seen on my ‘other blog’ the eagerly anticipated leg bands shipped down by Dr Gilardi have arrived. I have to confess, we have done no more than band Chili as yet – which by and large was a success. She worried it for a few hours and then left it alone for the most part. The next check is for the reaction within a pair of birds when we band one and not the other. If the un-banded bird becomes obsessed with his partners’ new jewelery, then it’s very likely that the band will receive similar attention from wild birds and so there will be no way we can band our releases.
I have no excuses as to why we haven’t yet done this simple task, other than the fact that there always seems to be something a lot more urgent to attend to. I have instructed 2010 to treat me a little more gently, and I am planning on changing to a30-hour day. I just need the rest of Belize to comply.

So, what’s happening in the Belize parrot world? Well, the wild guys are flying thick and fast – well, not so thick, to be honest. We see an average of 15-25 pass over in the morning and back again at night (a mixture of white-fronted and red lored mostly) compared to a 40-60 average last year. Back in 2006 we were seeing flocks of 120 red loreds, but the largest this season so far has been 38. It’s not a good indicator of the state of the populations, I have to say. We are still getting visit from the 2 red loreds which sends Perky the Parakeet into a frenzy - something’s definitely broken inside that bird - but so good to see releases return.


I must get in a quick thank you: we were amazed and flattered to visit the post office the other week and pick up not bills, but a lovely big parcel of parrot toy leather strips. Thank you so much to Liisa from Nova Scotia for those - it makes a real change from the usual limited fare we get in Belize. The birds are still getting hours of fun destroying the toys - and we are still having hours of fun making them, come to that - this is Jerry in his 'Santa goes Welding' outfit with our friends Frank & Michelle who are very comfortable with our motto: "you want to stop for a beer, there's a price to pay!"
Chili says thanks a million, Liisa.


A couple of weeks ago, the Forestry Department brought us a beautiful young red lored. They told me his name as they handed him over, but I usually don’t pay much attention to their pre-owned names as it’s usually ‘Polly’, ‘Lorito’ or ‘Just a Bird’. However, this one is most definitely “Pepperito”. He says his name regularly, bright and clear, along with wolf-whistles, ‘Lorito’, ‘Polly’ and all of the usual vocalisations we get from former ‘pets’. As with all of the talkers, he’s going to be a tough one to rehab. He’s keeping Katy company in the house right now as we need to check his flight ability, his poop condition (lucky us) and just generally assess his character and condition. He’s a very lovable bird, which is a huge surprise as he was liberated from a cage that was so small, he was touching all four sides by just sitting still. The person who reported him had cycled past him for a fortnight thinking it was a stuffed bird, as 1) surely no-one would ever put a bird in a cage that small and 2) he had never moved (because he couldn’t, I guess)

Anyhow, he now has run of the entire living room, but his favourite places are the curtain rail for sleeping or during the day he perches on the central bar underneath Jerry’s dining chair. Strange little bird - and sooo funny when Jerry’s sits down for dinner and puts his bare feet straight into the day’s poop. Every night. Without fail. I shouldn’t laugh, but it’s the little things that keep us going.
Anyhow, Pepperito has grown quite fond of Katy, so I’m going to wait until Katy’s ready to go back into the small aviary and move them both together. It will be a big relief for Jerry’s feet, and for Chilli, who rather resents the intrusion. This shot is Pepperito taking what is probably his first ever rain-bath.


I shall end my final missive for 2009 with the very best wishes to you, your family and your birds for the coming year, and will contemplate which resolution I shall go with this time. I’ve always been terribly good at thinking them up, but never actually get around to putting them into action. I plan on 2010 being the Year of the Implementation of Multiple Resolutions - which in itself may actually qualify as Resolution Number One. See – halfway there already!

Posted by Nikki Buxton on 12/31 at 01:21 PM
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Revelations and Visitations

by Nikki Buxton

Well, quick on the uptake as always, I have realised that the Bibi-Michael hate campaign is actually my fault.
The spot where I serve and wash up is right next to Michael’s corner. And parrots being parrots, my presence usually draws quite a crowd. Front row centre aisle is always Nigel: a very cheeky red lored from this year’s batch of babies. For some bizarre reason, it seems Bibi has a crush on Nigel.
So: here’s me, here’s Nigel, and here’s Michael: probably the same sex as Bibi, obviously a serious threat to Bibi’s inappropriate crush on an under-age parrot, and therefore he must be attacked.
Thankfully, Michael spotted this one way before I did and has learned to scarper when he sees me coming. Complicated problem solved first by the creature of lesser intelligence (yeah, right).
So, how did I work this out in the end? Well, Nigel (this is his one and only word, by the way) has a thing for human heads and won’t leave mine alone. The minute I enter the aviary, he’ll come into land, dig in his claws, haul on my scrunchie prattling ‘Nigel, Nigel’ to himself before flying off cackling, clutching his scrunchie-prize. Clearly me and my expensive gifts are direct competition, so Bibi is now very intent on removing vital parts of my face. Oh Joy.

While that particular drama is being sorted, another has developed in the nursery. I guess I should explain our set-up: We have The Big House (for flighted or semi flighted birds), The Difficult House (for those that don’t quite fit with the general population and require extra observation or care) and The Nursery (for those that do a passable impression of a brick when they try to fly). Thanks to a rapid summer moult, we now have two flighted red-loreds in the Nursery; Chac & Chell. They can’t go in the Difficult House because Spike’s in there and would probably kill them. I am reluctant to move them to the Big House as the Parrot Trust has very kindly shipped down some identification leg bands, and right now these two are the easiest of our pilots to catch. For the sake of a few days more, I don’t particularly want to let them loose in a 30-foot high aviary. Anyhow, both Chac & Chell have taken a dislike to Katy – another of this years’ babies and a very passable brick indeed. She is beginning to suffer real stress and runs the risk of injury from being constantly knocked off her perch, so is currently holidaying in the house. (pictured)

We have started receiving regular visits from a pair of red loreds. They must be ex-residents as they know their way around the aviary feeders too well. We suspect they are Bonnie & Kalie (http://www.belizebirdrescue.com/newsjan09.html) released in January of this year. These two hung about for months after release, so the parakeets are very familiar with them and Perky will often take off flying with them: an odd sight indeed. I managed to get this quick photo: Perky seems to be leading this particular formation.
It really lifts our spirits when releases come to visit: it’s only then that we really know we’ve done our job well.

Posted by Nikki Buxton on 12/05 at 06:59 AM
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