The Red-vented or Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia) naturally occurs in the Philippines. In 1950 it was a common sight to see these lovely birds in medium-sized flocks, but since then a rapid decline has left one to two thousand birds in the wild.

The threats to this bird have been numerous -- heavy trapping, loss of its already restricted breeding areas and persecution as a crop pest have decimated their populations. Very dry breeding seasons may lead to reproductive failure as well.

To turn this species' fate around, conservation efforts have focussed on ending poaching, creating sustainable alternatives to poaching, protection of key breeding areas, education and feeding of chicks during years of drought.

Nothing is more heartrending to a pet owner than to have to deny or restrict health care to their pet when it needs it, due to lack of funds.

Flock Talk has found a list of foundations and agencies from different parts of the globe for cats, dogs and birds alike, that pet parrot owners may contact or apply to when in need.

The Pet Fund
CareCredit
IMOM.org: Helping People Help Pets
American Animal Hospital Association
Pet Vet Help Organizations List

The World Parrot Trust does not necessarily endorse the above sites, and takes no responsibility for the information contained therein. Please research each organization thoroughly before proceeding.

In our January issue we talked about IUCN Categories critically endangered (CR) and endangered (EN). Two more important categories used in the Red List are near threatened (NT) and vulnerable (VU). Even though these listings are less serious qualifiers for the threat of extinction, they are significant nonetheless.

According to the 2008 Red List, 85 species of parrot are either near threatened or vulnerable. A species is listed as near threatened when it has been evaluated but does not yet qualify for a more serious listing, according to criteria A through E. (See Red List Categories)

Once it does qualify it may be upgraded to vulnerable, which requires that there has been a reduction or a projection of a reduction in a population, a reduction or fragmentation of geographic range and extreme fluctuations in numbers of mature individuals. Finally, another qualifier is an analysis showing the probability of extinction in the wild is at least 10% within 100 years.

Here is a book definitely designed with the younger set in mind -- a rare children's volume dedicated to the issue of the trade in wild-caught parrots. So encountering Monica Engebretson's "Lucky", about a rainbow lorikeet and its adventures, was a treat indeed.

The story is simple, yet important: a young boy receives a wild-caught bird as a pet and comes to the realization that the animal is miserable in its chained, frightened state. The story has a happy ending for Lucky, thanks to the sensitivity of its young hero. The illustrations are unusual and lovely; soft yet somehow vibrant at the same time. All around this is an affecting book, with 100% of the proceeds going to non-profit groups working on avian welfare issues.