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CONURE CRAZY
It’s been raining conures, especially Aratinga conures, or so it seems! We have 28 Genus Aratinga species along with many other delightful conure species available for adoption. There are at least 6 common genera of conures which include Aratingas, Cyanoliseus, Leptopsittaca, Orgnorhynchus, Pyrrhura and the Guaruba and many more of the lesser known species. What makes conures so special? And, why does TGF have so many?
What do all conures have in common? Often called “wedge-tailed parakeets”, they are New World birds belonging to the order Psittaciformes, one of the most endangered groups of birds in the world. Conures have several common characteristics: long pointed tails, voices which vary from occasionally noisy to screeching, are swift flyers and generally are considered to be hardy. They may have a lifespan from 15 to 35 years, although accident, disease, poor nutrition and lack of exercise may shorten their lives. Most conures have a diverse range of habitat, generally coinciding with the areas of Central and South America where the average annual rainfall is at least 1,000mm. They inhabit the humid and dry savannahs, and a few are also found long the rivers and edges of the tropical rain forests. Some conures live in the thorny savannahs while others dwell in the mountainous regions up to 3,000m in altitude. Their diets vary seasonally, and some species cover very long distances to search for food. Conures, like other parrots, have an extremely high energy requirement because they are flighted and they have high metabolisms. Because conures are not generally considered ”picky” eaters, they have survived often on seed alone, but that is not an appropriate diet. In the wild, many have moved closer to human habitation and have become followers of cultivated crops because of the variety of food sources available. In some regions, conures are considered agricultural pests and face destruction as humans encroach upon the birds’ habitats. They will often eat nuts, blossoms, buds, fruit pits or seeds and insects in the wild. According to renowned aviculturist Thomas Arndt, “it is frequently recommended that [conures] be given a wide selection of food, which is only partly correct. It must be remembered that foods different in nutritive value and that the birds will be able to eat only a certain quantity, which remains constant from day to day. In some instances, a bird will eat an enormous amount of food yet die from starvation due to malnutrition.”
Most of the conures have been relinquished to TGF for noise or other behavior related reasons, which is such a disservice to these individuals. Failure to observe and learn about the meaning of the bird’s various contact calls, other vocalizations and its body language are the reasons contributing to the dissolution of the bird. Rearranging the bird’s environment, providing appropriate nutrition, exercise, bathing, sleep, foraging and enrichment along with training can redirect or greatly manage many of the perceived behavior problems.
Conure personalities are generally animated, inquisitive and they can be sometimes possessive or act territorial around their caregiver, cage or other avian companions. Because of the sharply pointed tip of the upper mandible and relatively strong beak pressure for a small to medium sized bird, it becomes even more important to avoid “teaching” a conure to bite (usually as a last resort to humans who are not paying attention to its body language or other forms communication!) Learning how to work with a conure using the principles of positive reinforcement will help to ensure a wonderful life long relationship with these colorful and charismatic characters.
In residence at The Gabriel Foundation Aviary and Adoption Center:
Genus Aratinga: 28 (Blue Crowned, Gold Capped, Golden, Green, Jenday, Mitred, Sun, Sun/Gold and Peach Fronted)
Genus Nandayus: 11 (Nanday Conures)
Genus Cyanliseus: 5 (Patagonian Conures)
Genus Pyrrhura: 2 (Green Cheeked)
Genus Enicognathus: 2 (Austral)
Genus Gauruba: 2 (Golden conures)
We received seven conures during the last 10 days in May. These are their stories.
ZAZU and ALOOLA
The call came in – could we pick up two conures? They had been left at the door of the Dumb Friends League (www.ddfl.org), a private animal shelter with branches in Denver and in Castle Rock, CO. Zazu, a Nanday conure, and Aloola, a Sun conure, had been obviously cared for by someone during their lives. Their plumage was lovely, and both birds sought interaction with people. Each bird had been left in a decent sized cage, with their names clearly labeled on each cage. The cages had toys, a variety of perches, and a mixture of seed and pellets. Who had loved them? What happened to their caregiver? Why leave them like foundlings on the doorstep? We may never know those answers. What we do know is that Zazu will snuggle up to a human, rub his beak on the cheek, actively solicit a skritch, and uses his body language and animated movements to communicate. Aloola is a bit more reserved, but just an exquisitely brilliant colored Sun conure. Neither bird is especially noisy, but that’s all relevant to this writer (who lives with many birds, from Moluccans to macaws.) Both birds must be adopted together – they enjoy each other’s company and are both a delight with people.
AURA and SAFFRON
The economic downturn has caused many pets to lose their homes, and birds are no exception. This call for help came from a man who had lost his home, had been living in a motel, and was moving to a shelter. Both birds are under two years old, and came from a typical, mediocre pet store in the metro Denver area. Aura’s a perky Blue fronted conure and is accompanied by Saffron, a curious little Sun conure. Neither bird had ever spent time in a cage according to their owner, but they have adapted quite well during the past week to a new environment. Toys seem to hold allure for them, and their healthy diet finds their beaks regularly buried in their food dishes. Right now they’re adjusting to their new lives and settling into quarantine. Their owner comes to visit them all the time!
PERCIVAL, BABY and GIGI
These three birds are father and kids. Dad is a Gold capped conure, with a known age of 18 and one owner for all that time. His hybrid kids are the product his lifelong marriage to his now deceased mate, a Sun conure. She died after ingesting some rope strands that caused a crop blockage. Gigi, hatched 2002, and Baby, hatched 2003, are the (Gold/Sun) offspring of this pair. When together, Dad is naturally territorial about his brood, but gentle positive reinforcement has had productive results, and all three will come out of their cage to interact. These three have been housed together since the youngsters were hatched, and we think it best that these birds be adopted together. Gigi and Baby are content to be with humans away from Dad, and he deserves a forever home for the rest of his life. This small flock came to us from North Carolina, and had lived with their relinquisher since Dad was a chick. Life and family changes necessitated that she rehome the birds, and they made a cross country road trip to get to us. It was a sad day for their family who hopes that the birds have a better life with a new family.
For further information about TGF’s Birds Available for adoption, visit Petfinder.com or contact Patti Christie, RN, CVT, Director of Adoption, Education and Avian Welfare at adoptions@thegabrielfoundation.org or 303.629.5900x213. Visit www.thegabrielfoundation.org/adoption.html for a confidential adoption application and other relevant information.
If you’d like to sponsor a bird in need, we need your support! Contact or visit Parrot Sponsorship Page
TGF DOES NOT BREED BIRDS, regardless of the species (nor will we place adoptive birds in breeding situations). We make every effort to provide a living environment that does not encourage breeding behaviors. Should eggs be laid, every effort is made to alter the environment and remove the egg(s) as soon as possible but discourage repeated laying. Eggs are never allowed to mature to hatch. Very few birds are housed male with female and careful attention is paid to these birds. Should breeding behaviors be observed, careful assessment of the situation is undertaken and every action is implemented to change this behavior.
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