Gareth Morgan to clone Kakapo as cat alternative

Gareth Morgen called for the eradication of cats from New Zealand. The pesty creatures are killing New Zealands native birds causing their extinction, he argued. In a bit to curb the minds of the people that just can’t do without the cuddles and cuteness of their Feline companions he is now proposing a cat alternative: Kakapo.

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Parakeets released in Kambalakonda

A flock of Alexandria Parakeets that were rescued from smugglers and taken care of by the Zoo authorities being taken to be released at Kambalakonda Reserve Forest in Visakahapatnam on Wednesday. Photo: C.V.Subrahmanyam As many as 175 of the 214 parakeet hatchlings, which gained the ability to fly, were released at the Kambalakonda sanctuary here by the Conservator of Forests A. Bharat Kumar on Wednesday.

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Twenty-eights keep evil spirits at bay

Twenty-eights in inland WA actually say "twenty" rather than the number from which they got their name.The joyous cry of the twenty-eight parrot and its cheeky tail wagging meant that it was always welcomed as a bringer of happiness by the Noongar people, who called the bird Darlmoorluk.

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Monk parakeets to be removed in Edgewater, Fort Lee and Leonia

PSE&G crew members began removing bird nests along their utility polls in Edgewater on Tuesday and are scheduled to remove more of them in Fort Lee and Leonia Wednesday. Image by KEVIN R. WEXLERPSE&G crews began removing bird nests along their utility poles in Edgewater on Tuesday and are scheduled to remove more of them in Fort Lee and Leonia Wednesday.

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Parrots get the final word on adoption

Bird Nerd Rescue Sanctuary Volunteer and Adoption Coordinator Connie Phillips with Eclectus parrot. (Phil Masturzo)At one time or other, you might consider buying a parrot. The birds remind us of warm breezes and sandy shores, tempting us to shelve responsibilities and head for the tropics.

But the impulse, in the immortal words of Jimmy Buffett, may be "a permanent reminder of a temporary feeling" — sort of like getting a tattoo while inebriated.

Depending on the breed, a parrot can live 50, 60, or 100 years or more. Some, such as brilliantly colored large macaws, are gauged to have the intelligence of a 6-year-old. Can you imagine handling a petulant child that has a bite force of 500-700 pounds per square inch and is not afraid to use it?

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