6/10/2023 0 Comments Pet cockatoo breeds![]() My mother went on to become a serious naturalist, and has helped thousands learn about wildlife in her 16 years as a volunteer at the Bronx Zoo. Assisting in hand-feeding hatchling praying mantises and in eradicating hoards of mosquitoes (I once thought I had discovered “fresh-water brine shrimp” and stocked my tanks with thousands of mosquito larvae!) became second nature to them. My mother and grandmother somehow found ways to cope with the skunks, flying squirrels, octopus, caimans and countless other odd creatures that routinely arrived un-announced at our front door. Most importantly, my family encouraged both my interest and the extensive menagerie that sprung from it. One might imagine this to be an unfortunate set of circumstances for a person born and raised in the Bronx, but, in actuality, quite the opposite was true. I believe that I was born with an intense interest in animals, as neither I nor any of my family can recall a time when I was not fascinated by creatures large and small. Ĭitron Crested Cockatoo image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Doug Jansonĭaintree Rainforest image referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Adz Ĭitrons are great performers – please check out this video. Further ReadingĬitron Cockatoo natural history and conservation. Please write in if you need detailed information on their care and feeding. A large indoor cage or outdoor aviary, along with ample out-of-cage time, is absolutely essential to their well-being. Like all cockatoos, they need even more human contact than other parrots if they are to remain sociable and stress-free. Once the parents mate again and begin to nest, their formerly “spoiled” chicks are often attacked and hence must be relocated to new quarters.Ĭitron Cockatoos are often friendly and curious, and are considered to be among the quietest of the group ( note: that’s “quiet” by parrot standards!). The young fledge at approximately 90 days of age but are fed by their parents for quite a long while thereafter. Both incubate their 2-3 eggs – the female by night and the male by day – for 1 month. One reason for this is that mated pairs make unusually good parents if they are provided with proper accommodations. Although the captive population is not large, breeding successes are regularly obtained. Citrons in CaptivityĬitron Cockatoos are more likely to be found among private breeders than in pet stores. Therefore, conservationists remain focused on this bird and consider its future very much at risk. As with any animal that lives on a small island, however, even natural events such as storms can spell overnight disaster. In the years since the recovery effort began, Citron Cockatoo numbers have been slowly but steadily increasing. Competition for scarce nesting sites (hollows in forest trees, high above-ground) from owls and larger parrots was adding to the problems faced by the Citron Cockatoo. ![]() The collection of wild birds and habitat loss due to logging and development were identified as key threats to its continued survival. In 1992, a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) based program was instituted in order to help stop the Citron Cockatoo’s march towards extinction. ![]() Unfortunately, this habitat is disappearing rapidly due to logging activities, placing the bird at even greater risk. Within its tiny natural range, the Citron Cockatoo relies upon closed-canopy forest (please see photo). The Citron Cockatoo is of particular concern, as it is found only on Sumba, which is northwest of Australia, near the better-known islands of Palau and Timor. Range and HabitatĪll 6 subspecies of the Lesser Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo are listed on CITES Appendix I and considered Threatened or Critically Endangered by the IUCN. The effect of the orange crest and ear coverts against the white plumage, offset by yellow feathers on the undersides of the wings and tail, is startling. The Citron Cockatoo is one of 6 subspecies of the Lesser Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, and is distinguished by being the smallest (12 inches in length) in size and number, and in being the only one with an orange crest (others sport yellow crests, please see photo). Today I’d like to take a look at its natural history and captive care. Although restricted in range to a single Indonesian island, it has done well in the hands of private breeders, and captive-born individuals are available in the trade. Also known as the Citron-Crested or Sumba Cockatoo ( Cacatua sulphurea citroncristata), this beautiful parrot stands out among its relatives for a number of reasons.
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