Interesting article about Eclectus

[avinet]

A very interesting article for all the Eclectus fans on the forum. I found the bit about males fathering multiple chicks from different hens especially interesting (that should get everyone reading it

scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/07/evolution_of_the_enigmatic_ecl.php

cheers,

Mike

[summit]

I saw a documentary on "Parrots of Australia" not so long ago that also showed the males feeding (I think it was 3) hens in different nest sites, all with either eggs or chicks.

It does make you wonder if you can have just one male with 2 or more hens given the aviary space.

[just4birds]

great reading ... thanks for posting the link Mike

[avinet]

Bit of a dilemma with moving it here since the article discusses work on the Australian Eclectus not the foreign Eclectus. It is still uncertain if similar behaviour is found in the foreign Eclectus because the fieldwork is still to be done.

cheers,

Mike

[vankarhi]

well that was interesting. It was the same info in parts as what was on Land of Parrots. But I found it interesting how the female ekkies can "manipulate" the sex of their offspring??? How do they do that. I understand the "why" ........ but how can you manipulate the sex of your offspring???

[silvercloud]

Sorry Mike, I was just trying to keep the eclectus threads in one place and since SI eckies were mentioned I thought it belonged here. Hmmm could be in either one.

[vankarhi]

As pets ...... the foreign ones are more common as pets especially the RS and SI here in Australia. Most people cannot afford the aussie ekkies as pets. I enquired about a male macgilvery (spelling) (Aussie ekkie) and was told something like over $20000 for a pair and that pet owners don't buy them as they are so expensive, that it is mainly breeders who buy them.