By Susie Christian

How many times have you heard people say that a particular bird prefers or only accepts a male or female owner? This issue comes up repeatedly when people rehome parrots.

>>"...But My Bird Prefers Women"

This article appeared in the March/April 2012 ASA Avicultural Bulletin

A Guide to Eclectus Parrots (Revised Edition)

Authors: Dr Rob Marshall and Ian Ward

From A Guide to Eclectus Parrots:

Susie Christian began breeding birds in 1978, starting with Cockatiels. She purchased a pair of Vosmaer's Eclectus 10 years later and was besotted with their sheer beauty and elegance. Her Eclectus Parrot collection grew with this and another five subspecies.

With colleague Dale Thompson, Susie did extensive research into the Eclectus subspecies including hands-on rearing experiences. Amongst her own breeding experiences Susie has fostered fertile Eclectus eggs to infertile pairs, who hatched and reared the young perfectly. Recently she established a colony aviary set-up housing Vosmaer's and Solomon Island Eclectus in an effort to enable them to pair bond naturally. Susie allows Jasper, her pet Aru Island Eclectus cock, free roam of her home. Jasper has proven the ability of the Eclectus to talk. He also raises his own young in the nest box located next to Susie's computer.

To date Susie has raised some 400 Eclectus Parrot chicks. Dale and Susie contributed to the Taxonomy and Identification of Subspecies sections.

Click for ordering information: A Guide to Eclectus Parrots (Revised Edition)

About Susie Christian