Aviculture is breeding and raising birds in captivity. There is value in this art in that rare birds can be protected from extinction. Pet birds are more accustomed to humans than wild ones. It is through aviculture that one learns about the personalities and eating habits of birds, it creates bird lovers that in return protect wild birds. Aviculture often takes place in countries not native to the birds original land, this allows for populations of the birds to exist separate from the wild ones and creates a genetic back up for when bird flu or oil spills and other diseases affect entire wild populations of birds. Breeding birds also means that wild birds are not being taken out of the wild illegally. However birds need minimum size cages, veterinary care, knowledge and expertise and baby formulas should be carefully recorded to prevent rickets and deformed growth. Australia has several programs to protect endangered parrots and cockatoos, in Western Australia the Carnaby Cockatoos are bred in captivity and released into the wild as their natural home and food supplies are being depleted, the Swift parrots need protection from sugar gliders and Orange-bellied parrots are also needing help as they are struggling with migration routes between the mainland and Tasmania. This photograph shows our two cockatoos in Africa.
