Parrots magazine
Wild Diets – captive options
Wild parrots get their beaks into all sorts of foods and their tastes change from day-to-day, and season-to-season. During my graduate work in the early 1990’s, I had the privilege of studying large parrot communities in southeastern Peru near the now-famous clay licks along the Manu and Tambopata Rivers. My work specifically focused on what sorts of foods the 17 parrot species we observed (from parrotlets to Macaws) consumed in both dry and wet seasons. Having published those findings with my former advisor, Catherine Toft (see www.psittascene.org) it seemed an opportune time to explore how wild diets can inform our approach to feeding captive parrots. To add depth to the discussion we’ve called upon EB Cravens as well who has graciously offered his thoughts on this topic from his decades of successful natural parrot care. Eb will feature in Part II of this article in the next (September) issue of Parrots magazine.
5 min |
August 2020
Parrots magazine
Parrot breeding Part II: Aviaries and nest sites
In my article in the last issue, I mentioned some of the factors to be considered when setting up breeding aviaries. Think carefully about the location being suitable for the species. When I was curator at Palmitos Park, Gran Canaria, in the breeding centre we had a lovely pair of the rare Purple-bellied Parrots (Triclaria malachitacea) – one of my favourite species.
5 min |
August 2020
Parrots magazine
Will Protected Areas Ensure The Future Of The Tucuman Amazon?
Across the backdrop of a fading orange sunset came wave after wave of clamouring Tucuman Amazons (Amazona tucumana), about 5,000 of them heading for the ‘El Fuerte’ roost where they would spend each night during the non-breeding season (May-September) of the Austral winter.
5 min |
August 2020
Yachting Monthly
How To Take Pets Sailing
Taking cats and dogs to sea needs extra thought on a cruising yacht, explains Erin Carey
5 min |
August 2020
Horse & Hound
Robert Oliver
The winner of more than 40 HOYS championships, Robert Oliver’s breadth of horsemanship is such that few can match. Tricia Johnson looks back at his stellar career
9 min |
July 02, 2020
Horse & Hound
Dream teams
Many of the world’s best riders in all disciplines cut their teeth at the Pony Club Championships. Catherine Austen discovers some of their memories and the lessons they learnt
7 min |
July 02, 2020
Horse & Hound
Pillars of the Pony Club
Many of us covet those gold-dust ponies that pass from one family to another throughout their Pony Club days without ever coming on to the market. Tessa Waugh tracks down a few gems
7 min |
July 02, 2020
Horse & Hound
O'Brien's top four
The brilliant Aidan O’Brien dominates the Irish Derby and claims his 14th win in the race with star colt Santiago
4 min |
July 02, 2020
Horse & Hound
The best days of our lives
Mobile phones, tack and jods may have reshaped our riding culture, but is a Pony Clubber’s lifestyle so very different? Andrea Oakes compares the 1950s with today
5 min |
July 02, 2020
Horse & Hound
Itch, scratch, itch…
Breaking the cycle of persistent irritation is the key to coping with summer skin problems, explains Karen Coumbe MRCVS
5 min |
July 02, 2020
Horse & Hound
Coco Bongo
Continuing our series on horses and ponies we can’t wait to see after lockdown, Alex Robinson profiles the little grey who made history at the 2019 Horse of the Year Show
3 min |
July 02, 2020
Horse & Hound
Anna Ross
The international dressage rider and trainer on not looking horses in the eye, listening to your backside and never getting back on for a third time
3 min |
July 02, 2020
Horse & Hound
Showjumping Is Back In Business
As riders familiarise themselves with the new-look sport, Lottie Platt hits the ground running and Holly Smith debuts some exciting new talent
3 min |
July 02, 2020
Horse & Hound
An International Flavour
Judging hounds overseas provides an invaluable opportunity to appreciate and learn from our hunting cousins worldwide, says Frank Houghton Brown
7 min |
July 02, 2020
Country Smallholding
The family silver
In his series on birds that breed true, Grant Brereton takes a look at the breathtakingly beautiful silver laced pattern, seen mainly in three distinctively different pure breeds
5 min |
July 2020
Country Smallholding
Perfect isolation
Living on a croft in the Outer Hebrides has given young mum Karen Macleod the perfect opportunity to excel at growing her own fruit and veg, as she explains to Chris McCullough, who paid her a visit just before lockdown
8 min |
July 2020
Country Smallholding
Hens and herbs
As well as flavouring food, herbs and other edible plants can be helpful for your hens. A wide variety of commonly grown garden plants can provide natural methods of boosting egg production, repelling pests and promoting good gut health, as Julianne Robertson reveals
5 min |
July 2020
Country Smallholding
‘Betty, my two tonnes of lovely deliciousness'
Smallholder and mortgage team supervisor Jeff Brinkley has a particularly deep affection for his 18-year-old Land Rover 110, which perhaps should be making wife Mags as green with envy as the trusty vehicle’s very own colour
3 min |
July 2020
Country Smallholding
It's a breeze!
Enterprising Rick and Jennie Grieve take running their five-acre Windy Ridge in their stride, from producing home-grown pork to breeding sought-after pedigree puppies. Emily Bevan e-meets them
9 min |
July 2020
Country Smallholding
Garden varieties
If you’re looking to allow chickens to range free in your garden, Andy Cawthray advises choosing your breed with care
5 min |
July 2020
Country Smallholding
Exotically different
The imposing Anglo Nubian goat, with its pendulous ears and Roman nose, really stands out from the crowd. Fan Lee Connor talks to other admirers and finds out how well they are suited to smallholdings
8 min |
July 2020
Country Smallholding
A world of pain
Smallholders with horses or ponies should be aware of the dangers of laminitis at all times of the year, but particularly in spring and summer. Emily Bevan looks into the painful condition that affects one in 10 equines in the UK each year
8 min |
July 2020
Country Smallholding
The Traditional Trio
Tim Tyne looks at the Southdown, the Norfolk Horn and the Suffolk, which are all intrinsically linked back in the mists of time
7 min |
July 2020
Country Smallholding
A Pear Of Money Spinners?
Are you the proud owner of a few apple or pear trees, or even a large orchard. If so, what are your options if you have more fruit than you need, and can you boost your bank account with the excess or by adding value? Charlotte Cooper gets to the core of the conundrum
7 min |
July 2020
BBC Focus - Science & Technology
How Dogs Can Help Us Live Longer, Healthier Lives
Our best friends’ biology could unlock the secret to ageing well
10+ min |
July 2020
Horse & Hound
Kate Dwyer
Ireland’s dressage star tells Polly Bryan about her love for the part-bred Shire who’s winning at CDI5* and excitement at Ireland “joining the Olympic party”
7 min |
June 25, 2020
Horse & Hound
How does my young horse grow?
The more we understand about the early years, the healthier the equine athletes we’ll raise, discovers Andrea Oakes
4 min |
June 25, 2020
Horse & Hound
Stradivarius stays on song
John Gosden’s stable star makes it a hat-trick in the Gold Cup, while it is third-time lucky for Battaash, and young jockeys break their Royal Ascot ducks
7 min |
June 25, 2020
Horse & Hound
On trend in the saddle
Alex Robinson looks at what’s new in the world of tack and which of the latest design innovations could benefit you and your horse
3 min |
June 25, 2020
Horse & Hound
Para coach
Anna Miller on the buzz of coaching and the challenge of finding “self-assured but polite” horses to star on the para scene
3 min |