Exotic Birds in Australia

In the past 24 hours I have seen three separate Chukar escapees on Bird identification pages. One in WA, one in QLD and one in NSW.
Trying to escape Covid quarantine
 
According to their website Oakvale have NZ Scaup, Egyptian Goose, Mandarin Duck, Mallard, domestic Muscovy Duck, Domestic Mallard, Domestic Swan Goose (Chinese Goose) (not on the list at all), Canada Goose and some parrots.
I added Oakvale for NZ Scaup, Egyptian Goose, and Canada Goose.
 
A few things to round off the year.

*Australia's last Greater Rhea is still alive and well at Gorge Wildlife Park (confirmed via message this month).

*looking through the parrot list, there are a few species that can be added. Red Lory (Eos bornea) doesn't seem to be listed being one of the most popular exotic lories available here in Australia. Zoos like Taronga and Currumbin both have this species on-display based on relatively recent visits as well. Also, Citron-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata) is apparently here in small numbers; one of the main breeders of rarer parrots in Australia (who has been breeding species like Patagonian Conures and Hawk-headed Parrots according to recent posts) posted an image of one a few years ago. The citron produced a hybrid with a Major Mitchell's: Log into Facebook | Facebook

*Also, a recent issue of Australasian Birdkeeper magazine [Dec/Jan 2020] did an article on Pionus parrots stating that there were three species available in Australian aviculture - Bronze-winged (P. chalcopterus), White-capped (P. senilis) and Blue-headed (P. menstruus). Not sure how they came about to exist in Australia but I quote the relevant section below:
I know of three Pionus species kept in Australia - Bronze-winged P. chalopterus, White-capped P. senilis and Blue-headed P. menstruus. Of the three species, there are more White-capped (which still being comparatively rare), followed by the Blue-headed and the rarest, the Bronze-winged. I have heard of other species of Pionus here but I have yet to see any, and I understand that there are likely a few single 'odd' birds out there. Currently the main prohibitive factor in keeping the Bronze-winged in Australia is that numbers are very low (although viable in genetics). Hence, their cost is quite high.
 
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This list could do with a bit of an update. A lot of the seedeater and softbill species on the list have unfortunately been lost to aviculture and thus Australia.

The following are all either definitively gone or so rare they are functionally extinct anyways:
*Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris
*White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus
*Red-crested Cardinal Paroaria coronata
*Red-throated Parrot-finch Erythrura psittacea
*Bamboo Parrot-finch Erythrura hyperythra
*Pin-tailed Parrot-finch Erythrura prasina
*Peale's (Fiji) Parrot-finch Erythrura pealii
*Lavender Waxbill Estrilda caerulescens
*Green Avadavat Amandava formosa
*Violet-eared Waxbill (Common Greandier) Uraeginthus granatinus
*African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata
*Dybowski's Twinspot Euschistospiza dybowskii
*Peter's Twinspot Hypargos niveoguttatus
*Green-backed Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula
*Grey-headed Silverbill Lonchura griseicapilla
*Lesser Redpoll Carduelis flammea
*Linnet Carduelis cannabina
*European Siskin Carduelis spinus
*Black-headed Siskin Carduelis notata
*European Serin Serinus serinus
*Grey Singing Finch (White-rumped Seedeater) Serinus leucopygius
*House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
*Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus
*Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
*Comoros (Red-headed) Fody Foudia eminentissima
*Plain-backed Sparrow Passer flaveolus
Pin-tailed parrot finches are definitely still here and being bred. Lesser redpoll are also technically introduced here being found in Macquarie Island.
 
An issue of Australasian Birdkeeper magazine [Oct/Nov 2020] discusses the presence of Madagascar Lovebirds (Agapornis canus) in Australian aviculture in of course low numbers. The relevant section:
Agapornis canus is possibly the smallest exotic parrot available in Austrlaia and is the smallest member of the Agapornis genus. This gem is relatively uncommon here, but enough pairs are held in collections where they can still be obtained. In the 1980s the Madagascar Lovebird became the 'must have' of lovebirds. My thoughts are that they have now become a 'serious' collector-only species.

The African Lovebird Society of Australia further mentions this species in Australia: "the Madagascar lovebird was thought to have disappeared from Australian Aviaries in the late 1980’s,however a number of recent (2019) birds have been advertised for Sale, we believe they are currently extremely rare in Australian Aviculture." Other Lovebird Species – The African Lovebird Society of Australia Inc
 
An issue of Australasian Birdkeeper magazine [Oct/Nov 2020] discusses the presence of Madagascar Lovebirds (Agapornis canus) in Australian aviculture in of course low numbers. The relevant section:


The African Lovebird Society of Australia further mentions this species in Australia: "the Madagascar lovebird was thought to have disappeared from Australian Aviaries in the late 1980’s,however a number of recent (2019) birds have been advertised for Sale, we believe they are currently extremely rare in Australian Aviculture." Other Lovebird Species – The African Lovebird Society of Australia Inc
Thanks, I have added it to the list.
 
*White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus - Very rare in aviculture.
White-rumped Shamas recently arrived at Taronga Zoo. A male shama is now on-display in the walkthrough palm aviary and several are housed off-display for breeding. The email confirming them at Taronga now:

“Yes, we do have White-rumped Shamas now in the collection at Taronga Zoo, Sydney. There is currently one male on display in the Palm Aviary (next to the elephants). We do have a couple of pairs off display in breeding aviaries too. Hopefully with breeding success there’ll be more for you to see in the Asian Walkthrough Aviaries.We brought this species into the collection, and with the help of our interps team, to highlight the illegal songbird trade in Asia.”
 
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White-rumped Shamas recently arrived at Taronga Zoo. A male shama is now on-display in the walkthrough palm aviary and several are housed off-display for breeding. The email confirming them are at Taronga now:
That's excellent news! Especially given a claim earlier in the thread by toothlessjaws that shamas (amongst other species) are "all either definitively gone or so rare they are functionally extinct" in Australia.
 
*Hyacinthine Macaw Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
While the specific holdings of parrot species aren't listed for this thread, I thought this incredibly unexpected news should be reported here as well. Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo currently have a pair of Hyacinth Macaws!! They will be going on display within the next six months!

Source: Bundaberg Now
 
While the specific holdings of parrot species aren't listed for this thread, I thought this incredibly unexpected news should be reported here as well. Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo currently have a pair of Hyacinth Macaws!! They will be going on display within the next six months!

Source: Bundaberg Now
I'm now really confused about the import regulations for birds in Australia
 
I'm now really confused about the import regulations for birds in Australia
Why is that? Bird importation is discussed in post one of this thread.

Assuming these macaws have a legal origin, then they haven't just been newly-imported. They will have been bred from an existing pair within Australia.
 
Quote "they are still there, at a town called Northam, where there are about 80 birds. I'll add it on to the list as being found in the wild. "

The Mute swans at Northam are very closely managed by the local council and a volunteer group, and could hardly be considered as wild. Several pairs are kept in fenced off pens in the park beside the Avon River, and a few live "free" on the river, although I would doubt there is many more than 20 at the most. They have declined in recent years due to inbreeding, human disturbance and old age. There are photos of some of them in the gallery Australian Wildlife.
I visited Northam again this week and could only see 7 Mute swans left on the river. 3 of the 7 had Angel wings on either 1 or both wings, and 1 appeared to be a juvenile, being a sandy beige colour. The breeding enclosures in the park beside the river are no longer, the ponds are still there with a low fence around them but they seem to be storm water ponds now, and there was no feeders or captive birds there at all. Most of the swans i saw were out on the river bank at a designated swan feeder, and there were large numbers of wild and domestic ducks and moor hens milling around as well. The feeders were raised up about 2 feet off the ground so only the swans could easily feed from them... Judging by the size differences, i would say there were more cobs than pens, possibly only 2 pens/females. I will add some photos to the Australian Wildlife gallery.
 
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