National Recovery Plan for the Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor

Interesting that wildlife trade is considered a threat (especially the international aspect of it). The Swift parrot is very common bird in Europe and it's value is 100 euro per pair. Why the hell would you go for smuggled wild-caught birds if you can buy several pairs of captive-bred Swifts at your local bird dealer a lot cheaper :S. They are right it is an unique bird and amazing birds to work with, but it's that common it has no real value in the trade.
They should focus their efforts on keeping the birds habitat intact and increasing the population because that has been aspects they have been failing to do so up to know.
 
In Australia a pair sells for around $400AU give or take. I did a quick conversion on the internet and that is around 284 euro.

Hopefully the recovery will focus more on habitat conservation. Not only will that benefit this species but a much larger amount of species too.
 
the sad thing is that the European population of Swift Parrots in Aviculture is many times larger then the wild and captive population in Australia together :(.
 
The population is healthy, widespread and shows no sign of inbreeding (clutches are generally spoken of a good size (4-5 eggs), birds are healthy). But of course this does not answer your question. As the founding stock of this population lays in the 70s we cannot tell with any certainty how many birds lay at the foundation of the birds in Europe (simply because no one recorded that at that time).
 
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