Abstract
Taxonomists have argued for years
over the proper placement of this
Australian group of birds. Some have
preferred to place them with the
Rosella (Platycercus) and some have
decided to isolate them into a separate
genus (Barnardius). So, for the
present, we will refer to them as the
Barnardius group.
There are two species in the Barnardius
group, the Barnard Parakeet
or, as the Australians refer to them,
the Mallee Ringneck Parakeet (Barnardius
b. barnardi). This species
has three subspecies, but only one of
them has become focused on as an
avicuitural subject in the past few
years, the Cloncurry Parakeet (Barnardius
b. macgillivrayi).
The second species is the Port Lincoln
Parakeet (Barnardius z. zonarius)
which has two subspecies of
which only one is being kept as an
avicultural subject, the Twenty-eight
Parakeet (Barnardius z. semitorguatus).
This particular subspecies is
the largest of the group, has the widest
range and occurs in the most
diverse of habitats.
As a group, Barnardius are excellent
avicultural sllt>jects, much like
the Rosellas in dietary requirements,
space requirements and nesting
behaviors. In captivity, the group has
a great tendency for becoming overweight.
As a precaution, sunflower
seed should be limited or eliminated
altogether. A good cockatiel mix
works very well, given with large
quantities of green food such as spinach,
New Zealand spinach, kale or
romaine lettuce. Fruits and vegetables
such as apple, pear, cherries,
carrot, sweet potatoes, celery, corn
on the cob and berries such as Pyracantha
are relished.
Like the Rosellas, the Barnardius
group can be readily appreciated in
good size enclosures, somewhere in
the neighborhood of four feet by 12
feet by eight feet. With flights sheltered
on one end and protected from
the wind, this group tolerates the
cold very well and can handle down
to 25°F for short periods with no ill
effects.
Generally, the breeding season
begins in June and lasts through
December, which is the Australian
spring and beginning of summer.
While this is winter in the U.S., the
climate reverse does not seem to
deter the group at all. Nest boxes
provided should be 14" x 24" x 14".
Clutch sizes vary from three to five
eggs and if a pair has started early
enough they will often double
clutch.
The Barnard Parakeet occurs in
Northern Queensland and across the
interior of New South Wales through
to the interior of South Australia. The
adult males' crown and nape are a
bright green bordered by a red frontal
band and bluish cheek patches.
There is a brownish V-shaped band
extending from the eyes through the
back of the head which meets a narrow
yellow collar encircling the back
of the neck. The underparts are a turquoise
green with an orange-yellow
abdominal band, which is often irregular.
The back and mantel are deep
bluish-black and the shoulders are
yellow. The secondaries are green as
are the rump and upper-tail coverts.
Hens are slightly duller than the
males and are slightly smaller. Average
size for this species is around
13-1/2 inches.
The Cloncurry Parakeet is perhaps
the most beautiful of the group. The
general coloring is a pale turquoisegreen.
There is no red frontal band.
The lower parts of the ear coverts are
a bright pale blue merging into a pastel
bluish-green on the sides of the
head, with a very wide uniform band
of pale yellow. Again the hens are
slightly smaller, but look identical to
the males in coloration. This subspecies
occurs in Queensland only.
As with many of the species of parrots
that come from Australia, males
will often come into breeding condition
prior to females. It is wise to trim
the adult males' first three primaries
on each wing, if they begin to show
aggressive behavior towards the
hens, such as driving them to the
nest box or not allowing them to
leave the nest box to feed. Often
behaviors such as this will accumulate
to the point, if left unchecked, of
the hen losing her upper mandible.
The head, nape and upper ear
coverts of the Port Lincoln Parakeet
are dull black. There is a red frontal
band in most, but it is not always
present. There is a yellow collar on
the neck and the back and the wings
are a brilliant green. The yellow
changes to a yellowish-green on the
underside of the tail coverts and the
vent as well as the under wing
coverts are a bright blue. Again the
hen is identical in coloring to the
male, however, she is slightly
smaller.
The Ports, as they are affectionately
called, have the largest range of the
genus. They are found throughout
southern, central and western Australia,
as well as ranging into the northern
territory. This is probably the
most adaptable species occurring in a
variety of habitats throughout more
than one-third of the coastal Eucalyptus
forest of the southwest and in the
wheat-belt or western Australia.
The Twenty-eight Parakeet is
entirely green, with a pronounced
crimson frontal band. While the
female is similar, her coloration is
slightly duller. This is the largest of
the group, being 15-1/2 to 16 inches.
It is best not to house pairs adjacent
to each other since they can be
argumentative to the point of that is
all they will do.
One caution with Ports and
Twenty-eights is that they easily
hybridize. While it is difficult to spot
a hybrid, you will see a hefty bird
with a broken yellow abdominal
patch where as in true Ports the
yellow should remain solid. In true
Twenty-eights there should be no
yellow at all.
The Europeans are now reporting
mutations in Port Lincolns and
Twenty-eights which are showing up
with blue, yellow and cinnamon. So
far there have been no reports of
mutations of Barnards or Cloncurrys.
As the limitations of our ability to
procure birds seems to be imminent,
it is essential for aviculturists to
ensure the safety and well-being of
the species we have been able to
establish. The Barnardius group is
not there yet and it is imperative that
we make it so!