Polly want a cracker day?

BY LUKE PARKER

Bird lover Paul Dixon has a special liking for parrots.

That’s why he’s got 35 of them in 14 aviaries at his West Harbour home.

Mr Dixon started collecting birds at age eight.

He’s now 48 and as keen on them as ever.

"I’ve had a natural fascination with birds since I was a young boy," he says.

"I started with canaries, zebra finches and doves."

Mr Dixon has some of the most exotic parrots found in New Zealand.

They include african greys, yellow-crowned amazons and eclectus parrots from Australia and the Solomon Islands region.

Mr Dixon is the president of the Parrot Society of New Zealand and a passionate promoter of the birds.

"We haven’t been allowed to import parrots into New Zealand since the mid-1990s," he says.

"This makes our existing birds very precious and it is a real privilege to be able to keep them."

Breeding good quality parrots gives him a lot of satisfaction.

"I like to have a pair of birds per aviary to give them a good quality of life," he says. "A quality diet, animal management and regular health checks are essential."

Parrots can live up to 80 to 90 years in captivity if cared for correctly and Mr Dixon says they make fantastic pets.

"Particularly in the suburbs where room is becoming less and less for cats and dogs," he says. "I’m constantly amazed at how intelligent and responsive they are to human interaction."

He says a lot of people are now interested in training parrots.

"You can teach them to respond to commands and train them to fly to you," Mr Dixon says.

The Parrot Society of New Zealand is holding a Pet Parrot Picnic at Herald Island Domain on March 1 between 10am and 2pm.

"There will be lots of birds with their owners and it’s a good opportunity to bring the family along," Mr Dixon says.

Go online to www.parrot.co.nz.

Tips on keeping a parrot

Ten things to know about keeping parrots:

1. Have an adequate sized cage

2. Ensure the diet is correct – not just pure seed

3. Regularly change drinking water

4. Supply fresh branches and toys

5. Get an annual vet check for health

6. Be aware of poisons around the home

7. Keep your house safe when the parrot is free-flying. Windows must be closed and stoves off

8. Human interaction is important for stimulation

9. Another parrot is good for company

10. Join a bird club.

- © Fairfax NZ News