FEATURE ARTICLE BY: ADAM MOGG
YELLOW VENTED BLUEBONNET PARAKEET
(Northiella Haematogaster Haematogaster)
This, the nominate race of Bluebonnet, had in effect been lost to aviculture in the UK. Having been reasonably widely available in the early 90s, it was indiscriminately hybridised with the Red Vented race. Due to some bird keepers being either ignorant of what type of birds they actually had in their aviaries or too lazy to make the requisite efforts to source pure bred birds to make up pairs, mixed pairs were bred from and the young sold on to others. The situation is still being confused with many birds simply being advertised as Bluebonnets, telephone enquiries revealing that the owners have no idea as to the parentage of their birds. Yellow Vented birds are very occasionally offered for sale in the UK, perhaps from 4 sources over the last 8 years, all these birds have on inspection unfortunately been tainted with Red Vented blood. One dedicated breeder in
’RE GONE T THEM
Continental breeders have made a real effort with Yellow Vented over the last 4 years and 100% pure birds are now available, though at a considerable cost. Some of these birds have recently reached the UK and it must be hoped that these attractive and interesting birds will soon be widely available again.
the East Midlands has made attempts to breed pure Yellow Vented and with some success, fortunately continental breeders have made a real effort with Yellow Vented over the last 4 years and 100% pure birds are now available, though at a considerable cost. Some of these birds have recently reached the UK and it must be hoped that these attractive and interesting birds will soon be widely available again.
NARETHAE BLUEBONNET PARAKEET
(Northiella Narethae) These beautiful little parakeets are not to my knowledge being kept or bred in the UK. However successes in Holland and Denmark may result in birds coming onto the Continental market, though surely at a substantial price.
BOURKE’S GRASS PARAKEET (Neophema Bourkii) Very widely kept and bred in the UK, though pure normal birds are almost impossible to find. My experiences have
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