March 2002 –At least one adult Lutino Blue and Gold Macaw has previously been reported. There is now news that four young Lutino Blue and Golds have been reared in America, two of each sex, which augurs well for their future in aviculture. The manner of their breeding confirms autosomal recessive inheritance and that they are NSL Lutinos.

February 2002 – It has long been known that the yellow through to red spectrum of colours found in the plumage of parrots is not, as in most other genera, produced by carotenoid pigments. Armed with new techniques, scientists have in recent years carried out fresh research. Complete success has not yet been achieved, but it is now thought that the pigments involved belong to the group known as polyenals. Gives new meaning to the name Pretty Polly !!
[see Research Paper - PDF]

January 2002 – Further research into the role of areas of plumage in parrots which show Ultra Violet influorescence has been carried out by a team of Australian and British scientists. Using the Budgerigar as subject, it was found that the UV reflectance of the forehead and mask was a significant factor in mate choice. There is still much to be learned from such studies. [University of Queensland]

December 2001 – There are reports from Europe that Mauve Indian Ringnecks have finally been poduced; showing that the ‘European’ Darkgreens and Cobalts possess the dark gene and are directly comparable to their budgerigar counterparts bearing these names. [More]

November 2001 – A small group of French breeders is working on establishing the Golden (or Goldenback) Eastern Rosella (GMR). In single figures at present, these striking birds lose the black markings on the back and wing coverts to reveal the underlying rich yellow. [Photo]

October 2001 – In one of those sets of circumstances, apparently coincidental, that occur in aviculture from time to time, a form of Indian Ringneck having an appearance roughly mid-way berween a Blue and a Grey has occurred separately in such diverse locations as the USA, South Africa, and Australia. The American form is known as the Slate, is well established, and inherits as dominant. Expert opinion suggests the name Slaty, as applied to a similar form of the Fischer’s Lovebird, might be more appropriate.

September 2001 – A Whiteflighted (pied) form of the Peach Faced Lovebird has come to light in America. Its inheritance appears to be recessive, but a peculiarity is that so far it has only occurred in males.

August 2001 – Yet another new Indian Ringneck variety, the Grizzle (a possible Pied form,) is being worked on by a group of breeders in America.

July 2001 – Inte Onsman confirms that two new varieties of Indian Ringneck have been identified. Presently largely confined to the Netherlands, these are the sex-linked Opaline and the Misty, a dominant dilute variety.

June 2001 – There are reports from Australia of Indian Ringnecks which carry varying amounts of orange colouration. No consistent pattern is apparent and the causes are not yet clear.

June 2001 – Developments in the Peach Faced Lovebird likely to lead to a distinct ‘exhibition type’ are outlined by Dirk Van den Abeele in these pages.