Why the Brotogeris genus? I was looking to work with a new genus of birds, as I do every so often. I enjoy the challenge of learning about a new species and setting up the proper conditions from them to produce. A new challenge was presented to me in April of 2000 when I was offered 4 Canary-winged Parakeet clutchmates at a very good price. I knew nothing about Canary-winged Parakeets (Brotogeris versicolorus chiriri). So I called upon Mr. Dale Thompson and asked him about the birds as he has always been a wealth of knowledge and ever so encouraging in other aviculture pursuits of mine. He told me this would be an excellent project for me to take on because all the Brotogeris were low in numbers in the United States. Dale knew just what to say to me....they are low in numbers, difficult to breed and hard to find and those are the very reasons I choose to work with these birds, plus the fact that they are very cute didn't hurt. I hope to contribute to the genus and aviculture with my work.
When I went in search of Brotogeris to buy and any general information about the species, I found very little on them. The people I spoke with assured me I would need to get on a waiting list to buy these birds. That was totally unacceptable to me, so I started a major search across the USA. Within months I had located enough Canary-winged Parakeets to start a viable program. The birds came and are still coming from all over the USA. Some from Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, Colorado, Illinios, South Carolina and California. When all the birds are here I will have 26 Canary-winged Parakeets, some are wild caught and some domestic bred birds. So the Canary-winged Parakeet Project begins.
In my search for Canary-winged I kept coming across Grey-cheeked Parakeets (Brotogeris pyrrhopterus). I passed on many pairs and singles and let people I knew who wanted them buy them, but then it was suggested to me I work with the Grey-cheeked as well. As they are the true challenging Brotogeris to breed. Since then I have been able to locate more Grey-cheeked Parakeets and when airlines are shipping again, I should end up with 12 Grey-cheeked here to work with. So a sub-project will begin with them. I have also located several successful and dedicated breeders of the Grey-cheeked to hopefully trade stock with sometime in the near future. (I am keeping my fingers crossed).
I will continue to update these pages with information and pictures of how I have chosen to attempt to breed the Brotogeris in the ~Secret Garden Aviaries~. I am sure there is much these birds will teach me and I will gladly share what I learn to help others to preserve these little green jewels in American Aviculture.
These are the original four Canary Wings that started me off on this new venture. I was lucky enough to get their father back, but not their mother as another party let the bird die. This clutch was made up of 3 hens and 1 cock. I have located enough unrelated birds to repair these birds up.
