Austalian perrots:

Australia has long been known as the ‘Land of Parrots’ with scores of bright, iridescent birds distributed across the continent. There are 56 species of the parrot found in Australia, which includes cockatoos, lorikeets, rosellas, ringnecks and budgerigars.

Cockatoos are famed for their beautiful crests which are used in courtship. The iconic Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is a common sight across Eastern and the South-East of Australia, Kangaroo Island and East Gippsland where they often congregate in noisy flocks. Just as spectacular are the large black cockatoos of Australia. The northern forests of Arnhem Land provide abundant opportunities to see the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, whilst Kangaroo Island is home to a subspecies of the Glossy-black Cockatoo, where 350 individuals remain, feeding on the seeds of mature casuarina trees. The budgie, or budgerigar, is most commonly referred to as the more generic term “parakeet” in the United States. The wild budgie is similar to the birds we see today in pet shops, though smaller (between 6 and 7 inches long), and only found in the nominate color, green. Its Latin name means, roughly, “song bird with wavy lines,” which is a pretty good description of this popular bird.

Naturalist John Gould and his brother-in-law, Charles Coxen, brought Budgies to Europe around 1838. Europeans became charmed with the birds, which bred readily, making them a staple pet in wealthy homes. The Budgie was displayed at the Antwerp Zoo in Belgium around 1850, and began to gain in popularity, not only with the wealthy. Australia banned exportation of Budgies in 1894, and the Europeans had to breed their existing stock in order to continue the hobby. The budgie found its way to America in the late 1920s, but didn’t experience real popularity until the 1950s. Today, it’s the most popularbird in the world.The budgie is native to Australia, where it still dominates the grasslands in large, undulating flocks. The wild budgie is similar to the birds we see today in pet shops, though smaller, and only found in the nominate color, green.

The nomadic wild parakeet is found in large flocks that are always on the search for water, which is limited in the scrublands, the habitat that makes up much of the budgie’s natural range. They breed in the rainy season when water and food are plentiful, and nest in hollowed out trees or tree limbs. They can be pesky to farmers, and are especially dangerous to grain crops.

Care & Feeding
Budgies can live between 7 to 15 years, though the average is far less than seven due to mistreatment, accidents, or lack of knowledge about appropriate bird care. It seems that this little bird is often seen as a “throw away” pet because it’s inexpensive. Budgies are also prone to obesity, fatty tumors and liver, foot disorders, scaly face, and intestinal parasites, all of which require veterinary care.

Most budgies are ground-feeders that eat primarily seeds and plant material. Lafeber foods are a simple and healthy way to feed your parakeet properly. Our research has shown that little birds get “hooked” on seeds easily. Many of our foods incorporate seeds with healthy pellets, fruits and vegetables, as well as Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and chelated minerals. Try Avi-Cakes, Lafeber’s Premium Daily Diet Pellets, Popcorn Nutri-Berries, and Nutri-Berries.