LOVEBIRDS
Paintings and literature reveal that parrots were kept in captivity in Asian, Middle Eastern and European cultures hundreds of years ago. It is believed by many that Alexander the Great may have been among the first to bring tame parrots to Europe from Asia. The Alexandrine Parakeet is named after this legendary warrior. Roman nobility kept parrots as a sign of status. later, when European explorers began extending their searches for new and interesting treasures farther and farther abroad, they sent home many parrots, especially during the 15th and 16th centuries. Lovebirds were largely unknown outside of Africa until Europeans wrote of sightings. The Red-faced Lovebird was described in detail in the early 1600s. It was the first lovebird species imported to Europe during the 19th century. Its wide distribution across the equatorial region of Africa may have made it more readily available than were other species. Other species soon followed. Peach-faced Lovebirds were acknowledged by the British Museum catalog in 1793; however, they were confused with or thought to be a variant of the somewhat similar Red-faced Lovebird. In 1817 the Peach-faced Lovebird was recognized as a separate species. They were imported to Europe from southwestern Africa for the first time in the mid-1800s. By the beginning of the 20th century, many lovebirds had been shipped to Europe. Madagascar Lovebirds were reportedly in London Zoo during this time. Black-winged and Black-collared Lovebirds were both described in a book called Shelby’s Parrots in 1836. Because they are relatively easy to keep, these tiny birds thrived. Their exquisite colors and delightful ways soon made them favorites of people all over the world. Between 1900 and 1927, four more species were discovered by European explorers: the Masked, Fischer’s, Nyasa, and Black-cheeked Lovebirds. Today it is no longer necessary to import lovebirds from Africa. Birds that have been hatched and hand-fed locally are available in most countries of the world. This helps to ensure a constant supply of healthy, reasonably priced pet birds. The wide choice of lovebirds bred locally gives today’s birdkeepers an advantage over Europeans and Americans who had to rely on imported birds years ago: Birds bred locally are more likely to be healthy and tame.
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