BrokenWing Chronicles
The Vasa Parrot/two species

Greater Vasa Parrot
Coracopsis vasa
http://www.feathert.com/vasa2.html
http://www.oldworldaviaries.com/text/lewis/vasa.html
http://www.avesint.com/vasa.html
http://www.birdmag.com/vasa.htm
http://www.parrotparrot.com/articles/aa081601.htm

The Lesser Vasa Parrot
Coracopsis nigra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Vasa_Parrot
http://www.theparrotsocietyuk.org/conarticle1.shtml
PDF File
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiv...nigra-tor.html

Oh Arty - thanks for posting this. We have a Greater Vasa at the store. He's such a sweetheart! Very smart, too. He lives with Lucille, our Grey.

oh I love the Vasa at the store every since I saw him on the commercial.

Now I am wondering if this bird belongs under this forum, it is my understanding these birds are rare in the pet parrot world.
I can remember hearing about these birds on a different forum.
I don't know what forum to place this bird, well...if I am wrong Karen will help me by moving the thread....I hope....LOL

Arty, from what little reading I've done regarding the Vasa's I think they still are rare. But that may be changing given the success of the breeding program that was set up. I don't know what their actual numbers are today.

Vasas are relatively rare in U.S. aviculture. However, they are being bred successfully.

They remain on the CITES II - Endangered Species

This is from an article written in 2000:

One of the least known but most interesting of the parrots is the Greater vasa parrot (Coracopsis vasa) which originates from Madagascar. The vasa parrot is considered to be one of the most ancient and primitive of parrots.

The number of vasa parrots in the U.S. is not known, but the numbers are suspected to be low. Most of the wild caught vasas were imported in the eighties. In the wild these birds are under severe threat of habitat loss as the only remaining forest is a tiny sliver of green extending from the top to the bottom of Madagascar, along a hilly rocky ridge. The Greater vasa parrots forage in the forest, but mostly along the forest perimeter and into the surrounding crop lands, where they are sometimes considered a pest. The smaller version, the Lesser vasa (Coracopsis nigra) appears to prefer the deeper forest areas for feeding and breeding.

In 1995, the nonprofit organization, Advocates for Bird Conservation (ABC) whose mission is education about avian species and conservation of threatened avian species, chose to work with the vasa parrots. Since the vasas are a dark feathered bird, largely unknown in the pet market, the likelihood of their disappearance in captivity was considered to be particularly great.

ABC obtained a flock of 16 Greater vasa parrots and continues to add to this flock when vasa parrots appear in the marketplace. The purpose of this project is to set up a permanent long term breeding collection in order to maintain the genetic viability of the species in captivity. The breeding pairs in the collection are provided the opportunity to completely rear and fledge their young, which they do quite enthusiastically.

Presently, ABC is working in collaboration with two zoos, the Sacramento Zoo and the National Aviaries. These two institutions are managing the Lesser vasas and ABC is working with the Greater vasas. For further information regarding vasa parrots or the Vasa Project, contact Laurella Desborough by email: EclectusCI@aol.com.

http://www.birdmag.com/vasa.htm

They are considered part of the AFRICAN PARROTS: Congo African Grey, Timneh African Grey, Jardine Parrot, Brown Head Parrot, Meyer's Parrot, Red Bellied Parrot, Senegal Parrot, Cape Parrot, Vasa Parrot.

Thanks Karen,
Interesting reading, During these conditions I can't help but admire the breeder for keeping these little ones from ending up on the extinction list.
Its your call K, if this thread belongs under a different forum or not.
Peace

I had 3 pair of breeder Greater Vasas and 1 pair of Lesser Vasas. When I began to cut back on breeding parrots a few years ago. I sold them all to ABC to ensure that they will continue to be bred and have a great life. There are about possibly 80 -100 max. Greater Vasas in the country and maybe 25-30 max. Lesser Vasas. Its said that in the 80's about 850 were imported and within the first year 750 died. I can't remember which disease tho. I know about 10 years ago the estimated population of both Greater and Lesser was about 60. Luckily there have been some successful breeding. They are a great species to observe and the babies act like puppies.

I have a breeder right near me that has a pair of greater vasas. They are only in ontario breeding them, they go for 1200$ each. I am looking into getting one possibly, they said they are very quiet and great talkers, they sold about 4-5 in the past 3 years and all owners said they were a dream, quiet and playful. He recommended them for apartment person like me..

they died from Beak and Feather. Many showed symptoms and were put down, others didn't and by association- were put down. Still others were in homes already and the owners kept them till they passed. We had ours, Sly, a lesser for over 9 yrs. When he passed he had been completely naked except one tiny feather. There was an importer in the south who brought the large group in....

just an FYI- we got him BECAUSE he had PBFD, we didn't want him to spread the disease. He was kept away from all other birds, taken care of after everyone else and never exposed to other birds for his safety and theirs.........

We now have a wonderful Greater named Stella. Maybe I will bring her to the South Jersey Meeting... Most people have never seen one in person (I see someone has one in a NJ store?)

They are INCREDIBLE birds...... I was told by someone a few years ago they are trying to link the Vasa back to dinosaurs.. if you look at them close- they look like no other parrot around...

Stella use to work on the Martha Stewart Show with Marc Marrone from Parrots of the World, but she got fired cause she would dive bomb people.... LOL. I will post a picture later if anyone wants to see her..........

doreen

NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT !!!! LOL. NOT quiet at ALL !! Stella can outscream a cockatoo !!! When she wants something, you can hear her OVER the Molly near her.... NOT QUIET.. did I say that ???

They can get nippy, head strong, talk a little and scream when they don't have what they want....

But I wouldn't trade her for anything, she is fun, enjoys life and a super bird... just not quiet..

she is our dream bird. The only other would be a slender bill conure and a RB Cockatoo... LOL.

doreen