Diet                                                       

Native Plants as Food and Shelter 

Edible Flowers for Parrots by Carolyn Swicegood
List of poisonous and non-poisonous plants for aviaries

From HolisticBird List members:

Pine cones

Susanne and Carolyn discussed:
There's a big old pine tree (need to ID) in the neighboring yard that
Quakers and Conures eat from.  And there is a pair of Severe Macaws, that 2 times a year, bring their fledged baby and eat from the pine tree.  BUT...they are so far up (50') that I can't see what they are munching on.  I'm tempted to cut some branches off and put then in the flights to see what parts the cockatiels will eat.

Here in Australia the wild yellow tailed black cockatoos eat the SEEDS out of the pine cones (radiata pine I think - not a native tree) and also out
of other species of pine (again not native trees).  I have collected pine
cones in the past (just before the opening stage), drilled a hole through them, threaded them onto wire and given them to my birds to enjoy as they opened (but they have to be almost ready to open when picked - if picked too early they won't "ripen" and open, and if too late the seed has already dispersed).

I checked with acquaintances who have a very large parrot breeding facility near me and they confirmed that pine cones are safe for parrots and are enjoyed by them. 

My daughter also came up with the idea of using fully opened pine cones to make interesting "activity" treats for our birds.  She mixed seed mix with beaten egg white,  carefully spooned the mixture into all the spaces around the opened cone, then baked it in a slow oven until the seed/egg mix had set.  Rosie had a ball picking out all the seed from the cone.

Same with Hibiscus. Hibiscus is high in mucilage - therefore soothing to the digestive system (and is safe).

A few years ago it was fashionable to plant Cocos Island palms here in
Australia.  They grow about 5 - 7 m tall, and have masses of fruit which
wild birds, fruit bats, etc. enjoy (very messy though!) 
Carole Bryant

There is a book listing in great detail the stomach contents found in all
Australian birds.  Months ago I promised the people on BirdClick that I
would borrow a copy and send the info on various parrots to anyone who wanted it.  BUT I'm having difficulty tracking a copy of the book down (actually it's a 2 volume set) - but when I eventually get hold of it, I'll let you know and pass the info on to anyone here who wants it.  I'll
contact my local library tomorrow and see if it's available on loan from one of the big libraries.

Can you believe that in parts of Australia sulphur crested cockatoos and galahs are regarded as pests by some farmers.  Both are common species and in spite of the fact that they are common, I think there are few things more beautiful than a flock of galahs flashing pink and grey as they dip and wheel in flight.

Yellow tailed black cockatoos (which are native to my area and live on our property) will rip open a 6" eucalyptus tree to get the fat, juicy grubs
inside.  We have found trees eaten through by cockatoos - looking as though they were chopped down with an axe!  The glossy black cockatoos (vulnerable/threatened species) which live on our property adore the native Casuarina tree (She-oak) nuts.  Fortunately we have lots of Casuarinas on our property!

I thought anyone who has these species may find those snippets of interest. Also native to our area (north coast New South Wales) are: Eastern Rosellas; King parrots; Crimson rosellas (occasional visitors); plus naturalised (from west of the state) Corellas, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and Galahs. 
Carole Bryant,

Rose Hips

 I was walking around my yard today and came across alot of rose hips.
They are loaded with vitamin c and really free.  Some of my birds love them some don't.  Just as long as you haven't used any insecticide or fungicide and wash them really well they can be used all through the winter. Just leave them on the bush and pick them as you need them.
I haven't gone collecting the wild ones or the beach rosehips in a long
time. This time of year is just great to walk and find good stuff for our fids.

Depending on the variety they can be tiny like a be be or good
size like a marble (beach rose come to mind) after the rose has finished
blooming it will set (not all roses) a seed pod, it's round and green
sometimes with a reddish wash to it.  The are great for the birds also make an excellent jelly.

 Michell Nostrodomus(sp) used rose hip to treat the black plague and he
survived to give us all his predictions.   They are loaded with vitamin C
they also make a good tea, but the taste is kind of bitter, so add some
chamomile or mint with a little honey. 
Alison
  
I use both ways dry & fresh.  I have finches to Eclectus so the wee ones
get to use the canes as perches; budgies up I hang hips on the stems when dried for them to nibbles on.  I don't worry about the thorns on the really spiny ones, you can run a paring knife or vegetable peeler along the wood or cane & get most of them off.  What is left should not be that dangerous- but you know your fids & roses.

The hips can be gathered & dried & if your fids don't like them can be
ground & added to birdie bread or sprinkled over mash & such.  Dried petals have uses too, one of which is a mild sedative if you have _gallica_ or Apothecary rose.

Roses themselves are food & contain among other things potash, albumen & tannins. 
Kat

Rose hips are the balls of seeds left in the place of a fertilized flower.  Often used in teas like Red Zinger in combination with hibiscus flowers.  They are also used to make jelly (to put on toast).  This is the season where my wild roses have hips, don't know about hybrid roses.
Linda 

Has anyone here tried nastrium flowers,leaves and seed pods on thier birds? We have them in salad and the seed pods can be pickled and taste like capers. I have alot left and wondered if my birds would like them?  I hate to see them go to waste and ruined by frost. Alison

From Kat
Have fed the flowers, mixed reception. I would def offer to fids.  You can pour fresh boiled apple cider vinegar over the seed pods gathered when just a bit more than half grown, cleaned with some stem left on them & placed in jars.  Seal lids or close very tightly & store in cool dark area & in a few weeks they'll be ready to eat safe & healthful for all.  Great way to feed safe & organic food this winter. Juice from the leaf has antibacterial properties, may be fed or used on minor abrasions & cuts or bites/nips safely.
Ka

Insecticide Caution
I never use systemic or anything but organic fertilizers & if I have to
spray for anything like black spot I use organics.  I do wait 1 year after
getting new rose to give to birds as many commercial growers use chemicals esp prior to shipping to stores or selling.  I always leave some on the bushes for the wild birds too- they need them for the winters here.  Some ofmy guys will eat the buds & blooms themselves & I use the old canes after de-thorning for perches & chew sticks.
Kat

Purslane
The 'scientific name' for Purslane is: Portulaca oleracea.

Sometimes it grows wild in many lawns as a weed.  You can also find it
at K-mart or any plant nursery as single plants or in the hanging
baskets.  I'm not sure if you can find it this time of year though.
It's going to be a plant that grows close to the ground, and has thick,
fleshy (succulent) looking leaves....soon spoon shaped, some oblong,
depending on type/color.  Sometimes the stems will be reddish to purple.
The flowers are usually five petaled and yellow or pink....on wild, and
many colors through a nursery.  The flowers usually close in the
afternoon.  When I used to live in upstate NY we always had it in rock
gardens and bedding plants around other flowers.  When it spreads along
the ground it makes a nice *carpet* of showy colors during midday.

It doesn't grow wild down here so I have to keep either buying it or
growing it.  I'm learning that I'm going to have to put wire cages
around the plants because the cats, wild birds, pigeons, and neighbors
dogs keep nibbling on it til it's gone 

Purslane contains mucilage, plant acids, sugars, vitamins A, B1, C,
calcium, and several minerals.  According to my Florida herb book  Dr.
Artemin P. Simopoulos, a former chairwoman of the U.S. National
Institute of Health, noticed that purslane, which she cooked in her
native Greece, looked much like fish oil.  Laboratory investigation
showed that it is the richest known plant source of the Omega-3 acids
otherwise found mostly in fish oils.  These are thought to help reduce
cholesterol and blood pressure and may strengthen the immune system.

As to human use, all parts can be used in salads.  The leaf and stem
have a slight vinegary taste.  It can be steamed, added to soups or
casseroles, mixed with eggs or pickled for winter.
Susanne

I'm in west central FL and clover grows quite happily here although I
don't have any sheep to gaze at it. Our local health food store sells
clover seeds although I haven't tried them as we have enough growing
already.

Also you might want to try Lantana blossoms (again recommended in
Vriends book Popular Parrots). I haven't yet. First time I normally eat
something myself and wait for side effects. I know that's not fail-safe but its better than nothing! Lantana is a sold as a butterfly attracting plant
but grows wild around here so I have started several plants.

I have to work out how to save my Queen Palm nuts from the squirrels so that the B&G can have them. I borrowed  book on palms from the library. It says that the fruit of the Canary Island Palm are edible, can't
remember which other ones are
Carolyn

Richters seeds (Canada) put out a 120 page catalogue of seeds (herbs,
vegetables, books, etc.) with some illustrations and a brief description of
each plant and it's uses.  They have a HUGE range - the catalogue is worth having just for the info that's in it!.  Contact them at www.richters.com   email at (enquiries).  They also sell live plants
Carole Bryant 

Bud, Leaf, Twig, and Flower

I don't have any Papaya, but I have plenty of Mango tree's.  The
cockatiels hate fruit but will eat the leaves...mainly the stem and
veins.

There's a big old pine tree (need to ID) in the neighboring yard that
Quakers and Conures eat from.  And there is a pair of Severe Macaws,
that 2 times a year, bring their fledged baby and eat from the pine
tree.  BUT...they are so far up (50') that I can't see what they are
munching on.  I'm tempted to cut some branches off and put then in the
flights to see what parts the cockatiels will eat.

I just gave the larger flights and the pairs on eggs, and with babies
some Areca Palm.  The cockatiels *juiced* the stem and veins dry!!  What was left looked like baling twine strings. Then they put the remains in the water bowls, which turned the water a slightly pinkish brown. I
noticed that they allows have to put the leaves/greens in the water.
Does anyone know why birds do this??

There's a Russian Olive tree in the front that gets *hit* by flocks of
Amazons and Quakers several times a year.  Again, I'm not sure what all
they are eating.

Oh, an the tiels like Bougainvillea flowers.  They are all over the
neighborhood here, and many of the neighbors will let me trim blooms.
Same with Hibiscus.

Purslane is edible and non toxic also...and high in Vit.
A.  Every time I have some the Homing Pigeons that visit demolish it!! I
have 2 pair that live here and when they hatch out babies they feed them
the Purslane. I'm going to have to make wire cages to protect it. Lemon
grass is also supposed to be a good source of Vit. A.

Bottlebrush is also edible...both the blooms and the branches. I have a
nice 7' tree that I'm taking cutting from to start more for along my
back yard.  A friend said her Amazons go nuts over the flowers! Firebush is another great treat! And Seagrape. I'm also going to try and make some wine from the Seagrape.

I was up til 3:AM last night doing a search for nutrient value of edible
plants and tree's.  There is not much info. out there. Searches kept
directing me to survivalist sites.  There was one link that had a bunch
of interesting info: http://metalab.unc.edu/pc-activist/LBarnes.htm

There is an overabundance of grapefruit trees in my neighborhood. When they are in blossom I cut and give them to the birds.  They will
actually fight over these blossoms.  I've not seen any of the birds
refuse them.  Hibiscus flower is another favorite.

Overall...switching from store bought, to local and natural...I have
seen only positive results in my birds. Feather quality, baby quality,
productivity, weight, health has all been vastly improved.

So far I have been giving everything in small amounts and rotating
different plants so that there is several days to weeks between
different plants given. The exception is Hibiscus which is given daily
in all the large free flights and holding cages.

There's a large lovebird breeder also doing the natural plant thing. She
gives the Wild Balsam Apple every week or two to her flights of
lovebirds, and various plants in between. She also has a mixed species
breeding flight that has: hanging parrots, Rosey Bourkes, finches,
canaries, and cockatiels...and all have eaten this will no observable
ill effects.  She has also given this to the Meyers, B&G Macaws,
parakeets, and Grey Checks too.  What she likes about giving fresh cut
natural plants (rotating and continual) is everything that hatches lives
and is healthy.

A permaculturist suggested that I do small separate containers of the
various plants and herbs and place them around the larger flights so
that the birds can get to them through the wire, and study what they
chew on and how often, etc.  I will also do this when I put breeding
pairs in the rest flight to see what they gravitate to...

You can take a sample of your tree (branch with leaves) to the county
cooperative extension service and they can ID it for you.  I plan on
going to my local extension service to ID some acorns that are growing
on a tree above a lot of breeding cages.  The birds have safely eaten
them through the wire for 5 years...but, I don't know the particular
name of the tree.

I just discovered that the Melaleuca, paper bark tree (Melaleuca
quinquenervia) is good for the birds as far edible flowers and the
seeds.  The seeds are in abundance now, and my cockatiels went crazy
over them.  I'm going to ask the man at the extension service for advice
on storing the seeds..

Other safe trees listed in the book for perches, which also would have
edible seeds, leaves and flowers  are:

Australian pine (Casuarina sp.)
Guava (Psidium guava)
Florida Holly, Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius)
Hibiscus tree, Mahoe (Hibiscus tiliacus) or common varieties from the
nursery's
Seagrape (Cocobloba)

Susanne Russo