12/1/2023 0 Comments Best song birds as pets![]() In this context, the objective of this study was to identify the species and families of songbirds targeted by merchants and bird-keepers and to characterize the captive maintenance of these exploited species to answer the following questions. In the municipality in which the present study was developed, it is common for songbirds to be captured and sold as pets to residents of both rural and urban areas, and this is illustrative of the situation in other municipalities of the Brazilian semi-arid region. This order includes songbirds and deserves special attention since it is the most exploited by clandestine commerce. These studies involve animal apprehension by supervisory agencies including a wide range of wild bird taxa, with little detailed information on the capture and captive management of Passeriformes. Most of the research on the keeping and trade of wild birds is generally concentrated on points of sale, especially free-trade fairs. Keeping songbirds in cages, in both rural communities and urban areas, and the associated illegal trade has been identified as a major cause of the reduced population sizes of various species in Brazil. Several species of passerines and parrots are kept by local residents for pleasure, companionship, and ornamentation. In this region (the Caatinga biome), birds are used for different purposes and have major social, economic, and cultural importance. In the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil, keeping wild animals in captivity is as old as human occupation, and most ethnozoological research shows that birds are the most exploited group in the region, which is a major threat to the populations of many local species. In the northeast of the country, maintaining birds in captivity is a common practice driven by the accessibility to several species that are kept as pets, especially passerines. Considered the third largest biome in Brazil, the Caatinga encompasses most of the northeast region and houses, among other vertebrates, 591 birds’ species. ĭue to its large size and impressive biodiversity, Brazil has one of the most diverse avifauna in the world, including 1840 known bird species. In particular, species of the order Passeriformes are kept as pets in cages, which is motivated by their distinct characteristics compared to other groups, including beautiful plumage and/or melodious singing. However, this practice is considered one of the main reasons for the population declines of many species. In this sense, ethnoornithological studies are fundamentally important since they can provide basic information to inform plans and actions to promote the conservation and sustainable management of local avifauna, including the essential element of environmental education strategies.īirds are kept as pets around the world, and bird-keeping is an ancient and widespread tradition. The birds reported in this study have strong cultural importance and high economic value for the people involved in bird-keeping. The species with the highest use values (UVs) were Sporophila albogularis (UV = 0.83), Paroaria dominicana (0.82), and Sporophila nigricollis (0.79), indicating their importance as wild animal pets. Maintaining these birds in cages includes some care, such as providing feed, medicine, and in some cases, training to improve their song or to learn songs from other species. The number of species identified by the respondents did not differ according to respondent income, educational level, or age ( p > 0.05). ![]() As reported by the respondents, birds are acquired by capturing them in rural areas or through local and regional markets. ![]() Thraupidae was the most represented family in this study followed by Icteridae, and together, these families accounted for 61.7% of the local specimens. ResultsĪ total of 34 bird species are bred as pets in the study area. ![]() Methodsĭata were collected from a total of 62 wild bird-keepers in the study area through interviews using semi-structured forms and informal conversations. This study aimed to identify the species and families of songbirds used as pets in the semi-arid region of Brazil, characterize the maintenance of the exploited species in captivity, and evaluate the sociocultural context associated with this practice. In the semi-arid region of Brazil, this practice is very common and continues despite being designated as illegal in recent decades. Birds are kept as pets around the world, and bird-keeping is an ancient and widespread practice, constituting one of the main reasons for the decline of some species.
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