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Nyasa LovebirdAgapornis lilianaeThese beautiful lovebirds were

discovered as early as 1864.At first it was thought that they

are part of the roseicollis (peach face)family, but in 1894 Shelley classifiedthem as separate specie. He namedthem after Lilian Slater, the sister ofa well known famous ornithologistW.L Slater. Lilianae are part of thegenus Agapornis which consist of ninedifferent species. These nine speciesare sub-divided into three differentgroups, namely 1. Sexually dimorphicgroup - differences in appearancebetween males and females (canus,taranta, pullarius), 2. Transitional group

(swindernianus, roseicollis) and3. Personatus - White eye ring group(personatus, fischeri, nigrigenis,lilianae). Lovebirds are not very bigwhich means that they can be keptindoors or outdoors. Because they canbe easily kept there is also the negativeside to the story. Sometimes peoplewould buy one or two birds withouttaking the responsibility of keepingbirds into consideration. We mustalways remember that birds are livingcreatures, which needs daily care andattention. The further negative impactthat such a keeper might cause is thecreation of hybrids. Because of the

vast amount of color mutations in thedifferent species some species aresometimes allowed to cross-breed,without the owner realizing what heis doing. With the establishment ofa Lovebird Club in South Africa in2008 it is hoped that the club and itsmembers will strive to eradicate thisphenomena and educate and enrichpeople in keeping the species as pureas possible.

Lilianae live in Southern Tanzania,Northern Zimbabwe and EasternZambia. They tend to live close to rivers,as they like to bathe a few times a day.

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They live in colonies with sometimesmore than a hundred individuals andfeed mainly on grass-seeds and fruit.Very little is known about their breedingbehaviour in the wild.

Lilianae are not commonly found incaptivity in South African aviaries. Whyis very difficult to answer. A lot of mythssurround these birds. One commonlyheard is that they carry a throat mite(Acarina) that is only neutralizedthrough the diet they consume innature. Once kept in captivity they canno longer consume their natural dietwhich results in them dying off one byone. No scientific proof can be found to

verify or dispute this myth. The famousWorld of Birds, located in Hout Bayin the Western Cape had a colony oflilianae, which died out within a periodof three years - reason unknown.Another reason and one which makeslogical sense is the fact that lilianaehas not been regularly imported toSouth Africa over the last couple ofyears. This has had the result that mostlilianae found in South Africa todayare somehow related to one another.Inbreeding has occurred to such anextent that not many males found arefertile. Over the past few years theauthor has had contact with manypeople who kept lilianae only to find

Cobalt Lutino

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Nyasa aviaries

that after some time the keeper hadgiven up on them, because some haddied off for no specific reason and alsobecause they would not reproduce.No one was willing to fight this battleand save these birds from extinction inour aviaries. Some keepers are evenfeeding these birds and other lovebirdspecies cannabis (dagga) in orderto increase productivity. The moralquestion asked by many is where doesbird keeping stop and greed begin. Ifcannabis contains medicinal valuethen it could still be justified. Have wegiven a moment thought as to what it

might do to the birds?

This scenario has now fortunatelychanged because of mainly tworeasons. Wild caught lilianae haveonce again, in small numbers, beenbrought into the country and new bloodlines and colour mutations have also,in very small numbers, been importedfrom Europe. This has created and ledto a new interest in the keeping andbreeding of lilianae.

The lilianae is + 13centimeters long.Its mask is orange-red, fading intoa slightly darker colour on the bib.The mask changes into olive-yellowon the back of the head, and furtherinto green. The tail feathers are lightgreen with an orange-yellow spot inthe centre and a black spot below it.The rump is green and there should beNO bluish or violet marking. This wouldclearly indicate that hybridization hastaken place. Hybridization was seenby some breeders in the past as apossible solution to get lilianae toproduce fertile eggs. They wouldcross green fischeri with lilianae whichresulted in some lilianae of today stilldisplaying the bluish or violet markingon the rump. The beak is red, changingto horn-coloured with a bluish tinge atthe base. The eyes are light brown,usually with a lighter iris and a whiteeye ring. The feet are grey, the nailsdarker. The lilianae has a very proudposture.

There are only three recognized colourmutations found in the lilianae. The nonsex-linked Ino (commonly known asthe Lutino), the dilute and the wild form(green). The other colour mutations, asin most other lovebird species, have

been created through hybridizing. Aprocess not understood correctly bymany breeders and keepers of birds.The general idea behind hybridizing(transmutation) is the transfer of thecolour (mutation) gene from onespecie to another. Only the colourgene and nothing more. It is importantto remember that all nine speciesdiffer in size, shape, appearance andcharacteristics. The last thing youwant to achieve is to transfer size,appearance, shape or characteristicsfrom one specie to the other. Theresult of transmutation being appliedincorrectly can be very easily identifiedin the blue and violet series fischerlovebird, which has been transmutatedfrom the personatus specie. The faceof some fischer lovebirds displayingblack/grey markings similar to the maskof a personatus lovebird. The face of ablue line (blue, cobalt and mauve) andviolet fischer lovebird should notdisplayany black/grey markings as it shouldbe pure white. Poor transmutation hasthe nasty habit of reappearing in everysecond or third generation. This poorquality, sub-standard birds should notbe included in a breeding program.They are however sold to novices andbeginners by unscrupulous breederswho have no sense of integrity andto whom making a profit means morethan educating breeders and keepersof these lovely creatures.

The first pure autosomal recessivelutino lilianae was bred by MrPrendergast in Adelaide, Australiain 1936. These birds are very weakand just to get a new born baby passthe first 48hour period is in itself anachievement. The lutino we see todayin the fischeri and personatus is theresult of transmutation from the lilianaespecie.

Breeding lilianae poses no moredifficult challenges than most otherlovebird species.

The author prefers supplying L-shapenest boxes to this species as a nestsimilar to a finch nest is constructedon the inside of the box. Both the maleand female take part in construction ofthe nest. The nest is built with a smalltunnel running from the entrance downto a cavity formed at the bottom of thenest box, where the eggs will later belaid.Lilianae can be kept and bred in cages,suspended aviaries or in a colony setup. Care is to be taken not to overcrowd

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the colony which might result in fightingand injury to one another. Females arevery territorial and like their privacy.

Lovebirds as already mentioneddiffer in size, appearance, built andcharacteristics. It is thus recommendedto never keep lovebirds of differentspecies together in one aviary.Although they might tolerate oneanother for a while, they will becomeaggressive during the breedingseason, resulting in fighting andpossible fatalities. The author, havingkept and bred eight different speciesof lovebirds for the past 12 years,has had the unpleasant experience ofwitnessing a female killing a female ofa different specie during the breedingseason. Is it worth the risk? Certainlynot!

Feeding consist of a balanced dryseed mixture as well as a soft foodmixture containing grated carrot,apple, broccoli, spinach and yellowmielies. Clean fresh water is supplieddaily. Establishing a breeding colonyof Nyasas' takes time and a little morepatience than with the other lovebirdspecies. The end result is all worth itthough. Any person who would like toacquire more information is welcometo contact me at one of the followingnumbers: 021 - 982 1239 / 083 2505255 or norrisdryden@telkomsa.net.

Agapornis lilianae -Lovebird

deur Norris Dryden

Nyasa

H ierdiepragtigeLovebirdsis reedsso vroeg as 1864 ontdek. Daarwas oorspronklik aangeneem

dat hulle deel vorm van die Roseicollis(peach face) groep, maar in 1894 hetShelley hulle geklassifiseer as 'n apartespesie. Hy het die spesie vernoem naLilian Slater, die suster van 'n bekendevoelkenner W.L. Slater. Lilianae vormdeel van die klas Agapornis, watbestaan uit 9 verskillende spesies.Hierdie 9 spesies word onderverdeelin 3 groepe naamlik:1. Geslag uitkenbaregroep - verskillein voorkoms tussen mannetjies enwyfies (canus,

taranta, pullarius);2. Oorgangsgroep (swindernianus,roseicollis);3. Personatus groep - ook bekend asdie wit oog-ring groep (personatus,fischeri, nigrigenis, lilianae).Lovebirds is nie baie groot in postuurnie, wat beteken dat hulle binnenshuisen buite aangehou kan word.Aangesien hulle so maklik aangehoukan word is daar natuurlik ook dienegatiewe sy daaraan verbonde.Sommige mense bekom voels sonderom te dink aan die verantwoordelikheidwat daarmee gepaard gaan. Hullevergeet dat voe'ls lewende wesens isen daaglikse versorging en voedingbenodig. 'n Verdere nadeel is dat sulkepersone uit onkunde verantwoordelik isvir die teling van baster voels. Met dietotstandkoming van die SA LovebirdKlub in 2008 het die hoop ontstaandat die klub en al sy lede hulle daartoesal verbind om toe te sien dat alleliefhebbers hierdie voe'ls so suiwer as

moontlik sal teel.

Lilianae kom in die natuur voor in diesuide van Tanzanie, die noordelikegedeelte van Zimbabwe en dieoostelike gedeelte van Zambia Hullevestig hulself graag naby riviereaangesien hulle daarvan hou om 'npaar keer per dag te bad. Hulle woonsaam in kolonies wat soms uit meer as'nhonderd voe'ls bestaan. Hulle voedingbestaan hoofsaaklik uit grassade envrugte. Baie min inligting is bekend oorhulle broeigewoontes in die natuur.

Lilianea word nie algemeen gevind inaanhouding in Suid-Afrikaanse hokkenie.Dieredeismoeilikomteverduidelik,Daar is egter wel 'n aantal mites watbestaan. Een so 'n mite is dat Lilianae'n soort keelmiet (Acarina) onder ledehet wat slegs geneutraliseer kan worddeur die dieet wat hy in die natuur vreette volg. Wanneer hy nie meer in staatis om sy natuurlike dieet te volg nie,verlaag sy immuniteitstelsel en dit hetuiteindelik sy dood tot gevolg. Geenwetenskaplike navorsing om hierdiemite te bevestig of te weerle kan egtergevind word nie. Die beroemde Worldof Birds wat gesetel is in Houtbaaiin die Wes-Kaap het juis hulle helekolonie Lilianae binne 'n kwessievan drie jaar verloor - die rede isonbekend. 'n Verdere en meer logieseverduideliking is dat Lilianae nie op 'ngereelde grondslag oor die laaste jarena Suid-Afrika ingevoer was nie. Dithet veroorsaak dat beskikbare voelsonder mekaar opgepaar is, met diegevolg dat baie inteling plaasgevind

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het. Die gevolg van al die inteling wasdat'n groot persentasie van beskikbaremannetjies onvrugbaar geword het. Eknet oor die laaste paar jaar gereeldkontak gehad met verskeie personewat Lilianae in klein getalle aangehouhet, net om 'n paar maande daarnate verneem dat die teler van dievoels ontslae geraak het omdat balegesterf het of doodeenvoudig nie woureproduseer nie. Niemand was bereidom aan te hou sukkel en baklei omdie voortbestaan van hierdie spesiete bewerkstellig nie. Sommige telershet self so ver gegaan om aan hierdie,sowel as ander Lovebird-spesiesdagga (cannabis) te voer om beterbroei resultate te bewerkstellig. Diemorele vraag wat egter gevra wordis waar eindig ons liefde vir voe'ls enwaar begin gulsigheid. As dagga enigemedisinale waarde gehad het sou ditsekerlik die aksie kon regverdig. Hetsulke telers vir 'n oomblik dalk gedinkwat hulle aan die voels doen deur hulledagga te voer,

Gelukkig vir alle belanghebbendes hetdaar nou 'n ommeswaai plaasgevindhoofsaaklik as gevolg van tweeredes. Eerstens het sommige telersdit reggekry om klein getalle wildgevangde Lilianae die land in te bringen tweedens was daar 'n klein aantalnuwe bloedlyne en mutasies vanaf

Europa ingevoer. Dit het gelei tot nuwegroei en belangstelling in die aanhouen kweek van Lilianae.

Die Lilianae is ongeveer 13 sentimeterlank. Sy masker is oranje-rooi en wordal hoe donkerder op sy bors. Op dieagterkant van die kop verander diemasker se kleur na olyf-geel en danverder af na groen. Die stertvere isliggroen met 'n oranje-geel kol in diemiddel van elke veer gevolg met 'nswart kol onder die oranje kol. Die rompis groen en daar moet GEEN blouerigeof violetkleur op die romp aanwesigwees nie. Die teenwoordigheid van 'nblouerige of violet kleur is 'n duidelikeaanduiding van transmutasie.Transmutasie was ongelukkig gesienas 'n moontlike oplossing vir die swakbroei resultate wat met Lilianae behaalwas. Deur groen Fischeri met Lilianaete kruis was daar gehoop dat diepersentasie bevrugte eiers drastiessou vermeerder. Die gevolg van hierdiekruisteling is dat daar ongelukkig baieLilianae in omloop is wat hierdie skynselvertoon. Die Lilianae se snawel is rooien verkleur na 'n horing/blouerige kleurby die basis. Die oe is ligbruin met dieiris wat ligter van kleur is en 'n duidelikewit oogring.

Die voete is grys en die naels effedonkerder. Die Lilianae het'n baie trotse

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houding. Hy lyk byna parmantig.

Daarisslegsdrieerkendekleurmutasiesin die Lilianae. Eerstens die NSL Ino(algemeen bekend as die Lutino), dieDilute en die natuurlike kleur - groen.Die ander kleure wat ons vandagvind by die Lilianae is net soos in diemeeste ander Lovebird-mutasies deurtransmutasie bewerkstellig. 'n Proseswat deur menigte voelliefhebbersverkeerd verstaan word. Transmutasieis 'n wetenskaplike teelproses waardie kleurgeen van een spesie na 'nander spesie oorgedra word. Slegsdie kleurgeen moet oorgedra word enniks anders nie. Dit is baie belangrikom te onthou dat elke Lovebird-spesie sy eie grootte, voorkoms,fatsoen en karaktereienskappe het.Die laasto ding wat moet gebeur mettransmutasie is dat hierdie eienskappewat uniek is aan een spesie na 'n anderoorgedra word. Die foute wat tydenstransmutasie gemaak word kan baieduideiik geTdentifisGer word in veraldie bloulyn (Blou, Kobalt en Mauve)asook die Violet Fischer-mutasies. DieBlou en Violet geen was oorspronklikoorgedra na die Fischer-spesie viadie personatus (masker) spesie. Diegevolg is dat baie Fischers effenseswart/grys merke in hulle gesigte het.

'n Baie duidelike teken dat sommigevan die masker eienskappe oorgedrawas na die fischer. Die gesig van 'nbloulyn en Violet Fischer moet spierwitwees aangesien transmutasie die naregewoonte het om in elke tweede ofderde geslag deur te slaan. Teling methierdie swak kwaliteit of sub-standaardvoels moet eerder vermy word. Tog isdaar die gewetenlose telers wat geenintegriteit aan die dag le en hierdieswak kwaliteit voels aan beginners enonkundiges verkoop bloot om 'n profytte maak.

Die eerste suiwer outosomaleresessiewe Lutino Lilinae was geteelin aanhouding deur Mnr Prendergastin Adelaide, Australie in 1936. Hierdievoels is besonder swak en net om 'nbaba verby die eerste 48 uur aan dielewe te hou is op sigself al klaar 'nprestasie. Die Lutino wat ons vandagwaarneem in die personatus, fischerien nigrigenis is almal afkomstig vanafdie Lilianae-spesie.

Om Lilianae te teel is nie soveelmoeiliker as om die ander spesies teteel nie. Miskien is 'n bietjie geduldhier die wagwoord. Ek verkies die L-vormige neskas vir die Lilianae. Hullebou binne 'n nes wat soortgelyk is aan

'n vinknes. Beide die mannetjie enwyfie bou saam aan die nes. Die neshet 'n tonnel wat strek vanaf die ingangtot by 'n holte aan die onderkant vandie neskas. Die eiers word binne diebeskermde gedeelte gele. Lilianaekan in koue, hanghokke of in kolonieformaat aangehou word. Daar moetegter sorg geneem word dat die kolonienie te groot is vir die beskikbare ruimtenie.

Wyfies is baie territoriaal en geniet hulprivaatheid.Soos reeds gemeld verskil Lovebirdsin grootte, voorkoms en karakter. Dit isdus raadsaam om nie verskillende tipeLovebirds saam in een hok aan te hounie. Hulle sal mekaarwel verdra, maarwanneer dit nader aan die broeityd komsal hulle wel baklei wat nie net beseringsnie maar ook noodlottige gevolge maghe. Ek teel al vir die afgelope 12 jaarmet 8 verskillende spesies Lovebirdsen moes self die nare ondervindingdeurmaak waar 'n wyfie van een spesie'n wyfie van 'n ander spesie doodgebythet tydens broeityd. Was die risiko omverskillende spesies saam aan te houin een hok die moeite werd? Natuurliknie.

Voeding bestaan uit 'n goedgebalanseerde droe saadmengseltesame met sagtekos wat bestaanuit gekerfde appel, wortels, spinasie,broccoli en mielies. Skoon vars waterword daagliks in hokke geplaas, Om 'nbroei kolonie Lilianae te vestig neem 'nbietjie meer tyd en geduld in beslag asmet sekere ander Lovebird-spesies,maar die eindresultaatis voorwaar baie bevredigend. Enigepersoon wat graag meer inligtingwil bekom is welkom om met my inverbinding te tree by een van dievolgende nommers:021 - 982 1239 / 083 250 5255 of

norrisdryden@telkomsa.net.

reen Lilianae

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