Parrots: The Animal Answer Guide

Acknowledgments

xiii This book could not have been written without access to the published findings of dedicated parrot biologists. Despite the many demands on their time, they always responded positively to my requests for assistance. I am especially grateful to those who reviewed draft answers and chapters. They include Kathryn Arnold, Matt Berg, Robin Bjork, Jack Bradbury, Don Brightsmith, Jessica Eberhard, Suzanne Eckert, Terry Greene, Andrew Mack, Juan F. Masello, Ron Moorhouse, Penny Olsen, Irene Pepperberg, Camilla Ribas, Craig Symes, and Tim Wright. Others answered specific questions during the drafting stage. They include Michael L. Avery, Andy Bennett, Matt Berg, Rob Heinsohn, Victor G. Hurley, Leo Joseph, Roland Kays, Kevin McGraw, Richard Prum, and Devi Stuart-Fox. I was fortunate in being able to call on a number of excellent photographers to enliven the text. A special debt is owed Heinz Lambert and Roy Toft (www.toftphoto.com), working photographers who provided a large number of images. Others who supplied photos include Mark Bittner, Lindsay Cupper, Cathy Katsoolis, Patrick Kelly, Tony Kirkby, Steve Milpacher , Phil Perry, Irena Schulz, and Klaus Uhlenhut. Many researchers took the time to sort through their archives and supply photos. They include Michael L. Avery, Michael Barth, Robin Bjork, Walter Boles, Suzanne Eckert, Jonathan Ekstrom, Terry Green, Victor G. Hurley, Dean Ingwersen, Arlene Levin-Rowe, Justin Marshall, Juan F. Masello, Ani Patel, Andrew Somerville, Craig Symes, Chris Tzaros, and Tim Wright. I thank Leo Joseph for providing access to parrot skins in the Australian National Wildlife Collection and David Gowland for permitting photography of birds at the Priam Psittaculture Centre. Rosella Foods Pty. Ltd. granted permission for the reproduction of their famous parrot logo, and Australia Post granted permission to reproduce the Australian parrot series stamps and first day cover. Staff at the National Library of Australia and Australian War Memorial efficiently processed requests for access to material in their picture collections. The writing of this book has taken some time and I am grateful for the patience shown by the team at the Johns Hopkins University Press. The support and guidance provided by Vincent Burke, my editor, was much appreciated, while Jennifer Malat ensured the publishing process ran smoothly. Sitting on my desk are well-thumbed copies of published titles in the Animal Answer Guide series. They were a valuable guide on how to approach particular topics. Over the years, discussions with a number of Acknowledgments people have fostered my interest in parrots and given me the confidence to study and write about this amazing group of birds. They include Stephen Garnett, Terry Greene, Rob Heinsohn, Damon Oliver, Penny Olsen, and Rick Webster. Finally, this book could not have been completed without the love and support of my wife, Chris, and daughters, Katelyn and Alana. xiv Acknowledgments ...