Event type: Archive

Formerly a popular present to our loved ones for Valentine’s Day, these little African parrots are worth much more than decorating our living rooms. Many people globally love their lovebird pets and while observing their charming personalities close by, would do anything to make them happy. This is great as it shows compassion for these birds, but does keeping them as pets really make them happy in the long run and is all the effort worthwhile? Their struggle to survive in their natural habitat is not all due to the love we have developed for them as pets, but in some cases has led to the point of their extinction. This talk is about the wild cousins of our popular companion birds, shows knowledge gaps, research opportunities, and the efforts to study and protect them where they are truly home. Sascha will present ongoing lovebird research projects and highlight his work on African lovebirds in collaboration with the World Parrot Trust (WPT).