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First Parrot Awareness Week launched
The charity will offer daily campaigns on topics such as nutrition, healthcare and insurance.
Parrot Awareness Week 2023 promotes parrot health and welfare.

The first Parrot Awareness Week has been launched, in an effort to improve understanding of parrot health and welfare.

The event, headed by Parrot Society UK, will provide information about various themes relating to parrot welfare in captivity to help owners to provide their pets with good care.

Throughout the week, the charity, in partnership with UK Pet Food and Petcover Group, will offer daily campaigns on topics such as nutrition, healthcare and insurance. The information will be shared on their Facebook and TikTok accounts, as well as their website.

The event was launched on 2 July 2023 and will end with the Pet Parrot Gathering, hosted by Parrot Society and held at Stafford County Showground, on 8 July 2023.

The Pet Parrot Gathering will include a symposium of talks from avian professionals on parrot care, trade stalls and flying displays.

Dr Vicki Baldrey, an avian specialist and Parrot Awareness Week team member said: “I am delighted to be involved in organising the first ever UK Parrot Awareness Week. Many of the most common healthcare issues parrots suffer from, such as respiratory infections, liver disease and feather destructive behaviour, can be prevented by providing an appropriate diet and environment.

“We want to work with owners to improve animal husbandry to maximise their birds’ health and wellbeing.”

All the informational resources can be found on the event’s website throughout this week. Tickets to the Pet Parrot Gathering can be purchased on the Parrot Society UK website.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.