For
years I had heard about the famous Tres Maria Amazon and did not
know if I had ever really seen one. I had seen 100s of Double
Yellow Heads. Many people would tell me their birds were Tres
Maria. After a few years of noticing these birds all looked different,
I decided the only way to know would be to find someone who had
actually seen them in the wild on the Islands. I had the good
fortune to have met Walter Hanson in the early 80s. Walter is
the only person I have ever meet that had actually gone in search
of the Tres Maria and kept and bred them. The Tres Maria Islands
are off the coast of Mexico and are used as a penitentiary. Therefore,
not many people are willing to go there! At the time when Mr.
Hanson went, access to the island was only by a supply ship that
arrived once a week, and if you went, you had to stay until the
next boat arrived. Mr. Hansen did this and took photos. One of
which is a young Tres Maria seen here on the Island. (see
photo next to domestic chick on this page). Mr. Hansen also wrote an article
for CAGE BIRD MAGAZINE (now out of business), telling about his
trip and showing his own personal collection of Tres Maria. Years
later, I was able to acquire these birds for my foundation stock.
one
of our breeding pairs of Tres Maria Amazons
The Los Angles County Museum has several Tres Maria skins actually
taken on the Island in 1957 . These skins vary in size greatly,
but all had the same markings. Basically yellowish-white heads
and lack of barring on the breast, with varying degrees of blue
cast to breast feathers. The feet and cere darkened over time
due to the age of the skins (see photos). Only look at these photos
if skins do not bother you!
click here for photos of skins Tres Maria skin photos
at Museum
Domestic Tres Maria make great talkers and can acquire large amounts
of yellow on their heads in just a few years. Care and feeding
is like any other Amazon. Cages should be as large as possible.
Macaw type cages would be best.
Photos are by Steve
Garvin unless otherwise noted. All photographs are protected
by copyright and may
not be reproduced by any method without written permission from
The Feather Tree.
