The use of birds as pets in Mexico

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of birds as pets has been a historical tradition in Mexico since prehispanic times. It has survived through bird traders, called pajareros, which is a local name given to the trade (derived from pájaro, the Spanish word for bird). However, the trade of birds has not been sufficiently described; therefore, the goal of this paper is to analyze the bird trade in Mexico using the components of an ethnoecology scheme known as kosmos-corpus-praxis complex.MethodsQualitative research techniques were used, including ethnographic immersion, participative research, and interviews of 79 pajareros in 22 localities in nine Mexican states.ResultsThe activity of the pajareros occurs within their households, with each member having distinct roles. The roles involved in bird trading are capturing, acclimation, maintenance, and sale. Their assignment depends on gender, age, and residential location (rural or urban). Beyond their households, the pajareros are well organized in trade unions and are represented by a leader, who acts as an intermediate between them and the government officers who are involved in the authorization of federal permits. The pajareros use 96 species of birds, most of which are native to Mexico. Practicing the trade requires highly specific knowledge of the biology, ecology, habitat, nutrition, diseases, and behavior of the birds, as well as the abiotic components of their environment, such as climatology and geography. The cosmovision of pajarero households is embedded in their identity, making them proud of their trade.ConclusionsOur paper provides the first comprehensive description of the pajarero trade, showing evidence of local communitarian management in the places where the wild birds are captured.

Mexican birds use according to environmental officers

“…Other authors in Brazil (Souza and SoaresFilho 2005 cited in Alves et al 2010) mention that bird catchers and small sellers are exploited by mayor traders, however, in the recent Mexican study (RoldánClarà et al 2017), this was not detected. Another Mexican officer claimed that pajareros abuse of the term "subsistence," some of them having additional economic income.…”

“…Fernandes Ferreira et al (2012), also recognized the cultural traditions as the root for the use of wild birds in the rural inhabitants in the Northeast Brazil, and Melink et al (1988) described the deep tradition of the use of cage birds in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Moreover, RoldánClarà et al (2017) report the deep relation between family members and the use of birds as pets in Central Mexico.…”

“…In Latin America we find research in Costa Rica (Drews 2001), Venezuela (MarínEspinoza et al 2011), Mexico (e.g. RoldánClarà et al 2017), Bolivia and Peru (e.g. Pires et al 2016) but Brazil is the main country were research is done about ethnoornithology and the use of birds as pets (e.g.…”

“…According to an interviewee, pajareros are organized in SOB capturing groups (see also RoldánClarà et al 2017), and some bird catchers and sellers belong to four associations in Mexico. It is interesting to note that we did not find other traditional bird trader organizations in Latin American countries but exist in countries like Spain (see Belda et al 2012) and Indonesia (see Jepson et al 2011).…”

Use and management of wild fauna by people of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley and surrounding areas, Mexico

“…This information comes mostly from the dry forests of the arid zone of the TCV [73]. Use and commercialization of living birds as ornamental is a complex activity that has a long tradition in Mexico and involves human specialization, organization and regulations at various levels from individuals and families, to non-profit associations and governmental policies [107]; however, with a few exceptions, breeding is not part of the management strategy for ornamental species [148]. So far, this is the case in the TCV.…”