Getting Started with OpenBTS

Colophon

The animal on the cover of Getting Started with OpenBTS is a sun conure, or sun parakeet (Aratinga solstitialis), a medium-sized, brightly colored parrot. Adult males and females are similarly decked out with golden-yellow plumage and orange underparts and face, with red around the ears. Their tails are olive green with blue tips. Juvenile sun conures’ plumage is predominantly green, changing to its distinctive yellow, orange, and red coloration as it matures. They reach sexual maturity at two years of age with a lifespan of 25 to 30 years. Hens lay clutches of 3 to 5 eggs; incubation lasts 23 days.

The sun conure is native to northeastern South America. Though its exact habitat requirements are largely unknown, sightings suggest it lives at the edge of humid forests growing in foothills in the Guiana Shield. Common among other members of the Aratinga genus, sun parakeets are social and typically found in groups of up to 30 individuals. They mainly feed on fruit, flowers, berries, and nuts.

They were previously categorized as Least Concern, but recent surveys in southern Guyana and Roraima (a Brazilian state) have shown rarity and possible extirpation. They are endangered and threatened by habitat loss and pet trade trapping. Though they are regularly bred in captivity, the capture of wild sun conures remains a serious threat.

Many of the animals on O’Reilly covers are endangered; all of them are important to the world. To learn more about how you can help, go to animals.oreilly.com ...