Discussion

Fischer's Lovebird (genus: Agapornis fischeri)

There are nine species of lovebird, a type of old -world parrot. There are several subspecies among them. All originated in Africa. Their bodies are typically 5 to 7 inches in length, have a 9 inch wing span, and weigh 1+1⁄2 to 2 ounces.

One of the species, A. fischeri, lives predominantly south and southeast of Lake Victoria in northern Tanzania. Its common name is Fischer's lovebird after the person who discovered the species in the 19th century. The photo below shows that their feathers are quite colorful. The white rings around the eyes are bare skin.

Lovebirds get their name because they are monogamous, mate for life, and spend most of their time in each other's company.

Females and males have identical plumage and well-hidden sex organs. They are so similar that it often takes DNA tests (and/or egg laying) to be certain of the sex. Not long after meeting their life partners, they look for good locales for nesting. In the photo below, it is in a hole in an old tree.

Mating occurs after the nest is built. Nests are made of grass, stalks, and bark and usually have a roof or overhang above. Eggs follow within 3 to 5 days. Clutches range from three to eight eggs.

Eggs hatch after 21 to 23 days of incubation. Fledglings are on their own after 4½ weeks.

Assuming a decent survival rate, it won't take long for a whole colony to develop. Lovebirds tend to like the company of their own kind anyway.

Fischer's lovebirds have spread around the world as popular pets.

They bite, but with gentle care and careful training, Fischer's lovebirds can be tamed.

Artwork

Lovebirds are not native to Japan, but I was able to find one print featuring them.

Imao Keinen (1845 – 1924)

Keinen studied art as a youth, but in the turmoil caused by the transition from the Edo Period (1603 – 1868) and the beginning of the Modern Era, his family went bankrupt. He supported himself as a textile designer. Keinen eventually opened his own studio and established himself as a painter and print maker, leading to his becoming a professor at the Kyōto Prefecture School of Painting in 1888. (Some web sources say 1880, but 1888 is the most likely year.)

He became a member of the Imperial Household Art Committee in 1904 and a member of the Imperial Art Academy in 1919. Keinen was a major figure in the early 20th century shin-hanga (new prints) movement to restore traditional Japanese techniques, subjects, and values to Japanese prints.

Keinen published his most famous work, Keinan Kacho Gafu, (Keinen's Birds and Flowers Album) in 1891. It was immediately recognized as a masterpiece. It consisted of four volumes with 40 kachō-ga prints each. Each volume focused on a different season.

The print below depicting two birds similar in appearance to Fischer's lovebirds was part of Keinan Kacho Gafu. The pomegranates make this an autumn scene.