I know this is a parrot blog but I like to put in some information about other birds, too, including wild birds.
I always wondered what wild birds do during a storm or extreme cold weather.
Where do the birds go for protection during severe weather such as blizzards, hurricanes, and tornadoes?
Birds have an amazing ability to find refuge from storms, but they do
it in a variety of ways, depending on the species and the bird's natural
habitat.
Bluebirds, for example, often winter as far north as New England. They
find protection against the cold and storms by communal roosting, often
in a bird house. There are photographs of 13 male eastern bluebirds,
all crowded into one bluebird house. This behavior shares warmth, and
keeps the birds out of the wind, rain and snow.
Read more about what other wild birds due during storms here.
by enature.com
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Keep Your Bird Safe During Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is an exciting day for both the family and the flock.
There is a lot of activity and excitement and with that we may not
necessarily be on our game where the parrots are concerned. This holday
is centered around the kitchen where there will be hot burners and
cooking foods, perhaps open flame.
As much as you might like to let your parrot be involved in the family festivities, the kitchen on Thanksgiving is not the best place for a parrot. There are too many distractions for you to be fully aware of your parrot’s safety and, therefore, too many opportunities for disaster.
Click Here to read the full article.
by Birdtricks.com
As much as you might like to let your parrot be involved in the family festivities, the kitchen on Thanksgiving is not the best place for a parrot. There are too many distractions for you to be fully aware of your parrot’s safety and, therefore, too many opportunities for disaster.
Click Here to read the full article.
by Birdtricks.com
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Keeping Your Bird Warm During The Winter
Never use an electric Blanket to keep your bird warm during the winter.
Consider using a heated perch or portable heaters.
Click here to read the full article.
Consider using a heated perch or portable heaters.
Click here to read the full article.
The Dangers Of Grit In A Parrots Diet
Unless it is recommended by your vetinarian because of difficulty with
digestion, grit should not be considered for use. In fact, its can
cause serious impaction in the digestive system. It is possible that
your local bird store carries grit. Please walk right past this product
as it is not meant for your parrot.
Click here to read the full article.
Click here to read the full article.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
How To Get Your Bird To Eat A Healthier Diet
So if your bird isn’t a healthy eater, try giving him more exercise and see what he starts eating that will surprise you!
Remember:
I let my cockatiels fly indoors only.
Click here to read the full article.
by Birdtricks.com
Remember:
- Feed the healthiest foods first when your bird is the hungriest.
- Stay organic as much as possible, even when it comes to the pellet you feed.
- Encourage mental and physical stimulation (trick training, puzzles, foraging toys and flight training)
- There’s more than one way to skin a cat; try serving the healthy stuff in a variety of ways from cooked to raw to shredded to baked into things and more.
- If you can, use your bird’s favorite food as treats. Our birds, believe it or not, respond better to blueberries as their reward than pine nuts!
I let my cockatiels fly indoors only.
Click here to read the full article.
by Birdtricks.com
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Vitamin D3 Extremetly Important For Birds
Sunshine, which is converted to Vitamin D3 in the bodies of all
creatures, is responsible for the absorption of calcium. Therefore,
sunshine plays a huge role in the development and maintenance of bones,
teeth, beaks, hair, fur and feathers. It is an essential ingredient to
a healthy life. But did you know that a lack of it also causes
depression?
In parrots, deficiencies in vitamin A and calcium seem to be predominantly noted . But lack of exposure to sunshine is also a vitamin deficiency. There are an alarming amount of captive parrots that get NO exposure to natural or full spectrum lighting. My recent personal experience has left me wondering how many of our parrots are suffering in the same way I was.
Click here to read the full article.
By Birdtricks.com
In parrots, deficiencies in vitamin A and calcium seem to be predominantly noted . But lack of exposure to sunshine is also a vitamin deficiency. There are an alarming amount of captive parrots that get NO exposure to natural or full spectrum lighting. My recent personal experience has left me wondering how many of our parrots are suffering in the same way I was.
Click here to read the full article.
By Birdtricks.com
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
When You Should NOT Rescue A Bird In Need
Every once in a while, you come upon a not-so-good pet store, and less frequently, a really bad one. When you’ve found on of these, you’ll know it right away, both by sight and smell.
The worst pet store I have ever experienced was one just outside of Chicago sometime in the mid 80s. The minute I walked in I was bowled over by the smell of urine. It made my eyes water and I had to pull my turtleneck up over my nose so I could breath. I wanted to walk in a little further to get a good description of the conditions because I already knew I would be making some phone calls when I got home.
Click here to read the full article.
By BirdTricks.com
The worst pet store I have ever experienced was one just outside of Chicago sometime in the mid 80s. The minute I walked in I was bowled over by the smell of urine. It made my eyes water and I had to pull my turtleneck up over my nose so I could breath. I wanted to walk in a little further to get a good description of the conditions because I already knew I would be making some phone calls when I got home.
Click here to read the full article.
By BirdTricks.com
Monday, August 22, 2011
Planning For Your Parrot’s Future
Have you ever given thought to what would become of your parrot if you were to die or in some way become incapacitated? What if you were faced with a financial crisis and were unable to keep your pets? Do you have a plan?
Since parrots are so long-lived and require specific care, their placement is a little complex. If you are lucky enough to have a spouse that loves your birds like you do (not just tolerates them because he loves you), or children who have been raised around them and will commit to taking on their care once you are gone, you are indeed lucky.
Click here to read the full article.
By Birdtricks.com
Since parrots are so long-lived and require specific care, their placement is a little complex. If you are lucky enough to have a spouse that loves your birds like you do (not just tolerates them because he loves you), or children who have been raised around them and will commit to taking on their care once you are gone, you are indeed lucky.
Click here to read the full article.
By Birdtricks.com
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Beautiful Parrot Dies in Hot Car.
The story is uncomplicated, and could easily happen to any of us. Lorna’s friend planned to take Shooter to work with her. She loaded his carrier into her mother’s car for her ride to work. Six hours later, when her mother returned to pick her up, she asked her daughter why Shooter was not with her. It was then that they realized what had happened, Lorna had gone to her job and her mother to hers without realizing that the bird was still in the car. Shooter had passed away in the heat.
Click here to read the full story.
By BirdTricks.com
Click here to read the full story.
By BirdTricks.com
Monday, August 1, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Favoring a Bird In Your Flock Can Cause Jealousy, Depression and Feather Plucking!
Birds are sentient beings, and their feelings can be hurt. When they see a clear preference for another bird, especially when it’s flaunted in front of them, it will lead them to behavioral problems. Even the quiet bird who suffers in silence is likely to deliver an “out of the blue” bite one day when he’s had enough. Unhappy birds are known to pluck. You can’t blame them for their reactions when it is continually pointed out to them that they are second best.
It’s perfectly understandable that you might feel a special bond with one bird in particular. We have preferences among the people we associate with. We just have to be certain not to exclude the others who want to share our lives to any hurtful degree.
Click here to read the full article.
by Birdtricks.com
It’s perfectly understandable that you might feel a special bond with one bird in particular. We have preferences among the people we associate with. We just have to be certain not to exclude the others who want to share our lives to any hurtful degree.
Click here to read the full article.
by Birdtricks.com
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Study: Parrot Parents Name Their Babies
Parrots, with their amazing abilities to mimic speech and talk to humans in addition to each other, are by far impressive communicators. But research shows that parrot conversations are even more complex. Each parrot has its own signature call that others use to address it, which is the parrot equivalent of having a name. But where do these “names” come from? New research has shown that just like with human babies, parrot parents name their offspring, even before the babies can communicate themselves.
Click here to read the full article.
by Erin Podolak
Click here to read the full article.
by Erin Podolak
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Mandatory Bird Education for Bird Owners
I keep in contact with people from a number of bird rescues. I am friends with some on Facebook and I make sure to keep them in my feed so that I have a daily reminder of all the homeless birds out there. I see many more coming into these facilities than I see going out.
As I scout around the internet, I am alarmed by questions such as: “I just got a sun conure. What do I feed him?” REALLY?? You brought a bird into your home without a clue what he eats?? That seems unfathomable to me. Know that my gripe is not with the uneducated owner, but with the person selling the bird who allowed the uneducated owner to leave the premises without any knowledge of what they were doing.
I understand how this happens at pet stores. Pet stores are in the retail business, not the animal welfare business. It simply so happens that the products they are selling are alive and intelligent, and have needs. It’s about money. I doubt a shoe salesman gives a second thought as to the well-being of the sandals he sold earlier in the week. “I sure do hope she is coordinating them with her handbag!”
Click here to read the full article.
by Birdtricks.com
As I scout around the internet, I am alarmed by questions such as: “I just got a sun conure. What do I feed him?” REALLY?? You brought a bird into your home without a clue what he eats?? That seems unfathomable to me. Know that my gripe is not with the uneducated owner, but with the person selling the bird who allowed the uneducated owner to leave the premises without any knowledge of what they were doing.
I understand how this happens at pet stores. Pet stores are in the retail business, not the animal welfare business. It simply so happens that the products they are selling are alive and intelligent, and have needs. It’s about money. I doubt a shoe salesman gives a second thought as to the well-being of the sandals he sold earlier in the week. “I sure do hope she is coordinating them with her handbag!”
Click here to read the full article.
by Birdtricks.com
Angus Case Reaches a Conclusion
As you have probably deduced from the photo above, the court’s decision was to conditionally return Angus to Justin. Two members of the Committee To Save Angus were present, one testified for the defense, but spoke honestly about the stupidity of his act. She added: “I was able to confirm that he’d been trying to educate himself by asking others for help and that he did have an excellent vet. The vet had provided a written reference and an offer to help Justin by maintaining contact with him/regular check ins. The magistrate asked if I was prepared to maintain contact as well, I said yes. He asked if I’d report any suspected cruelty to the RSPCA and I said ‘in a heartbeat’.”
Justin was offered a deal. In order to regain custody of his bird, he was required to plead guilty to animal cruelty, which he did not want to do because there was no malicious intent in his actions. Verbiage was changed to “conduct likely to cause suffering” and veered away from harsh language that would legally preclude him getting his bird back.
Click here to read the full article.
by Birdtricks.com
Monday, July 11, 2011
Giving Your Bird Too Much Seed Is Not a Good Diet
This is a very important topic for all parrot and bird owners.
Giving your bird a seed only diet is not a good, period!
It is like feeding your child potato chips every day for his entire life. Think of how sickly your child would be on a diet of that. He would develop malnutrition over a period of time and eventually die at a young age.
Unfortunately, when I bought my first cockatiel 14 years ago, I was told by the pet shop that a bag of cockatiel seed would be just fine for him. But this was not the case. At an older age around 7 my bird was developing health problems. He would become exhausted and weak when he would fly really fast with the other bird.
I changed him to a pellet diet of 3 different kinds mixed and crushed together to get him to eat a proper diet. Pellets are a must diet for your birds. It's like the meat and potatoes of the human diet. I also gave him and still do give him some fresh fruit and veggies on a daily basis Plus Birdie Bread I make homemade with an essential oil mix of 1 part flaxseed oil to 4 parts olive oil. I put just a drop on the birdie bread. Cockatiels can live to be 30 years old!
I still need to give my first cockatiel some supplements on a daily basis so he can keep up with his young friend of half his age. 14 is consided a young age for a cockatiel.
By the way. I do not recommend purchasing birds for pets. I recommend adopting one. There are so many abused and unwanted birds out there that need a loving home. Please adopt an unwanted parrot. Please do not buy.
Read More about feeding your birds too much seed.
Giving your bird a seed only diet is not a good, period!
It is like feeding your child potato chips every day for his entire life. Think of how sickly your child would be on a diet of that. He would develop malnutrition over a period of time and eventually die at a young age.
Unfortunately, when I bought my first cockatiel 14 years ago, I was told by the pet shop that a bag of cockatiel seed would be just fine for him. But this was not the case. At an older age around 7 my bird was developing health problems. He would become exhausted and weak when he would fly really fast with the other bird.
I changed him to a pellet diet of 3 different kinds mixed and crushed together to get him to eat a proper diet. Pellets are a must diet for your birds. It's like the meat and potatoes of the human diet. I also gave him and still do give him some fresh fruit and veggies on a daily basis Plus Birdie Bread I make homemade with an essential oil mix of 1 part flaxseed oil to 4 parts olive oil. I put just a drop on the birdie bread. Cockatiels can live to be 30 years old!
I still need to give my first cockatiel some supplements on a daily basis so he can keep up with his young friend of half his age. 14 is consided a young age for a cockatiel.
By the way. I do not recommend purchasing birds for pets. I recommend adopting one. There are so many abused and unwanted birds out there that need a loving home. Please adopt an unwanted parrot. Please do not buy.
Read More about feeding your birds too much seed.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Watch The Live Hummingbird Cam!
I just wanted to let all of you bird lovers know that you can watch a live Hummingbird Camera by clicking on this link.
http://sportsmansparadiseonline.com/Live_Hummingbird_Cam.html
The hummingbird chicks are Phoebe's babies. Watch Phoebe feed her little ones and care for them.
Have a wonderful day!
http://sportsmansparadiseonline.com/Live_Hummingbird_Cam.html
The hummingbird chicks are Phoebe's babies. Watch Phoebe feed her little ones and care for them.
Have a wonderful day!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Prepare Your Pet Birds For Earthquakes
By Nikki Moustaki
Earthquakes are sudden and hit with no advanced warning.
If you live in an earthquake zone with your pet birds, you can take steps to be relatively prepared to keep your birds safe.
Click here to read about how to prepare for earthquakes, prepare your pet bird's cage, prepare your earthquake disaster kit, prepare your pet bird carrier and after the earthquake.
Earthquakes are sudden and hit with no advanced warning.
If you live in an earthquake zone with your pet birds, you can take steps to be relatively prepared to keep your birds safe.
Click here to read about how to prepare for earthquakes, prepare your pet bird's cage, prepare your earthquake disaster kit, prepare your pet bird carrier and after the earthquake.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Goose Who Wears A Pair of Sandals!
Read about Gator a goose owned by a couple who designed a pair of sandals to protect his feet from the heat and harsh pavement in the town of St. Augustine, Florida.
Photo from Metro.co.uk
He is so cute! All birds should be able to get a new pair of sandles to protect their feet.
Click here to read the full article.
He is so cute! All birds should be able to get a new pair of sandles to protect their feet.
Click here to read the full article.
Why You Should Never Take A Bird Home Before It Is Fully Weaned
by Birdtricks.com/blog
Many new owners-to-be seem to believe that the bonding process with a baby bird begins during hand feeding.People think that a bond with their new bird will be stronger if they do it themselves.This is not true. During hand feeding, a baby bird learns about trusting humans in general, not just a particular person. A bird will go on to have the closest of bonds with the human being who takes her home to love and care for her for the rest of her life.
Many inexperienced people are taking birds that are too young home to do a job that is not for the unqualified.There are MANY things that can go wrong during the hand feeding process: aspiration, crop burn, crop stasis and bacterial infection, to name a few. You may have never heard of some of these terms, which is reason enough ...
Click here to read the full article.
Many new owners-to-be seem to believe that the bonding process with a baby bird begins during hand feeding.People think that a bond with their new bird will be stronger if they do it themselves.This is not true. During hand feeding, a baby bird learns about trusting humans in general, not just a particular person. A bird will go on to have the closest of bonds with the human being who takes her home to love and care for her for the rest of her life.
Many inexperienced people are taking birds that are too young home to do a job that is not for the unqualified.There are MANY things that can go wrong during the hand feeding process: aspiration, crop burn, crop stasis and bacterial infection, to name a few. You may have never heard of some of these terms, which is reason enough ...
Click here to read the full article.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
RSPCA Seizes Angus, The Eclectus Parrot
by Birdtricks.com Blog
I have put off writing this post for as long as possible. Actually, that’s not true – I have written and re-written this five times now. This story has provided more ups and downs, twists and turns than a roller coaster ride. Every day there has been some new development to report and just as I go to hit the publish button with the latest, something new happens. I have to stop to fill you in at some point. I don’t even know where to begin…
In April, I wrote about Angus rallying your support in signing a petition that would force the RSPCA to take action against Justin Lawther and remove Angus from his care.
The Committee To Save Angus was formed, spearheaded by Mel Vincent, an animal rescuer in Australia, and included others from both sides of the globe. The story spread like wildfire within the avian community. The Angus Facebook page was monitored around the clock, as were the pages of the RSPCA and the Victoria Police.There was, and is, continued news coverage. Everyone now knew and loved Angus – and hated Justin Lawther.
Click here to read the full aritcle.
I have put off writing this post for as long as possible. Actually, that’s not true – I have written and re-written this five times now. This story has provided more ups and downs, twists and turns than a roller coaster ride. Every day there has been some new development to report and just as I go to hit the publish button with the latest, something new happens. I have to stop to fill you in at some point. I don’t even know where to begin…
In April, I wrote about Angus rallying your support in signing a petition that would force the RSPCA to take action against Justin Lawther and remove Angus from his care.
The Committee To Save Angus was formed, spearheaded by Mel Vincent, an animal rescuer in Australia, and included others from both sides of the globe. The story spread like wildfire within the avian community. The Angus Facebook page was monitored around the clock, as were the pages of the RSPCA and the Victoria Police.There was, and is, continued news coverage. Everyone now knew and loved Angus – and hated Justin Lawther.
Click here to read the full aritcle.
Fool or hero? The man who died for ducks
by Katerina Lorenzatos Makris
On Memorial Day Edward Gardner saw a group of wild ducklings on an Illinois interstate and couldn’t just keep driving. He had to stop. He had to get out and try to help the animals off the busy roadway, where they might have lost their lives.
As a result, after a passing limousine struck him, he gave up his own.
Gardner, 38, loved animals, his best friend told WLS-TV Chicago. "It was no surprise what he did,” said Jim Gollwitzer, “that he would risk his life to save another. That's the kind of guy he was. Just an amazing spirit.”
Continue reading on Examiner.com Fool or hero? The man who died for ducks - National Animal Policy | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/animal-policy-in-national/fool-or-hero-the-man-who-died-for-ducks?CID=examiner_alerts_article#ixzz1O4dXKJaT
Continue reading on Examiner.com Fool or hero? The man who died for ducks - National Animal Policy | Examiner.com
On Memorial Day Edward Gardner saw a group of wild ducklings on an Illinois interstate and couldn’t just keep driving. He had to stop. He had to get out and try to help the animals off the busy roadway, where they might have lost their lives.
As a result, after a passing limousine struck him, he gave up his own.
Gardner, 38, loved animals, his best friend told WLS-TV Chicago. "It was no surprise what he did,” said Jim Gollwitzer, “that he would risk his life to save another. That's the kind of guy he was. Just an amazing spirit.”
Continue reading on Examiner.com Fool or hero? The man who died for ducks - National Animal Policy | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/animal-policy-in-national/fool-or-hero-the-man-who-died-for-ducks?CID=examiner_alerts_article#ixzz1O4dXKJaT
Continue reading on Examiner.com Fool or hero? The man who died for ducks - National Animal Policy | Examiner.com
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Clever New Caledonian crows go to parents' tool school
By Matt Walker
Editor, Earth News
Young New Caledonian crows learn to use tools by going to "tool-school", where they can observe their parents at work.
These crows are renowned for their extraordinary intelligence and ability to fashion tools to solve problems.
Now a new study has revealed more about how they do it: wild New Caledonian crows live in unusually small family groups, scientists say.
That allows parent birds to take juveniles to tool-using sites, and let young birds play with "grown up" tools.
Click here to read the full article.
Editor, Earth News
Young New Caledonian crows learn to use tools by going to "tool-school", where they can observe their parents at work.
These crows are renowned for their extraordinary intelligence and ability to fashion tools to solve problems.
Now a new study has revealed more about how they do it: wild New Caledonian crows live in unusually small family groups, scientists say.
That allows parent birds to take juveniles to tool-using sites, and let young birds play with "grown up" tools.
Click here to read the full article.
Parrots Choose To Work Together
By Victoria Gill Science and nature reporter, BBC News
African grey parrots let their personalities shine through when it comes to problem-solving, a study has found.
Scientists developed a series of tasks for the birds, which revealed that they understood how to co-operate.
A team studying the birds at a research centre in Paris found that some birds preferred to work alone, while others liked to work together.
The findings are published in the journal Animal Cognition.
Click here to read the full article.
BBC Nature.UK News
African grey parrots let their personalities shine through when it comes to problem-solving, a study has found.
Scientists developed a series of tasks for the birds, which revealed that they understood how to co-operate.
A team studying the birds at a research centre in Paris found that some birds preferred to work alone, while others liked to work together.
The findings are published in the journal Animal Cognition.
Click here to read the full article.
BBC Nature.UK News
Superstar who flies by plane to save his species by Sarah Harvey
Conservation in New Zealand owes a lot to a certain teenage bird that once tried to mate with the head of a BBC presenter.
Sirocco the kakapo shot to fame in 2009 when he was filmed by comedian Stephen Fry engaging in mating behaviour on the head of BBC presenter and environmentalist Mark Cawardine.
The clip that went viral on You Tube is just one of the many ways Sirocco is helping New Zealand conservation.
Click Here to read the full article.
Stuff.co.nz
Sirocco the kakapo shot to fame in 2009 when he was filmed by comedian Stephen Fry engaging in mating behaviour on the head of BBC presenter and environmentalist Mark Cawardine.
The clip that went viral on You Tube is just one of the many ways Sirocco is helping New Zealand conservation.
Click Here to read the full article.
Stuff.co.nz
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
NW Bird Rescue with Christopher "Birdman" Driggins
Christopher "Birdman" Driggins is truly a guardian angel to orphaned exotic birds.
Whether the birds are physically injured or mentally ill, Christopher says, "We are continually looking thru our rescued birds eye's."
William Marshall Driggins - Jan 26, 1918- Sept 26, 2005 - Christopher's father, was founder of NW Bird Rescue a non-profit organization. And Christopher is the co founder.
Chris's first intention was to breed a pair of macaws, Tarzan and Jane, that he and his father purchased at a bird show back in the 1990's. But realizing that America had an over blown population of exotic birds that outlive their owners, he decided to change his interests to a bird rescue.
When Christopher went to a large bird show in Los Angles with over ten thousand birds, he noticed a large amount of handicapped and special needs birds that would require special housing, perches and toys.
Thus, began Christopher's first rescue for elderly and handicapped birds.
Christopher "Birdman" currently volunteers his spare time to wild birds in need along with his exotic bird rescue.
Click here to read more about NW Bird Rescue and Christopher "Bird Man" Driggins.
Whether the birds are physically injured or mentally ill, Christopher says, "We are continually looking thru our rescued birds eye's."
William Marshall Driggins - Jan 26, 1918- Sept 26, 2005 - Christopher's father, was founder of NW Bird Rescue a non-profit organization. And Christopher is the co founder.
Chris's first intention was to breed a pair of macaws, Tarzan and Jane, that he and his father purchased at a bird show back in the 1990's. But realizing that America had an over blown population of exotic birds that outlive their owners, he decided to change his interests to a bird rescue.
When Christopher went to a large bird show in Los Angles with over ten thousand birds, he noticed a large amount of handicapped and special needs birds that would require special housing, perches and toys.
Thus, began Christopher's first rescue for elderly and handicapped birds.
Christopher "Birdman" currently volunteers his spare time to wild birds in need along with his exotic bird rescue.
Click here to read more about NW Bird Rescue and Christopher "Bird Man" Driggins.
2 Adorable Pigeons At Best Friends Sanctuary
March 7, 2011 : 8:55 PM ET
By Ted Brewer
One of the pigeons is, neurologically speaking, a bit challenged. The other is kind of peculiar looking. And though they were once ostracized by their respective flocks, they have been inseparable since meeting each other.
Christy and Slippers have both been at Wild Friends for well over a year, but the two had never laid eyes on each other, at least not until they both wound up in quarantine together.
Christy and Slippers
Wild Friends is home to approximately 100 adoptable pigeons who live in two separate aviaries. Christy lived in the aviary reserved for what Wild Friends calls its “special needs” pigeons, a small number of birds whose physical limitations prevent them from thriving in the larger pigeon aviary.
Click here to read the full article at Best Friends Sanctuary.
By Ted Brewer
One of the pigeons is, neurologically speaking, a bit challenged. The other is kind of peculiar looking. And though they were once ostracized by their respective flocks, they have been inseparable since meeting each other.
Christy and Slippers have both been at Wild Friends for well over a year, but the two had never laid eyes on each other, at least not until they both wound up in quarantine together.
Wild Friends is home to approximately 100 adoptable pigeons who live in two separate aviaries. Christy lived in the aviary reserved for what Wild Friends calls its “special needs” pigeons, a small number of birds whose physical limitations prevent them from thriving in the larger pigeon aviary.
Click here to read the full article at Best Friends Sanctuary.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Undate on Angus the Abused Eclectus Parrot
If you are unfamiliar with Angus’ story, please read this article, watch the video and sign the petition. Many more signatures are needed.
I want you all to know the HUGE difference that birdtricks.com readers made by signing the petition to bring Angus home safely. I was absolutely reduced to tears when I saw the outpouring of love you showed for this one abused bird, halfway around the world to some. The overwhelming number of people from this forum who added their signature to the petition and voiced their concerns for Angus’ welfare speaks volumes about all of you as human beings and shows the worth of this community. I thank every one of you. You continually restore my faith in humanity.
Click here to read the full article
I want you all to know the HUGE difference that birdtricks.com readers made by signing the petition to bring Angus home safely. I was absolutely reduced to tears when I saw the outpouring of love you showed for this one abused bird, halfway around the world to some. The overwhelming number of people from this forum who added their signature to the petition and voiced their concerns for Angus’ welfare speaks volumes about all of you as human beings and shows the worth of this community. I thank every one of you. You continually restore my faith in humanity.
Click here to read the full article
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Pigeon Intelligence
Did you know that pigeons are intelligent? Yes they are and please do not call them rats with wings!
- The pigeon can recognize all 26 letters of the English language.
- They can be taught relatively complex actions and response sequences, and can learn to make responses in different sequences.
- In scientific tests pigeons have been found to be able to differentiate between photographs and even between two different human beings in a photograph.
- A study conducted at Keio University in Japan demonstrated that pigeons could learn to distinguish between a Van Gogh and a Chagall paintings, based on multiple feature cues, such as color and pattern.
- Pigeons can remember large numbers of individual images for a long time, for example hundreds of images for periods of several years.
Do You Trust Your Avian Vet?
My first experience at the Avian vet with my second Cockatiel, Beenie was just awful.
I do not recommend buying a bird anymore because there are so many unwanted birds that need homes. Adopting is a better option. But I bought Beenie about 7 years ago at a Baby Parrot store and he came with a free vet check up.
When I took him to the Avian vet I was nervous to begin with. I did not know this vet. When we were called into the exam room by the vet assistant she asked me to put Beenie on the scale. But he did not want to come out of the cage. So I asked the assistant to help. It was less than a week that I had bought my little baby, and I did not know that much about birds back then as I do now. When the assistant went in the cage to get Beenie with her hand, she got Beenie's wing caught on the cage door. She didn't realize this, and I told her that his little wing was caught in the cage. When she put him on the scale I saw blood dripping from his wing! It was a blood feather. I was just devastated by all of this at the time because I did not know what a blood feather was. And when the Avian vet came into the room she needed to wrap Beenie up in a white towel and put pressure on his blood feather. She was a very nice and caring lady, but not the assistant. The assistant even said Beenie was a bad bird because he was afraid to come out of the cage.
Poor little Beenie was squirming and screeching to get away for the Avian vet. He got all stretched out and skinny looking. I thought my new baby was going to die! I never saw a bird like that before! This was all so terrible to me because I had just lost a little parakeet, I had for 8 years and was a good friend of my other cockatiel, Baby. I bought Beenie as a new companion for Baby and Me. We missed my little parakeet so much.
Well anyway, Beenie got a clean bill of health, but was scared for life by hands and the color white!
Beenie would not step up on my hands for many years. He was terrified of hands! He would step up on my flannel covered wrist, but not if my wrist was bare. He did not like any kind of skin on hands or wrists, even arms. I would get nipped if I got my bare arm too close to him. But it was not Beenie's fault that was so terrified of hands and arms. The vet assistant had bare arms that day she got his wing caught in the cage.
So please go and read this blog Do You Trust Your Vet? with some great advice from Chet and Dave Womach. And a must read of Lucas's story of his bad experience with a vet that is listed there, also.
I do not recommend buying a bird anymore because there are so many unwanted birds that need homes. Adopting is a better option. But I bought Beenie about 7 years ago at a Baby Parrot store and he came with a free vet check up.
When I took him to the Avian vet I was nervous to begin with. I did not know this vet. When we were called into the exam room by the vet assistant she asked me to put Beenie on the scale. But he did not want to come out of the cage. So I asked the assistant to help. It was less than a week that I had bought my little baby, and I did not know that much about birds back then as I do now. When the assistant went in the cage to get Beenie with her hand, she got Beenie's wing caught on the cage door. She didn't realize this, and I told her that his little wing was caught in the cage. When she put him on the scale I saw blood dripping from his wing! It was a blood feather. I was just devastated by all of this at the time because I did not know what a blood feather was. And when the Avian vet came into the room she needed to wrap Beenie up in a white towel and put pressure on his blood feather. She was a very nice and caring lady, but not the assistant. The assistant even said Beenie was a bad bird because he was afraid to come out of the cage.
Poor little Beenie was squirming and screeching to get away for the Avian vet. He got all stretched out and skinny looking. I thought my new baby was going to die! I never saw a bird like that before! This was all so terrible to me because I had just lost a little parakeet, I had for 8 years and was a good friend of my other cockatiel, Baby. I bought Beenie as a new companion for Baby and Me. We missed my little parakeet so much.
Well anyway, Beenie got a clean bill of health, but was scared for life by hands and the color white!
Beenie would not step up on my hands for many years. He was terrified of hands! He would step up on my flannel covered wrist, but not if my wrist was bare. He did not like any kind of skin on hands or wrists, even arms. I would get nipped if I got my bare arm too close to him. But it was not Beenie's fault that was so terrified of hands and arms. The vet assistant had bare arms that day she got his wing caught in the cage.
So please go and read this blog Do You Trust Your Vet? with some great advice from Chet and Dave Womach. And a must read of Lucas's story of his bad experience with a vet that is listed there, also.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Cute alert: Goose looks after blind dog
Owner Renata Kursa, 47, of Lublin, Poland, was heartbroken when Bak was left blind after an accident last year.
'But gradually Buttons got him up on his feet and starting walking him around. They're inseparable now - they even chase the postman together,' she said.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Read a Great Review About the New Movie Rio by Bird Trainer Chet Womach
Photo by rio.movie-trailer.com
I don’t go out to movies often. I usually wait for them to come out on Netflix, but I have been anticipating the release of RIO for months now, for all the obvious reasons. I had read that the director and animators had studied wild, captive and companion birds in depth to make the stars of this film as true to life as possible without alienating the non-bird people (like we really care). I already have 4 of the 8 available Happy Meal toys from McDonald’s.
I bought my ticket outside the theater and the girl in the box office looked around me to see how many kids I was escorting. I grinned and said: “Just one, please.” I walked into the lobby ...
Click Here to read the full review.
Fixing Your Parrots Problems
BirdTricks.com
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Parrot Care Is So Important
I want to talk about how important parrot care is for birds and how devoted I am to helping parrots that are unwanted and abused. I don't have the money to help them, so I want to tell everyone about how much are dear parrot friends need help.
I want to tell you about Parrotcare.org or the Association of Parrot C.A.R.E. Conservation, Adoption, Rescue and Education. Serenity Park Parrot Sanctuary whom I dearly love, is part of Parrot Care.org. Serenity Park cares for homeless and abused parrots and peope who are veterans of war. Their program is so wonderful!
Parrot Care's Mission is Conservation of parrots in their wild, natural habitats and the preservation of those habitats. Adoptions of parrots needing re homing or into permanent sanctuary. Rescue of parrots who can no longer live in their current situation. Education of the public, animal lovers, and parrot caregivers on the appropriate care of parrots and the need to adopt rather than breed.
So if you want to help parrots and people, but definately parrots please check out ParrotCare.org
I want to tell you about Parrotcare.org or the Association of Parrot C.A.R.E. Conservation, Adoption, Rescue and Education. Serenity Park Parrot Sanctuary whom I dearly love, is part of Parrot Care.org. Serenity Park cares for homeless and abused parrots and peope who are veterans of war. Their program is so wonderful!
Parrot Care's Mission is Conservation of parrots in their wild, natural habitats and the preservation of those habitats. Adoptions of parrots needing re homing or into permanent sanctuary. Rescue of parrots who can no longer live in their current situation. Education of the public, animal lovers, and parrot caregivers on the appropriate care of parrots and the need to adopt rather than breed.
So if you want to help parrots and people, but definately parrots please check out ParrotCare.org
Please Help Bring Home Angus From Abuse
- Target: President RSPCA, Dr. Hugh Wirth & RSPCA VIC Chief Executive Officer, Maria Mercurio.
- Sponsored by: The Parrot Rescue Centre
During one 100 km/h ride, Mr. Lawther at times turned on the windshield wipers - at other times made rapid stops. These seemed to be attempts to knock the bird off the car, but Mr. Lawther states he wanted the bird "to feel the wind in his feathers". On one news story, after being told that people consider his actions cruel, his quote was "It doesn't matter to me".
After the RSPCA became involved, Mr. Lawther absconded with the bird and neither have since been found. It has come to light that Angus is very likely a bird that was separated from its real owner in December 2010.
An example of the YouTube video footage available can be found at: http://youtu.be/MgeIcfRtS2w
Please Click Link below to sign the petition to help Angus!!!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Serenity Park Bird Sanctuary for Homeless Birds and Homeless Veterans
A park for homeless birds and veterans? Yes there is! Believe or not one really exists in Brentwood California.
Serentiy Park Bird Sanctuary is a one-of-a-kind avian sanctuary and compensated work therapy program located on the VA grounds of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In the medical center is New Directions, a drug and alcohol treatment program for homeless veterans. Some of the veteran servicemen and women enrolled in New Directions care for the parrots as a part of their treatment program.
Psychologist, Loren Linder came up with the idea of Serenity Park bird Sanctuary.
Read the full story with pictures here.
Serentiy Park Bird Sanctuary is a one-of-a-kind avian sanctuary and compensated work therapy program located on the VA grounds of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In the medical center is New Directions, a drug and alcohol treatment program for homeless veterans. Some of the veteran servicemen and women enrolled in New Directions care for the parrots as a part of their treatment program.
Psychologist, Loren Linder came up with the idea of Serenity Park bird Sanctuary.
Read the full story with pictures here.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Top Ten Ways to Keep Your Bird Safe from Kitchen Dangers
ASPCA.org
Top Ten Ways to Keep Your Bird Safe from Kitchen Dangers
Companion avians are extra sensitive to what’s going on in the air. Whatever they inhale goes to all parts of their bodies very quickly. This sensitivity, coupled with their small size, makes it especially dangerous for birds to breathe in cooking fumes and eat some of the foods and plants that are commonly found in kitchens. ASPCA experts urge bird parents to heed the following precautions in order to prevent curious beaks from getting caught in dangerous situations.
1 Always keep your pet bird out of the kitchen while cooking.
Many veterinarians urge pet owners to keep their birds in a room other than the kitchen. However, if the kitchen is your family’s―and your bird’s― favorite place to flock, always move your pet into another room before cooking.
2. Never pre-heat your cookware on high heat.
If accidentally overheated, Teflon and other non-stick cookware, which contain polytetrafluoroethylene, can emit fumes and particles that may be harmful to birds. The fact is, any type of cookware pre-heated with cooking oils, fats, margarine or butter can harm your bird.
3. Never leave your bird and heated cookware unattended.
Sadly, fatalities can result when birds and cooking pots or pans are left together in the kitchen unattended—even for just a few minutes. Cooking fumes from any type of overheated cookware―not just non-stick―can damage a bird’s lungs with alarming speed. And if your bird is out of his cage, he might come too close to the hot burner.
4. Always turn the exhaust fan on or open a window before cooking.
It is important to make sure that your kitchen is properly ventilated. In addition to cooking fumes, birds are highly sensitive to a variety of other fumes, such as aerosol sprays, non-stick sprays, spray starch, perfumes, smoke, self-cleaning ovens and cooking gas.
5. Store toxic items out of your bird’s reach.
These include all cleaners, pesticides, mothballs and both prescription and over-the-counter medications. Some cleaning agents may cause mild stomach upset, but others can cause severe burns to a bird’s tongue, mouth and crop.
6. Keep your bird away from food and beverage items that could be dangerous. These items include:
- avocados - onions
- garlic
- chocolate in any form
- coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate-covered espresso beans)
- tea
- yeast dough
- salt
- tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
- potato leaves and stems (green parts)
- rhubarb leaves
- cigarettes and other tobacco products
- moldy or spoiled foods
- alcoholic beverages
7. Make sure your bird does not have access to areas where insecticidal foggers or house sprays have been applied.
Since birds are sensitive to inhalant fumes, they typically require longer periods of time away from treated areas. Contact the product’s manufacturer for recommendations if the label information is not specific.
8. Protect your bird from the stresses of the kitchen.
These include rapid changes in temperature and high traffic flow. Each time you cook, the temperature of the kitchen increases and then returns to normal. The repeated change in temperature could cause discomfort to your bird. The flow of people into and out of the kitchen is often high compared to other rooms in the house. This high traffic flow can cause stress which could lead to behavior problems in some birds.
9. Keep your bird away from kitchen appliances.
If a bird is allowed to fly free or accidentally escapes, the following kitchen appliances can prove hazardous:
- ceiling fans
- hot burners on stovetops
- open ovens
- toasters
- coffee pots
- tea kettles
- boiling water
- hot cooking oil
Keep in mind that grease, butter, margarine and oils can get onto your bird’s feathers, matting them and possibly exposing skin. This can cause a sudden change to your bird’s body temperature, leaving them wide open to a chill. Birds can also get cuts from sharp objects and could potentially drown in a sink or even a small bowl of water.
10. Keep your bird away from potentially toxic kitchen plants
Some of these include:
- aloe (Aloe vera)
- avocados
- Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
- cyclamen species
- dieffenbachia species
- English ivy (Hedera helix)
- ficus species
- kalanchoe species
- madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata)
- philodendron species
- pothos or devil's ivy (Epipremnum aureus)
- schefflera species
- snake plant (Sansevieria trifiscata)
- tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
- potato leaves and stems (green parts)
- rhubarb leaves
For a further list, check out our toxic plant pages. Much of the information there is pertinent for birds, as well as dogs and cats.
Remember, if you think your bird has ingested or come in contact with a potentially toxic substance, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA. To reach the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, call (888) 426-4435. For more information, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center online.
Tips on cooking safety were provided by Karen Rosenthal, DVM, MS.
Extra Tips
The following items can also be toxic to your bird: Hairsprays, perfumes, insecticidal fumigants, pesticide sprays, automobile exhausts and fumes from glue and paint.
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/bird-kitchen-dangers.aspx
Top Ten Ways to Keep Your Bird Safe from Kitchen Dangers
Companion avians are extra sensitive to what’s going on in the air. Whatever they inhale goes to all parts of their bodies very quickly. This sensitivity, coupled with their small size, makes it especially dangerous for birds to breathe in cooking fumes and eat some of the foods and plants that are commonly found in kitchens. ASPCA experts urge bird parents to heed the following precautions in order to prevent curious beaks from getting caught in dangerous situations.
1 Always keep your pet bird out of the kitchen while cooking.
Many veterinarians urge pet owners to keep their birds in a room other than the kitchen. However, if the kitchen is your family’s―and your bird’s― favorite place to flock, always move your pet into another room before cooking.
2. Never pre-heat your cookware on high heat.
If accidentally overheated, Teflon and other non-stick cookware, which contain polytetrafluoroethylene, can emit fumes and particles that may be harmful to birds. The fact is, any type of cookware pre-heated with cooking oils, fats, margarine or butter can harm your bird.
3. Never leave your bird and heated cookware unattended.
Sadly, fatalities can result when birds and cooking pots or pans are left together in the kitchen unattended—even for just a few minutes. Cooking fumes from any type of overheated cookware―not just non-stick―can damage a bird’s lungs with alarming speed. And if your bird is out of his cage, he might come too close to the hot burner.
4. Always turn the exhaust fan on or open a window before cooking.
It is important to make sure that your kitchen is properly ventilated. In addition to cooking fumes, birds are highly sensitive to a variety of other fumes, such as aerosol sprays, non-stick sprays, spray starch, perfumes, smoke, self-cleaning ovens and cooking gas.
5. Store toxic items out of your bird’s reach.
These include all cleaners, pesticides, mothballs and both prescription and over-the-counter medications. Some cleaning agents may cause mild stomach upset, but others can cause severe burns to a bird’s tongue, mouth and crop.
6. Keep your bird away from food and beverage items that could be dangerous. These items include:
- avocados - onions
- garlic
- chocolate in any form
- coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate-covered espresso beans)
- tea
- yeast dough
- salt
- tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
- potato leaves and stems (green parts)
- rhubarb leaves
- cigarettes and other tobacco products
- moldy or spoiled foods
- alcoholic beverages
7. Make sure your bird does not have access to areas where insecticidal foggers or house sprays have been applied.
Since birds are sensitive to inhalant fumes, they typically require longer periods of time away from treated areas. Contact the product’s manufacturer for recommendations if the label information is not specific.
8. Protect your bird from the stresses of the kitchen.
These include rapid changes in temperature and high traffic flow. Each time you cook, the temperature of the kitchen increases and then returns to normal. The repeated change in temperature could cause discomfort to your bird. The flow of people into and out of the kitchen is often high compared to other rooms in the house. This high traffic flow can cause stress which could lead to behavior problems in some birds.
9. Keep your bird away from kitchen appliances.
If a bird is allowed to fly free or accidentally escapes, the following kitchen appliances can prove hazardous:
- ceiling fans
- hot burners on stovetops
- open ovens
- toasters
- coffee pots
- tea kettles
- boiling water
- hot cooking oil
Keep in mind that grease, butter, margarine and oils can get onto your bird’s feathers, matting them and possibly exposing skin. This can cause a sudden change to your bird’s body temperature, leaving them wide open to a chill. Birds can also get cuts from sharp objects and could potentially drown in a sink or even a small bowl of water.
10. Keep your bird away from potentially toxic kitchen plants
Some of these include:
- aloe (Aloe vera)
- avocados
- Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
- cyclamen species
- dieffenbachia species
- English ivy (Hedera helix)
- ficus species
- kalanchoe species
- madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata)
- philodendron species
- pothos or devil's ivy (Epipremnum aureus)
- schefflera species
- snake plant (Sansevieria trifiscata)
- tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
- potato leaves and stems (green parts)
- rhubarb leaves
For a further list, check out our toxic plant pages. Much of the information there is pertinent for birds, as well as dogs and cats.
Remember, if you think your bird has ingested or come in contact with a potentially toxic substance, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA. To reach the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, call (888) 426-4435. For more information, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center online.
Tips on cooking safety were provided by Karen Rosenthal, DVM, MS.
Extra Tips
The following items can also be toxic to your bird: Hairsprays, perfumes, insecticidal fumigants, pesticide sprays, automobile exhausts and fumes from glue and paint.
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/bird-kitchen-dangers.aspx
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