Parrot Press News Blog

Does your bird need a little fresh air?

2011-05-31T13:48:00.000-05:00

Question: Is it safe for a parakeet to go outdoors in a cage?

Answer: Some birds really enjoy going outdoors for a little fresh air and watching all the exciting activities of the outdoors. Who doesn't love some fresh air and sunlight every once in a while. However, some birds may become very frightened if taken outdoors, so please be sure your bird will enjoy the outing. If your bird is not used to the outdoors, you may want to start with only a few minutes outside, making it a fun time with lots of praise, and increasing the time outdoors as your bird becomes more adjusted to all the sights and sounds.

Often people prefer to take their bird outside in a cage to keep the bird safe, rather than using a harness. You will need to make sure all openings on the cage such as openings for feed cups, are securely fastened, just as the door should be, making sure your bird does not escape the cage. We strongly recommend a bird never be left outdoors by itself. If your yard is not fenced in, you can never be certain a stray dog might spot your bird and even if only curious, could cause an unfortunate accident happening to your bird. Even a fenced in yard won't guarantee a wandering cat won't see your bird and try to reach it. There have even been cases of snakes crawling into cages, so a bird can never be too safe if left alone.

Also consider the daily temperatures and make sure they are comfortable for your bird. A bird should never be left in the sun to prevent overheating and possible death. A bird that has become too warm will often hold it's wings out to try and circulate air around it's body to try and bring the temperature down. Your bird may also breathe with an open mouth and if this occurs, should be taken back indoors to cool down immediately. There should always be the choice of shade so your bird can move in and out of the sun when it is ready to. Just remember if you live somewhere where 90 degrees in the shade is miserable for humans, then it's going to be too hot for your bird for more than a few minutes.

Just like humans, a bird can get used to the cool air conditioning of a home and might be better with only short fresh air trips before or after the hottest parts of the day, and be sure when your bring your bird back inside there are no direct air vents blowing on the bird.

So by all means, do enjoy some fresh air with your bird!

It's All About the Beak!

2011-04-22T12:07:00.000-05:00

A parrot's beak is a very fascinating part of what makes a parrot a parrot. Parrots use their beaks to help them climb, to open the smallest seeds, or the hardest nuts, to preen their feathers, to clean their toes, to feed their mates, to feed their own baby parrots, to give their humans gentle kisses, and of course to nip or bite at something they fear or something that simply makes them irritated.

Beaks are often used for climbing and can almost seem like a parrot's third foot as they can use their powerful beaks to hoist themselves up their play gyms and cages, or even to just hang by their beak as they swing from their toys. Have you ever watched a parrot climb a ladder? The beak makes climbing around so much easier for them. They often use their beaks to help steady the finger or hand that reaches out to them as the first part of stepping up.

Those powerful beaks can be used to gently open the smallest seed to get at the wonderful nutrition inside. Ever watched a parrot close up picking up a seed, moving it around with their foot and their beak to get it situated to just the right spot for opening? Then using the foot, beak, and tongue, in unison they pry open the hull for the goodness inside. Or, just watch one of the big parrots rotating a big walnut to just the right place before cracking that hard nut as if it were made of the thinnest of shells. Then picking out the meat of the walnut with the tips of their beaks to make sure every little nugget of nutmeat is devoured.

Watch closely as your bird preens its feathers using the beak as a precision tool made for preening. Taking each feather with great care and running it through the beak removing all dust and debris for perfect feather condition. No matter if its the tiny downy feathers that must be gingerly removed, or the longest of the long tail feathers, that beak is the perfect tool for parrot preening and sharing the job with another feathered friend can be great fun too.

If you have ever been lucky enough to watch parrot parents feeding their young, it is the most touching of all. Although the parent beaks are huge compared to the tiny little babies, they are able to deliver food to their babies with the greatest of ease with no harm at all to the babies. The parents also use their beaks to gently nudge the babies into the perfect position under their adult feathers to keep them as warm as needed. To watch the gentleness of an adult parrot with it's young is wondrous indeed.

But you may ask, what is this remarkable parrot beak made of? A beak consists of keratin which is the same material your fingernails contain. However, unlike a fingernail, a bird's beak also contains blood vessels and nerve endings. Therefore a bird's beak is very sensitive to touch and also to injury. Some birds love to have their beaks gently rubbed by their favorite person, and some tend to be beak shy because the beak is so sensitive. A parrot's beak continues to grow all throughout a bird's life and in nature, birds are busy wearing the extra growth down with natural tree branches and foraging for their food. If you have a pet bird, you need to provide lots of wooden toys of different textures, both soft and hard wood, and possibly other materials, to help prevent over-growth of the beak. So you see those wooden bird toys your bird buzz saws through are as much a necessity for your parrot as any vitamins you might provide for a healthy bird. Bird beaks can be gently filed down if needed, but should only be done by someone who knows what they are doing as the beak can be damaged permanently by inexperienced groomers. Beaks should never be cut by anyone other than a vet or experienced bird groomer.

If your bird's beak overgrows even with lots of toys and chew items, you may need to have your bird checked thoroughly by your avian vet to be sure there is not a health reason for the overgrowth.

Update on Japan Emergency Assistance

2011-03-28T13:57:00.000-05:00

The following is a Press Release we have received concerning the emergency situation in Japan concerning zoos and aquariums that also may include parrots.

World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Zoos and aquariums affected by earthquake and tsunami in Japan

WAZA organizes the “Donate for Japan” emergency assistance operation Gland, Switzerland (March 15th 2011):After the earthquake and tsunami that has affected the North of Japan on March 11th, WAZA is joining forces with its Japanese regional association (JAZA) and its member institutions to help the zoos and aquariums in the North of Japan.

"After the horrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan, WAZA is trying to provide financial support for emergency assistance. The most affected zoos and aquariums urgently need help in order to protect staff and save animals", says Gerald Dick, Executive Director of WAZA - the World Association of Zoos and
Aquariums.

Huge damages happened in the northern part of Honshu island. Some affected zoos and aquariums are suffering from shortage of gas, fuel for heater, food and drinking water for both humans and animals.

Some aquariums in Tohoku area (north part of Honshu Island) have been heavily affected by the earthquake.

Sendai Marinpia Matsushima aquarium was completely-flooded but there was miraculously no human damage.

Sendai Yagiyama Zoo estimates a shortage of feeding stuff. The power is out in Sendai city. JAZA is considering concrete measures to send feeding stuff to Sendai Yagiyama Zoo.

The power is also out at Akita Omoriyama zoo, Morioka Zoo, Asamushi aquarium and Hitachi Kamine Zoo.

Fukushima aquarium will move their sea mammals and birds to Kamogawa Sea World.

"It is most important for us to secure the adequate means of transport. And we have started a drive to collect donations from the public." says Kazutoshi Takami, Zoo Veterinarian at Osaka Municipal Tennoji Zoological Gardens.

WAZA is now organizing the cooperation and support for the disaster-affected institutions by collecting donations through its website. Click on the "Donate for Japan"

[ http://www.waza.org/en/site/get-involved/donate-for-japan ] button on the WAZA
homepage and help us support JAZA.

Teaching Your Parrot to Talk

2011-03-18T14:06:00.000-05:00

Customer Question: How can I train my senegal parrot,to speak?

Answer: Although all parrots have the ability to speak as we do, not all parrots do so. Some species are known to be better talkers than others as well. Lots of patience is necessary, as well as understanding that parrots like to repeat words they hear often, or hear with great emphasis. Such as your bird suddenly repeating the no-no word you yelled out when you dropped that book on your toe the other day. The way you say a word is often more important than what you say. For example saying 'hello' every morning to your bird might be rather uninteresting, but a great big happy "HELLOOOOO" should catch your bird's interest and maybe tempt him to repeat it back to you.

For more information on some of the better known species for talking, as well as additional information check out our full article by clicking "HERE".

Why Does My Bird Scream?

2011-03-12T17:36:00.007-06:00

This question is asked by many bird owners. Since there are many different reasons why a bird may be more vocal than normal, a close look at health, environment, past history, and behavioral problems would be in order. Also remember what is a loud noisey parrot to one person, may be a very quiet bird to another. Noise is definitely relevant to each individual. A macaw yelling out the excitement of the day is loud to me, a budgie not so much. Yet often I hear owners who bought a parakeet at the local pet store complain about how they had no idea that bird was going to make so much noise. Hmmm, obviously their personal noise level is much lower than mine. Some even think a finch is a noisey little critter.

The difference sometimes is not actually the volume level, but the noise repetitiveness. Budgies and finches chatter and sing pretty much all day if they are happy and well taken care of. It's sometimes the fact that they are always going vocally that makes them noisey to some people. It's not that they are actually loud.

If you live with birds there is going to be some noise, loud or constant, for most humans. You can adjust your noise tolerance, try and adjust the bird's noise level if it's too loud, or just learn to live with it if you love your bird.

For more information check out Why Does My Bird Scream?

Cockatiel with Dry Itchy Skin

2011-02-02T12:00:00.000-06:00

CUSTOMER QUESTION: I have a cockatiel about 6 years of age. She has been flaking & pulling feathers out. My question is can you recommend anything for my cockatiel? It is cold & I don't want to spray her with chemicals or with water with the cold temps. Just wondering if you have any ideas.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Many birds are molting during the fall and winter months of the year. Often when the heat is turned on in our homes, it can cause a prolonged molt as well as some dry itchy skin on many birds as the heat dries the air out. Since cockatiels tend to have a lot of feather dust anyway, winter can seem to add even more dust from them as their feathers can become dryer and in turn seem increase the amount of feather dust.

Dry itchy skin is caused more often in the winter months due to inside heat drying the air out. This can in turn sometimes cause birds to over-preen the feathers or even pull some out as they try and relieve the itchiness. If you have ever had a bad case of dry itchy skin in the winter I'm sure you can relate to the uncomfortable feeling.

Adding a cool mist humidifier to your bird's room, or even a small tabletop water fountain can help in adding much needed moisture back into your bird's environment. Even in the winter months you can lightly spray your bird with warm water in a fine spray mister. Just be sure to spray your bird early in the day so there is plenty of time for all the feathers to dry out before bedtime. Make sure your bird is not in any drafts and you may want to only lightly spray your bird if your household inside temperature is below 70 degrees. Even an occasional light misting will help with adding some moisture back to the feathers.

If you would like to add something extra to your bird's diet during this time, you might want to try Missing Link as we find it to be a very good product for birds who are molting, under stress, or have other health issues.

A little extra moisture in your bird's environment can go a long way to help with dry itchy skin and feathers, and the often seen over-preening of feathers in the winter season.

Are You Ready for the Snow?

2011-01-08T13:02:00.000-06:00

As we sit here waiting for the impending doom of lots of snow and ice the weather forecasters are predicting for our area, we realize that winter weather emergencies should be prepared for way before necessary, or you will be one of those standing in long lines trying to grab the last of the emergency items needed.

Living in the south, a few inches of snow and the least bit of ice can shut down pretty much everything. Only the very brave (or very dumb) are usually willing to venture out onto the icy roads with all the crazy drivers slipping, sliding, and spinning around often making a bad situation even worse.

Here is a list of some items you should have on hand just in case you are snowed in for a few days. Be prepared also in the event you may loose your power from icy power lines or falling tree limbs.

Emergency items to have on hand for your bird:
Extra Seed, pellets, dried fruit/vegie
Emergency Avian First Aid Kit
Carrier
Warm blanket or quilt to cover the cage
Tear up toys

Other items good to have on hand:
flashlight & extra batteries
warm blankets or quilts for the humans
bottled water
hot snap hand warmers (optional)

Many people keep extra bird food in their freezer and rotate it out as needed so they always have some extra on hand for emergencies. A very good idea.

If you loose power you will need that flashlight, but make sure the light from the flashlight does not frighten your bird as it will be an unknown moving object to your bird.

If you loose your power and have electric heat, placing a blanket or quilt over your bird's cage can help keep your bird's environment warmer. If you are forced to use a fireplace for heat, you may need to place your bird in a carrier and bring into the room that is heated. In that case a nice tear up bird toy may help keep your bird occupied and busy while in the carrier.

VERY IMPORTANT! - Never use Kerosene heaters around birds as the fumes may be toxic and can kill your bird.

Our research on the use of propane or butane heaters seems 50/50. Many experts say do not use either around birds, and some bird owners say they have used them with no ill effects on their birds. One source stated that butane is not a highly toxic gas and can be stored inside your home. Whether that means you can also use it safely in your home is unknown.

Propane or butane heaters used without adequate combustion or ventilation, may give off excessive carbon monoxide which is an odorless, poisonous gas, deadly to birds, and even humans. Early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning in humans are similar to flu-like symptoms, including headache, dizziness and nausea.

We would suggest it is better to be safe than sorry, and to not use either if possible, but if you to have one as your only source of heat in a severe emergency, please ventilate the area well to help protect your bird as well as yourself. We highly recommend you do your own research into these methods of supplemental heating as well as gas burning fireplaces.

A gas burning fireplace is considered unsafe by many if you own birds. Here is a link to a very good article on the subject: Birds & Gas Fireplaces

If you are using a wood burning fireplace for heat, make sure your room is well vented as well and no smoke is coming into the room where your bird is. Before winter sets in it is best to make sure your fireplace is clean and free of creosote and any leftover nesting materials by any birds who may have set up housekeeping in the chimney over the summer.

So most important items include extra dry food, water, blankets, carrier, and flashlight.

Stay warm, stay safe, and stay inside if you can.

My Parrot's 12 Christmas Wishes

2010-12-14T15:37:00.000-06:00

On the 1st Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 2nd Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 2 Boredom Busters and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 3rd Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and Treat Petite from Golden-en-feast;

On the 4th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 5th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 6th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 7th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 8th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 8 Soak & S immers, 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 9th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 9 Pacifiers, 8 Soak & Simmers, 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 10th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 10 Bitty Bagels, 9 Pacifiers, 8 Soak & Simmers, 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 11th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 11 Swings a Swinging, 10 Bitty Bagels, 9 Pacifiers, 8 Soak & Simmers, 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 12 Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 12 Nutri-berries, 11 Swings a Swinging, 10 Bitty Bagels, 9 Pacifiers, 8 Soak & S immers, 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast!

Save the Nuts

2010-12-12T17:44:00.003-06:00

If you are a nutty human who lives with a nutty parrot (meaning one who loves its nuts) then knowing how to save a few pennies and keep the nuts fresh and tasty is an important issue.

If you have bought nuts for your parrot lately, you already know how expensive they can be. During the fall and winter season usually beginning in about October, and especially during the Christmas holidays, you can usually find lots of nuts in the shell in local grocery stores. Often you can even find them on sale during this time. I like to stock up on the favorites of my birds and keep them on hand throughout the year.

Keeping nuts for a while requires a little simple nut preparation to keep them fresh and yummy for your bird. Without taking that care, nuts can dry out and become stale and not so tasty. Then can even become moldy, and even wormy if they are nuts you collected yourself and were not cleaned properly before storage.

Freezing whole nuts in their shells may take up some space in your freezer but will keep them safe and sound for up to a year, and most parrot really enjoy working the nut meats out on their own as a fun foraging treat.

If you don't have room in your freezer, clean the nuts and make sure they are nice and dry and then place them in airtight containers in a cool dark place. This should keep them fresh for up to about 6 months.

You can also go ahead and shell the nuts, and then freeze the nut meats in freezer bags. Chopped nuts, and nut pieces will usually last about 6 months in the freezer as well.

Nuts such as walnuts, chestnuts, almonds, macadamias, and Brazil nuts, are rich in protein and healthy fats and provide not only a tasty treat for your bird, but some beak exercise as well.

So show your bird just how nutty you can be and stock up on the nuts while you can.

Smells of the Holidays

2010-11-22T12:59:00.000-06:00

Who doesn't just love the smell of cinnamon and spice and everything nice that translates into the holiday season. However those of us who share our homes with birds, often feel a little left out because scented candles and holiday air fresheners and plug ins, are almost always totally off limits in our homes. Most all of these items are deadly to our birds.

A general rule of thumb when it comes to candles, potpourri, plug ins, and air sprays, is the better it smells, the more toxic it probably is for our feathered friends. Essential oils are very toxic to birds.

So how do we join in the holiday spirit and spruce up our indoor smells beyond the pine scent of the live Christmas tree or fresh pine wreath over the mantle?

It is actually very simple indeed. Gather up some cooking spices such as ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, ground and/or whole cloves, and some ground pumpkin pie spice. Then find a warming pot such as one for potpourri or a small size coffee pot that has a warm setting, add water to fill and sprinkle a little or a lot of the spices that you prefer.

Now you too can enjoy all the wondrous smells of Christmas and the winter holidays without worrying if it is safe for your birds.

Caution Note: Do make sure the pot never dries out as it may damage your warming pot, or cause burned smells which would not be good for your bird. Unplug your unit when you are not at home to keep an eye on it.

Halloween Pumpkin Bird Cake

2010-10-30T14:20:00.000-05:00

Bake up this cute little Halloween Pumpkin Cake for your flock.

With fresh carrots, squash, pumpkin, and some blackberries for decoration, this pumpkin can be cooked up and decorated in very little time.

Use your imagination and create your very own special Halloween Pumpkin Cake for your special bird.

Find the complete recipe at Halloween Pumpkin Cake

and many more recipes as well at Nature Chest Bird Shop Bird Recipes

Non Stick Kills

2010-10-07T16:20:00.000-05:00

With the fall festivities and holiday season approaching, many people will be cooking and baking more than usual. It may also be a time when cleaning your oven is necessary. Because of the above, we felt it might be helpful to remind all bird owners of the deadly danger of PTFE.

What is PTFE you ask? PTFE stands for polytetrafluoroethylene and it is one of, if not the most, insidious deadly danger to your bird.

It is the quiet killer. It has no smell, it has not warning, but it can be 100% guaranteed death for your bird in almost all situations.

In birds this killer is called "Teflon toxicosis" which causes the lungs of the exposed bird to this toxin to quickly begin to hemorrhage and fill with bloody fluids causing the bird to suffocate within minutes. Death by PTFE happens quickly, so quickly you will not have time to go for help.

It goes by many names but the most recognized ones are Teflon, Silverstone, Stainmaster, and other well known names. If anything you purchase has the wording of "non-stick" anywhere on the label, then it is very probable that it contains this chemical. It is hidden in self-cleaning ovens, ironing board covers and irons, some heat lamps, space heaters, and many many other (way too many) common household products.

Virtually all "non-stick" cookware and drip-pans which can be purchased under many different manufacturer's names, contain PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and are extremely deadly to the lives of our birds. Any brand of cookware you are considering which states "non-stick" should immediately send up a warning flag to you as it most probably contains the very deadly PTFE. Your brain should be screaming "DANGER DANGER" at the mere mention of the those words "non-stick"

Unless the manufacturer of the product in question can state in writing it does not contain any form of PTFE, and can explain exactly how it is a non-stick product, and can guarantee that it will not harm your bird, you would be safer to assume it does in fact contain deadly PTFE.

It has now been proven that these products do not have to overheat to emit the odorless fumes containing PTFE which are lethal to birds and can kill within minutes. So never assume you are safe because you never leave pans on the stove to overheat. Tell that to the owner whose 18 year old African Grey died suddenly while she was standing nearby in the kitchen cooking dinner. Nothing there was overheating when she heard the bird fall from his perch. Tell it to the owner who went upstairs after dinner to find her beautiful 6 year old female Eclectus dead in the bottom of her cage and Necropsy confirmed death by Teflon poisoning from a pan she used in the oven that night.

Whatever utensils you use, rooms should be well ventilated when cooking is in progress. Ventilate the bird's room or area as well as the kitchen. Fumes will travel within your home. Use a range hood, ventilated to the outdoors when you are cooking.

Stainless steel or cast iron cookware is an easily cleaned alternative to pots and pans coated with non-stick surfaces. Self-cleaning ovens should only be set to clean when all birds have been safely removed from the home.

Having personally witnessed the death of a friend's birds when she innocently used a new drip pan to broil some steaks in her oven, I can say it is a horrible tragedy to happen. Several budgies in a room off the kitchen with a door shut between all died as well as several cockatiels in an adjoining dining room. If you had been the one instead of me who gently reached into each cage to remove a small body from the bottom of the cage after the incident, then you would also know the horror of this chemical. The only bird to survive was an amazon in a back bedroom with the door closed. He spent several days in the hospital but did survive the ordeal. Nothing can describe the horror the owner went through losing her beloved birds.

Be in the "know", and do all you can to protect your feathered friend this holiday season.

For links to more information about this danger please visit Non-Stick Cookware Dangers

Apple Pumpkin Harvest Bird Muffins

2010-10-07T15:42:00.000-05:00

Why not savor some fall harvest flavors and serve up some Apple Pumpkin Harvest Bird Muffins for your favorite bird.

Bake up a batch using Halloween or Fall paper cup holders and serve the muffin with the paper holder. Then enjoy watching your bird peel away the paper and enjoy the muffin inside. Sometimes tearing up the paper is almost as much fun as eating the muffin.

These nutritious muffins deliver up some wonderful cranberry, apple, and pumpkin goodness. Easy to bake, easy to freeze, easy to serve.

This and many other birdie recipes can be found at Nature Chest Bird Recipes

How Much should a Quaker Parrot Weigh?

2010-08-05T13:18:00.000-05:00

CUSTOMER QUESTION: My new Blue Quaker looks thin to me. 3-4 mos old. What should she weigh?

ANSWER: Congratulations on your new Quaker Parrot! Quakers are fabulous parrots to have as part of the family. We have several ourselves and really enjoy their talking ability and their fun antics.

The answer to your question can vary a bit depending on the color of the various Quaker color mutations. Most weaned normal green Quakers weigh in anywhere from 90 to 120 grams on average. Younger Quakers usually weigh at the lower end of the scale as they are still growing and forming body mass.

Often Quaker Parrots of all color mutations who have recently weaned, ages 3-4 months usually, may actually loose some weight as they loose some of the "baby" weight that they maintained from their handfeeding formula. This weight loss should not last long before the weight begins to go up again, and should not be more than a maximum of about 20% of their previous total weight at weaning. As young Quakers begin to eat new foods such as seeds, pellets, bird breads, other cooked foods, fruits & vegetables, they should begin to build themselves up in size and steadily gain the lost weight back.

Some of the color mutations such as the Blue Quakers which your bird is, in our experience can be smaller in size than the normal greens, and they will weigh less as babies and even as adults. We have seen Blue Quakers who weight about 60-80 grams when young, and not much more when they reach adulthood. Depending on their genetics, they may appear more petite always than their normal green relatives. Some do however eventually grow into an overall size that is close in size to the green Quakers so finding out info on the parents should help you know the probable average weight for your particular bird. Good breeders should keep weight charts and histories on their breeding pairs, and past clutches of babies, which would be very helpful in answering your question of weight.

If you do not have lots of experience with newly weaned parrots, we would recommend you talk with the breeder if you can of your concerns to get some additional feedback. Also, if you have not had your new baby health checked by an experienced Avian Veterinarian, that should be a top priority in order to get established with your Avian Vet, as well as ruling out any health issues early on that might cause your bird to loose more weight than normal.

A very good web site for Quaker information is Stanley's Quakerville.

Are the Bugs Taking Over?

2010-07-14T12:35:00.002-05:00

With the hot hot summer, comes those pesky pests that invade our homes, our bird cages, our dreams. Ok, maybe a little melodramatic. However, anyone who owns birds is sure to come face to face with a few moths, the occasional little black seed bug, or some other insect critter.

Since manufacturers cannot use seeds and grains that have been sprayed with large doses of pesticides, nor would we want them to, it is just a fact of life that you will one day come face to face with a bug problem. Although manufacturers overall do a good job of trying to clean their food mixes of those stowaway insects, even the best of methods can not usually guarantee 100% bug free (even though a few manufacturers claim so). Having a few moths or seed bugs in bird and parrot food in the summer does not mean the food is bad, expired, or spoiled, or that your local bird or pet store is a bad place. Unless the bugs have actually been there long enough to hatch out, and produce webs in the food, freezing your bird and parrot food will eliminate most of the insect problem. However, for those stubborn insects, actually freezing the food for at least 48 hours, removing from freezer for a couple of days and then refreezing for another 48 hours should do the job. The little ant-like seed bugs are sometimes a littler harder to kill, and a second freezing usually gets any the first freeze missed. If your bird food has insect webs in it, you will probably want to remove any webs as they look pretty yucky, and if bad enough you should probably ask the store you bought the food from if they will see if the manufacturer will replace it for you. Nobody likes yucky food.

There are some natural remedies that can be tried to see if they can control your buggy problem if they make it out of the bird food, or for those intruders who come in from the outdoors. In general ants, roaches, and many other pests just plain don't like catnip. So placing some small bags of catnip throughout areas of your home or aviary might be of help. Remember however, if you own a cat, this might backfire on your.

MOTHS:
There are two categories of moths, the ones who invade your closet and chew holes in your clothing, and the ones that come from the bird food, or even the foods you bring home from the grocery store. Be sure to vacuum well the ceilings because they like to set up housekeeping in high places and you might even find a worm or two just hanging around waiting to become a moth. The natural pheromone moth traps are very effective at catching the moths that have hatched out. Totally non-toxic around your birds, just make sure your bird cannot reach the traps as they do have sticky inside that traps the moths.

Some people have had success with homemade moth-repelling sachets made up of some of the following: bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cloves, eucalyptus leaves, lavender, pepper corns, or dried lemon peels. We find these remedies seem to work better for the closet moths, more than for help with the kitchen/aviary type moths.

ANTS:
Summertime brings all those wonderfully fresh fruits and vegetables and if you are sharing these with your birds, as you probably should be, then you are most likely going to sooner or later have a problem with ants. Especially if you have a lory or lorikeet in your home. Try keeping a small spray bottle of some soapy water handy to spritzing those ants with. We have also recently discovered that ants seem to have a natural aversion to cucumbers, so try setting out some cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen or at the ants' point of entry.

Also recommended are leaving a few tea bags of mint tea near areas where the ants seem most active, some dry crushed mint leaves, or cloves can also work as deterrents for ants. If you can trace the ants back to their point of entry, try setting out some cayenne pepper, lemon juice, cinnamon, coffee grounds, or cut up a couple of cloves of garlic and stuff into any cracks the ants are coming through.

**A little tip for ant control that we have personally found very effective is using mite spray sold in pet stores for birds. Although we totally do not believe in using mite control on a bird, mite spray is very effective at killing ants and can be used in the room with your bird safely. Remember use only on the ants. Spraying cage legs with mite spray will help keep ants from climbing into cages. The spray does not last long so you may need to lightly spray every few days to keep ants under control.

Fruit Flies/Gnats:
Now these really can be some pesky pests. Annoying little buggers flying around your bird's home, or your kitchen area. A few natural remedies include putting a small amount of wine, or apple cider vinegar, in a shallow dish and covering it with plastic wrap. Poke a few holes in the plastic and flies go in but can't get out. Change dish as needed. There are also Fruit Fly Traps available which are very helpful in eliminating these flying nuisances.

We hope you find some of these suggestions helpful in your fight against the insect world this summer.

Bert's Blueberry Carrot Cake

2010-06-11T15:44:00.002-05:00

This Blueberry Carrot Cake created for a little parrot named Bert on his first hatchday celebration, definitely looks like it is for the humans and not the birds. Made with Harrison's Original Bird Bread which has been baked into a bird-e-licious cake shape, then decorated with nutritious yummy fresh blueberries, shredded carrots, and snow white cauliflower flowerettes.

Pictured is a double layer version of the Blueberry Carrot Cake but it can also be baked as a single layer.

Full Recipe Shown Here

Tips for Changing Your Parrot's Diet from Seed to Pellets

2010-05-22T13:36:00.001-05:00

If your parrot has never eaten pellets before you will need to make absolutely sure your bird knows the new pellets are really food. After all they may look rather strange and how would he or she really know they are edible. Have you ever tasted a pellet? Most of them taste a lot like cardboard.

Be sure your bird is actually eating the new pellets before you discontinue the old seed diet. If you are just adding some pellets into the diet, along with the current diet, you may need to cut back "some" of any seed mix, to help encourage your bird to eat both seeds and pellets. We do not personally recommend cutting foods such as healthy vegetables and fruits, as these are nutritous and usually a lot of fun for the bird. What parrot doesn't just love to fling a strawberry across the room after he is finished with it?

If you are changing to pellets instead of seed because you have an overweight bird, well that's a whole other subject, and the tips below work for the change to pellets regardless of the reason.

There is no "one right way" to convince your bird to eat pellets, so here are a few tips that might make it easier for both you and your bird. If one doesn't work after at least a week of trying, then move on to the next suggested tip. Some birds will try a pellet the first time you offer one, some may take a few days to taste one, some a few weeks, others a few months, or if your bird is the really hard core rebel bird, he or she may never really eat a pellet if given a choice.

Tips for converting a bird over to a pelleted diet:

Try mixing a small amount of the pellets with the old food and slowly increasing the pellet amount over several weeks watching carefully to be sure the bird is beginning to eat the pellets.

Try feeding the pellets in a special treat dish, or giving them to your bird by hand as a treat to encourage eating the pellets. Make a big to-do about the treat to excite your bird into trying it.

Try feeding pellets first thing in the morning, followed after a few hours by some fresh foods, or the previous seed or prepared diet. Birds are usually hungry in the morning and may even be ready to try new things in their food dish. By giving the regular diet a few hours later, you are making sure the bird does have some food throughout the day and does not go hungry.

You can also try baking some of the pellets into a birdie bread. Although heating may destroy some of the vitamins in certain pellets, it may be a good method to introduce your parrots to the taste of the pellets, and some of the vitamins will still be present as well.

Once you know for certain your bird is eating the pellets, you may want to feed the pellets and fresh foods during the day, giving only a small amount of the old seed diet just before bed time to make sure the bird does not go to bed hungry.

Watch the bird's droppings carefully every day as they may change color as the bird eats the new pellets. Droppings are very important in telling you that the bird is eating certain foods, and often how much. If you are feeding colored pellets, then the poop might also change color which is a good thing if it means the birds likes the red or green or yellow pellets. Some birds will only eat one color even though all colors taste exactly the same. Parrots are not color blind, they are very visual and color is very important to them. They either like it or they hate it.

It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to change a bird's diet. Each bird is different and patience and consistency is the key to success.

Some birds do best with a diet of half seed and half pellets mixed together, and lots of fresh vegetables and some fruit. Some species should not be fed pellets as an only diet.

Birds who eat pellets usually also drink more water so be sure there is always fresh water available.

IMPORTANT!!!

There is no guarantee that every bird will eat pellets just because you buy them.

Just because your bird does not eat the pellets you bought, doesn't necessarily mean the bird will never eat pellets. Again that color thing. If you buy plain looking pellets and they are not a big hit, try some of the colored ones instead. Also do the reverse, if your bird was not impressed with all those colors, try some natural looking pellets instead. Sometimes it is trial and error process to find the "perfect" pellet for your bird..

It's rare but it does happen, you have the parrot who absolutely refuses to ever eat a pellet no matter what you do. Remember with birds it is essential that you are consistent, and extremely patient working with them to help them eat a better more healthy diet. Birds are not quitters, especially when they are determined not to eat something. Keep patient, keep consistent, keep it fun, keep determined, and you too can win the diet war.

One last VERY IMPORTANT NOTE - Birds who are refusing to eat pellets, CAN starve to death, so DO NOT put pellets in the cage and figure your bird will eat them if he or she gets hungry enough. - The result could be you starving your bird to death.

Pet Cancer Awareness Month

2010-05-08T13:37:00.000-05:00

May 8 is Pet Cancer Awareness Day, and the month of May is pet Cancer Awareness month. Although many believe cancer is the number one disease-related cause of death for our dog and cat family members, no one is sure yet how fast cancer is increasing in our avian friends.

As the caretakers of several retired breeding parrots, many abused, and some abandoned birds, who have come to our care, we are seeing more cases of cancer in parrots from Budgies to Amazons. Many of these birds are older birds and the increased life span of our pet birds may be one reason an increased number of parrots with cancer are appearing.

We have sadly experienced wing/shoulder joint tumors in a Peach Front Conure and a female Budge. These tumors were inoperable for these birds. We have also experienced a Maroon Belly Conure and a Green Cheek Conure both with tumors in throat areas that were also inoperable due to the location of the tumors. We have also seen two older female Amazons, one a Green Cheeked Amazon, and one a Blue Front Amazon, with multiple tumors on x-ray. Both birds eventually had kidney failure due to the cancer. The Amazons were both believed to be well over 50 years of age. We have seen other cases of birds with non-diagnosed tumors that were suspected to be cancerous but pathology was not done to know for sure.

Here is a link to a very good article written by Dr. Margaret A. Wissman concerning cancer in parrots.

Avian Cancer by Dr. Margaret A. Wissman

Please help support any cancer research if you can, and it is important to have your bird checked out thoroughly by an Avian Veternarian yearly to help prevent, or diagnose early any health problems.

Easter Fruit Bread

2010-04-04T17:16:00.000-05:00

This spring inspired fruity birdie bread smells as yummy as it tastes. With chunks of mango, strawberries, and coconut cubes, in a nutritious Harrison's bread mix, this spring time delight will be a winner for any bird's discriminating taste.

Bake in mini size cupcake paper holders for a size just perfect for your bird to hold in its foot, or can be crumbled into the dish for birds who prefer not to get their feet a little messy. Cooked muffins can be placed into freezer bags and then you can remove as many as needed daily for a fun treat every day until gone.

Easy to follow directions here. Fruit Bread

Warm Cozy Carriers

2010-02-27T10:57:00.001-06:00

Ever need to take your bird outside during cold weather or rainy weather? The Come Along carrier cover can be the perfect way to travel with your bird and keep your bird warm, safe, and secure on the trip. These covers fit the Take Me Home bird carriers, but they can also be used by themselves if your bird is not overly destructive. If our bird is a big time chewer, then you would probably want to combine the Take Me Home carrier with the Come Along cover.

These smart new carriers are available for small and medium size birds, and can even be used for small animals.

Click here for more information

Should you buy organic for your bird?

2010-01-18T14:49:00.000-06:00

As bird owners we usually ask ourselves whether we should buy organic fruits and vegetables for our birds. Is organic better, safer? What about pesticides that may cling to fruits and vegetables? In this day when budgets are tighter, buying organic is not always in the budget.

We came across a very helpful web site that may help you know when to choose organic, and when buying less expensive non-organic fruits and vegetables for your bird is okay too.

This site gives you the current top 15 foods that have less pesticides, or come to market with less than the average of unwanted extras that can be very harmful to a bird if not removed before feeding. The site also gives you a list of the "dirtiest" foods to help you know when to be careful in cleaning these foods before serving to your bird, or to buy organic if possible to lesson the chance of feeding your bird potentially dangerous pesticides.

Check out TheDailyGreen.com

How fat is my Bird's Nut?

2010-01-08T16:59:00.000-06:00

We are often asked what nut is a good nut to feed. Although some species seems to do better with more or sometimes less, fat, we thought we would share some information on nuts in general to help bird owners decide which nuts are best for their birds.

Pistachio nuts, again a very popular treat for parrots, contains approximately 44% fat and 20% protein;
Cashew Nuts contain approximately 46% fat and 15% protein;
Almonds another very popular nut fed to parrots contains approximately 50% fat and 21% protein;
Hazelnuts or Filberts contain approximately 61% fat and 15% protein;
Walnuts contain approximately 65% fat and 15% protein;
Brazil Nuts contain approximately 67% fat and 14% protein;
Pine nuts are a very popular nut treat and contain approximately 68% fat and 16% protein;
Pecans, often though of as a higher fat nut, contains approximately 71% fat and 10% protein;Macadamia nuts are approximately 75% fat and 9% protein.

Peanuts are not actually a nut, but rather a legume and they are considered by some as containing "good fat". Peanuts do contain approximately 22% fat and 6% protein.

We encourage bird owners to do their own research into the pros and cons of any treats you give your bird.

.

October is National Pasta Month

2009-10-08T11:08:00.000-05:00

October is National Pasta Month so why not cook up some colorful yummy pasta for your bird. Most parrots, and even little finches and canaries, usually love pasta.

Pictured is Crazy Corn's Polly Pasta which is an easy pre-mixed pasta bag with lots of nutritious birdie goodies for any size bird.

Or, if you have a little extra time, put together your own special pasta mix for your favorite bird and share your recipe with all bird lovers. Mix in some vegetables and other goodies, to make a very special pasta treat.

We would love to hear what pasta meal you come up with to please your bird!

October is National Pet Wellness Month

2009-10-07T12:01:00.000-05:00

October is National Pet Wellness month and that should include bird wellness as well as dogs and cats. Most Avian Veterinarians recommend twice yearly bird checkups to help you keep your bird as healthy as can be.

As birds can be the focus of predatory animals in the wild, it's just natural that birds hide any illness as hard as they can. Sometimes an owner may not see a health issue until the problem is severe. Healthy bird checkups can help prevent sick bird emergency visits in many cases. These well bird visits also give you and your Avian Veterinarian a chance to discuss diet, weight, and behavioral aspects of your pet bird.

So before all the seasonal holiday festivities begin, why not make your bird a visit with your veternairan and make sure all is well within your flock.

If you need to locate an Avian Veterinarian visit here.

World's Smallest Parrot Filmed

2009-09-09T10:18:00.003-05:00

For the first time ever the world's smallest parrot has been filed. What a wonderful event!

Smaller than a person's thumb, this little parrot is amazing. Watch the video and discover this wonderful little parrot in it's native habitat.

Read full article and view video here.

Thick Billed Parrot in New Mexico

2009-09-08T10:20:00.002-05:00

"THICK- BILLED PARROT BRINGS BIRDERS TO ENGLE

ENGLE, N.M. -- Wildlife watchers continue to flock to the Armendaris Ranch headquarters to view a mysterious bird temporarily living in a sparse patch of pine trees shading the sun-baked Chihuahuan desert east of Truth or Consequences.

A thick-billed parrot, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha, residing on one of Ted Turner's New Mexico ranches has brought in viewers from both North American coasts and Canada. In all, the parrot watchers hailed from 24 states and four countries. This species, you see, is considered endangered in Mexico and has not been seen in the wild in Arizona since 1938. It was previously reported in the Animas Mountains of New Mexico in 1917 and 1919.

"Nobody knows how this bird got here," said Tom Waddell, property manager at the Armendaris. He first observed the parrot in a windbreak of Mondell pines in his yard on May 7. Theories explaining the bird's occurrence range from its being blown off course by the tornado-spawning storms that raged through Texas and Oklahoma the weekend of May 3-4, to it being an escapee from the illegal parrot trade.

Waddell believes it's a wild bird. "There's no evidence of it having been in a cage or anything," he said. "All its daily behaviors, when it eats and rests, when it goes to water, are exactly like a wild bird. And it doesn't touch commercial parrot foods, either."

Read entire article here

A million acres of Amazon rainforest

2009-09-06T16:58:00.003-05:00

"Vast new reserve declared in Peru - Courtesy of the World Land Trust

September 2009. World Land Trust (US) and their partner CEDIA (Center for the Development of the Indigenous Amazonians) are proud to announce that the Matsés National Reserve has been approved by the Peruvian national government. This will help ensure the protection of 1,039,390 acres of pristine Amazonian rainforest as well as the Matsés indigenous Amazon tribe.

Culmination of 13 year project
This long awaited triumph for the Amazonian rainforests has been worked for for 13 years by CEDIA, working with the Matsés peoples and providing technical assistance to the government Park Service (SEMARNAP). During much of this time, World Land Trust has been the principal financing source for CEDIAs efforts with the Matsés, supporting community work and provision of technical assistance to the government in an effort to save this precious area of the Amazon. During those 13 years, we have overcome numerous challenges from oil companies and illegal commercial logging operations that delayed the creation of Matsés national Reserve."

Read full article here

AFA Legislative Alert

2009-09-04T14:04:00.002-05:00

Please feel free to cross-post the following information:

Common Birds in Aviculture to be Placed Under Endangered Species Act?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is considering the possible listing of up to 14 additional parrots as "Endangered" under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).

If adopted, the proposal would list the following species as "Endangered" under the ESA: umbrella cockatoos, moluccan cockatoos, lesser sulphur-crested cockatoos, red-vented cockatoos, blue-headed macaws, blue-throated macaws, buffon's macaws, hyacinth macaws, scarlet macaws, military macaws, shining parrots, grey-cheeked parakeets, yellow billed amazon parrots and green-cheeked amazon parrots.

Many of these species are being successfully bred in large numbers by U.S. aviculturists and are owned by many thousands of U.S. citizens as pets.

Once listed, a species could not be sold across state lines without the appropriate federal permit, a permit that does not recognize "pet purposes" as a valid permitting basis.

AFA believes that this proposal is not supported by reliable scientific or commercial data, will discourage captive breeding of these species in the U.S. and will have a detrimental effect on U.S. interstate commerce, without any corresponding benefit to the species purported to be protected. Since none of these species has been imported into the United States since the Wild Bird Conservation Act (1992) went into effect, AFA sees no material scientific or commercial justification for the uplisting, but does see a huge detriment to aviculture and to the future of these species themselves in the U.S.

The USFWS has initiated a call for information on scientific and commercial data with regard to whether these species should be proposed for Endangered status, with comments due by September 14, 2009. They are not looking for general public comment on uplisting at this time, but are looking for input on whether there is a scientific and/or commercial basis for these species to be proposed for uplisting. If the FWS actually proposes these species for uplisting, that proposal should be open to general public comment. AFA will advise all of its members if this occurs.

AFA is developing a position paper on the scientific and commercial aspects of this call for information and will submit it by the deadline.

People concerned about the scientific and commercial pros and cons of this proposal may make their thoughts known to FWS by September 14, 2009.

Contact information for the Service and this important proposal can be found at fws.gov or by contacting the AFA Business Office at afaoffice@earthlink.net.

You can make a formal comment to FWS online by September 14, 2009 at: Regulations.gov

Or you can mail your comments to:
Public Comments Processing
Attn: FWS-R9-IA-2009-0016
Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222
Arlington, VA 22203

In either case, refer to FWS-R9-IA-2009-0016.

A Fighting Chance for the Puerto Rican Amazon

2009-09-02T10:18:00.003-05:00

The parrot has been called one of the ten most endangered birds in the world. “Don’t ask me what the other nine are,” said White, as if to emphasize the futility of comparing endangerment when so many birds, including several parrot species, are on the verge of disappearing in the wild. The Puerto Rican is certainly the rarest of the 30-plus Amazona parrot species. Despite fierce efforts to protect a wild flock and reintroduce captive parrots, the El Yunque population has hovered below 50 for decades.

The birds battle their twin nemeses: red-tailed hawks and (even in the tropics) hypothermia. “This is not the area that they chose as a refuge; this is what they were left with,” White said of their high-altitude redoubt. “This is the rainiest, most humid part of Puerto Rico. Chicks that fledge either during or before a major rainfall event have a much higher mortality rate than chicks that fledge during drier periods. If we stopped management efforts with this particular population, in a matter of years it would probably be gone, because there are so many environmental factors working against it. That’s why it’s imperative to establish additional populations in Puerto Rico.”

Read the complete article here

Learn more about the Puerto Rican Amazon at 10,000 Birds

A Cockatoo Friend of 49 Years

2009-08-29T13:40:00.003-05:00

"MICHAEL wants toast and a cuppa, pretty please. And there is nothing 86-year-old Doreen Trainor won't do for her fabulous, feathered friend of 49 years.

She rises early when her best mate calls for his breakfast, spreading his toast with his favourite fig jam.

The cockatoo helps out when he can, pulling teabags out of the canister as the kettle boils and tossing pill bottles across the table."

Click here to read entire article.

Today is National Watermelon Day!

2009-08-03T09:14:00.004-05:00

Today is national watermelon day and our birds love watermelon. Yummy, messy, cool and refreshing for them.

Share some today with your bird and have a slice or two for yourself.

Land for Bird once thought Extinct

2009-08-02T10:25:00.002-05:00

"The purchase of a 479-acre property in eastern Brazil has almost doubled the size of the Stresemann’s Bristlefront Reserve established in 2007 by American Bird Conservancy and in-country partner Fundação Biodiversitas. The new acquisition, which abuts the existing reserve, includes untouched, humid Atlantic forest, one of Brazil’s most rapidly disappearing habitats, and will boost protection of the critically endangered Stresemann’s Bristlefront and other endangered birds, such as the Red-browed Parrot, Hook-billed Hermit, Banded Cotinga, and Bahia Tyrannulet.

'The bristlefront was thought to be extinct, disappearing for more than 50 years before being rediscovered in 1995 near Una, in Bahia province,' said David Wiedenfeld, American Bird Conservancy’s Assistant Director of International Programs."

Read complete story here.

Do you know where Cuttlebone comes from?

2009-07-31T13:33:00.002-05:00

If you do, then you know cuttlebone, a white usually oval shaped bird product, many people give to their birds as a source of calcium, actually comes from the cuttlefish.

This is a pretty cool cuttlefish we thought.
Flamboyant Cuttlefish

Bald Bird Newly Discovered in Laos

2009-07-31T11:41:00.004-05:00

Scientists have confirmed the discovery of a rare bald songbird has been hiding out in the rocky limestone cliffs of central Laos.

The new species is the only example of a bald songbird in Asia and the first new type of bulbul reported in the last hundred years.

Read more about it at:

New Bald Songbird Discovery

The "NEW" Avian Network

2009-07-25T16:52:00.002-05:00

Want to save some money on your bird supplies? Who doesn't these days. Check out the all new Avian Network for a great source of some marvelous bird speciality stores. For a very small lifetime membership fee of only $10, you can join a community where shopping for your bird is a whole lot more personal than shopping with the large chains or very impersonal large corporation owned stores.

The Avian Network community offers species information, lots of tips and helpful suggestions for you and your bird. Not only will you shop smartly and safely because you and your bird are important customers to each and every vendor who participates in the Avian Network, the best part is every vendor at Avian Network also offers a special discount, free shipping, or other special goodie, that only Avian Network members are eligible for.

Start saving with your very first purchase, and feel good about shopping where you and your bird are special customers, and not just another number in line at the checkout.

My Cockatiel is Flying Across the County

2009-07-24T16:02:00.004-05:00

Question: I am taking my cockatiel on a trip with me and we will be flying across the country. I have ordered the solid top carrier and wanted to know if I should put a perch inside and if so, what kind of perch would be best? Should I put something in the bottom of the carrier too?

Answer: Putting just a small hand towel in the bottom of the carrier so your bird will have better footing on the bottom of the carrier should be sufficient for the trip. If you choose to put a perch inside the carrier, be sure the perch is only an inch or two above the bottom. That way, if the carrier is tilted and your bird tumbles off the perch, the fall will not be enough to cause any injuries.

The bolt on Sandy Perches or the Safety Perches can be easily used inside this carrier as the carrier has vent holes that the attaching hardware of the perches will fit through.

You can also cut a wooden dowel the width of the carrier if you prefer and drill small holes in each end, and then attach washers and screws to the ends of the dowel through the carrier holes to hold it safely in place during the trip.

Big New Cage!

2009-07-20T17:09:00.003-05:00

Tori and Ronnie Yellow Nape Amazons got a brand new big cage this weekend! Bigger than their old one and new toys too. They also liked the willow branches very much.

Weaning can be Fun!

2009-07-15T11:38:00.002-05:00

Baby Dusky Conure's first day in a weaning cage. Sure are lots of things to check out in this new house.

Rare Parrot Seen

2009-07-14T09:15:00.002-05:00

Thought to be possibly extent, birdwatchers in south-east New South Wales are getting a rare glimpse of this very rare species. Hundreds have been sighted.

"The Swift Parrot usually migrates between Tasmania and the west of the Great Dividing Range but the drought has brought them to the far south coast and Monaro in search of food.

National Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger Robyn Kesby says there are only about a thousand breeding pairs left in Australia.

She says this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the birds."

Sampling Saturday July 11

2009-07-11T13:49:00.004-05:00

There is a reason why they call it "Beak" Appetit!

Today's Sampling Saturday free sample at the Nature Chest Bird Shop was Calypso Spice

Birdie Pizza

2009-07-10T16:25:00.003-05:00

Can your bird say "Yum Yum"? Whether he or she can actually say it, or just think it, it's sure to be the topic for this delicious birdie pizza.

This pizza calls for a bean mix such as Volkman's Soak and Simmer and other great fresh ingredients.

This pizza looks so good, you may be tempted to try a taste yourself.

For Birdie Pizza Recipe click here

Hawk tries to grab Scooter

2009-07-10T09:37:00.002-05:00

What an amazing video of how a free flying hawk that is part of a bird show, escapes and goes after the show's Cockatoo Scooter. We often hear people talk about taking their birds outside to play, or even to free fly them. This video brings home the danger lurking everywhere.

See video here

Baby Dusky Conure

2009-07-08T16:24:00.001-05:00

Baby Dusky Conure learning how yummy apples can be.

Fresh Corn on the Cob

2009-07-04T13:42:00.007-05:00

Just sharing some fresh corn from the farmers market with all the birdies this 4th of July holiday and wanted to share how simple it is to fix for your birds.

12 Fresh ears of corn
big pot
lots of water

Husk corn ears and clean silks off. Break off ends that may have worm damage. Place ears in very big pot of water. Bring water to a boil and cook approximately 10 minutes. Remove from stove. Cool ears and then cut into 1-2 inch size slices and place in freezer bags. We fill sandwich size bags and then place these bags into a larger freezer bag. Makes it very easy to just grab a small baggie a day for the birds.

How to feed: Thaw corn circles out by placing in hot water for about 10 minutes. Feed as soon as corn is cool.

Great Fun!

Parrot=1 Mini Blind=0

2009-07-04T12:17:00.008-05:00

This is what happens when my human does not open my mini blinds like she is supposed to so I can see out.

Do you think I look like I'm sorry?

Not a chance!

Parrot Enrichment

2009-07-03T12:50:00.006-05:00

Found this site to have some really good information for all you parrot lovers out there. Check out Parrot Enrichment

Parrots of the Caribbean

2009-07-03T10:23:00.002-05:00

Parrots of the Caribbean
If you have heard of Bonaire at all, you may think of it as a haven for scuba divers or, maybe, loggerhead turtles. But this tiny island might also offer the best chance of survival or the yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot.
By Ted O’Callahan/Photography by Kim Hubbard

Wow, what a wonderful article on how they are trying to save these parrots.

Calling all Photo Buffs

2009-07-02T17:44:00.003-05:00

Think you take spectacular pictures? Well, if you do, or if you just enjoy taking pictures for the fun of it, why not enter the Nature Conservancy's 2009 Photo Contest. And even if you don't want to enter your own picture, be sure to check out the fabulous photos from last year. They will make your day!
Nature Conservancy 2009 Photo Contest.<

Pet of the Day

2009-07-01T10:04:00.003-05:00

We found this really cool site called "Pet of the Day". Today's special pet is Kippie a 6 year old Gold Cap Conure parrot. What a sweetie!
Read about Kippie here at:
Kippe The Gold Cap Conure

Friendly Kitty Cities

2009-06-20T11:13:00.003-05:00

Although our passion is parrots, we love all creatures. We thought this was interesting info for all the cat lovers out there. According to CATalyst Council located in Kansas City, MO, the top cat cities in the United States are:

Tampa, Phoenix, San Francisco, Portland, Denver, Boston, Seattle, San Diego, Atlanta, and Minneapolis.

Honorable mention went to Ithaco, NY.

Earth Day 2009

2009-04-12T08:24:00.006-05:00

Celebrate Earth Day 2009 on Saturday, April 18th, with the Nature Chest Bird Shop in Decatur, Alabama., at 826 McGlathery Lane SE, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Fun activities for the kids. Drawing for a free eco-friendly parrot bag to be given away as well as an eco-friendly bird toy package.

A percentage of all sales between Saturday April 18 and Wednesday April 22, will be donated to the Nature Conservancy.

Order online at:

http://www.naturechest.com/

ttp://www.CalypsoParrot.com

http://www.GourmetParrot.com/

Come join the party and "Go Green for Parrots"!

2009 AFA Convention

2009-03-29T09:03:00.002-05:00

The American Federation of Aviculture Convention 2009 ~ Houston TX August 5-8, Wednesday-SaturdayTheme: "Aviculture: Branching Out"Art work: The Blue-headed Pionus

The 2009 convention will be in Houston, Texas August 5-8, 2009 at the Hilton Houston North on Greenspoint Drive. The day trip will be to the Houston Zoo on Wednesday afternoon after the House of Delegates meeting. Below is a preliminary list of speakers. Others will be confirmed later this week.* * CEU credits for those desiring the same will be through RACE (Registry ofApproved Continuing Education www.aavsb.org/ .) * *For more information or to Register go to www.afabirds / http://www.afabirds.org

SUPER 8 raffle prizes, winning ticket drawn at banquet Saturday night:· $1,000 cash donated by Dr. Christopher Chinnici and Charlie the African Grey· Belize Retreat donated by Carolyn and John Carr· Blue-cheeked Amazon print donated by Gamini Ratnavira· San Francisco Getaway donated by Mary Ellen LePage· Parrot Bed Quilt donated by Ardith Raine, sewn and quilted by Sharon Garsee· Opal and Diamond Ring donated by Pat Chinnici· Nursery Hospital 2A Solid State Brooder donated by Joe Freed· Bow Front Cage donated by Super Pet* 1 lucky person will WIN A LAPTOP just for registering and attending! *Please read all details and rules at www.afabirdsClick on "2009 Convention" and see drop down menu for printable raffle tickets and speaker topics. Winner need not be present to win Super 8 items. Keynote Address: Ian Tizard, BVMS, Ph.D., ACVM

Speakers: · Sharman Hoppes, DVM, Ph.D.Sponsored by Texas A & M University Schubot Exotic Bird Health CenterUpdate on Proventricular Dilatation Disease Allergic Alveolitis

Darrel Styles, DVM, Ph.D.Socialization of the Parrot from Hatch Through Maturity The Physics of Feather Color Generation in Parrots and Basic Avian Genetics of Psittacine Color Mutations

Mark SargentPionus Parrots · Matt Baird The Galah in Aviculture Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos

Kshmir Csaky Easing the Transitions in Life of Captive Birds A Comparative Observation of Hyacinth Macaws in Captivity and in the Wild

Roger G. Sweeney Considering Avian Social Systems in Aviculture Behavioral Solutions in Aviculture Management

Jason Crean Whitebacked MousebirdsLineolated Parakeets

Rick Jordan Sponsored by International Conure Association Conures: World's Greatest Pet Bird and Breeder Bird

Dick Schroeder The Hornbills

Bonnie Zimmerman Sponsored by Indonesian Parrot Project Project Abbotti - Conserving the World's Rarest Cockatoo

Chris Biro Sponsored by International Conure Association Importance of Flight and the Freeflying Lifestyle

Marshall Liger Practicing Safe Avian Restraint and Proper Grooming

Donald Brightsmith, Ph.D.Sponsored by Texas A & M University Schubot Exotic Bird Health CenterPsittacine Nutrition Research: Tambopata to Texas and Beyond Macaw and Parrot Ecology and Conservation Research in South America

Caroline Efstathion Structure and Function of the Avian Respiratory System

Tony PittmanThe Slender-billed Conure in the Wild and in the Aviary

Robert R. GabelU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Juan Cornejo Sponsored by Texas A & M University Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center Captive Breeding and Husbandry of the Horned Guan

Michael Dalton Passive Speech Research, Language and the Animal Mind

Ron Mazzoni A Practical Guide to Feeding Softbills

Bill Van Patten On Walkabout With Mike Fidler - the Gouldian Finch

Robin Shewokis Sponsored by The Bird Endowment Do Breeder Birds Benefit from Enrichment?

Jean Dubach, Ph.D. Sponsored by The Avicultural Society of Chicagoland Who's My Daddy? How Genetic Analysis Can Answer Basic Questions

Adrianne Mock Branching Out--Birds in the Classroom, at the Fair and at the Park

Greg E. Poulain Adoption Protocol for the Rehoming of Companion Birds

Laurie Baker No Bad Birds: Birds Instincts vs. Human Interpretation

Cheryl BurnsBird Folk Basics--Websites

Fly like an Eagle

2009-03-27T10:25:00.003-05:00

Get a real bird's eye view of birds with this live cam of an eagle nest.

We view eagles as magnificent birds and as our nation's symbol of freedom, we admire their great strength and power. Most of us however will never get close to an eagle's nest, but thanks to technologoy you can now safely see inside an eagle's nest.

As of this writing this particular pair of eagles has three eggs in its nest. The size of the nest is huge and watching the parents take care of their babies is awesome. It has probably taken them several years to get their nest this size.

What a great site to share with your children too. They will love watching the eagles and reading some of the information on the site to learn more about eagles.

The Webcam is only available during daylight and it can take several minutes to load on your computer depending on your Internet connection. Be patient. Also, don't be suprised if you get several popups as the site loads.

http://www.turtlebay.org

Wild Bird Seed Recall

2009-02-20T13:08:00.001-06:00

Recall -- Firm Press Release

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Ongoing Issues Regarding Peanut Corporation of America Result in Scotts Voluntarily Recalling Five Wild Bird Food Suet Products That May Contain PCA Peanut Meal
Contact:Jim KingSenior Vice President, Corporate Affairs(937) 578-5622

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Marysville, Ohio -- February 16, 2009 -- The Scotts Company LLC announced today that it is voluntarily recalling specific lots of five varieties of suet wild bird food products after learning those products may contain peanut meal purchased from the Peanut Corporation of America's (PCA) plant in Blakely, Georgia, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated bird seed and/or pet food products. People handling wild bird food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Scotts ("the Company") has requested that its retailers, distributors and sub-distributors recall the affected products, using proper recall notifications, and remove these products from retail shelves or warehouses, and return them to the Company. In addition, the Company also is requesting that those parties that sell the affected products to consumers not only advise those consumers of the recall, but also tell them to throw the product away, avoid touching unsealed product with bare hands, and wash their hands thoroughly after touching unsealed product.
Scotts has not received any reports of illness involving its products that may contain the PCA peanut meal, and it is no longer using any products from the Blakely facility. Nonetheless, as a precautionary measure, Scotts is recalling the following five products with the specific manufacturing date codes below that were manufactured between December 27, 2008 and January 17, 2009:

For full release and additional information visit http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/scotts02_09.html

How Smart they are

2009-02-15T15:35:00.002-06:00

Anyone who knows a Quaker Parrot already knows just how smart and sassy they can be. We thought this was a very interesting article about these lovely green parrots. We are also know some of the participants (humans and birds alike) and wanted to share their story as well.

http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-behavior-and-training/bird-medium-bird-behavior/quaker-intelligence.aspx

What's a Quaker to Do?

2009-01-25T14:42:00.003-06:00

With many of us enduring snow, ice, and lots of cold weather, this little Quaker is enjoying his snowy day with gusto. Chanceman Quaker believes in living life to the fullest.

Maybe he will even share his sled with his brother and sisters.

The Kea Parrot

2009-01-25T14:21:00.004-06:00

The following is reprinted with permission by the author Jan Santor.

THE KIA PARROT (ICE PARROT) IS OUR BIRD OF THE MONTH: If you are day sleeper or night “owl”, this bird may be the perfect companion for you as they are semi-nocturnal. In captivity they are known to be most active during dark or stormy weather in addition to nighttime hours. The entertaining Kea is a parrot that is loved by most and disliked by some. These lovely birds have entertaining habits, though they have known to be destructive as a result of their inquisitive and playful natures. They require many chew toys and puzzle toys to keep them out of mischief, they are curious and can be destructive if not properly supervised and occupied. They are hardy little fellows hailing from the New Zealand Alps. While drafts are still a bane as with any other caged bird, lower temperatures do not faze them in the least.

They grow to about 19 inches in length and are chattery noisy but; not raucous. The cry of the Kea, as generally heard in the early morning, has been aptly compared to the mewing of a cat; but it likewise utters a whistle, a chuckle, and a suppressed scream. The Kea does not walk like other parrots, it hops and usually in a sideways fashion to the delight of their admirers. Their adult plumage is acquired at about 18 months of age, and females can be distinguished from males by their beaks, which are often less sharply curved and shorter than those of males. The beaks are brownish gray. The Kea's plumage is an olive green shade, and each feather has a black edging. Over the yellowish green colored crown and nape, the feathers have dark striping. The cage should about 3 feet high, 2 feet across, and 18 inches deep, with 5mm bars and no more than 1” bar spacing so that they have lots of room to move about in. Usually an earth or sand covered floor is appropriate. Plenty of hiding places should be provided. A supply of fresh branches should also be present for chewing.

In captivity, a Kea's diet can usually be made up of fruits and vegetables with carbohydrate and protein supplements. Keas are known for their ready acceptance of most foods. Often maize and brown rice can be cooked and offered as a meal. Soaked pigeon feed, peanuts, hemp, and sunflower seeds have also been offered with good results. Vegetables, a large portion of the diet, can be offered in the form of carrots, potatoes, cabbages, greens, and beets. A variety of fruits are accepted: oranges, berries, and passion fruits to name a few. In the wild, they are omnivorous and relish lamb and mutton. Offering them cooked pieces of meat of all types will provide them with needed protein. While they dine on fresh meat in the wild, it should be cooked for caged birds to prevent parasites and any infection.

Parrot Rescues

2008-12-28T14:59:00.003-06:00

It has come to our attention that a local parrot rescue located in Huntsville, Alabama has recently taken in one of the most disturbing cases of animal abuse in it's history.

Honker, a blue and gold macaw, was abused and beaten for 14 years before fate finally stepped in and allowed this beautifully spirited bird to be rescued. As the Executive Director of Parrots-R-4Ever, Dave put it, "they may have broken his body, but they did not break his spirit". After being kept his lifetime in an 18x18 inch size cockatiel cage, and having pretty much every bone in his body broken at one time or another, Honker now is safe and so loved by everyone who hears his story. You can read Honker's Story here

Happy New Year!

2008-12-28T14:46:00.002-06:00

We hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. With New Year's Eve fast approaching, we would like to remind everyone to be sure and keep your birds in mind if you are hosting a holiday party.

You will probably want to move your birds into a closed off room such as a bedroom where your party guests will not be venturing. This will help keep both birds and guests safe. It should also help keep guests from offering a bird a taste of a holiday drink which could be deadly dangerous for your bird if the drink has alcohol in it.

As New Year's Eve merrymaking will probably go into the wee hours of the night, removing your bird to a safe and quiet area will also help your bird feel more secure, and maybe allow it to get a little shut eye that you and your guests will be missing that night.

Wishes for a safe Happy New Year!

Holiday Hazards

2008-12-13T19:03:00.002-06:00

With the holidays upon us, it's a good time to remember to keep our birds safe throughout the festivities. A new danger to add to our list is the non-stick coated aluminum foil which has been linked already this year to the death of a pet bird.

Some good tips for safety can be found at http://www.naturechest.com/holidayhazards.html

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season and a very Happy New Year!

Help Capturing a Lost Parrot

2008-12-13T18:59:00.002-06:00

Tips for Recovering Missing Birds by Jean Pattison (The African Queen)

If you belong to a bird club, please ask your newsletter editor to publish this. If your club holds a bird fair, please distribute it. If you know of someone who has lost a bird, please send it along. If you have a personal web page, please put this up. If you are a breeder, please include this in your educational packet. Please forward this to other lists. If you know of lost/found web pages, please ask them to put this up.Additional suggestions from Scott Lewis are included.

Birds can live for days-weeks months, and even years after an escape. Never give up. Always look for a grey BEFORE sun-up while it is still dark, and AFTER sundown. They are the most vocal then, and the most active. Look for the bird constantly. Start where you think the bird landed and circle that area. Add a mile and 1/2 for every 12 hours the bird has been out loose. Since there are many variables, anything can send the bird off in a new direction, or he may even just stay put and hidden close to where you lost sight of him.Day 3 is when they get hungry and try to come in for food, they will go to just about any one at that time if they are tame. This depends on how hungry the bird was when it became lost, and the weather, temperature, etc. The best thing to do is to forget the bird was a pet and start tracking him like a wild, loose, untrained bird in the neighborhood. Yes, food will being a bird down to the ground, but that could take a while for a well fed bird in the heat of the summer. Now that the instincts are in gear, any trained behaviors that were there before the escape may be unreliable.ALWAYS have a recording of your grey when he is playing and having the most fun. Play this recording intermittently as you look for him. Throw food on rooftops. Place a small cage on the roof of your house, or anyone's where they grey has been seen. The only time to put food out is if you want to establish a feeding place on which you will place a trap on the third day. Otherwise, all that putting free food out will do is prolong the time that your bird can make it out in the wild without anyone's help. Tell people to put him in a pillow case, and have friends carrying pillowcases while looking, or small cages. Sometimes greys are caught by inexperienced holders and they don't know what to do with them.Kennels usually work just fine, and won't add further trauma to an already scared bird. Water hoses do work if you can spray him shortly after his escape. Hit him with as much water as you can all at once. He is heavy from not having exercise, and the water throws him off enough to ground him for a bit. Do not drench just before dark unless you are sure you can get him. If possible contact organizations 50 miles away. Sometimes people find them while traveling and go home with them. Greys can also get that far just flying. Give all the children in the neighborhood a buck and tell them there is more if they can locate your bird. Kids tell on people that are hiding them also. (per Mattie Sue Athan) Police will not help you retrieve a bird from someone else's home. You have to plan that one very carefully if they decide they want to keep your bird. Have someone watch the bird at all times if he is spotted and you need to go for help.Carry your cell phone with you at all times, and a flashlight and food treats. You stay with the bird and talk to him, let others go for the ladders and help. If you try to climb the tree, it often times scares them up. A long branch may be better to coax him onto. Use your head here. Raise his cage to where he is. Just get close to him and talk to him. Offer treats without reaching for him. Just befriend him until he remembers you and walks closer to you, then pick him up. If he is roosted near dark, wait until dark before trying to retrieve him. They don't fly well at night, and they don't want to fly, but make sure you don't miss. You may use a high powered flashlight to momentarily blind the bird while another person nets or grabs the bird. Scared birds WILL fly at night, even though they have no idea where they are going to. If you feel that approaching after dark is better, shine a flashlight into their face so they don't see your net coming down over them. Use a large fishing net with soft open netting.If sighted, keep the mobs of people away, and let the owner try and coax him down. Have your helping friends in tall trees or on roof tops to watch where he goes if he takes off. You NEED spotters prepared and willing.

Additional Information/ Comments by Scott LewisI might add to all this that if the bird is hanging around but refuses to go in a cage or allow itself to be caught, a Have-A-Heart chipmunk trap may do the trick. This is a small live trap. We recaptured a hawk headed parrot with one. With this sized bird, which is roughly the same size as a Timneh African Grey, anything larger will not work because the bird can go in and out with impunity. We know this from experience. After watching in total frustration as the hawk head repeatedly walked in and out of a Have-A-Heart squirrel trap to eat, we got a chipmunk trap. She went in, she was back. An actual R/C parrot trap is best, but not many people have one.Place the trap high in the area the bird is frequenting. Remember that height equals safety to parrots and most other birds. Be sure to check it frequently. NEVER leave a trap unattended. A caught bird can easily attract a raptor, and besides, in most parts of the US, unattended traps are against the law. If the bird is caught, it may panic. And, there is a good chance you will catch native birds, which won't appreciate it a damned bit. I have released a few extremely irate grackles and such.For little birds, such as lovebirds and budgies, a sparrow trap works well. We had a black-masked lovebird show up at the aviary. I suppose it was attracted by our birds' calls. Given that lovebirds can carry PBFD, to which all our birds are very susceptible, two vets told me to get a pellet gun. I didn't have the heart to do it. But, I caught him in a sparrow trap within a half hour after I set it.Finally, a hose does work, but don't be shy. The idea is to totally soak the bird in a big hurry to the extent that it can't fly. If you're shy with the hose, you will simply watch a damp bird fly away.

The Holidays are Coming!

2008-11-08T12:15:00.004-06:00

With the uncertainty of the economy, it seems the holidays may be a bit slower to get started this year. However, Christmas hasn't been cancelled, so checking out the new stuff this holiday season and looking for great new gift ideas, can be shared by everyone. A super neat holiday ornament this year for all you Quaker loving humans out there is a new hand carved and hand painted Quaker Parrot tree or decoration ornament.

Ornament measures about 2-1/2 inches wide and is about 6 inches long. With a little additional glitter to add some extra sparkle, this one is sure to please anyone whose heart has been touched by a little Quaker friend.

October is Fire Safety Month

2008-10-19T08:57:00.002-05:00

Now is a good time to make sure you have all your safety steps in place just in case an emergency occurs. A good time to make sure all your fire and smoke detectors have fresh batteries. Also check all emergency carriers and make sure they are within easy reach in case of a fire. We keep an emergency carrier near every cage as well as a small towel just in case a bird panics in an emergency situation and becomes hard to remove from the cage. If you need help choosing a carrier here are some suggestions at Bird Carriers

Smoke inhalation is deadly for birds, other pets, and humans, so getting out quickly is imperative to all. With a bird's sensitive respiratory system, seconds can make the difference between life and death for any bird. Prepare and plan now, before an emergency happens, Hopefully you will never have to put the plan into effect, but always being prepared is a lot more than a childhood motto.

September is National Papaya Month!

2008-09-11T18:11:00.003-05:00

With September being National Papaya month, it's a great time to introduce your bird to some papaya if you have not already done so.

Papaya is sometimes also called PawPaw and Tree Melon and although it began in southern Mexico and certain parts of Central America, papayas today are grown throughout tropical regions. Most commonly found in your local grocery store is the Hawaiian variety and usually weighs in at about a pound. When ripe, papaya has a semi-sweet taste not quite like any other fruit.

Papaya is a favorite among many of our birds, especially our Amazons and Conures. Fresh papaya is also loved by our Cockatoos. Why not take some time to cut some fresh up for yourself and share it with your bird. Just peel the skin off, remove the seeds, and cut into chunks big or small depending on your bird's size.

If on the other hand, your bird prefers his or her papaya not quite so soft, check out some prepacked bird treats of papaya. Just as yummy tasting to your bird, and especially easy when you just don't have the time to cut up fresh.

Have a Safe Labor Day Weekend!

2008-08-28T10:49:00.006-05:00

With the upcoming holiday Labor Day weekend approaching, it's a good time to review safety for your birds. With many people celebrating the weekend with family and friends, there may be lots of people going in and out of your home during that weekend barbeque.

If you clip your bird' flight feathers, make sure no new feathers have grown in recently to prevent a bird from flying out an open door with an unsuspecting person. Keeping a bird safely inside it's cage during this time of activity may be even safer. If your bird become nervous with people around that it doesn't know, you may want to move your bird's cage into your bedroom or other safe area, so your bird can feel secure. This may also prevent unsuspecting children or even adults who do not believe birds will bite, from sticking fingers in cages and being bitten.

Keeping both your bird and your visitors safe should be top priority this holiday weekend.

Polyomavirus in Parrots

2008-07-14T18:31:00.003-05:00

Many people already know about the Polyomavirus, but it never hurts to have a refresher minute, or to explain the virus to someone new to birds. Polyomavirus is a nonenveloped virus which simply means that it is hardy virus and can live outside of the body of its host. This type of virus resists many disinfectants as well as freezing and high heat. Polyoma is a foamite which means that it can travel on anything such as your clothes, hair, bird dander, even in your lungs. It is highly contagious and often fatal for birds. How common it still is today is unknown, but it is usually deadly to most all species of parrots if they get it at a young age. Sometimes older birds can survive an exposure, but then they may become carriers of the virus and spread it to other birds they come in contact with. It has been found that budgies and cockatiels can be healthy carriers, meaning they can carry the virus, and never show symptoms of illness. It used to be called Budgerigar Fledgling Disease in budgies.

Test can be done by your avian vet using fecal and blood tests to determine whether you bird has the virus, or possibly if your bird has been exposed to the virus and may be a carrier. If the bird has an active case of the virus and is contagious, they will be "shedding" the virus, and it is believed that the virus will show up in the fecal exam. If the bird is a carrier, it usually shows up in the blood work done by your avian vet.

Prevention is critical. You should follow proper quarantine and testing procedures before adding any new bird to your flock to help prevent infecting any birds you may already own. You should always remember that birds can be carriers and that this deadly virus lives for years on objects. If you visit bird fairs, please be sure to follow all steps to ensure you do not bring home any illness with you. Disinfect yourself, and anything you purchase at a fair before exposing it to your bird. If you like to take your bird to your local bird club meeting, or anywhere else there are other birds, you may want to have your bird vaccinated to protect your parrot from this horrible disease.

You can read more about Avian Polyomavirus at the links shown below:

Avian Polyomavirus: My Thoughts, David N. Phalen, D.V.M., Ph.D.Dipl. ABVP (Avian)
http://www.plannedparrothood.com/articles/polyoma.html

Polyoma Virus: The Real Story by Dr. Gregory Rich, DVM:
http://www.bird-net.com/polyoma01.html

Prevention of Avian Polyomavirus Infections through Vaccination:
http://www.funnyfarmexotics.com/IAS/poly98.htm
Dr. Branson Ritchie University of Georgia's Psittacine Disease Research Group

Dancing Bird

2008-07-12T14:49:00.001-05:00

Think you've got rhythm? Well, this little guy has got the moves for sure!
Just click on the link above in the title, or copy and paste the following in your browser's window:
http://birdcinema.com/view_video.php?viewkey=fb92720359db84e0dd0d

Griffin the Amazing African Grey

2008-07-11T13:34:00.002-05:00

We are all so very saddened when Alex the African Grey passed from our world, and we all knew that there would never be another quite like him. Alex was indeed an amazing parrot and an ambassador for the bird world sharing our knowledge that parrots are intelligent and wonderful companions. It is exciting that we find Griffin the African Grey parrot is also converting the non-believers as he wows them with this intelligence. What a great tribute to Alex that his friend Griffin is ready to take over as role of ambassador.

This video shows how Griffin is handling his own among human children in the classroom to prove the intelligence of parrots. Just click on the link titled above, or copy and past the following in your computer's web browser.
http://quicksilverscreen.com/watch?video=42569

Share your birdie recipes

2008-07-07T19:42:00.001-05:00

If you have a favorite birdie recipe you would like to share with us, please email complete instructions (and a picture if you have one) of your recipe to info@naturechest.com so we can add it to our web site and share it with other bird owners.

Blueberry Birdie Muffins

2008-07-07T16:17:00.002-05:00

July is national blueberry month so why not bake up some yummy blueberry muffins for your bird.

Blueberry Birdie Muffins:

1 package Harrison's Bird Bread
1 two ounce size package Just Tomatoes Just Blueberries
(or why not add some fresh blueberries instead)

Follow directions on the Harrison's Bird Bread package for preparing your birdie bread. Then add the package of Just Blueberries into the mix and stir until well mixed. Pour mixture into muffin or cupcake pan and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Oven temperatures can vary so be sure muffins are done. Thoroughly cool muffins before serving to your bird. Cooked muffins can be placed into freezer bags and removed daily for a fun treat each day until gone.

Harrison's Bird Bread and Just Tomatoes Just Blueberries can be purchased at GourmetParrot

Help Us Help the Red Cross

2008-06-30T08:38:00.000-05:00

We are joining with over 25 other e-commerce sites to help donate urgently needed funds to the Red Cross to help the flood victims. Every sale on July 1, 2008 has a 5% donation attached to it for the Red Cross. And, to thank you for helping the Red Cross, we are offering another 5% discount to our customers simply by entering the coupon code REDCROSS at checkout.

Thanks!

Bird Videos

2006-07-12T14:57:00.000-05:00

An Owner's Perspective

2006-07-09T16:31:00.000-05:00

As I walk through the local grocery store with Chanceman on my shoulder, I stop at the veggies and fruits and talk quietly, asking C-man what looks good to him. I feel a beak push its way into my ear and I shake my head. I wish he would move to my other shoulder so I could check before anyone else notices. You see, this little green quaker parrot sits on my right shoulder having juice and cracker with me almost every night, and I do other things, like read the Fonzie books to him or look through magazines, separate safflower seeds from the other pellets and grains that I have in a large plastic bucket (because quakers don't need safflower seeds, too oily and fatty) or just watch tv. Chanceman has gotten quite good at putting chewed cracker in my ear without my knowing this, and since I've already taken a shower, I'm not picking at my ears. And as the next day starts and we go about our "work", he checks to see if the cracker is still there, because he wants a snack. If he finds no snack, he starts yelling "good pea.....good pea.....good pea", meaning he wants snap peas, but the other shoppers don't know this, I get very funny looks...........most of the time.

I'm a companion human to four smaller parrots, two clutchmate sibling greencheek conures, Baby Five Oh and Little Dime 3 and two quakers, Chanceman and Bitsy Lu(cifer) I work out of an office in my home, or the other way around (not sure yet) and I'm with these birds 24/7 unless I go shopping without them. Maybe that's why most of them talk so well, as we spend a lot of time together.

I manage a 200 lot mobile home park, so you could say I babysit 400 people (that I know of, there could be more), and I look back on the first 6 months in this park and in this little town, and I don't know how I made it. But, I know four little creatures that could tell you how! I hated this place. I was so lonely. I did not purchase a bird just because I was lonely, though, I really wanted another bird, like the brotogeris I had for about 5 years in my 20's. I'm a lot older now and I realize that I knew absolutely nothing about parrots back then, and due to my inexpertise, I knew little about clipping wings and nails and after 5 years, Pookie flew out an open door, never to return. I vowed that would never happen again.

I wanted Baby Five Oh, I did not want Chanceman, he was a quaker and didn't have bright colors. But, how he ended up 'staying forever' is another story, but bird people must be the dumbest people on earth, our children finally leave the nest and what do we do? We bring in little feathered creatures that have the intelligence of a 3 to 4 year old and can live up to 80 years and more, depending on the species. Well, I'm proud to be one of those dumb bird people, because we have a happy house; when I hear Chanceman say, "I don't have any gum in my mouth" and Bitsy Lu answering, "I don't have either" (gets words mixed up), I laugh everytime.

I haven't worn ear rings nor worn cologne since Baby Five Oh moved in. Of course, I haven't worn anything except jeans, sweatpants and shorts for the past 8 years, but that's because I where I live. We quit smoking a long time ago, so that's no problem, no candles in the house doesn't bother me, no spraying and no teflon, no big deal. I know I probably am the same person I was with lizards on my shoulder and ferrets on a leash, but nothing can beat getting up in the morning and feeling so tired, and hearing Baby Five Oh shout, "good morning.....I love you". Tell me how you can be in a bad mood after that? I'm truly blessed.

A friend of mine once said, "I don't know what's worse, getting puked on or being bit", and she's right......we bird people get both of those, a lot, but I can't even imagine living without these 'little people in green jackets'.

"Just A Bird"

2006-04-10T08:54:00.000-05:00

"Just a bird"From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a bird,"or, "that's a lot of money for just a bird."

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a bird." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a bird."Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a bird," but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a bird," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a bird" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day. If you, too, think it's "just a bird," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a bird" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a bird" brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of "just a bird" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a bird" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a bird" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a bird" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a bird." just smile, because they "just don't understand."

author unknown

Eagle Photos

2006-02-24T16:43:00.000-06:00

These awesome pictures were taken recently near Comox, BC, Canada. Unfortunately no one knows who the photographer was. This is something few humans will ever be privileged to see.

Top Ten Bird Rules

2006-02-24T16:38:00.000-06:00

All Birdie owners should know these by heart!

TOP TEN BIRD RULES:

1. If you like it, it's mine.

2. If I can reach it, it's mine.

3. If it's in my beak, it's mine.

4. If I can take it from you, it's mine.

5. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.

6. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

7. If I'm chewing something, all the pieces are mine.

8. If it looks like mine, it's mine.

9. If I saw it first, it's mine.

10. If you have something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

Wild Quaker Colony Ft. Worth, Texas

2006-02-24T12:45:00.000-06:00

These pictures were taken of the wild colony of Quakers in Texas in January 2006 in the Ft. Worth area.

"When we first got there we were startled because we didn't see any of theQuakers and didn't hear any squawking and thought that they were ......well, we didn't want to quess. Usually when we go they are all flying around, bringing sticks to the nests and making a real racket....but there was nothing. Then we looked up into the trees and what I first thought were leaves were really the Quakers, just hanging around taking it easy. Then we realized that this was their down time and they were resting up for the big hormone surge in the spring. LOL

Paula

1. This a "Quaker Tree"......no leaves, just Quakers. LOL

2. Some of their nests

3. More nests

4. Another Quaker Tree

PDD Update

2006-02-03T14:13:00.000-06:00

Bird Paradise of Burlington, New Jersey has joined the fight to Stop PDDRESTON, VA 23 January 2006 ? Avian Health Network, Inc. has announced that it has joined with the owners of Bird Paradise this Spring to develop the Wall for the Cause at the exceptional bird store located in Burlington, New Jersey. The Wall for the Cause fundraiser will come to conclusion on 10 June 2006 with an educational seminar featuring Dr. Branson Ritchie as the keynote speaker. The project is a cooperative effort to raise funds and awareness of the lethal avian disease, Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD).PDD, often referred to as "the avian AIDS," has no cure, no vaccination and is just as deadly as its human counterpart. However, unlike AIDS, scientists neither know exactly what causes PDD or how PDD is transmitted, nor can they test for the disease with any degree of certainty on a living bird. Consequently, there is a sense of urgency to determine the cause of PDD and its means of transmission.The owners of Bird Paradise, Jack & Kathy Lance, have come forward with a great understanding that we must all take a stand together to keep the PDD research team at the University of Georgia's Emerging Diseases Research Group (EDRG) funded. It is the Lance's mission to help raise funds and awareness for this much needed research for all of our birds and their owners.The Wall for the Cause will feature 3 x 5 cards with a donor's name or their bird's name to be added to the Wall for the Cause. The wall will show support for research and all the birds that have been lost to this fatal disease or who are currently living with PDD or suspected PDD. Donations will be collected with a cheque presented to Dr. Branson Ritchie on 10 June, 2006 at the Avian Educational Seminar in Burlington, NJ at the Bird Paradise location.It is unfortunate that funding for avian causes and/or diseases is not as generous as for other species of animals. Without funding, Dr. Ritchie's PDD research team will be unable to continue this vital research. Without fundraisers such as Wall for the Cause and the 2006 Birds of a Feather Quilt, PDD research could very realistically come to a halt or be significantly hampered. The UGA EDRG research team depends greatly on your donations in order to continue their work. If there is one cause within the avian community that needs your help, it is this one. We owe it to our birds, as well as all future birds and their owners to band together and keep this research funded. Without it, the deaths will continue, the heartache will grow, and the progress made to date will be all for naught. HELP STOP PDD NOW.To learn more about what you can do this Spring to help StopPDD, please visit http://www.BirdParadise.biz or stop by in person or phone 609-747-7777. Meet the owners and employees of Bird Paradise's Burlington, NJ location with 15,000 square feet of space housing one of the largest inventories of cages and supplies on the east coast and add your name to the Wall for the Cause today. The store is located at 551 Rt. 130 South, Burlington N.J. and you will find something for everyone at the store or by shopping online.The Avian Health Network, Inc is a 501(C) (3) tax-exempt, non-profit corporation based in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The organization is staffed entirely by volunteers, employing no paid personnel. The Avian Health Network is committed to raising public awareness and funds for avian diseases such as PDD. For more information on the StopPDD campaigns, please visit the website, www.StopPDD.org.

Hurricane Katring - Bird Rescue Continues

2005-10-01T12:19:00.000-05:00

An update of ongoing bird rescues in the New Orleans area affected by Hurricane Kartina.

An Experience with Hurricane Rita

2005-10-01T11:50:00.000-05:00

TRUE HURRICANE RITA EXPERIENCE by Nathalie Ross of Houston Back from the Mess! I have to tell you what I experienced. Pure mercy, pure love, pure Hell, and then pure miracles from God. I had booked way ahead for a hotel, rented a cargo van, got all our carriers ready, filled our tanks with gas, got our house boarded up, etc, etc. I did so when people were saying "No, it's never going to come here _ it'll never be a category 5. They won't have us evacuate". People thought I was nuts. "You're really going to leave??" I said "Yes _ I hope I'm wrong. I'll be the first to admit it!" But I was determined to leave. The storm grew and it became evident that leaving was the better option. Even people who said they weren't going to started planning. I was already set. Then the city said voluntarily evacuate. We left way early on Thursday morning, drove for 9 hours to get just over 30 miles in our pickup truck with three horses, 13 birds, dogs, cats, ferrets, guinea pigs, a rabbit, and five chickens.... and got stuck in the heat. Cars were stalling all around us, we were hearing "We'll give you gasoline", but I didn't see anyone getting any gas or relief. We heard "They're going to open up the lanes, even saw the military with "hurricane chasers" written on the back of their truck, and waved at them with thumbs up in joy. We got no relief. We heard endless promises from politicians who I have decided are NO better than the ones that got New Orleans in a ton of trouble with their lack of preparedness _ only we had no excuse. We had just witnessed Katrina and knew better. The truck started heating up despite the air conditioner. It was over 100 degrees in the truck with the air conditioning, and the horses were in the back in a dark green horse trailer facing the sun and with us not moving. No water. Our trip to Seguin, TX was supposed to be 5 hours max (3 hours typically). My horses are all geriatric and one, being terribly old, particularly frail. We had to stop at a gas station and squirt them down with water, and try to get them to drink. We had a half tank of gas and lots of promises in our heads of how things were going to open up on the freeway. We misted the birds and dogs and cats, and the air from the air conditioning. We took about 30 minutes to get cooled down, but things started to just get worse. The birds started to get incredibly hot. We took out pineapple and strawberries that we had for the trip in the cooler and fed those to them. We tried to get them to drink anything _ even gatorade, but they wouldn't. Finally we had to get back on the highway and try again, but getting back on we were just sitting beside a fire department vehicle with his siren running. He couldn't go anywhere; no one could. Not the ambulances, not the police, not the people with the supposed gas. We couldn't turn the truck off because we'd lose air conditioning. Picture one of those boxes covered with tin foil that they use as a sun_oven and you get the picture. We rolled down the window and asked the fire guys where the accident was. It was about 10 minutes away on a good day _ which meant four hours away for us. So we begged and pleaded, as I continued to sob and scream trying to get off of the freeway. I talked to Richard and Lynell (bless them both!!) and must have sounded hysterical _ because I was. How could I not be? At that point every bird in my truck was panting, one was laying down, an older cat laid down and peed on herself and wouldn't move. They were going to die. I had brought them all with me to save them, and was going to kill them with my attempts to keep them alive. And I couldn't do anything about it. Finally I found a gas station that, although not open, had water. We stopped and, thanks to Richard and his awesome advice, went from soaking the birds to totally DOUSING the birds in water. Note that the seat was out of the truck and we had carriers neatly arranged on open shelving with space for air flow. Well it was good space for water flow, too. I literally sprayed the hose on the birds INSIDE of my truck, sprayed towels and a sweatshirt with water and slammed them in the doors (we had them over the windows before trying to reduce the ant_under_the_magnifying_ glass effect). We rolled down the windows in the back so the air could come through the openings past the wet towels and even took the last bit of ice from the cooler and put it on leg wraps on tops of cages just to try to make it better. We had been saving ice to try to get the birds to drink it. Then we took off for who knows where. I found a back road going North and just drove. I had 1/4 tank of gas left at this point and no options. The next freeway at which I arrived was just as bad as the last. But at least we had gotten some movement of air in the truck. Steven and I knew then that we had no choice. There was no gas anywhere, we had to go home to the super storm. So we turned around and hauled tush. Remember it took us 9 hours to get where we were.... it took us 20 minutes to get home. Twenty minutes! We got home with all of our cats, dogs, birds, etc., alive. We knew at least we'd have air conditioning at home for a while, and then living in the house (if it were livable) afterwards would be a whole lot cooler than sitting in the Coleman Stove on Wheels called my truck. I hate thunder storms and went through Camille when I was four and swore I would never stick out a hurricane again. And here I was, going right back to it. AND with no provisions! See, we bought food for the trip and about 2 days to spare (and water, drinks) but figured we could get groceries in Seguin. Only we weren't going to Seguin now. Back at the house, there was ONE store still open _ a little store around the corner, so we loaded up on vienna sausages, Armor Treet, and more gatorade (we had resorted to misting our birds with that at one point!!). And we went home. The birds all got apple juice and pedialyte, the cats and dogs etc got pedialyte, too. Two of the birds had drooping wings even two hours after getting home, but in the evening they rallied some.That night everyone slept hard, and I woke up worrying about the 'next day' effects of heat exhaustion of my birds. They were all fine. Amazing! Brilliant and amazing. So then we started preparing. We found two fifty-five-gallon horse feed drums and a forty-gallon one and filled them up; got as ready as we could and waited and prayed.We heard horror stories about "four days of flooding to follow the storm", and "everyone should turn their gas off" despite the fact that our gas company told us not to. I started thinking that we'd have a gas line leak in a bathroom with all these birds in carriers, and cats, etc. We went out and against the gas company's advice turned our own gas off. We watched buildings burned to the ground in Galveston and in nearby South Houston. Finally we lost power and turned on the portable TV and ate Chicken Cacciatore. I had to do something with the chicken that was going to go bad. The storm came, and just died out. All the praying and all the glory of God, it just fizzled. Even I, the one who is afraid of thunder storms, slept by the chimney listening to it Bong like a kettle drum, and the winds soar by. I slept on the floor, while the birds slept in their carriers again. When we got up this morning, Rita was a shadow of her former self and it was wonderfully cool outside. Few winds, NO damage. Just one big tree down and it only cracked a top board of a pen we don't use. No house damage, and we had water! We opened up some storm shutters to get cool air in and looked around the neighborhoods. Some damage, not bad. So we went home and low_ and_behold. Electricity!Folks, I've never been shy about my beliefs. And I apologize if this offends, but I feel like the most blessed girl in the world. I'm sitting in my bed (with achy feet _ let me tell ya) in air conditioning, with lights, and internet service, and ALL of my babies are alive. All of them _ even the loose geese and chickens. I started into a nightmare and was instead given miracles and incredible mercy. I will never ever look at the simple things in life the same way again. Ever.Most of all, I will never ever forget the outpouring of prayers and well_wishes that I got from some very dear people. Richard's advice literally saved my flock. He's really their hero! Lynell saved my sanity. She's my best friend. And those of you who called, and worried, and emailed _ God heard your prayers. Thank you. Thank you for caring. I'm honored to have you as friends. I'm humbled. And I'm now in tears. But they're good ones. Anyway, it was a long trip. I wanted you guys to know what we went through and how some people helped us tremendously, but mostly how thankful I am for answered prayers.Your friend, Nathalie

Permission to reprint: Yes please, pass it on. I want people to be able to learn from my situation to save their animals in case they ever get in a pinch. The evacuation could just as easily have been a summer road trip, or evacuation because of a chemical truck crashing, or even an accident on the highway on a routine trip to the vet. Of course, probably not for nine hours then. Thank you for your prayers. And for thanking God, because he really blew out all the stops this weekend. Nathalie

Product Review - The Healthy Bird Cookbook

2005-10-01T10:59:00.000-05:00

Just discovered this really cool cookbook for birds available at www.naturechest.com/cookbook.html . Lots and lots of fun recipes to try, some even to share with your bird. The birds say we must try some around here this weekend. If you like to cook for your bird(s) we think you will enjoy this cookbook.

The Forgotten Ones

2005-10-01T10:52:00.000-05:00

This will truly make you feel the pain of the animals. Have those tissue boxes handy before you click.

Another Volunteer's Perspective

2005-09-20T16:54:00.000-05:00

From a CT shelter volunteer that just came back from New Orleans:
Hi All, I got home late last night from Louisana. I'm still trying to process everything I've seen and done, not to mention trying to get the stench out of my clothes! We went to the LSU temporary shelter, which is well run and organized. They really have their act together and it's a great place to volunteer. Next stop was the Lamar Dixon Expo Center(aka Gonzales), the large"clearing house" facility. LA SPCA, HSUS, ASPCA, and VMAT are in a power struggle over who is in charge. It is total chaos. They don't have anywhere near enough people to care for the 2000 animals (average) and are turning away rescue groups bringing more animals in after sitting in line for hours. This place is HUGE, and the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Dogs and cats sit for days waiting for vet care even if illness is obvious. Many do not get out of their crates for 2+ days. There is no leadership, no system, and the animals are suffering. Vet care is obtained when they get the chance, and only after a request is put in the "inbox", which happens to be a bucket. Volunteers are so burnt out they are in tears. There are some very sick animals who are put in makeshift "wards" in the barns. No bleach bucket outside for shoes, and no where near any acceptable level of sanitation."Triage" doesn't happen regularly, not enough vets & vet techs. The Parvo stalls are in the middle of everything......people in & out of them constantly, and going directly in stalls w/"healthy" dogs. All dogs & cats are kept in crates of all kinds. We got yelled at by VMAT for moving a puppy into a wire crate instead of a veri-kennel after being told to do so by HSUS. Don't know if it was because she was a pit pupand therefore most likely not going to make it out of that hellhole after all she'd been thru- she was air-vacced off the 610 bridge- or what. There are huge buses, vans, RV's, tents everywhere, representives of different states for each large group. Animal Planet had their bus there, and PETA was driving in as we were leaving. That's all well & good, but the "negotiations" for control is disgusting. Whoever gets the gov't "grant" (aka "Contract") runs the show, and makes some nice $$. There are pallets of food, water, crates, etc from Walmart, Petco, Petsmart,and a bunch of others. They just don't have enough people to clean &walk all these dogs, let alone feed, water, and med. They DESPERATELYneed more people to do the basic stuff. We hooked up w/Pasado AnimalRescue & did door to door searches for animal survivors in New Orleans.It is mind-blowing how many pets are still alive, though many are goingdown hill fast. Wednesday we did water rescue in an area that was still flooded, and pulled over a dozen dogs out of houses where they were trapped. We found animals alive in homes that were boarded up & barricaded, having to break in using any means necessary to get to them. The stench is unreal, and most homes are booby-traps- furniture and appliances thrown everywhere by the flood waters, the mold, sludge and god knows what makes walking in very dangerous. You DO NOT want to fall and get that stuff on you. The situation changes hour by hour, let alone day by day. They are beginning to release animals to rescues at least.From what I saw, at least 50% of the dog population is Pitbull/Pit-mixes, approx 25% Rotties & Chows, and the remaining 25% every breed you can imagine. Some of the rescues are taking Pits & Rotties, tho Lamar Dixon may not be allowing them out, Pasado & LSU are. I know there are other groups as well. Save A Dog is still there and flying in volunteers. They are also doing door to door rescue in the city now. IF ANYONE CAN GO PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Hotels are not an option. If you go, plan on sleeping in a tent (bring your own), or your vehicle. Personally, I recommend the vehicle.....Fire Ants are everywhere, and from personal experience, they will find you. I spent 2 nights sleeping in a horse stall before they realized I was there (the ants), but once they did, it was all over. Their bite is EXTREMELY painful and leaves blisters that turn into something resembling a pimple. Nothing seems to kill them. Showers are a luxury,if you can get one. Bring your own food & water, medical supplies, Rubbing Alcohol, bleach, etc to decontaminate yourself after handling the animals, who are still covered with dry toxic sewage.This effort will be going on for months, and people will be needed all the way thru. Right now, the dogs & cats (and every other creature you canimagine) are critical. Many are dehydrated and starving, and it is aVERY ugly scene. I hope things will improve. If anyone goes now, beprepared to separate your personal feelings from what needs to be donejust to get these animals some help. Hopefully it will improve over thenext few weeks/months, and someone will be in charge and get thingssomewhat organized. For those who can't turn off their feelings and just do the job as bestthey can, don't go now. Wait until it gets better. If you have a strongstomach, and can stay focused on just taking care of one at a time, youare needed now. Feral dog packs and cat colonies were well established in New Orleansprior to the hurricane......now they are feeding off each other, andwhatever they can find. It is truly horrible. The animal populationproblem is beyond belief. Out of some 300 dogs Pasado Rescue pulled,only TWO males were neutered, and I think ONE female. There are dogs who were severely neglected prior to the hurricane, mange is very prevalent, and god only knows what else. Most of the Pits have had there ears cropped back to their heads...."Home Jobs" done with scissors or knives.The whole thing is just surreal. I did not dream at all while I was down there, probably due to exhaustion- we were up at 6 am and lucky to get to bed by 3 or 4 am. The nightmares are starting now, and I can't get the images out of my mind. I try to focus on the ones we've saved, and pray they get into homes. Enough for now, this is too long as it is, and I'm starting to cry again. Barbara Pepper

Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescue by Julie Burge, DVM

2005-09-20T16:47:00.000-05:00

This is a journal of her experiences in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina.

Update on AFA's Help

2005-09-20T16:23:00.000-05:00

Date: Fri Sep 16, 2005 9:12 amSubject: THANKS From Mattie Sue ...From: msathan@aol.comFriday, AMRick Jordan is here with the AFA truck, at last, we are consolidating materials to send east with him intoMississippi, the heart of the devastation. We have been wonderfully inundated with an amazing outpouring of needed supplies. THANKS THANKS THANKS. We probably have most of what we need now except daily stuff like paper towels, toilet paper, computer paper, computer Ink (HP DeskjetPORKCHOP-style black and color ink cartridges) I think we have more coffee than Columbia! And some of it is delicious. If anybody sends any more coffee, could it beCool Brew Toasted Almond -- on, no, that's from the NewOrleans Coffee Company, I wonder if that will be possible to get). THANKS EVERYBODY! We still need people. The first waveof volunteers are pretty close to burnt out from almost-round-the-clock work. Nothing is perfect, but it's looking more and more organized. Instead of simply reacting, we are starting to be able toplan. We have experienced rescue workers on the way (so far, we're long on sweat and enthusiasm and short on disaster experience). One plan at this time is to send every bird home in a better cage than it came in. You'd be amazed at what had been thrown together to get these birds out. A cage that falls apart is a lost bird, and I lost a parrotlet trying to take it down from a high hook still hanging over toxic soup yesterday. We'll have to go back and try to capture that bird today. The military, local police, and highway patrol remain very, very helpful in getting us in. Actually, yesterday, we had one van break down, so we had only two vehicles and we could hardly get out as the highway patrol officers called us over and over to come back for other animals. Then, of course, probably after having to drive off road around standing water (there are still addresses we've been asked to reach that we can'treach),
(Edited by PPN)

New Update on 911ParrotAlert Rescue Work

2005-09-20T16:10:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to some pictures taken at Donna's house of some of the birds which have been rescued from the New Orleans area.

Rare Quaker Colors

2005-09-16T16:19:00.000-05:00

Check out these beautiful Quakers in all their many wonderful colors!

Can You Help with the 911ParrotAlerts Work in Louisana?

2005-09-16T15:13:00.000-05:00

What is needed:
****************
Send donations to Donna Powell, 16365 Woodmere Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70819. The organization is 911 Parrot Alert. At this time, checks should be made out to Donna Powell. (She is completing FEMA paperwork for the 911 Parrot Alertorganization.)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. They need volunteers to help with the birds (give food and medicine, clean cages, assemble cages, etc.). They also need people who can type the band numbers and descriptions of the birds into a database. (A digital camera would be a good idea.)

ACCOMMODATIONS. The volunteers are staying at Donna's house in BatonRouge (80 miles north of New Orleans). There are several bedrooms and sofas and lots of space. They have electricity, water, washing machine and dryer, etc. Bring a cot or air mattress and sleeping bag. If you have a tent or camper, that would be helpful.

EQUIPMENT & WHAT TO BRING. There are a number of volunteers going into New Orleans to rescue birds. This requires rubber boots, long pants, gloves, hard hat, etc. Disposable paper clothes are useful. If you have a shot record, bring it. TAKE SUPPLIES (food, safety gear, etc.)

GETTING THERE -- GAS AVAILABILITY. You'll be able to get gas ifyou're coming from the north or west. Coming from the east, you'll need toget gas BEFORE Pascagoula, Mississippi.

COMPUTERS. They would like a faster computer. Donna's is an older(slow) computer and many people are trying to use it. The could also use a laptop with a wireless card. Mattie Sue said this is the best way to communicate in New Orleans.

BIRD RESCUE. They went into buildings to rescue birds. Some were alive, others had drowned. They did get a couple birds back to their owners. The animal shelters have hundreds of dogs. They're asking the bird rescue folks pick up the birds.

PHONES & HELPING. They don't have the staff to answer the phone and it's extremely hard to call in. There are more calls than the lines can handle. Priority is given to outgoing calls. They ask that is you can help, come. There will be a place for you to stay.

WHAT DO THE BIRDS NEED? Mattie Sue asked for toys for the small birds. There are(correction) about 300 birds. A large number of them are cockatiels and budgies.

INFO FROM TEXAS BIRD GROUPS. There are trucks from the Houston area taking supplies to Donna's home/911 Parrot Alert on Thursday, Friday, andSaturday (September 14-16).

Here's another e-mail from Mattie Sue (09/13/05): Subject: Re: Sense of order (lack of) Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 22:59:57 - 0400 Donna picked up 50 and KARE picked up 38 and we got about 30 from LSU,so more than 100 came in on Monday. Yes, we still need lots of help, but we need it in a concerted way, including administratively gifted individuals who can do more than get birds, wash cages, wash toxic soup off emaciated survivors. We made it into the city today. Nightmare like something from a science fiction movie. Mold and high water mark and starving dogs foaming at the mouth in deserted streets. Luckily we had lots of dog food to strew on the streets. Saw an expensive collection of mostly macaws, bodies of drown birds, if only they had raised the cages. The water made it just to the top of the cages and the birds drown in their cages. Three blue and golds managed to escape (well, they were pairs, so there were probably four, but we didn't stay in the mold and chemical covered room to find the other body) and survived because they weren't locked in their cages. Yes, we may have 500 by the weekend, but we still need help doing exams and evaluations and cataloging, monitoring, planning appropriate diets, trying to find owners of, and caring for the 200-300 we have. We were able to return two cages of small birds to their happy owners today. FEMA is convinced that the owners will come back to Louisiana to reclaim their pets within two weeks. It will be interesting to see if that happens. xoxoxo, ms

Update on Hurricane Katrina Relief by 911ParrotAlerts

2005-09-16T15:06:00.000-05:00

Via the internet we have received the following email that was sent out by Mattie Sue Atham who has flown down to help with the relief work in Louisana being done by Donna Powell with 911ParrotAlerts:
***********************
On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 11:09AM "Mattie Sue Athan" writes:Weather is nice, water is drinkable, there is power, but otherwise the bird rescue situation is awful down here, need people to feed babies, medicate sick and injured birds, go pickup birds, assemble cages, feed, clean, build. More than a hundred birds already here, more than a hundred coming in today, expect 400-500 by the weekend. Companion, breeder and baby birds being sent here from LSU Veterinary School and many local shelters which are overflowing with dogs. Don't call, don't write, just come to Donna's house at 16365Woodmere Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70819, my phone number is918-812-1099, but T-mobile towers are iffy here.Please. Many hands and minds are needed. ... If anybody can't come, but they have a friend who can, but can't afford the gas(it's $2.49/gal here, maybe a freeze on prices), give them money and put them into the car. There are a dozen or so volunteers here. Everybody left to go pick up more birds. I'm supposed to medicate, haven't slept, having trouble understanding meds directions. It's far, far, worse than I imagined. I've got a fresh bottle of whiskey, but no coffee. I'm drinking water. What a nightmare.

911ParrotAlert Helping Katrina Victims

2005-09-15T16:40:00.000-05:00

The Nature Chest Bird Shop and two very generous customers have been aiding the relief effort being provided by 911ParrotAlert in the Lousiana area affected by Hurricane Katrina. This group is providing a much needed help to the birds and their humans affected by this storm. Here is a description of the group:

911 Parrot Alert is a young but growing organization (founded by Donna Powell in June of 2004) with the sole mission of finding, rescuing and returning lost or stolen companion birds to their rightful families. This organization is a major web presence, with over 3,000 members working in concerted effort to save every bird, one at a time, and reunite it with their family if possible.

When Katrina struck New Orleans, 911ParrotAlert responded immediately by answering distressed summons’ from evacuated or evacuating households to rescue and foster their feathered pets until their owners could come back and claim them, as in many cases owners were not given the option to bring their animals with them to shelters. 911ParrotAlert is currently based in Baton Rouge, which was far enough away to avoid a lot of the disaster but close enough to be useful in recovery efforts. Offering direct rescue and long-term sanctuary is considerably beyond the scope of 911ParrotAlert, which is normally just to find and return lost birds, but the crisis and resultant needs were too great to ignore.

911ParrotAlert works very closely with Dr. Tully at Louisiana State University to care for and maintain these parrots until they can be reunited with their owners. Contact has been made with the American Federation of Aviculture, ASPCA, HSUS, KARE and other animal welfare groups, to recover and maintain exotic birds left behind or escaped during the hurricane. Both K.A.R.E (Knapptime Adoption Rescue and Education) and Mattie Sue Athan, the well-known author of companion parrots, have traveled from their respective bases to directly lend their hands in this crisis.

911 Parrot Alert members have organized into Task Force Teams, soliciting donations of cages, food, supplies, veterinary assistance and transportation to deliver them to the areas where rescued birds are being cared for. The response has been overwhelming and the 911 volunteers are tireless in their endeavors to save these birds from starvation, disease and death. Veterinarians, avian caregivers and administrative support people are flowing in from all over the US and Canada to help, on-site, with this mission.

Donation & disaster-related information may be obtained via Internet at www.911parrotalert.com

Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-10T12:29:00.000-05:00

Here is a page to help you find a rescue and relief group to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina, both humans and birds and animals. Thank you for your help.

A Cool New Video for You and Your Bird!

2005-08-27T14:12:00.000-05:00

We have discovered this really cool video called "Birdsitter" that is as much fun to watch for the humans as it is for the birds it was made for. Check it out: http://www.naturechest.com/birdsitter.html

Are Paper Towel Cardboard Rolls Safe for your Bird?

2005-08-27T14:09:00.000-05:00

We have received the following notice that is circulating around the Net about those cardboard rolls from paper towels. The warning we believe would also apply to the cardboard rolls of toliet paper as well. Since we tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to our feathered friends we though we would pass it along as well.
************************************************************

"NEWSFLASH: Paper Towel Rolls Potential Zinc Poisoning
Source!", by 'Parrots Secrets' Newsletter Editor

============================================================

Many of us have allowed our parrots to play with and shred
paper towel cores after we've used the entire paper towel
supply from the core.

This has appeared to be harmless and I was very shocked to
learn that it could be harmful! Had I not seen an email from
Kimberly-Clark, one of the manufacturers of paper towels and
toilet paper, I might not have believed this information.

Zinc toxicity is very serious and can kill a parrot if it
is severe. Kidney damage, upset digestion, feather plucking
and increased water intake are all signs of zinc poisoning.

Other symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite and larger
than usual green droppings. Sudden death, unfortunately, is
another sign.

Cockatoos are especially sensitive but no parrot is exempt.
If you do, however, have a cockatoo that plucks feathers
and nothing has resolved the problem, ask your vet to check
for zinc in the parrot's blood.

I was aware of zinc toxicosis (a big word for zinc poisoning)
in parrots, but had always heard that the most common cause
was older cages or the use of galvanized wire in aviaries.

Using washers containing zinc to attach toys to a parrot's
cages is another potential cause of zinc poisoning that I
had heard of.

However, I was shocked to learn that the adhesive used to
attach the first sheet of paper towel to the cardboard core
has resulted in some parrots being diagnosed with zinc
toxicosis. This same adhesive can be present in toilet
paper rolls also.

When making sure you do not give your parrot any zinc-containing
products, watch out for anything made of metal that is dull
and creates a whitish dust.

Padlocks and some hangers used for toys are often culprits.
Paints and varnishes and adhesives, pennies, curtain or blind
weights, keys, costume jewelry, tile, duct tape, and hardware
around the house are all potential sources of zinc that could
poison your parrot.

Blood tests are the only accurate diagnosis tool for this
serious poisoning. Be very cautious of what you give your
parrot to play with and what you use inside the cage!

Kimberly-Clark's statement regarding this adhesive says:

"Although the core glue is safe for its intended use, it
is not intended to be ingested. It is not food grade and
does not meet indirect food contact regulations. Therefore,
we cannot recommend that it be used with pets".

Does Your Bird Get Enough Exercise?

2005-08-20T14:10:00.000-05:00

Sometimes we forget how inactive our birds really are. They often stay in cages too small to actually fly in. They are often carried about by their humans so there is no need to fly around to get somewhere. We even bring their food to them each day so they don't have to get out and go forage for dinner. Exercise is very important to our birds not only for their physical health, but for their mental wealth as well. Here is a link to an interesting article written on exercise and parrots. You might want to do some seraching around the Internet and find some suggestions on ways to help your bird increase its activity level. Flapping in place while you gently hold your bird's feet can help get things started just be careful not to hold too tight as well as not letting go causing your bird to fall. Providing climbing ropes, rings and ladders can get them moving as well. Ever watched a parrot chase a ball? Many will and do enjoy playing with their humans in active safe bird games. Has your bird ever had a toy it just seemed to really hate and was always beating the toy up? Well, whipping that toy into shape might actually be good exercise for your feathered friend. Burns up a few birdie calories making that toy behave. A couch potato bird can learn to become a more active companion whether flighted or clipped with a few good birdie exercises.

A Visit to the Local Library

2005-07-09T13:34:00.000-05:00

On Friday, July 8, 2005, staff members of Parrot Press News and The Nature Chest Bird Shop made a visit to the local library to give a program on Parrots in the Rainforest. Presenting members participating in the program were Shasta the Yellow Naped Amazon, Girlie-Girl the Umbrella Cockatoo, Sisco the Blue Indian Ringneck, Togo the Senegal, and Sunni, a 6 month old Sun Conure. The parrots were accompanied by their human from The Nature Chest Bird Shop to do the talking and explain everything as necessary. The parrots all felt that striking perfect poses and exhibiting their remarkable talents as parrots was quite enough for their part.

Sunni Sun Conure began the program by a show and tell of exactly how beautiful Sun Conures are and how loving and cuddly they are with their people.

As a representative of the Conure family and South American parrots, Sunni demonstrated how to cuddle under a human's chin and give kisses and tickling nibbles to a person quite professionally. She did not wish however to give a demonstration on Sun Conure flocking calls and she was afraid she would have to be loud and clear and might frighten some of the younger children in the audience. Sunni was very excited about sharing her adventure with one of her cage buddies after the program. Sunnie is on the left and her friend Sammi is on the right.

The second presenter, as a representative of the Ringneck family and of India, was Sisco the Indian Ringneck. Sisco demonstrated how to properly lift your wings and spread tail feathers to show in detail the beautiful feathers of a blue Indian Ringneck. She continued on to show the proper way to pin your eyes and make lovely clicking sounds to a human you happen to adore. Sisco also felt it prudent to show how a parrot can express their dislike of going back into a carrier when they are not ready.

Third, was Togo the Senegal proudly and quietly representing the Senegals in the Rainforests of Africa. Although a little nervous about appearing in public with such a large crowd, Togo lifted his chest with pride at modeling the perfect fit and trim as well as colorful dress of a proper Senegal. Togo, not a fussy showoff, presented his program and promptly preferred to remain in his carrier during the performance of others. He is considering next time remaining on his T-stand and letting the audience admire his features while he nibbles on a treat.

Next came Shasta the Yellow Naped Amazon. No stage fright there. Shasta prefers to have everyone's undivided attention so she proceeded to show the proper way to do an Amazon Display. Fanning tail feathers and ruffled head feathers were a real show stopper. Although sometimes a little shy about singing, she makes sure everyone admires Amazons with gusto. At the end of the program Shasta climbed off her perch and strolled along the table to be sure all birds were returning to their carriers. She also spoke to a few of the people passing by, and showed keen interest in them as they were leaving to be sure they had enjoyed the program.

And last but definitely not least, came Girlie-Girl the Umbrella Cockatoo to present the grand finale and gleefully represent all Cockatoos of the World. Girlie performed a short exercise program of how to jump up on down while holding on to the hand of a human. Of course she was adamant about displaying those beautiful crest feathers and showing the lovely yellow feathers hiding underneath as well. She also proceeded to demonstrate how to eat an ear of corn using your foot as the perfect utensil and how not to waste such good food as well.

All in all, a good outing indeed. And, hopefully enjoyed by all the people who were good enough to come out and visit with us.

Do the Birdie Moonwalk!

2005-06-29T14:52:00.000-05:00

This little birdie has those dance steps down pat for courting any little lady bird. Click on the title link above or enter http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/manakin.html in your browser.

Repainting Old Bird Cages

2005-06-18T11:54:00.000-05:00

We get a lot of phone calls and emails asking about repainting
bird cages. Some birds are tough on the cages, especially if
the cage is a less expensive one. Using those beaks to climb
around the cage can cause paint chipping and wear on a lot of
cages, especially the large parrot cages. Owners often worry
whether their bird may be ingesting those paint chips as well.
Although we have found very few cages that can be successfully
repainted and hold up well afterward, which is why we usually
recommend buying a new good quality cage instead, we can give
you a few pointers if you are determined to try repainting your
bird’s cage yourself.

Before you are ready to begin you will need a temporary cage
for your bird to live in for several weeks while you redo the
original cage.

First thing is to thoroughly clean that old cage removing any
and all food, feces, and dirt from every nook and cranny.
You will need to take the cage outside and use a power washer
or plain old fashioned hand scrubbing using lots of soap and
water. After thoroughly drying the cage, next, using a good
wire brush comes a good scrubbing to remove any loose paint
chips. Then comes a good sanding of all surfaces to finish
off removing any loose old paint particles as well as preparing
the cage surfaces to better accept the new paint. Now if you
haven’t totally exhausted yourself preparing the cage, and have
already decided to just by a new better one, you are ready to
begin repainting your bird cage. (If you cage has rust spots
see our note below.)

So you are now off to purchase the right paint but what do you
look for? We have had a couple of cage manufacturers suggest
a non-toxic appliance paint used on kitchen appliances as this
type of paint dries very hard and is easy to clean. You are
looking for several things listed on the paint can. It should
say that the paint is safe for baby furniture and preferably
also baby toys. Since babies put everything in their mouth,
these paints must meet certain safety standards that not all
paints meet. Of course, the paint cannot contain lead, zinc
or chromate. To our knowledge all paints now sold in the
United States are lead free. For the paint to hold up, it
should also state that it is formulated to bond with metal
surfaces and is hard-wearing. You also want a paint that is
fast drying.

Now you have the safest paint you can find and you are ready
to begin. Painting should be done outdoors on a warm sunny
day, and away from any animals or ponds. No matter how safe
the paint says it is, never paint anywhere near where your
bird is. Paint fumes are toxic to birds not to mention not
too good for the painter either. There are newer paints on
the market that claim to have no smell and thus no fumes to
be unsafe. Maybe, maybe not, however I doubt many of these
paints manufacturers have done testing to be 100%sure their
great new products are totally non-toxic for our birds. So
best to keep Polly far away from any painting going on.

When you have finished painting the cage now you wait. We
recommend you wait a minimum of two (yes 2) weeks before you
put your bird inside this newly painted cage. It takes at
least that long for the paint to do it’s thing and be safe
for your bird. And, very important, do not cover your bird
for at least 30 days after the cage has been painted so there
is no danger any still existing vapors can get caught inside
a covered cage with your bird.

We have known some owners who take their clean, stripped down
cages and have them powder coated instead of repainting them.
Before doing this we recommend you do a search on powder
coating and determine for yourself whether this process is
safe for your bird. Power coating is not the same process as
simply repainting.

RUSTY CAGES: As a rule, if your cage has rust spots,
throw it out and buy a new one. Do not use paint products
which inhibit the return of rust, cover it up, or try to hide
the rust. There are a couple of name brands for these, and
they are very toxic to our birds. Some people think that
once these products are totally dry, they become safe.
However, I don’t want to find out the hard way with one of my
birds and neither should you.

Saving the Blue Macaws

2005-06-15T16:26:00.000-05:00

This is a heart warming video showing how 2 baby macaws were saved
from drowning in their nest and returned safely to be raised by
their parents. Click on the link above or enter the link below
in your browser. Note: This is a long video, almost 20 minutes
in length.

http://www.parrotsinternational.org/Videos/Saving_the_Baby_
Blues_Page.htm

How Well Does Your Parrot Talk?

2005-06-15T16:20:00.000-05:00

Do you have a secret talker at your house? Click on the
link above or enter the link below to see what some of
the birds are really doing.

http://web.metacafe.com/item.php?itemID=25229#title

AHN Challenge - May 2005

2005-06-06T18:18:00.000-05:00

Information about avian PDD research and AHN's fundraising and
outreach activities
-----------------
CONTENTS
-----------------
BIRDS OF A FEATHER QUILT
...Ritchie selects 2005 Quilt winner May 22, 2005
...Donations presented to EDRG exceed $10,000
...Celebrating Support
...AHN launches "2006 Birds of a Feather Quilt Challenge"
EDRG RESEARCH
...Ritchie on West Nile Virus: "Use Common Sense"
...PDD in a Colony of Cockatiels
...Ritchie Road Report
GRASS ROOTS FUNDRAISING
...Collaborative fundraising
...The Wowwie Contest and the tradition of avian activism
...It's a Small World
...News and Notes

news starts here -->
.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
BIRDS OF A FEATHER QUILT
============================
...Ritchie selects 2005 Quilt winner May 22, 2005
...Donations presented to EDRG exceed $10,000
...Celebrating Support
...AHN launches "2006 Birds of a Feather Quilt Challenge"
============================
Dr. Branson Ritchie selects 2005 Quilt winner May 22, 2005
----------------------------------------------------------
Following slide presentations of current work by the
Emerging Diseases Research Group at the University of
Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine (see "EDRG
RESEARCH" below), Dr. Branson Ritchie reached into the 415
tickets his supporters had purchased and withdrew winning
ticket A0067, belonging to Kari Banta, an Austin,
Texas transportation planner.
.
Kari won a unique quilt that is the first of its kind in
avian charity fundraising, a collaborative collage of
colorful parrots assembled by charity quilter Ardith
Raine in Las Vegas, Nevada, from quilt squares ("blocks")
sewn by seasoned and amateur bird lovers and bird club
across the U.S.
.
Photographed block by block and in its entirety, the
"Birds of a Feather" Quilt was impressive to see on the
Internet. But displayed behind AHN tables at several
Bird Marts to test its 'road appeal', the quilt was
absolutely striking. Some passersby found it very moving,
indeed, and many more browsers than usual stopped to hear
about PDD, often staying to buy a ticket (or 5, for a
price discount) in the hope of winning the unique piece.
One man offered to buy it outright for a princely sum.
When table volunteers explained that the quilt was a
drawing prize, he asked for the names of the contributors
so he could contact them to make a quilt "just like this
one."
.
The names of AHN's "QuiltingBirds" are not for sale, of
course, but they should certainly be acknowledged. As the
quilt is made with many small stitches, it is also
made of many gifts of time and talent and heart and pocket
money by the people most affected by this brutal disease.
AHN's QuiltingBirds developed quilter guidelines,
stitched squares, helped AHN plan and orchestrate its
first charity quilt program.

<>-----<>The Quiltingbirds and other volunteers are
acknowledged in the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the
Challenge, available at www.stopPDD.org.

KARI BANTA, WINNER OF THE 2005 "BIRDS OF A FEATHER" QUILT,
got her first bird when she moved from New York to Texas.
"I was very lonely and needed a friend," she said. "I had
no idea what I was getting myself into!" She and her
husband share their home with an 8 year old Quaker named
Piepmatz and a four year old white capped pionus named
Zoe. "I learned about the horrible nature of PDD by
reading the story of one bird's struggle on an email list
back in 1999," Kari said. "We've been lucky that we've not
had personal experience with it, and I figure it's my
responsibility to help the cause as part of what I do to
take care of my little ones. I guess it's my hope that if
enough people take action, no more birds will have to
suffer."
.
Kari was stunned when she received the phone call
announcement from AHN president Valerie Schuster last
Sunday. "I actually couldn't tell my husband because I
started to cry. The amount of love and caring that went
into the quilt,as well as the sadness and urgency of the
cause...it hit me all at once. I am tremendously grateful
to receive this beautiful piece that contains the hard
work and love of so many people. I've cleared a wall in my
house where it will hang, proudly on display."
.
----------------------------------------------------------
Celebrating Support
----------------------------------------------------------
AHN acknowledged outstanding contributions to PDD
research, education, and fundraising of benefactors on
May 21-22, 2005. Certificates of Appreciation were
presented to Len Charette, of C&L Aviaries in Bensalem,
Pennsylvania; and Pam Thompson and Ed Daisy, of Chantilly,
Virginia. Len has supported fundraising for PDD research
since the very early days of Valerie Wixen's TGPC campaign
and is wellknown for his generous prize donations. Pam's
and Ed's remarkable donations distinguish the passion of
their commitment to the cause of PDD research.
.
A Certificate of Appreciation was also awarded to The Bird
Heard for its efforts on behalf of the 2005 Birds of a
Feather Quilt. Bird Heard club president Becky
McKirahan submitted one of the first blocks for this year's
quilt, and her entire club pitched in to plan, host and
cater the climactic events at the end of this
first annual fundraising program. This was no small
undertaking, but The Bird Heard, like the little engine
that could, planned and hosted a truly spectacular
presentation event that was awesome in its attention to
detail.
.
----------------------------------------------------------
Donations Top $10,000 at Quilt Drawing in Maryland
----------------------------------------------------------
Cotton milling started in Maryland in the 18th century.
Before 19th century rail transportation served the mill
town of Savage, cotton shipped cheaply from Southern ports
was hauled overland by mule and oxen teams to the town's
textile mills on the falls of the Little and Middle
Patuxent Rivers, for manufacture into cotton duck sails
for the tall ships at nearby Chesapeake Bay ports.
.
The Bird Heard, a cluster of Maryland bird lovers who seem
to simply enjoy having fun together, selected Savage
Methodist Church in this historical textile town
to host AHN's First Annual "Birds of a Feather" Quilt
Drawing. Postponed from April due to a schedule conflict
with Dr. Ritchie's ECAMS presentation, the event fell on
the weekend of the Preakness Stakes, one of America's top
three horse races, at nearby Pimlico Racetrack. Hotel rooms
were hard to find and airfare costs to Baltimore were
higher than usual, but that did not deter the determined!
Nathalie Ross, who lost a precious bird in early May, flew
in from Texas; Kyle Sandler, who is
sponsoring a contest with vendor donated prizes reminiscent
of Valerie Wixen's TGPC, made the trek from North Carolina;
the entire staff of a shop called Birds of a Feather closed
their doors in Pennsylvania for the day to drive down and
drop a $300 donation at the door; and at the last minute,
Steffanie Budnick, one of AHN's own founding directors and
a skilled nurse and mother of two in southern Michigan,
was able to extricate herself briefly from her
responsibilities to attend the event.
.
Following the Georgia researcher's presentations on EDRG
research, Len Charette (C&L Aviary) presented Dr. Ritchie
with AHN's check for $7500, representing bird lovers
everywhere whose generous donations and participation in
AHN fundraising events support PDD research. At the
event's conclusion, The Bird Heard turned door
receipts totaling well over a thousand dollars over to AHN
for its next check to EDRG -- and a nearby benefactor
promptly pledged to match it. The Bird Heard also turned
over hundreds of dollars of proceeds from their raffle and
refreshments tables.
.
Okay, that's small potatoes for a man who needs a quarter
of a million dollars to pave the way to a vaccine, but
does it help? "Oh, yes!" Dr. Ritchie replied emphatically.
He gestured at the people seated to hear him speak.
"It's the people who love the parrots that are funding
disease research. Without this support, we wouldn't be
able to carry on any work at all!"
.
----------------------------------------------------------
AHN launches "2006 Birds of a Feather Quilt Challenge"
----------------------------------------------------------
Avian Health Network, Inc., is pleased and proud to
announce its second annual charity quilt event, the
2006 "Birds of a Feather" Quilt Challenge to StopPDD.
.
As the 2005 Quilt ramped down to its conclusion with
the events in Maryland on Sunday, the 2006 Quilt
Challenge was already rising on its foundation. Program
manager Valerie Schuster is reluctant to discuss details
so soon, but notes that the technical guidelines for
quilters are already being drafted and that last year's
QuiltingBirds can expect to be contacted soon.
Opportunities for artist and vendor sponsorships and
partnering are on the drawing board.
.
Expect more details about the 2006 Quilt Challenge in
the next Challenge newsletter, and check AHN's website
for interim updates.
.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
EDRG RESEARCH
============================
...Veterinary Report on West Nile Virus
...PDD in a Colony of Cockatiels
...Ritchie Road Report
...Veterinary Vocabulary
============================

At a special presentation accompanying AHN's Birds of a
Feather Quilt drawing in Savage, MD, on May 22, 2005,
University of Georgia Distinguished Research Professor
Dr. Branson Ritchie, ABVP & ECAMS, presented research
information about avian infectious diseases to several
dozen people in attendance. Attention was absolute through
both presentations, and Dr. Ritchie was as responsive as
an energetic undergrad professor during the Q&A session
following. The slide presentations are already being
discussed on psittacine-related mailing lists, interest
groups, and blogs.
.
----------------------------------------------------------
Report on WEST NILE VIRUS
----------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Ritchie presented general and practical information
about the disease along with a report on EDRG's work
with Drs. Dr. Redig (University of Minnesota) and Dr.
Tully (Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge) on a
plasmid-mediated vaccine specifically for birds.
.
The disease is deadliest to crows, raptors, and waterfowl.
Although some psittacine species appear susceptible to the
disease, parrots generally appear relatively resistant.
Most birds become subclinically affected, develop an
appropriate immune response, and quickly clear the virus.
Old World birds (African, Indian, European) can usually
survive the disease. Birds originating from the New World
or South Pacific are far more susceptible to infection and
death.
.
Knowing the facts about West Nile Virus (WNV) can protect
your parrots better than keeping them indoors. "The
benefits of sunshine and clean air are so much greater
than the risk," drawled Dr. Ritchie, "that it's just silly
to deny your birds." But "use common sense," he cautions.
Leave them inside until the morning dew is gone and bring
them in before dusk, times when mosquitoes are most active.
.
<>-----<>References about parrots and WNV are available
in the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the Challenge,
available at www.stopPDD.org.
.
----------------------------------------------------------
PDD Update: the Cockatiels study
----------------------------------------------------------
A month after presenting "Epizootiology of Proventricular
Dilatation Disease in Breeding Cockatiels" to ECAMS
colleagues at the European Conference of the AAV in France
on April, Dr. Ritchie explained the cockatiels study and
its implications to a roomful of attentive laymen in
Savage, MD, on May 22. A diplomate in ECAMS (the European
College of Avian Medicine and Surgery), a Distinguished
Research Professor and current Acting Head of the
Department of Small Animal Medicine at the UGA College of
Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Ritchie also commands respect in
this audience as a practical veterinary practitioner. For
many, there because they have lost their birds, he
represented the single greatest hope that it can be
stopped from happening again. Others were stunned to hear
for the first time how radically lifestyles bird lovers
have taken for granted are having to be changed by
this disease.
.
Dr. Ritchie speaks well and is clearly accustomed to
teaching. He quickly sketched the history of the disease,
its spread in the United States, Canada and Europe, the
epornitic (attacking many birds in a region at the same
time) character of the disease. Waterfowl, such as geese,
and other free ranging birds - finches, canaries,
spoonbills, toucans and possibly woodpeckers - are known
to carry the disease. All psittacines appear to be
at risk, although data on free-ranging populations has not
been collected.
.
The disease may be far more prevalent than we know because
it is carried by asymptomatic birds, and not all birds
exposed to PDD contract the disease. Dr. Ritchie talked
at length about the diagnosis of PDD, illustrating his
lecture with accompanying photos from EDRG's cockatiel
study. "It's not PDD until your pathologist gives you a
histologic diagnosis of lymphoplasmacytic ganglioneuritis,"
the researcher emphasized. Individuals without clinical
symptoms but diagnosed microscopically with PDD lesions,
should be considered at extra risk of developing disease.
Birds with clinical signs that are to be treated should be
placed in strict isolation. But "isolate, don't euthanize,"
he begged, distress visible on his face.
.
AHN hopes to publish a more complete report of this
presentation and about EDRG's cockatiel study in an
upcoming issue of the Challenge.
.
About EDRG and Branson Ritchie, Ph.D., ABVP, ECAMS
Dr. Ritchie obtained his DVM from the University of
Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985 and
his PhD in Medical Microbiology from the same institution
in 1990. In 2000, he received the honored title of
Distinguished Research Professor.
.
As a member of the multi-disciplined Emerging Diseases
Research Group at the University of Georgia College of
Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Ritchie has been involved in
characterizing the PBFD virus, developing a DNA probe
based assay for the PBFD virus, developing the avian
polyomavirus vaccine and developing DNA probe based
assays to detect polyomavirus, adenovirus and Pacheco's
disease virus.
.
In conjunction with researchers at LSU, the Emerging
Diseases Research Group has developed and tested assays
for detecting chlamydia nucleic acid in clinical samples
and is involved with the LSU group in testing a vaccine
to prevent chlamydiosis. Currently, the psittacine
disease research group is working on characterizing
the suspect PDD virus and testing subunit vaccines to
prevent polyomavirus-and PBFD virus-induced diseases.
The research group has published more than 50 scientific
publications on infectious diseases of companion birds and
Dr. Ritchie has edited two textbooks, Avian Medicine:
Principles and Applications, and Avian Viruses: Function
and Control. In addition, Dr. Ritchie is a Diplomate of
the American Board of Veterinary Practioners, and a
Diplomate of the European College of Avian Medicine and
Surgery.
.
----------------------------------------------------------
Ritchie Road Report
----------------------------------------------------------
ARLES - March 2005
Dr. Ritchie presented "Epizootiology of Proventricular
Dilatation Disease in Breeding Cockatiels" at the 6th
Scientific Meeting of ECAMS during the European Conference
of the Association of Avian Veterinarians in Arles,
France on April 26, 2005. Dr. Ritchie is a diplomate in
ECAMS, the European College of Avian Medicine and Surgery.
.
<>-----<>Other papers presented in sessions at the four-
day conference are listed in the Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
version of the Challenge, available at www.stopPDD.org, or
see the Arles Conference program: [http://www.vogelklinik.
vetmed.uni-muenchen.de/eaav/conferences/arles05.htm]
.
MARYLAND - May 2005
PDD in Cockatiels; Notes on West Nile Virus
The Bird Heard
May 22, 2005
Savage, MD
Slide presentations (reported above) about West Nile Virus
and PDD Cockatiels colony study in conjunction with AHN's
2005 "Birds of a Feather Quilt" drawing.
.
MONTEREY - August 2005
26th Annual Association of Animal Veterinarians Conference
August 8-12, 2005
Monterey, CA
Dr. Ritchie will not be presenting at the AAV Conference
this year. PDD-related papers will include:
...Proventricular Dilation Disease in a Peregrine Falcon
...Case Report: A typical Presentation of Proventricular
Dilatation Disease in a Double Yellow-headed Amazon
.
BELFAST - September 2005
Dr. Ritchie has accepted an invitation to speak at the
International Conference on "Animal Circoviruses and
Associated Diseases" at Queen's University in the
heart of Belfast, Ireland, between September 11 and 13th,
2005. This conference, sponsored by the European
Association for Veterinary Virology, will provide an
opportunity for scientists, veterinarians and other
end-users to meet, debate and discuss important aspects
of circovirus research with particular focus on
pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of circovirus
diseases.
www.happen.co.uk/esvv2005/speakers.htm#BransoRitchie
.
----------------------------------------------------------
Veterinary Vocabulary
----------------------------------------------------------
A pathogen is a biological agent that can cause disease
to its host. A synonym of pathogen is "infectious agent".
The term "pathogen" is most often used for agents that
disrupt the normal physiology of a multicellular animal
or plant. However, pathogens can infect unicellular
organisms from all of the biological kingdoms (see
Viruses, below). [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathogen]
.
Etiology (alternately aetiology, aitiology) is the study
of causation. The term is used in philosophy, physics
and biology in reference to the causes of various
phenomena. It is generally the study of why things occur,
or even the reasons behind the way that things act.
[en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiological]
Assigning or seeking to assign a cause of a specific disease
[www.genecrc.org/site/glos/glosadv.htm]
.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
GRASS ROOTS FUNDRAISING
============================
...Collaborative fundraising
...The Wowwie Contest and the tradition of avian activism
...It's a Small World
...Rumors and Announements
============================
.
Corporations and celebrities busy themselves with bigger
causes when they turn their attention to good works. We
who support research into a disease afflicting the
psittacine populations are a pretty specialized population
ourselves. The grass roots efforts of individuals and
charity organizations, bird clubs, publications, etc., can
really help to make a difference...

----------------------------------------------------------
GRASS ROOTS FUNDRAISING
----------------------------------------------------------
....is a beautiful, collaborative thing.
.
Who can forget Valerie Wixen's "Grey PoopOn Challenge"
(TGPC), a remarkable testament to her lost companion Mocha?
This collaboration of artists and vendors and a generous
avian public to raise research funds across the Internet
helped to define a new paradigm for electronic fundraising.
All of AHN's fundraising programs have been inspired and
informed by TGPC, including the new 2006 Quilt Challenge.
.
On March 28, 2004, the Buffalo Hookbill Association
together with Parrot Fund International sponsored the
"Buffalo Parrot Conference 2004" at D'Youville College
in Buffalo, NY, raising $8,750 for PDD research.
.
Now we have The Wowwie Contest, spontaneously ignited
when Nathalie Ross' companion grey Wowwie passed away
on May 4, 2005. Sponsored by Kyle Sandler of Parrotrents
(Online Bird, Inc.), this drawing features prizes that
"are things Wowwie loved," including toys and supplies
provided by a number of vendors. Len Charette of C&L
Aviary, long known for his commitment to PDD research,
donated a Sterling scale as the grand prize, and pledged
to match a thousand dollars. To enter the drawing, provide
Online Bird with a donation to PDD research, or a receipt
for a donation, between now and May 31, 2005. At this
writing, the contest has received more than $2000 in
donations, pledges, and donation receipts.
.
All proceeds will be donated to the Emerging Diseases
Research Group (EDRG) at the University of Georgia to
support PDD research. The contest ends on May 31, 2005;
drawing results will be available on June 5.
----------------------------------------------------------

...The Wowwie Contest: www.parrotrents.com/wowwie.html
...Buffalo Parrot Conference: www.buffalohookbill.org/
...About TTGPC: www.stoppdd.org/about_ahn/tgpc.html
.
Note: While The Wowwie Contest is not an AHN-sponsored
event, it provides a similar value to donors and to
research organizations by organizing small sums of money
into more significant donations. EDRG and the foundation
which supports it are not set up to process small
donations - it has been known to cost them more than
the value of the donation to do so. By aggregating
donations and using volunteer time and effort to defray
administrative costs, fundraising events like the Wowwie
Contest and AHN's Quilt Challenge help to keep
researchers and research dollars focused on research,
not administration.
.
----------------------------------------------------------
MAKING IT COUNT
----------------------------------------------------------
A Bank of America employee figured out how to make her
donation in Wowwie's name (see GRASS ROOTS FUNDRAISING,
above) count four ways! She
...donated $50 to AHN's StopPDD campaign,
...doubled the donation by registering it with the Bank of
America's matching gift program,
...used her receipt to enter the Parrotrents-sponsored
Wowwie Contest with a chance to win great prizes,
...and qualified AHN as a recipient for future donations
by BoA employees!
.
Everyone wins - especially the birds! Way to go!
.
Over on the Bird Board, The Outlaw suggested a letter
writing campaign to Jimmy Buffett. Or anything!
"You can make a difference," The Outlaw writes,
"Quit smoking, put that money in a jar and send off
a check for whatever [you] save. The next time you go
to the grocery store and use merchant coupons, put that
money aside and do the same thing. I know that on any
given month, I find at least $5 in the washer and dryer.
I've been saving that for 2 years now and sending off
contributions. Hell, I don't even miss it!" And suddenly
others begin to pledge, one after another: the cost of
carton of cigarettes each month, a day's pay, a letter
to Jimmy Buffett, a resolution to spread the word about
protecting beloved birds. (Ed. Note: Say, Parrotheads,
Jimmy's not the only celebrity with a penchant for parrots
...like Pokemon cards, gotta get em' all!)
.
On hearing AHN's announcement of the 2006 "Birds of a
Feather" Quilt Challenge to StopPDD, Bob Howard, the
avian photographer featured in ParrotChronicles' article
about PDD last year, volunteered his professional
services to shoot high-quality stills of the new quilt
for publicity and promotion next year. Outstanding,
Bob - thanks!
.
----------------------------------------------------------
IT'S A SMALL WORLD!
----------------------------------------------------------
While AHN's 2004-2005 "Birds of a Feather" fundraiser
quilt was the first of its kind among avian charity
organizations, it was not the last. Diane McKinney,
who managed AHN's first quilt program briefly in 2004,
subsequently created her own quilt and donated it to
The Alex Foundation, where it was raffled off on May
2, 2005. In a remarkable twist of fate, winning ticket
183258 belonged to AHN president Valerie Schuster.
"I've always supported Dr. Pepperburg's research,"
Valerie explained, her companion grey, Cleo, audible
in the background. "It's because of Alex that I first
got interested in African Greys." Since contest rules
make our directors ineligible to enter AHN-sponsored
drawings, Valerie leaped at the chance to make a
personal contribution to the Alex Foundation and
support Diane McKinney's generous contribution to
avian research. "But I never expected to win!"
Valerie exclaimed, "I've got to figure out a way to
keep this good karma going!" She says she is
considering donating the handsome quilt to an
undisclosed avian charity foundation for display in
its corporate offices.
.
The Alex Foundation (www.alexfoundation.org/)
.
----------------------------------------------------------
NEWS AND NOTES
----------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations to AHN volunteer Ingrid McCue on the
birth of her baby boy Aaren on April 26, 2005. At
more than eight pounds, the baby is healthy, his mother
recovering cheerfully. Still pitching in from her
bedside, Ingrid volunteered to proofread this newsletter.

============================
THE FINE PRINT
c. 2005, Avian Health Network, Inc.
.
The Challenge is a newsletter for volunteers, donors,
and other participants in the fundraising and outreach
activities of Avian Health Network, Inc. (AHN). The
text version of the Challenge may be abbreviated for
size or format reasons.
.
AHN does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of
the information, text, or other items contained within
these materials. AHN cannot guarantee the accuracy or
timeliness of the information contained herein, nor the
information distributed by other groups or resources
referenced in this document. Any veterinary information
contained herein is for informative purposes only, and
is not meant to substitute for quality avian veterinary
care. Those with birds exhibiting any symptom of illness
should immediately seek the advice of a qualified avian
medical professional.
.
Newsletter articles may be reprinted on the WWW if
attributed to AHN's Challenge newsletter or StopPDD
campaign. We encourage you to link to the home page of
our public charity website at URL www.StopPDD.org/,
and to download banners for use at your website.
AHN does not currently cross-post links.
.
Avian Health Network, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 corporation
headquartered and incorporated in the Commonwealth of
Virginia. We are an organization of volunteers with
no paid personnel. We are committed to raising public
awareness and funds for avian diseases such as PDD.
Financial Statement is available upon written request
from the State Office of Consumer Affairs, Commonwealth
of Virginia. Proceeds generated by the StopPDD campaign
will go to help subsidize the research of the Emerging
Diseases Research Group (EDRG) at the University of
Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine.
.
---------------------------
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x