Caring For Parakeets

Caring For Parakeets
By Nancy Richards

Caring for parakeets is the most important step in keeping
parakeets as pets. Remember their immune systems can be touchy.
This means that at the first sign of illness, you should contact
your veterinarian immediately. Even a simple virus can turn
deadly overnight. A regular care and checkup of your parakeet
can keep you away from visiting the vet too frequently. Caring
for parakeets means

A regular checkup of their plumage - birds keep their plumage
in peak condition by preening. You can encourage this by
occasionally misting it with warm water.
Selecting the right cage for your parakeet - choose a cage that
is large enough to allow it plenty of exercise. Most cages come
with 2 perches. For more specialized caring for parakeets, you
can attach a cuttlebone to the side of the cage. It will help
keep the bird's beak in good condition and will serve as a
source of calcium and other minerals.
A proper and adequate diet – this is the single most notable
aspect in shaping the health, vitality, and permanence of your
parakeet. Give them leafy green vegetables, rice, tofu, some
seeds and fruits like orange and papaya. These would give them
all the required nutrients to keep them healthy.
Regular bathing of your parakeet – give your parakeet a regular
shower of 5-7 times a week in the summer and 3-5 times a week
during the winter. This routine will help you keep your parakeet
clean and avoid skin related diseases.
Proper grooming of your parakeet – proper and regular trimming
of the toenails is very essential. Consult a veterinarian if you
wish to clip its wings.
Lack of parakeet care can result in feather plucking, moody and
ill-trained parakeets at home. It is always a good idea to know
what injuries and what diseases can affect your parakeet, what
is the ideal diet for a parakeet, how many times a week should
you give it a bath. These would help you undertake foolproof
caring for your pet parakeets.

A healthy parakeet is more likely to be immune to diseases and
can stay around for a long time to make you laugh, make you
entertained and give you a moment to smile…

About the Author: The author is a parrot lover for the last 12
years and is the owner of the website http://www.pet-parrots.com
Source: www.isnare.com


Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=838&ca=Pets

Considering a Pet Bird?

Considering a Pet Bird? Ask Yourself These 7 Critical Questions
| by Simon Blake | September 22, 2005
Birds can make wonderful pets and companions and there are many different birds to choose from. Two of the most popular are cockatiels and parakeets. Cockatiels and parakeets make wonderful pets that only require simple daily care. They don't take up a lot of space, they eat small amounts of food, and they don't require a daily walk outside. They love being around people and often want out of their cages just so they can be closer to you. Some even learn to talk.

You're not alone in considering a pet bird. In fact, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), birds are the 3rd most popular pet behind cats and dogs.

It all sounds great doesn't it? Slow down a little bit, before you rush out to buy a cockatiel or a parakeet, take some time to think about whether or not you are ready for a bird companion. There are a few things for you to consider before you decide if you're ready for the responsibilities that comes with parakeets and cockatiels.

Do yourself a favor and don't buy a parakeet or cockatiel until you ask yourself the following questions:

Do I have enough patience for a bird? Cockatiels and parakeets are social animals and they like attention. You should give them at least a half an hour of attention a day to keep them happy.

Am I a neat freak? All birds (not just cockatiels and parakeets) can be fairly messy. You're probably going to have some feathers and bird seed to pick up around the cage.

Can I care for my bird properly? You're taking the right first step by looking for information about birds. It's important for you to know all of your cockatiel's or parakeet's needs before you bring him or her home.

Don't make the mistake of assuming that since you already have a dog, cat or some other pet, that you know how to take care of a bird. Birds have very different needs than other pets. I'm afraid it's a little more complicated than sticking your bird in a cage and giving it water and birdseed.

Do I have room in my house for a bird cage and other 'bird accessories"? You need to think about where you're going to place the cage in your house before you walk in the door with it. And remember, the bigger the bird, the bigger the cage. (Be sure to study the do's and don't of cage placement. There are places in your house that are very dangerous for your bird.)

Do I have the time to give my bird what it needs? In addition to the time you should spend with your bird giving him or her attention, you should spend some time preparing meals for your bird. A proper diet for a healthy cockatiel or parakeet includes fresh vegetables and fruits - not just seeds.

Exactly what type of bird (and how many) do I want? Decide whether you want a female or a male bird. Maybe you would like to have a pair of birds so that you can breed them. It's easier to think through these types of questions now instead of waiting until you're talking to a breeder.

Am I ready for a long-term commitment? As I said above, it's not unusual for cockatiels to live 15-20 years and parakeets can live 12-14 years. Getting a pet bird is a long-term commitment. Please don't get a cockatiel or a parakeet thinking that you're going to "try it for a while". There are already too many birds in rescue and adoption centers.

Pet birds can bring a lot of fun and happiness into your home. If you don't know what to expect before you bring one home, you may be in for a surprise. However, if you've gone through the checklist above and decided that you're ready for a new feathered family member, then congratulations! Get ready for a long, loving and happy relationship.
Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

About the Author

Simon Blake is a bird lover and the author of Cockatiel Secrets and Parakeet Secrets. Discover how you can have a happy, healthy and well behaved pet bird. http://www.CockatielSecrets.com/ http://www.ParakeetSecrets.com/

» Read more articles by Simon Blake

Canary

The canary is named after the Canary Islands where they formerly lived undomesticated. Today, domesticated canaries live in all parts of the world. The canary species is S canarius and is a tiny fowl from the finch family Fringillidae. The popular canary is genus Serinus. Wild canaries can sing, but their songs are not as harmonious as those of the domesticated birds which have been bred for the high standard of their song. The canary is approx. 5-8 inches long with a wingspan of approx.7 inches and a weight of 15-20 grams. Wild canaries are a dark green and olive colored. Domesticated canaries are usually a bright yellow, although sometimes they may be orange, reddish, or pale yellow. Canaries construct nests of arid moss and weed. Its habitat is semi-open areas such as orchards and underbrush, where it nests in shrubs or trees.
Canaries should be kept in spotless cages, big enough to let the birds fly. Canaries consume canary seed but also like greens such as dandelion, spinach, green lettuce, and watercress and they can be fed a green leaf twice a week. Make certain you thoroughly rinse greens before giving them to your canary. Remove any left over’s before putting your canary to sleep. Canaries also can be given fruit which they care to peck at.

Attracting Birds

Attracting Birds

As people learn to enjoy the beauty of birds around their home, they may wish to improve the "habitat" in their yard so that more birds will visit their property. You can attract birds by placing bird feeders, nest boxes and bird baths in your yard, and by planting a variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. These can provide good nesting sites, winter shelter, places to hide from predators and natural food supplies that are available year-round.


Landscaping for Birds

The most surefire way to attract birds to your backyard is to make certain the appropriate habitat is available to them. You may be lucky and already have a good supply of food, shelter, and water available for our feathered friends. In that case, you have to do little more than stand back and watch.

Why Do Birds Sing Songs?

Bird Watching in Your Backyard

Bird Watching in Your Backyard
Bird watching, also known as birding, is one of the fastest growing forms of outdoor recreation in the country. Bird watching is perfect for any age and can be done anywhere. Birding is a very inexpensive hobby. Bird watching is the observation of wild birds rather than caged or domesticated birds. Birding is simply a matter of learning what to look or listen for. Bird watching is a good way for you to learn the species of birds that live in your specific area and see how they behave. Bird watching is a super reason to visit unique places and thrill to exotic bird species. You'll find people birding in just about any city, town or country.

Don't Miss Your Backyard Birds

Birds need water so it is essential to provide a water source. Birds are attracted to shallow water, so make sure that your birdbath is not too deep. Birds don't appear on command, on schedule, but that, too, is part of the fascination. Birds can be identified by using field guides and visually determining the bird's category (swimmer, flier, wader, bird of prey, fowl-like, etc.

Getting Involved in Birding

Bird Watching is also known as birding and means the activity of observing wild birds, except for the birds held captive. Birding is an activity that you can indulge in at any point of time and in any part of the world. Birding can be done in your backyard, in a forest, along the edges of water or in almost any area that satisfies some of the basic life requirements of birds. Birding is an easy way to connect with nature. Birding is a hobby that the entire family can enjoy together. Birding may seem difficult at first, but with a little study you will be able to identify many birds with just a quick look or a brief listen to their song.

Conclusion

Bird watching is a fantastic hobby that the whole family can enjoy. Bird watching is a family sport, which you can enjoy with your whole family and introduce the small children also about the surprise that nature has in store for you. Bird watching is good for your physical and mental health. Bird watching is a quiet as well as relaxing pursuit and for those who are rarity-seekers it may entail long distance traveling in order to find new species. Bird watching is a sport that is great for individuals looking for a bit of quiet time, as well as, friends or family looking to spend some time together.


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About the Author: Are you a bird watcher? Find out more about bird watching at http://www.wineenthusiastsupplies.com

Bird Cages

Birdcages - How To Know What You Need?
By Terry EdwardsHave you been thinking of getting a pet bird, but have no idea what type of birdcage you need? Well, here is some help in discovering what kind of birdcage you need, as well as some other helpful items to put in it.

Keeping your pet parrot, canary, parakeet or other exotic bird happy is a priority for every pet owner. Without the right type and size of birdcage, this will be tough to accomplish.

When you begin looking for a birdcage you will find a wide variety of choices to pick from. But, most can be classed as either large birdcages or small birdcages.

So, which size do you need? Well, without knowing what kind of bird you have, it's impossible to say. But you can easily find out by looking online or talking with the pet store.

One tip to always keep in mind is that when it comes to pet birds, whether it's a parrot or a parakeet, size matters. Get a large birdcage. They will love the extra space!

What kind of material should your cage be made out of? Wood is the best choice, but acrylic birdcages are a nice all-around cage for any bird you may have.

Other things to look for include a bird cage cover to use at night. Get some toys to put in the cage also. Birds enjoy play time just like we do.

Have a food and water dish of course and put in a ladder as well.

Take your time when looking for a birdcage and shop around. Have a budget in mind and most importantly, have some fun with it. Birds make for great pets and having a nice large birdcage will make them very happy for years to come.

By the way, you can find out much more about [http://www.BirdCages.InfoFromA-z.com/Birdcages.html]Birdcages as well as more information on everything to do with bird cages on our website at http://www.BirdCages.InfoFromA-z.com

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Bird Screaming Problem?

Bird Screaming Problem
By Tracie Irvine

How can I stop my bird from screaming so much?

Many people write me and ask if I can help them with their bird screaming problems. Some birds seem to constantly scream or when they do scream, they do it for minutes at a time. To us there doesn't seem to be a reason, but there really is a reason or the bird would not be screaming.

There are just too many reasons for bird screaming problems to cover everything here. I thought it best to highlight some of the things I have learned and then just present some ideas that might help stop some bird screaming behaviors.

If you are reading this article in hopes of finding a solution to stop all bird screaming, you will not find it here or anywhere. Most birds scream sometime, they are meant to scream and will always find a time to scream if they are healthy.

When is bird screaming normal?

The most common bird screaming time is early morning when the sun starts to rise and in the evening as the sun starts to set. It seems to just be built into birds to greet the sun and then tell it good night.

In reality, we are their flock and they want to make sure all the flock is in there with them when they wake up and then announce that it’s getting time to eat the evening meal and again that it is time find a roost for the night.

Instead of getting upset with your bird’s natural instinct, plan on it and even encourage it. Maybe even join them and become a part of the flock. (It can really be quite fun!) You won’t notice how loud they are when you join in too.

What about the other bird screaming times?

For all the other bird screaming times, you will have to put on your investigator hat and get out your pad and pen. Start paying close attention to exactly what happens before, during and after your bird vocalizes.

If you are really trying to solve a bird screaming issue that is threatening the relationship with your bird, you might even want to spend an entire day at home for this very purpose.

You will need to go about your normal routine and not give the bird any unusual attention to get to the root of the problem. You may have to do this several different days in some cases.

The bird screaming log

Have a log ready for writing on. In the margin of the log put the time of day, and draw three lines down the middle of the page. At the top of each column write, “Before", “During", and “After" so that you can keep up with the bird screaming events.

Then when the bird starts screaming, note what was going on just before the bird screaming began. For instance, “I’m on computer, husband in kitchen and kids outside in yard in view of parrot."

During the screaming, do and/or say what you normally do during the bird screaming events in your house. Write down exactly what everyone does or continues to do during each screaming session. When the bird screaming session ends, write down what everyone was doing and or saying when the bird quit screaming. Don’t leave anything out, every detail is important.

Continue to do this every single time there is a screaming session for the whole day, if you choose to try doing this in a whole day, or for several days when you are around the bird.

What to do with your bird screaming journal

Now that you have all these notes on your bird screaming sessions, what are you to do with them? You will be amazed sometimes at the patterns you will find. Because no two households are alike, I will not be able to help you specifically with your bird here, but I can help you look at your situation.

Read down the first column and note any consistencies. Such as, finding that many of the times that the bird started screaming someone was in the kitchen, or someone was dialing the phone. Do the same with the other columns. Then think about what you or others might do differently to help stop the bird from screaming in the first place.

How I stopped our bird screaming sessions

I have a couple of Green Cheeked Conures that used to give us grief several times a day with bird screaming sessions. One day we finally decided it was driving us crazy enough that we would take the time to figure out what was causing it.

At first we would just be careful not to reward the screaming behavior. When they would start the screaming session, we would pretend we didn’t see or hear them. This does work in a few cases, but usually you need to figure out what your bird really wants and avoid the issue instead of ignoring the issue.

After taking note of what we were doing, where everyone was located in the house, and where the birds were in reference to our locations, we quickly discovered the problem from our birds’ point of view.
Most of the times that our birds had screaming sessions, there was someone was in the kitchen, or someone had disappeared from site. Most of the time, one of us was in the kitchen when the bird screaming began.

We solved 80% of our bird screaming problem by taking the birds to the dining room stand, next to the kitchen, when one of us were going to be in the kitchen for more than a few minutes. When we did this, they did not scream. When we forgot, they would scream the entire time.

Our birds thought part of the flock was feeding on something and they were being left out. By taking them to the play stand in the dining room and giving them some healthy treats, they felt like they were foraging right along with the other flock member.

When we forgot and the bird screaming problem came about, we would get whoever was in the kitchen to leave the kitchen without acknowledging the birds and not go back until the birds quit screaming. Then we would move them to the play stand and the person could return to the kitchen.

We did this in that order so that the birds did not get rewarded for their bird screaming session. We don’t want them to think that they can start screaming and get us to come and get them. By waiting until they were quiet to come and get them, they did not get any rewards.

How to use your bird screaming journal to help you

Once you find some patterns, and there may be a lot more than one issue that bothers your bird, you will want to come up with solutions to head off the bird screaming situations.

Think of ways to prevent the situation that makes the bird screaming begin. For example, move the cage to where everyone is, spend time with the bird a few minutes every hour, provide foraging activities, have short bird training sessions to help the bird get some rewards for pleasing you. Clicker training is a great help sometimes.

Reinforce all good behaviors. Lavish attention on the bird when it is quiet, playing with toys, eating its healthy treats, and doing behaviors you want to continue.

Consider some bird training techniques. Clicker training has helped many people stop bird screaming behavior. Even teaching the bird to step up or wave can help. Spending time with your bird every day, doing bird training, and then following that up with some healthy treats in their bowl, will often satisfy the bird for quite a while.

There is so much more I could write on this subject, but this article would become a bird screaming book instead of a bird screaming article if I did.

Here is a short list of some things that I have found to cause bird screaming problems:

• Hormonal times

• Allergies to peanuts

• Allergies to artificial vitamins

• Allergies to chemicals and food coloring in food

• Other food allergies

• Lack of attention

• Being left out of “flock" activities

• Needing to go to bed

• Wanting more food or water

• Wanting a bath when hearing water run or rain outside

• Boredom, needing new toys, training, or foraging activities

• Loneliness

• Perceived danger for themselves or the “flock"

• Wanting peace and quiet

• Dislike of someone that has offended them

• Jealousy

• “Flock" member leaving the room or house

• “Flock" member returning and not joining them

• “Flock" eating without them or not sharing their food

• Change of diet, wishing for what they are used to eating

And the list goes on and on!

Some ideas for avoiding bird screaming

Clicker Training for Birds can help bird screaming problems fade away and be replaced with positive behaviors you want to encourage.

Getting a full spectrum light for your birds can make a real difference in your birds’ attitude and health. I explain the importance of full spectrum lighting on the Parrot and Conure World site.

Purchase pellets and mixes that are free of peanuts, artificial vitamins and additives. Many birds have stopped irritating bird screaming behaviors just by removing one or more of these items from their diet.

About the Author: Tracie has an informational parrot website and Discount Parrot Supply Store Discount Parrot Supply Store that carries the items mentioned above and many other items to enrich your birds’ life. She has quality cages at a discount, toys, play stands and play gyms, the Get A Grip nets, safety perches, a non-toxic cleanser that is safe for the whole house, and many more items.

Tracie encourages parrot owners to send pictures and write stories about what it is like to live with their parrot species for others to read, so they can make an educated decision about what bird is best for them. Her Parrot Comparison Chart is an excellent resource for those looking to add a new bird to their family.

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Traveling Abroad with Your Pet Bird

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Traveling Abroad with
Your Pet Bird
The Wild Bird Conservation Act (Act), a significant step in international conservation efforts to protect exotic birds subject to trade, became effective
on October 23, 1992. The Act focuses on bird species listed in the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Since most exotic pet birds (including parrots, cockatoos, and macaws but excepting budgerigars and
cockatiels) are species listed under CITES, most are affected by the Act.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recently issued regulations
implementing the Act that provide for permits to allow foreign travel with your
pet bird (domestic travel and sales are not affected). If you plan to take your pet
bird with you on foreign travel, or your residence has been outside the United
States for a year and you plan to travel to the United States with a pet bird, you
will need to have a permit before you travel. These new regulations are in
addition to any other existing requirements of CITES, the Endangered
Species Act, and other applicable statutes. If you are unsure whether
these regulations apply to you, contact the Service’s Division of Management
Authority at the address provided.
Leaving the United States with Your Pet
Bird
To ensure that you will be allowed to bring your pet bird back into the United
States from travel abroad, you will need to take the following steps before you
leave:
1. Obtain a valid permit from the Division of Management Authority. Applications
for permits must be received in that office at least 60 days in advance of
anticipated travel.
2. Have your permit validated by a Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Inspector
before you leave the United States. (Instructions will be provided on the
permit.)
3. Take a copy of your validated permit with you. This copy must be presented
when you re-enter the United States with your pet.
4. Find out whether the country(ies) you plan to visit have additional import and
export requirements and restrictions. At a minimum, a re-export certificate
from the country(ies) visited will be required. The Division of Management
Authority can provide you with a contact address, phone or fax number for CITES
permits offices in other countries. There are no restrictions on the length of
time you may travel abroad or on the number of birds you may take with you.
Traveling to the United States with Your
Pet Bird
If your pet bird was acquired outside the United States or exported abroad from
the United States without a CITES permit, and you have resided outside the
United States constantly for 1 year, you may import a maximum of two pet birds
per person, per year, if all applicable requirements have been met prior to
their arrival in the United States.
Following are the steps you need to take before you leave for the United States:
1. Obtain a valid permit from the Division of Management Authority. Applications
for permits must be received in that office at least 60 days in advance of
anticipated travel.
2. Obtain documented evidence that you have resided outside the United States
continuously for a minimum of 1 year.
3. Obtain documented evidence that each bird was acquired legally.
4. Obtain all other necessary permits from the country(ies) of export, including
a CITES permit.
Note: The Act restricts the number of
pet birds individuals may import into the
United States annually. However, if your
bird is one of the following species you do
not need a WBCA permit to import your
pet .
Approved Captive-Bred Species
Order Falconiiformes:
Buteo buteo (European buzzard)
Order Columbiformes:
Columba livia(Rock dove)
Order Psittaciformes:
Agapornis personata (Masked lovebird)
Agapornis roseicollis (Peach-faced
lovebird)
Aratinga jandaya (Jendaya conure)
Barnardius barnardi (Mallee ringneck
parrot)
Bolborhynchus lineola (Lineolated
parakeet-blue form)
Bolborhynchus lineola (Lineolated
parakeet-yellow form)
Bolborhynchus lineola (Lineolated
parakeet-white form)
Cyanoramphus auriceps (Yellowfronted
parakeet)
Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae (Redfronted
parakeet)
Forpus coelestis (Pacific parrotlet-lutino
form)
Forpus coelestis (Pacific parrotletyellow
form)
Forpus coelestis (Pacific parrotlet-blue
form)
Forpus coelestis (Pacific parrotletcinnamon
form)
Melopsittacus undulatus (Budgerigar)
Neophema bourkii (Bourke’s parrot)
Neophema chrysostoma (Blue-winged
parrot)
Neophema elegans (Elegant parrot)
Neophema pulchella* (Turquoise
parrot)
Neophema splendida* (Scarlet-chested
parrot)
Nymphicus hollandicus (Cockatiel)
Platycercus adelaide (Adelaide rosella)
Platycercus adscitus (Pale-headed
rosella)
Platycercus elegans (Crimson rosella)
Platycercus eximius (Eastern rosella)
Platycercus icterotis (Western (stanley)
rosella)
Platycercus venustus (Northern
rosella)
Polytelis alexandrae (Princess parrot)
Polytelis anthopeplus (Regent parrot)
Polytelis swainsonii (Superb parrot)
Psephotus chrysopterygius* (Goldenshouldered
parakeet)
Psephotus haematonotus (Red-rumped
parakeet)
Psephotus varius (Mulga parakeet)
Psittacula eupatria (Alexandrine
parakeet-blue form)
Psittacula eupatria (Alexandrine
parakeet-lutino form)
Psittacula krameri manillensis (Indian
ringneck parakeet)
Purpureicephalus spurius (Red-capped
parrot)
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus (Scalybreasted
lorikeet)
Order Passeriformes:
Aegintha temporalis (Red-browed finch)
Aidemosyne modesta (Cherry finch)
Chloebia gouldiae (Gouldian finch)
Emblema guttata (Diamond sparrow)
Emblema picta (Painted finch)
Lonchura castaneothorax (Chestnutbreasted
finch)
Lonchura domestica (Society
(Bengalese) finch)
Lonchura pectoralis (Pictorella finch)
Neochmia ruficauda (Star finch)
Poephila acuticauda (Long-tailed
grassfinch)
Poephila bichenovii (Double-barred
finch)
Poephila cincta (Parson finch)
Poephila guttata (Zebra finch)
Poephila personata (Masked finch)
Serinus canaria (common canary)
Applications and Additional Information
Permit applications (Form 3-200) and any
other information you may need are
available from the Division of
Management Authority (telephone
703.358.2104 or Fax 703.358.2281).
Warning: The Department of
Agriculture has disease quarantine
requirements for birds entering the
United States. You can obtain information
about quarantine requirements by
contacting the Department of
Agriculture at 301.734.8364.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
International Affairs
Division of Management Authority
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 700
Arlington, VA 22203
703/358-2104 or 800/358-2104
Fax 703/358-2281
e-mail: managementauthority@fws.gov
http://international.fws.gov
http://permits.fws.gov
October 1999

How To Get Started With Bird Watching

How To Get Started With Bird Watching
By Ronnie Booth

One of the great things about having a garden is getting to watch all the birds that flock to it. You'll only be able to see so many types of birds this way though. To get the most out of your bird watching, you need to go where you'll see the most types of birds.

One easy place to find lots of species of birds is your local park or nature reserve. You may also have a bird sanctuary near you - there are roughly 500 National Wildlife Sanctuaries in the US alone.

Another way to see some new varieties of birds is to research the local birds before going on any kind of trip. There are over 900 species of American birds, and they can be found in many different places. If you're going somewhere new, it pays to do a little research first so you'll recognize new birds you might see.

Binoculars are probably the most important piece of equipment for bird watching. You don't have to break the bank buying a pair, but you'll want to get some that can handle the weather and the terrain where you'll be.

Your binoculars should have some kind of stabilization built into them, especially if you'll be bird watching from a distance. They should also be able to work in low lighting, without fogging up.

Tracking birds while they're flying requires skill to locate them and track them quickly. The only way to get good at this is to practice so it's a good idea to do some practicing when you're not in the field. You can use your dog or your kids as a fast-moving practice.

Partnering up with someone else who enjoys bird watching can make it much more interesting. Two sets of eyes are better than one, and they might spot birds that you would have missed, and vice versa. They may also recognize different species than you so you can pool your knowledge.

Ronnie Booth writes about bird watching and other birding related topics for The Birding Guide website. Read more and sign up for the free newsletter at http://www.thebirdingguide.com

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Platform Bird Feeders

Platform Bird Feeders
What are platform bird feeders you may be wondering and what is their purpose with feeding birds? Well to put it simply a platform bird feeder is designed for birds who like to eat bird seed off of the ground. Platform bird feeders can be places slightly above ground, or the can be mounted off a deck a tree or a stump. You can also order a platform pole mount to mount your platform bird feeder on a pole.

The main difference between hanging bird feeders and platform bird feeders is that with a hanging bird feeder the bird seed is dispensed through a crack or a small opening in the bird feeder. With a platform bird feeder the bird seed is placed on a platform, or a plate and the birds peck the food from a pile or scattering.

With a platform bird feeder, or a tray bird feeder the birds that are attracted depends on the seeds, but if you are using a platform bird feeder, or fly thru feeder then you may end up seeing a cardinal and other various birds.

Platform bird feeders can also be squirrel proof. By having your platform bird feeder hang, squirrels are less likely to reach your bird seed, saving you money and allowing the various birds to eat. Some platform bird feeders, or tray bird feeders come with a screen big enough for the birds beaks, but too small for the hands of the squirrels, this is a great feature.

Platform bird feeders and tray bird feeders also know as ground bird feeders are easy to maintain and clean, and will bring different types of birds to your backyard than that of a hanging bird feeder. If you decide to buy a platform bird feeder, be sure that you have an adequate location in your yard before you make the purchase.

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About the Author: Visit http://www.aplusbirdfeeders.com for more great information on wild birds and bird feeders.

Pam Caouette is the main author for http://www.aplusbirdfeeders.com

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Birds - Teaching Your Parrot To Talk - Part 3

Birds - Teaching Your Parrot To Talk - Part 3
By: Michael Russell

Article Word Count: 761
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In this last of our series of teaching your bird to talk we're finally going to get into the training process itself.

The best time to teach your bird to talk, if at all possible, is when the bird is right out of its nest. It is best to start training your bird while it is still on formula. When birds are this young they bond much easier with people. Practice patience with your bird and it will respond well. Don't expect a young parrot to start talking right away. While it is still "clucking" for food it is not going to be interested in learning speech, but exposing them to words at this young an age will prepare them for when they are ready to talk. They will recognize words at this age even though they are too young to talk. Smaller parrots will begin to speak between 4 and 6 months while larger parrots will begin to speak between 6 and 12 months.

After a year most parrots will not learn any new words. Some may still learn a new word from time to time but for the most part their learning days are over. Therefore picking an older bird that is also afraid of people gives you almost no chance of coming away with a talker. As for the sex of the bird, males are much better talkers than females. The problem is many times it is not possible to tell the sex of a bird just by looking at it. A blood test is often required.

The best time of day to teach your bird to talk is either early in the morning or late at night. This corresponds with the times when birds gather to eat and congregate with other birds. During these times parrots are very noisy. Don't try to quiet them. Just get used to it.

In order to make learning easier, positive reinforcement is a great tool. When your bird begins to talk, reward it with food, but try to give him healthy snacks. As this reinforcement continues your parrot will more look forward to the training sessions.

When teaching your bird to talk, turn off all TV sets and radios. You want it absolutely quiet. Let in lots of sunlight. You need to be the center of the bird's attention. When you speak to it, the bird will take notice. Say the word you are teaching the bird in a loud clear voice and hesitate between each repetition of the word. Try to associate the word with some kind of action. Birds learn quicker this way.

When teaching a bird to name objects pick an object that is small and bright in color. If the bird gets the word reward it by giving the bird the object.

Some easy words for parrots to learn are grape, paper, box, corn, carrot, nail, water, treat, bean, and rock. So try starting with these words.

The first words your parrot learns will be the hardest. After that they will begin to come easier until the bird reaches the age where it can't learn any more.

Teaching your bird to talk can be a very fun and rewarding experience. Have patience and follow the above guidelines and you should find that your parrot develops quite a vocabulary. You may, however, have a lot of trouble getting him to be quiet.

Article Source: Birds Guide

Bird Feeders: Look Who's Coming to Dinner

Bird Feeders: Look Who's Coming to Dinner
by: Allen Shaw

Birds, birds, birds. They come in all shapes and sizes. They range in type from carnivores to herbivores. Birds have been the stars of their own movies. Birds have taught children the importance of personality over looks. Some are even the leaders of nations. Is it any wonder that bird watching is one of the world's most practiced hobbies.

People from all walks of life enjoy bird watching. Anyone can do it. All it requires is patience, a pair of binoculars and most importantly, a bird feeder. And there are many types. Depending what birds you want to attract will determine what kind of feeder to get.

Hummingbird feeders are the most popular and come in two styles; inverted and basin style. The feeder usually has a small receptacle in which a sugar solution is placed. It has an opening just big enough for the hummingbird to put its long beak. But the solution is really just an energy boost for the hummingbird. A hummingbird's main diet is gnats and other small bugs. Here's a hint when choosing a hummingbird feeder. Choose one that can be taken apart easily. Your feeder needs to be cleaned every three-to-four days due to the unfortunate clotting habit of the sugar and water solution.

If you are a Woody fan, you might consider a peanut feeder. Woodpeckers, starlings and titmice are big fans of peanuts. But be sure you purchase the peanuts from a dealer that supplies aflatoxin-free peanuts. Aflatoxin fungus can cause disease and death for some birds. Also, make sure the peanut feeder is built to keep out squirrels. Squirrels are the biggest enemy to the peanut feeder.

Hopper feeders are the type of feeder most people picture in their mind when they think of a bird feeder. Most look like a small house and have a tray at the bottom. Tray feeders attract chickadees, sparrows and blue jays. Sunflower seeds are the most popular feed for tray feeders. The bigger the feeder, the easier they are to clean.

Next on the agenda, tube feeders. Most tube feeders are made of a clear plastic and have holes drilled in the side with a small perch beside each hole to make the seed accessible to the bird. Tube feeders attract a large variety of smaller birds like finches, titmice and grosbeaks. When buying a tube feeder, look for ones with a large storage capacity. Also look for feeders with metal reinforcing to help keep out squirrels and larger birds. A tube feeder with a tray at the bottom will help catch the seeds that fall when the messy birds come to dinner.

Tray feeders are the simplest and least expensive types of feeders. They can be as simple as a plate from your kitchen cupboard. Because they hold less seed than other types of feeders, the ones made close to the ground are usually best. Tray feeders attract sparrows, doves, cardinals and other birds that prefer eating close to mother earth. When purchasing a tray feeder, look for ones that allow for drainage in case it rains.

But the number one thing you should look for when purchasing a feeder of any kind is convenience. Make sure they are easy to clean, easy to refill and durable. From personal experience, I have learned that once the birds get used to being fed in the same place at the same time every day, you can't get rid of the little buggers.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleCity.com/

Birds - Parakeet Care

Birds - Parakeet Care
By: Michael Russell
Article Word Count: 711
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Parakeets are one of America's most popular birds today. They make great pets because they are very friendly, have a cheerful disposition and are very entertaining. They also have very beautiful bright color varieties. Parakeets don't require a lot of maintenance or money.

Parakeets are also known as Budgies or Keets. They are one of the smallest members of the parrot family. They originate from a desert-like area of Australia where it doesn't rain much, which makes parakeets very hardy birds. There are a variety of colors, such as yellows, dark greens, pastel blues, purples, solid whites and many combinations of several colors. The average life span of parakeets is 8 to 12 years.

In the wild, parakeets are flocking birds so they are used to companionship, so it is best to get more than one. However, keep the birds separate when they are young so that they will get used to humans. When they get older then you can put them together. If you plan on keeping just one bird, you should play with it as much as possible. You should also put a mirror in the cage so that they won't feel so alone when you aren't there.

You should choose the largest cage that you can afford for your parakeet. It needs to be large enough so that he can comfortably move around. You will also need room for toys and perches. The minimum size is 20" X 12" X 18". Parakeets are very playful and inquisitive. Because of this, they enjoy playing with a variety of toys. They especially love shiny objects, bells, bright colors and objects they can move around with their beak. Be sure that the toys you purchase don't contain any small parts that your bird could swallow and choke on.

Lots of parakeets take a long time to build trust in their owners. It will probably be very shy when you first get one. Every day you should just put your finger in the cage in front of the bird. Eventually it will get the courage to get on your finger. If you have the patience your bird will learn to trust you, but some birds even can take months to build trust.

Parakeets love to sing and chirp. They seem to love when you play music and will often sing along. When you are gone, you might want to leave the radio on for them. Most parakeets won't learn to talk. However, it is possible to teach some of them if you are consistent.

Parakeets always need fresh food and water in the cage. They are vegetarians and like seeds, greens and fruits. Their food should have a large variety of millet seeds and grain. Ready made seed mixes are sold at pet stores and supermarkets. Other than the seed mix, you should also provide fresh greens. However, do not leave these in the cage long or they will spoil.

The best way to keep your bird healthy is by providing a good diet and by keeping the water and cage clean. Make sure you clean and sanitize all the toys and accessories in the cage also. Birds are very good at hiding illnesses so if you think your bird is acting strangely at all, be sure to take it to the vet.

Parakeets are fun to watch and make a great companion pet. If you provide the correct care for your bird and spend plenty of time with it, you will have a great pet for a long time to come.

Article Source: Birds Guide

Birds - Teaching Your Parrot To Talk - Part 2

By: Michael Russell
Article Word Count: 629
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In this article in our continuing series on teaching your bird to talk we're going to start with how to get ready and prepare your bird for his first words. This should help make it a lot easier when you teach your first child to speak.

The best place to keep your soon to be talking parrot is in the kitchen. The reason for this is that families spend a lot of time in the kitchen, especially during meals and your parrot will be exposed to a lot of talking, granted not all of it good or something you want your bird repeating in mixed company. The atmosphere in the kitchen is very relaxed which is good for your bird. A tense bird isn't going to say much. The smells in the kitchen from all the food is something that will also appeal to your bird and make him more prone to speak. Most people, while in the kitchen, because they are doing something they enjoy, eating, are relaxed. This in turn will make your bird relaxed. Once in this surrounding, give your bird at least a few weeks to get used to it before you even attempt to teach him to talk. If your bird is not shy, give it plenty of attention. If it is shy try to tame it before trying to get it to talk.

The key to getting a parrot to talk is to let it interact with people. Parrots are birds who are normally in large flocks. So depriving your parrot of company is going to make it unhappy. An unhappy parrot is not going to talk.

The way parrots learn to talk is through a one on one relationship with their owners. Never have more than one parrot in the room or even in a room nearby. Your parrot must be the center of your attention. It is almost impossible to teach two birds to talk at the same time. If you do have more than one bird then work with each one separately and make sure they are a good distance from each other so they are unaware of the other's presence.

If you want to have the best chance of getting your bird to talk you must feed it properly. Proper nutrition is not a luxury. It is a must. Birds that are fed a steady diet of sunflower or safflower seeds are always duller and not as aware of their surroundings as birds fed pelleted diets. This is because seed diets are poor nutritionally. If you want your parrot to live a long healthy and happy life gradually shift its diet from seeds to a name brand pelleted diet. The way you do this is by mixing pelleted diet food in with the seeds at the start and then gradually removing the seeds completely. You will be absolutely amazed at the change this makes in your bird's disposition and health.

In the next article of this series we're going to cover the actual training of your bird.


Article Source: Birds Guide

Foods That You Can Feed Your Parrot

Foods That You Can Feed Your Parrot
By Low Jeremy

When children hear about parrots, the first thing that comes to mind is that this bird is usually on the shoulder of a pirate and it can talk.

Though this creature has a habit of wanting and eating a cracker, studies have shown that this magnificent and colorful animal needs more than that in order to maintain a healthy diet.

By following these simple tips, the person can find other things, which are also essential to the parrot’s diet.

1. Parrots should have also have some vegetables, cooked meats and grains just like humans. This is because these creatures need the same nutrients that people get from eating such produce.

2. A healthy diet also means giving the parrot the right portions in each meal. If the owner gives too much, this should be reduced. This will take some time to get it right so the individual should just monitor the volume each time this is given to the animal.

3. Parrots get sick very easily. If there is excess food in the plate, this should be removed because this becomes the breeding ground for bacteria and molds.

4. Aside from food, the parrot must also be given a fresh supply of water daily. This will avoid making the bird dehydrated, which can also cause it to get sick.

5. Many people see pet owners giving seeds and nuts frequently to the parrot. Studies have shown this should be done sparingly because it does not provide that much nutrients, which are needed for the bird’s diet.

6. Though parrots may eat almost anything that humans eat, these following should never be given. These are chocolates, avocados, caffeine, alcohol, kidney and lima beans.

7. Parrots should be fed twice day and enjoy it if the food is mixed in water in the bowl. It is advisable for the pet owner to wash the dish first before and after each meal to make sure it is free from bacteria and other germs that could endanger the life of the bird.

These are just a few tips in feeding the parrot. The owner can read up more by buying a book or doing some research on the Internet.

Before buying any food for the parrot, it will also be a good idea to seek the advice of a veterinarian. This specialist can check on the bird and recommend the proper items to be bought from the pet store.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Pet Parrots, please visit http://pet-parrot.articlekeep.com

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Foods-That-You-Can-Feed-Your-Parrot&id=320000

Bird Feeders: Look Who's Coming to Dinner

Bird Feeders: Look Who's Coming to Dinner
by: Allen Shaw

Birds, birds, birds. They come in all shapes and sizes. They range in type from carnivores to herbivores. Birds have been the stars of their own movies. Birds have taught children the importance of personality over looks. Some are even the leaders of nations. Is it any wonder that bird watching is one of the world's most practiced hobbies.

People from all walks of life enjoy bird watching. Anyone can do it. All it requires is patience, a pair of binoculars and most importantly, a bird feeder. And there are many types. Depending what birds you want to attract will determine what kind of feeder to get.

Hummingbird feeders are the most popular and come in two styles; inverted and basin style. The feeder usually has a small receptacle in which a sugar solution is placed. It has an opening just big enough for the hummingbird to put its long beak. But the solution is really just an energy boost for the hummingbird. A hummingbird's main diet is gnats and other small bugs. Here's a hint when choosing a hummingbird feeder. Choose one that can be taken apart easily. Your feeder needs to be cleaned every three-to-four days due to the unfortunate clotting habit of the sugar and water solution.

If you are a Woody fan, you might consider a peanut feeder. Woodpeckers, starlings and titmice are big fans of peanuts. But be sure you purchase the peanuts from a dealer that supplies aflatoxin-free peanuts. Aflatoxin fungus can cause disease and death for some birds. Also, make sure the peanut feeder is built to keep out squirrels. Squirrels are the biggest enemy to the peanut feeder.

Hopper feeders are the type of feeder most people picture in their mind when they think of a bird feeder. Most look like a small house and have a tray at the bottom. Tray feeders attract chickadees, sparrows and blue jays. Sunflower seeds are the most popular feed for tray feeders. The bigger the feeder, the easier they are to clean.

Next on the agenda, tube feeders. Most tube feeders are made of a clear plastic and have holes drilled in the side with a small perch beside each hole to make the seed accessible to the bird. Tube feeders attract a large variety of smaller birds like finches, titmice and grosbeaks. When buying a tube feeder, look for ones with a large storage capacity. Also look for feeders with metal reinforcing to help keep out squirrels and larger birds. A tube feeder with a tray at the bottom will help catch the seeds that fall when the messy birds come to dinner.

Tray feeders are the simplest and least expensive types of feeders. They can be as simple as a plate from your kitchen cupboard. Because they hold less seed than other types of feeders, the ones made close to the ground are usually best. Tray feeders attract sparrows, doves, cardinals and other birds that prefer eating close to mother earth. When purchasing a tray feeder, look for ones that allow for drainage in case it rains.

But the number one thing you should look for when purchasing a feeder of any kind is convenience. Make sure they are easy to clean, easy to refill and durable. From personal experience, I have learned that once the birds get used to being fed in the same place at the same time every day, you can't get rid of the little buggers.
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Watching Birds Eases Isolation

Watching Birds Eases Isolation
By Mike Selvon

The opportunity to set up a backyard bird watching station is ideal for many elderly and shut-ins who enjoy watching birds. Locating a feeding station in a place where it is visible from a large window creates a natural theater for nature lovers to observe, take notes on, and participate in the lives of the birds who come to depend on them for food. There are many benefits to be derived from setting up a bird watching station for the elderly and shut-ins.

Watching birds in the backyard is an excelent way to pass the time. For a shut-in, time can begin to creep. When one is unable to be active, seconds can turn into minutes and minutes can turn into hours. Since their bodies will not allow them to be out, they struggle to keep their minds busy. An activity like bird watching helps the ticking of those minutes and seconds and gives shut-ins a chance to enjoy a full day.

Another feature of watching birds that can be useful to shut-ins is the fact that it can, if they so desire, involve research. This research can help them to keep their minds sharp as they read, memorize, and track which birds are coming to their feeder. They may take a great deal of joy in keeping a notebook and beginning to understand the traffic patterns and behaviors of certain birds. Watching birds through a bird watching picture window with a pair of binoculars is much more mentally stimulating than staring at the television set all day.

Since many birds return to the same places to winter each year, and conversely, to the same spring and summer locations to nest, shut-ins may take a great deal of delight as they learn to identify the same birds that return seasonally year after year. By keeping a notebook documenting physical descriptions and behaviors, they will be able to track each bird's comings and goings and look forward to that bird's yearly return.

A problem that can plague some shut-ins is an over-riding feeling of uselessness. Setting up a bird feeder and building a community of birds that comes to count on it for food can eliminate this feeling. If a shut-in knows that the birds are counting on them, then the shut-in may feel as though this project is suddenly bigger than just watching birds. It has suddenly become a responsibility. Typically, that is a good thing.

If you are serious about creating a backyard space that is devoted to bird watching, do not be afraid to look to your local clubs and societies for advice. You will find that most bird watching enthusiasts are eager and willing to share their information if it will be helpful to others.

Mike Selvon is the owner of various niche portal. Our bird feeder portal contains some useful information on bird watching. While you are there don't forget to claim your free gift.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon
http://EzineArticles.com/?Watching-Birds-Eases-Isolation&id=559249

Birds - Teaching Your Parrot To Talk - Part I

Birds - Teaching Your Parrot To Talk - Part I
By Michael Russell

In this article we're going to discuss how to teach your parrot to speak. Getting him to shut up afterwards is another thing altogether.
Don't you find it amazing that something other than a human being can actually speak the English Language or any language for that matter? Parrots are certainly an interesting species of bird. For that matter they're just plain interesting, period.

Well, if you want to teach your parrot to talk the first thing you're going to have to do is carefully pick the breed of parrot. Some breeds talk better than others.
The smaller species of parrot sometimes have a difficult time learning how to speak and when they finally do, their speech can be very difficult to understand. Parakeets, ringnecks, alexandrine, plumheads, cockatiels, conures, lorikeets and lovebirds are not your best talkers. Oh sure, there is always the exception among these but the general rule is, don't expect too much. So if talking ability is important to you then stay away from this lot.
Your best bet to come away with a bird that you can teach to recite the Gettysberg address is a red tailed, African Gray parrot. In general, these birds have amazing talking abilities, but every now and then you're going to run into one who just refuses to say a word. The reason for this is a puzzle to us all.

If you're looking at New World Amazon parrots, your best bets for the talkers are the Yellow Napes, Blue Fronts and Double Yellowheads. However, these birds have to be exposed to speech at a very young age or the chances of them talking is slim to none. Any Amazon parrot with a yellow head is usually a good talker. Macaws are okay talkers but not great. When they learn to talk they have very loud scratchy voices and a very limited vocabulary. Cockatoos can also be taught to speak but, like macaws, they usually have a very limited vocabulary. However, unlike macaws, they have rather sweet soft voices.

The next thing you have to do is choose a bird with just the right temperament. You should never pick a bird that is afraid and shy. Your best talkers are usually birds that are mean biters. So if you don't mind having to keep a supply of Band-Aids around you'll do just fine. Birds that cower will never learn to talk. The more aggressive they are the better. Birds that laugh a lot and constrict their pupils are not showing fear but definite aggression. Just don't get too close.
If at all possible, try to choose a bird that is still being hand fed. Most likely you will have to get these birds from a breeder rather than from a pet store. Birds that are this young usually still have pinfeathers sticking out of their head and neck.
In our next article in this series we're going to go over how to prepare to teach your bird how to speak, how to feed it, when to start training and a number of other important things you should know.
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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Birds

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Birds---Teaching-Your-Parrot-To-Talk---Part-I&id=128158

Free Trivia Questions: For The Birds

Birding Tours - What Bird Lovers Need To Know

Bird Watching for Beginners

Bird Watching for Beginners

Author: Louis Merz
Bird watching has become a sport that has been around for many years. Also known as birding people of many ages enjoy one of the fastest growing hobbies in America. People of all ages enjoy searching for birds in their region, watching them in their natural habitat and enjoying listening to the different songs. As fascinating as they are birds can reveal many things about nature and the beauty surrounding them.
The sights and sounds of nature are very familiar to the keen eyes and ears of a bird watcher. By catching a one-second glimpse of a bird darting through the woods along with a musical note sounding like a chirp only a bird watcher can tell you the general species of the bird and even narrow it down to the exact bird.
With over 900 + species of birds found in the United States, birders must quickly be able to distinguish birds by analyzing a lot of information such as call notes, color patterns, and the shape of their wings and bills. It takes an observant person to see a strange bird and analyze how the bird moves, flies and reacts in its environment. Many months of hard work is what it takes for a beginner bird watcher to grasp the techniques and be able to distinguish one bird from the next. Like learning an instrument, patience is the key and most important of all being able to enjoy the scenery and beauty of bird watching.
Why are so many people fascinated with birds even to the point of spending long hours watching them? Birds have long delighted people all over the world because of their beauty and power of flight. There are thousands of species all unique, mysterious and beautiful to the human eye. Historically, the Romans believed the flight and calls of birds could foretell the future. Today modern science uses birds and changes in their health and population as warnings of problems in their environment.
Watching birds helps people understand the fascination of how they relate to nature. We watch birds with interest party because of how accessible they are. Wherever we go they are there, and we share the environment with birds more than any other creature except insects. One reason people are compelled to watch birds is because of how amazingly different they are from one area to the next. You may find the same species of birds from one country to the next but notice they are entirely different in looks and the way they interact with the environment.
As mentioned before birds are amazing creatures. Be sure to give bird watching a try and give yourself a chance to enjoy the beauty of birds in the wild and the peace that comes with exploring nature.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/bird-watching-for-beginners-186693.html

About the Author:
Louis Merz a informational product writer enjoys providing quality information on a wide variety of topics. His latest quality bird feeder website provides in depth quality information about birds and how to chose the right feeders for bird watching.

Bluebirds

The bluebirds are a medium-size bird in the bird family, largely feed on insects or feed on both animal and vegetable substances. These birds are in the genus Sialia of the thrush household Turdidae. These are one of the comparatively few thrush genera to be confined to the Americas. As the figure implies, these are appealing birds with dark blue, or dark blue and crimson, feathers. Female birds have a duller color than males, although various shades and patterns are related and there is no evident disagreement in size between sexes. Bluebirds raise two or three families of three to six insect-devouring young each year, from March through August. The female builds a neat, cup-shaped nest of grass. She lays one sky-blue egg each day for three to six days and incubates them for two weeks. Both adults feed the young for two and a half weeks. When the young leave the nest the male teaches them to hunt, while the female takes a rest or builds a new nest.If you are serious about bird watching. Get a good pair of bird watching Binoculars! If you want a bluebird poster for your room Bluebird Posters at AllPosters.com

Choosing Among the Best Exotic Pet Birds

Learn Everything There Is To Know About Parrots Sounds

Learn Everything There Is To Know About Parrots Sounds by Dane Stanton

Nowadays parrots have become very desired and popular pets for bird-fanciers. Of course, one the reasons is the bright colors of the birds plumage. But another and the most important motive is parrots ability to reproduce human speech. In wild environment parrot sounds seem to be incomprehensible and similar to each other it is just a noise. But in captivity the birds try to imitate the sounds which surround them, and it results in making something cognate out of chaotic parrot sounds.
Pros and cons
The phenomenon of parrot sounds conversion to human speech has always been sprightly discussed. After the birds ability to speak had been found out, a lot of people did their best in attempting to teach their pet birds as many words as possible. There are cases when parrots learnt up to 800 English words! Some of the birds owners state that they have succeeded even in teaching their parrots to count and to answer simple questions!
No doubt, it is hard to believe that a bird can have such intellectual faculties. Some people argue against the fact that parrots are able to reunite pronunciation of a word with its meaning. A parrot can say hello, but it may mean something different to the bird, depending on its feelings and the situation. Again, it is disputable, for some parrots are known to speak quite deliberately for example, they may ask to feed them.
What Parrot Breeds Are the Best Chatterers?
The ability to talk in many respects depends on the parrot breed. The birds use their tongue to reproduce speech, therefore some of the parrot breeds can learn to speak successfully and some fail to do that they may understand some requirements and remarks, but they are not able to turn parrot sounds into an understandable answer.
African Grey Parrot is considered to be the most capable breed. These parrots have an amazing ability to remember words and melodies due to their absolute pitch. It is African Grey Parrots that may learn a huge amount of words and even make sentences of them. The researches managed to teach these parrots to name dozens of objects, to ask for them, and even to define the color and the form.
You should not be upset if your bird pet is not as talented as African Grey. All parrot breeds are unique and have their own advantages. You should not doubt in the fact that all parrot sounds always express something important for the birds. After all, your parrot may create its own language with your help, and you may understand parrot sounds without wasting words.

If you want to know more about Parrots including free information, reviews and much more, or you want to join our FREE Online Parrot Training Course then please visit www.parrottrainingreview.com or for more free articles about parrots visit parrottrainingreview.com/parrottraining

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Dealing With Macaw Parrots

Dealing With Macaw Parrots
Author: Low Jeremy
Added: March 27, 2007
Among the parrot family, Macaw parrots are known to have the largest number of members. According to studies, these colorful, flamboyant, and captivating birds have inhabited the planet ever since and there are actually at least 18 species of macaws recognized today.
Characterized by their playful nature, Macaw parrots have earned a hefty reputation of being one of the most interesting birds because of their high intelligence and beauty. Hailing from South and Central America as well as from the Caribbean islands, macaw parrots have been legendary for possessing a unique personality and lovable characteristics, which makes them loyal and great companion parrots.
But, despite of its superb potentials, most people say that Macaw parrots are not good pets because they possess destructive tendencies, raucousness, demanding, and very noisy large birds.
Macaw parrots are not among those most favorite parrot pets because they screech so loud that most owners cannot tolerate. Aside from being creating loud noise, macaw parrots also have a reputation of being very demanding birds.
If you are planning to purchase a Macaw parrot for a pet bird, you have to have a great deal of knowledge and research about the nature and characteristic of macaw parrots species so you would have an idea how to take care of them. Although this parrot specie is not the most suitable parrot pet an owner can have, these large birds can live from 25 to 80 years and even beyond if taken care of properly.

Understanding Macaw parrots

Among the so many species of macaw parrots, the most popular include the Blue and Gold Macaw, Blue and Yellow Macaw which are the most available and popular kind of macaw parrot for being adaptable, playful, curious, and fun loving; Scarlet Macaw, Red and Yellow Macaw which are considered as among the top ten of the worlds most beautiful parrots; Greenwing Macaw, Maroon Macaw, Red and Green Macaw, Red and Blue Macaw which are extremely intelligent and inquisitive ones; Military Macaw that has fine talking skills and a pleasant behavior; Red Fronted Macaw, Red Crown or Crowned Macaw which are among the sweetest and amiable parrots; Hyacinthine or Hyacinth Macaw which is the largest among the parrot family; Hahn's Down which are full blooded Macaws which are talkative and thrive in attention; and Severe Macaw which is an uncommon pet bird because of its small size.

Here are some points to consider before buying a macaw parrot:
1. Talking Ability. These parrots are not considered excellent talkers but have high capabilities for speech and can be very good at language interaction.
2. Personality. Macaw parrots are among the most demanding pet parrots there are so you better make sure that you can spend enough time to interact with your parrot. Because of its violent tendencies, owning a macaw parrot is not advisable for parents that have little children.
3. Basic necessities. Since they can be quite demanding and destructive if not given the proper care, you must make sure that you can provide the things the macaw parrot might need such as toys, acrobatics and love ropes, big and secure cage and proper diet.
4. Biting and Taming. Because of its complex personality, macaw parrots can be extremely aggressive if not handled properly. Bear in mind that macaw parrots' temperament changes as time goes by so you better brace yourself for the best or the worst attitude this bird can exhibit.
About The Author: For more information on Pet Parrot & other useful information, please visit http://pet-parrot.articlekeep.com.This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

How To Raise A Well Adjusted African Grey Parrot

How To Raise A Well Adjusted African Grey Parrot

I’ve recently been handling lots of new clients in my parrot training business, coaching them through issues and spending a lot of time thinking about why parrots end up having problems when it hit me… African Grey Parrots are the 2nd most likely parrot to develop behavior problems; Second only to the Cockatoo. But unlike Cockatoo’s who are in my opinion are not a good bird for the regular parrot owner to own because of it’s nature… African grey Parrots don’t share the Cockatoo’s same nature. So why do I have so many clients who’s African Grey’s have problems?
So I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on this topic with you…
There are a lot of things involved in keeping an African Grey Parrot happy than
normal people would like to believe. Most of my clients think they can just walk
into any pet shop that sells hand fed baby African Grey’s and think their bird
will end up being perfect. Oh… if they only knew how much more was involved.
African Grey’s can tend to be a skittish type of parrot that spooks easily, gets
stressed easily and develops lots of phobias and behavior issues. But there also
the smartest breed of bird and through proper handling, similar to the ones
described in this article and on my website athttp://www.birdtricks.com/african_grey_problems.htm, can be nothing short of amazing.
So even though I could sit here for weeks writing 743 articles on all the
different things you need to do to make sure your African Grey Parrot is happy.
But instead I’m going to focus on just one thing… TOYS!
Now don’t go clicking off the page just yet because you think you know that your
African Grey needs toys. I’m not trying to be condescending, and I know you
already know that toys are important.But do you know how often your African Grey’s toys should be rotated or changed? And better yet are you changing your birds toysfrequently? Has your African Grey had a toy in his cage for longer than a month or two? These are all important questions to ask, because African Grey Parrots are
extremely intelligent and need to be placed in stimulating environments to
remain happy.This means they need their toys constantly rotated in and out of their cages. They need their toys hung from different parts of their cage.
You should be constantly searching for different shapes and textures of toy for
your African grey to interact with. Toys that are chewable, destructible, touch
to chew, easy to chew etc.The key to a great stimulating environment boils down to rotating your African Grey’s toys at least ever 2 weeks. And if you see a toy isn’t being touched or destroyed first see if changing up it’s placement in the cageworks… often that’s enough to get the bird to start playing with it.
If rotating the toys location doesn’t work, and you still don’t see the toy
getting destroyed, than you should give up on that toy, remove it from his cage
and replace with something different. If you don’t… you risk the chance of an otherwise intelligent creature getting manic and bored and a bit psycho on you in the near future.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author:

Chet Womach owns and operates a parrot training newsletter packed with tips
for African Grey owners which can be found at

http://www.birdtricks.com/african-grey-parrot.html

Canada Geese

Canada Geese


By Emma Snow [ 19/12/2006 ]
[ viewed 103 times ]



Canada Geese are more family-oriented than many other species of waterfowl. Adults mate for life, although a widow will often choose another mate. Pairs look for appropriate nesting sites in early spring, just as soon as there is open water for mating, and snow-free sites for nesting. Together, they use grass and plant material to build their nests, lining it with feather down. When the nest is ready, the male, called a gander, will guard the area as his mate lays her eggs. An average clutch is five to seven eggs, but it can be as low as two or as high as twelve. Each egg will take a day of more to lay, and incubation lasts about a month.

Both goose and gander are present when the eggs begin to hatch. Goslings use their sharp egg teeth to peck their way out of their shells, an arduous task that can take a full day or two. These newly hatched babies resemble ducklings, with yellow and gray feathers and dark bills; but within a week they will have changed into awkward-looking, fuzzy gray birds. Once out of their eggs, goslings are able to swim immediately, and will enter the water accompanied by both parents. There they will begin their first task of diving and eating. They must eat continually in order to grow sufficiently for their first flight. Newly-hatched goslings can dive 30-40 feet underwater for nutritious, aquatic plants.



At nine or ten weeks of age, goslings have grown their flight feathers and look like smaller versions of their parents. Canada Geese are easily identifiable with their long black necks and heads and contrasting white cheek and throats. Their back, upper wings, and flank areas are brown capes draped over nearly white breasts and bellies. Short black tails, black legs and black webbed feet are visible when they waddle across an open field. While Canada Geese range in size, they are typically 20-50 inches long, with a 50-68 inch wingspan. The largest varieties are called honkers, while smaller geese, one fourth the size, are called cacklers.

The first two months of a gosling's life its entire goose family is earth-bound. Ganders molt directly after mating, and geese molt shortly after her eggs hatch. Unable to fly, the family abandons the nest on foot to find better feeding areas. Adults will have re-grown their new feathers just in time to give their young their first flying lesson.



Few birds are as vocal as Canada Geese, and some say they encourage each other as they take their challenging journey. If you listen carefully, you can determine the gender of the goose by their vocalizations. Ganders speak in a low-pitched honk, while geese use a high-pitched hink. Goslings have a soft, wheezy call.

The journey is made easier by flying in V-formation. By flying in formation, the flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates uplift for those following behind. The geese take turns in the point position, as tired birds rotate back. If a goose is wounded or falls out of formation for any other reason, two of its flock will stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they will join another formation or catch up with their flock.

Canaa Geese, though common, are fascinating creatures. In the words of Milton Olson, we can learn a lot from a goose!

About the Author
Emma Snow has always adored wild animals. Emma provides content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com and Riding Stable http://www.riding-stable.com.

Birding-Where to find the Birds

Birding – Where to Find the Birds

By rick chapo [ 26/08/2006 ]
[ viewed 218 times ]


Once you catch the bird watching fever, you are doomed. You will always find yourself looking for new viewing spots. Here is a quick primer on where to find them.

Birding – Where to Find the Birds

Whether you are traveling to a far off land or just walking around your neighborhood, you can find prime bird watching spots by following a few general rules. Birds tend to be creatures of habit [or habitat] much like humans. Specifically, certain birds always seem to show up in the same types of places. This gives you a little insight to when and where you can catch a view of them.

Alas, wooded areas are harder and harder to find as civilization spreads its winds in community developments. Urban sprawl has definitely taken a bit out of natural wooded areas. If you are fortunate enough to still live near some, you can find a bevy of sightings along the border of such areas. Obviously, bird species are different in every part of the country, but you can expect to see at least some of the following species – flycatchers, warblers, owls and the occasional hawk.

If you live along the coast of the ocean, you probably already know that sightings are as easy as heading to the beach. Since you need to go early for the best sightings, you get the extra advantage of finding a prime parking spot during the busy summer months. Depending on the habitat along your coast, you can expect to see some form of sandpipers, plovers and many other shorebirds. If you are lucky, herons and egrets may be in your area as well.

If you live near marshes or flooded areas, you are probably sick of mosquitoes and the like. The good news is you are in prime birding land. Where there are bugs, there are birds galore. You can expect to see species such as bitterns, blackbirds, wrens, sparrows, flycatchers and warblers. Just make sure you take the bug repellant with you!

As an aside, there are some man made areas that are excellent for birding. If you live near a dam, winter viewing can be excellent. For non-migratory birds, the flowing water around dams is an attraction.

Finally, there is one thing you can do when all else fails. Just get out there and start looking around. About the author:

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - makers of bird watching journals.


Article Source: www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

An Insight on Bird Cage Covers

An Insight on Bird Cage Covers
By Daniel Roshard

An insight on Bird Cage Covers - Birds are common pets found in almost every household. But birds are not easy pets to maintain. Unlike other pets, birds can fly. Hence the need for a cage is much more as they have to be kept contained. A traditional bird cage will have a perch in the centre, a crossbar for the bird to sit on and the floor of the cage is usually covered with something like sand paper or something that can be changed easily.

For your bird to be healthy, it needs 12 hours of sleep when compared to humans who can do away with 6 to 8 hours of sleep. Birds are very sensitive to light which means that in some areas where the nights are shorter, birds will have trouble getting their 12 hours of sleep in. This is where the need to bird cage covers arises.

A bird cage covers helps us to adjust the amount of light that enters the cage. Bird cage covers can act as a sound deterrent for both us and the bird. When the bird needs its beauty sleep, bird cage covers will ensure that it does not get disturbed by the surrounding noises while reducing the noise that can come out of your bird cage. Also cage covers will help you to keep the bird dust within the cage and stop it from dispersing around. It can also help you keep the bird away from dust and unwanted air particles.

Bird cages also can block the cold air from entering the cage thereby keeping the cage warmer during cold months. Also birds need some sunlight daily, so bird cage covers can help you to regulate the amount of sunlight entering the bird cage. And also in the night it can keep the cage dark if your pet bird likes to be in the dark to sleep.

As time goes on, the birds will take the cage covers to be a signal that its time to sleep and also with proper training make sure that once the cage covers are on it should be quiet. Bird cage covers are widely available in all per shops at different price slabs. If you have an old sheet or pillow cover, that can be used as a bird cage cover too with some adjustments. But always make sure that the material you use is ideal for a bird cage cover. Birds are curious so there could be a situation where your bird could get tangled in the cage cover.

The main purpose of a bird cage cover is to provide a quiet, dark area for your bird to sleep. Lack of enough sleep can result in your bird developing health and behavior problems. There are some who feel that keeping birds in bird cages are inhuman. They feel it is more like jailing a bird. We can’t change the way some people think. But we should try to do whatever we can to make our pet comfortable. A bird cage cover would be something that you would give your bird to make sure that it is comfortable even within a cage.

Learn more about Bird Cage Covers at http://birdcage.advice-tips.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Roshard
http://EzineArticles.com/?An-Insight-on-Bird-Cage-Covers&id=562729

Pet Bird Cage

A bird cage is a cage designed to house your pet bird. While it is easy to hold a small pet bird in a tiny place, larger pet birds need larger cages, and it is often best to buy the largest cage you perhaps can for your pet bird. Keeping a pet bird in a cage that's overly tiny will definitely not make your pet bird happy. A better cage should be big enough for your pet bird to walk around comfortably, and be able to stretch and flap their wings. Their must be enough space to add your pet bird’s toys, perches, and food! Make sure that the bars on the bird cage are not spaced to far apart for your pet bird the big problem isn’t that they can fit through and escape but rather that they can get stuck, particularly their heads, and injure themselves and even break their necks. You can also contact your avian vet for recommended cage sizes for your specific pet bird. You
can line the bottom of the pet bird cage with newspaper, brown paper bags, or paper towels. Make sure not to use the colored ink part of the newspaper or the glossy printed pages as it might contain lead. The liner of the cage should be replaced daily and the new liner should be clean and free of any droppings.

Bird Trivia!

Finch As A Pet Bird!

Finches can be kept as a pet bird. Finch is the name given to birds that lie to a household of seedeaters. Many finches sing attractively but not all Finches sing. Most species have boring colors, but a few are brilliantly colored. All have steep, pointed conical bills, strong enough to break seeds. Finches as a pet bird usually have a lifespan of approximately 5 years to approx. 9 years. There is such a broad diversity of finches! There length in size is from approx. 3 inches up to approx. 7 inches. Most Finches as a pet bird do not like to be handled. Finches like to be fed and given water daily. How to care for your Pet Bird!

Watching Birds

No matter where you reside -- in a tenement, duplex, or single family home, in an urban area, or a rural area. Quietly stand still and you can hear them: wild birds. It's hard to visualize our existence without them.
The art of watching birds is one of the quickest growing pastimes in the country. It's easy to comprehend why. Birds are enjoyable to watch.
And you can see them just about anywhere. The easiest place to begin is in your own yard. All it takes to have their care is water, nutrient, and a spot to construct a nest. Greater then twenty four types of birds in North American will nest in bird houses. The ensuing depictions will help you decide which birds might come to your living area.
1. Bluebirds
2. Robins
3. Chikadees, Nuthatches, Titmice

4. Brown Creepers and Prothonotary Warblers

5. Wrens

6. Tree and Violet-Green Swallows

7. Barn Swallows and Phoebes
8. Purple Martins

9. Flycatchers

10. Woodpeckers

11. Owls

12. And other types not mentioned

To get a close up view of these different birds you will need a set of Binoculars

Interesting Facts About Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds cannot be kept as a pet bird, because it is unlawful in the USA and some other countries. Being really susceptible and hard to adjust, these little creatures cannot be kept in imprisonment, but should survive in their normal habitat. Hummingbirds are drawn to different blossoming plants particularly those with crimson flowers. They eat on the nectar of these blossoming plants and are significant pollinators, particularly of long petal flowers. Most types of hummingbird also consume insects, particularly when feeding their young. The smallest hummingbird is the bee hummingbird, a native of Cuba. It is about 2 inches long and weighs about one one-tenth of an ounce. The nest of the bee hummingbird is the size of half a walnut shell. A more common hummingbird, such as the Rufous Hummingbird, weighs roughly 2.9-3.1 grams and has a length of about 3.6-4.1 inches. The largest hummingbird is the Giant Hummingbird, with some weighing up to 24 grams. Hummingbirds are tiny birds in the household. It is acknowledged they have the ability to loom in mid-air by quickly flapping their wings, 15 to 75 beats per second (depending on the type of species). The Largest hummingbird can flap it’s wings 8-10 beats per second, the medium sized hummingbird can flap it’s wings about 22-25 beats per second and the smallest hummingbird approx. 70 beats per second. Able to suspend in mid air, they have the power to flee intentionally backward or vertically, and to preserve stance while drinking from the blossom of the nectar of flowers. Hummingbirds are named for the feature humming audio made by the flapping wings. Hummingbirds like nectar. A direction for making homemade hummingbird nectar is: Mix 1 part sugar (cane sugar) with 4 parts water and take to a boil to destroy any bacterium or mold. Cool and fill the humming bird feeder. This nectar should last only a few days. Extra nectar may be stored in the refrigerator. Red dye should not be added. Honey should not be used for hummingbirds as it can be harmful to them. The left over nectar can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Clean the hummingbird feeder at least once a week with a vinegar solution or a 10% bleach solution.

Why Do Birds Fly Into Glass?

Unfortunately, the glass window which is a portal to see the outside world for us is really a roadblock to birds. . Both tinted and clear-cut glass are invisble to birds, who view a plant or tree in the expression of the window, misconstrue it as a secure oasis, and fly towards it crashing into the window. Tips To Help Prevent Birds From Crashing Into Windows!

1. Place feeders and bird baths approx. 30 feet from windows

or within 3 feet of window which the bird has to slow down.

2. Hang sun ornaments or other materials. You can use wind chimes.

3. Place up vertical blinds and keep them slightly closed.

4. Screens over the windows are a good barrier.

Despite Our Best Efforts Birds Will Continue To Fly Into Our Homes And Offices. If a bird does crash into your window and seem injured you can contact: 1. Your local animal shelter or division of your Humane Society.

2. Your local veterinarian.

3. or your state Division of Natural Resources.

4. or The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association at (320) 259-4086.

5. or The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council at (408) 271-2685.

Pet Bird

Welcome to my pet bird blog. Here you will learn about pet bird care and tips on pet bird feeders and houses. Some interesting facts on birds to follow!