Jasper Budgie

This is Jasper. He is eleven years old and has liver disease and gout. When he stays with me, he gets special attention. He is on medications and can occasionally go into "episodes" where he stops eating and goes into a dive. This happened over the weekend. He really had me scared. His parents left me detailed instructions on caring for him. When I saw him idle and resting too much, I went into action. I increased his meds as instructed and fed him warm baby food with a syringe every two hours. This usually gets him primed to eat on his own. However, this time, he didn't eat. He was getting weaker so I moved him to a hospital set up. I put a heating pad under half of a carrier lined with towels. I scattered his seeds on the floor of the carrier and covered it up. This allowed him to rest and not expend energy trying to perch. I continued to feed the baby food and kept him in the warmed carrier. But since I couldn't observe his energy level and didn't know if he was eating seeds, I moved him to his cage for a while during the day on Sunday. He was weak and couldn't get around very well. He ate a little but I put him back into the warmed carrier for the night. This was the longest episode that I had ever experienced with Jasper. This morning (Monday) Jasper was chirping and active! I was so relieved and I can happily report that he is now back in his cage and playing with his bell! Whew! His messy face is my fault! He will get cleaned up tomorrow. Right now, I'm just glad to see him happy and chirpy.

COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTBULBS

I want to post a warning about the dangers of those Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs that we are all encouraged to use. I use them too, but I wasn't fully aware that if they get broken, they release mercury! Safe cleanup precautions: If a CFL breaks in your home, open nearby windows to disperse any vapor that may escape, carefully sweep up the fragments (do not use your hands) and wipe the area with a disposable paper towel to remove all glass fragments. Do not use a vacuum. Place all fragments in a sealed plastic bag and follow disposal
instructions above. Obviously extreme precautions must be taken if there is a parrot or any pet in the area!
This is just a cute photo that I snapped of Buster watching Aidan cleaning the cages. "Whatcha Doin?" can get a little tiring after the umteenth time!

The wall hanging is actually a foam waffle mattress pad covered with a cloth shower curtain. This is a sound deadening device for the "loud room". Buster was just visiting to supervise Aidan!

Parrots and TV

Some parrots enjoy watching TV. They can certainly see it and, although high resolution is probably more enjoyable for them, as it is for us, the old fashion TVs are adequate for short periods.


Wouldn't it be a grand excuse though to go buy a new set! Chauncey here is positioned near my dining room TV. He tolerates my shows like The View and CNN, but he shows a completely different response to children's television. Observations are clear that what they see affects them. With Chauncey, he is obviously entertained by calm shows that are meant for young children. (see top photo) However, when the program escalates to a more high energy...so does he! (Lower photo was taken just before he started singing!) This isn't bad in Chauncey's case because he is a high energy bird and this allows him to expend some of this!

I have found, however, that TV isn't for every bird. When I have it on in my "noisy room" where Lucy, Molly, and Josey are located, they get overly agitated. I do not feel they are entertained, just annoyed. Therefore, no TV is left on for them!

Buster, my calm and conservative grey, seems to really enjoy the cooking channel. This is the channel I will turn on for birds that I visit. There's something about the one-on-one eye-to-eye connection with the viewing audience that is captivating to a parrot. I don't think it hurts that the topic is food either!

I have a TV in every room, including each bird area. It isn't a substitute for interaction with people but it is entertainment! After all, these guys are highly intelligent and need multiple ways to alleviate boredom.

BAMBOO IN THE HOUSE?

On Sunday I planned to go down to San Ramon to take in a Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue class. It was hot out so I decided to keep the parrots indoors which made me feel guilty. My good friend Mary was generous enough to bring a bunch of freshly cut bamboo from her garden. We gave each cage a branch and the parrots were quick to start the denuding. Well, Molly was a bit skeptical, but she soon took part in the fun. I came home in the afternoon to a carpet of leaves but some very happy birds. This is an easy enrichment and very exciting to a parrot! Just look at their faces. Josey Wales was beside himself with enthusiasm. I could sit and listen to the great information and not worry whether my parrots were bored stiff at home. Bamboo and willow branches are safe. For more safe branches, woods, plants, etc, go to http://www.plannedparrothood.com/plants.html

Mickaboo is an established parrot rescue organization that needs more foster homes in their network. They provide excellent medical care for any bird that comes to them. For this very reason, they desperately need donations. Please go to their site and check it out. www.mickaboo.org Perhaps you could make a difference for some poor bird that needs rescuing. If not by fostering, perhaps with a small donation. We all agree our birds are spoiled and happy....but there is a responsibility to try to help those less fortunate.

HANDSOME BUZZ GREY

This is Buzz. He is probably the most physically beautiful Congo African Grey that I know. His feathers are absolutely perfect. He is fully flighted and really enjoys flying! He is loved and spoiled by both his mom and his dad.

What makes one grey strikingly beautiful and another grey fluffy?


We all love our birds but what makes the difference? If I did everything exactly like Buzz's family, would Buster look as good? Probably not. A lot of what makes Buster fluffy is likely characteristics of his early beginnings and his general personality. His beginnings most probably did not include proper weaning, fledging, or nurturing. He is incredibly happy now, but the cyclical picking will be with us for ever. Don't get me wrong...I love the little man and tell him everyday. But I feel tempted to make some giant posters of Buzz to illustrate for Buster what a grey is supposed to look like! I suppose he knows.

The House Talks

Most people go through their everyday lives without really hearing their home. I don't mean listening for that lady in the wall that tells you about the termites eating away at your foundation! I mean the subtle little sounds that occur as you walk down the hall, open a door, or turn off the faucet. If you have an African Grey, you know these sounds. I will usually hear the sound from a grey and then, later, find out what sound is being replicated. The small squeak, beep, grrrr, or ding, is something that bird hears and repeats. When a grey visits, or I'm visiting a grey, I learn the sounds of that parrot's house. One particular high pitch squeak was baffling until I opened a nearby cage and heard the exact squeak! Is this fun and games for these greys? Do they find comfort is repeating the sounds? I found it fascinating to watch the grey parrots in the wild on the dvd from World Parrot Trust called Polly Vision. Out in the middle of Camaroon the parrots were beeping and whistling just like our birds. Obviously they haven't heard a microwave or a telephone!

Turkeys Growing Up

I wanted to show an update on the turkey mom (T Bird) and her eleven youngsters that keep me mesmerized over in Walnut Creek! The babies have all survived and are quite able to fly and forage and preen. They imitate their mom with every move. I cannot tell yet how many are boys and how many are girls. All I know is that if all the girls have a dozen babies each we'll have quite a flock! Hopefully they'll disperse to bird friendly neighborhoods and find poop-tolerant people to marvel in their beauty.

NERVOUS GREY

This is Cinders (Cindy), a Timneh African Grey. Timneh Greys are smaller than Congo Greys and have a darker tail feather color. They are not as common as the Congos. However, they do share some of the characteristics! Just like my Congo, Buster, Cindy has "feather issues". She is quite nervous and needs to be handled with a calm presence. She readily steps up and loves to be cuddled but she is obviously ready to jump out of her skin on a moment's notice. Cindy is much loved by her family and when they travel, they know that she will do better here than anywhere. She has her accommodations right next to Buster which seems to put her somewhat at ease. She is encouraged to come out in the evening to sit and watch TV with me and Buster. I love her deep voice as she scolds my little dog, Moki. Cinders is a good little girl.

Do Parrots Appreciate Art?

This is Lexi. Formerly known as Felix until her dna test came back feminine. She is the smallest and yet bravest of her flock. In this photo I caught her gazing at the framed photo that I have hanging in my dining room. Of course, every room is a bird room in my home! Lexi seemed to be mesmerized at the scene of flying parrots taken by Bonnie Zimmerman when she was studying the parrots at Tambopato. Parrots have excellent vision and perhaps she understood what she was looking at.

Help With The Cleaning!

This is Aidan. He was industrious enough to hand out flyers in my neighborhood asking for the opportunity to earn some money doing odd jobs. I certainly need some help! Day in and day out I have been cleaning cages and sweeping floors for well over ten years. Aidan comes in with enthusiasm and tackles the bird rooms! I move the birds outside or downstairs and he powers through the debris and leaves each room beautiful.


Aidan is a welcomed addition to my business and I hope he can continue to come and help me often. His passion is soccer but maybe the parrots will become a fascination as well. You may be looking at a future parrot person! I know he loves it when the birds talk to him! Buster watched with interest today and frequently asked him, "Whatcha Doin?" Aren't parrots wonderful? Messy, but wonderful!
Thank you Aidan!

A Bird Without A Cage

This is Chuckles. She is a wonderful little Blue Front Amazon that has complete freedom to fly around her home. She is accustomed to doing this and has developed great flying skills! However, it could be a problem. She has taken the entire house as her territory and isn't used to being in a cage at all. She and her "mom" live quite happily this way, but a cage has now been purchased and we are working on getting her used to it...slowly. Next month there will be some house guests staying. This could present a problem with this dive-bombing parrot. All that is known and comfortable will have to change, at least for awhile.
Change is always difficult for a parrot. She can adapt, but it won't be easy. The stress is felt by the bird and the owner! Isn't it funny how we can tolerate our birds, but when others are around, we feel the need to keep them quiet and well behaved? Are we afraid of what these people will think of us? Hopefully, we'll be able to get Chuckles to accept being confined, at least for a few hours a day, before the guests arrive! Otherwise, they'll soon be terrified. Nothing is more intimidating than a territorial and jealous amazon girl. Stay tuned!

Hot Weather and Parrots

This is Josey Wales, my Umbrella Cockatoo. Generally speaking, he is my noisiest parrot. However, in this heatwave, I notice that even he is laying low. He loves to have the mister nozzle left on him when he is outside. But when I bring him in, he remains quiet on these hot days. We're all "wiped out" by the heat but it's a nice change to have a quiet home. Nobody has the energy to make a big fuss or deal with it! I have my trusty spray bottle and make routine rounds to give everyone a mist shower. Everyone seems quiet and content.

My Cooked Foods

As many of you know, I make a cooked parrot food called Psittacine Cuisine. The "recipe" changes a little now and then but it mainly contains:

ACINI DI PEPE (bead size pasta) 1 lb box add to boiling water and cook 9-10 minutes

INCA RED QUINOA (keen wa) add one cup quinoa to two cups water, bring to boil and simmer 15-20 minutes

MIXTURE TO COOK TOGETHER (dry mix = 3 – 6 cups? Water = 6 – 12 cups.)

RED WEHANI RICE – SWEET BROWN RICE – LONG GRAIN BROWN RICE – WILD RICE – OAT GROATS – SPELT BERRIES (Bring twice as much water to a boil, add mixture, simmer for one hour)

STIR IN:

FINELY CHOPPED FENNEL, CILANTRO OR BASIL, RED BELL PEPPER, CARROTS, SOFT COOKED SWEET POTATO, OR ANY FLAVORFUL FRESH PRODUCE!

STIR IN: SHELLED PINE NUTS, HULLED MILLET, SUNFLOWER KERNELS

STIR TOGETHER THOROUGHLY AND FREEZE IN PORTIONS THAT YOU CAN USE IN THREE DAYS. (FREEZER BAGS OR FREEZER WARE) Or, use ICE TRAYS! Once frozen empty into large Freezer Storage Bags and remove a cube or two the night before to have it thawed for warming in the morning.

SERVE WARM NOT HOT

All of the ingredients are organic and cooked with care to avoid them getting mushy. The latest version had finely chopped beets and carrots. As you can see by the cockatiels shown above, they love it. These little guys were mad that I attempted to capture a photo while they were eating. But you can tell by their mush mouths, that they were really into it!