Joshua's New Play Area

 Joshua has a new play zone.  He was so anxious about coming out of his cage that I decided to install a play area directly above him.  Yes, he was intimidated by the apparatus at first.  But within two days, he was climbing around like a pro. He would hang and flap his wings and even lay on his back as he attacked the hanging bell toy in the center of the Medium Atom.  Next to the Atom is a stretched out rope bungee so that he can easily get up to the Atom and back down.  He thoroughly enjoys this added activity and gets lots of exercise!  Playing up high seems to bolster their self esteem.  They have no sense of insecurity when they are higher up.  To get him back inside the cage, I simply place his food cup inside and wait patiently.  He eventually gets hungry and returns to his cage.

My Philosophy



Cute Baby or Smart Student?

 Recently, I was contacted by a breeder that wants me to work with a new mom of a cockatoo baby.  She had taught the basics but wanted someone local to reinforce the proper foundations of the early years.  It made me think about what my philosophy is.

My philosophy is to encourage the proper type of relationship with the parrot. Making the role one of a parent or teacher, not a mate or lover. I always emphasise what is best for the bird.
However, some people can't keep themselves from cooing and cuddling. They often see their fluffy white cockatoo as a baby that needs and gives "love" not a long lived, intelligent wild being with instincts to attract a mate, defend a territory, and procreate. Life can get very confusing for a parrot.

The only relationship they have is the one with the family. And that one is often disfunctional because it doesn't satisfy their natural urges. But if one can redirect all of those urges to instructional play and challenging tasks (foraging), the bird's self esteem can be boosted and the energies can be dissipated.

The problems come with the fact that these guys live "forever" and they are so high maintenance. Keeping them challenged and teaching them to entertain themselves is an ongoing project. If they don't do the work in the beginning years, they will end up with a monster or brat of their own creation.

Education and support is a passion for me. Keeping parrots in their homes is a goal.

Leisure Breakfast Shared




Want A Bite?  Yummm.

  When life gets calm and I can take my time with the breakfast chores, I love to wander around the parrots with various foods.  Birds that don't go down to the regular food bowls, will often take a taste of what I am offering.  I feel very connected to these guys.  I'll open a carton of yogurt and offer tastes as I walk around.  Then I'll peel a banana and offer bites through the cage bars. Next, green beans, grapes, apple or whatever...  It's really fun to share breakfast with the flock.  My son, Paul, always brings his breakfast sandwich here and the final bite gets torn into small portions and distributed to the living room birds. Now they watch him intently and await their fair share.  I don't know of many parrot people who can resist sharing what they're eating with their bird!  It's the best way to get them to try something new. 

Avian Companion Behavior Seminar

Just a heads up.  There will be a seminar on May 21st and May 22nd at the Renaissance Club Sport in Walnut Creek.  The emphasis is on the science of our bird's behavior.  All proceeds go to CHRP, a non profit organization.  Saturday will be talks given by Dr. Speer, Steve Martin, Lara Joseph, and Laurie Baker.  Sunday is a series of workshops.  For more information:

http://www.feathered-follies.com/_data/docs/chrp2011/seminar%20brochure%202011.pdf

See you there!

Toy Preferences

Every parrot has a preference for what type of toys he or she prefers.  Some birds are harder to figure out than others.  I can usually entice the guest parrots to try shredding on corrugated cardboard or soft wood blocks. 

Chauncey, my slender billed cockatoo, is a whole different sort of bird.  With that beak, one would hope he would like to chew wood.  However, Chauncey is much more cerebral. He seems to love the tactile feeling of something touching his face.  He will often wrap cloth or string around his face and stay motionless for long periods. I suppose it's sort of a self-massage.   I do worry about entanglement but he seems able to manage this successfully without trouble.

He is also incredibly fast at solving foraging issues.  I have many foraging toys for him and try to limit his feeding to this type of activity. Other than the soft cooked foods, most of his dry food is placed inside foraging toys.  The newest one was recently purchased from Cavalier Bird Toys.  http://store.cavalierbirdtoys.com/foragingtoys.html

Cavalier is new to me but they have lots of fun new toys.  Chauncey looked warily at the new addition in his cage for one day but soon delved inside to get the pistachio nut that he saw me hide there. 

I also purchased a noise banger toy for Joshua.  He seems to like to make a racket!  He is much more cautious about new items.  I hung it across the room and moved it closer slowly over the week.  Today it's in his cage for the first time and he is avoiding it completely.  (Therefore I didn't position it near his food or water!)  I'm sure he'll attack it with pleasure soon.  Joshua likes to hang on vines (ropes) and make noise with just about anything.  Perhaps I'll move one of Chauncey's musical toys over to Joshua's cage for some variety!   

Safe Travel With Burd

Today, Burd and his mom came over for a visit.  Burd doesn't care for his smaller travel cage so Stefanie simply packed him up for the journey in his regular house cage.  He had an exciting day!  First, to the vet for his checkup.  Then to Parrot Nanny's for a chance to reconnect.  Then he was off to work with mom!  He'll sleep well tonight!

If you travel with your bird in the front passenger seat, be aware that an airbag can crush a wire cage.  They are very forceful!  If the traffic stops suddenly and a collision happens, tragedy could occur. Stefanie already knew this and had switched her airbag off for Burd's Big Adventure.  She also had the marvelous idea to order a seat belt extension to adapt her car for her special passenger.  Many times the existing seatbelt just doesn't fit around the cage or carrier.  Especially if your avian companion travels like Burd! 

It's our job to care for and protect our feathered charges.  Don't think it can't happen to you.   

Fresh Air and Sunshine

This is Rooster.  He is a much loved, very sweet, rescued Umbrella Cockatoo.  During his recent stay here, he was taken outside to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather.  He has some feather issues and the sunshine is good for that as well as his soul.

There was some concern when I took him outside as to how he would react.  He was abandoned
in a previous home and left in
his cage by the apartment
house dumpster.  Imagine!  Yes, he can get a little noisy but he is a lover, not a piece of trash. 

But now he is in a home where love abounds, a happy ending.

Rooster didn't seem to recall the sorry past and he thoroughly enjoyed the day.  Later, when  he was quite calm, I started the misting of the parrots.  He watched as I misted Ben, Lucy, Molly, Buster, and Chauncey.  Then when the mist "accidentally" wafted over his cage, he reacted with delight.  So I continued to mist him.  He became very animated and "turned inside out" to get the most drenched that he could.  He was, indeed, a happy camper! 

I am thankful that parrots can be very resilient and sad stories can have happy endings, thanks to organizations like Mickaboo and people like Rooster's new parents.  If you can adopt a parrot, consider rescue. You might find a very rewarding experience and a very grateful bird!  

Feather Picking Issues

Companions For Life No Matter What

This is a portrait of a happy bird that is much loved.  Artie is a girl who owns and adores her daddy.  Mom is only slightly tolerated... but that's another story. 

There are reoccurring issues with feather picking and even some breast mutilation with Miss Artie but these episodes are being managed with consistent veterinary help.  It is suggested that she be given a reduced calorie diet.  Less fruit or sugary treats and less warm cooked foods.  This is due to the fact that, in the wild, when the rains begin and the food is abundant, the nesting season starts.  The wild parrots will find mates and nest cavities and start the process of creating a family.  Mutual preening and regurgitation establishes a loving caring pair. 

Our avian companions live where the food is always abundant, the showers are frequent, and  cuddling is common.  It's no wonder they get confused and frustrated that we are not their idea of a perfect mate.  The instinctive urges are there and we inadvertently promote them. 

The only thing we can do when this emotional and physical anxiety ramps up, is to reduce the environmental conditions (less calories and less showering) and stop giving body rubs. 

It seems cruel to just stop all of this so one should replace it with more instructional interactions. Spending time teaching the bird a trick or cued behavior will build the bird's self esteem and ego.  They still need good food, good care, and good interaction but more thought must go into what type.

Feather Quill Pens

My feather collection grows daily.  I have donated my feathers to Native Americans and Artists.  However recently,  I was asked to donate some feathers to a classroom of youngsters so that they could make quill pens and use them in a special art project.  Yes! 

I even received a thank you note written by their teacher using a quill pen!  She confessed that quill pens are not very successful if you are left handed. 

It looks like this classroom had some fun with the feathers!

Patience Wins Over Joshua

Hermann Tames Joshua



Patience and Love

Hermann has made tremendous progress with the very hand shy Joshua.  He patiently sits and visits with "his boy" and Joshua responds with eager anticipation.  They have begun to take walks around the house!  This is a huge step for Joshua.  He seems to trust Hermann and stays quite comfortable on his arm.  That's not to say that Josh doesn't get nervous occasionally.  He will see something out of the corner of his eye and Hermann gets a little nibble that shows him Joshua's anxiety.  Joshua eagerly anticipates every visit from Hermann.  And when Hermann gets ready to leave, Josh starts talking up a storm.  He'll whistle and beep and even call the dog.  Such dramatics will get Hermann to laugh and come back for one last skritch.  What a guy!

Shadow Play

Jasper was out playing the other day as I cleaned his cage and rearranged his toys.  When I turned around to see why he was so "talkative" I saw him delightfully moving about watching his shadow on the wall.  He was very animated and seemed thrilled to have a companion.  What fun!




Jasper and his shadow. 

 

Kitchen Help? Not so much...



Dr. Featherman Senegal Parrot


My day is an active day of rotating birds to playareas and outdoor cages.  Whenever I am spending time in the kitchen, some little character can be stationed on the dining room table.  This past week was a rotation of "supervisors".  I had Dr. Featherman (seen here) who thoroughly enjoyed hanging out and watching me and the television.  If I am preparing the foods, I am the more entertaining!  If my tasks are more mundane, like washing the dishes, then Sprout TV is fun and full of songs and animated characters.  

Doc Featherman Supervising

 If the doc here got tired, he could spend time in the Exotic Enclosure while his neighbor, Felix came over for her turn.  I am never alone! 

Now, if I could just train them to empty the dishwasher!