Yellow-naped
Amazon Parrots by: Katrina Wegner
The Amazon Parrot of Central and South America is one of the world's most endangered species. We should all understand just how special these Amazon Parrots are. In this report I will explain about one particular Amazon parrot, the Yellow-naped Amazon.The twenty seven different species of Amazons that live in the wild can be found from the north of Mexico to the south of Brazil and a number of the islands of the Bahamas and West Indies. We can find these Amazons living in tropical rain forests, deciduous dry forests, savannas and desert regions. The Amazon has a very simple life in the wild. Each day the parrot wakes up in his sleeping tree and flies to another area where it will eat. After eating, he will find a roosting tree in the feeding grounds where he will hide until late afternoon, trying not to get eaten himself. He eats again and then flies home to his sleeping tree. The next day the parrot does the same. Flying is noy a game for these birds, but a way to find food and to escape danger.
The Amazon Parrot first came to the United States in two ways. One way was being captured as an adult Amazon Parrot and transported to the United States and hopfully tamed to become a pet. The second way was to capture a baby Amazon Parrot from the nest then train it in the United States. Eventually the people who kept parrots in the U.S. came up with an idea. It was to breed the Amazon Parrot here in the United States. It took over forty years until some succeeded because no one really understood that the diet needs of the Amazon were very different than those of Macaws and other parrots. In 1992 a law was passed making it illegal to capture an Amazon from the wild and bring it to the United States without a special permit from the United States Government. Although to keep Amazons in the country you were allowed to breed, sell and own Amazons Parrots in the country.
The Yellow-naped Amazon Parrot is from southern Mexico, along the Pacific slope through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua to Northwestern Costa Rica. The Yellow-naped Amazon Parrot's length is about thirty four centimeters and weighs about one pound. The Yellow-naped Amazon's forehead is green, blue-green with individual yellow feathers and it's nape is yellow band. This Parrot has green thighs, pale yellow wing edges and green on the bend of the wing. They also have a red and blue wing speculum, dark gray beak and black cere with black bristles. In addition, a gray eye ring, orange iris and light gray legs.
The difference between male and female is the female is smaller and has shorter wings. When the Yellow-naped Amazon is young it looks like an adult but it's nape has few or no yellow feathers and it's iris is dark. A female Yellow-naped Amazon will lay two to four eggs each clutch. The incubation period lasts twenty-nine days. The nesting period lasts sixty-five days.
The Yellow-naped Amazon needs the following things; a cage,at least four different types of toys, food, water, love, care and time with you. The cage should be at the smallest 18" by 18" by 27" to any larger size with a wire spacing of no more than one inch. The four toy (minimal) to any amount that fits inside the cage with enough room for the parrot to live in would be enough toys. The toys should be at least one of each of: cotton or rag, wood, plastic and rawhide.
Some companies of food that can be used are Abba, Kaytee, Pretty Bird and Hagen. Look for a kind that has 5% fat or less, low fat parrot food or Amazon Parrot food. The Amazon Parrot should eat some fresh fruits and vegetables each day. They can also eat any food that you can except caffine, avacado and very high sugar foods. The food should be changed one or two times a day and the same with water.
Love, care, and time with you should be different every day. That means don't come home at 6:15 pm, take off your coat take the bird out and play with him for 25 minutes and doing the same thing each day. This will lead to a screamer or a picker because once you are late in traffic, work overtime or go on vacation the bird could develop these problems because it is off it's schedule. Do not put the bird on a schedule or this will happen. Try to do different things with the bird each day, at a different time each day. Then the bird will not get used to a routine.
In conclusion,the Yellow-naped Amazon Parrot and all Amazon Parrots in general are very unique and special animals. It would be a shame to see the Amazon Parrot become extinct because of their wonderful personalities, majestic coloring and the way they make humans love them. Thank you for your time.
Note: Katrina is one of our youngest SCEBC Members.
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THE
AFRICAN GREY A SPECIES REPORT BY CONNIE MAZUR
After doing my book report on African Grey Parrots, I felt it only proper to do a species report on the bird. As you know from my report I own an African Grey named Pepper this is about.Pepper is a Congo African Grey, domestic bred an approximately 5 years old. I have had him for two years, so missed all the baby quirks and foibles, but truly feel that I have a remarkable bird.
Congo Greys refer to the Congo where they were first exported. They are the larger of the two types, the Timneh being the smaller. The differences are noticeable in each, the Congo 12 to 14 inches in length, approximately 1 lb. and over in weight, gray with a black beak and bright red tail. The Timneh weighs in at about 10.5 ounces and is approximately 10 inches long, with a tan or horn colored beak and dulish red tail feathers. Both are considered monomorphic and a DNA test is really the only answer.
From what I have read, Greys have a great many fears and phobias. I have not found this to be the case with Pepper. He has adjusted extremely well with all my birds, I am constantly amazed that it doesn't matter what changes in the bird room we make, or even to his cage, it really doesn't seem to bother him, he doesn't feather pick, as I understand a great many do. He is picky about trying new things to eat, but if I try it first and make a fuss, he generally gobbles it up.
I am Peppers favorite person, he will puff out his feathers, his chest will be vibrating and he makes this funny sound when I pick him up in the morning for a hug. Often he gets all moony looking and will regurgitate which is disgusting, but I make a fuss so he doesn't think I'm rejecting him.
I love Pepper and look forward to a long and interesting life together.
Table of Contents SCEBC Home Page HEARTBREAK X 2 BY CHESTER MOHRHOFF
HEARTBREAK X 2Kiwi, my Mini Yellow Collar Macaw choose me right from the get go. We stopped at Garry's Birdloft to buy food and I noticed he had a few new additions. Kiwi and another yellow collar.
After I inquired about them Garry took them out and put them on his shoulders, I was across the room, he asked which one do I want, at the at same moment Kiwi left him and cam to me, she didn't want to leave me, so I said the Choice is made.
We became very close, and I really believe she is totally in love with me. She spends hours under my shirt at night while I watch TV, and gets upset if I get up for anything.
One night I went outside for something and she panicked and flew, it was one of those nights that was a moonless and dark. Being I could not see I ran in the house for a flashlight. Maria and I spent about 2 hrs. With the flashlights checking the lawn and our trees, she couldn't be located. I went to bed that night broken hearted, I knew there was the possibility another animal would get her, and figured she was gone for good.
The next morning at daybreak, I again went over the whole yard. Maria came out shortly after that. We called and called for Kiwi, Maria who has better hearing then me said she believed she heard an answer. It came from a neighbor's property across the street. We went over and we heard her in a bush very close to their house. Kiwi was smart enough to seek shelter in a dense bush, which saved her life. Besides the many wild animals that could have gotten her, these people own cats.
Kiwi's little heart was beating so fast and she was really glad to see me, yep, we both learned a lesson that night, after that experience of spending the night out in the wild by herself she wants to be with me even more.
A HAPPY ENDING!
Table of Contents SCEBC Home Page Jill's Reflections BY Jill Miller
One day, last year I think, I was surfing the net looking for dog rescues. Don't ask me why, I just was.
Before I knew it, I was checking out what other rescues there were on the net and to my surprise... Oh my goodness, I didn't realize how many were out there, from birds to dogs to elephants. Wow!
Time passed.
My sister asked me to make parrot decorations for a dance the church was having. Hmm, I asked "What does a parrot look like?" I mean... I need some details. I wanted to put some reality in this, so my research started. Well, thanks to that I got hooked on reading about parrots. The decorations turned out quite nicely, if I must say so myself. Doing this research really opened a new world for me. I found it quite fascinating.
My first visit to the pet shops was interesting because, some shop owners were full of information. "Did you know that birds never get sick?" Well--- maybe more like bull poop [pardon my French]. I knew nothing about parrots at that time but one thing I did know was a hard sell when I heard it. Thank God, I didn't have money or I would have done some impulse buying.
The first time I went into a bird store I was surprised to see the owners were smokers [Chain smokers]. The ashtrays were over flowing with cigarettes! They had many beautiful birds and I didn't know how the birds could breathe.
Just recently, I ran into some people who had purchased a blue and gold from these same people and they took their bird to the vet. Apparently, there was an infection in the lungs and there was a build up of nicotine in the sere! I also discovered how great the market was for parrots when I returned to the pet shop the following week and their stock of birds were almost all sold out!
I explored the area for a bird shop to see what was out there and, that started my quest for knowledge. The first shop I found was located in New Jersey and was nice and clean. I mean I could eat off the floor, but now of course, I know better. I must have arrived right after the owners cleaned up. Now I check local shops well, and they leave a lot to desire. They're always dirty. Of course, there's a great inventory of other creatures from rats to reptiles and birds. Phew! I don't think the parrots smell. Most pet shops in my area sell consignment birds for an outrageous price!
The next thing I did was read! Read! Read! I never realized how many different parrot species there were as pets. Then I went back on the computer and looked for bird clubs and to my disappointment; there were no bird clubs in my area. I also asked around at pet shops. The story they told me was "there was a club here but, the woman that ran it was arrested for cruelty to animals." After a call from a bird lover about a sick bird, the authorities arrived at her residence to find a house full of dead parrots! Hello?
I found a club called the macaw club in New Jersey well--- it took 3 trips to realize I was never going to find this place. I had a friend with me but that didn't help. We were two country bumpkins going to the big city. Ha! Then I saw SCEBC on the net and looked it up on the computer [map quest]. Ok! Sparta, New Jersey. All right, only an hour away give or take. This time my wonderful husband drove me and we had no trouble finding the place. Hooray!
The first meeting Ernest and I went to was very nice. Yes, I like this place with nice friendly people. I wasn't the only new member there. It was great because it was the first meeting we went to and they had a presentation about Boukes. Already I was getting information! In addition, before I knew it I was writing articles and we were maintaining the club's web site (http://www.birdsnways.com/clubs/scebc/).
Let's not forget about the beautiful budgies that I received from Kathy and Ed. They are so precious. I think this will keep me out of trouble (well, maybe...) and be fun.
We never know where life will take us.
Jill Miller
Table of Contents SCEBC Home Page Bourke's
Parrots September 26, 2001 BY Becky Braun
Discovered in 1835 in New South Wales, the Bourke's Parrot is known by many names, which include the Bourke's Parrot, Bourke's Grass Parakeet, Pink-Bellied Parakeet, Sundown Parrot, and the Night Parrot. Bourke's Parrots are slightly larger than a budgie being approximately 9-12 inches in length. They have a distinctive call that can be describes as either a "Chu-wee" or a "chirrup" sound. During flight the wings of the Bourke's parrot make a dove-like "whir-whir" sound.
The original Latin name of the Bourke's parrot is Neophema bourkii (neo - new + pheme - voice, bourkii - after Sir Richard Bourke, the governor of New South Wales) however in recent years there has been a trend towards placing the Bourke's into a separate genus. Unlike the other members of the Neophema genus, which include Neophema splendida (Scarlet-chested parakeet), Neophema elegans (Elegant Parakeet), Neophema pulehelle (Turquosine parakeet), Neophema chrysostoma (Bluewing parakeet), and Neophema petrophila (Rock Parrot), the Bourke's lack any green coloration in their feathers. However the coloration pattern of the Bourke is very similar to the other Neophema species.
Another driving force behind the reclassification of the Bourke's parrot is the fact that they will not hybridize with any of the other Neophema species. In addition, the Bourke's prefer very different habitat than the other Neophema species. Bourke's prefer the malle and arid scrublands of Australia and New South Wales. They can be found in an area that ranges from West Central and Central Australia to the coastal areas and in Western New South Wales. On the other hand, the other members of the Neophema species prefer the open grasslands that can be found in Australian outback. Bourke's are ground feeders and inhabit the dense brushwood in the savannahs of Australian outback. Typically Bourke's can be found in areas that have a high population of Mugla or Acacia trees. All of these reasons contribute to the trend to separate the Bourke's parrot from the other Neophema species into their own genus, Neosephotus bourkii.
While today the Bourke's are considered to be the most common parrot found among the thorn acacias in the savannas of southwestern Australia, this wasn't always the case. By the early 1900's there was evidence that the wild Bourke population was declining significantly. So much so in fact that by the 1930's it was believed by many that Bourke's parrot was extinct and by World War II they were truly almost completely gone from the wild. Over-grazing of the arid scrublands by large numbers of sheep was believed to have been the cause of this drop in the wild population. In 1937 a drought that lasted until 1940, drastically reduced the number of sheep grazing the scrublands. As the vegetation recovered, the Bourke populations began to grow and they were again observed in the wild. By 1958, their numbers had grown significantly enough that they were removed from endangered status to threatened status and today number among the most common bird found in the Australian scrublands.
The Bourke's live in small social groups of 5 - 6 members within the larger flock. They display a communal roosting behavior and are generally quiet and unobtrusive. During the day they can be found resting in the sparsely foliaged trees, with foraging occurring in the early morning and late evening. They will eat seed, buds, leaves of grasses and broad-leaved plants. Watering is typically done after sunset. In fact the Bourke's will remain active as late as 10 PM and rise well before the sun, preferring times of twilight for flock activity. The large eyes of the Bourke allow them to have better night vision than other parrot species, which allows them to display this crepuscular behavior. Flight is typically done in short distances with fast, short wing beats in a fluctuating path while sustained flight is rarely seen.
The normal breeding season of the wild Bourke is from August to January, during the summer months in Australia. Typically breeding behavior is seen in response to rainfall. The Bourke's prefer knotholes approximately 2-3 meters above the ground as a nest site. They can typically be found nesting in Casuarian or Acacia trees. Clutches usually contain 3-6 white eggs and they have an incubation period of approximately 17 days. The female will line the nest with wood pulp and lay an egg approximately every 48 hours. The female does all of the brooding and leaves the nest usually once a day to excrete and drink. The male is responsible for feeding the female and remains in the immediate proximity of the nest as a guard. The young fledge at about 4 weeks of age and a fed for an additional 2 weeks before becoming independent.
Bourke's are well suited to captivity because they are relatively quiet, easy to breed and do not have large space requirements. The coloration of the captive Bourke is much more intense than the wild Bourke. This is most likely due to the higher beta-carotene content in the diets of the captive Bourke.
When breeding Bourke's it is important to provide enough flying space and therefore the use of large flights is recommended. It is also recommended that only one pair be kept in a flight as the males will tend to squabble, leading to injury or the death of one of both of the birds. Bourke's can be kept with finches, doves, quail, and the Princess, Superb and Regent parrots. However it is important to note that some problems can arise because of the night activity of the Bourke's. In using outdoor flights, intestinal worms become an issue because of the ground feeding behavior of the Bourke.
Sexual maturity is reached between 9 and 12 months, however it is recommended that the pairs be at least 18 months of age before breeding. While the birds are capable of breeding earlier, they may be too immature to raise viable offspring if bred at the younger ages. Bourke's will use wooden nest boxes if they are provided. The nest box should be 6 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches in size. The box should be located at approximately shoulder height on the cage and when possible a choice of nest boxes should be given. The nest boxes should be lined with wood chips, sawdust, or peat moss. Bourke's are generally good parents, however it is important to make sure the nest box stays clean as they do have a tendency to be poor housekeepers. In fact Bourke's can even be used to foster babies of other species.
During courtship, the male will approach the female with his body fully erect. He fans his tail and holds his wings slightly open. This is to show the female the blue coloring on the shoulders and underwings. As he dances for the female, he bobs his head and chatters softly. A successful courtship dance is followed by courtship feeding and mating. Additional feeding may occur after mating.
The diet of the captive Bourke should be either a seed or pellet based diet. The seed should contain a mixture of canary, millet, rolled oats in additional to small amounts of hemp and sunflower. This should be supplemented with seeding grasses or germinating millet spray/sprouts. When breeding it is also a good idea to supplement with soaked bread and hardboiled eggs. Regardless of physiological state, an ample supply of green food should be given as well as fruits and vegetables. A good vitamin supplement should be used, especially during times of stress. Plenty of calcium, in the form of a cuttlebone, mineral block or crushed/powdered oyster shells, should be available ad libitum to breeding pairs. All birds should be provided with fresh clean water at all times. Bourke's will use a water bottle when given a chance.
The coloration of the Bourke's parrot is quite distinctive and there are a number of mutations available for aviculturists. All mutations of the Bourke's have large eyes, usually surrounded by an area of lighter coloration. The Normal or wildtype males have a patch of bright blue on the forehead that extends back over the eyes. A patch of white feathers surrounds the eyes. The patch of white extends in a narrow line across the forehead, just under the blue, connecting in the middle just above the nares. Their body has brown underparts, and the chest and abdomen are pink. The rump is blue, which extends to the underneath to the vent. On the leading edge of each shoulder is a bright blue violet patch, which fades to a periwinkle blue on the underside of the wings. The coverts on the back are edged with cream, while the mantel feathers are pink edged with brown. The beaks of the Normal Mutation are brown/black in color.
The Bourke's are a dimorphic species generally and the female can be distinguished by the notable lack of the blue coloring on the forehead. In addition, the violet blue on the shoulders is smaller and less intense. Females also tend to have a flatter head shape than the males. Immature normal Bourke's can also easily be mistaken as females as they do not become visibly dimorphic until sexual maturity, which occurs around 5-6 months of age.
Bourke's of the Rosa mutation range from a deep pink salmon with a clear (no markings) crown and white cheeks to a washed-out pink with a dark brown crown and face. The clear-crowned Rosa has a pink rump. The primary and secondary feathers are colored as they are in the Normal. The dark-crowned Rosa's rump varies in shades of blue and green. The primary and secondary feathers contain more cream than the Normal mutation and sometimes touches of green and blue can be observed. While this mutation is dimorphic, sexing can be difficult because female resembles the male only having a slightly darker face and less intense body coloring than the male.
The Cinnamon or Isobella mutation has red eyes. The feathers on the back and wings are cinnamon in color and are edged with cream, which is sometimes described as a mushroom color. The feathers surrounding the vent are pale blue and they have blue on the leading edges of the wings. As in the Normal mutation, the Cinnamon Male can be identified by the blue on the brow.
Very similar to the cinnamon mutation, the Cream Bourke also has red eyes. The back and wings range from cream to yellow. The head is pinker than the body with an almost white face. Sexing follows the pattern of the cinnamons and normals.
The Pink Bourke is another mutation that has red eyes, however this mutation is not commonly found. This is due to the fact that is very difficult to produce strong, viable offspring. There is a large variation in the intensity of the pink, which ranges from salmon pink with dark flights to a soft pink with cream/yellow wings. All of pink Bourke's have white faces.
Bourke's make excellent companions because they are relatively quite. They are also most active in the morning and evening hours when the family is usually home. However it is important to note that Bourke's tend to be rather nervous. It is recommended that hand-fed birds be obtained for use as companions. "Wild" Bourke's should be used strictly as breeders. One drawback of the Bourke is that they can sometimes suffer from cardiac racing syndrome. (Cardiac racing syndrome typically afflicts canaries however it has been observed in Bourke's as well. This condition occurs under times of very high stress, such as being restrained. The bird panics and the heart begins to race resulting in the death of the bird. If the bird becomes stressed while being restrained, immediately release it back into its cage in familiar surroundings (if possible) and cover half of the cage. It is also beneficial to provide a heat lamp. Watch carefully for an additional signs of stress.)
To prevent the bird from becoming stressed, it is recommended that there be as much variety in the environment as possible. The bird should be well socialized and used to strangers. When possible, it is recommended to take the bird on short trips. This should only be done when there is no chance of injury/harm to the bird. Necessary precautions should be taken to make sure that the bird remains at a low stress level and unharmed. The bird should not be taken out during times of inclement weather and should never be allowed to roam free in a moving vehicle. Since the Bourke's are rather small, the used of harnesses is not recommended and birds should travel in an appropriate travel carrier.
With time, care, respect and love, the Bourke's make an excellent companion and will provide many years of enjoyment.
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DOG AND HER BIRDS. BY CONNIE MAZUR
Her name was Muggsy and we got her at the North Shore Animal League. We were looking for a small to medium size dog and she was that for a while, but when my husband Leo came home one day from work and said "I was at a home today, and they have a Doberman/Rottweiler and Muggsy looks just like him", with out hesitation we signed up for obedience school.Muggsy was very protective of "her family" and that included Leo and I and all the creatures; her cat Foo, the guinea pigs, and "her Birds". For some reason she felt that they were all her babies from the largest Macaw to the little button quails that used to run along the bottom of the aviary. Weighing in at around 100lbs, she would very gently nudge Charlie the macaw back up his perch, if he decided to take a walk on the wild side. If Burdy the Amazon was trying to get to someone else's cage, she would woof and back he would go to his own. Every morning and night she would make her rounds of the cages making sure that everyone was safe and where they should be, then she would take up her position on the landing with her cat Foo curled up in her paws for a night of TV/music or a short nap. The Birds that talked called her Woo woo, and you would hear a chorus of here woo woo, when they wanted to give her a peanut. That's right I said give her a peanut. They would take one out of their dishes and drop them to her and laugh when she would catch them and say Silly woo woo.
Muggsy could sing, she loved Christmas carols and when her favorite "We wish you a Merry Christmas" would be on she would woof sounds that seemed like words. "We wiif woo a merry crifmass" is what it sounded like. Out of the clear blue if one of her songs came on she would sit eyes half closed, this silly expression on her face, nose up in the air and woo, is the best way to describe it.
At various times I bred Cockatiels, budgies and lovebirds and invariably Mugs would be the first to know when we had eggs and when we had babies. She would sit faithfully by the nest box and when the first egg showed up, she would woof, when she heard the first peep she would whine, until I would have to open the box and tell her everything was ok and yes we had a baby. She would sit next to me as I banded them and would watch as I hand fed them seeming to make sure that I did everything right and didn't miss one. She would follow me as I carefully put them back in the box and we would repeat the process with the next crew. When it came time to find homes for them and I took them away, she would lie down in her crate and just give me a look.
The end came rather quickly for Muggs, she was 10 years old and had slowed down considerably but we just figured it was age. One day she just wouldn't or couldn't eat and her breathing sounded very strange. The birds were especially noisy all seeming to sense something was not quite right. Leo and I took her to the vet and it turned out she had a huge tumor that was strangling her and inoperable. Not wanting her to suffer anymore than she was, we decided to put her down. While we held her and talked to her and told her she would be all right, the end came and there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
Leo and I went home to a strangely quiet house. I went over to Burdy's cage and when I started to explain where Woo was he repeated Woo Woo, I said Woo Woo has gone to heaven and he said " woo woo gone bye bye, Oh, poor woo woo", needless to say for the second time that day and not the last the tears were flowing again. They seemed to know instinctively what had happened and were expressing their feelings. The Birds never again called for woo woo, even when we got another dog, she was "Dow" for Shadow. To say she was unique, one of a kind would not even do her justice, she was a truly gentle soul with a heart as big as the sky and a truly man and birds best friend.
Table of Contents SCEBC Home Page Then
came Mr. Bird. by Jill Miller.
Mr. Bird is the name of a Nanday conure. Thanks to Kathy and Ed, I adopted this cutie from Tricia; a young person who has gone away to college. I was told mom didn’t want the bird in the first place. It’s a shame but, this is usually the case. Consequently, mom does not care for the bird and had no desire to feed, clean or play with him. You can’t blame Mom. I had no trouble finding the place. Tricia greeted me at the door. I sat on the sofa and noticed the cage in the middle of the floor. Hello? Wow! It looks as though the cage has not been cleaned out for some time. She wanted to take the cage out to the car before the bird was brought down in fear, the bird would get up set if he saw the cage was out of place. We had a heck of a time getting that cage in the car. Yes, the cage came with it and some toys. This is an example of a person who is more interested in a good home for her pet than money.
Ok roll the drums... here comes Mr. Bird! Well he seems healthy and the feathers look wonderful, at least to me. Tricia proceeded to put Mr. Bird on my arm and left the room. Oh! What a nice parrot so friendly, so cute he’s walking up my arm and then... the little brat proceeded to bite my lip. Ouch! Yoooo! Little son of a so & so. Something about a one eyed pirate came to my mind at this moment. Tricia came back in the room and saw the condition of my lip. She then gave me instructions on how to discipline Mr. Bird. I can see this is going to be interesting. Tricia put Mr. Bird in the box but not before a goodbye and some tears. I felt bad for the girl and her Mr. Bird and I could tell there was a love and strong bond between the two. She knew it was best for the bird. I loaded up the bird in my car and drove off. On the way home, Mr. Bird was trying to chew a bigger hole out of an already made air hole. It was hilarious to look over and see this eye looking out at me and he never took his eye off of me all the way home. Well, Mr. Bird and I arrived home safe. I took him in the house and set him on the buffet [no we’re not going to eat him] as usual Melody [dog] and Jenny [cat] were waiting at the door. These two didn’t know what was coming; then Mr. Bird let out a loud screech! Mel and Jen went scrambling out of the room.
I’ve read where you should put the new bird in a quiet place until the bird is settled [4 weeks]. That’s what I thought I was going to do. Oh poooh! I was too excited. I let the bird out so I could clean out the cage and hoped I could get him back in. It took me until the wee hours before I was finished with the cage, all the time Mr. bird was on my shoulder and not biting me. I guess I’m the only person familiar to him so he was like Velcro all night then, I said “up!” and He proceeded to step up on my arm. I put him in his nice clean cage.
Mr. Bird has settled in quite nicely and he’s getting a great deal of attention. Of course, it helps that I am home most of the time. I let the bird out a few hours in the morning and evening. What surprises me about the Nanday conure is when he’s in his cage he is quite content and quiet. He has his moments when someone passes the house and when I arrive home or when he’s ready to come out of his cage. I could be up on the computer for some time and the house is quiet. At first, the bird did not like the dog or cat and the cat became jealous but now thing are settled. As corny as it sounds, you can find me in the evenings watching TV with the bird on my shoulder cat on my lap and the dog at my feet. It’s been some time now and Mr. Bird is officially my baby. Mr. bird knows he’s been accepted in our flock. I still talk about mom Tricia and, I think he remembers. It is a happy conclusion for this Nanday Conure.
Jill Miller, Sussex County Exotic Bird Club Member.
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Home Page A
true baby bird story!!. by Candi DeLaar, Real Macaw
member..
Well, now, there I was, relaxing in the new home, reading my newsletter when I read the story of the “NY Sparrow”. Hmmm, I thought, do I have enough guts to tell MY baby bird story?? Oh, what the heck, we all KNOW us bird people are a little strange!! So, here it is; the story of the baby robin.
Last summer, as I came home from work, I walked up the walk and heard this little chirp, chirp, from the grass! I proceeded to search around, and sure enough, there, out in the hot 96 degree sun, was an abandoned (so I thought!) baby robin, very small, looking very lost! OK, I thought, bird rescuer to the rescue!!!!! As I approach the little fella, he suddenly looked up at the approaching giant (me, of course) and “ran for his life”, scooting across the grass like he was a greyhound at a race!! I knew he had fallen from the nest that was in a bush close to where I found him, so off I go, chasing the little rascal. UH-OH!!! Unbeknownst to me, mother was NOT far off, and all of a sudden, I was watching the approaching robin headed for me in full attack mode!! Yikes!!!! Into my house I ran, lucky to still have all my hair!! Hmm, I thought once again, I MUST help that little creature. So, I searched my home for “robin protection” gear!!! All geared up, I headed out once more, ready for anything!! I kinda wondered why the people who where driving past slowed down and stared, but never really gave it much thought! But in order for everyone to understand, let me explain my “protection”. Here it was, August, 96 degrees, and I am running around my front yard with my riding helmet on my head, a ski jacket on my top half, my husband’s thick jeans falling off my bottom half AND ski gloves , winter knee high boots, and a large cleaning bucket and small broom! I swear to you this is a true story!!!! Try and get me NOW, mama bird, was all I was thinking!
Anyway, the story DOES have a happy ending. After chasing this little devil for about 20 minutes (and sweating profusely, I might add!) I scooped him up into the bucket, ducked away from mother all the way to the nest, and plopped him down!!! SUCCESS!! They say man IS the most intelligent creature, right??!!! HUH!! Sure showed that mama bird up, didn’t I!! However, when you hear about the neighbors calling the cops because there’s a “loony tune” running around her front yard in winter clothes, it makes me wonder that maybe, just maybe, that mother Robin won after all!!!
Peace…Candi
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Home Page Pet
and People Profile: Audit, the Shamrock Macaw. by
Kathy Stone.
Many people take their dog for a walk where we live in Panther Valley. But, if you stroll around our village, you just might see us taking our parrot, Audit, for some sun and fresh air. Audit (named by dad, Jon, an attorney and CPA) is a rare, four year old Shamrock Macaw. When we talked with the NJ Division of Game and Wildlife last year, Audit was one of only three shamrocks in New Jersey and was the youngest.
Jon and I became interested in birds after seeing a public TV documentary. This extraordinary show focused on the life of birds, the bird’s relationship with its owner and the responsibility of bird ownership. We were struck by a birds’ intelligence, their need for companionship and their ability to “bond and respond”. We visited reputable bird stores and breeders for almost six months while we read and researched. Jon and I wanted to do a good job at what we believed would be a rewarding yet serious undertaking.
I raised two small birds in the past. My family’s blue male parakeet came from the typical pet store of that era, Woolworth’s. Sam said a few phrases, performed a few tricks on command and lived about ten years. I also raised a young blue jay for a few months until it could fly away. One cool spring afternoon, a neighborhood cat piled a bunch of dead birds on our back porch. Possibly, the cat’s behavior was instinct, as she had just delivered a litter. Nonetheless, it certainly was a horror to find. In that pile was a little miracle, a young jay I named Gene. I remember the proverbial shoebox with the hot water bottle and some cotton, worms from a fish store, bringing the bird in for my fourth grade show-and-tell session and a Girl Scout badge for my fledgling wildlife efforts.
Jon and I were originally interested in acquiring a Moluccan because of their beauty and cuddliness. Luckily, we believed experienced owners who warned us of this breed’s noise potential as we live in a town home (We visited a breeding pair in Blairstown and could hear them a block and a half away with the store closed!). We set our criteria for a bird that would be affectionate, talk a little, not be too noisy and be pretty in our eyes. We researched the various breeds of parrots but were undecided.
Jon and I looked at small birds, large birds and everything in between. We read about the hyacinth macaw (and its rarity, beauty and cost!) and were curious to see one in person. We heard about one owned by a breeder in Bergen County, a breeder who advertised in many of the national bird magazines. The trip we made turned out to be our first introduction into “undesirable” bird standards and a headlong dive into one of the areas of avian controversy--hybrids.
We got to see a rather mean, male hyacinth in too small a cage and uncaged birds--and dirt--flying everywhere. We also came upon the object of our affection, Audit, allegedly bred in Pennsylvania and the offspring of the pairing of a military and a scarlet macaw. She sat on a too narrow perch, reached out for us with her foot to step-up and could already say “Hello!” She was affectionate, strikingly beautiful, and talkative yet on the quieter side. These qualities met all of our criteria but we previously learned to avoid hybrids; to limit the market was to protect the species.
The breeder literally was tearful and stated her shop was closing and she had to place all of her birds. Right there, Jon and I agonized for over four hours before deciding to make her part of our family. We were concerned. Apart from being a hybrid, the shop was dirty, Audit was trained to eat out the breeder’s mouth (a trick we extinguished!), we did not have anything set up for a bird at home and she was a large bird for a first-bird experience. Despite all of our reading, we had not yet learned how some sellers play the sympathy card to get a sale. In retrospect, we are glad we bought her and believe we performed a rescue. We would have regretted it if we had not adopted Audit.
P.S.: That breeder allegedly stayed in business for the next year before “retiring” to Florida. Also allegedly, she left the state (and hopefully the business) because of a slew of humane society complaints and citations for unhealthy shop conditions. Audit required a trip to the vet our very first day with her and received successful treatment for an E. Coli bacterial infection.
So for four years now, we have a beautiful bird (hues of scarlet, green, orange, red and fluorescent blue) that is cuddly, talks, has tolerable calls at sun up and sun down and loves to play. She simply delights us! Audit speaks about eight phrases. She uses “Hello” correctly, for example, when the phone rings or when she hears us talking in the house. It often sounds like there is an entire basketball team up in her room. She imitates both our laughs and is potty trained. We think her calls are louder in the spring than the rest of the year. She has bursts of activity and talking and seems to stick to an every three-hour pattern for this, approx. a 6am-9am-12pm-3pm-6pm schedule. (We’ve never read about these traits in other macaws and would like to ask Club members about their macaw’s habits).
Favorite toys include any type of bell, wood puzzles, knotted ropes, king-size nuts n’ bolts and hidden treats. She has taken all of the screws out of her King’s cage despite our fastening them in there with a power tool; out of necessity, her cage is bolted together with large master key locks to prevent the walls from coming down. Audit is also capable of cracking “indestructible” half-inch Lexan toys. Successfully hanging up her toys is our daily brainteaser. I call her the “Cleaner of the Canopy’’ due to her species preference for the tree tops and their role in dropping food down to the inhabitants of the jungle floor.
Audit is quite indulged, having her own room and bathroom. I now say she also has her own kitchen because we just added a small freezer chest to keep her special food. We have her on Zupreem fruit pellets, Nutriberries, almonds, hard-shelled nuts, and few dried fruit treats. She enjoyed egg biscuits and monkey biscuits in the past, but we have now substituted human food for those specialty items. Audit eats with Jon--on his left arm and from the same plate to the chagrin of family and friends. She devours most fresh fruit and vegetables, chicken, eggs (we were surprised she would eat a distant relative!), some well-cooked meats and fish, anything with garlic and uses a napkin to clean her beak. Audit also showers with Jon. She detests a misting with aloe spray but we feel it does help her feathers and her skin, particularly in the winter. Audit and our partially deaf, black and white cat named Peanut have declared a truce.
Audit receives an annual exam from Black River Vetinary Hospital in Chester. This is our second avian vet. Our first vet, also known to be an avian specialist, gave Audit her first wing trim--and our first big scare as bird owners. He clipped her severely on one side and reassured us she absolutely could not fly. Jon left the vet’s and took Audit on a walk in Horseshoe Park in Succasunna. It was a beautiful, clear, sky-blue day. And a moment later Audit was in the tallest tree in the park and Jon was frantic. She had never flown before. The Roxbury Fire Department helped Jon retrieve Audit with their cherry-picker apparatus. Jon climbed the ladder himself for the rescue because she would only come to him. Fortunately, this lesson ends with only Jon getting a sunburn and us learning to clip both wings ourselves. Outdoors, we now use an Alaskan Malamute dog muzzle for her harness. She easily snapped regular macaw harnesses so we had to be creative.
We’ve accepted invitations from local libraries and schools to bring Audit for an educational exhibit. We share the story of the rainforest, bird facts and responsible bird ownership. If the weather permits on Halloween, Jon dresses up as a pirate with Audit on his arm to give our trick-or-treaters a real surprise.
I still believe we are beginners as bird owners, always looking to learn more and hopeful about adopting another macaw in the future. Jon and I have ongoing debates about the height of the perch and cage, on the shoulder/not on the shoulder, to clip or not to clip in the winter (she does not leave the house when it’s cold), how to reduce her tendency to nip and be dominant, to sex or not to sex (We call her by a female name because she is smaller in size, but we really do not know), etc. We would love to hear from the rest of the SCEBC!
Thank you all. Jon and I are very pleased to be new members of the SCEBC. Respectfully…………………Kathy Stone
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