Training Your Pet PARROT

Photo  by Aidan Jones 

PARROTS are excellent pets. You might quickly find that these particular birds are unquestionably very intelligent and also their ability to be trained to make them fun to train. Remember that any animal which often exhibits signs of high intelligence could very well become bored, which means that your role really should be to train your pet parrot and in addition spend the time it's going to take to help with making the bird into a magnificent pet. It will need a little to train a bird, however, with the proper training program, your parrot will provide you with numerous years of friendship.

It is possible to train your parrot once you stick to a couple of simple steps. Anytime "school is usually in" to the parrot, it's always best to take your bird from his or her parrot cage and work in a small low-noise space. Your parrot might be more likely to be receptive and remember instruction when it is inside a new surrounding. The other challenge you ought to try, do away with pretty much all disturbances in your house. When your parrot has become diverted during the training, it won't be taught well. This indicates that you need to power down radio stations, television, and possibly even the handset. Also, realize that parrots are much just like children. They've got very short attention spans, for this reason, small exercise sessions are usually beneficial.

Additionally, begin to set up your parrot's training program time near to their life schedule, not yours. Following a treat is actually, the perfect time with regard to training since your parrot would be content and definitely will be aware. Your parrot will take delight in plenty of compliments. Even though you may find that you have not been successful, don't allow your bird to realize your levels of stress get higher. This will make it a distressing experience relating to your bird and you'll have a harder time helping your bird involved in learning later on in life.

If you find yourself willing to teach your parrot a fresh, new trick, your pet parrot will obey well to sweets and as well as rewards. Remember the fact that almost all creatures react much better to compliment as compared to punishment. Attempt to avoid hitting your parrot, even if they are behaving mischievously. Ignoring this behavior will be your very best wager whenever training your pet parrot. Birds do not understand punishment or unfavorable reinforcement. In reality, if you actually react to your parrot's inappropriate behavior, your pet might actually notice this as praiseworthy attention. Remember the fact that while your parrot will enjoy food treats as rewards, try to accentuate the favorable and boost effective conduct with lots of rewards and playtime. Otherwise, your parrot may only execute the tricks you desire them to be able to when some kind of food reward can be acquired.

Repetition is actually the key to successfully training your pet parrot. Repeating these types of basic steps repeatedly till your pet "gets" the technique is a good method to train your parrot to perform. This will work nicely with regard to basic instructions and superior tricks. If you have just gotten your pet parrot, begin out with very easy tricks, for instance teaching your parrot to sit on your hand on demand. Choose a word for each trick and employ it whenever you train. Above all, never ever force your parrot to train. If you realise your parrot is usually exhausted or maybe uninterested, then halt and try out again yet another time.

When your parrot learns way more instructions together with tricks, you can start shifting your training program closer and closer to the bird's cage. As they start to get better at their new skill, they may feel safe executing in his or her cage and additionally in the hustle and bustle within your home. Birds quickly learn more likely than not, and often by merely tuning in when they are not in training, that might result in humiliation to you if he or she learns something inappropriate.

Teaching a parrot will take a good deal of time and determination. You will need to really enjoy your parrot and furthermore need a great deal of your time and commitment. if you want to make this particular loving relationship worthwhile. Thanks to patient exercise along with love, you have a really good and well-behaved pet that is along with you for a very long time into the future

Jerry Kum - ArticleSource: GoArticles

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QUAKER PARROT: Just What You Need To Know

Monk Parakeet or Quaker Parrot (Myiopsitta monachus). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you want a bird who can talk, a Quaker parrot is the one you're looking for because parrot Quaker training is easy. It is a fast-learner, develops a bond with the owner, and loves to be around people.

Results would be better if just one member of the family would teach a parrot how to talk. Even so, you can hear the bird imitating the other members of the family as well.

Have you seen a Quaker parrot up close? It is a mid-sized engaging parrot, growing to around 1 foot in length. A Quaker parrots' top is bright green, its chest and face are colored white to grey, although as years have gone by and breeding has taken place, the colors have changed a little

The family's pet parrot

Two things can describe this parrot: affectionate to its owners and very gentle. This makes it perfect for little family members. Larger parrots on the other hand might not be since they become aggressive when mad.

Color

Originally, these Quaker parrots were green and white but since the species evolved during the years, and due to breeding in captivity, there are a variety of color combinations and different shades, too.

Toys

An active parrot likes to play around with toys, especially if he is home alone or when there is no family member available to play with him. A climbing gym, the ones with bells is a good example and will surely keep him amused for a very, very long time.

Would you consider keeping a Quaker parrot as a pet?

This kind of parrot would be a very good pet not just because it is affectionate and gentle but it adapts well to different environments. This is a very big advantage when keeping a pet bird but we all know that if there is a positive side, there must be a negative side.

Some states do not allow keeping the Quaker parrot as a pet. Because it can adapt well, these parrots that have often flown away have caused problems in the agri-industry and that's why they have been considered illegal. Sadly, if these are found anywhere in the states, they will be killed. Check laws first before considering buying a Quaker parrot, especially if you live in the southern areas of the United States.

If you do decide to keep a pet bird then you will find parrot Quaker training easy because of its intelligence.

By Kaye Dennan - Article Source: EzineArticles

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How to disinfect the BIRD CAGE

Before setting the bird into its “ lodging ” you should do something else 

Never the less that the birdcage is new, and the perches are ecologically clean, they should be disinfected carefully. I call this operation “carbonation ”, because as a “disinfectant” gas for burning is used, and gas for cigarette lighters can be used but it can be quite expensive. 

How to proceed : 

Wash both the birdcage and the wooden sticks with soap and hot water. 

Leave them dry well especially the sticks because they soak with water and drench. 

Prepare the gas and a cloth with which to put the gas over the perches and the birdcage. It is compulsory to put gloves ( surgery or household for washing plates ), otherwise, your hands will smell awful. 

Slightly damp the cloth, but not to drop gas from it, and carefully rub the birdcage everywhere and the perches. Now the birdcage and the perches are absolutely ready to be completed and to put the bird inside. 

The disinfection is very useful for the bird because when it steps on the “ carbonated ” perches, a part of the gas gets soaked into its legs and then when scouring themselves it goes on its feathers. 

It is good at least once or twice to clean the perches with gas and to change them. That is why I told you, in the beginning, to provide yourselves with wooden sticks. 

o clean the birdcage with gas is more difficult because you are supposed to have a spare ” lodging ” for the bird, where to put it temporarily. Nothing prevents you from cleaning the birdcage periodically with a cloth damped with gas without washing it with soap.

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CROWS as Pets? Don't Even Think About It!

Van Gogh - Wheatfield Under Threatening Skies with Crows - Photo: Wikimedia

In Van Gogh's "Wheatfield Under Threatening Skies with Crows," crows are shown in the middle plane of the painting, like an ill-fated force, between the menacing skies and the grain. True, the crows have an eye on the grain, but they are also unpredictable and playful. Although they act as if they do not even recognize the existence of a human nearby, these birds are always well aware of their surroundings.

I had never thought of crows as pets until I entered the office of someone my husband knew and found a big black crow sitting on her head. This lady was an animal lover and a licensed pet care-giver; she had found this crow hurt and had healed him back to health.

She told me, even though she let him free in her backyard, the crow came back to her. She never kept the crow locked in a cage; although there was a cage with the door removed in her house. She always left a window open and the crow was free to come and go as he pleased. This lasted through the summer.

At the end of the summer, the crow disappeared and probably became a member of a flock, then migrated, because that's what crows do, and keeping them locked up is against the laws of nature. It might have been sad for that lady to see her pet leave since that crow was so bright and loving, but because the lady was so knowledgeable on the subject, she understood.

Crow - Photo   by     wolfpix   (cc)

Never think of a crow as a pet; you should not even attempt to get, catch, or buy one. To start with, under the Migratory Bird Act, it is illegal to hold a crow and a permit is very difficult or impossible to obtain. Should you, however, find a young nestling crow thrown out of its nest and if you live in the middle of a wilderness, you might try to nurse the bird to adulthood, with the understanding that he will one day leave you.

If you find a hurt wild bird and don't know how to attend to it, take him to a vet or someone licensed in bird care. Around where you live, if you don't know anyone qualified for the job, call your state's wildlife authority or find an Audubon center close to you. You can do so on the website http://www.audubon.org/, by entering your zip code.

Helping out an orphan crow is easy because crows will eat practically anything. A good basic diet for such a bird should contain bird vitamins and calcium, oatmeal, hardboiled egg-yolk and some ground beef to make up for the insects most birds are so fond of eating.

If the bird is very young, he'll need to be handfed. Don't be afraid to put your finger gently inside its beak, since baby crows eat from their mothers' beaks. By the time the crow is six weeks old, he'll feed himself. Give the bird enough space to fly, like a room. When he is strong enough, leave the window open, so he can fly away and live his life as nature intended it to.

Crows belong to the family of corvids and they fly in large flocks around the cities, suburbs, and the countryside. Magpies, jays, cloughs, nutcrackers, and a few other birds are related to crows. Most of the crows are black but there are blue, purple, brown, gray, and albino crows in existence.

Crows, as very intelligent animals, are known to mimic human talk and engage in games among themselves. Better yet, they have proven themselves to be too smart to be afraid of scarecrows.

With their unpredictability, crows have encouraged human imagination and have placed themselves inside many myths. Yet, like humans, they possess their own kind of culture or lifestyle that deserves to be respected.

By Joy Cagil - Article Source: EzineArticles

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British Garden Birds - The HOUSE SPARROW

A pair of House Sparrows (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Even the most ardent bird lover can have a love-hate relationship with the House Sparrow. Despite being very sociable birds they are also known for destroying crops and some people see them as pests.

House sparrows are native to Europe and Asia but have colonized throughout the world and in the US they are known as English Sparrows to distinguish them from native species. They are now the most widely distributed bird on the planet and in the RSPB's 2008 Big Garden Bird Watch they were the most counted British garden bird.

In the 18th century, many parishes in Britain had "sparrow clubs" set up to destroy as many sparrows as possible because of their destruction to crops. Bounties continued to be paid until the 19th century when it was realized that the culling was not working.

Unfortunately, House Sparrows are now struggling to survive along with many other common British birds and have declined in numbers so much that they have been put on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. It is thought that the lack of food and suitable nest sites is contributing to the decline.

In the 1950s the UK sparrow population was estimated at 9.5 million which increased to 12 million in the 1970s. The numbers started to fall in the 1990s and the population is estimated to stand at about 6 million now.

The male sparrow has a grey crown and nape, edged with dark brown on the sides of the head and a distinctive black bib. The larger the male's bib, the better he is at attracting a mate. The upper plumage is flecked with brown, buffs and greys.

Female sparrows are much duller with tawny upperparts and a cream-colored stripe above the eye.

Sparrows are mainly seen in urban areas and near arable farms. A flock of sparrows will often draw attention to themselves by their noisy, squabbling behavior particularly when fighting for food. They are most commonly seen in the south and east of the British Isles.

House sparrows breed between April and August preferring to nest in colonies of 10 to 20 pairs. They like to nest in holes and under roof tiles or if there is a shortage of holes then they will build a nest in a thick hedge. They lay up to 6 eggs which incubate for about 12 days. Sparrows can raise 3 or 4 broods during one breeding season.

Sparrows will naturally feed on insects during the summer and grain during the winter although they will eat most kinds of foods provided by humans like bread, grated cheese, fat and specially formulated seed mixes.

To help reverse the decline of House Sparrows you could provide them with sparrow flats - special nest boxes that allow them to breed in colonies.

By Anna Price - Article Source: EzineArticles

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9 ways to protect our BIRD from illnesses

1. Good hygiene – regularly clean the birdcage and the appliances in it. The cleaning must be accomplished a minimum of twice a week. 

2. We must n't let our birds have contacts with wild or free-living birds, who are the main carriers of diseases and infections. 

3. Do not put the birdcage exposed to draughts – the birds can catch a cold, and they should be exposed to the sun no more than 1 – 2 hours because they can get overheated and can suffer from hypothermia. 

4. If you have other pet animals – a dog, a cat, first get sure that they are not aggressive towards the birds and only then you can leave them in the same room together. 

5. Examine the birdcage for protruding parts and objects that can hurt the birds. 

6. A very important factor for the good health of the birds is the proper and balanced feeding. Except for grain mixture, they should get enough quantity of fruit and vegetables, from which they will supply themselves with necessary vitamins. 

7. Also, with great importance for the health of birds is the proper supply with minerals. You can buy them from the zoo in a combined form. 

8. It is also necessary that your birds get small stones and sand in a separate container, which contributes to good digestion and food – assimilation. 

9. Overfeeding the birds with proteins of animal origin is very dangerous for them and it can cause podagra and lead to abnormal appetite.

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GOULDIAN FINCH Care: 8 Important Tips

White-breasted Yellow-headed and Black-headed male Gouldian Finches (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Northern Australia is the native habitat of the Gouldian Finch. The other names of the Gouldian finch are the Lady Gouldian Finch, Gould's Finch and the Rainbow Finch. Both sexes of the Gouldian family can be identified by their colors of bright yellows, tropical greens, and black. Red markings, usually on the cheeks, will also be seen. The best way to tell the difference between the female and the male is by what color and/or patterns are on their chest. The male's chest is a bright purple and the females' is a light mauve.

Gouldian finches are more difficult to breed and care for than other types of finches and below I have outlined some useful tips you should consider:

1. Gouldian finches need a lot of space to exercise and fly about. You should consider whether to buy a cage or an aviary, this depends on the number of Gouldian finches that you have. After you decide on a cage or aviary, you should then choose a permanent location to keep these birds as they do not like changes in their location.

2. Gouldian finches like humid and warm conditions. These environmental settings should not be taken lightly so do make sure you provide the right conditions before choosing where to place them permanently.

3. Gouldian finches love seeds, which are their primary food source; therefore a nice mix of quality seeds should be given to them every day. You also need to provide additional nutrients and vitamins. Grit, as well as crushed eggshells, should be added to their daily diet. Lettuce, watercress and spinach (greens) also are necessary for a balanced diet. In addition, your finches require calcium so providing Cuttlebone is a must; especially when breeding.

4. A clean cage or aviary is essential as it keeps the birds in healthy living conditions. The cages must be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis; usually monthly but more often if necessary. All containers in the cage or aviary should be cleaned daily and the gravel in the bottom of the cage should be replaced with clean gravel at least once a month (or more often if needed).

5. Fresh water should be available daily as stale water can attract bacteria and spread disease. Ideally, you would clean the water container at the same time. Plastic containers are not ideal and should be avoided.

6. Gouldian finches are extremely sensitive about being touched and petted. Try not to handle them unless it's absolutely necessary as this stresses them out.

7. Gouldian's lay on average 4 to 6 eggs and these will hatch between 15 to 18 days after the egg has been laid. It is of the utmost importance that the breeding parents are not unnecessarily disturbed and extra food and clean water be provided each day. Try to use the hand feeding formula as well. The formula is a special diet that should be given to the parent birds. This should be done before the eggs hatch so that they get accustomed to the new diet. Once the chicks are hatched the parents will regurgitate this mix and feed the babies.

8. Never breed Gouldian finches that have a different head color. The reason being is that such mating results in an imbalance in the sex ratio of the young. It's an interesting scientific concern that points to the mortality rates of the young which have been recorded as high as 80%. So this is why breeding Gouldian's of the same head color is recommended.

These important tips will require your additional research for a thorough understanding of the Gouldian finch's needs. Keeping finches is a satisfying and proud journey that I know you will enjoy in order to successfully care for these beautiful birds.

By Ron W Shearer - Article Source: EzineArticles

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The Beauty of ORIOLES

Oriole - Photo: Wikimedia

SPRING IS HERE!!! And so are ORIOLES! These wild birds are strikingly beautiful! Because of their beautiful black, orange or yellow color, their distinctive whistle, spring songs, and their amazing suspended nests, which we'll plan to look at further.

ORIOLES are quickly becoming one of America's favorite wild birds. While over eight species of Orioles can regularly be seen in the United States, we want to look at the "Major Three" species - Baltimore, Bullocks, and Orchard.

ALL United States Orioles show variation on the theme of black with yellow or orange color. Except for in the Southeast, all Orioles are tropical migrant wild birds. While migrations vary, Orioles generally arrive in the South in early spring, mid-west in early May, and further North soon afterward. It is very important, for one that is interested in housing and feeding, that Oriole feeders up and ready around May 1st, or often Orioles will pass you by for better feeding grounds. It is also important to have nesting materials out and ready to help attract and encourage Orioles to nest in your yard because by summer's end, migrating Orioles are headed back south to their tropical winter homes in Central and South America. It seems that Baltimore Orioles (Not the Major League Baseball Team) ranges are expanding, while Bullocks and Orchard Orioles are declining.

ALL Orioles need and benefit from our help and we benefit from them also where natural pollination and insect control are concerned. We can help by setting up bird feeders, bird food, bird bath's and birdseed in your neck of the woods and be a part of the bird feed and housing shortages. Where nesting material is available, Orioles will defend an area of several acres and start building a pendulous (hanging loosely) nest.

Here are some interesting facts and ideas to think about, when planning to set out bird food in your yard, near your birdbath and to fill your bird feeders to feed and attract these wild bird orioles. Here are some facts to keep in mind about the Orioles. ORIOLES migrate at night so they are tired, cold and hungry when they arrive in your neck of the woods.

If you wait until you see them, you are "too late" to attract Orioles, in maximum numbers, to your yard. Not so much wild bird seed but bird food like ORANGES is one of the "keys" to attracting Orioles. Cut oranges in half and provide them "juicy side out" for a refreshing snack for these beautiful birds. You can also attract these wild birds up close by offering oriole feeder nectar, jelly and fruit on the feeders by the house and patio.

They love the bright orange feeders and they are inexpensive and slip right on any Smuckers (tm) or other 10-12 ounce jelly jars.

Hanging the nests on a multi-level, wrought iron hanger is another idea, as you are able to tier multiple nests for their room and board enjoyments.

Many people feed jelly year-around, not only Orioles but Woodpeckers, Robins, Warblers and others enjoy it. Many people have said that they keep Orioles longer now that they feed grape jelly!!!! There are a lot of people who claim that their favorite Oriole nectar feeders are Oriole Feeders. Why? Their wide mouths and flat tops, make them easy to fill and clean (base also comes apart easily to clean), and some have bee guards to make sure that Orioles - not bees - enjoy the nectar.

If you're worried about ants bothering your jelly or Oriole Nectar, there are guards to put on and hang oriole feeders with clear nectar protector ant moats above them and fill with water. This acts like a moat, similar to those around the old castles, and has a similar effect. As you are probably well aware, ants can't swim, and for a few extra dollars, you'll never have to mess with cleaning them out of the feeder. These also work well with hummingbird feeders. While it is often advised that it is good to mix their own hummingbird nectar from sugar, some opinion is that commercial Oriole nectar will attract and hold more Orioles and other wild birds at the feeder longer.

Whatever you decide to set up, there are two things to keep in mind. Creativity and fun! You and your family will really enjoy these colors of nature occupying a place in your neck of the woods. Not to mention, you are helping them in their survival and keeping a good, natural source of insect control and pollinators around. Best wishes to you and your endeavors with the Orioles of North America!

Ken Rudman - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Keeping ZEBRA FINCHES

Domesticated Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) are the most common species of Australian finch and comes from the family called Estrildid which features most of the finches kept in aviculture across the world. It lives in the cool south and tropical far north of the country as well as in Indonesia and East Timor.

Basics

People have called zebras 'flying mice' due to the ease of which they reproduce. This is great if you are looking to start breeding or add a new species to your aviary as it is very little in the way of specific requirements for them.

Zebra finches are happy to live in colonies with their own kind of birds, as well as a huge range of other species. They will live peacefully with nearly all other species of finch, canaries, British birds, doves and even smaller parakeets.

When breeding, both birds can be a little defensive of their nest and will chase other zebras away from it. This is a natural behaviour and will extend when a chick fledges, or leaves the nest, but is never particularly aggressive or result in harm to the other bird. It is more of a noisy, fast-flying warning to keep away from their house.

Feeding zebras is pretty uncomplicated, as well. Use a good foreign finch mix as the basis of your feeding regime and supplement with egg food and some specialist seeds such as niger or hemp seed. Fresh fruit and vegetables are very important for their health, and they will readily consume foods such as spinach, kale and cabbage and fruits such as apple, pear, grapes, mango and plums. With fruit such as apple and plum, remove any seeds or stones as these contain tiny amounts of toxic substances, so better not to take a chance. Access to grit or cuttlefish is also important, especially around breeding time to replace calcium used in making eggs in the hen.

Breeding

Zebra finches don't have a particular breeding season in the way many birds do. They are triggered into breeding condition by light and heat levels or sometimes, for no perceivable reason! They like a variety of nesting materials and are surprisingly good little builders. Coconut fibre, jute, sisal, feathers and even dried grass will all be incorporated into the nest which will usually be a domed affair. They will also happily use a half-open finch nest box or one with a single hole in.

Once the nest is finished, take away surplus nesting material; otherwise, they will keep building and even cover their eggs. Anywhere from 2-7 eggs are laid and are incubated by both birds for around two weeks. When the chicks hatch, they are tiny and nearly hairless, blind and helpless. They are fed by the parents in the nest for around three weeks at which time they fledge fully feathered and resembling an adult save for their black beak. A way of knowing that the bird has matured is that the beak will change from black to bright red for a cock bird or a duller red for a hen.

After fledging, the chicks are fed by the parents for at least two weeks, at which time they may be able to fly or may not be proficient. If they aren't the best at flying, they will seek out corners to hide in so always keep an eye open for fledgelings in odd spots and make sure they don't get themselves stuck.

Zebras can breed at crazy ages of around three months, but it is advisable to wait until at least six months of age before allowing this. One way to ensure this is to keep males and females in separate cages until fully matured.

Keeping Zebras

The lifespan of these little birds is surprisingly long. In the wild, they live around five years but in captivity, 5-7 is average, 12 is possible and the oldest zebra was recorded at 14.5 years of age. They are relatively hardy concerning weather conditions, though any bird should be sheltered from the worst of the climate.

They will happily live in a good-sized cage as a pair or colony, or with other birds. They will also thrive in a flight or large aviary cage and in a flight, can become quite friendly towards humans when they can approach on their own terms. Standing very still with food in hand before the first feed is a good way to win them over, and some may happily hop onto your hand to get in at the food first.

Conclusion

No matter what your experience with birds, zebra finches are a great bird to have. They need little specialist care and can breed easily given a few simple supplies. They come in a range of colours as well and different mutations, so you can quickly get involved in the fun side of genetics and learning which pairing might produce which colours. But all in all, they are fantastic little characters who will quickly win your heart.

Article Source: EzineArticles

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The AMERICAN BALD EAGLE - Facts Everyone Should Know

American Bald Eagle taken at the Hoogle Zoo in UT
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many people don't know that the bald eagle has been the symbol of the United States and the nation's national bird since 1782. Sea Eagles, so common in 18th century Europe, were a common sight to America's early settlers, and it is from mistaking the two birds that the bald eagle got its name. There were no bald eagles in Europe, as the bald eagle is found only in North America. The sea eagle name lingers, and the scientific name, Haliaetus leucocephalus, actually means "sea eagle with a white head" in Greek and Latin.

Of the 'sea eagle' species, the bald eagle is the only one that is native to North America. The bald eagle is immediately obvious by its smooth, white head and white tail, contrasted by the deep brown feathers of its body. Coins, flags, buildings, and seals in the United States have used the image of the bald eagle to symbolize the country.

The bald eagle is a fierce bird of prey, along with other raptors, such as hawks, vultures, owls, and falcons. The bald eagle lives on a diet of live prey, such as waterfowl and fish, as well as rodents, snakes, rabbits, and birds, but they will eat carrion when there is no live prey to be eaten.

Bald eagles are enormous and intimidating birds, with adults growing to 32 inches in length, with wingspans to 7 ½ feet, and weighing up to 16 pounds.

The largest eagles live in Alaska, and the smaller eagles can be found in Florida. Wherever the bald eagle lives, the animals in the region scatter when the bird begins to land.

Each hunting pair of bald eagles requires an area of 2 to 15 square miles in which to hunt. Each pair of bald eagles shares a nest, furiously guarding it against predators. The bald eagle sometimes chases animals that have made a catch of their own, such as the East Central Florida bald eagles that chase Ospreys along the Indian River Lagoon. The eagle will then get to eat the Osprey's catch, as the Osprey drops its squirming prey to escape the eagle.

Although they are birds of prey, the bald eagle shows a tremendous instinct for family loyalty. The bald eagle stays with its mate for life, though few other birds follow this behavior. Though most birds live a much shorter time, the bald eagle can live for as many as 25 years. They live across North America, from the north, including Canada and Alaska, across the middle expanses of the U.S., and south into the northern part of Mexico.

The bald eagle travels frequently, flying to northern climates to escape hot summers, the birds usually return close to the place where they were hatched in order to begin families of their own. Breeding bald eagles lay one to three eggs in the spring, which hatch about 35 days later. After three months in the nest, the baby bald eagles begin to fly, and a month later fly away from their mother for good. The dangers of hunger, disease, harsh weather and toxic chemicals can all make life hard for baby eagles, but almost 70% manage to adapt and survive for at least a year.

Did you know that to save the species in 1940 the United States Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act? This law made it illegal for people to disturb or bother the birds. This also included taking bald eagles for reasons such as selling, trading, or transporting them and also included their eggs and nests. Taking an eagle included shooting at the birds, wounding them, trapping, capturing, disturbing them, or killing them in any manner.

Large numbers of bald eagles died because of DTT, the overuse of pesticides, and other toxic chemicals. The bald eagle was given a chance to be saved by the many reintroduction programs and new laws that were enacted to help them. It seemed nearly impossible to save the species from extinction at the time.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 allowed species that were small in numbers to be classified as threatened, and species with very low populations to be classified as endangered. In the early 1990s, the rapidly increasing numbers of bald eagles made it possible for the species to be taken off the endangered species lists in most states.

The bald eagle has dramatically increased in numbers between 1963 and 1994, rising from about 500 pairs to almost 5,000 pairs and leading Congress to reclassify its status as threatened. With the increasing population of the bald eagle, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will soon take the bird off the endangered species list.

To observe the bald eagle is a pleasurable experience. The long strides of the bald eagle as it launches leads into the soaring, slow-motion movement of the bird in flight. The determined eagle keeps to its determined path, its prize kept in sight. The skies of North America are increasingly filled with the majestic bald eagle. Everyone should make an effort to see this animal.

By Ryan Orlancia - Article Source: EzineArticles

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A Favorite BACKYARD BIRD - The CHICKADEE

Carolina Chickadee (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Chickadee is a familiar and welcome visitor to most backyards in the United States. Varieties of this bird are found across the entire US. A member of the titmouse family, there are five variations in the US. Mexican, Chestnut Backed, and Mountain Chickadees reside in the western states. The Black Capped and Carolina Chickadees cover most of the US from New Jersey to Kansas and south from Texas to Florida. I mention these two together because they are so similar, even at close range, they are hard to distinguish. It would appear they have a hard time themselves as Black Capped and Carolina Chickadees have been known to breed with each other in areas where they overlap.

This active friendly bird will visit almost any backyard birding area and become a year-round resident. After becoming regulars at your feeders during spring and summer, most will winter in the same area they had their summer nests, provided the weather doesn't turn too harsh. Even then, they will migrate only a short distance and return when it warms. For year-round backyard birding, the chickadee is hard to beat. These birds have a cheerful call and song and provide hours of entertainment checking the trees and shrubs for insects.

Insects are the food of choice for the Chickadee. They eat live insects, eggs, and larvae while hopping or hanging, even upside down, in trees and shrubs. They sometimes make quick short flights and catch insects on the fly. They also enjoy berries, fleshy fruits, suet, acorns, and seeds. This friendly bird is a regular at our tube and platform bird feeders. We see them taking one sunflower seed at a time from our bird feeder and flying a short distance to open it. They enjoy our blueberry bushes, pine cones, and muscadines as well.

Chickadees can be trained to eat from your hand. It will take patience and consistent offerings, but these birds will slowly begin to come to you. This occurs more often in colder weather when the food supply is more scarce. This chickadee enjoys a variety of foods and can be enticed with various offerings until you find the one which works for you. Try various nuts, seeds, or fruits at about the same time each day. The inquisitive chickadee will get closer and closer until you find them eating from your hand!

Chickadees nest naturally in hollow trees or old woodpecker sites. They can be attracted to man-made birdhouses. Obtain a birdhouse made for them and place it in a pine, elm, aspen or birch tree. We have them nesting in houses attached to our wood fence. Just be sure you have a sturdy house, rough sawn for the bird to cling to and protect them with predator guards at the entrance. A chickadee house should come with tree shavings. While not used for the nest, it looks at this as proof this is a proper nesting site.

This bird is easily attracted and a favorite of many backyard bird watchers. Offering several varieties of food will keep these visitors happy. Provide sheltering shrubbery, water, and natural or man-made birdhouse nesting sites and you will have an entertaining songbird dancing, singing, and performing upside down acrobatics for years to come. If you are fortunate enough, the Chickadee will reward you with eating from your hand.

By David R Price David Price is an avid amateur bird watcher and outdoor photographer. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Peach Faced LOVE BIRDS

A trio of peach-faced lovebirds. The left one has a standard "peach-face" crest, the middle one is a peach-face and a fischeri hybrid (as indicated by the two-colored beak and smaller body size) and the right one is a color mutation aptly named as "orange-faced" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My Peach Faced lovebirds are pint-sized bundles of joy. They have the full personality of parrots while being easy to house because of their size. My birds are little clowns, playing for hours at a time. They love to hang from toys, spin them around, and dance on your shoulder. I have had to watch my buttons! They love to pull them off my clothes! Such loving little birds: they love to snuggle and preen.

Many people believe lovebirds must be kept in pairs. This is simply not true. A single lovebird makes a better pet because it bonds to you rather than to another lovebird. While it is easy to keep a pair of lovebirds tame if you plan on spending lots of time with your bird you can keep it alone. However, if you work long hours and don't think you'll have a lot of time for your love bird, I recommend you get him/her a companion. This will keep your lovebirds happy and prevent boredom. It is important to realize that while lovebirds are a small parrot, they have the intelligence and abilities of some of the largest parrots.

They never stop amazing me with their ability to escape their own cages. I have to put copper wire on the cage doors to keep them in, and sometimes they figure out how to untwist the wire and open the door!

Lovebirds will sometimes try to become the little bosses of the household. I recommend using the same type of gentle dominance training that is used for larger parrots.

Are you looking for a bird that you can teach to talk? Lovebirds can learn to mimic sounds and speech on occasion. However, I don't recommend that you buy any species of bird only because of the expectation that it will speak; even the famous African Greys sometimes don't learn to speak. So, if that is your only reason for buying a bird, I'd seriously urge you to reconsider as the bird could end up abandoned because of your own disappointment.

In my opinion, love birds and parrots both make great pets even if they never utter a word. We have both in our home. The lovebirds chatter away all day, never making a sound that anyone can understand, except as being simply 'noisy chatter.' However, our Double Yellow Head parrot makes up for it; his vocabulary is very long, extensive and he is constantly talking.

If you decide to breed love birds just remember they are prolific breeders. You may soon, as we did, find our home overrun with lovebirds! And, as a word of caution, "do not" put bark chips in the nest of the baby birds. Though the odor is pleasant to humans and is good for older birds it is too strong for baby lovebirds. I must admit I learned the hard way and had casualties on my hands! Paper is the best thing to put in the nest along with some alfalfa. Do not get powdered alfalfa, rather dried alfalfa blades. If you decide to use paper, do cut the paper (newspaper is best) in long strips and put it beside the nest. Mama will take it into the nest. And, remember if mama snaps at you she is only protecting her nest!

My favorite lovebird is Lucky, so named as it was our first clutch and she was the only one, of six, that survived when I put the bark chips in the nest.

We do not have an aviary breeder, rather, our lovebirds are paired off in separate cages. The best way to tame babies quickly is to remove the babies from the next when they are about two weeks old and hand feeds them. This way, the birds get the best of both worlds: the immunity conferred from their parents and the tameness that comes from being handled by humans.

Our lovebirds are abundance weaned so that they are happy, well-adjusted birds. We feed them pellets, a good seed mix, alfalfa, wheat grass, quinoa, sprouted beans, and other veggies and fruits. And, oh yes! Lovebirds love to not only eat grapes but to toss them around also. In short, lovebirds love playing. They keep us entertained for hours. If you decide to get a lovebird for a pet, you will have made an excellent choice!

By Ms CiCi - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Fact Sheet: COLLARED ARACARI - Pteroglossus torquatus

(Original title: Rainforest Birds - Collard Aracari)

Photo  by mTuttle 

Bird Name:

Collared Aracari

Latin Name:

Pteroglossus torquatus

Status:

Least Concern

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Piciformes

Family: Ramphastidae

Genus: Pteroglossus

Species: P. torquatus

General Information:

The Collared Aracari is a colorful bird that resides year-round in the jungles of Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. It is a toucan and has a distinctive long bill that is almost a quarter the size of the bird itself. It is a very social creature and usually found in flocks of 6 - 15 birds.

Physical Description:

An adult bird is around 16 inches in length, with its bill accounting for about 4 inches, and weighs approximately 230 g. Male and female are similar in appearance, each with a black head and a colorful chest of red, green, and yellow feathers. Juveniles are much duller in color compared to their adult counterparts, with paler underparts and a less distinct bill pattern.

Diet:

Although the Collard Aracari is primarily an arboreal fruit-eater, it will also feed on bird eggs and small prey like insects, lizards, and fledgling birds.

Habitat:

This near-passerine bird occurs from southern Mexico to Panama, but also extends into Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. The bird makes its home in the tropical rainforests of southern Mexico and throughout Central America. It is also a common resident in lowland forests and will often nest in natural cavities or old woodpecker nests.

Reproduction:

A female usually lays 3 - 4 eggs per clutch in an unlined nest. Both male and female incubate the eggs for a period of about 16 days. The young will leave the nest at 40 - 42 days.

By Tony Mandarich - Article Source: EzineArticles

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COCKATOOS Need Love Too!

Citron-crested Cockatoo. Photograph of upper body and crest.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is true...Cockatoos are gorgeous and popular, but you still need to give them love too...Many are under the endangered species list, and all others are considered vulnerable.

They have beautiful plumage in a rainbow of varieties, and an amazing crest on top of their head, which they can control to fan out or to lay back flat! They have big personalities and are very intelligent.

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Cacatuidae

Subfamilies: Microglossinae, Calyptorhynchinae, Cacatuinae

There are 21 species that belong to the Cacatuidae family. Of these 21, only 11 exist in Australia in the wild, 7 exist in Indonesia, New Guinea and other South Pacific Islands, and 3 exist in both New Guinea and Australia.

Cockatoos are under both the endangered and vulnerable species list, protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This means that it is illegal to import and export these birds, which are caught in the wild.

Endangered Cockatoo Species:

* Goffin's cockatoo, Cacatua goffini

* Red-vented Cockatoo, Cacatua haematuropygia

* Moluccan Cockatoo, Cacatua moluccensis

* Yellow-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea

- includes the subspecies, Citron-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata

* Palm Cockatoo, Probosciger aterrimus

If you are interested in adopting a cockatoo for a pet, make sure you are buying from a reputable dealer that has not partaken in the illegal trade of wild cockatoos.

My Story:

When I moved to Perth, Western Australia, about 13 yrs ago, the 1st day I woke up, I went for a jog. I was flabbergasted at the teeming wildlife just in my neighborhood. I made a few turns and ended up jogging through a park, where I found the most amazing site.

The trees were all pink! (Photo: This is what I saw! I wish I could find my photos to show you!) What I mean is, that they were absolutely full of pink cockatoos! Absolutely one of the most amazing things ever! Literally, there was no branch left open. What a treat to get up in the morning for your dull jog, and be graced with this beauty on a regular basis. So special!

It was so normal for the locals, they didn't really see what the big deal was, and certainly did not want to go jogging with me...LOL Coming from Canada, this was a real eye-opening experience.

How beautiful, I thought. How terrible that they are all either endangered or vulnerable now, 13 yrs later.

* Tip: If you have any respiratory diseases, problems or sensitivities, a bird for a pet is not a great idea, as it can irritate and aggravate your respiratory problems further. (When we owned 2 budgies, when I was young, they lived to be about 10 yrs old. My mother seemed to have chronic bronchitis throughout the year, and it would be aggravated to pneumonia come winter time. When our Misty and Sky passed away, within 2 wks of each other, Misty's heart was broken, my mother's respiratory problems cleared up spontaneously. She has never had these problems since. She had a serious sensitivity to the birds plumage and dust that resulted from them living in the house. On the other hand, me, my sister and my father did not have such a sensitivity to our budgies.)

If you are blessed enough to have a cockatoo as a pet, it is important to make sure they are being fed properly so they will live to be your companion for many years to come.

I love all of these beautiful species of Cockatoo. How gorgeous! How amazing would it be to have these beautiful birds all over the place in Canada?

By Kimberly Turner Edwards Article Source: EzineArticles

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