Understanding What It Means To Have A “Lifetime Commitment” Pet

Blue and gold macaw

Blue and gold macaw

Over the years, I have taken a turn in the way that I deal with people who are interested in getting a parrot. I have always been careful to be honest with them about the work involved, the noise, the mess and the damage they can do to your home but I use to end on a positive note describing the magical experience parrot keeping can be.

I don’t do that anymore. Now ...

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Dog Behaviour vs Parrot Behaviour

Chickadee at the feeder

Wild birds like this chickadee can teach us a lot.

 

I have been involved in my dogs’ training since I was old enough to walk. It has always been a fascination of mine –  animal psychology and behaviour are my passions. Due to some really wonderful trainers, I was taught what to look for in canine body language. Parrots, of course, were the only ones to teach me about avian body language. There simply is no book or person that ...

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Should Parrots Be Classroom Pets?

 

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I feel that even small parrots – such as budgies and parrotlets – should be left out of the classroom.

Best and Worst Pets for Kids in the Classroom

Reminiscing on the classroom pets of my past, I’ve come to realise that perhaps some were not suited to the hectic learning environments of a school. As an adult, I’m able to think about what creatures I can to expose kids to without stressing out the animal. One of my biggest goals in opening a parrot sanctuary ...

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How to Survive with Parrots in an Apartment

Bobo the umbrella cockatoo.

Umbrella cockatoos may be quiet sometimes, but they have the capability to produce an ear-splitting scream like a dying, wounded animal.

 

We can’t expect our parrots to be quiet all the time. Many species are naturally noisy, such as sun conures, amazons or cockatoos. While we can train our birds that excessive screaming isn’t okay, I feel that it’s important to allow them to let off steam sometimes.

Enter the scream session…

Try making time for a sanctioned (and planned!) ...

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