Many of us who have the pleasure of keeping birds have found that they have come into our lives in an unexpected way. Some people  searching for an...

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Congo african grey and rose breated cockatoo

I spent the better part of this evening going through the archives on a parrot forum that I visit regularly. Mainly, I was re-reading some of  the threads I had started looking to other cockatoo owners with whom I could compare notes.  I found myself getting teary eyed.  I feel very fortunate to have made so many friends over the years who thoughtlessly give of themselves when someone has a question or a problem. They are always there for me.

When I was done, I ...

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Rose breasted cockatoos

Just a quick reminder… It is fall and a time of year when birds will exhibit some hormonal behaviors.  I have been noticing that Linus, my umbrella cockatoo, has had trouble lately sleeping through the night.  This is always a sure sign that he is hormonal.  The good news is that this is a milder version of the peculiarity that we see so often in the springtime, so not to worry.

Hormonal behaviors are brought on by the changing seasons. Spring behaviors come about when warmer temperatures ...

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Have you ever wondered how your parrot’s sense of smell, touch, taste, sight and hearing compare to your own?

Sight:

A bird’s eyesight is the most important of its senses to its survival.  Our bird’s vision, while not as acute as that of raptors, is vastly superior to our own and is adapted to the survival needs of parrots.

Predatory birds, such as the eagle, the owl or the hawk, have wider skulls allowing for forward facing placement of their eyes.  This positioning gives them heightened depth perception which allows them to judge the distance and speed ...

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Congo African Grey Parrot

Ever since touring on the road Dave and I have worked hard to get more and more of our birds into the show that didn’t start out in it when we opened. The mental stimulation, constant interaction and quality time they get out of being in the show is unbeatable and we want them all to experience it. We also want to be able to give our birds days off, even when we don’t have the day off from the show ourselves.

Our social butterfly, er, I mean, ...

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Blue and Gold Macaws

It is frequently said that a parrot has the emotional capacity of a two year old and the problem solving capabilities of a 5 or 6 year old.  I have drawn the comparison between my parrots and children many times.   It’s hard not to do when they play with toys, throw tantrums, and look to you for their care and comfort.  There are many similarities, but I think there is a place when the line should be drawn.

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