A Sad Story, an Important Lesson

Scarlet Macaw

I got an email the other day from a friend informing me of the death of his scarlet macaw, Lola. It is a tragic ending to an already sad story.
My friend, Mark, rescued Lola from a dingy pet store basement in Michigan about 7 years ago. She was in horrible shape when he took her in. She was grossly underweight and suffering from malnutrition. Her beak was horribly deformed. She had pressure sores on both feet and could barely get around. Not a single toy embellished her cockatiel ...

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Breakfast With The Birds

Camelot Macaws, Blue Throated Macaw

I woke up really early this morning and decided to make a nice breakfast for myself and the birds. I was in the mood for an omelet and I was plotting how to make the perfect meal to accommodate everyone as I came down the stairs.

Once in the kitchen, I steamed some veggies and warmed up some left over brown rice.  I grated some cheddar cheese, which is something I only offer to my birds on occasion. I beat the eggs while the pan was heating ...

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3 Phrases Your Parrot Should Understand

Camelot Macaw

There are three phrases that I teach all of my parrots when they first come to live with me.  None of them are meant to be repeated by them (although sometimes they are), I only wish for the words to be understood. They are in place mainly for the sake of convenience when I require patience, cooperation or understanding from my birds in certain circumstances.

“WAIT A MINUTE”
I don’t know what causes a parrot to be patient one day and intolerant the next.  Sometimes when I am preparing ...

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My Trip to The Circus OR a Reason to Recall Train Your Bird

Camelot Macaws

I couldn’t decide which title to go with.

I know I’m behind a post for this past week. I have a good excuse though,  I just got home from visiting Dave and Jamie at the circus in Coney Island, NY where they have been stationed for the summer. It was so much fun. This was my first time out to see the show. It was strange to see my friends in this bizarre setting, and stranger still that they fit in so well.

The show was GREAT. I have decided I ...

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The Dangers of Fruits Seeds and Pits

Q:  Is it safe to let my parrot eat fruit seeds?

A:  Whenever you question whether or not something is safe for your bird, it is always best to opt against using it until you know for certain.  My philosophy is: when in doubt, don’t. Fruit is wonderful for your parrot but the seeds cause a lot of confusion because some are bad and others are not. Here is a list use can use a guideline:

UNSAFE  SEEDS:
The seeds of apples and the pits of cherries, peaches, plums, pears, apricots and nectarines are all unsafe ...

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The Coloring and Camouflage of Parrots

Have you ever wondered why parrots, being prey animals, are so brightly colored?  How is a brilliantly colored macaw supposed to blend into the green background of the rainforest canopy?
Have you ever casually looked into your bird’s cage as you were passing by to find him gone? You try to hold down that feeling of panic as you frantically search the cage with your eyes. And then there he is, right where he was when your eyes looked in that direction a minute ago ...

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