Greys And Elephants: Is there a relationship?
By Jane Hallander
Unfortunately, African Grey Parrots have garnered a reputation as a parrot species with a high risk of phobia. According to Webster’s Dictionary, a phobia is “an exaggerated, usually inexplicable and illogical fear of an object, class of objects or situation.” In this case our parrot friends develop an extreme fear of their human handlers… a fear so strong that the bird actually thinks it is about to die.
WHAT CONSTITUES TRULY PHOBIC BEHAVIOR?
The Grey who throws himself to the cage bottom, screaming to hopefully drive us away is probably phobic if he consistently repeats this behavior whenever one or more people try to handle him. However, the parrot who simply runs away from your hand or the “UP” command, but behaves with confidence when you handle him is not phobic. He probably has just not learned what is expected of him and where his place is within the “flock”.
As we learn more about what triggers phobias in African Greys, several patterns become evident. While there will always be exception, if someone calls me for a consultation about their African Grey, I already know that it is probably a domestically-bred male Grey, who started showing phobic symptoms between one and a half to two years of age. I also know that it probably started after he fell to the floor and was picked up by his concerned human. If this sounds like the psychic side of me coming out, it isn’. These are the statistics that fit the profile of a phobic African Grey Parrot.
Let’s look at each variable that contributes to the overall profile:
First, we seldom see phobia in wild-caught imported Greys. I believe that this is due to the fact that wild Greys are raised by the parents, rather then pulled from the nest at a couple of weeks old and raised by a human hand-feeder. Parrots as with other animals, have two ways to express behavior. One is instinctive or ‘hard-wired’ behavior that all members of a species are with. For instance, the knowledge that a Grey’s primary predators are hawks and that attacks come from above is instinctive.
Besides instinctive, parrots use ‘associative learning’ or socialization from other birds for information about their daily lives. While a Grey may instinctively know that hawks are dangerous preatiors, it takes other birds to teach him about secondary predators, such as dogs, cats or even humans. All Greys, wild or domestic, know to fear hawks. However, wild-caught parrots may initially fear dogs and cats, because they are close cousins t predatory animals in Africa and are secondary predators taught to them by older wild Greys. Wild Greys probably have a ‘clear list’ of what is and what isn’t a danger to them, and humans probably aren’t among the list. Humans do not ordinarily play an active predatory role in day-to-day African Grey life (in the wild). Therefore, there is no reason for a wild bird’s parrot teachers to identify humans as predators.
Unfortunately, domestically bred parrot babies seldom have an opportunity to learn anything from another bird. They must rely only on their instinctive background for knowledge of how to be a bird. Therefore, domestically bred Greys are often armed only with their instinct, which tell them that danger comes from above. Instinctively, they know that flying is the escape route from an overhead predator.
Why is it that a young Grey, that has severely clipped wings and falls to the floor, can easily become phobic when it is pursued by a worried human owner?
Apparently, that is enough to trigger an intense fear of the person, who at the moment appears over the bird’s head. That fear may then easily become an associated learning response and the bird associates his person with that very same instinctive fear of an overhead predator.
WHY ELEPHANTS?
Ivory poachers hunt male African elephants for their tusks, making the African elephant an endangered species. In an effort to save the African elephant, groups of juvenile males were transported to the safety of game preserves, where they could be guarded by game wardens. The plan was working well until the wardens started finding dead black rhinoceros in the same area as the juvenile elephants. Before long, it became apparent that the juvenile elephants were ‘ganging’ up on the rhinos and killing them. After observing this strange phenomenon, some experts felt the elephants would have to be destroyed before they wiped out the rhino population, another endangered species. Of course, this idea was counter to the original purpose of saving the African elephant.
One thoughtful warden had a theory. He had blood samples taken from the juvenile elephants and found their testosterone levels higher then samples taken from juvenile males living close o an established heard of females and older males. Testosterone, a male hormone or androgen, is a primary contributor to aggression levels in many animals. His theory was that the juveniles, living in groups alone and far away from their natural social environment, were developing unnatural behaviors and aggressions because they were not exposed to natural elephant social order and the associated teaching that came with it.
Based on his theory, they imported two older adult bull elephants from another game preserve and placed them with the young juveniles. The older bull elephants did exactly what they would do in their natural environment … whipped the juveniles into a somewhat submissive mode toward the older elephants. This is required within elephant herds to keep young bulls from claiming and mating with the female elephants. Only one bull elephant gets to mate and produce oung and he is the strongest of the lot. When the senior bull is unable to defend his herd against challenges from the juvenile bull elephant herd, he loses his leadership place and a younger, stronger male takes over. This insures a strong gene pool, necessary for species survival.
Sure enough, within a few weeks, the testosterone levels of the young male elephants dropped to normal ranges and attacks on the black rhinos ceased completely. What happened here that applies to male African Greys and phobias?
GREY TO ELEPHANT COMPARISON
Game wardens saw that male elephants kept with only other juvenile male elephants, interacted with each other through natural elephant games that taught them confidence and aggression exactly what they needed to become potential heard leaders in a natural environment. However, living by themselves wasn’t their natural environment. A natural environment requires older elephants to tone down the juveniles, while still allowing the game playing that teaches future survival skills.
Of course, our Greys don’t have the same social structure or survival requirements, as do African elephants. African Greys live in flocks, but bond to stay with only one mate for as long as that bird lives. Therefore, there is no need to subdue young males around the flock. However, there is still some amount of agression needed by Greys to defend their nests and drive intruders away. Where does that confidence and agression come from?
My theory is that confidence for male African Greys comes from ‘game-playing’ and interaction with other Grey males in the formative time between fledging and when they start to mature sexually. This would explain why we don’t see phobias with wild-caught Greys, even those who were imported at a very young age when importation was still legal. Wild-caught birds grow up naturally with natural African Grey socialization and associative learning from other Greys. Domestically bred Greys usually don’t have an opportunity to socialize and ‘play’ with other Greys, so may be lacking the extra testerone and confidence derived from roughhousing and playing with their peers. If it is in fact a question of testosterone levels and/or lack of confidence developed from interaction with other male Greys, that may also explain why we don’t see phobias with African Grey hens.
Why don’t we see phobias in other species, such as Amazons?
Again, a domestically bred parrot’s response to ouside stimuli depends on how the bird is genetically programmed for survival in its natural habitat. For instance, it is very possible that African Grey juveniles are further ’tutored’ by other, perhaps older birds after they fledge, but before they reach maturity and join the flock as adults. We know this happens with Galah (Rose-breasted) Cockatoos, while some other Cockatoo species do not continue with heavily supervised education of juveniles. If there is another parrot species that can become phobic as easily and in similar numbers as the African Grey Parrot, it is the Rose-breasted Cockatoo. My friend and colleague, Sam Foster, has done extensive research into the Galah behavior, especially phobias. Amazons appear not to have as much structure to their flocks as do Greys and Galahs. Possibly because most South American Parrots fly in ‘multi-species’ flocks that contain Amazons, Macaws, Conures and other South American parrot species.
While this isn’t the only reason Greys become phobic, it appears to be one of a short list of coincidences that lead to the final unfortunate result. If we clip a Grey’s wings or toenails too short, or provide perches that are too slippery or large for the Grey to grip, especially if it is at that very sensitive, clumsy, juvenile stage, we may be undermining whatever confidence it instinctively has. This becomes an even greater problem if the Grey has been allowed to learn to fly, fully flighted, at fledging age. Many responsible breeders let their Grey bappies learn to fly, land and navigate before gradually clipping their wings and sending them off to new homes.
As discussed earlier, an African Grey who falls, due to a short wing clip or from toenails clipped too short to grip his perches may have the trauma its painful fall reinforced when the worried owner hurries to pick the frightened Grey up from the floor. A common scenario is that the startled Grey is ‘chased’ by the worried human. The parrot cannot fly to instinctively escape the person and initially becomes afraid of the owner’s hands. In this case, phobia starts with the hands, but if not corrected, soon develops into a full phobic reaction whenever that particular person comes near the parrot. Simply waiting until the bird on the floor turns to face the human, might avoid future problems.
While no one can absolutely guarantee that a young African Grey will grow into a happy, well-adjusted adult bird, there are certainly ways to minimize potential problems. Perhaps we need to further study and duplicate the natural parrot socialization as much as we can in a domestic breeding situation, rather then attempt to ‘shape’ our young Greys into ‘little humans’. Everyone knows of wild-caught Greys who are ideal companions. My own Jing is a perfect example. If wild birds can make the adjustment so successfully into a very different environment there is something to be said for associative learning from other Greys --- because that’s exactly what wild Greys receive as thy are growing up.
Note: Jane passed away early in 2002 after a courageous fight with cancer. Her love of parrots lives on by her articles helping people who share their lives with companion parrots.
Reprinted with permission from the former Grey Play Round Table® African grey magazine, and its www.AfricanGreys.com web site
Monday, January 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The Dawn Chorus and Life Forces
by Cornelis van Dalen
Some call it cacophony and are driven to madness; others find it the most beautiful event in all of creation – the dawn chorus of the birds. Especially in spring, before the sun’s morning rays light the heavens, the birds begin to sing. First one, then another, and finally all together singing to their heart’s content, if one can use such an expression. Each country has its own song where the species of birds differ; I shall never forget dawn chorus in the subtropical bush of northern New South Wales, Australia. Enchanting, dear Angela and Ian!
Here in southern England the bird life is especially prevalent in our locality. I have long admired the Blackbird Turdus merula for his song, yet after the summer solstice he gradually ceases to sing so regularly. This is also true for the Song Thrush Turdus musicus, often called England’s finest singer.
The song of the various birds is most beautiful and one must ask why they sing. The Rev. F.O. Morris in writing of the Nightingale says it ‘loves a neighbourhood where there is an echo, as if aware of and admiring its own music.’ [1] Or is the Nightingale in that locality to enhance the effects of the music? Music! Here is our clue.
In the book A Pilgrimage with the Animals [2] Dr Lascelles introduces us to the subtle nature of animals, and points to our failure to understand them as spiritual beings having a role and function in the labyrinth of life. “I want you to think of what you call the dawn chorus of the birds, that strange moment of nature just before the morning light seeps through. Suddenly, as you may have noticed if you have been lying awake, every bird in the neighbourhood breaks into song as though obeying some signal. For a time, while it is dark, the air is filled with orchestrated sound – the triumphant, challenging and positive sound of birds in song.”
Read entire article by clicking HERE
This article has been reprinted with written permission of the author.
Some call it cacophony and are driven to madness; others find it the most beautiful event in all of creation – the dawn chorus of the birds. Especially in spring, before the sun’s morning rays light the heavens, the birds begin to sing. First one, then another, and finally all together singing to their heart’s content, if one can use such an expression. Each country has its own song where the species of birds differ; I shall never forget dawn chorus in the subtropical bush of northern New South Wales, Australia. Enchanting, dear Angela and Ian!
Here in southern England the bird life is especially prevalent in our locality. I have long admired the Blackbird Turdus merula for his song, yet after the summer solstice he gradually ceases to sing so regularly. This is also true for the Song Thrush Turdus musicus, often called England’s finest singer.
The song of the various birds is most beautiful and one must ask why they sing. The Rev. F.O. Morris in writing of the Nightingale says it ‘loves a neighbourhood where there is an echo, as if aware of and admiring its own music.’ [1] Or is the Nightingale in that locality to enhance the effects of the music? Music! Here is our clue.
In the book A Pilgrimage with the Animals [2] Dr Lascelles introduces us to the subtle nature of animals, and points to our failure to understand them as spiritual beings having a role and function in the labyrinth of life. “I want you to think of what you call the dawn chorus of the birds, that strange moment of nature just before the morning light seeps through. Suddenly, as you may have noticed if you have been lying awake, every bird in the neighbourhood breaks into song as though obeying some signal. For a time, while it is dark, the air is filled with orchestrated sound – the triumphant, challenging and positive sound of birds in song.”
Read entire article by clicking HERE
This article has been reprinted with written permission of the author.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Greys And Elephants: Is there a relationship?
Greys And Elephants: Is there a relationship?
By Jane Hallander
Note: Jane passed away early in 2002 after a courageous fight with cancer. Her love of parrots lives on by her articles helping people who share their lives with companion parrots.
Reprinted with permission from the former Grey Play Round Table® African grey magazine, and its www.AfricanGreys.com web site
Unfortunately, African Grey Parrots have garnered a reputation as a parrot species with a high risk of phobia. According to Webster’s Dictionary, a phobia is “an exaggerated, usually inexplicable and illogical fear of an object, class of objects or situation.” In this case our parrot friends develop an extreme fear of their human handlers… a fear so strong that the bird actually thinks it is about to die.
WHAT CONSTITUES TRULY PHOBIC BEHAVIOR?
The Grey who throws himself to the cage bottom, screaming to hopefully drive us away is probably phobic if he consistently repeats this behavior whenever one or more people try to handle him. However, the parrot who simply runs away from your hand or the “UP” command, but behaves with confidence when you handle him is not phobic. He probably has just not learned what is expected of him and where his place is within the “flock”.
As we learn more about what triggers phobias in African Greys, several patterns become evident. While there will always be exception, if someone calls me for a consultation about their African Grey, I already know that it is probably a domestically-bred male Grey, who started showing phobic symptoms between one and a half to two years of age. I also know that it probably started after he fell to the floor and was picked up by his concerned human. If this sounds like the psychic side of me coming out, it isn’. These are the statistics that fit the profile of a phobic African Grey Parrot.
Let’s look at each variable that contributes to the overall profile:
First, we seldom see phobia in wild-caught imported Greys. I believe that this is due to the fact that wild Greys are raised by the parents, rather then pulled from the nest at a couple of weeks old and raised by a human hand-feeder. Parrots as with other animals, have two ways to express behavior. One is instinctive or ‘hard-wired’ behavior that all members of a species are with. For instance, the knowledge that a Grey’s primary predators are hawks and that attacks come from above is instinctive.
Besides instinctive, parrots use ‘associative learning’ or socialization from other birds for information about their daily lives. While a Grey may instinctively know that hawks are dangerous preatiors, it takes other birds to teach him about secondary predators, such as dogs, cats or even humans. All Greys, wild or domestic, know to fear hawks. However, wild-caught parrots may initially fear dogs and cats, because they are close cousins t predatory animals in Africa and are secondary predators taught to them by older wild Greys. Wild Greys probably have a ‘clear list’ of what is and what isn’t a danger to them, and humans probably aren’t among the list. Humans do not ordinarily play an active predatory role in day-to-day African Grey life (in the wild). Therefore, there is no reason for a wild bird’s parrot teachers to identify humans as predators.
Unfortunately, domestically bred parrot babies seldom have an opportunity to learn anything from another bird. They must rely only on their instinctive background for knowledge of how to be a bird. Therefore, domestically bred Greys are often armed only with their instinct, which tell them that danger comes from above. Instinctively, they know that flying is the escape route from an overhead predator.
Why is it that a young Grey, that has severely clipped wings and falls to the floor, can easily become phobic when it is pursued by a worried human owner?
Apparently, that is enough to trigger an intense fear of the person, who at the moment appears over the bird’s head. That fear may then easily become an associated learning response and the bird associates his person with that very same instinctive fear of an overhead predator.
WHY ELEPHANTS?
Ivory poachers hunt male African elephants for their tusks, making the African elephant an endangered species. In an effort to save the African elephant, groups of juvenile males were transported to the safety of game preserves, where they could be guarded by game wardens. The plan was working well until the wardens started finding dead black rhinoceros in the same area as the juvenile elephants. Before long, it became apparent that the juvenile elephants were ‘ganging’ up on the rhinos and killing them. After observing this strange phenomenon, some experts felt the elephants would have to be destroyed before they wiped out the rhino population, another endangered species. Of course, this idea was counter to the original purpose of saving the African elephant.
One thoughtful warden had a theory. He had blood samples taken from the juvenile elephants and found their testosterone levels higher then samples taken from juvenile males living close o an established heard of females and older males. Testosterone, a male hormone or androgen, is a primary contributor to aggression levels in many animals. His theory was that the juveniles, living in groups alone and far away from their natural social environment, were developing unnatural behaviors and aggressions because they were not exposed to natural elephant social order and the associated teaching that came with it.
Based on his theory, they imported two older adult bull elephants from another game preserve and placed them with the young juveniles. The older bull elephants did exactly what they would do in their natural environment … whipped the juveniles into a somewhat submissive mode toward the older elephants. This is required within elephant herds to keep young bulls from claiming and mating with the female elephants. Only one bull elephant gets to mate and produce oung and he is the strongest of the lot. When the senior bull is unable to defend his herd against challenges from the juvenile bull elephant herd, he loses his leadership place and a younger, stronger male takes over. This insures a strong gene pool, necessary for species survival.
Sure enough, within a few weeks, the testosterone levels of the young male elephants dropped to normal ranges and attacks on the black rhinos ceased completely. What happened here that applies to male African Greys and phobias?
GREY TO ELEPHANT COMPARISON
Game wardens saw that male elephants kept with only other juvenile male elephants, interacted with each other through natural elephant games that taught them confidence and aggression exactly what they needed to become potential heard leaders in a natural environment. However, living by themselves wasn’t their natural environment. A natural environment requires older elephants to tone down the juveniles, while still allowing the game playing that teaches future survival skills.
Of course, our Greys don’t have the same social structure or survival requirements, as do African elephants. African Greys live in flocks, but bond to stay with only one mate for as long as that bird lives. Therefore, there is no need to subdue young males around the flock. However, there is still some amount of agression needed by Greys to defend their nests and drive intruders away. Where does that confidence and agression come from?
My theory is that confidence for male African Greys comes from ‘game-playing’ and interaction with other Grey males in the formative time between fledging and when they start to mature sexually. This would explain why we don’t see phobias with wild-caught Greys, even those who were imported at a very young age when importation was still legal. Wild-caught birds grow up naturally with natural African Grey socialization and associative learning from other Greys. Domestically bred Greys usually don’t have an opportunity to socialize and ‘play’ with other Greys, so may be lacking the extra testerone and confidence derived from roughhousing and playing with their peers. If it is in fact a question of testosterone levels and/or lack of confidence developed from interaction with other male Greys, that may also explain why we don’t see phobias with African Grey hens.
Why don’t we see phobias in other species, such as Amazons?
Again, a domestically bred parrot’s response to ouside stimuli depends on how the bird is genetically programmed for survival in its natural habitat. For instance, it is very possible that African Grey juveniles are further ’tutored’ by other, perhaps older birds after they fledge, but before they reach maturity and join the flock as adults. We know this happens with Galah (Rose-breasted) Cockatoos, while some other Cockatoo species do not continue with heavily supervised education of juveniles. If there is another parrot species that can become phobic as easily and in similar numbers as the African Grey Parrot, it is the Rose-breasted Cockatoo. My friend and colleague, Sam Foster, has done extensive research into the Galah behavior, especially phobias. Amazons appear not to have as much structure to their flocks as do Greys and Galahs. Possibly because most South American Parrots fly in ‘multi-species’ flocks that contain Amazons, Macaws, Conures and other South American parrot species.
While this isn’t the only reason Greys become phobic, it appears to be one of a short list of coincidences that lead to the final unfortunate result. If we clip a Grey’s wings or toenails too short, or provide perches that are too slippery or large for the Grey to grip, especially if it is at that very sensitive, clumsy, juvenile stage, we may be undermining whatever confidence it instinctively has. This becomes an even greater problem if the Grey has been allowed to learn to fly, fully flighted, at fledging age. Many responsible breeders let their Grey bappies learn to fly, land and navigate before gradually clipping their wings and sending them off to new homes.
As discussed earlier, an African Grey who falls, due to a short wing clip or from toenails clipped too short to grip his perches may have the trauma its painful fall reinforced when the worried owner hurries to pick the frightened Grey up from the floor. A common scenario is that the startled Grey is ‘chased’ by the worried human. The parrot cannot fly to instinctively escape the person and initially becomes afraid of the owner’s hands. In this case, phobia starts with the hands, but if not corrected, soon develops into a full phobic reaction whenever that particular person comes near the parrot. Simply waiting until the bird on the floor turns to face the human, might avoid future problems.
While no one can absolutely guarantee that a young African Grey will grow into a happy, well-adjusted adult bird, there are certainly ways to minimize potential problems. Perhaps we need to further study and duplicate the natural parrot socialization as much as we can in a domestic breeding situation, rather then attempt to ‘shape’ our young Greys into ‘little humans’. Everyone knows of wild-caught Greys who are ideal companions. My own Jing is a perfect example. If wild birds can make the adjustment so successfully into a very different environment there is something to be said for associative learning from other Greys --- because that’s exactly what wild Greys receive as thy are growing up.
By Jane Hallander
Note: Jane passed away early in 2002 after a courageous fight with cancer. Her love of parrots lives on by her articles helping people who share their lives with companion parrots.
Reprinted with permission from the former Grey Play Round Table® African grey magazine, and its www.AfricanGreys.com web site
Unfortunately, African Grey Parrots have garnered a reputation as a parrot species with a high risk of phobia. According to Webster’s Dictionary, a phobia is “an exaggerated, usually inexplicable and illogical fear of an object, class of objects or situation.” In this case our parrot friends develop an extreme fear of their human handlers… a fear so strong that the bird actually thinks it is about to die.
WHAT CONSTITUES TRULY PHOBIC BEHAVIOR?
The Grey who throws himself to the cage bottom, screaming to hopefully drive us away is probably phobic if he consistently repeats this behavior whenever one or more people try to handle him. However, the parrot who simply runs away from your hand or the “UP” command, but behaves with confidence when you handle him is not phobic. He probably has just not learned what is expected of him and where his place is within the “flock”.
As we learn more about what triggers phobias in African Greys, several patterns become evident. While there will always be exception, if someone calls me for a consultation about their African Grey, I already know that it is probably a domestically-bred male Grey, who started showing phobic symptoms between one and a half to two years of age. I also know that it probably started after he fell to the floor and was picked up by his concerned human. If this sounds like the psychic side of me coming out, it isn’. These are the statistics that fit the profile of a phobic African Grey Parrot.
Let’s look at each variable that contributes to the overall profile:
First, we seldom see phobia in wild-caught imported Greys. I believe that this is due to the fact that wild Greys are raised by the parents, rather then pulled from the nest at a couple of weeks old and raised by a human hand-feeder. Parrots as with other animals, have two ways to express behavior. One is instinctive or ‘hard-wired’ behavior that all members of a species are with. For instance, the knowledge that a Grey’s primary predators are hawks and that attacks come from above is instinctive.
Besides instinctive, parrots use ‘associative learning’ or socialization from other birds for information about their daily lives. While a Grey may instinctively know that hawks are dangerous preatiors, it takes other birds to teach him about secondary predators, such as dogs, cats or even humans. All Greys, wild or domestic, know to fear hawks. However, wild-caught parrots may initially fear dogs and cats, because they are close cousins t predatory animals in Africa and are secondary predators taught to them by older wild Greys. Wild Greys probably have a ‘clear list’ of what is and what isn’t a danger to them, and humans probably aren’t among the list. Humans do not ordinarily play an active predatory role in day-to-day African Grey life (in the wild). Therefore, there is no reason for a wild bird’s parrot teachers to identify humans as predators.
Unfortunately, domestically bred parrot babies seldom have an opportunity to learn anything from another bird. They must rely only on their instinctive background for knowledge of how to be a bird. Therefore, domestically bred Greys are often armed only with their instinct, which tell them that danger comes from above. Instinctively, they know that flying is the escape route from an overhead predator.
Why is it that a young Grey, that has severely clipped wings and falls to the floor, can easily become phobic when it is pursued by a worried human owner?
Apparently, that is enough to trigger an intense fear of the person, who at the moment appears over the bird’s head. That fear may then easily become an associated learning response and the bird associates his person with that very same instinctive fear of an overhead predator.
WHY ELEPHANTS?
Ivory poachers hunt male African elephants for their tusks, making the African elephant an endangered species. In an effort to save the African elephant, groups of juvenile males were transported to the safety of game preserves, where they could be guarded by game wardens. The plan was working well until the wardens started finding dead black rhinoceros in the same area as the juvenile elephants. Before long, it became apparent that the juvenile elephants were ‘ganging’ up on the rhinos and killing them. After observing this strange phenomenon, some experts felt the elephants would have to be destroyed before they wiped out the rhino population, another endangered species. Of course, this idea was counter to the original purpose of saving the African elephant.
One thoughtful warden had a theory. He had blood samples taken from the juvenile elephants and found their testosterone levels higher then samples taken from juvenile males living close o an established heard of females and older males. Testosterone, a male hormone or androgen, is a primary contributor to aggression levels in many animals. His theory was that the juveniles, living in groups alone and far away from their natural social environment, were developing unnatural behaviors and aggressions because they were not exposed to natural elephant social order and the associated teaching that came with it.
Based on his theory, they imported two older adult bull elephants from another game preserve and placed them with the young juveniles. The older bull elephants did exactly what they would do in their natural environment … whipped the juveniles into a somewhat submissive mode toward the older elephants. This is required within elephant herds to keep young bulls from claiming and mating with the female elephants. Only one bull elephant gets to mate and produce oung and he is the strongest of the lot. When the senior bull is unable to defend his herd against challenges from the juvenile bull elephant herd, he loses his leadership place and a younger, stronger male takes over. This insures a strong gene pool, necessary for species survival.
Sure enough, within a few weeks, the testosterone levels of the young male elephants dropped to normal ranges and attacks on the black rhinos ceased completely. What happened here that applies to male African Greys and phobias?
GREY TO ELEPHANT COMPARISON
Game wardens saw that male elephants kept with only other juvenile male elephants, interacted with each other through natural elephant games that taught them confidence and aggression exactly what they needed to become potential heard leaders in a natural environment. However, living by themselves wasn’t their natural environment. A natural environment requires older elephants to tone down the juveniles, while still allowing the game playing that teaches future survival skills.
Of course, our Greys don’t have the same social structure or survival requirements, as do African elephants. African Greys live in flocks, but bond to stay with only one mate for as long as that bird lives. Therefore, there is no need to subdue young males around the flock. However, there is still some amount of agression needed by Greys to defend their nests and drive intruders away. Where does that confidence and agression come from?
My theory is that confidence for male African Greys comes from ‘game-playing’ and interaction with other Grey males in the formative time between fledging and when they start to mature sexually. This would explain why we don’t see phobias with wild-caught Greys, even those who were imported at a very young age when importation was still legal. Wild-caught birds grow up naturally with natural African Grey socialization and associative learning from other Greys. Domestically bred Greys usually don’t have an opportunity to socialize and ‘play’ with other Greys, so may be lacking the extra testerone and confidence derived from roughhousing and playing with their peers. If it is in fact a question of testosterone levels and/or lack of confidence developed from interaction with other male Greys, that may also explain why we don’t see phobias with African Grey hens.
Why don’t we see phobias in other species, such as Amazons?
Again, a domestically bred parrot’s response to ouside stimuli depends on how the bird is genetically programmed for survival in its natural habitat. For instance, it is very possible that African Grey juveniles are further ’tutored’ by other, perhaps older birds after they fledge, but before they reach maturity and join the flock as adults. We know this happens with Galah (Rose-breasted) Cockatoos, while some other Cockatoo species do not continue with heavily supervised education of juveniles. If there is another parrot species that can become phobic as easily and in similar numbers as the African Grey Parrot, it is the Rose-breasted Cockatoo. My friend and colleague, Sam Foster, has done extensive research into the Galah behavior, especially phobias. Amazons appear not to have as much structure to their flocks as do Greys and Galahs. Possibly because most South American Parrots fly in ‘multi-species’ flocks that contain Amazons, Macaws, Conures and other South American parrot species.
While this isn’t the only reason Greys become phobic, it appears to be one of a short list of coincidences that lead to the final unfortunate result. If we clip a Grey’s wings or toenails too short, or provide perches that are too slippery or large for the Grey to grip, especially if it is at that very sensitive, clumsy, juvenile stage, we may be undermining whatever confidence it instinctively has. This becomes an even greater problem if the Grey has been allowed to learn to fly, fully flighted, at fledging age. Many responsible breeders let their Grey bappies learn to fly, land and navigate before gradually clipping their wings and sending them off to new homes.
As discussed earlier, an African Grey who falls, due to a short wing clip or from toenails clipped too short to grip his perches may have the trauma its painful fall reinforced when the worried owner hurries to pick the frightened Grey up from the floor. A common scenario is that the startled Grey is ‘chased’ by the worried human. The parrot cannot fly to instinctively escape the person and initially becomes afraid of the owner’s hands. In this case, phobia starts with the hands, but if not corrected, soon develops into a full phobic reaction whenever that particular person comes near the parrot. Simply waiting until the bird on the floor turns to face the human, might avoid future problems.
While no one can absolutely guarantee that a young African Grey will grow into a happy, well-adjusted adult bird, there are certainly ways to minimize potential problems. Perhaps we need to further study and duplicate the natural parrot socialization as much as we can in a domestic breeding situation, rather then attempt to ‘shape’ our young Greys into ‘little humans’. Everyone knows of wild-caught Greys who are ideal companions. My own Jing is a perfect example. If wild birds can make the adjustment so successfully into a very different environment there is something to be said for associative learning from other Greys --- because that’s exactly what wild Greys receive as thy are growing up.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Should I Add Another Bird To My Flock?
photo of Koko & Ed
Recently I was left a comment under and article I have posted here by good freind and African Grey expert, Maggie Wright; asking about whether this man should help a 10 year old female, African Grey by taking her home to live with him, his wife and a 1 year old African Grey.
Evidently, the owner of the 10 year old Grey now has children that "take all her time" so she is not able to spend any time with parrot anymore. The Grey is now plucking and the owner looking to place her in a new home.
The Gentleman that is interested in this 10 year old Grey tells me that his wife is already complaining that their own Grey takes all of his time and asks if he would just be asking for trouble to bring this other Grey into his home.
Here was my reply to him:
If you do as Maggie suggests in this article, then there should be no problems. My two Greys have their own cages and are across the room from each other. They are let out of their cages on to the play tree or to be out with either my husband or I at separate times until we get another Tree built. Fortunately, my husband spends his time with Koko and I spend my time with Nick so they both get to be alone with the person they love the most and they don't have to share us with each other very often at all.
If your wife resents your current Grey then it may not be a great idea to bring in this poor girl that is going to be stressed enough going into a new home after living with this family for 10 years already.
IF your wife wants to help out and is willing to spend some quality time with either your baby Grey or the new Grey then I say "sure", go for it. Everyone in the household should be in agreement and commited to love and care for this other Grey in need.
Greys (or parrots of any kind) demand and deserve as much time out of the cage and with YOU then many people feel they have time for.
It may better to help this lady re-home her bird by having her locate and contact a bird sancturay or rescue organization near by. If she needs help, please have her contact me and I can put her in touch with a network to help find this Grey a perfect home.
There are many parrots out there at the moment with a need for a knowledgable and loving home due to thier current owners losing jobs and or homes. The sanctuaries are over-flowing. However, they need to be alerted to these birds in need and may be able to find them a wonderful forever home if they know the bird exists out there and is in need.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Tips For Keeping Your Bird Safe During The Holidays
10 Tips to Keep Your Bird Safe during the Holidays
With the Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's holidays upon us we are all busy planning our family gatherings, gift giving and decorations. The season brings with it unique hazards that we all need to be mindful of so that we can assure that our feathered family members are protected:
Pine and fir Christmas trees with soft needles are the safest. Avoid sharp needle trees and artificial tees with metallic needles. Also be aware that many trees are treated with pesticides as well as chemically treated so that they will last longer.
Colorful ornaments and dreidels can attract the attention of our curious and playful companions. Birds should be kept away from metallic ornaments that can break into sharp pieces resulting in cuts and wood ornaments that often contain lead paint.
Tinsel and angel hair can present entanglement and GI blockage hazards for birds.
Decorative electrical lights and cords are used in abundance during the season. Make sure the cords are well hidden and keep your bird away from them. Chewing the cords can result in burns and electrocution.
Holiday plants such as Poinsettia, Mistletoe berries, Holly berries and Christmas Cactus are all known to be either toxic or at a minimum severe irritants to birds.
The yule logs that provide us with colorful flames contain heavy metal salts that are toxic if ingested.
Candles, potpourri and incense can contain volatile oils that are toxic to birds. Flight into a burning candle can result in injury and or a tragic fire. Keep flighted birds caged when open flames are present and purchase bird safe, unscented candles or difuse only 100% theraputic grade essintial oils from Young Living.
OR, boil simple herbs such as mint, cloves, organic orange peel or cinnamon to scent your house.
Avoid using metallic gift wraps and bows as they may contain toxic metals.
If you give your bird wrapped presents use non-glossy, non-> metallic paper, cellophane or tissue.
We humans tend to overindulge in food during the holidays. Avoid the temptation to share fatty, sugary and salty treats with your bird.
Be aware that large numbers of guests and parties can be a source of significant stress for your birds. If having a party make sure your birds have a place to escape from the noise, smoke, late night activities and the people who may not understand and respect their needs.
With all of the things we have to keep our parrots away from this season why not allow them to participate in the festivity of the season by decorating their cages with safe holidays toys?
The Avain Enrichment Staff at Avain Enrichment.Com have some wonderfully fun and safe holiday toys for parrots and right now through December 31st they are having a Grand Opening Special Offer!
Just enter the following coupon code at checkout to receive a 15%
discount on your order: AEGrand
This coupon IS transferable so be sure to share this post with fellow bird owners who may benefit from this valuable opening offer as well as the great indepth bird information available at www.avianenrichment.com
Offer Expires: December 31, 2008
Candy Cane Pinata
Pinata contains dehydrated banana chips, papaya nuggets, pineapple tidbits and sweet raisins. Yum!
(7" x 5")
XMAS Duck Surprise
Your bird will love pulling and preening the holiday crinkle shred before chewing their way into this cute little XMAS gift.
6" x 13")
XMAS Wreath Vine Swing
A great little swing to decorate your small bird's cage for the > holidays!
(6" x 10")
Check out our full selection of their festive, decorative and bird-safe holidays toys.
AuNatural Bird Notes Wishes You and Your Feathered Family a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Important Warning
Hi All,
This is a very important email/message I got recently, originally from Sue Bendheim, adoption coordinator at Lily Sanctuary Please be careful with your birds and chemicals, air freshners, scented candles, purfume, etc. You may also want to read our post on air freshners and their dangers to our parrots. http://aunaturalbirdnotes.blogspot.com/2008/07/air-fresheners-nothing-to-be-sniffed-at.html
I just got off the phone with my friend Donna at Birdstuff, and she wanted me to help alert all parrot people I know of yet another preventable pet parrot loss one of her favorite clients just experienced. Her friend had put out her beautiful, fragrant holiday candles on display to enjoy for the first time last night and hours later her son's baby cockatiel died. Then this morning her 7 month old caique passed away at the vet.
The candles were Glade brand, and another mass produced, 3 wicked one with wire in the wicks. The wire is made of lead. On examination, the vet said they died as a direct result of the candle fumes. Everything about them was healthy and normal, but the errosive damage the pleasant candle fumes do to the birds lung tissue caused them to literally drown in their own fluids. It's a horrible, completely preventable way to die and Donna wants us all to be advocates for our helpless birdies. We need to protect them so please spread this around to all parrot people you know, OK?
Just another reminder this and anytime of year to put all non-stick cookware, fabric protectors, new carpet, air fresheners, plug ins, potpourri, cooking bags, spray disinfectants, self cleaning ovens, coffee makers, curling irons....on the list of hazards for our parrots along with these fragrant, and lead wicked, and non fragrant candles. Who knows where they were made and what exactly is in them! One of my favorite links on some hazards to our birds is at www.parrotparrot.com/birdhealth/alerts.htm
Please share with me any other links you use and have a safe holiday.
Sincerely,
Sue Bendheim
Lily Sanctuary Adoption Coordinator
www.lilysanctuary.org
This is a very important email/message I got recently, originally from Sue Bendheim, adoption coordinator at Lily Sanctuary Please be careful with your birds and chemicals, air freshners, scented candles, purfume, etc. You may also want to read our post on air freshners and their dangers to our parrots. http://aunaturalbirdnotes.blogspot.com/2008/07/air-fresheners-nothing-to-be-sniffed-at.html
I just got off the phone with my friend Donna at Birdstuff, and she wanted me to help alert all parrot people I know of yet another preventable pet parrot loss one of her favorite clients just experienced. Her friend had put out her beautiful, fragrant holiday candles on display to enjoy for the first time last night and hours later her son's baby cockatiel died. Then this morning her 7 month old caique passed away at the vet.
The candles were Glade brand, and another mass produced, 3 wicked one with wire in the wicks. The wire is made of lead. On examination, the vet said they died as a direct result of the candle fumes. Everything about them was healthy and normal, but the errosive damage the pleasant candle fumes do to the birds lung tissue caused them to literally drown in their own fluids. It's a horrible, completely preventable way to die and Donna wants us all to be advocates for our helpless birdies. We need to protect them so please spread this around to all parrot people you know, OK?
Just another reminder this and anytime of year to put all non-stick cookware, fabric protectors, new carpet, air fresheners, plug ins, potpourri, cooking bags, spray disinfectants, self cleaning ovens, coffee makers, curling irons....on the list of hazards for our parrots along with these fragrant, and lead wicked, and non fragrant candles. Who knows where they were made and what exactly is in them! One of my favorite links on some hazards to our birds is at www.parrotparrot.com/birdhealth/alerts.htm
Please share with me any other links you use and have a safe holiday.
Sincerely,
Sue Bendheim
Lily Sanctuary Adoption Coordinator
www.lilysanctuary.org
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Recent California Fires and Parrots
As many of you know and some of you have lived through, there have been devestating fires in the beautiful Santa Barbara Area (and others).
November 14, 2008
Phoebe Linden of the Santa Barbara Bird Farm had to evacuate with her birds. Below is some of her story... Are YOU prepared for a disaster?
We evacuated 6:30 - 7pm last night and got everyone out. Praise God.
It was sooooo scary -- one moment, a pillar of flame, the next moment, conflagration. There was no doubt we had to get birds out NOW.
People showed up with trucks and carriers and we were gasp actually prepared, too. Jamie from SBBSanctuary came with large macaw carriers at EXACTLY the moment we ran out of big ones and were getting ready to put macaws in heavy-duty cardboard boxes.
We first evacuated to Barbara and John's house by Old Coast Rd and Salinas -- just got all birds in to a safe and clean garage and at 11:30, we were ordered to evacuate again. Only now, no Harry -- he snuck back to the house in the van to watch stuff. So while Barbara and John evacuated their stuff, I loaded all 60 birds into any car I could find and took off again. Last count, we had five cars full of stuff and 4 drivers, so the car with non-parrots was left behind. (yes, it was the Woodie but surprisingly, Harry was fine with that!). (It didn't burn)
We came to the Kim3 furniture showroom at 1 N. Calle Cesar Chavez and Barbara, John, parrots and Ph H stayed the night. It is really nice here -- comfy beds with fine linens, a fully stocked kitchen, bath -- Josserlynn said "hello" all night, Garcia wanted to know if we were OK, etc. The birds are wonderful. Lost a couple of feathers and Harry got a few bites in the heat (no pun intended) of the moments, but everyone ate this morning.
The fire guys won't let us back yet, but I snuck back and saw the house -- safe. But we can see burned houses from every window. Back, front, side - burned and still burning houses everywhere. Don't get me started on the soot.
Harry is hosing down the aviaries and we hope to get everyone back home within the next few hours where they can bathe, stretch their wings and re-adjust.
I'm trying to keep everyone updated but will appreciate you letting people know.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, esp re: respiratory issues which can surface years later.
Phoebe
November 17th, 2008
Dear Friends,
So many of you want to help to Harry and me as we begin the arduous task of cleaning up after the fire. Thank you!!
Even though everything is covered in soot, we take our cue from Percy Lou and the 47 other safe parrots: sing while cleaning. We are sooooo happy to have a home and to be home.
The one most important thing everyone can do -- well, two things -- first, be prepared yourselves! Second, please make a donation to Jamie McLeod's SB Bird Sanctuary (sbbird.org). Any amount is welcome! (Hopefully, they'll get some new emergency carriers with the funds! :) Also, they are caring for many displaced parrots right now!
(all donations are tax deductible!!)
So, the flames are towers roaring down the mountain headed smack towards our back yard. Our friends* are prepping carriers but Harry and I don't know if we have enough time.
A part of my brain is wondering, will I have to decide who to take and who to leave? The columns twirl in the wind. Smoke and ash smack us as we work. Lots of the birds hurry right in to their carriers: they've got the whole "emergency" message!
I load Josserlynn and Garcia in the van, turn, and see out of the smoke,
Jamie McLeod.
Ohmygoddessgoodness, Jamie. The relief I feel -- she's got carriers and she's moving fast -- is overwhelming even now.
The moment I saw Jamie I knew we had a chance to get everyone out. **
Right behind Jamie is Jodi, sister terrific. Linda Wudl! God bless you, bless you, bless you.
Jamie is right - it was a hellish night, but seeing those angels in the smoke provided the yin to the yang.
Please consider opening your heart and wallets to support the selfless work of the Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary, a not for profit 501c3 organization where parrots find a flock and much, much more. Any amount is appreciated.
Jamie, Jodi, Linda -- you are my heros! I am full of gratitude for you and confident that your good works will continue and that support will come for you -- as it did for me -- out of smoke and ash.
with love,
Phoebe
*friends on the spot: Barbara and John who stayed throughout, Arnulfo our son/brother, Patty Keller an angel, too, Hiladio the strong and his helper. Elly and Michael!
** Many who know me know that I *always* say, If I had to give an injection to a rhino, I'd want Jamie to be helping me. Her competence is amazing, friends. Just amazing -- this woman can accomplish with non-human species the utterly impossible. There is no one better in an emergency than Jamie. I thank God for her anew. Please help me tell her the value of her specialness.
November 14, 2008
Phoebe Linden of the Santa Barbara Bird Farm had to evacuate with her birds. Below is some of her story... Are YOU prepared for a disaster?
We evacuated 6:30 - 7pm last night and got everyone out. Praise God.
It was sooooo scary -- one moment, a pillar of flame, the next moment, conflagration. There was no doubt we had to get birds out NOW.
People showed up with trucks and carriers and we were gasp actually prepared, too. Jamie from SBBSanctuary came with large macaw carriers at EXACTLY the moment we ran out of big ones and were getting ready to put macaws in heavy-duty cardboard boxes.
We first evacuated to Barbara and John's house by Old Coast Rd and Salinas -- just got all birds in to a safe and clean garage and at 11:30, we were ordered to evacuate again. Only now, no Harry -- he snuck back to the house in the van to watch stuff. So while Barbara and John evacuated their stuff, I loaded all 60 birds into any car I could find and took off again. Last count, we had five cars full of stuff and 4 drivers, so the car with non-parrots was left behind. (yes, it was the Woodie but surprisingly, Harry was fine with that!). (It didn't burn)
We came to the Kim3 furniture showroom at 1 N. Calle Cesar Chavez and Barbara, John, parrots and Ph H stayed the night. It is really nice here -- comfy beds with fine linens, a fully stocked kitchen, bath -- Josserlynn said "hello" all night, Garcia wanted to know if we were OK, etc. The birds are wonderful. Lost a couple of feathers and Harry got a few bites in the heat (no pun intended) of the moments, but everyone ate this morning.
The fire guys won't let us back yet, but I snuck back and saw the house -- safe. But we can see burned houses from every window. Back, front, side - burned and still burning houses everywhere. Don't get me started on the soot.
Harry is hosing down the aviaries and we hope to get everyone back home within the next few hours where they can bathe, stretch their wings and re-adjust.
I'm trying to keep everyone updated but will appreciate you letting people know.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, esp re: respiratory issues which can surface years later.
Phoebe
November 17th, 2008
Dear Friends,
So many of you want to help to Harry and me as we begin the arduous task of cleaning up after the fire. Thank you!!
Even though everything is covered in soot, we take our cue from Percy Lou and the 47 other safe parrots: sing while cleaning. We are sooooo happy to have a home and to be home.
The one most important thing everyone can do -- well, two things -- first, be prepared yourselves! Second, please make a donation to Jamie McLeod's SB Bird Sanctuary (sbbird.org). Any amount is welcome! (Hopefully, they'll get some new emergency carriers with the funds! :) Also, they are caring for many displaced parrots right now!
(all donations are tax deductible!!)
So, the flames are towers roaring down the mountain headed smack towards our back yard. Our friends* are prepping carriers but Harry and I don't know if we have enough time.
A part of my brain is wondering, will I have to decide who to take and who to leave? The columns twirl in the wind. Smoke and ash smack us as we work. Lots of the birds hurry right in to their carriers: they've got the whole "emergency" message!
I load Josserlynn and Garcia in the van, turn, and see out of the smoke,
Jamie McLeod.
Ohmygoddessgoodness, Jamie. The relief I feel -- she's got carriers and she's moving fast -- is overwhelming even now.
The moment I saw Jamie I knew we had a chance to get everyone out. **
Right behind Jamie is Jodi, sister terrific. Linda Wudl! God bless you, bless you, bless you.
Jamie is right - it was a hellish night, but seeing those angels in the smoke provided the yin to the yang.
Please consider opening your heart and wallets to support the selfless work of the Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary, a not for profit 501c3 organization where parrots find a flock and much, much more. Any amount is appreciated.
Jamie, Jodi, Linda -- you are my heros! I am full of gratitude for you and confident that your good works will continue and that support will come for you -- as it did for me -- out of smoke and ash.
with love,
Phoebe
*friends on the spot: Barbara and John who stayed throughout, Arnulfo our son/brother, Patty Keller an angel, too, Hiladio the strong and his helper. Elly and Michael!
** Many who know me know that I *always* say, If I had to give an injection to a rhino, I'd want Jamie to be helping me. Her competence is amazing, friends. Just amazing -- this woman can accomplish with non-human species the utterly impossible. There is no one better in an emergency than Jamie. I thank God for her anew. Please help me tell her the value of her specialness.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Illinois Community Raising Money To Help Parrots
Illinois Community Raising Money To Help ParrotsConcerned citizens work together to help two free-flying macaws
By Angela Pham Bird Channel.com
Posted: November 12, 2008, 3:00 a.m. EDT
When Del Nejmanowski drove his truck down the rural roads of Carlinville, Illinois, he wasn't alone.
During his scenic drives, two brilliant blue-and-gold macaws would fly majestically above his pickup, devotedly following their owner and providing a splendid show for the neighbors who witnessed the drive
They were free-flying birds, escaping cold Illinois winters in an exterior shelter that Nejmanowski built for them and the other six birds he used to keep. His beloved flock was down to two when he died August 27, 2008, and today they still fly free around the neighborhood where Nejmanowski's house and lean-to shelter once stood. They rarely fly far from their old home where their caretaker used to dwell.
But the plummeting temperatures and icy conditions of winter are threatening the birds, which are best suited to tropical climates. Concern among Nejmanowski's family members and neighbors is growing. They all know that if the notorious animal-lover Nejmanowski were still here, he would want his parrots to be safe, warm and loved, just as he ensured they were when they were in his care.
To read the entire story, please go to Here!
Parrots & Veterans Help Each Other
Dr. Lorin Lindner,PhD, MPH of The Association of Parrot C.A.R.E. joined us recently to talk about Serenity Park Sanctuary, a one-of-a-kind parrot sanctuary and New Directions, situated on VA grounds - helping rescued parrots AND military veterans heal each other. The Message:through the show was: We owe it to the animals to give back to them in respect.
If you missed this show you can purchase it and/or others relating to Parrots at Animal Talk Naturally
Hebrews 13:16
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
'Multilingual' birds learn foreign alarm calls
New Scientist * 00:01 12 November 2008 by Rachel NowakBirdwatchers are all too aware that when a bird of one species spots a hawk and squawks an alarm, birds of other species fly for cover. What was unknown was whether this multilingual ability was "hard-wired" or whether birds learned the alarm calls of other birds on the job.
It now turns out that recognising alarm calls - even very different ones from other species - can now be added to the growing repertoire of things birds can learn Movie Camera, according to study led by behavioural ecologist Robert Magrath of the Australian National University in Canberra.
The Magrath team played recordings of calls of different bird species to fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) and monitored their response.
Fairy-wrens living in the Australian National Botanical Gardens and other parks in Canberra fled from the alarm calls of other fairy-wrens [hear audio] and scrubwrens (Sericornis frontalis) [hear audio], but not from the non-alarm call of the galah (Cacatua roseicapilla) [hear audio].
Fairy and scrubwrens have very similar alarm calls - a high-pitched piping noise - so the fairy-wren may have automatically recognised the alarm call of the scrubwren.
But whereas the two wren species naturally share the same habitat in the Canberra area, only fairy-wrens live in the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve in New South Wales, which is outside of the scrubwren range.
When the team played the calls here, fairy-wren only fled from the fairy-wren alarm call, and were unperturbed by scrubwren alarm calls, and galah non-alarm calls.
That suggests, says Magrath, that, rather than being hard-wired, the fairy-wren needed to have heard the scrubwrens' alarm call, and learnt that it meant danger.
Read MORE Here
Friday, October 24, 2008
Vote For Snowball!
Our good friend, Snowball has been chosen as one of three top finalists in WebVet's Birds on Broadway contest.
From now through 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, October 28th, the public is invited to log onto WebVet.com and vote for the bird they believe has the most talent. The winner of Birds on Broadway will be announced at WebVet.com on Wednesday, October 29th. The Grand Prize is $2,500, payable by a check made payable to the winner. While this may not seem like much, that amount would go to Bird Lovers Only Rescue Service, Inc. (A 501(c)3 Not For Profit Bird Rescue and Sanctuary) and would pay for quite a few vet visits, food, toys, and other supplies for the birds in residence there at this time.
Please everyone, visit WebVet.comand check out the finalists to vote for Snowball. Please,be sure to tell your friends and family to vote too!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
What About Nick?
Nicodemus or Nick as he is affectionately called is my wonderful almost 14 year old friend and partner. Nick has been with me since he was about 4 weeks old. I was an experienced hand feeder of many parrots and with the help of Phoebe Linden (via reading her wonderful works on abundance weaning)I sucessfully raised a wonderful parrot as naturally as possible in a domestic environment.Sadly, when Nick was a little over a year old, I had to go to work outside the home and even with my husband home all day to help keep him company and take him to his tree and back a few times a day, Nick began pulling out his tail feathers, flight feathers and chest feathers. About 6 years ago, I had sustained a neck injury while employed at a mixed animal veterinary practice and had a three level cervical spine fusion. Nick was so thrilled to have me home full-time again. He slowly stopped plucking and now pretty much full featherd he thrives on me working on my laptop in the living room with him and Koko most of the day and going out for fresh air and sunshine on the deck as the weather permits.
Nick is very in tune with me and my emotions. He will bug me terribly by asking me "Are you happy?" until I answer in a cheery tone, "Yeah!" He will not accept any less then enthusiasm in my answer to him. He KNOWS when I am faking it too! lol But seriously, it is pretty much impossible not be happy around him and even if I am in a bad mood or in more pain then I like to deal with he makes me happy by being the wonderful intelligent, caring creature he is.
Nick helps me the dogs by telling them "Quiet" or "Enough". He knows and calls them by their names (though they rarely pay too much attention to him). If someone is coming up our gravel drive, Nick will be the first to "bark" and get the dogs going in alerting us to their presence.
Want to share stories about your parrots? Please send me any stories and or photos of your birds and I will post them here to share with the world. :-)
The Latest Snowball News
Yes, our dancing cockatoo friend, Snowball is quite famous these days, here is the latest news on him:
Snowball makes it to Wikipedia! Check it out HERE
Animal Talk Naturally Internet Radio Show recently had Irena Schulz from Bird Lovers Only Rescue as a returning guest. This great show has Irena discussing Snowball's research and how that may relate to recent studies involving music therapy on Parkinson's Disease patients. She also discusses how the state of the economy has increased calls and emails from bird owners needing to rehome their birds.
Click HERE to listen to the show in MP3 format
Please visit Bird Lovers Only Blog for all the news on Snowball and Birds Lovers Only Resuce Organization.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Bonding Tips and Fun Things To Do With Your Bird
It seems we are all so busy these days...
How much time do you spend with your bird/(s) daily? Remember, they are flock animals and even if there is another bird in the household (or many); if they are all locked away in their seperate cages while you are at work during the day they need to be out and with YOU as often as possible. If you have many birds in the household, it may be difficult to have one on one time with each one each day but, that is okay, you don't have to be one on one with all the parrots in the same day, just try to get into the habit of doing at least a short time of bonding and or fun things regularly with all of the birds. Your birds will thank you with less time plucking, and having a much better mental outlook on the world!
I know, each bird is an individual... some tend to be much more 'social' than others. Some birds you can easily pick up and snuggle with without fear of needing stitches. Others you may have to be more careful with. No matter what level of 'snuggliness' your bird prefers, you can always adjust each little bonding/play time to your parrot’s individual comfort level.
Meaningful Time
Similar to children, both quality and quantity time matter when a trusting, loving
relationship is the goal. Layne Dicker, in his article "Time Well Spent With Parrots", developed an excellent model for managing time with our birds based on three kinds of attention: direct, shared, and ambient. Direct attention is “one to one” time with lots of eye contact and touching and no distractions. Indirect attention is the shared time when you’re playing with the bird but you’re also reading, watching TV or talking on the phone. Ambient attention is when the bird is out of his cage in the midst of the family hubbub. At a minimum, birds need 30 to 45 minutes each day of combined direct and indirect attention, and about 3 hours per day of ambient attention.
Spend some quality one-on-one time
Just hang out together. Let them help you pick up around the house. My CAG, Nick likes to help me fold laundry and do dishes. Koko prefers to sit on me and get scratches while I (or perferably my husband) lay on the couch relaxing.
My Greys LOVE rainforest, classical and celtic hymes music to relax and un-wind to in the evenings. Maybe you and the parrots can just sit quietly together listening to the music for a little bit. There are no rules, the point is just to give your bird your undivided attention.
Share a meal
Fix up some nice vegetables, fruit, pasta or any other bird-safe dish that pleases your parrot’s palate. Share with your bird, heck, eat off the same plate. One bite for you, one little bite for them. Of course, remember to give them their own spoon or fork so you don’t give them your icky human germs or just let them eat off the plate no fingers needed.
Interactive Play
Hand toys like birdie bagels, marbella shapes; a piece of rope, a popsicle stick, a towel, even a wadded up piece of paper can be really fun interactive bird toys. Nick loves to get inside of grocrey size paper bags and Koko likes to find toys I hid in small lunch bag size paper bags and then twist the end shut. She loves it when I encourage her to "get it".
There are hundreds of safe and fun things to play with. Lighten up and show your bird a good time. My first African Grey, years ago, loved to play catch with a wadded up piece of paper. When catch time is over, he loved to shred it up. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be fun and something you can interact with them with!
I have some baby toys that are great fun to play with the birds with. Stacking cups, toy pianos, busy boxes, etc.
I have found that Koko would like to sing. Nick would much rather whistle but when I sing to Koko she trys to join in with me. We have started "singing lessons". lol She and I will hum tunes and are trying to learn how to sing a song or two, it keeps her focused and gives us some special one on one time at least once a day.
Many Birds can easily learn animal sounds. Nick is one that loves to hear and often times repeat animal sounds so we are working on me asking him what does the Dog say? or what does the bird say? He has often coughed like my husband does when he gets up in the morning so we now do a "What does Daddy say?" Nick will then cough.
Shower
What relaxing or fun play session would be complete without a nice shower or bath? Depending on your parrot’s preference, let them splash around in the sink or tub. Mist your bird with a squirt bottle or for a finer water spray you could use a birdie mister like Mr. Mister. Whatever they prefer, make it fun!
What do you do for one on one time with your birds? I would love to hear from you and post here to share with others...
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Facts About Punishing Birds
Using punishment as a teaching aid is still all too common these days, especially when the subject being taught is a bird! Birds do not think or function like humans do or dogs or even as a horse does. Birds are prey animals and we should study their nature and how they live in the wild to hopefully understand better how to work with them and enjoy their companionship.
The topic of "punishment" is a great source of confusion and guilt that is plaguing many people, and not just an unchallenged method of changing unwanted behaviour.
Susan Friedman Ph.D. explains why, and gives sound strategies for reducing undesirable behaviours in parrots.
The Facts About Punishment S.G. Friedman, PhD, Utah, and Bobbi Brinker, Ohio Published in Original Flying Machine, Issue 4: Jan/Feb 2001
Nowadays, the issue of punishment has become an emotional minefield of misconceptions, good intentions, and general confusion. And this is the good news. We would be loath to return to a time when the use of punishment was unquestioned and was the most common, if not sole, strategy for changing undesirable behavior. A large part of the present confusion results from the perennial gap between research and practice. However, the negative effects of some forms of punishment have been studied scientifically and are well documented. These studies reveal compelling information about the detriments of punishment that no parrot guardian should be without.
Read the entire article in PDF HERE
(Best viewed with Adobe Reader)
The topic of "punishment" is a great source of confusion and guilt that is plaguing many people, and not just an unchallenged method of changing unwanted behaviour.
Susan Friedman Ph.D. explains why, and gives sound strategies for reducing undesirable behaviours in parrots.
The Facts About Punishment S.G. Friedman, PhD, Utah, and Bobbi Brinker, Ohio Published in Original Flying Machine, Issue 4: Jan/Feb 2001
Nowadays, the issue of punishment has become an emotional minefield of misconceptions, good intentions, and general confusion. And this is the good news. We would be loath to return to a time when the use of punishment was unquestioned and was the most common, if not sole, strategy for changing undesirable behavior. A large part of the present confusion results from the perennial gap between research and practice. However, the negative effects of some forms of punishment have been studied scientifically and are well documented. These studies reveal compelling information about the detriments of punishment that no parrot guardian should be without.
Read the entire article in PDF HERE
(Best viewed with Adobe Reader)
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A Koko Update
Koko is so different from Nick, both large Congo African Greys, Nick being 13 years old and Koko about 8 years old. Koko was DNA tested to be a hen (female) we just guess that Nick is male due to his size and behavior.
Nick has been getting organic baby food from a spoon as a special "nite nite" treat once a week or so for his entire life with me. He always digs his beak in and grabs a huge mouthful like there will be no more. Koko is so dainty and feminine in her little tastes. It take her forever to fill her crop where Nick is full and bulging in seconds!
Nick has always been a quiet and easy going kind of guy. Koko is all about Koko! lol As mentioned in an earlier post, Koko uses her name in every sentence she speaks. She craves attention and has been known to throw temper tantrums when she does not get what she wants...
She will throw her special treat cup around the bottom of her cage and finally out the door and on the floor. She will crawl on top of her cage while leaning way forward and flap her wings. I believe she was once fully flighted as she has tried to jump off her cage and our large "Tree" in the living room; only to Thud and skid across the floor. She will then shake herself off and proceed to march over to where ever you and demand: "Koko UP" or "Koko go Love" as she loweres her head for special skritches.
I see a few pin feathers here and there and a few on the upper part of her wings are going to be red. She will be gorgeous for sure!
Koko loves to play and forage around on the bottom of her cage. She enjoys watching the dogs play and is not phases in the least if one or two of the dogs come and say "hi" with their little wet noses either. Just last night she was on my chest while I was in the recliner trying to read. I also had two Bostons curled up one at my side and one between my legs. Everyone was very content and not concerned about the other.
Nick will hang out with the dogs but is always watching them and is somewhat "jumpy" around them, never really trusting them. Nick is content to play and whistle and forage in his cage or sit on his tree all day long never asking for attention but always ready to lower his head and get skritches or scratchies when I do approach him and ask him if he would like some.
Anyway, just wanted to share what is new with our new special Congo girl...
More On Foraging
Happily, there is more and more information available on the importance and benefits of creating lots of foraging toys and opportunities. I have been very excited to find more people blogging about it, writing about it and sharing ideas with us. I wanted to share this great little article from one of my personally favorite places to buy toy and foraging supplies for my own African Greys: GreyFeatherToys.Com
Foraging Toys. Longevity Naturally!
By Monica Gonzalez, Grey Feather Toy Creations
Diet plays a major role in a parrot's life. Diet promotes good behavior, health and longevity! Here are some fun food toys to offer your bird which may even tempt the finicky birds who need to be on the road to better health!
A. Pouch Surprise: Take a washed, large leafy green (i.e. Kale, Mustard Greens, Beet Greens) and take some leftover Brown Rice (brown rice is more nutritional than white rice) and pour it into the center of the leaf. You can add some Cranberries, Sprouts, Raisins, or Blueberries. Try not to over fill the leaf. Grab all the ends of the leaf and tie them together to form a pouch. If you would prefer to make a veggie or fruit mash: Take some of their favorites and throw them in the food processor and use that in your Pouch Surprise! Use something that you know they love and can smell. Some birds like a whiff of cinnamon or the smell of parsley. Our flock seems to enjoy fresh garlic. Take about a foot of 100% Natural Cotton Rope and tie a knot and make a loop at the end to affix it in the inside of your bird's cage. Vegetable tanned leather strips can also be used to string up the Pouch Surprise. Note: Keep the rope very trim so your bird cannot get caught in the dangling rope strands and knotted tightly. They will be very curious of this new fun and healthy toy you placed in there and will rip apart the leaf and find the little surprises you have tucked within.
B. Weaving: If you are having trouble getting your bird to try some of those high vitamin items you desperately want them to eat. Try taking them and weaving them through the bars of your bird's cage. Start with a small leaf if your bird is afraid of new items within their cage domain. Perhaps washed Carrot Tops, Beet or Dandelion Greens would be a wonderful place to start.. Remember to be enthusiastic about these items. Parrots are very curious by instinct and will wonder what "all the fuss" is about. Before you know it, he will be ripping apart the leaves. The first step on the road to better eating is forming a taste for it. By ripping apart the leaves, your bird will be ingesting some of the nutrients. My flock loves to rub their feathers on the freshly washed leaves then tear it to shreds! You will see your bird will enjoy eating the stems of the leafy greens which is where most of the nutrients are!
C. Pick-Up Stix: I remember playing Pick-Up Stix as a youngster. Well this fun foraging game can be just as much fun for your avian companion!
Take some carrots, kohlrabi, beets - whatever you can find and cut them into long sticks. (Maybe 1/2 the size of a Chop Stick in length.) Here is where the fun begins. Just you and your avian companion at the kitchen table or counter. My flock loves to be on the counter and play with food items. Note: Remove all objects from the area so that nothing is around to "distract" those curious beaks. This will keep them focused. (for a moment or two at least). Start placing the "veggie stix" out and making a pile out of them. Watch your bird come over and pick up the sticks along with you. He may throw them off the counter - be warned! Put some newspaper down to catch whatever may go falling down.
Our greatest challenge as parents to these wonderful feathered creatures is constantly finding new and exciting way to keep them interested and intrigued. No doubt you will come up with your own ideas for your and your pet bird.
Note: There are many foraging toys on the market today which help to hide treats and make life more interesting for you and your avian companion. You can find some great ones at Grey Feather Toy Creations who has a great line of Stainless Steel Foraging Toys.
Snowball's first TV Commercial helps Bird Lovers Only Rescue
Snowball, the now famous dancing Cockatoo is hitting the big time! Snowball made a great commercial for Sweden recently and earned $1,500 towards Bird Lovers Only Rescue's fund to build an addition to help more birds in need of love and shelter. You can see Snowball's commerical by clicking hereIrena, Snowball's owner and founder of Birds Lovers Only Rescue tells us that the other birds at Bird Lovers Only understand completely if Snowball is first in line for pine nuts and pistachios!
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Bird Lovers Only Rescue is a 501c3 not for profit bird rescue and sanctuary. They have been saving funds to build an addition for the birds. They believe they have found someone to build this at a reasonable cost, but it will be CLOSE! Please donate to their building fund by going to their main web site at: http://www.birdloversonly.org where you can receive Snowball DVDs, shirts, and other items in return for your donations.
Since Bird Lovers Only is a charity, your donations can be claimed on your taxes at the end of the year. Below is the information you will need in order to claim your donations.
EIN # 30-0391827
DLN # 17053028000038
Public Charity Status: 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Monday, September 15, 2008
Environmental Enrichment For Parrots
Environmental Enrichment For Parrots
By Dr Jeannie Thomason Copyright © 2008.
Environmental enrichment, refers to the practice of providing animals under managed care with environmental stimuli. The goal of environmental enrichment is to improve an animal's quality of life by increasing physical activity, stimulating natural behaviors, and preventing or reducing stereotypical behaviors.
In the wild, our parrots exhibit four main behaviors: socializing, grooming, sleeping and foraging. In fact, two thirds of a wild bird's day is spent foraging for food. Even their play and interaction with other involves problem solving and thought. Wild birds also are able to get plenty of sunlight and fresh air every day.
Compare this to our captive pets. Life is very different in captivity. We tend to keep our birds inside the house, behind closed doors and windows. Most pet birds are likely to spend most of their days in their cages and of course, too many of them have very little to do in there. Try to think of this from your parrot's perspective, it is like you being locked in a room with window (that is always shut) with just a bed and someone bringing you food three times a day, you have no control over any aspect of your own life. Nothing different to see or do , same thing every day, day in and day out. Some of the obvious results are naturally going to be ill health, and obesity, due to lack of exercise at the very least.
Read More >>> HERE
Friday, September 12, 2008
Birds keep man's life from tumbling out of control
Bobby Wilson made some bad decisions growing up in Watts. His hobby pigeons and their freewheeling somersaults helped straighten his life out, and now he's passing on his expertise.By Joe Mozingo, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 12, 2008
Bobby Wilson, a.k.a. Kill Kill, is a roller pigeon fancier -- has been since he was a little boy in the projects in Watts.
He was walking his dog down Holmes Avenue when he first spotted the birds flying above Eddie Scott's house. He watched in wonder as they whirled and somersaulted through the sky. Bobby was 9 years old and a serial collector of animals -- spiders, red ants, hamsters, lizards. But he'd never seen this...
Read the entire wonderful story HERE
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