Avian Awareness

Today I’d like to talk about a topic that I’ve come across many times while rescuing birds and that is the dangers of Craigslist. Ok, so most people might think that I advise against getting birds off of there simply because I support rescues. And yes, of course that colors my opinion to some level. The money you spend on a rehoming fee can be much better used by a rescue and will in turn help other birds rather than going into some guy’s pocket, but that’s just one reason why I don’t like the buying or rehoming of birds through Craigslist.

Let’s start with the dangers of selling or rehoming your bird on craigslist. My biggest fear is that many birds are targeted for reptile food. Usually this is the case for birds that are advertised for free. Or if someone is talking you into giving them to them for free. Could you imagine rehoming you bird thinking they are going to a good home when really they are being eaten by a snake. Granted not everyone owns a snake and wants to get it a fancy parrot dinner but they are out there and all small animal rehomers should be warned.

The other thing is flippers. You never can tell. They can talk the talk and walk the walk. They can go to your house and bond with your bird and seem like the perfect home.  They probably will do that. These are professionals who do this for a living or a supplemental income. They will feed you empty lies and trick you into thinking your bird will be in a better place when really they likely to be kept in poor conditions, crammed in with dozens of other birds and other animals. They will be sold to whoever is willing to give them the most money. They will likely be fed whatever is the cheapest food, given no toys and no attention. They will spend as little money as possible on your bird and will not care if the home that purchases them are a good one or not. Not only is it unethical but it’s also illegal since it’s untaxed income and they are not being inspected the way a pet store, rescue or any place that sells animals needs to be in order to be licensed. Many animals die in the homes of flippers.

Accompanying the flippers are the animal hoarders. Many times these are two in the same but not always. Animal hoarding may as well be just as bad as flipping. A home with too many animals will not be able to give your pet the time and finances it deserves. And so often these places turn out to be disgusting.

Even though it is difficult to get your bird into a rescue because they are all typically at maximum capacity, be patient and keep in contact with the rescue. Being sent to a credible rescue will actually give your bird a better chance at finding an experienced home that will provide them with all they need. Credible rescues are excellent at weeding out breeders, flippers, hoarders and other unsuitable homes. They will be able to do a home visit to make sure, phone interviews and multiple bonding sessions. Always make sure you visit the rescue ahead of time to make sure they care for their birds properly. A sign of a non reputable rescue would be one that is overflowing with birds and kept in filthy conditions. These are the places you will want to avoid.

So why not rescue from Craigslist? Now this is a risky business. Yes there are certainly many people trying to genuinely rehome their birds because they don’t know where else to go, or maybe they couldn’t get them into a rescue or whatever the case may be. There are dozens of birds who are advertised on CL who are coming from home in horrible conditions. These are the types of people I go out of my way to email and refer them to a rescue. That’s what I do, in hopes to help those birds. But a lot of people want to make back on their “bad investment” and don’t want to pay a relinquish fee. Which mind you, at the rescue I volunteered at, was used solely to pay for their vet visit. That is very sad. But is that the kind of greedy person you want your money going to? Personally I’d rather see my adoption money go to a rescue to help to help out more birds.

Then there is always the chance that you are purchasing a bird from a breeder or a flipper and thus supporting their business. Mind you, its against craigslist rules to sell pets but it is ok to rehome pets. So breeders shouldn’t even be on there but they are. I have even seen cases where people have lied and said the bird they were selling was a senior that needed to be rehomed when it was actually only about 6 months old and was breed in this person’s basement.

Then there is the fact that you are purchasing a unvetted bird. That means you have no idea if this bird is sick or well. You could go to the vet to find out this bird is on its death bed and there is no way to get your money back and now you’re left with another bill.

If you do decide to purchase from craigslist anyway be very careful. Once you make that decision there is no turning back. You probably don’t know the bird very well because you weren’t given the opportunity to bond with it before adopting it. So, you just took in a bird that may live for decades to come. Isn’t it better to go to a rescue where you can spend as much time as you need with a bird before making that call?

(Written by G.S. from Lazicki’s Bird House and Rescue)

Today, more is known about caring for pet birds than in previous years, and good nutritious foods and products are available on the market to ensure the health and well-being of birds kept in captivity. There are natural ways to take care of birds and an increasing number of bird owners are looking to herbs, not only as a treat and to offer a little change in diet but also to enhance the health of their pets. This is NOT to replace your annual visit to your avian vet and if you use any of these, do check with your avian vet first.

Herbs are easy to grow on a window sill or in the garden and do not require a lot of maintenance. The herbs are also used by pet owners to liven up their own meals, and therefore benefit both the owner and the birds. Some herbs have aroma therapeutic properties and birds love to shred them, while others can be fun and healthy for a pet bird to eat. Some of the herbs that are widely used among bird owners include lemon balm, oregano, bee balm (Monarda), borage blossoms, bottlebrush, coriander/cilantro, dandelion, rosemary, sage, fennel, thyme, anise, kelp, chickweed, milk thistle seed, lavender, dill and basil.

Oregano is an herb that many parrot species enjoy tremendously. Most birds are also greatly appreciative if a piece of fresh thyme makes it into their feed bowl. Not only does thyme smell great but it eradicates worms, helps with diarrhea and has antibacterial properties. Kelp is a very good herbal additive as it serves as a stimulant and assists in protecting mucous membranes. Many herbs assist in the prevention of respiratory problems, heart and liver conditions and various other ailments that birds suffer from, adding vitamins and needed natural medicinal elements to their diets.

I often get asked if I think it’s a good idea to have a bird when you are young. I was 21 when I got my first bird, Paolo, a peach fronted conure. I love him and I have never regretted having him in my life and yes I would make the same choice again. But that choice is not an easy one and it’s not for everyone. So here is my personal experience with having a bird in my 20s.

When I purchased Paolo, I was going into my senior year in college and would then study for two more years in graduate school. Making that choice meant that i had to somehow manage to write papers, study for tests, do research, projects, and at the end of the day somehow make time for my bird. I cannot tell you how fortunate I am that I had such an easy going bird that has a low stress level during those years because the birds I have adopted and fostered since then, would not have done well with my crazy college schedule. And honestly, I have no idea how I managed to pull it off.

A few months after I got Paolo, I got into a car accident commuting to school so I decided to move into an apartment close to school. Searching for an apartment with just one bird was hard. Several landlords denied me because I had a bird. I’ve seen plenty of people give up at this point and get rid of their bird but I didn’t give up and if you want a bird when your young and don’t own your own house, you will need to be persistent.

So I moved into my first apartment with a couple people who advertised for a roommate on Craigslist. It was fine for the first couple weeks but then one of them decided to sneak behind my back and use teflon even though I provided the apartment with stainless steel. She said it was “too hard to make an egg without teflon.” I immediately moved Paolo back home with my mom while I found another apartment. I also discovered that the house was infested with mice which was also bad for my bird and once I let my landlord know, he had no problem letting me go. So I went back on the search for a pet friendly apartment. This time around I found myself a new apartment with no roommates.  Two years later I would move once again.

I have had several jobs since then and with every new job comes a struggle for time and a struggle to upkeep a routine. I have fought through it but it’s never easy to get used to a new schedule. Fortunately I have had a supportive boyfriend who loves my birds and helps me whenever I’m having a hard time but not every bird owner is that lucky.

Also, by having Paolo at a young age I have not been able to do some of the things that my friends have. For instance, I could not do spontaneous vacations or road trips. Not at least without coordinating it with a bird sitter far in advance. And taking those exciting jobs that would require me to move half way across the country for a few months and live in the company’s pet-free provided housing, has been out of the question. I said goodbye to cruise ship jobs, international tour guide and any kind of traveling job.

Birds not only use a variety of calls to communicate different messages, but some can also combine these calls in a specific way to form ‘phrases’ to convey more complex information.Japanese great tits, also known as Parus minor, have been found to combine calls together to produce messages that convey different meanings.Scientists say this is the first example of the use of syntax by non-human animals to be discovered.

Japanese great tits are closely related to the great tits which are commonly found in gardens in Britain. Now a team of researchers from Japan, Germany and Sweden found that the bird not only uses different calls but also includes syntax - a set of rules that give them structure.Among the bird’s threat responses is a call that Dr Toshitaka Suzuki, who led the research at the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Kanagawa, Japan, labels 'ABC’, and which means 'scan for danger’.The tits use these calls to warn others of a perched predator such as a falcon.Another call, labelled ’D’, means 'come here’ and is used when discovering a new food source or to encourage a partner into the nest.The tits demonstrate their mastery of communications by using these calls either alone or in combination, to communicate complex information.When the calls are played together in the natural order (ABC-D), other birds will respond by approaching while scanning for danger.But when the researchers artificially reversed the order in audio playback experiments, playing D-ABC, the birds did not respond.

Dr David Wheatcroft, co-author of the study, which is published in the journal Nature Communications, and a biologist at Uppsala University in Sweden, said: 'This demonstrates that syntax is not unique to human language, but also evolved independently in birds.

'Understanding why syntax has evolved in tits can give insights into its evolution in humans.’

Other research into the communications techniques of non-human primates and birds suggests that the ability to combine vocal elements has evolved on a number of occasions.

This implies chimpanzees, for example, can create new words and even rudimentary sentences.

However, the ability to combine different words to create more complex expressions was thought to be unique to human language.

Perhaps you’ve been thinking about bring a bird into your family for a while and aren’t quite sure if it’s the right time or not.  This blog will help you determine if it’s the right time.

1. Do you expect any big life changes in the near future? For instance, are you expecting a child or trying to get pregnant, are you planning to move soon,  are you planning your wedding and are busy with that, are you going away to college, are you about to start a new job or are you planning a vacation. If there are any big thing that will cause your schedule to change and/or take time away from your bird, then you may want to consider waiting.

2. Are you young? That seems like a silly question but if you are young, you should consider all the things you will have to give up so early in your life for a pet.

3. Is everyone in your house on board with having a bird? If someone in your home doesn’t want a bird, like your spouce, this can make things difficult for both you and the bird. An angry partner may resent you and the bird for making a decision over their heads. And your bird doesn’t deserve to be hated for merely existing.

4. Do you have the finances? Birds are expensive. Be prepared to drop $1000 or more in the first year between the adoption fee/purchase fee, the cage, the food, the vet bills, the toys and so on.

5. Do you have the time to socialize and clean up after your bird every day? Birds need your attention every day and they thrive best when kept on a daily routine. Are you in a place in your life where you can provide this?

The adjustment period can be very difficult for your bird and you may see some major changes in their behaviors and stress levels. These changes may likely be just a phase in their adjustment but that does not mean we should not do whatever we can to help make their adjustment as smooth and stress free as possible. Be prepared to change your life style and modify your behavior to help your bird adjust.

First and foremost you must understand that by adopting or purchasing this bird you are taking them out of their familiar environment and putting them into one that is very foreign to them. Adjusting to living in a home setting may be very difficult to them. It may take several months before your bird is fully adjusted. There is typically a 6 month period of adjustment. But don’t fret and don’t give up! The following information will help you throughout the process.

1. When the bird first enters your home it is going to be on its best behavior. We call this the honeymoon phase. It could last for weeks or even months. It is not uncommon to see pluckers grow back some of their feathers during this period but then go back to their old habits once the honeymoon phase is over. Do not get your heart broken if this happens. It is very normal.

2. After the honeymoon period it is normal to see some behavioral changes. Do not reinforce any negative behaviors such as screaming. If your bird is screaming or exhibiting other negative behaviors, whether it is for attention or because of nerves, do not reinforce it by giving them attention or having them come out and sit with you. First try to determine the cause of the behavior. Don’t automatically assume it is for attention. If it is because of stress, try to figure out what the stresser is and modify your behavior, environment, or routine to help ease the stress. There are teas, supplements, drops and other products available for sale to help with stress but they will only work if you are also working to change whatever is stressing your bird.  If you do reinforce the screaming or other negative behaviors, even if it was originally caused by stress and not attention seeking, you could unintentionally teach your bird that those negative behaviors get him attention. Then those behaviors will become more difficult to modify.

3. Give your bird a strict bed time with lights out or cover the cage. 12 hours is a healthy amount of sleep for a bird.

4. Do not let your bird on top of their cage all day long right away. Take it slow. Let them out for short intervals (30mins-45mins) and then slowly increase the time increments. A good sign that they are feeling comfortable with having independent on top of cage time is if you see them choose to go in their cage to play with toys while their cage door is open. A bird who won’t go inside his cage on his own may feel insecure with their surroundings and see the top of their cage as the safest place to be when their cage door is open.

5. Make a routine for one on one time and stick to it. If you expect your available time to change in the near future, make sure you take this into consideration when deciding on a time.

6. Do not immediately put your new bird with your old one.Take it slow. This is very important and should be taken seriously. Your new bird should be quarantined for a month when you take him or her into your home. This is not only for medical reasons but also to allow your older bird to have the chance to get used to the idea of another bird in the house by listening to their squawks. After a month in quarantine, it is best to still keep them in separate rooms but have socialization time in the same room so that they can see one another. After a few weeks, when you feel your birds are ready, bring the new bird’s cage into the same room as your other bird where they can see each but are not close enough to climb onto each other’s cage. Do not put their cages right next to each other right away as you take a big risk that one might get injured climbing onto the other one’s cage. The slower you take to introducing them, the better chance they have to get along. I waited a good 5 months before I put my two conures together on their play gym.

7. Allow them to eat their familiar food for a couple weeks before mixing in the new pellets. At that point you should slowly mix the new pellets in with their old food. Don’t make them go cold turkey.  

8. Don’t forget to bring their toys and perches with you when you bring them home. These will work as comfort items. If the place you are purchasing or adopting from does not send their birds home with their belongings try to purchase the same toys that they had in their cage.

9. Allow them to come out of their cage at their own pace. This is particularly important if they have not stepped up to you yet. Leaving the door open for short periods of time to allow them to go out when they want to gives them the opportunity to build up self-confidence. For some birds it is easier for them to learn to step up from on top of the cage.  However, this is not always the case.

One of the most common reasons I’ve seen birds enter a rescue is because they bonded with one person and started biting or flying at other members of the house hold. This is a particularly challenging situation. Odds are you love your bird and want what is best for him or her but you also love those around you and don’t want to see them get hurt. So this is the advice I have found most useful when working with a bird who doesn’t like others.

From the moment you bring your bird home, make sure all the members living in your house take the time to socialize with the bird. This can help prevent your bird from overly bonding to one person. The more well socialized they are by various people, the more likely they will get along with others. This also helps prevent the “mate” bond, which is when your bird believes he or she is your mate and starts protecting you by lunging and flying at people who come close to you.