Avian Awareness
Recent research has revealed that by feeding spiders to their chicks, birds can manipulate the personality and learning ability of their young.
http://www.healthrecipes.com/pet_supply.htm
BUDGIE BROWNIES
1 cup cornmeal
1 tsp. finely ground cuttlebone
1 cup hulled millet
2 tbsp. liquid honey
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 eggs
2 tbsp. raw wheat germ
4 egg yolks (for larger birds add 1/2 cup peanuts)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Pat into a greased and floured baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes or until firm (if edges start to get too brown, cover with foil).
Cool and cut into small squares.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine
Recent research has provided evidence that taurine is essential in early bird development of passerines. Many passerines, regardless of spider availability, seek out many taurine-rich spiders to feed their young particularly in their youngest stages of life. Researchers later compared the behaviors and development of birds fed a taurine-supplemented diet to a control diet and found that juveniles that were fed taurine-rich diets as neonates were much larger risk takers and more adept at spatial learning tasks.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070824220328.htm
In a report recently published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, University of Glasgow researchers reveal that birds preferentially feed their young spiders containing taurine.
Taurine is an amino acid which is also found in breast milk and energy drinks. The beneficial qualities of taurine include aiding the development of premature babies and reducing blood pressure in human adults, but it has not previously been known how taurine influences the development of birds.
By comparing the behaviour of wild blue tits that were fed a taurine supplement, mimicking a diet rich in spiders, with blue tits that were not, researchers were able to observe the long term impacts of this vital nutrient.
Lead researcher Dr Kate Arnold said: “We found that taurine has a significant impact on the personality and memory of the birds. Those who were fed taurine as chicks were on average much bolder and better at learning in adulthood, than their counterparts who were not fed the extra taurine. This is the first time that we have been able to fully explain why birds feed their young spiders at a particular stage in their development and how parents can permanently alter the behaviour of their offspring via the food that they select.”
http://birds.about.com/od/birdhealth/a/birdanatomy.htm
Part of being a responsible bird owner is doing everything within your power to ensure your pet’s good health. The first step in doing your part to keep your bird in top condition is to learn about how your pet’s body works.
Birds are physiologically different from any other creature on the face of the earth. While they need to eat, drink, and breathe the same as we do, the parts of their bodies that carry out these functions differ drastically from our own.
Please read the rest of the article!
http://birds.about.com/od/breedsofbirds/a/choosingabird.htm
It happens all too often: An unsuspecting person pays a visit to a neighborhood pet store. Once inside, they round a corner to find themselves face to face with a beautiful, vividly colored Macaw who greets them with a boisterous “Hello!” Instantly, the person is smitten, and minutes later they are driving home with their new parrot.
Many people that find themselves in this situation are unaware that Macaws can live for close to 100 years. Some have no idea that these birds have special dietary requirements, or that they need to be handled and let out daily. Often, situations like these lead to unhappy owners and unwanted birds. Make sure that this does not happen to your family by reviewing these tips on choosing the right bird for you!
Please read more!
http://www.petbirdpage.com/
Everything You need to know about :
* Magazines and Books on Parrot Breeds
* Bird and Parrot Terminology
* Choosing a Pet Bird Breed
* What to Feed Your Bird
* Taming a Parrot
* Training a Parrot
* Finding a Good Pet Bird Vet
http://www.upatsix.com/
The internet’s most complete source for pet bird care and information.
The Up At Six Network provides information on exotic birds, parrots classifieds, bird magazines, breeders, chats, birds supplies, shows, bird care information. We are a complete reference guide to pet parrots, exotic birds, finches, budgies, conures, amazons, african greys, cockatoos, macaws, lovebirds, lories, parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, parrotlets, pionus, eclectus, senegals, meyers.
‘Up At Six’ has a mission to provide its readers with the ultimate avian page on the Internet. A place where those involved in aviculture can come together to communicate and learn from one another. Whether it be the bird lover with a single companion or to the breeders and scientists who are involved in the propagation and preservation of our feathered friends, this site is for you.
http://www.essortment.com/in/Pets.Birds/index.htm
This is a page with a list of links to a series of amazingly informative and highly educational articles as well as a loose list of “care and feeding of” articles. Be sure and click this link to this wonderful page.
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/birds.htm
this is a great page for exotic bird owners, giving detailed information on the care and feeding of specific breeds, and other useful information regarding the health and welfare of the breeds.
http://www.birdsnways.com/
Exotic birds, parrots classifieds, bird magazine, breeders, chats, birds supplies, shows, bird care information.
Complete guide to pet parrots & exotic birds!
Finches, budgies, conures, amazons, african greys, cockatoos, macaws, lovebirds, lories, parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, parrotlets, pionus, eclectus, senegals, meyers, etc.
http://theaviary.com/ci.shtml
This site is dedicated to all things regarding birds, exotic and native, and the wonderful aspects of their characters and beauty. They are dedicated to the health and welfare of the species as companions.
http://www.petstation.com/birds.html
Some say they don’t believe
That Angels can be seen or heard.
What a shame such blindness
What a pity such deafness
When the Song of songs abounds…
And Heaven’s flyers are all around…
Only thinly disguised… as birds.
… R.R. Holster/PetStation
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/birds.htm
Stress, pollution, prescription drugs, the overuse of antibiotics and a poor diet all contribute to the ill health of our birds. Good nutrition is the single most important factor in determining the health, vitality and longevity of our parrots. Because we have taken them from their natural environment, and because they are unable to forage and choose their own foods, it is imperative that we provide them a nutritionally complete diet.
Alicia McWatters, Ph.D., C.N.C. – “For a little over a decade, many bird owners have relied upon what is called a ‘complete’ and ‘nutritionally-balanced’ manufactured pelleted diet. Feeding a synthetic commercial feed has been touted as the ‘best’ or ‘better’ way to feed your bird and as a result has convinced the public at large that it is true. Sadly, our birds are the victims of these pretenses. Bird owners are now beginning to question the true value of these commercial diets, realizing that they are a far cry from resembling anything our birds are accustomed to eating in the wild.”
“Birsd need a diet consisting of as great a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits as possible, with the addition of grains, beans and nuts. A dish of high quality pellets in the cage provides a valuable nutritionally balanced supplement to these fresh foods. They have evolved to survive best on a diet of primarily live, fresh foods and to be able to make wise food choices if allowed the privilege. Our job is to give them the opportunity and the privilege and then walk away, allowing them to do their part and eat the foods they are drawn to on a given day. Some birds are experiencing symptoms of vitamin deficiencies/excesses, recurring infections, digestive disturbances, stress-related disorders, or have developed organ damage and subsequently a shorter life-span.” Our birds’ bodies are adapted to fresh raw foods, such as fruits, vegetable matter, nuts, seeds, sprouts, berries, leaf buds, pollen, nectar, insects, larvae, and small vertebrae. When it comes to manufactured diets, not only are these products primarily made-up of fragmented substances and isolated, synthetic vitamins and inorganic minerals, most do not contain important elements like enzymes, chlorophyll, and other natural beneficial substances which are found in natural foods. There isn’t a commercial food product or nutritional supplement available that can provide our birds with the outstanding goodness that is to be found in Mother Nature’s garden. Eating foods, which are naturally produced can offer our birds, and ourselves, the ultimate opportunity to achieve vibrant and long- lasting health.
Bio: Alicia McWatters resides in a mountainous region of NM with her family and many animal and bird friends. A former breeder of Pionus parrots and African Greys, she holds her doctorate’s degree in nutrition and is a certified nutritional consultant. McWatters runs a private holistic avian healthcare practice and is a pioneer in her field. She provides long-distance telephone consultations and in-home consultation visits to local bird owners. She teaches her clients about natural avian nutrition, feeding, and natural healing methods. Herbal medicine, homeopathy, and vitamin and mineral therapy are a few of the natural modalities she incorporates into her nutritional healing programs. McWatters is a contributing writer for many avicultural publications.
