Posts

The first day of April is notable mostly because that is the time of the year where pranks and deception rule the day. With that theme in mind, there are plenty of instances in nature where animals have evolved to be deceptive as a survival tactic. Here’s a look at bird species that use trickery to get ahead.

False Alarms

The fork-tailed drongo, an African native, likes to hang out with flocks of other birds. This bird typically fills the role of lookout and gives off an alarm call when predators are in the area, which sends the flocks of birds around it scattering into the air to flee. But there is one trick the drongo likes to play to score some easy food, and that is to set off a false alarm call. When the birds around it take off, the drongo goes in and steals their food. If the other birds start to catch on, there’s another trick up the drongo’s sleeve. Researcher Tom Flower of the University of Cape Town and his colleagues determined that the drongo can also mimic the alarm calls of 45 other bird and animal species.

Faking It

Never underestimate the heroics birds are capable of when it comes to protecting their young. For example, it’s not uncommon to see little birds fly after birds of prey to drive them away from a nest or chicks. Some ground-nesting birds, which are especially vulnerable to being preyed upon, rely on deception to lure predators away from their nests and young. Birds like the killdeer, native to the U.S., Canada and Mexico, protect their nests by feigning injury. The adult killdeer will drag one wing while frantically flapping the other and giving off a distress call. If this doesn’t stop the predator from heading toward the nest, the bird will wobble closer to the predator to get its attention and then flies off when it has distracted the predator. The Northern lapwing employs a similar tactic to protect its young.

Free Nanny

Some birds have taken the burden of raising chicks off their shoulders so to speak and instead put that burden on a non-related bird species. Reed warblers are just about the size of a sparrow but they sometimes get tricked into raising a bird four times its size. That larger bird is a cuckoo.

Cuckoo hens are known to fly into a reed warblers’ nest (as well as the nests of dunnocks and meadow pipits), when the parents are away so the cuckoo hen can lay an egg next to those of the reed warbler’s. When the eggs hatch, the unsuspecting reed warbler gets tricked into rearing the cuckoo’s chick. The cuckoo is a brood parasite, which describes an organism that relies on others to raise their young. This behavior is seen in birds, insects and some types of fish.

In a more extreme case of parasitic birds, the North American brown-headed cowbird has been observed “punishing” host birds by destroying their clutches if the host birds reject their eggs. According to Maria Abou Chakra, lead author of a study on the cowbird’s parasitic behavior, “They give the hosts no choice. If they wish to avoid retaliation, they need to keep the foreign egg.”

You can get an up close look at this “mafia-style” parasitic behavior in this Science article, which includes how the cowbird stakes out its target nest and has to get the timing just right to swoop in and leave its egg.

With so many animals and birds recorded on a globally registered watch list, there are those that could be gone from us within the blink of an eye. Interestingly, emerging biological and preservation technologies currently being developed might be a way of saving endangered species.

The art of fiction gave us a realistic look at bringing back long-gone species by way of movies like “Jurassic Park.” Although bringing back creatures dead for longer than 10,000 years is considered impossible, the emerging science is certainly there for more recent extinct creatures. In this time, much of that previously unrealized concept is closer to becoming reality.

Back in 2003, a DNA sample retained from the now extinct Pyrenean Ibex (a type of goat extinct since 2000) was used to clone and bring back to life the goat in a lab setting. Unfortunately, the goat died shortly after its birth. But with that little bit of success, large hopes have been fueled by the concept of eradicating extinction in as complete a manner as is genetically possible. More recently, there is hope that a Wooly Mammoth can be resurrected within the span of two years. With well-preserved bodies of the creature extracted from the Siberian permafrost, the DNA samples are as fresh as can possibly be. Nevertheless, even with some remarkable samples available, the science is a young one. It will no doubt go though much trial and error before possibly becoming a routine procedure.

Hope In “Frozen Aviaries”

Currently, there are more than one hundred species of exotic birds on the endangered list. Many scientists have dedicated their lives to the preservation of these species. With habitat changes, predator relocations, and climate changes, our precious birds have proven to be a challenge to adaptation of new locations or procedures designed to take the place of their once natural habits. Some of those birds will die out, lost to us. But it doesn’t have to be like that at all.

The establishment of ‘frozen aviaries’ is a unique preservation concept that promises to maintain the stem cells from birds that can later be used to revive a rare breed. The Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh has started to collect stem cells from rare chicken breeds with the intent to use them if needed some decades down the road. With scientific manipulation, the ability to reduce bad genes that might otherwise jinx the attempts to strengthen the quality of the embryo is enhanced. Eventually, with the right science in place, the resurrection of extinct birds might become a commonplace event. Better, as birds are nearing endangerment, the proper procedures can be implemented to increase seriously waning populations.

With small genetic manipulations, the DNA of birds that are susceptible to their changing habitats, either by encroaching disease or evolving climate, could be made to resist such invaders and viral enemies. In time, the birds we have recently lost and/or those becoming increasingly rare might someday be revitalized.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17 each year, here’s a look at one popular bird in Ireland — the Northern lapwing — as well as some parrots whose plumage will make us all green with envy.

While Ireland doesn’t have an official national bird (yet!), the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) — also referred to as the green plover — seems to be garnering a good deal of votes among bird enthusiasts. This bird’s distinguishing features include rounded wings, a black crest, and its striking colors, which loosely resemble the colors in Ireland’s flag (green, white and orange) with its green-tinged and copper-colored back with a white belly and light orange-tinged undertail coverts.

The northern lapwing’s name is said to either come from the lapping sound of its wings in flight or the lapwing’s unique way of drawing predators away from the nest, which is to trail its wing behind it as if it has an injured wing. The lapwing also has a tenacious alarm call, which it will unleash at intruders near the nest. No traditional Irish foods like potatoes or corn beef and cabbage for this bird — the lapwing prefers to eat at night under the moonlight, and dines on insects and other small invertebrates.

Parrots Ready For St. Patrick’s Day

There will be no pinching these parrots on St. Patrick’s Day … they wear their green all year long!

Amazon Parrots

In lay speak “green parrot” is a common name for an Amazon parrot, as green is their dominant color. Amazons are also known for their outgoing personalities, and many have a penchant for singing. Check out this radio interview featuring a double yellow-headed Amazon parrot from Ireland who cheers on his favorite Irish football team by singing the Irish ballad, “The Fields of Athenry.”

Eclectus

Male Eclectus parrots are so visually different than females that ornithologists once believed they were two separate species of parrot. With the female being predominantly red and the male a lush green, you might say that an Eclectus pair looks like Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s day paired together. 

Caiques

The white-bellied caique (Pionites leucogaster) just so happens to have all the colors of the Irish flag, green, white and orange. Words that describe caique parrots, which also include the black-headed caique, are spunky and bouncy. These energetic birds love to hop around! Here’s a fun clip of a caique doing the Irish “Riverdance.”

March 2 is National Read Across America Day (hey, why not read to your bird?!) and coincides with the birthday of children’s author and illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), best known for his colorfully illustrated, rhyming children’s books like “Cat in the Hat” “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” and “Green Eggs and Ham.” His books are filled with animal characters, including birds. For the most part,  Dr. Seuss’s birds look familiar, but their feathers and shapes are best described as otherworldly. We’ve previously shared some real-life birds that look like they belong in a Dr. Seuss book, and here are some more fantastical Dr. Seuss-like birds to check out.

King Vulture

When describing birds that are breathtaking, a vulture probably doesn’t come to mind. But one look at the King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) and it’s hard not to take a deep breath and think “Wow!” This large bird from Central and South America has a mostly white body, but the skin on its head and neck is a kaleidoscope of colors, such as purple, orange yellow, blue and red. Some say it is so named because it shoos away other vultures when they’re found success in scavenging for a carcass. Perhaps other birds are so transfixed by the King Vulture’s appearance that they stand aside and let the King by to have first dibs.

Hawk-Headed Parrot

Dr. Seuss had a way of drawing a parrot-like bird but with a twist. The hawk-headed parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus) certainly is a parrot with a visual twist.

This parrot native to the Amazon Rainforest not only has a dizzying array of color — a dark brown face with white streaks, green wings, flanks and tail, and a red and blue barred breast — it has a colorful “headdress” of feathers that it raises, usually when excited.

With raised neck feathers, the hawk head’s look is transformed before your eyes. Hawk-headed parrots are kept as companion animals, although less commonly so than other companion parrot species.

The Andean Cock-Of-The-Rock

The Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus) has the honor of being the national bird of Peru. The male (pictured) has a large disk-like crest and bright orange plumage. The female, on the other hand, is noticeably different as she is darker and browner. The male’s courtship display is elaborate, as males are known to have confrontation displays with other males, where they face each other and bob, jump and flap while squawking and grunting and showing off their repertoire of sounds — all to impress females, a sort of bird dance-off if you will … in a Dr. Seuss world it would go something like, “The Rock goes hop, hop hop …”

Red-Crested Turaco

The red-crested turaco (Tauraco erythrolophus) looks like a Dr. Seuss-styled bird crossed with a dinosaur. It is the national bird of its native Angola, and its call is said to sound like that of a monkey’s.

In the wild, turacos feasts on fruit, flowers, figs, leaves, termites, and even snails. Turacos are also referred to as the “go-away” bird, as that is what its call sounds like.

The world incurred a loss in August of 2016, as Cookie, the world’s oldest cockatoo, passed away at his Brookfield Zoo (IL) home. He was 83 years of age. As history recounts, Cookie arrived at the Brookfield Zoo in 1934, not long after its official opening. He arrived from an Australian Zoo located in Sydney at the young age of 1, and represented the species at the famed Illinois zoo for many years.

In 2009, Cookie was retired from public view when he acquired osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, conditions that plague the aging with risks of easily broken bones and swollen joints. After Cookie retired, his health and mood improved, which supported the action taken to ease his stress levels of public display. It was likely that Cookie gained years to his life by this thoughtful decision. Nevertheless, age won out when Cookie died on August 27, 2016.

The “Guinness Book of World Records” officially recognized Cookie as the world’s oldest known cockatoo in captivity in 2014. Typically, these cockatoos (known scientifically as Cacatua leadbeateri and also referred to as Leadbeater’s cockatoo, after the British naturalist, Benjamin Leadbeater) live 40 to 60 years. Cookie beat that average by more than 20 years, topping the high-end of expectation.

Cookie was a Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, so-named because of the observations of Major Tom Mitchell, an explorer of Australia whose prose showered praise for the noted bird’s beauty during his days in the forestry of the country. This species of cockatoo is white with pink colorations found in the bird’s face, nape, forehead, and belly. For females, the upper chest is usually white, and their pink coloration is paler than the male. The cockatoo’s crests are especially colorful with bright red and yellow bands that are immediately noticed. These unique and beautiful birds are also known as Pink Cockatoo. The Major Mitchell Cockatoo species are found in the inland areas of Australia. Interestingly, the Major Mitchell Cockatoo is the ONLY cockatoo with a multi-colored crest providing the bird a part of its notable uniqueness.

Cookie was a source of pride for not only the Zoo, but also for many who followed his growth and passing years. When he reached age 60, the press was there to commemorate the milestone. When he retired, they were there to note the time. After Cookie retired, he did make public appearances on special occasions, such as his birthday. Cookie was so well known that he received his fair share of mail from all areas of the world.

Cookie was known to be somewhat cranky with a disposition to be “vocal” about things that displeased him. It was said that if he didn’t like a person, the disliked person was aware of it. Cookie had only one word in his vocabulary – “Cookie.” When he wanted attention or was happy, he would say his name repeatedly.

News of Cookie’s passing was recognized worldwide. The Chicago Zoological Society released a beautiful two and a half minute video that can be found on YouTube (here). It shows his fans and his caregivers at the Zoo enjoying his life as he lived it.

The world will miss you, Cookie.

In fact, we already do.

If you’re like most people and get your news fix online, try going a step beyond the top stories by searching specifically for bird news. You might be treated to some fascinating results. Check out these intriguing bird-centric stories, which range from parrots playing video games to zebra finches telling their eggs when to hatch to how the males of a bird species called the southern pied babble favor their own biological male chicks over their “stepchicks.”

Parrot Gamers?

Most informed bird people know that companion parrots thrive with enrichment, whether that is food enrichment, toy enrichment, social enrichment and everything in between that works a parrot’s senses. Researchers at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ (CVM) Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center are taking parrot enrichment to the digital age by creating video games that appeal to very specific audience — parrots! The prototype game is akin to the classic “Whack-a-mole,” but instead of using a foam mallet to whack moles’ heads back down into their holes, the bird yells at the screen to make pop of images go away. As the project’s lead researcher, Dr. Donald Brightsmith said, ““It would be nice to come home and know that your animal had been exercising during the day,” Brightsmith said. “Video games such as this would allow pet owners to increase the bird’s activity and increase the bird’s mental stimulation, with an interest in improving the physical and mental health of the birds.” Read all about it. 

Contact Calls To The Egg?

Here’s an interesting fact: Scientists have known for awhile that birds capable of fending for themselves upon hatching (think of the impressionable duck who might imprint on someone, or something, other than its mother), can hear through their eggs. But they weren’t exactly sure what happened inside the eggs of birds that hatch dependent on their parents (parrots for one do!). Thanks to researchers at Deakin University in Australia, we now know that finches for one do communicate with their eggs. Learn — and hear for yourself! — how the finch’s incubation calls changed when nest temperatures rose, and how climate change might influence an egg’s embryonic stage.

 

Where Have You Been?

Zebra finches, apparently, make excellent couples. They are monogamous, share parenting duties and, like most strong relationships, they are good at communicating with one another. They also know how to keep schedules, with scientists observing that they rotated nest and foraging duties in 30-minute shifts and had vocal exchanges during the switch over. See what happened when researchers kept the male past his 30-minute foraging time — running late doesn’t go over so well with zebra finch females.

Birds Can Show Favoritism

In many ways the southern pied babbler, a black and white bird found in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, follow the “It takes a village to raise a child” mindset. They live in groups ranging from three to 14 birds, and chicks are raised by both parents as well as other adult birds. But researchers have learned that there is a “favored chick” sentiment at play, as the male southern pied babbler appears to play favorites when it comes to the males of his own offspring verses his “stepchicks.” See how this form of birdie nepotism unfolded when researchers took a close look at their family dynamics.

While attention is turned to the athletes competing at the Olympics in Brazil, bird people turn to ask what about birding in Brazil? When consulting the bird guides for Brazil, one learns quickly that the guides are regional. That is because a national guide would be too large for portability in the field because, frankly, there are too many species! In fact, Brazil boasts over 1,825 species with others being discovered or named continually. Brazil is considered one of the planet’s richest centers of biodiversity and represents 60% of the species found on the South American continent! With that comes the flip side — Brazil has the largest number of endemic (234) and threatened (116) species of any nation in the New World — that means it represents over one fourth of all of the species that are in trouble.

When you look at a map, you learn that Brazil is impressively large — it is the fifth largest nation on our fragile planet. It is larger than Western Europe. In fact, it has about the same area as the continental U.S.! Just like in the United States, travel distances are vast and need planning. One of the areas that is most frequented for ecotourism is the Pantanal, which I was able to visit. Most of the ecotourism in Brazil frequents that region, home to many parrot species from hyacinth macaws to the rare yellow-faced parrot.

The Pantanal is a vast seasonally flooded wetland comprising about 80,000 square miles! The tropical rains begin in November and end around June. This results in the northern portion of the Pantanal flooding in January, while the southern portion receives the flood waters about two months later with flooding occurring about 2 times during the rainy season. The waters come from an even larger distinctively Brazilian tropical savanna habitat – the Cerrado. This one of the largest biomes of over 740,000 square miles. During the wet season, waters from the Cerrado pour into the large rivers of the Pantanal and there they temporarily flood the grasslands and gallery forests. This produces a large accumulation of water birds as well and contributes to the biodiversity of species. However, as the use of herbicides and fertilizers in the Cerrado increase, this produces a negative impact on the purity of the waters needed for plants and animals of the Pantanal.

When the waters flood the land, the over 450 species of birds disperse but as the land dries out, they congregate to feed. This is particularly true of the water birds. One of the stars of the show is the Jabiru stork. Standing up to 55 inches tall, it has an enormous bill with a bare black head and neck with a red collar. They can be found in large flocks but more commonly in pairs. I must say that they are very impressive to see and listen to with their bill clacking, particularly when they guard their enormous nests.

The Pantanal is made up of mostly privately owned cattle ranches or fazendas that have been increasingly involved in ecotourism. There are a number of conservation-minded ranchers who are very involved in recovery of a number of species of wildlife, most notably the hyacinth macaw. At one time, the Pantanal boasted a large number of hyacinths but, like many species, there was a huge decline from trapping and other problems. In the 1980s, only about 1,500 individuals were left.

Since the 1990s, the Hyacinth Macaw project or Projeto Arara Azul headed by Neiva Guedes has helped turn the corner for this magnificent macaw! In 15 years Neiva and her organization has tripled the numbers of Hyacinths in the Pantanal. The hyacinth eats the hard seeds in the center of the acuri and the bocaiuva palms. These are the only macaws with beaks massive enough to crack open the hard shells. In contrast, other species of parrots and macaws can only eat the outer husk. However, these palms need a certain type of grassland and those grasslands are dependent on cattle grazing on them to exist. Additionally, the cattle often eat these extremely hard fruits of the acuri and the bocaiuva palms while grazing, which then pass through the cattle’s’ digestive tracts. This takes off the hard outer casing, leaving the hard inner seeds available for the hyacinths to easily find and feed from the dung of the cattle! This is a great symbiotic relationship of coexistence. But one major problem has been that the cattle eat or trample the young palms along with the manduvi trees that hyacinth nest in.

Through the efforts of the Hyacinth macaw project, ranchers are now protecting these palms for eating and nesting while fencing off areas with these palms and trees to feed from and to provide nests for their offspring. About 70% of the hyacinths nest in manduvi trees that are more than 80 years old. They prefer flat-bottomed hollows in these trees, which are large enough to accommodate the macaws and their chicks. Ranchers that are involved in ecotourism are fencing off areas and planting smaller trees around these old valuable trees to protect them from the strong winds that can topple them. Man-made nest boxes are also being erected in strategic areas to enhance nest site availability. We were able to spend a day and a half with the Arara Azul staff as they checked nest boxes and performed their functions in the city of Campo Grande. They have translated their success working with the hyacinth macaws to the blue and gold macaws. They have used some of the same principles of creating or preserving habitat to the city. By bringing these beautiful blue and gold macaws right up front for viewing as they raise their young in a bustling city, more tourists and local citizens are able to appreciate the importance of habitat for all wild animals.

So as you root for our young athletes at the Olympics, you can think about — and maybe participate in — Brazil’s vast ecotourism to help parrots continue to live in its wilds. Ecotours are increasingly plentiful and an important source of revenue to locals for their sustenance and also for the maintenance of habitat for indigenous wildlife. I participated in one sponsored by Phoenix Landing, with proceeds helping to support their efforts to promote and protect the welfare of parrots. And on that trip, I saw so many wonderful birds from the Hyacinth macaws with young to the Quakers with their very social nesting arrangement. There were many sights to behold.

It was a moment in time! That time was to spend time with Rosemary Low, an amazing British aviculturist, ornithologist and conservationist. She is one of the most knowledgeable in the world on parrots, and I got to spend several days with her! Her enthusiasm for all things parrots and birds in general is infectious. And her vast knowledge base is beyond description.

But let’s begin with some information on her life. Rosemary started as a writer for the magazine Cage and Aviary Birds as a result of her owning over 50 parrots and raising many as well. Her birdkeeping activities began with budgerigars (“parakeets”). Her first parrot was an African grey. Between the ages of 20 and 30, she started to keep neotropical parrots and lories and lorikeets and has continued to keep them in her home.

Rosemary was also curator at two of the most amazing parrot places: Loro Parque in Tenerife and then Palmitos Park in the Grand Canary Island for over 8 years. In 1989, she was a cofounder of the World Parrot Trust, editing its magazine, PsittaScene, until 2004 . Her interest in conservation, fund-raising for conservation projects and in the welfare of captive parrots has long overtaken that of breeding in captivity.

Through her writings and through a local parrot club that she founded in 2000, she continues to offer guidance to people on keeping their parrots happy and healthy. I have found that Rosemary has been a spearhead for a number of issues relating to parrots and her stated goals are:
• to widely publish information that will lead to a better standard of care for captive birds
• to reduce the demand for wild-caught parrots
• to promote and assist with parrot conservation

Rosemary has traveled widely, speaking at a number of venues on parrot conservation and parrot behaviors. She is a regular at parrot conferences in a large number of countries, including four Loro Parque Conventions. And that is how I was able to meet up with her, as we were both speakers at the Phoenix Landing Weekend Retreat for parrot owners, vets and vet students in Ashville, NC, in May of this year.

We had breakfast together several mornings in a grand old house that has been turned into a B&B. And Rosemary was way ahead of me — up at dawn to bird watch and to gather some plants she knew various parrots would eat. Those became her teaching tools regarding harvesting and gathering fresh foods that she wanted to pass on to all of us gathered in the lecture room. Out of her bag came a variety of plants: grass heads, dandelions, and a variety of fresh flowers to name a few.

She described how flowers play a large part of the diet of many parrots, from the parakeets of South America to African greys from Ghana. Flowers are used as a food source for many parrot species, and they tend to consume most of the flower parts. She suggested picking the blossoms of nasturtiums, hibiscus, roses, pansies, marigolds and the blossoms from unsprayed fruit trees as examples for our own parrots. She also related that she feeds fresh dock or Rumex crispus particularly for her pyrrhura conures but will feed dried in winter. Rosemary described the immense joy she gets watching her conures feed on the seed heads of the fresh dock, with the heads of the dock hanging downward.

She also is a big fan of feeding dried figs, which are briefly soaked and then put on fruit hangers in her aviary for the birds to eat. She indicated that when placed in the feed dishes, the birds did not eat them. But noticed that the birds would feed on the figs if there was a challenge to eating them. She suggested putting dried figs on top of the aviary wire so the birds have to work at getting to them to eat, and that worked well.

Rosemary also encouraged the use of fresh-cut branches for birds to forage in or use edible items presented in an interesting way as a great form of enrichment. She prefers in her country (UK) to cut willow and apple branches but says that hawthorn with blossoms are preferred. She did suggest that eucalyptus branches are favored in Australia, and I know that I often used them for my parrots when I lived in Southern California. They really liked them!

Another idea she suggested is to tie nuts to branches for them to forage. Additionally, small paper cups can be used to hold a few veggies for them to search and to eat. A friend of hers tied hunks of zucchini to branches and would push grapes or other fruits into the center for them to forage for.

One note of caution: For some birds, putting branches into the cage can be stressful if they are not used to frequent changing of items and/or the use of fresh items like branches in the cage. So it is important to introduce them slowly. You might need to put them into view outside of the cage and then gradually move them closer until your birds are no longer nervous. At that point you may place them in the cage and make sure that they are okay with them. Those were just a few wonderful ideas that she shared with us at the Retreat at Phoenix Landing as well as the lecture she gave in Toledo. I was able to get her to come to Toledo — to bird watch and share her knowledge!

While she has observed over 100 species of parrots in the wild in more than 30 countries, Rosemary will even sit and watch birds at my backyard feeder! She enjoys more than just parrots, as she came to Toledo where she spent a day in the marshes of Lake Erie watching the migrating species at the start of the Biggest Week of Birding.

Watching birds in their natural habitat is her greatest thrill — from the critically endangered Kakapo in New Zealand to tiny Pygmy Parrots in New Guinea, and the world’s largest Parrot colony in Argentina. Her most satisfying moment came in January 2007 with the permanent ban on the importation of wild-caught birds into EU countries. As a conservationist she has been a spearhead for change for the betterment of parrots. And it was a moment of learning with one of the greats for parrots!

All around us, science is technologically advancing to create newer tools that will allow life to continue more productively. Where a bad accident would have decided a fate years ago, science is now ensuring that the quality of life is a continual positive experience. Not too long ago, two toucans were brutally handled. As a result, their long, majestic beaks were snapped off. Years ago, that would have meant a death sentence for both Grecia, and Tieta. Both toucans have been thriving with the miracle of 3D printed beaks, without which, both birds would have been unable to live their extraordinary lives.

Since those pioneering moments, much has happened in the world of 3D printing where our animals are concerned. Even humans have benefitted from the use of the technology to create useable parts that will bring a solution to impossible situations. In 2014, a baby was diagnosed with tracheobronchomalacia, a rare congenital condition that causes the airways to be weak and susceptible to collapse. This child was often in danger with collapses that caused it to live in a hospital for much of its first two years. The doctor turned to 3D printing to fashion a tracheal shell that would fit around the child’s existing windpipe. Once surgically applied, it would provide a wall of strength allowing the original pipe to improve without a need to suffer the demands of its intent. And while the issue is much more complicated, the splint has been successful in providing a fighting chance for the child to survive an immediate dangerous condition.

Just as exciting, 3D printing has become a world of hope to animals. A tortoise was caught in a raging bush fire in Brazil that caused his protective shell to be completely destroyed. Normally, this would result in the eventual death of the tortoise. But, after being saved from the fire, a San Paulo volunteer group known collectively as the Animal Avengers, reconstructed the shell of “Freddy” by the use of 3D computer images that were sent to a dental surgeon (of all people) to form using his 3D printer. The beautifully printed shell was reattached, and hand-painted to create a natural appearance. Today, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference. The results are amazing. And Freddy isn’t the only tortoise to get a 3D shell. There’s Cleopatra as well.

In another story, a loggerhead turtle had unfortunately come into contact with a rotating boat propeller while swimming. The sea turtle’s jaw was destroyed, which would have ruined the creature’s ability to exist in the wild. But with quick thinking, the animal was brought to a Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. With assistance from a Turkish biotech company specializing in 3D medical prosthetics, a 3D titanium jaw was fashioned and attached by surgeons and veterinarians in a two and a half hour surgery. The turtle is still recovering but things are looking better and better, with the hope of soon returning the creature back to its natural habitat.

There is a story that involves an American Bald Eagle. The eagle was shot in the face by a hunter and abandoned. Her beak was completely destroyed. The eagle was found and turned into a facility to see what could be done. But by then, the bird was in a bad way, unable to clean or eat without its beak. The eagle was nursed back to a sustainable health but the caregiver was often told to euthanize the bird as a humane gesture. As luck would have it, the caregiver was giving a seminar. It was there that the doctor met with an engineer, who offered to create a 3D printed version of Beauty’s beak. After a 2-hour procedure, Beauty the Bald Eagle was the owner of a new beak. After the surgical application of the beak, she was able to resume functions natural to an eagle. Functions like eating, drinking water, and grooming herself, were all made possible, restored by the use of the miracle of continually emerging 3D technologies.

Our final story involves a duck. Named Buttercup, the duck was born with a defect that disabled it with a twisted left foot. The duck spent a portion of its life at a habitat to provide a quality of life that it would not be able to enjoy in the wild. At one time, amputation was a considered treatment. However, Buttercup’s caregiver stubbornly researched the possibility of a new 3D printed foot that would help the duck in many ways including the reduction of pronounced hobbling, and the ability to swim. After the creation of several feet and over a hundred hours of improvements, Buttercup is now experiencing the world as she may never have been able to prior to the restoration. But with the science of 3D printing, she is as new as she can be.

3D printing is a science of great hope. With it, technology is improving to allow for the creation of body parts, and transplantable internal parts that include veins, teeth, and organs. All of these things are being researched using stem cells and natural materials to avoid the threat of rejection. Already, there has been the creation of mini beating hearts and new livers. Soon, a new heart replacing a weakened or diseased heart, or even to immediately help a heart attack victim may be the commonplace cure that keeps a person alive for much longer. The future of the medical applications using 3D technology is miraculous indeed.

Everyone has heard about the use of highly trained dogs as “service animals” meant to assist people with disabilities. These dogs have a long history of intense training in order to provide a wealth of specialty services. Such services allow for a disabled individual to navigate the world in ways that their disability might not have naturally allowed them to do in the first place. With these animals, a sense of deserved autonomy affords the disabled person a feeling of belonging to a world that is heavily slanted toward the unrestrained use of all senses. Therefore, it goes without saying that benefits of these animals provide not only personal safety, but also tends to the emotional improvement of disabled individuals. For many years, one of the uses of service dogs has been to soothe people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), calming them during periods of anxiety.

Over the last few years, Parrots are increasingly being used as such animals albeit with a different approach. With innate abilities to mimic human voice and acquiring phrases to use, the parrot is able to provide a calming influence over those suffering from various levels of anxieties. Such anxieties can be brought on by autism, bi-polar disorders, the previously mentioned PTSD problems that can cover a wide range of causes, and an even wider spectrum of various psychotic disorders.

Not long ago, an incident occurred in a Kennewick, WA, WinCo grocery store where a man with a parrot was asked to leave the store. In this case, the man used his pet parrot as a service animal to help him manage his anxieties. While the man had a doctor’s approval, the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) only has provisions set for the use of dogs and small horses. As a result, the man had to leave the store with his parrot on his shoulder.

The parrot had been successfully used to soothe the man’s anxieties enabling him to merge more seamlessly with society. The bird, Kai, has been with the man for over a year and has been credited with changing the disabled man considerably, making him feel more “normal.”

In the UK, an autistic boy has derived a calming benefit from a caique parrot used as an emotional support animal. When the boy discovered that there were depressed parrots that self-harm by plucking their feathers, he tapped into the love he has for his parrot, Petrie, and sheared his long locks in exchange for donations. At this writing, the boy has raised more than $750 dollars, a goal that has exceeded his original intent by over 400%.

There is a growing use of parrots (and other creatures) as Emotional Support Animals (ESA). In fact, many of them can be registered as such. And while the ADA only recognizes the use of dogs and miniature horses, there is hope that one day, the Justice Department agency can recognize the use of parrots as an effective and necessary calming influence on anxiety sufferers. As the realization that a disability is not always a visually seen one becomes more solidified, laws can change to properly accommodate all in need.

Parrots are known to be intuitively aware of the human emotion. They can sense when their owner becomes angry, when they become stressed and begin to grow tense as a result. By the trained use of certain phrases that can soothe an increasingly agitated individual, an ESA parrot can provide an emotional assistance that can be most helpful.

In Tulsa, OK, there is a therapy service owned by two dedicated bird lovers who have fully recognized the therapeutic potential of trainable exotic birds. The assistive service is called, interestingly, On A Wing And A Prayer. The program is a large part of the established Gifted Wings Ministry. While the benefit started more than eleven years ago with a pair of parakeets, the service now uses more than 65 birds to provide calming and restorative benefits to needy people with disabilities. With birds that range from cockatoos and cockatiels, a macaw, an assortment of parakeets, an African grey parrot, Amazon parrots, and other beautiful birds, the service can lay claim to many therapeutic values these creatures have already provided. There is a story recounted of a non-speaking patient suffering from dementia, who, after petting a cockatiel began to speak again.

There are increasingly more stories involving the uses of parrots as emotional support service animals. Soon, the service of parrots and other birds may gain the respect and value that it deserves.

If you are into spring warblers in particular, or just the amazing migration of birds across America, most likely you are driving around Northwestern Ohio with at least one pair of binoculars. Magee Marsh and the string of wildlife areas along the western Lake Erie shores was voted the best bird watching spot in America this past year. Over 65,000 people were expected to flock to this area and be a part of the Festival of Birding — all of this just east of Toledo and down the road from my wildlife-centered farm. It is great to meet with fellow enthusiasts and be a part of everything bird — if only for a week! Birders are a great group and are willing to share their expertise as you walk the trails searching for the next elusive warbler.

Conservation Efforts

It is also a time for celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty that was the centerpiece that put bird conservation in motion in the United States. This treaty changed how we treated our native birds — from the unregulated killing of herons and egrets for their feathers to many thousands of wild waterfowl that were served for dinner in many cities across the country.

A number of laws were enacted that put teeth into providing refuge for our native birds. The Lacey Act, in particular, limited market hunting of wild birds such that it was illegal to kill them in one state and transport them to another state for food. President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national wildlife refuge in Florida — Pelican Island Federal Bird Reserve. He also facilitated the hiring of wardens to protect the water bird breeding areas in several states as well. We here in northwest Ohio boast the Ottawa National Wildlife refuge, which is a great spot for birding. It is historically one of the most famous resting sites as the birds fly north, allowing them a chance to rest before flying across Lake Erie and parts north on the Mississippi flyway. Other regulations followed to help protect our native gamebirds and set hunting seasons.

I think that part of the conservation movement was fueled by the loss of the passenger pigeon. John James Audubon described in 1813 what seemed to be a never-ending flock of these wonderful birds flying at about 60 miles an hour and blocking the noon day sun. He also described that it took 3 days for them to pass his site of observation. But we are never to see this glorious site. In March 1900 the last wild specimen was shot and killed with a BB gun by a boy in Sargents, Ohio. And Martha, the single passenger pigeon left of her kind, died at the Cincinnati zoo in 1914 and is stuffed and put in a glass box at the Smithsonian. It also happened with the Carolina parakeet — our natural parrot that is also no more. That should jolt all of us who love birds — it sickens me actually. This Festival of the Birds should remind us of the fragile relationship between our ecosystem and our birds. These historical losses and the pressures on current populations remind us that we need to be actively involved in saving our world, which is really their world. They are the sentinels of our future.

And that would include our parrots! While the festival centers on native species, our parrots are native in their own lands and many are in serious jeopardy. While we enjoy watching them in our homes, there is nothing like watching them in the wild just like the birders this week along the western Lake Erie shoreline. Not only do we want to name the species that we see, we want to watch their behaviors in the wild. Those basic natural behaviors often are similar between species of birds. So those wild birds on their northern migratory paths this spring provide us with a glimpse of bird behavior that provide us a window of understanding to our parrots in our homes.

Parrots: Wild and Difficult To Study

And our parrots are still wild creatures! While we have captured them and put them in cages, and with some species bred them about one generation back from the wild, parrots have retained that sense of wildness. That seems to be part of the intrigue that people have for them along with their natural beauty. Just think about what our parrots experience in our homes compared with how they have to deal with their lives in their natural wild homes. In general, our homes are much more monotonous, smaller and climate-controlled artificial environments compared with those in the wild where they originated.

Parrots in the wild have been less studied than other wild bird species in their native habitats. It seems that their natural biology is shrouded in mystery — most likely due to a number of problems in observing them. Parrots are difficult to catch and they live in remote locations high up in trees so hard to see, compared to the warblers in Magee Marsh in Ohio. Often parrots range over large areas and have been until recently difficult to track. They nest in remote areas, often in tree cavities — yet another difficulty. They are often endangered now and have far fewer numbers in their flock, making it difficult to find them and observe them in the jungle. New techniques for tagging along with GPS help us to better understand and track their whereabouts.

We recently had the honor of hearing a talk by the English author and parrot expert Rosemary Low, who has a great interest in comparing and sharing the natural behaviors of wild parrots with those in our homes. She arrived just before the start of the Festival and the biggest week here near the marshes. She also came to observe these birds in the wild and compare their behaviors with her parrots and those that she has observed in over 27 countries since 1974. I would like to share some of her experiences in the next article and things that we discussed to help our parrots in captivity lead more fulfilling lives. We had a great time and learned more about natural behaviors of birds, whether they be parrots or the migrating warblers and other song birds resting before another flight north. And it just reminds us again that we are all in this together.

For more information, see the website Biggest Week In American Birding.

The world is a big place. In the course of its passing through time (and us with it), it’s filled — unfortunately — with shares of problems that we have to deal with on a daily basis. Among those issues are physical and mental disabilities that cross all spectrums of affliction. But we’re not the only ones who experience such disastrous occurrences. Our pets and animals in the wild also experience such disorders.

Meet Charlie Holliland. Charlie is an 11-year-old boy who lives in Plymouth, a city approximately 190 miles west-south-west of London, England. Charlie is an autistic youth, a bit of information that is important to know as this story unfolds. The reason is that, as an autistic child, changes and sensory issues are often difficult to undertake and to absorb. And yet, when one such as Charlie elects to absorb a change on his own in order to create a beneficial situation for others, then it becomes an extraordinary story that deserves to be shared.

Charlie is the owner of a caique parrot, a small but stocky bird endemic to the regions of South America. Caiques are generally bright in colors, and have a short, square tail. Charlie’s parrot was given to him to help provide emotional support, and it appears that his parrot has done just that.

Recently, Charlie has taken it upon himself to bring awareness and monetary benefit to the plight of depressed parrots. In order to do this, he has offered to shave his long hair in return for pledges of money that he wishes to have contributed to The Parrot Zoo in Lincolnshire, England. The Parrot Zoo is a registered charity that is part of a larger entity, The National Parrot Sanctuary. They provide a means of rescue and long-term care for needy parrots. Rather than passing them on from home to home, this charity believes in becoming a sanctuary for the unfortunate birds that find themselves under their care. Charlie’s strong feelings for the plight of the depressed parrot have led him to this wonderful facility — and to his extraordinary act of charity.

Charlie has started a funding page on Just Giving. In the page, he has asked that people donate to the cause of “depressed parrots that are self-harming because they’ve lost their owners, families, or homes.” He goes on to say that he would “like people to realize how emotional parrots really can be, and how much sadness they feel when they lose the things and people that they love.” At this point in time, the page has generated 425% of Charlie’s original goal of £100 (approximately $147 U.S.). At this writing, the page has generated £425.64 ($624.62) in charity revenue for The Parrot Zoo.

Charlie is one amazing boy! As one with autism, this endeavor was a challenge to his comfort. And yet, the love of unfortunate birds won out and the bird community is richer for it. As an extra act of kindness, Charlie has donated his hair to a local hospital so that it could be used to make wigs for cancer patients. You can check out Charlie’s charity page, which includes a video of Charlie shaving his head for charity.

Everybody knows the awful feeling of the loss of anything. But the loss of another living thing is horrifying. There is a sense of detachment and uncertainty blended with a heavy dose of dread. The fear of never seeing something that lives in your life again is…well, disabling. That’s what happened to Michelle Mills, an Australian resident. On March 29, Michelle’s pet bird, Lola, flew from her safe haven of home and explored the world at large, leaving her owner a nervous wreck.

Lola, who is a South American Sun Conure, left the nervous task of a hopeful reunion to Michelle as Lola enjoyed a small vacation. After Lola’s departure, Michelle peppered her neighborhood with printed “LOST” flyers, placing them directly into the mailboxes of approximately 100 nearby neighbors. Michelle also listed Lola as missing in an Australian Lost Pet Finders website offering a $200 reward for the bird’s safe return. This listing did not yield fruit; however, Lola was discovered — and returned — by a happy accident.

A day after Lola took flight, an Australian news reporter was readying for an off-site news report when a bird flew onto her shoulder. The reporter, Brittany Kleyn, was frantic when the bird latched onto her top and refused to be frightened away. The cameraman helped the reporter, who was not pleased, by easily removing the bird. What likely drew the bird to the reporter was the similar haircut and build that the reporter had in common to Lola’s owner.

The video of this interaction went wide on television. It wasn’t long before a friend of Lola’s owner, recognized the 18-month old conure and called Michelle to alert her to the finding. Michelle then took to the Facebook page of the Nine Gold Coast News channel and wrote as calmly as possible, “OMG THAT’S MY BIRD!!! SHE FLEW AWAY LAST NIGHT!! HER NAME IS LOLA PLEASE CALL ME”.

By March 31, Lola and her relieved owner were happily reunited. Lola is described as “very tame” and “hand-raised”. In fact, there are three posted videos of Lola dancing to The Kinks’ song, “Lola” found on her owner’s personal YouTube account. The short videos are the exact same, but are listed with three different headings. They are adorable and can be viewed here.

The story is a happy one. Unfortunately, this is not always the case when a bird escapes. In many cases, the bird will join a group of lost birds and survive. But the loss to the owner(s) and, I’m sure, to the bird as well, is devastating. Please take all proper precautions in keeping your bird temptation-free for a seemingly innocent flight. With years of built upon relationships, a loss can lead to distraught that is stressful to everyone, even a bird.

A video of the encounter with Lola and the reporter, and Lola’s eventual reunion with Michelle Mills can be viewed here. It will leave you with a smile, and maybe a tear or two. (It’s ok. We shed a few tears of happiness ourselves.) An extraordinary case of mistaken identity, the power of television and media, and prayers and hope brought Lola back to where she belonged — a happy accident.

You can read about the Sun Conure species at our own detailed web page here.

Is That Bird Real?!

Wondering why Dr. Seuss books and apparel sprout up in stores come February/March? That’s to celebrate children’s author Dr. Seuss, who was born March 2, 1904. His books are filled with an assortment of animal characters — including birds — drawn in a distinct Seuss style, which has been described as falling somewhere between the surrealist movement of the early 20th century and the inspired nonsense of a child’s classroom doodles.

In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, here are some spectacular real-life bird species that look like they belong in a Dr. Seuss book!

Sounds Like A Seuss Bird

The Victoria crown pigeon (Goura victoria) is spectacular not only because of its eye-catching white-tipped crest feathers, deep blue-gray color and red iris, but by its size.

This ground-dwelling pigeon, named after the British monarch Queen Victoria (1819-1901), is the largest pigeon species in the world, with an average length of 73 to 75 cm (29 to 30 in) and can weigh over 7 pounds.

Native to the New Guinea region, Victoria crown pigeons can be found in zoos and are indeed a sight to behold. Its call certainly seems like it belongs in a Dr. Seuss book, with its deep ummm or hmmm contact call, a hoota-hoota-hoota-hoota-hoota mating call and a defensive call described as a whup-up, whup-up, whup-up.

Chicken By Seuss?

If Dr. Seuss created a chicken, there’s a good chance it would look and feel just like the Silkie chicken. Also referred to as the Silky, the name is apropos as this chicken’s plumage is soft and fluffy — some even say it is like touching silk.

Other unique attributes set the silkie apart, such as black skin and bones, five toes instead of the usual four and blue earlobes. Silkies are said to make good companions because of their friendly and docile nature.

Real-Life Bird Has Cartoon Looks & Sounds

The gang-gang cockatoo’s (Callocephalon fimbriatum) fluffy crest makes this parrot native to Australia almost cartoon like. Males are the red heads in this species, with females having a smaller gray head and crest. Both have scalloping on their body feathers.

The gang-gang cockatoos natural call is not your typical parrot call — it is described as a resembling a creeky gate or the sound of a wine bottle being uncorked!

Another Bird With Seuss Looks

Another cockatoo seemingly “straight out of Seuss” is the palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), also called the goliath cockatoo or great black cockatoo. This name makes sense, as it is among the largest of all cockatoo species.

This parrot has two prominent features that make it seem more like a caricature than a real-life parrot — its very large beak and its prominent red cheek patches. Its genus/species name, Probosciger aterrimus, is comprised of the Latin  word proboscis, which means “long thin nose” and the Latin superlative adjective for ater, which indicates “black” —  hence this parrot’s name translates to mean “black [bird] with a long thin nose (beak)”.

Stork By Seuss?

The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) looks like Dr. Seuss’s attempt at drawing a stork. It’s features are so hard to pinpoint that the scientific community can’t seem to come to a consensus on which taxonomy it belongs to — storks, pelicans or herons.

One thing is for sure, this east Africa native has a bill that is hard to ignore. This bird has been described as statue-like because of its slow movements and tendency to stay still.

The shoebill eats mostly fish and will patiently stalk its prey … then it quickly strikes. They are relatively quiet birds but do have some peculiar sounds … adult birds might moo like a cow, and the “feed me” call of young shoebills is said to sound like a person with hiccups.

The traditional definition of a wingman is a pilot who flies just outside and behind the rightwing of the leading aircraft in a flight formation as a way of providing protective support. And, there is also the pop culture meaning of a friend or colleague who essentially “has your back.”

Have you ever stopped to think if you are your bird’s “wingman?” By that I mean, how good are you at providing support when your bird is around other people, be it visitors to the home or even among household members who might not have as strong a bond with your bird?

Here are five signs of a good wingman as it pertains to the feathered kind:

1. You set your bird up for success when hosting events in the home. You’re not afraid to tell guests what will and will not fly around your bird. You have an effective yet nice way of telling guests your house rules — no poking fingers in the cage, no feeding food without your permission, no handling your bird without your supervision, etc.  Part of your party planning includes making sure everyone goes home happy and your bird ends his/her day on a happy note as well.

2. You bring your bird out of the cage to where the action is, especially if he/she loves to be the center of attention or being in the thick of things. Birds are social creatures and most appreciate seeing what’s going on rather than hearing what’s going on from another room. You suggest ways for other members of the household or visitors to have positive interactions with your feathered housemate by showing them how to read a bird’s body language or how to initiate a proper Step-Up or Step-Down command, and you are respectful of those who might not share your enthusiasm for birds by not forcing interaction upon them or the bird.

3. You take your bird to a vet clinic whose staff is comfortable and adept at handling birds, which is much more likely to be the case if you bring your bird to an avian veterinarian. Even if you have to drive out of town for vet visits, you are being your bird’s wingman by making sure he/she literally is in good hands when it comes to health care.

4. You make your best effort to keep neighbors OK with the fact that you share your residence with a feathered companion. This is especially important if your bird has a habit of expressing himself/herself vocally. This might mean locating your bird’s cage away from shared walls or windows that might broadcast your bird’s vocalizations to the neighborhood. You give your bird plenty of busy work in the form of enrichment (toys to chew up, foraging opportunities, etc.).

5. You strive to be a great bird ambassador to others by setting a good example. You keep a clean cage, feed a healthy diet and afford your bird quality interaction, whether that is ambient attention (e.g. sitting on a playgym in the same room as you while you watch TV or read) or direct one-on-one interaction (e.g. petting your bird, singing or talking to your bird, playing tug-a-war with a foot toy).

Last week, I had the privilege of stepping back in time to the 1700s. A commanding presence of a man who said he was General George Washington told me it was 1781 — just before the invasion of Yorktown! And we were standing in the Wythe home in colonial Williamsburg after it was made headquarters for Washington and the Continental Army. George Wythe’s home, built in 1750, appeared much as it had back then, even down to some of the furniture being covered for protection during the building’s military use. George Wythe was a prominent attorney of the colonies and the mentor to Thomas Jefferson as he studied law for the bar. George Wythe was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and was considered the father of American jurisprudence.

When they could not agree, they enlisted the help of an artist who had knowledge of heraldry and designing seals, Pierre Eugène Du Simitière. He tried to incorporate all of their ideas into a design that went to Congress in August 1776. But, as you guessed, they tabled the matter until March 1780. This time they used another consultant, Francis Hopkinson. He was the designer of the American flag so he suggested that they use a design including a red and white stripe alternating pattern. Similarly, his seal design was tabled.

The third time, Congress appointed a committee that, in turn, appointed William Barton as the consultant. He was a lawyer and artist and suggested a small white eagle with spread wings. The eagle as he portrayed it, was to show with its stance the “symbol of supreme power and authority and signifies Congress.” At that point in history, the Continental Congress was both the executive and legislative branches of power–there was no president yet. As you would expect, the three formats of the proposed seals were further modified by Charles Thomson, the secretary of Congress.

Thomson borrowed from all three designs to make his own. From Du Simitière he took the shield and the motto- E pluribus unum (one out of many). From Hopkinson, he used the alternating red and white stripes but put them on a shield of the eagle. Additionally, he used an olive branch and bundle of arrows each now placed in the talons to symbolize the nation’s love of peace but the readiness for war. Using Barton’s design, he used the eagle but transformed it into the native American Bald eagle, with wings extended downward in flight. Finally, about 6 years after the desire to have a seal representing the Continental Congress, there was one, with the eagle in the central and prominent position.

But not everyone was excited about the eagle representing this new nation. One of the outspoken critics of the use of the Bald eagle was Benjamin Franklin. He wrote his daughter in 1784, “I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his living honestly. You may have seen him perch’d on some dead tree near the river, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing hawk; and when the diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him. With all this injustice, he is never in good case but like those among men who live by sharpening and robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy.“ He goes on to write…”the turkey is …a more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America… He is besides, tho’a little vain and silly, a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on.” I for one know that this is entirely true with my turkeys!

And as I walked the streets of colonial Williamsburg, I wondered what the town would really look like back then? Would there be throngs of Carolina parakeets chattering in the trees? Passenger pigeons out in the fields? I did notice a simple wood carving of a parrot-like bird that I presumed was a Carolina parakeet in one of the stores selling wares from that period. The Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from southern New York and Wisconsin to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. Williamsburg itself is bordered by the York and James Rivers. The former river led to Yorktown, which Colonel Washington sieged to capture Britain’s Cornwallis and his forces. This parrot was the only species classified in the genus Conuropsis. It was called puzzi la née (“head of yellow”) or pot pot chee by the Seminole and kelinky in Chickasaw. It was known for its flocking behavior and I would think these lovely old live oaks along the streets of Williamsburg would make a great home for these social parrots. If only we had not trapped them to extinction. Yet, birds made their mark on Williamsburg and the founding of our country!

 

 

Did you get one of the top-selling tech holiday gifts this season? Big box retailer Best Buy did a consumer survey of the most sought-after tech gadgets heading into Black Friday and Cyber Monday for the 2015 holiday season, which range from iPads to GoPros.

Following is a sampling of top gadgets that might prove especially helpful to pet bird enthusiasts and why.

iPad

This top selling Apple product can certainly help entertain the flock. Download a music streaming app like Pandora Radio so you can create a play list of your bird’s favorite songs, or us the installed video player to record your bird singing his/her favorite songs. Want to know more about your bird? Ask Siri (iPad’s built-in “intelligent assistant”) bird-related questions like, “Where are cockatiels from?” Too tired to engage your bird in another conversational round consisting mostly of “How are you?” “Hi”, “Hello!” “Come here” conversation? Place your iPad within listening distance of your bird and have your bird talk to Siri. Siri will respond in whatever gender voice you selected, which can come in handy if your bird tends to favor the company of women to men, or vice versa.

Bose QuietComfort 25 Noise Cancelling Headphones

Need a break from the flocks’ chatter? Plug these into your audio player and get lost in a book-on-tape or online movie, or relax to your calming music playlist. According to the company’s product info, these headphones don’t just play audio better, the advanced noise-reduction technology reduces what you don’t want to hear, which some pet bird enthusiasts might appreciate from time to time.

Bose Soundlink Mini Blue Tooth Speaker II

With this Bluetooth compatible portable speaker you can clean your bird’s cage or prep your bird’s favorite meal without having to miss a call as its built-in speakerphone allows you to take calls out loud. Its wireless design will no doubt make it more relaxing to hold your bird while talking on the phone, and your bird might appreciate you having both hands free to pet or play with him/her. And if you’ve ever been nipped by your bird while holding a phone, conducting your phone conversations over a home speaker might be the solution.

Fitbit Charge HR Heart Rate and Activity Tracker

Want to test out your Fitbit? See how many steps you can log just catering to your pets, from running to the fridge for your bird’s fresh veggies to vacuuming in and around the cage, to walking over to your bird’s area for a visit throughout the day.

Dyson V6 Absolute Cordless Vacuum

What pet bird steward wouldn’t love this easy-to-grab vacuum? You can ditch the broom altogether and stop chasing after those flighty little down feathers that always seem to evade the dust pan … this cordless vac will suck it away for you, as well as get to those cage nooks and crannies where cage debris accumulates.

Apple Watch

Does your bird have a habit of competing with your phone conversations, e.g. “talk” while you try to take or make a phone call? With an Apple Watch you can send and receive messages, as well as make calls through your paired smartphone. Another cool feature you might appreciate is that you can silence an incoming call by covering the watch with your hand, a handy feature for when you are putting the flock to bed or otherwise trying to settle the flock. You can also use your Apple Watch to buy things through Apple instead of using a debit or credit card. Hopefully, your favorite avian retailer has, or will soon have, a reader installed to make it easier to shop for your bird. Many Smart Watches, including the FitBit, have built-in motivational tools, such as notifications for when you’ve been sitting too long — why not use these reminders to get up and interact with your feathered friend?

SONOS PLAY: 1 Wireless Speaker

This might just be a must-have for music lovers who share the home with a feathered companion that like to chew up wires and cords.

iRobot Roomba Vacuum Cleaning Robot

This round little vac is a bird person’s gadget dream come true … sit back, put your feet up and let this little round vac pick up the little seed hulls, tossed food debris, chewed-up toys pieces and wayward feathers for you. Just make sure your there to comfort your bird when you first try it out, so he/she knows that this little round, circling vacuum is harmless — and do make sure your bird is not on the floor when it is in use!

GoPro Action Camera

The GoPro camera was originally marketed for use in action sports like racing down ski slopes, surfing the waves or off-road riding, but you can also use this little video cube to do time-lapse photography by using the GoPro’s free studio editing software. Plant your GoPro near your bird’s cage, program it to take a sequence of photos over a specified period of time and stitch the photos together for fun time-lapse effects.

Christmas Time: Remember Your Outdoor Birds

This holiday time of year is a busy time — gift gathering and giving and lots of things to choose from for us humans and our birds. While our “inside” birds are tucked into their warm cages, we might gaze out the window and wonder about our “outside“ birds! One important Christmas event with significant ramifications is the Christmas Bird Count of the Audubon Society.

The Christmas Bird Count was started as a way to replace a hunting tradition with one having important conservation ramifications. In the late 1800s, there was a Christmas tradition of a “Side Hunt” where “sides” where chosen and hunting of any feathered or furred creature was the sport of the day. The “side’ with the largest pile of animals and birds killed won the event. To counter this slaughter of animals, ornithologist and one of the organizers of the fledgling Audubon Society, Frank Chapman, organized the first Christmas day bird count December 25, 1900. This new tradition, the “Christmas Bird Census, would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them. It all started with 27 birders who were willing to count these wild birds from Toronto, Canada to California. That first count included about 90 species of birds.

Each November, birders interesting in participating in the Christmas Bird Count or CBC can sign up and join in through the Audubon website. From December 14 through January 5 each year, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas brave snow, wind, or rain to take part in the effort to count our native wild birds. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations — and to help guide conservation action.

The data collected by observers over the past century have allowed Audubon researchers, conservation biologists, wildlife agencies and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys, such as the Breeding Bird Survey, it provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years.

The Audubon Society has been instrumental in understanding and assessing the impact of the climate and man on the wild bird populations. The data derived from the Christmas Bird Count have been shown to be an important conservation piece in the following ways:

• Audubon’s 2014 Climate Change Report is a comprehensive, first-of-its kind study that predicts how climate change could affect the ranges of 588 North American birds. Of the 588 North American bird species Audubon studied, more than half are likely to be in trouble. Our models indicate that 314 species will lose more than 50 percent of their current climatic range by 2080.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has included Audubon’s climate change work from CBC data as one of 26 indicators of climate change in their 2012 report.
• In 2009 CBC data were instrumental in the collaborative report by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — State of the Birds 2009.
• In 2007, CBC data were instrumental in the development of Audubon’s Common Birds in Decline Report, which revealed that some of America’s most beloved and familiar birds have taken a nosedive over the past forty years:  http//birds.audubon.org/sites/default/files/documents/report_0.pdf

All Christmas Bird Counts are conducted between December 14 to January 5, inclusive dates, for each season. Even though we are indoor birders with our parrots, you might also want to participate and learn more about those outside birds. There is a specific methodology to the CBC, and all participants must make arrangements to participate in advance with the circle compiler within an established circle, but anyone can participate.

Each count takes place in an established 15-mile wide diameter circle, and is organized by a count compiler. Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It’s not just a species tally — all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day.

If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. I have participated and enjoy watching and learning more about those outside birds. I marvel at their ability to make it through the bad weather.

A Helping Hand

When the days grow short, the winds kick up and the temperatures plummet, the resident birds need more shelter from those winds as well as some energy-dense foods. These birds switch from a summer diet of insects to a winter diet of fruits and seeds. High-energy seeds are most important to give them the energy they need to stay alive. The type of seeds vary based on the species of birds.

The Cornell University Ornithology laboratory has investigated the preferences and needs of a number of the common species of wild birds. If you are only able to feed one type of seed, the one that will work the best for the common species is black oil sunflower seeds. Cornell suggests that you might want to try to mix your own blend to increase the number of species of birds. Their suggestion is a simple large barrel recipe: take one bag of 25 pounds of black oil sunflower seeds, add one bag of 10 pounds of white proso millet, and finally add one bag of 10 pounds of cracked corn. Mix together, then cover. Your container should be a tight fitting metal container to keep out unwanted critters! Make sure that you feed the birds daily. Because these feathered friends depend on your food source, you may need to give additional feedings if snow storms cover the food or the weather becomes extremely cold.

Another food source that is often used for woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches is suet or beef fat that can be placed in onion skin bags from your local butcher. These bags can be hung from tree branches in a wind-free or protected area. Peanut butter can also be used and put on pine cones to hang. These high-fat foods are very important for these species.

So this Christmas, you can go out and help our wild birds — helping to count them and learn more about their behaviors and feed them throughout the winter. It’s for the birds, you know!

I love Thanksgiving for many reasons! One in particular is that it is the only “bird” holiday. Turkeys are fascinating birds and deserve a better rap than being called a “turkey.” How much do you know about these large birds that grace our tables on Thanksgiving? Here are some facts that you may or may not know!

• In the early 1500s, European explorers brought back to their homes wild turkeys from Mexico, where native people had domesticated the birds centuries earlier. Turkeys quickly became popular on European menus thanks to their large size and rich taste from their diet of wild nuts. Later, when English colonists settled on the Atlantic Coast, they brought domesticated turkeys with them.
• Wild turkeys from the Americas have had a difficult time through our country’s history. While native to the Americas, they were hunted there nearly to extinction. As their numbers dwindled through the early twentieth century, people began to look for ways to reintroduce this valuable game bird. Initially they tried releasing farm turkeys into the wild but those birds didn’t survive. In the 1940s, people began catching turkeys from the wild and transporting them to other areas for relocation. Such transplantations allowed wild turkeys to spread to all of the lower 48 states (plus Hawaii) and parts of southern Canada. This has allowed them to flourish where once they were scarce – a true American success story!
• There are a number of subspecies of wild turkeys and some of these birds will have whiter feathers or lighter colored feathers on them. This trait was encouraged in domesticated turkeys, as the down feathers close to the skin were not so noticeable when the bird was prepared for cooking. Consumers preferred the lighter down to the usual dark down.

Here is some interesting information from The Ornithology lab at Cornell University concerning wild turkeys. For example, wild turkeys live year-round in open forests with interspersed clearings in 49 states (excluding Alaska), parts of Mexico, and parts of southern Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, Canada. Turkeys in northeastern North America use mature oak-hickory forests and humid forests of red oak, beech, cherry, and white ash. In the Southeast, turkeys live in forests containing pine, magnolia, beech, live oak, pecan, American elm, cedar elm, cottonwood, hickory, bald cypress, tupelo, sweetgum, or water ash, with understories of sourwood, huckleberry, blueberry, mountain laurel, greenbrier, rose, wisteria, buttonbush, or Carolina willow. Southwestern birds are often found in open grassy savannah with small oak species.

Wild turkeys eat plant matter that they forage for in flocks, mostly on the ground but sometimes climbing into shrubs or low trees for fruits. In fall, winter, and early spring they scratch the forest floor for acorns from red oak, white oak, chestnut oak, and black oak, along with American beech nuts, pecans, hickory nuts, wild black cherries, white ash seeds, and other seeds and berries. When deep snow covers the ground, they eat hemlock buds, evergreen ferns, spore-covered fronds of sensitive ferns, club mosses, and burdock. During the spring, they may dig up plant bulbs if nuts are scarce. In late spring and summer, Wild turkeys strip seeds from sedges and grasses, occasionally supplementing their plant diet with salamanders, snails, ground beetles, and other insects. Like most birds, they swallow grit to help digest their food.

But on my farm, these magnificent birds will come to my bird feeders and they like the cracked corn and wild birdseeds, particularly black oil sunflower seeds. Other folks that have bird feeders attest that they do the same thing. Those birds have adapted to being around humans, which can sometimes allow you to visualize them for periods of time. Most wild turkeys are secretive and appear to come from nowhere and then, as soon as you see them, they disappear into thin air. They tend to be in small groups but the size of the flock varies based on the time of year and the numbers of birds in the flock.

The hens nest on the ground making them vulnerable to a variety of predators and stay there with their young until the chicks are old enough to perch. That tends to be about 10 days of age. The young chicks are mottled in color as camouflage. It astounds me how the hen starts off and keeps on walking as soon as they all hatch. These family groups often merge with others making a larger flock of hens with their chicks as a form of protection. While turkeys tend to stay on the ground for most of the day, when frightened the hens and chicks tend to fly while the males tend to run away. At dusk, all turkeys will roost in trees. It is amazing to hear the rush of their wing beats as they take off into a steep ascent to the trees. It is like a whooshing sound with a heavy flapping. And since they often do this as a flock, you can see one take off and then another and another—somewhat awkwardly finding a branch that can hold their heavy bodies. You can see them bouncing around in the trees as they sort things out for their nightly roost.

If you have a large yard near woods, you can attract wild turkeys by planting nut-bearing or berry trees. Some people attract turkeys by scattering birdseed or corn on their lawns; just beware that this can also attract unwanted visitors such as rodents or raccoons. As indicated, they tend to like black oil sunflower seeds. These will need to be placed on the ground near your feeders, as they are ground feeders.

So when you sit down to your turkey dinner, lift your glass to this magnificent bird. This bird came back from the brink of extinction and now provides us with the white-feathered stock to grace our tables and fill our stomachs on this day for giving thanks.

For many species, the threat of extinction is a real one. And for many of us, we are usually unaware of the absolute disappearance of any creature when the last animal has taken its last breath. It is when such animals and other organisms are no longer able to adapt to a continually changing environment that once allowed for their unfettered proliferation. A natural extinction rate typically allowed for the loss of one to five species a year. But with the increase of illegal poaching, and other unavoidable changes, we now see an alarming rate of extinction occurring at an unnatural rate of approximately a dozen or more organisms a day.

One of the more visible wonders of our little world is the birds that fly in its beautiful skies. With a wide range of natural habitats that include exclusivity to certain environments, our birds are also at risk of extinction. In fact, there are plenty of birds currently on the endangered list.

Recently, there was attention drawn to the plight of the Kakapo parrot, a bird found in New Zealand. This particular parrot cannot fly, but has other fascinating traits that help to maintain its uniqueness over the other parrot species. Currently, there are around 125 Kakapo parrots in existence. That’s up from a one-time low of only 50 in 1995. Their protection is highly guarded, a factor that has contributed to their rise in number.

Another encouraging sign for an endangered species is the recent sighting of a batch of thirteen Orange-Bellied Parrots, which sadly represents almost 20% of the remaining known population (approximately 65 birds in existence). They are located in Melaleuca, a remote locality near Tasmania, Australia. With their early sighting, hope is brought that the birds are beginning to increase by their breeding with favorable environmental provisions.

More recently, two rare Macaw parrots have been listed as endangered. The Great Green Macaw, a native of Central and South America, is one of the larger of the Macaw species. They are distinguished not only by their size, but also by a reddish forehead with a blue-feathered lower back. Of course, they are mostly green in color throughout. Unfortunately, their present population is estimated at around 3,000.

The other newly listed macaw is the Military Macaw. This bird is smaller than the previously mentioned Great Green Macaw, but bears a visual resemblance to it. Military Macaws also sport a reddish forehead and are also predominately green in color. A distinguishing part of their appearance is the blue “flight” feathers. Interestingly, these birds have an adorable ability to “blush” red and pink when they get excited. These birds are native to Mexico and South America. Their present population is estimated at around 13,000.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has ruled that these two Macaw species be utterly protected to avoid the all-too-real possibility of their extinction. The protection order was announced on October 2, and will take effect on November 2. The listing by the Endangered Species Program adds them to an already full exotic bird listing that includes the White Cockatoo (2014, 8,000 to 48,000 remaining), the Blue-throated Macaw (2013, 500 remaining), the Hyacinth Macaw (2013, 1500 remaining), the Philippine Cockatoo (2014, 450 to 1,245 remaining), and the Yellow-crested Cockatoo (2014, 6,000 remaining). Of course, there are more. You can read a short ESA listing.

There are several creative ways to participate in the fight to preserve some of this world’s most beautiful assets including the Great Green Macaw, the Military Macaw, and the other exotic birds listed. Even better, with the unnecessarily elevated extinction rate so prevalent, there are many well-designed programs to allow animal and bird lovers like ourselves to provide assistance. A good place to start is this official  web page from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species division.

3 Ways To Extend Your Bird’s Life Expectancy

Recent research out of the U.K. suggests that even small changes to our diets can have significant impact on our health. For example, little tweaks like eating less red meat and savory snacks like chips and eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, can reduce our odds of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and it can extend a person’s life expectancy by eight months while reducing diet-related greenhouse gas emission by 17 percent.

It goes without saying that our feathered family members also reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle — one that we, as our birds’ stewards — are tasked with providing.
Here’s a look at three simple steps that can help your bird achieve a longer life.

What Are You Really Feeding?

Many people like to think that they eat healthy, but we might be surprised by how many not-so-good foods we manage to sneak into the day … coffee with lots of cream and sugar,  vegetables smothered in butter … and have you ever taken notice of just how few potato chips constitute a single serving?! While it’s true that some people, and some birds, manage longevity even with a less-than-ideal diet, it’s not something to bank on. Moreover, while your primary care doctor touches upon the importance of a good diet (along with exercise, not smoking, alcohol in moderation, etc.), for most bird people, the No. 1 takeaway from the well-bird vet visit is that a healthy diet is the key to a long life for a pet bird. A well-balanced diet for companion birds simply cannot be stressed enough.

Going back to the “you’d be surprised by the number of bad foods we squeeze into our day,” the same goes in regard to our pet birds.

It might be more convenient to drop a scoop of seed into the bowl before rushing out the door, with the intent of offering fresh fruit/vegetables or a healthy birdie mash upon return home, only to be overwhelmed by other commitments, chores, etc. On the other hand, if you’re in the habit of sharing a bit of everything you eat with your bird, is that bit of something a chip, pizza, french fry, quesadilla, cookie, etc? Bits can add up to a full serving of high-fat, high-sugar or high-sodium not-so-goodness.

The easy tweak here is to create a basic menu and follow it. Post it on the fridge to remind yourself and, if you’re perpetually short on time, keep in mind that there are plenty of healthy foods to feed your bird that take little to no prep time. Sub-out that scoop of seed in the morning and sub-in some Nutri-Berries, which are just as easy to serve but offer balanced, non-GMO nutrition. Many parrots love carrots and you can grab a carrot weenie from the bag with no time wasted, or rinse off a leaf of romaine lettuce to wedge through the cage bars or place in your bird’s treat bowl. Create a “30 seconds or less to prep healthy food item list” and go off of that.

Give A Daily Dose Of Exercise

Birds, like us, need to get up and move each day. If you have a feathered flyer, let him or her have some flight time in a bird-proofed room. If you’ve got a walk-abouter (cockatoo anyone?!) allow for some supervised floor to explore time. Long ladders can function as your bird’s very own Stairmaster … start your bird at the bottom of the ladder and once he or she reaches the top start at the bottom again.

Wing flapping exercises also get your bird on a cardio routine: perch your bird on your hand or a hand-held perch and drop your hand down so he/she has to flap his/her wings to stay perched. (Wing flapping takes a delicate balance — don’t go so fast that your bird flies off or crashes to the ground, and don’t do so many wing-flap reps that your bird struggles to catch his/her breath!)

You can also give your bird exercise opportunities inside the cage via a swing perch, destroy toy, foot toy, etc. And some birds do like to hand wrestle, which can be a fun form of exercise … just be sure to watch out for “interaction overload,” where your bird gets so overly stimulated with play that he/she suddenly nips you.

Make Daily Social Interaction The Norm

Birds are social animals — chances are those whistles, screeches, jabberings,  etc. are attempts at communication. We humans have kept pets for eons to keep us company. Never forget why you welcomed your bird into your home — for companionship!

And never forget that your feathered companion craves the same.  Pausing to give your bird some head scratches when you walk by the cage or play gym, or having some out-of-cage time perched near you can go a long way to making your bird’s day.