Magpies 'recognise mirror image'

The Press Association -
Budgerigars and parrots are well known to react to mirrors. But their behaviour suggests they do not understand it is their own reflection in the glass. ...

Wolf whistling parrots attract attention

Moose Jaw Times-Herald - Moose Jaw,Saskatchewan,Canada
It may come as a surprise to some that the source of the appreciative sound is a pair of African Grey Parrots perched in a cage outside the 306 Hip Hop ...

PARROT WATCHING TRIP TO PERU

With opportunities to see 7 species of Macaw and 24 different parrot species amongst the overwhelming abundance of wildlife in one of the largest National Parks in the world. We will visit the clay licks in these areas to see parrots ...

Parrot has something to say

Lynchburg News and Advance - Lynchburg,VA,USA
Simon is a Quaker Parrot or Monk Parakeet. He’s the chubby green bundle of feathers, noise and sheer energy that I have shared a life with since January ...

        

A recent article in about.birds.comstated that cement perches were bad for birds.

To say cement perchesare not safe for your birds is not entirely accurate. Cement perches have their place. We're not a big fan of cement perches, we prefer Sandyperch brand abrasive perches because of their Manzanita core. The problem with cement perches is that most people use them improperly.

Many bird owners have told us they use abrasive perches up high in the cage and the cement perch eventually becomes a sleeping perch. If the bird spends a lot of time on a cement perch or worse yet sleeps on the perch, yes foot problems will probably manifest themselves in that application.

We suggest placing an abrasive perch- yes even cement - on the INSIDE of the cage door. when you open the door, the bird is excited because they are about to get out of the cage. Typically they will do a little dance until you come and get them. While they're doing this little dance, they are trimming their nails. If you have  a wood dowel and/or Manzanita perchand a rope perch for sleeping, up high in the cage, your bird will not spend a lot of time on the cement perch. Just make sure the diameter of the perch is large enough to the birds toes don't touch each other and the nails come in contact with the abrasive surface.

        

Hello-

Im concerned about your posted info on restoring cages... according to 2 well-respected avian vet specialists in my area,it is NOT safe to use any type of store-bought paint on a parrot cage-powdercoated is the only acceptable method. These vets have no reason to push powdercoat other than genuine care about bird safety.

my sources: Dr Fern Van Sant,DVM-she has published articles on zinc toxicity and other topics-owns avian practice in San Jose,CA  Dr Michael Murphy,DVM-head vet at a specialist practice in Monterey,CA

Just wanted to let you know.                              -Sue and birds Bodhi & Chipper


Hi Sue

Thank you for contacting us

We appreciate the feedback. Prevue Pet the worlds largest manufacturer of bird cages PAINTS many models right here in Chicago and has assay results on file as to their safety. They (Prevue) are the only company to include touch up PAINT in all their wrought iron bird cages. Because they supply these bird cages to the big box stores like Petco, Petsmart and so forth, their potential liability is so great, they must be certain the bird cages are safe.
 
Most people do not understand powder coating. Unless the metal (substrate) is prepared properly, the powder coat will not adhere well. As a former partner in a small powder coating facility (Shelf-Kote, Barrington Illinois) and having sold thousands of cages, I can say with certainty a bad powder coat  job is far more hazardous to birds because of the potential for flaking off an ill prepared substrate. UNLESS YOU KNOW WHERE THAT CAGE CAME FROM YOU WON'T KNOW THE POWDER COATING IS BAD until your bird starts dropping chips on the bottom of their cage (or they get caught in their digestive system)

There are differences between Thermoplastic powders that will remelt when heated, and Thermosetting powders that will not remelt upon reheating. Some powder coat companies recycle the powder coat - great for out door furniture - bad for birds. Further, a powder coat job over metal with too much zinc or rust will not protect the bird. There are factories in China with leaky roofs that produce thousands of bird cages that have been powder coated over rust and are sold here in the US

So to say powder coat is the ONLY way to coat a bird cage is actually not correct. If you look at the cheap bird cages on Ebay, with no brand names they may look just like the ones we sell from HQ, AE & Prevue. I would not trust them to place a rescued street pigeon in, in spite of the fact they have been powdercoated.

Click here to learn more about bird and parrot cages

Mitch Rezman
General Manager
WindyCityParrot.com
4726 W. Walton
Chicago, Illinois 60651
312.492.9673 ext 104
312.492.9674 Fax
877.287.0810 Toll Free
 

        

Between climbing, grabbing, scratching and chewing, your bird can wear the finish over time. Chips from old powder coat may not break up and may cause intestinal blockages.

Preparation

• Use a wire brush to remove any loose finishing
• Sand all the metal by hand

The paint you choose

• Should not contain lead, zinc or chromate
• Is "high adhesion", formulated to bond with the metal surface
• Is hard-wearing
• Is fast drying
• Many brands will have a picture of a baby crib or a mother holding a child - look for indicators such as these

Before you paint

• Remove the bird(s) to a different room
• The room you paint in should be well-ventilated
• Thin coats are best
• Use a backdrop like a large sheet of cardboard behind the cage to catch excess paint

When you're done

• Wait at least a week
• Don't cover a freshly painted cage with the bird in it
• If your bird seems to be wearing out the paint on the bird cage

Make sure there are lots of interesting perches to climb on
Every parrot cage (for hookbill birds) should have at least 3 textures of  bird perches - soft wood, hardwood & rope (or fabric)

Birds love to climb, and paint damage often occurs from birds' gripping the cage with their beak and nails to assist them in climbing up the cage. Aviculturists have reported that, by wiring (We use cable ties) perches or appropriately-sized tree branches onto the inner sides of the bird cages, the birds will be encouraged to climb from place to place by gripping these with their beaks, so that they do not even touch the wire bars when climbing.

Save $50 - Any Cage Over $250 Coupon Code - 50OFFCAGE - Thru 09/01/2008

Click to save and learn more about bird cages at WindyCityParrot.com

        

Killer parrot virus related to horse disease
Horsetalk - Canterbury,New Zealand
University researchers have identified the cause of a killer parrot disease - a family of viruses which normally causes brain and nerve disease in horses ...

Chauvin retiree’s pet project: peddling parrots
Daily Comet - Thibodaux,LA,USA
Instead of selling homes in Chauvin, though, she now sells exotic birds, specifically eclectus parrots from the South Pacific. "They play like kids with all ...

Humans Can Eventually Become Good At Identifying Individual ...
By admin
The bird enthusiast who chronicled the adventures of a flock of red-headed conures in his book “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” knows most of the parrots by name, yet most of us would be hard pressed to tell one bird from another. ...

Photo-Essay: New Wild Baby Quaker Parrot Photos
By noreply@blogger.com (steve baldwin)
People sometimes ask me what's the best season of the year to watch wild Quaker Parrots in the Northeast USA In some respects, Fall and Winter are better for seeing the parrots, because they form larger flocks, and because they're ...

origami parrots already made
By admin
these are origami parrots already made by my friend Ali! Author: lukyluxio Source:

How to Make Birdie Pancakes for Your Parrots
A quick and easy way to serve up a delicious meal for your spoiled parrots!

        

Know What Ingredients In parrot Bird Food Are Not Good For Parrots
By Author
Before you choose a particular parrot bird food it is essential that you take a close look at its ingredients because there are a number of things that should not be found in your pet’s parrot bird food. For starters, there is need to ...
Pet Savvy - http://pets.savvy-cafe.com


Fly Me to the Zoo at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport
WTNH - New Haven,CT,USA
The show features free flight birds, like raptors and parrots and is presented by "Natural Environments." The exhibit showcases birds from around the world ...


Good Toys for Pet Parrots
Parrots need stimulation and activity to keep them both physically and emotionally healthy. Provide parrots with a variety of safe puzzles and foraging toys.

        

                  

In the world of parrot supplies, relly innovative products come slowly. If you're tired of watching your favorite parrot buddy climb the drapes? How about a suitable alternative?

Your bird can climb, (even from their bird cage) play, go in and out of the spaces and create their own games, all the while exercising their body and mind, with the grid providing secure footing.

While actively playing with toys, leaves and branches and treats that you have hung on the grid. your feathery companion will feel safe and secure. With your imagination, the applications for fun and exercise with the Star Bird Get a Gripª Net are endless.......Click for more info

        

can a rainbow lory and red winged parrots be together
Hi We have two redwinged parrots, (for about 4 months) they have this wonderful huge cage and yesterday we bought a hand reared rainbow lory. The.

Pennsic 37 episode 2: Pennsic U: Survey to Medieval Parrots
By Biya Sama
Though not subsequent podcast versions may cover the topic of toys better, this Pennsic 37 version focuses on the subject of parrot language and intelligence, comparative neurology with mammels and how it relates to flight, ...

Parrot Adoption: What You Need To Know
By admin
Two years ago, you simply could not resist those two brightly colored parrots in the pet store window. What a mistake! Now you want a new home for your parrots, and are thinking of selling them. If you place a short ad in the local ...

Is it cruel to keep budgies and parrots and other social birds on ...
By eddylancaster
Many people get certain pets unaware of their needs and wants.Its an absolute must that we all do research before getting a pet.In the case of budgies, they are very social birds,they live in huge flocks in the wild, ...

And now, the news for parrots
Eclectus parrots (Eclectus roratus solomonensis) are medium-sized parrots that are endemic to several islands in the south Pacific Ocean, including Australia. This parrot species is famous because it has such extreme sexual dichromatism ...

Endangered parrots poisoned
[Monday 4 August 2008] Seven endangered Kea have been killed by a poison used by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation to get rid of unwanted alien mammals.

35 Cape parrots counted in Limpopo
Kruger Park Times (press release) - Hoedspruit,South Africa
The Cape Parrot, Poicephalus robustus robustus, is endemic to South Africa. It only occurs in the afromontane yellowwood forests found in KwaZulu-Natal, ...

parrots
By a koala bear(a koala bear)
parrots are soooooo cooooool! i met this one.. Zoey, the other day. the owner was telling me that in the morning when she wakes up, zoey comes into her room and says good morning and has a conversation with her.... amazing.

Know What It Takes To Keep Parrots In Your Home
By Author
If you are planning on keeping parrots there are a number of things that you will need to take into consideration including things such as the pets that you already own, the amount of free space in your home, the amount of money that ...

 

        

Avian Veterinarians and Quarantine for Parrots
Adding a new parrot to a house with existing birds increases the risk of spreading avian diseases. Protect your flock with proper quarantine practices.

Rosella Research Adds Insight Into Ring Species Hypothesis
ScienceBlogs - USA
Less familiar to bird watchers who live in Europe and North America is another proposed ring species complex consisting of parrots: the Crimson rosella, ...

lost african grey parrot
Lost African Grey - July 2008 lost in the lewsey farm luton area about 26th july, charlie has been missing for about 8 days now, and we will give.

Rare St. Vincent Amazon Parrot Born At Houston Zoo
BirdChannel.com - Mission Viejo,CA,USA
By Erin O'Brien The Houston Zoo welcomed the birth of Vincent, a female St. Vincent Amazon parrot, on May 28, 2008. Vincent, named in honor of the zoo’s ...

can a rainbow lory and red winged parrots be together
Hi We have two redwinged parrots, (for about 4 months) they have this wonderful huge cage and yesterday we bought a hand reared rainbow lory. The.

New Photo-Essay: Wild Baby Quaker Parrots at Green-Wood Cemetery 2008
By steve baldwin(steve baldwin)
Each July and August, wild parrot watchers in the Northeast USA delight in the emergence of the latest and greatest crop of wild baby Quaker Parrots. At Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery, these youngsters are easily seen in the grove of

Postcard of Bathing Beauty with Parrots, Parrot Jungle, 1940s
By nobody@flickr.com (StevenM_61)
StevenM_61 posted a photo:. Postcard of Bathing Beauty with Parrots, Parrot Jungle, 1940s. Parrot Jungle also used pinup models for promotion.

Found green Quaker parrot
Found Quaker Parrot - New York City, NY - July 2008 Small quaker parrot found up in Inwood, Manhattan, nyc. He is very sweet but badly scared and it.

Mystery Parrot Disease Virus Identified
ScienceBlogs - USA
Originally, it was thought that only macaws developed this disorder, but later it was found that more than 50 species of parrots along with members of five ...

35 Cape parrots counted in Limpopo
Kruger Park Times (press release) - Hoedspruit,South Africa
The Cape Parrot, Poicephalus robustus robustus, is endemic to South Africa. It only occurs in the afromontane yellowwood forests found in KwaZulu-Natal, ...

        

UCSF researchers identify virus behind mysterious parrot disease
UCSF News Office - San Francisco,CA,USA
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have identified a virus behind the mysterious infectious disease that has been killing parrots ...

The Different Ways Parrots Play
By Jamieleigh
Cressi, my African Grey parrot, loves to flip! She will be perching on my hand or Dave’s and will suddenly just flip herself forward and hang there talking and playing! She just loves it and when she really wants to do it, ...

Parrots
Parrots in natural environment.

lost jardine parrot
Lost Jardine Parrot - Ivy Lea Ontario Provincial Park, Quebec, Canada - July 8, 2008 i lost my baby jardine parrot while on vacation at Ivy Lea.

Where And When Does A Ring Start And End? Testing The Ring Species ...
Medical News Today (press release) - UK
Some of the biggest names in 20th century evolutionary biology such as Ernst Mayr and AJ Cain considered that eastern Australian parrots of the Crimson ...

A Parrot Flock Grows in Brooklyn
BirdChannel.com - Mission Viejo,CA,USA
By Elizabeth Anderson Steve Baldwin doesn’t own a quaker parrot, but he regularly visits whole flocks of them. In fact, he’s been chronicling the wild ...

Poisoned parrots may create shift in New Zealand possum-control ...
Plenty Magazine - New York,NY,USA
New Zealand's kea parrot used to be a common sight in the island nation. But the kea is a voracious hunter, and has actually been known to prey upon sheep, ...

New Lease of Life for Parrots
Great Yarmouth Mercury - Great Yarmouth,England,UK
Parrots - famed for being dead in Monty Python's iconic sketch - are being given hope of a new life after family break-up or bereavement. ...

Cuta African grey parrots are ready to go
My room is - as far it is possible - a parrot secure room. That means no cables and no things that might hurt me or my buddy. We have got an air cleaning system (including ioniser), a humidifer and an UV lamp (as an replacement for ...

Search for stolen parrots
Hertfordshire Mercury - Hertford,Herts,UK
By Sara Black POLICE are hunting for two pet parrots stolen in a burglary in Cheshunt and want the public to help track them down. Charlie, an African Grey, ...

Whitestone Parrots Delight Bay Walkers
Queens Chronicle - Rego Park,NY,USA
by Jillian Abbott, Chronicle Reporter Walkers in Little Bay Park have been delighted by sightings of bright green parrots perched in the trees near Utopia ...