Bird Basics: Finches

If you love birds but don’t have much time for a pet, or prefer to watch birds over handling them, then finches are the perfect bird for you. They’re not too affectionate and don’t like being handled very much, so they’re the perfect pet for an observer. First a note: as with all birds, it’s best to purchase your bird from a reputable breeder. Before bringing one home, make sure you’ve located a vet in your area that can treat your bird. It’s important that you get more than one finch, as they are social birds and will need the … Continue reading →

Bird Basics: Doves

We often associate doves with magic tricks or elaborate wedding ceremonies, but few realize that doves can make lovely pet birds as well (and that they also come in more colors than white). They’re a good pet bird for a first time owner or one with children, because they are very gentle; they do not tend to bite or scratch. As with any variety of bird you must research the specific breed that you want, because precisely what you need to care for it will depend on your breed. Question the breeder or your vet (because you must also find … Continue reading →

Bird Basics: Canaries

Before bringing home a canary, it’s best to first ready its cage. Get a rectangular or square cage, not a circular one. Canaries find circular cages confusing and they might make the birds anxious or neurotic. The wider the cage the better, so canaries have some room to take short little flights. If your cage is previously used, clean it completely. Replace any materials previous birds might have pecked, such as the perches and the cuttlebone/mineral block. Cuttlebones and mineral blocks can be purchased from pet stores; they provide important nutrients like calcium for the bird. Make sure the perches … Continue reading →

Bird Basics: Cockatiels

As promised, I’m reviving the Pets Blog’s series on Bird Basics. Previous bloggers have already covered lovebirds, African Gray parrots, sun conures, and parakeets, so today I’m going to look at one of the other most popular bird breeds: cockatiels. Originally from the Australian Outback, the cockatiel is a smaller bird reaching about 12 to 14 inches in length. It’s actually in the parrot family, though it’s obviously a tiny variety. Cockatiels live on average for 15 to 20 years, though there have been reports of some members of the breed living for up to 30 years. As with most … Continue reading →

Lost Parrot Talks His Way Home

When I was a little kid, my parents made a game out of teaching me my home address and phone number. We turned it into a little song — to this day, I could still sing you my address and phone number! I didn’t know it at the time, but this is important info for a little kid to know. For most pets, ID tags do the talking when it comes to name and home address. In fact, wearing tags is the number one way to make sure a lost pet is reunited with its family! Unless you’re Yosuke the … Continue reading →

Attracting Birds to Your Yard

It doesn’t take a ton of effort to attract feathered visitors to your yard or patio. All you need to offer is food, water, and shelter. Providing food for your visiting birds doesn’t have to mean a bird feeder and a constant supply of seed. Flowering and fruit-bearing plants provide sustenance, as do plants that attract insects. Bugs are a good source of protein! When it comes to water, a traditional birdbath isn’t necessary, but can be an attractive addition to your outdoor space. A shallow dish filled with water (like a large plant saucer or even a snow disc) … Continue reading →

Too Many Dead Baby Birds

I was out walking my two dogs this afternoon… and saw a weird lump on the sidewalk. As we got closer, my eyes and brain puzzled the lump into a shape. It was a dead baby bird. A few feet away, there was another sad little lump that turned out to be a baby bird. I looked in the landscaping nearby to see if I could find a nest, but I couldn’t. But we do have a LOT of cats roaming around the complex, both indoor/outdoor cats and feral cats. I fear that the baby birds (and the entire nest) … Continue reading →

What Were Those Eagles Thinking?

Yesterday on my way to the grocery store I was listening to the radio. As I pulled into the parking lot the announcer was getting ready to talk about news stories. “In Alaska, nearly two dozen bald eagles are dead after an unfortunate encounter with a truck.” Say what? Instead of shutting off the engine and going inside as planned, I hung around to hear why so many of these once endangered species had died at once. Them Crazy Birds Turns out they were responsible for their own demise. The temptation? A truck full of fish waste outside of a … Continue reading →

Birds on the Brain: International Migratory Bird Day 2007

Tomorrow, May 12, is International Migratory Bird Day. The Environment for the Americas was born out of the success of the day and now has a website that promotes their cause year round. Each year they have a theme, and this year it’s “Birds in a Changing Climate.” The purpose of this year’s celebration is to raise awareness of how sensitive birds are to environmental changes. When we cut down forests, we cut down their homes. When we use pesticides to keep bugs at bay, we contaminate and/or kill a potential food source for birds. When we pollute the water, … Continue reading →

Birds: No Cages Required

When I was growing up, my family was very active and outdoor-oriented. They loved hiking in the mountains, visiting zoos, or trekking through state parks. My mom and grandma in particular, but even my sister, would often comment on birds we’d come across in the wild. I remember on more than one occasion pulling off to the side of the road so they could jump out and get a better gander at whatever large bird they may have spotted. (Usually falcons and hawks, but I do recall a buzzard or two causing a stir, I believe because they first mistook … Continue reading →