Tagged birds: What can I do if I see one?

Hey bird lovers. 

Did you know that if you see a tagged bird you can report it to the research community?

Here is the link.  Check it out.
   http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/welcome/royal_botanic_garden/gardens_and_domain/wildlife/Bird_research

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The friend named Precious

Precious want a cracker

Parrot has fondness for disc golf, hot peppers

By C. Richard Cotton

Published: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 4:53 PM CST

There aren’t many places Mark Harsin goes without his Precious. His job at Cooper Tire & Rubber might be the one place he doesn’t take the 3-year-old Sunday Conure parrot, a hybrid between a Sun Conure and a Jade Conure.

Sporting bright reds, greens and yellows, the bird is hard to miss perched on Harsin’s shoulder. The pair have been spotted at local festivals, around town, at restaurants and even on the Veterans Park disc golf course.

During a recent round with friends, Precious (who is a male but thought to be a female when first acquired, hence the name) rode on Harsin’s disc-carrying bag the whole 18 holes. His wings are clipped so he doesn’t fly but, even if they weren’t, an observer might wonder if the parrot would wing his way from his beloved owner.

“He was handfed,” said the 55-year-old Harsin. “That’s why he is like he is.”

Continue reading the full article here:

Can you hear it?

Can you hear it?

So, you recently purchased a companion bird from a pet shop or breeder.  How exciting!  You bring the little bundle of feathers home and the journey begins!

But wait...

Have you noticed?

Now that your spending time with another species your beginning to become a part of the flock. The once foreign sounds of birds chirping or singing are beginning to mean something to you.

KNOW YOUR LUCK.

Now, when you walk to work or take a trip down the shops you have a symphony at your eartips that is FREE and IN HARMONY with NATURE.

KNOW YOUR  LUCK.

Many people take the same walk you do every day and do not notice this audio heaven at their ear tips.

YOU DO.

No only do you hear the birds, you now relate to a possibly previously unnoticed species.

STOP AND LISTEN

At any moment there is a conversation occurring that you are now apart of.

Amazing huh.

PHOTO Sun Conure meets a wild Rainbow Lorikeet

 

With a little help from friends, why social media and parrots mix.

Blog #5

I asked an online Sun Conure community if it is normal for a Sun Conure to slowly scratch the underside of its neck while leaning on one foot.

It turns out that this behaviour is very normal.  And not just for Suns but all parrots.

Here are some of the comments from the on-line community with names removed.

• Completely normal. All birds do it, some more than others.

  
  
•  it ok...he's not "holding is throat"... if he's kinda scratching around  its a "birds way" of saying this: mommy, (or daddy)im so pitiful I have to scratch my head and neck all by myself.....in other words.. he IS asking for you to pet him!!! OR  he's just resting a foot.. lol either way, its an invite to YOU  PS and yes my Conure does this.. then he gets attention.. and starts to purr..
  

  
  
• My macaw does this all the time. Even if she is on my shoulder getting loving.
  

  
  
• It could also be a sign of a sinus issue. [ED - as revealed later in this discussion, if your parrot has a discharge and/or balance problems while doing this then seek professional advice right away]

  
  
• My local parrot store owner equates this pose as "scratching their chin in deep thought"

  
  

Here is the community:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/Conureownersunite/

Here is another recommended Sun Conure Community on Facebook.

By joining these or a similar on-line communities you open the door to almost instant access to experts and seasoned parrot owners.  As any bird owner will tell you, birds are very different to humans and not 'understood' like cats and dogs yet, these are basically wild animals we are dealing with, and advice from the community is essential to figuring out our fluffy companions.

Join the Google+ Flapout here.

Birds and Bathrooms - be very careful.

Warning #1

NEVER leave your bathroom door open.

There are many 'toxic' substances and hidden risks in your bathroom.

Here are a few to consider:

1. Drowning in your toilet.  This is rare but does happen.  If your parrot is thirsty enough (this should not be possible but happens) it will try to drink from your toilet water and if left long enough will eventually tire and drown.
2. Toothpaste.  This is the biggest danger in your bathroom.  1 Fluoride is extremely toxic to birds.  2. Roll up toothpastes containers can contain Zinc, also toxic.
3. Soaps and other toiletry products.  Your parrot will eat these without hesitation, it does not expect to find toxic substances in the nest and has no idea it can be killed eating hair dye for example.
4. Moulds, cleaning chemicals, candles, the list is large.
5. Heavy metals and chrome from old shower heads and taps.

So, can we never take our parrots into the bathroom?

Not at all.  Go for it, just be sure to supervise the whole time.   Be careful not to let your shower screen fog up only to find your parrot is dining on toothpaste!  Also never let your parrot in your bathroom whilst using or soon after using an aerosol.  Ladies, as much as your parrot is stuck to your shoulder, it must un-stick while your using hair spray, and gents, shaving is a no go with your buddy, even dry shaving with an electric shaver can send Teflon, titanium etc raining down like snow flakes.

Real important tips to remember;

• No aerosols ever! (click to read what they can do to your bird.
• Keep the bathroom door closed when your not in there.
• Change to a non fluoride brand of tooth paste for just in case you leave the door open, do not risk your bird dying for something so simple. 

Please share this to warn all bird owners.

Why does my parrot destroy the neck of my Tshirt?

 Blog #3

 Why does my Sun Conure destroy the neck of my T shirt?

Backgound: Your Sun Conure, or any parrot for that matter, is constantly biting at the neck of you T shirt.  This is resulting in the destruction of your clothes and the occasional accidental bite to the flesh!

Why is my parrot doing this?

Your parrot loves you. He thinks of you as a member of his flock. In the wild birds of the same flock help the others to groom their feathers, keeping them clean, fluffy and bright. If a birds feathers get so dirty that they are matted, he is probably sick, and is definitely going to be in serious trouble!


Your little parrot looks at your clothes, and cannot see any fluffiness or individual feathers .  You must be Sick!  So your little friend tries to clean your "feathers" so that they are not "Matted together!"

Of course we know that your shirt is supposed to be a solid mat, but the poor little parrot does not understand, and is doing his best to help you!

Does this happen to you?  Have you found a way to manage this behavior and hence save your T shirts?

Share your experiences by commenting below. 

Join the Google+ Flapout.

When not to run to your parrots rescue.

Blog #2

What NOT to do if your parrot is on a window and starts screaming loudly?

Scenario Background:  Your Sun Conure, for example, is in the kitchen on a window sill staring out into the street, watching and listening, and probably dreaming of freedom, when suddenly it starts screaming loudly (in an alarmed manner)...

You run to your parrots rescue and find him stiff and staring out the window.  He has likely spotted a large bird (perhaps a crow), or maybe an aeroplane, it does not matter really.  You reach to get him to step up only to get a hard and seemingly aggressive bite.  

What did you do wrong?

You put yourself in danger.  Your companion bird spotted a threat and you ran straight towards it. You arrived and did not detect the threat yourself as your a human and not scared of planes or crows (your bird does not know this of course).  Shocked and further alarmed your parrot bit you in order to scare you back and away from the threat!

I write this as a warning, because 10 minutes ago I copped a hard bite to the eye lid whilst peering out to see what had alarmed my Sun Conure.  

[this is one theory :]  There are many, like 'displaced aggression' for eg.   

What do you think?  

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Thanks for reading, and remember that liking or sharing helps our community grow. :)

And checkout the Google+ Flapout :)

Is your parrot being 'Aggressive', or just displaying 'normal behaviour'? Depends on your perspective.

Blog #1

Bird are birds, we are humans.

Yet strangely both often forget this important difference.

Background:  'Conrad', as seen below, is a 2 year 4 month old free range (free to fly around his owners house as he wishes) yet captive (not free to fly outside) Sun Parakeet , he is playful and protective like most Sun Parakeets.  

Conrad seen here moments after landing on his owners dinner plate...

If we study his behaviour now, from a human perspective Conrad is seen to be 'aggressive'. Efforts to get him off the plate are met with bites and squawks. Conrad, being a bird, does not recognise ownership of food.  It is not 'our' plate, it is just food that he has spotted unattended and now he is just having a snack.

From Conrad's perspective, we humans are just funny looking big birds, when we come in with our big hands to claim food that Conrad has already found unattended, it is we humans who are being the aggressors.

Join the Google+ Flapout and share your thoughts about this opinion piece.

Birds of Parramatta (A photo diary)

Sun Conure in Motion (aka Sun Parakeet) - Conrad

Wild Rainbow Lorikeet visits.

This is a wild friendly Rainbow Lorikeet - is this normal for this species?

Sun Parakeet Documentary

Sun Parakeet - Guyana

To skip to the main Sun Parakeet part of the documentary go here:  http://youtu.be/QxsTCiv5L1w?t=12m50s 
Or watch the full documentary below.

The very first episode of BATV takes us in quest of the Sun Parakeet. http://www.facebook.com/birdingadvent...

Learn about BATV's birding destinations, watch the latest Birding Adventures shows and catch our quest for each week's Golden Bird. All BATV shows are available NOW online. 
http://www.birdingadventures.com/batv_destinations.php

Join the Google+ Flapout here!

Anatomy of a Parrot Owner!

Join the Google+ Flapout here!