Old Magazine

We have all wondered which foods contain the most nutrition for our birds. Many of us also want to know what nutritional differences exist if foods are served raw, fresh, cooked, sprouted, dry roasted or oil roasted. This is the second in a series of articles which will address these questions. The first article covered seed … Read more

Megabacteria, as the name implies, are very large rod shaped organisms. Although initially considered to be a type of bacteria, newly emerging evidence suggests it is really a fungus. Megabacteria have been identified in many species of birds among which include budgies, finches, canaries, lovebirds, cockatiels, rosellas, cockatoos, mynahs, certain parrot species and waterfowl. It … Read more

Awwww, a baby parrot. Such sweet treasures to love and cuddle. In addition to the joy they bring us, it is our responsibility to teach them things that will help them integrate into our homes safely and happily.To begin this integration process, you need some special items for that baby parrot. My task was to … Read more

The delightful Goffin’s Cockatoo (Cacatua goffini) is one of the gems of the avian world. While not quite as popular in the pet trade as their larger cousin, the Umbrella Cockatoo, these adorable, energetic birds have much to offer.Goffins are one of the smaller members of the cockatoo family, averaging around 12″-13″ in length and … Read more

As an exotic bird trainer, I use different tools to help keep training easy and fun for the birds and myself. One of the most basic tools is “the target” which is an object we teach the bird to touch. Once he learns to touch it, we then use the target to lead or direct … Read more

Song is used by passerines (songbirds) to attract mates and to maintain breeding territories in the spring and early summer, however, many songbirds also sing in the autumn. If these birds aren’t breeding in the autumn, then why are they singing? There are at least three physiological mechanisms that apparently underlie autumnal singing in temperate-zone … Read more

This is the third in a series of articles concerning the diseases and disorders which can affect birds skin and feathers. Part III covers Constricted Toe Syndrome, Dry Gangrene of the extremities, Lipomas and Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD). Feather cysts, baldness, brown hypertrophy of the cere, polyfollicles, and knemidokoptes mites were discussed in a … Read more

We have all wondered which foods contain the most nutrition for our birds. Many of us also want to know what nutritional differences exist if foods are served raw, fresh, cooked, sprouted, dry roasted or oil roasted. This is the first of a series of articles which will address these questions.We are beginning with Seeds … Read more

“About a month ago, while Jade (a Blue-Crowned Conure) and I were home alone, the song Brown-Eyed Girl came on the radio and I sang it to him, changing it to ‘Brown-Eyed Bird,’ of course! We danced around the house and were generally silly. He squawked in time to the music and had a ball. Well, I … Read more