Archive for the ‘Birds’ Category

I found this to be an interesting article because I was recently a witness to a robin flying into a window over and over at a client’s home not too long ago. I had never seen anything like it, the bird had caused himself actual damage, and he just kept going. I scared him off, but I’m sure he came back as soon as I left. If you have this problem, the following article is very helpful.

How To Prevent Bird Window Collisions

by Drs. Foster and Smith on April 22, 2010

Written by Beth G. who works in Drs. Foster and Smith’s Internet Creative Department.

For the last 2 Springs I have had nesting robins in my yard that like to fly into the windows. They actually make their way around the house, hitting each window in succession. I wanted to put a stop to this behavior because a) the poor robin may be hurting himself and b) the loud bangs make it hard to sleep past daybreak.

When this first happened last year, I read about hanging silhouettes of flying birds cut out of paper on the windows. I tried that and it really did the trick. Apparently, seeing something in the glass makes the birds stop attacking it. But as soon as I took the paper birds off of the windows, they began flying into them again.

Window decals that prevent bird window collisions.

This year when the robins were back at it again, I decided to try a more aesthetic alternative by buying decals that cling to your window. They come in a variety of styles. I opted for the hummingbird shapes. The birds see the decals more vividly on the outside of the window than we do inside because they reflect UV light.

So, hanging something on your windows really does help reduce bird window collisions, whether it be a homemade version or store-bought window decals. It’s a lot quieter in the mornings now and the robin isn’t using up so much energy flying into his reflection.

The Jenday Conure Parrot

Jenday Conures are beautiful birds, with yellow on their heads that turns brilliant colors of green along the body to the tip of the tail. Their underbellies are covered with crimson, while they have orange feathers on their abdomen. You can also see hues of  blue on their feathers on the bottom of their wings.

Jendays are around 10-12 inches. The males usually weigh around 4.4 ounces, while the females weigh 5 ounces on average. If cared for properly, their life expectancy is 20 years.

They are native to northeastern Brazil. In the wild, these social birds can be found living either in pairs or in small groups of 10-15 birds.

Jenday Conures are known as one of the more loving Conures. In fact, Jenday Conures are second in popularity as a companion parrot only to the Sun Conure. They are basically noisy all of the time, screeching sometimes just for the heck of it, or for attention. These birds are highly intelligent, though, and can be trained very easily if properly socialized and handled by an owner who takes the time and patience to build a strong bond of trust with their parrot.

These sweet birds are generally calm and not known to be aggressive biters, so they are considered good family birds. As with any pet, do not leave your child unattended with your bird. They are very playful, active and social and require daily exercise and playtime. While in their cages, you may see them hopping around from perch to perch, or jumping through loops. Many of these pets spend the majority of their time out of their cage, and on a perch or in a play pen of some sort. This is how they are most happy.

If you live in an apartment, or a community with shared walls, be prepared to train your Jenday not to screech, or to be kicked out of your place! You can train your bird not to screech through trick training.

These birds need large cages. If they are kept in too small of a cage, they can get very bored and this can result in screaming, aggression and possibly plucking out their own feathers. A good cage size for the Jenday is 25″ W x 25″ D x 30″ H, with metal bars spaced no more than 1/2 inch apart. Proper cage size is very important, as these guys need room to play and move around, even while in their cages.

A proper diet for the Jenday Conure is a pellet based diet with fresh fruit and veggies daily.

Here is a bird rescue and other links where you can find some wonderful birds for adoption! Please consider adoption before buying.

Feathered Friends Forever

Parrot Education Project

Our Feathered Angels

The information for this blog was gathered from Bird Tricks.com and Animal World.

“Each bird loves to hear himself sing.”- Italian Proverb

A couple of weeks ago, I attended my Georgia Network of Professional Pet Sitters monthly meeting, where Beth Fasnacht of Pet Watch, Inc. gave us an excellent presentation on disaster emergency preparation. Here is a little more of what I learned.

Caring For Birds in an Emergency

Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier. In cold weather, wrap a blanket over the carrier and warm up the car before placing the birds inside. During warm weather, carry a plant mister to mist the bird’s feathers periodically. Do not put water inside the carrier during transport.

• Provide a few slices of fresh fruits and vegetables with high water content
• Have a photo for identification and leg bands
• If the carrier does not have a perch, line it with paper towels and change them frequently
• Try to keep the carrier in a quiet area. Do not let the birds out of the cage or carrier during an emergency
• When transporting house lizards, follow the same directions as for birds

What About Other Pets?

Reptiles

Snakes can be transported in a pillowcase, but they must be transferred to more secure housing when they reach the evacuation site.

If the snake requires frequent feedings, carry food with you.

Take a water bowl large enough for soaking as well as a heating pad.

Pocket Pets

Small mammals (hamsters, gerbils, etc.) should be transported in secure carriers suitable for maintaining the animals while at the shelter. Take bedding materials, food bowls, and water bottles.

Life is life–whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man’s own advantage.
– Sri Aurobindo

This is a fantastic article from www.all-creatures.org

EXCELLENT GUIDELINES to SPOT and PREVENT ANIMAL CRUELTY!

1. Be aware. Without phone calls from the concerned citizens who report cruelty in their neighborhoods, we wouldn’t know about most instances of animal abuse. It all comes from the public, it all starts with YOU–that’s why it’s so important to keep your eyes and ears open. Get to know and look out for the animals in your neighborhood. By being aware, you’re more likely to notice, for example, that the dog next door who was once hefty has lost weight rapidly–a possible indicator of abuse.

2. Learn to recognize animal cruelty. Here are some signs and symptoms that we see in many of the cases we investigate:

· Tick or flea infestations. Such a condition, if left untreated by a veterinarian, can lead to an animal’s death.

· Wounds on the body.

· Patches of missing hair.

· Extremely thin, starving animals.

· Limping.

· An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal.

· Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food and water, often chained up in a yard.

· Dogs who have been hit by cars–or are showing any of the signs listed above–and have not been taken to a veterinarian.

· Dogs who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions.

· Animals who cower in fear or act aggressively when approached by their owners.

 

3. Know who to call to report animal cruelty. We’re lucky here at the ASPCA in New York City, because we have Humane Law Enforcement officers who have the power to investigate and arrest perpetrators of animal cruelty in the state of New York. But every state and even every town is different. In some areas, you may have to rely on the police department to investigate animal cruelty; in others, you may have to contact your local animal control or another municipal agency. If you aren’t sure where to report cruelty, you can search our Humane Law Enforcement directory online or ask your local humane organization.

4. Provide as much as information as possible when reporting animal cruelty. The details that you provide can go a long way toward assisting the investigating officer. It helps to write down the type of cruelty that you witnessed, who was involved, the date of the incident and where it took place.

5. Call or write your local law enforcement department and let them know that investigating animal cruelty should be a priority. Animal cruelty is a CRIME–and the police MUST investigate these crimes.

6. Know your state’s animal cruelty laws. They vary from state to state, and even from city to city. You can visit the ASPCA’s website and get a wallet-sized printout with outlines of the animal welfare laws in all 50 states.

7. You can fight for the passage of strong anti-cruelty laws on federal, state and local levels by joining the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade.  It’s frustrating when I have built a strong case against someone who has been arrested for cruelty to animals and the judge treats it like a simple violation. But with stronger laws, they’ll be more likely to receive tougher penalties. You’ll receive e-mails asking you to write letters encouraging your legislators to pass these laws–and you can send them directly from our website.

8. Set a good example for others. If you have pets, be sure to always show them the love and good care that they deserve. But it’s more than just food, water, and adequate shelter. If you think your animal is sick, bring him to the veterinarian. Be responsible and have your animals spayed or neutered. And I always give my own pets lots of hugs when I get home!

9. Talk to your kids about how to treat animals with kindness and respect. I regularly see children in homes where animal abuse has been reported. If a parent isn’t treating the family’s pets right, I tell kids that their dog or cat would really appreciate fresh water every day, or if they spent some time playing with them. If the animal has been left outside without shelter, I’ll say, ‘You have a nice house, and if you get cold, you can put a coat on. But your dog can’t do that. Don’t you think he’d like a nice warm place to go, too?’ I know of families who watch Animal Precinct together, and I think it can help children realize that animals are living creatures who have the ability to feel pain, joy and sadness. You can see these emotions on the faces of the animals on the show.

10. Support your local shelter or animal rescue organization. Before I even knew that police for animals existed, I was volunteering at an animal shelter. It’s a great way to make a difference. Some of our ASPCA volunteers foster animals who have been abused in their former homes, giving these dogs and cats the chance they deserve to have a good life. You can find a list of shelters and rescue groups in your area with our National Shelter Directory.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” -Mahatma Gandhi