Camelot macaws

I keep in contact with people from a number of bird rescues. I am friends with some on Facebook and I make sure to keep them in my feed so that I have a daily reminder of all the homeless birds out there. I see many more coming into these facilities than I see going out.

As I scout around the internet, I am alarmed by questions such as: “I just got a sun conure. What do I feed him?” REALLY?? You brought a bird into your home without a clue what he eats?? That seems unfathomable to me.  Know that my gripe is not with the uneducated owner, but with the person selling the bird who allowed the uneducated owner to leave the premises without any knowledge of what they were doing.

I understand how this happens at pet stores. Pet stores are in the retail business, not the animal welfare business. It simply so happens that the products they are selling are alive and intelligent, and have needs. It’s about money. I doubt a shoe salesman gives a second thought as to the well-being of the sandals he sold earlier in the week. “I sure do hope she is coordinating them with her handbag!”

Military macaw

I make it a point to pull and read pet store pamphlets on bird ownership, should they supply them. In them, is information on general care and maintenance – similar to the manual for my blender. While some of them mention that if needs are not met, problem behaviors might erupt, they fail to mention WHY these behaviors exist or what to do when they happen. I don’t expect much more than this from a pet store. They are running a business, selling stuff. It’s is a deterrent to sales to warn the buyer that the product might become undesirable. Don’t buy your pets from pet stores.

I hear, however, the same questions about general care coming from people who have purchased birds from a breeder. This infuriates me. How can you let a bird that you have raised from the egg go home with someone who does not understand their dietary needs and emotional complexities.You are sending this bird off to a miserably inadequate life or an untimely death, in some cases. SHAME ON YOU.

I would make a lousy breeder, in terms of any financial success. I would be denying purchases to people left and right, if I was able to part with my babies at all. If anyone well qualified did come to me for a bird, I would probably refer a person like that to a rescue because it’s the right thing to do. I would find myself out of business quickly.

Rosebreasted cockatoo

In purchasing a rescue bird, there is a qualification process where an applicant might find themselves referred to a bird that was not their first choice. A responsible rescuer might find that the potential new owners lifestyle, home environment or an inability to give a certain level of care might not be the best for a particular bird.

For instance, someone with young children and other pets might not make the best home for a bird that is easily stressed. Nor would a rescuer place a bird with ongoing medical needs into a home where finances didn’t allow for vet care. In all cases, the responsible rescuer will not let any bird out of sight without the necessary education in bird care. Some of the bigger rescues offer classes in bird care to the public and it is a requirement that you attend one before you rehome any of their birds.

Hyacinth macaw

Is it unreasonable to expect the same from a breeder? I know most breeders can’t deliver education in a classroom setting, but there is, in every case, the opportunity for one on one training, even if it’s done over the phone. The average person does not know where to go for information on something as precise and specific as bird care. No human being should EVER be permitted to walk away with a pet bird without the following:

• A complete species specific guide about the bird they have chosen, such as typical personality traits, levels of activity, style of play, known health propensities, and inclination toward behavioral problems.
• A list of the physical needs of the bird, such as proper caging, accessories, toys, and warnings about toxins and other household dangers.
• A complete description of species specific dietary needs. When to feed, how much to feed and a complete list of safe, unsafe and unpreferred foods.
• An awareness of the extreme intelligence of birds and the responsibility to nurture that intellect with appropriate toys and interaction. It should be made clear what behavioral problems might stem from any neglect in this area.
• A description about the wild counterparts of their chosen species that includes information about their diet, habits, breeding cycles, how the flocks interact socially with an explanation of how these behaviors correlate to captive birds.They should be encouraged to continue exploring their species as new information is always surfacing.
• A guide to recognizing sign of illness in a bird.
• A list of preferred local avian vets, boarders and groomers.
• A list of internet links to reputable forums where a buyer can go for help and support with behavioral, dietary or other issues.

Budgies

This wouldn’t be too difficult for breeders to do. Most breeders specialize in just a few species of birds which would only require adapting information to each of the species. I, personally, would have buyers read this information in my presence and have them sign something stating that they read and understood the information. Pet store could and should do the same.  Don’t you agree?

Hyacinth macaws

Recently, I have been in touch with a woman from Tampa, FL who is having problems with her parrots. It has disturbed me for days that I wasn’t able to get a certain message across to her. I hope she is reading this post.

She has a greater sulphur crested cockatoo named Diamond and a green cheeked conure named Dino. Diamond, who arrived in her household about three years ago, is a rehomed bird and has become an accomplished screamer. About a year ago, she decided to get Dino figuring that he would serve as quieting entertainment for Diamond.
To her dismay, Dino now mimics Diamond’s screaming. During Diamond’s rare quiet moments, Dino would pipe up with his best impersonation. Even though Dino’s volume is much more tolerable, it would incite Diamond to join in. (I had to giggle at this because I have the same situation here. My quaker imitates my Umbrella cockatoo, who responds by imitating her. I see this as nothing more than a game shared by the two.) But, now there are two screaming birds.

Black capped caique

She wrote: “I am at the end of my rope. I have tried everything I know to stop the noise, which is maddening. I love these birds but I can’t take it anymore. Sometimes I just want to kill them!” As our conversations continued, I came to realize that her anger over the situation had clouded her thinking. She is a nice lady, but she isn’t going to be able to solve her problems until she realizes that her birds are not doing this TO HER.

I have tried to explain to her that part of her problem lies with her inability or unwillingness to NOT view the her birds as being bad. I told her that there is a reason for the incessant screaming and to eliminate it she needs to find the cause and eliminate that. I attempted to change her mind set away from: “my birds are torturing me” to “what can I do to make this better”.  I explained to her how much energy a bird uses to scream like that all day long, and that the expense of this energy MUST serve a purpose. There is something wrong in this bird’s environment.

Blue and gold macaw

I told her the story of when Linus, my umbrella cockatoo, came to live with me. Shortly after he arrived, he viciously attacked me whenever I tried to interact with him, making handling him impossible. He seemed filled with rage and he violently and repeatedly threw himself against the cage bars whenever I neared. I was certain he would eventually injure himself.
Once I brought myself around from fearing for my own safety to fearing for his well-being, both physically and emotionally, I was guided into a plan of action, which began with trust building exercises. It wasn’t until I found compassion for his plight that I was able to see through to a solution.

Swainsons toucan

Solving a problem such as this is inconvenient to be sure. It requires a lot of time, effort and patience. I tried to explain to her that she has to let go of her anger in order to see the problem exactly as it is: a cry for help from the parrot. I tried to explain to her that her bird’s wild cousins, when faced with a dilemma, are free to find a solution as they see fit. They have the advantage of looking to an experienced flockmate for guidance. They are quite capable of  managing their own lives. Our companion parrots, locked in their cages in an unnatural environment, look to us for that guidance when a problem arises, whether it be internal or external, and they struggle to communicate their needs to us.

I don’t feel she understood, so I hope that other people are hearing this message. I know that many of the readers of this blog feel privileged to be able to spend their lives with these exciting creatures. I can only hope that we will all continue to strive towards a future where education and understanding rule the way we coexist with them.

Blue throated macaw, camelot macaw and rosebreasted cockatoo

Parrots have taught me to be tolerant of ALL things and people. When you find you have the capacity to love, truly love, that which is entirely unlike yourself, to not judge them for their nature, and to be compassionate with their struggle to co-mingle, the life lesson is staggering. You will have no choice but apply it to every aspect of your life and to pass this message along to your children, who will then pass it along to theirs.  Our parrots, and all animals, can guide us to being better human beings – not only where they are concerned, but with everyone and everything around us.

Hyacinth macaw

I grew up in the era where children were supposed to be “seen and not heard”. Fortunately, my parents did not subscribe to this philosophy. There were six kids in my family, however, and sometimes playtime would escalate to nearly intolerable levels. At these times, we were asked to take our racket outdoors. We were all fine with that, though. We would hurl snowballs at one another, and there were trees that needed climbing. Most importantly, we could be as loud as we wanted.

The term screaming, with relation to our parrots, is misused. There is screaming, and then there is screaming. The volume that these small creatures can produce is mind boggling. I suspect many of you understand what I am saying. However, we need to differentiate that which is screaming and those vocalizations which are normal and to be expected, as loud as they might get. True screaming must be observed as an undesirable behavior that is utilized for purposes of want.

Camelot macaw

I remember a time a few years ago when Linus, my umbrella cockatoo, was badly frightened by a hawk that suddenly appeared outside the window near his cage. I tried to console him by tucking his head into my neck where he feels safe and comforted. Unfortunately, my neck is located just slightly south of my ear, which rang for weeks afterward.

Was this screaming? Undoubtedly and impressively so. But, it was a response to a fearful situation and could never be regarded as an unwanted behavior, even though I sacrificed my left ear to make it stop.

Your bird’s sunup/sundown calls are another example of a din that is acceptable. It is how your bird’s wild counterparts greet the new day and call the family home to roost at day’s end.

Also to be expected are the “just thrilled to be alive” calls, the “threats” made to toys that are being conquered and destroyed, or when your bird calls out to locate flockmates (including human ones) that are out of their line of sight.

Greenwing macaw

Every time you bird issues a shrill cry does not constitute what has come to be known as a scream. Birds are vocal creatures and their vocalizations can be shockingly loud. Try to use the word screaming only in cases where your bird is using excessive vocalization to manipulate your behavior to his liking, such as demanding your attention. Such are the times when you must address your bird’s behavior. Otherwise, let your bird be who he is, and try not to cringe.  A bird that does not vocalize needs to see a vet. It is a sure sign of ill health.

Military macaw

Theo, my goffins cockatoo, is a quiet bird, as cockatoos go. This week has been rainy and quite warm for this time of year, and has brought on some fits of screaming which is typical of her during THAT time of the year.  The onset of spring hormones started last year at this same time and the weather this year has escalated this tendency in Theo.
I let her do her screaming without any response from me because I use an “ignore the bad behavior” approach with my birds, and it works well. Suddenly it occurred to me that she was quiet and had been for a while. I quickly ran downstairs to find her happily disassembling a toy. I talked enthusiastically with her for several minutes before she returned to her task. I chatted with the others for a bit before I went to the kitchen to find treats for the best birds in the world.

Blue and gold macaw

I realized that I had almost missed an opportunity to show Theo, and any others paying attention, what a desired behavior looked like. We tend to focus so much on unwanted behaviors that rewarding good behavior is something easily overlooked. When our birds are finally quiet, we often just sigh in relief and move on. If we don’t take them the time to show them what we expect from them, that which is acceptable, by way of reward, they will never know to repeat that behavior.

blue and gold macaws

I miss my birds terribly when I am away from them. Sometimes when I am at work, a coworker will see me staring off into the distance with a big smile on my face and will automatically know I am thinking about my feathered family. Sometimes all I want to do is go home and cuddle up to one of my cockatoos, arms holding him tightly against me, nose buried in soft, white feathers. But, as appealing as the thought of this is, I know it is a bad idea – and not just because my employer would object to my running off in the middle of the day.

african grey

We all know about the importance of spending quality time with our birds – about how it works out any unsettled issues of trust and how well it builds the parrot/owner bond and so much more. But there is a blurry line between an acceptable amount of physical attention and the place where a bird begins to see you as a potential love interest. We are flock members to our birds but never should be viewed as a mate, and an overly affectionate owner is presenting himself to his bird in just that way.

This will only lead to acts of aggression when your bird’s future advances are then ignored or rejected (regurgitation is one such advance). As difficult as it is to resist those liquidy eyes, our hands-on time with our birds is definitely better spent with training or play sessions than it is curled up on the couch together.
I’m sure that you’re aware that cockatoos are the cuddlers of the avian world. If you have never had the opportunity to cuddle a young cockatoo you’ve missed out on something special. It is the coolest thing about them but also the thing that lands their species in rescues more than any other bird. A cockatoo is it’s own worst enemy.

goffins cockatoo

A constantly cuddled cockatoo will grow into an overly needy and demanding adult bird who can’t get through the day without his chosen person. They often never learn to play independently because they are constantly seeking human attention. They become seriously high-maintenance birds, screaming until they get what they have grown to expect from their human flock member. This is the main reason that I don’t recommend cockatoos to those new to bird ownership. It takes experience to know when and where to draw the line, and a lot of discipline to actually do it.
Cockatoos are not the only birds at risk for the behavioral problems that come as a result of too much cuddle time. Any bird that allows or wants physical attention from their owners are in danger of following in the footsteps of their white, cresty, love-starved counterparts. By no means am I saying that you shouldn’t enjoy loving on your birds. Just be certain to keep their best interests in mind by making it the smallest part of their out of cage interaction with you.

Camelot Macaw, Blue Throated Macaw

About six years ago, I suffered the loss of my dear, wonderful cockatoo, Abu.  I was reeling for months following her unexpected death. I had considered getting another bird, but was still in that place where it hurt too much to think about it and it seemed somehow disrespectful to her memory to “replace” her so quickly.
During that period of time, my daughter and Jamie knew each other from online.  It turns out Jamie and Dave were looking for a good home for their umbrella cockatoo, and my daughter convinced them that I could provide such a home. From my end, I readied myself to take the plunge again. It was beginning to feel too quiet around the house with just the cockatiels and myself.  Enter Linus.

Umbrella Cockatoo

When Linus came to Austin to be my new roommate, I was living in a small apartment. Having had experience with cockatoos, and living with one for so long, I knew they were not good apartment birds. I was not expecting, however, that Linus would scream from morning until night for the next four months. It was not a fun time and I was longing for that too quiet house again. I can say now that Linus has turned into such an affectionate and cherished companion that it was all worth every effort, but it wasn’t easy.
I thought I would share some tips with you about how to ready yourself and the neighbors for the arrival of a potentially loud bird. No matter what species you bring home, and regardless of their level of difficulty in handling this new experience, birds make noise. Period. It’s best that everyone be prepared.
Before Linus came to Austin, I began preparing my neighbors. I spoke to everyone in the immediate area, especially those with walls connecting to my apartment. I let them know that there would be an excess of noise coming from my place for a while and implored them to be understanding. I explained how emotional and sensitive parrots were and that they needed extra care and consideration in these circumstances.  Everyone seemed to be on board.

Rose Breasted Cockatoos and African Grey

The night that Linus arrived, I took him around to meet the neighbors so they could put a cute face to the new sounds coming from my apartment. He couldn’t have been more charming and he made several new friends on his first night here. It’s a good thing I did this that very night because as of the next day it was months before Linus was handleable again. He was crazy angry about his new living arrangements – and loud.  Very loud.  And angry.  Did I say that already?
As much as Linus had endeared himself to the neighbors, I knew patience was going to run out. So I rushed to cover those bases by purchasing gift cards to the local cinemas and giving them to my neighbors as a form of bribery. I wrote a note of thanks to each of them and explained that this transition was proving to be more difficult for Linus than was anticipated. I gave them the option of seeing a movie or two on me if things got too loud.  Also, it’s hard for someone to complain once they have accepted a gift in exchange for their silence. Sneaky? Yes. Effective? Very.

Umbrella Cockatoo

After I was successful with this approach, I posted it on a number of bird boards and It was used often by readers there facing similar dilemmas.  Gratefully, every new bird you bring home isn’t going to terrorize you in the same special way Linus did me. But some birds, even the smaller ones, seem to have penetrating or shrill calls that can be annoying not only to your neighbors, but to those in your own household. Conures seem to have this knack.
There are a few things you can use to dampen the bird sounds in your home:
Fabric:  Drapery, curtains or wall tapestries can cut down on a huge amount of noise that travels inside the house or through the walls.
Carpet:  This works in the same way as fabric. Noises that would normally bounce from wall to wall, or floor to ceiling, can be disrupted and absorbed by carpet.
Furniture: The emptier a room, the noisier it is. Filling a room up with stuff will dampen sound.
Plants: I don’t have an explanation for why these work well. But they do.  I guess they qualify as stuff.
Professional soundproofing:  This may be going too far in some households, but it is an option, albeit an expensive one.

Camelot Macaws

In the wrong circumstances, an angry neighbor can cause of you to have to part with your beloved bird.  There are laws governing how much noise can emanate from your house and yard.  Know and understand the species of bird you are planning to bring into your home (and neighborhood), and prepare ahead of time.