Bird Words

A...B...C...

Bird words that are used to describe some humans and/or their traits:

Birdbrain
Chicken
Crowsfeet
Cuckoo Bird
Egghead
Featherbrain
Jailbird
Songbird
Snowbird

Hmmm. Some of these even describe birds. Can you think of any others. Post your reply by clicking on "comments" below.

FEATHERS ARE:

Feathers donated my Mr. Spock. These are his tail and wing

feathers shed during the molting process over many years.

Mr. Spock

If it has feathers...it is definitely a bird. That is to say, only birds have feathers. Furthermore, all birds have feathers...no feathers?...not a bird. While all feathers generally have the same basic elements, they can vary tremendously in appearance, shape and size. That is because different types of feathers have different functions. For example, the long and strong tail and wing feathers are primarily involved in flight. Various types of smaller and softer feathers provide insulation from water and cold.

According to wikipedia "Although feathers are light, a bird's plumage weighs two or three times more than its skeleton" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feather. That reminds me of the old riddle from when I was a kid: Which weighs more, a pound of rocks or a pound of feathers?

Bird Toys

A pet bird, such as a parrot, should have a bunch of toys. It's a good idea to no let a pet bird have them all at the same time. Mr. Spock, our cherry-head conure, has lots of toys and interesting things in his cage and on his playpens. Sometimes a new toy will be there for weeks or even months before he tries them out. Then one may become his new favorite for a while. Six or eight toys would be a good start. Some of Spock's favorite toys are not even store bought. He LOVES the cardboard tubes from paper towels...he rolls them, flips them, flings them, etc. Sometimes I even hang them on a rope in different places for him to play with. It's a good idea to rotate toys every six months or so...move a couple out and a couple in.

A Birdseye Vision

Did you know:

Birds see in color. I've known that for a long time, because our choosy Cherry-head Conure, Mr. Spock, eats his food in color order. Yes, just like a human might choose to eat jelly beans or M&Ms (click here to read about it). In fact, birds can see colors better than humans. It has to do with lenses and cones (not ice cream cones, but the cones that make up the eye), which allow them to see a greater range of the ultraviolet wavelengths than humans. That may be another reason why our pretty parrot can be found entranced with his image in anything reflective. If there is a mirror or a metallic object near by (even a spoon), he can be found snuggled up to it staring at his bright red crown and gorgeous green body. Oooh La La !!

Parrot POW - Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

Mr. Spock, our cherry-head conure, just returned from a week-long stay at the bird hotel in South Florida while we were away. Even though he had his some of his favorite toys and snacks along with the company of lots of other beautiful and exotic birds, he still came home freaked out. This is unusual for our lively parrot; usually he is friendly and grateful for being liberated. Sometimes he would pretend to be mad for a few minutes, but would get over that quickly and return to his normal bird behavior.

This time though, for two full days, he was like a cat on the attack, or a like a cornered snake. As soon as I would get near him...his eyes would bug out, he'd back up, get a good footing, and lunge at me with the big beak snapping. Yikes! There were several near hits, and a few direct strikes on my finger. There he was...biting the hand that feeds him. By the third day (yesterday), he was as cute and cuddly as ever...snuggling up to the hand that feeds him. Welcome Back Mr. Spock!

Sanderling: A Very Cute Seashore Bird

The Sanderling could possibly one of the cutest birds ever. This is the small bird that you can see on a beach at the shorline. It might be mistaken as a baby seagull or some other young bird. However, it is most likely a Sanderling. South Florida beaches are abundant with Sanderlings who seem to love chasing waves.

The Sanderling is a common shorebird that turns up on almost every beach in the world. They are the cute little birdies that run up on the beach when a wave rolls in, staying just ahead of the breaker. Then, as the wavwe recedes, the Sanderlings sprint after the retreating water. They look like they are playing a game of trying to get as close to the water as possible without letting it touch them. They are actually waiting for tiny bits of food to be deposited from the ocean on to the sand for them to eat.

Why Do Birds Fly in "V" Formation?

When late Fall rolls around, we will begin to see the migration of geese from northern areas,of the United States and Canada to the warmth of Florida and other southern states. You will recognize them as geese by their V Formation, flying long distances high in the sky.

According to the Library of Congress Research Center's website, and a multitude of other sources, there are two reasons the geese fly in V Formation.

1. Energy Conservation:

The V Formation shape actually reduces the drag force a bird experiences when flying alone. Since each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, there is a reduction of wind resistance. The front bird in the lead position works the hardest. So the birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired. In this way, the geese can fly for a long time before they must stop for rest. If you are interested in the physical science of this phenomenon, check out aerospaceweb.org.

2. Communication:
The second benefit to the V Formation is that it provides the birds with good visual contact of each other. They can do a better job of making sure the flock stays together.

Acupuncture...It's For the Birds !

These days it seems many people know something about Acupuncture. Perhaps you have received the treatment, know someone who has, or have read an article about this Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) modality. But have you heard of veterinary acupuncture?

To keep this article short and sweet, I have included many clickable links if you are interested in more information.

Acupuncture has been practiced on humans in China for almost 5,000 years. Fast Forward to modern day: According to a National Geographic article, U.S. veterinarians have practiced Acupuncture on animals since the 1970s. The desire for complementary medicine treatments for our pets has been on the rise. Most often Acupuncture is provided to dogs, cats, and horses. However, more and more birds are being treated with this ancient healing modality with incredible success. The American Veterinary Medical Association issued a interesting press release, July 14, 2007 entitled "Complimentary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine - Such as Acupuncture, Herbs and Chiropractic - Becoming More Mainstream" (the title explains it all).

Some additional interesting and informative sites are: International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists, American Veterinary Medical Association, holisticbirds.com.

Do you know a non-human who has received acupuncture. Post your story by clicking "comments" below.

Bird is Back

"What kind of crazy grass is this under my feet?"

A Big Hello and a Loud Squawk Squawk Screech Screech from me and Mr. Spock, the Royal Cherry-Head Conure of Palm Beach County. We have been conspicuously absent during the past few weeks taking care of a bunch of things here at the nest. Thanks for all your emails to check on our pretty parrot during our absence.

South Florida is very hot and seriously steamy. But Mrs. Spock is happy at home in his comfort controlled environment. He is behaving and having a great time in his new habitat. He's still finding new niches to investigate, interesting ways to play with his myriad of colorful toys and mirrors, and taking cat naps next to his fuzzy purple sleep buddy. Even though the door is open most of the time, we find him going in and out of the cage all the time...enjoying the luxurious space.

So check back daily for the scoop. We have lots of good stuff to post. And...don't forget, Mr. Spock would love for you to make this your favorite page for doing all your Google and Amazon searches, and all kinds of shopping too. Have a Great Day!!

Birds of a Feather Swim Together

On a warm summer day in South Florida, everyone wants to be in the water., especially the birds. Ever notice that birds don't like to swim with humans? They swim with fish, snakes, frogs, mosquitoes, various reptiles, etc., but not humans. Hmmmm. What makes them better to swim with than humans? At the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida, you can find up to 140 species of birds lounging in and about the water, like this sleek loner. I'm not sure what type of wild bird this one is. Do you know? Test your bird knowledge and click here to visit the Wakodahatchee Wetlands website and see if you can figure out which bird this is. When you do, let us know. Just click "comments" below and post your message (you don't even have to register). I asked Mrs. Spock, our Sr. Consultant, cherry-head conure, to help identify this bird, but since he doesn't get out much, he couldn't say for sure.

Flew in For Independence Day

Look who I found out in my South Florida backyard today. Mama Duck was resting with the chicks in the shade under an ixora bush along side the patio. Mama Duck got a little nervous when I showed up and made a mad dash with the little ones in to the lake and swam away. I'll find them again tomorrow.

Aren't they the cutest !

The Birds of Smallwood & Sullivan County, New York

Cedar Waxwing

Summer in Sullivan County is abundant with the beauty of wildflower meadows, lush green rolling hills, farmlands, forests, and of course, many beautiful birds. In fact, the Sullivan County Audubon Society says "Sullivan County is one of New York State's birdiest counties." The Audubon Society reports that in one year there were 129 species of birds sighted just in the Township of Bethel, home to the lovely community of Smallwood. Other Towns in Sullivan County report impressive bird sightings as well. You can view details and photos at http://www.sullivanaudubon.org/. So how about spending and hour or a day talking a nature walk, or sitting quietly by a lake or under a tree and keeping an eye out for the birds. How do you keep them around. Do what we do. Talk with the birds. Try quiet clicking sounds with your tongue against your palette, or whistles, or maybe even a squawk.

The Sullivan County Bald Eagle population in the mid-1970's was estimated to be "two." That's right "2." However, in 1990 New York State purchased 12,000 acres in Sullivan County and created one of the largest bald eagle preserves in the country. The word about the preserve is out because the winter bald eagle population of Sullivan County swells to about 100. Most of these eagles are 'snowbirds' and return to their homes in February and March. But there are still bald eagle watching opportunities throughout the year in Sullivan County and nearby. For more information, you can visit www.catskillhikes.com/eagles.html.

Visit us again for more travel and tourism and talking with birds. If you have a bird photo you would like us to post at http://www.talkingwithbirds.blogspot.com/, send an email to talkingwithbirds@yahoo.com.

Don't forget to click on the "comments" link below this article to share your thoughts with us and our readers. See ya soon!

Unspoiling our Bird - Part Two - Going Mobile

In Part 1 of this series, we described the large and luxurious new home base cage we set up for Mr. Spock to begin the unspoiling process.

The next step toward unspoiling Mr. Spock, our 25 year-old controlling cherry-head conure, was to purchase a new "playpen" for him so that he can have familiar comfortable surroundings wherever he goes in our home. He already has a "play area" in our office, but the new "mobile" addition gives him more options. It has a ladder, swinging toys, a high perch, low perch, food and water dishes, etc.

So, right about now you may be asking "exactly how is this unspoiling our precious parrot." I'm kind of questioning it myself. (Just kidding.) Actually, it's working. This is all part of our master plan to be able to have Spock close by whenever he starts feeling restless. Even though his cage is wide open when we are home, he does get restless from time to time. That's when the spoiled brat-bird in him starts to rear it's un-pretty head. The screeching begins. Sometimes he is letting us know he doesn't want to be alone while we are in another room. Other times, he may want some of what we are cooking or eating, or might want a light out or a light on, etc.

So, now that we have a mobile playpen for him. This has served to quiet the pesky parrot every time. It has cut out on a lot of screaming matches between us and him. And...since screaming is our bird's specialty, he is usually the winner of any Call of the Wild match. So now our little talks with Mr. Spock are more conducive to harmony in our home.

So, we highly recommend mobile playpens.

Unspoiling Our Bird - Part One - The first day home

Hello All,
It's been about a week since the last post because our extra focus and efforts have been on the "unspoiling of Mr. Spock." It began when our 25 year-old, cherry-head conure returned home from the hospital last week after a 14 day stay. The first phase of his hospital stay was for acute care, then it was more like in-patient rehab for the rest of our pretty little parrot's stay.

Over time, we have come to realize that Spock has been running our household, setting his rules, creating the schedules, telling us what to do, and so on. So we thought his homecoming would be a good starting point for us to begin on an even footing with him. Thus the beginning of "Unspoiling Our Bird." We had a plan would talk it over with Spock.

He arrived home to find a very large new cage, as opposed to the large previous cage. Bunches of new and interesting toys. A few of his new toys were just fresh new replacements of the identical toy that he had been playing with and demolishing for a long time. He adapted to the new cage and it's new location very quickly. We thought that it would be an easier adjustment for him to come home to everything new after the two weeks in the incubator at Backos Bird Clinic in Deerfield Beach, rather then just making the switch while he still called the old cage "home." Now, mind you, Mr. Spock is not confined to his cage too often. In fact, he has significantly more "open door" time than he does "locked door" time. It's his choice to be inside or out.

So, a recap so far of how we are unspoiling our cheery cherry-head conure: Big New Cage ! Lots of New and Fun Toys! Moving furniture around to create the perfect aviary space for him. Access in and out whenever he wants. Hmmmm....maybe we need to take a better look at this plan. But seriously, there is a plan. Tune in again to http://www.talkingwithbirds.blogspot.com/ for Part Two in the series "Unspoiling Our Bird."

Welcome Home Pretty Parrot !

Yay! Mr. Spock is back home. Our 25 year-old cherry-head conure returned home from a two week hospital stay at Backos Bird Clinic in Deerfield Beach, FL, where they took excellent care of him. He is happy and perky and show no signs of the nasty infection that was affecting his breathing.

Our healthy bird arrived home to his brand new supersized cage, with all new toys, perches and playthings. He hasn't even seen his playpen in the other room.

Visiting the Avian Hospital

Our Sr. Consultant, Mr. Spock, is still a patient at Backos Bird Clinic in Deerfield Beach, FL. His condition has improved very much. At this stage, he is more in parrot rehab, rather than in the acute stage of his care. Dr. Backos and staff are building him up so that he is strong enough to safely return home. In fact, he is back to doing some part time consulting for talkingwithbirds.com and talkingwithbirds.blogspot.com .

When visiting him at the avian hospital, I talk with our brilliant cherry-head conure about the blog and website. Progress at the new webiste http://www.talkingwithbirds.com/ has been delayed due to Spock's recent illness. Now that this parrot is perking back up, we should be expanding things at the website and the blog. Keep birds eye out for changes.

Spock's most recent suggestion was that he wants to make it easier for everyone to reach him and us. So now, you can add your comment to any post by clicking on the "comments" link just below the post. He has some other great ideas up his wing. Stay posted.

Poem to a Parrot, by Dee in Colorado

This poem was written by a dear friend (and Mr. Spock's Aunt) when she heard that Spock, our cherry-head conure, is in the bird hospital.

Just in case you haven’t heard
Mr. Spock is quite a bird!
Once a Rocky Mountain creature
Now a retired Boynton Beacher

I remember well when he was young
you wanted him to hold his tongue
But every little squeak and squawk
had wisdom in that Vulcan talk

I often marveled his colorful hues
of dazzling reds and brilliant blues
And even though he pecked my feet
Mr. Spock is very sweet

Get well Mr. Spock!
-Dee

Wild Birds

outside in the morning and it's all around
from the quiet comes a sound

it can only be a the song of a creature
that has a soft feathery feature

they rise before most are awake
and sing a song to find their mate

rising high in the air
they show us they are there

Human Heart Breaks at the Bird Hospital

Went to visit Mr. Spock today in the hospital. Our fragile cherry-head conure (AKA Senior Consultant of www.talkingwithbirds.blogspot.com) has been there since Monday. Dr. Sam Backos and the staff at Backos Bird Clinic in Deerfield Beach, FL are taking excellent care of him. The hardest part was leaving at the end of the visit.

Spock was so excited when arrived and opened the incubator door, In an instant, he was zooming up my arm, heading straight for that warm and cozy nook atop my shoulder, along side my neck. His individual incubator is a spacious and warm safe haven with lots of room to move around, while remaing easy to observe by doctor and staff. After a nice long visit, I returned him to his incubator, and he ran to the back and stuck his beak in the corner and just stood there with his back toward me and the door. It was soooo soooo soooo sad. Broke my heart. I'm guessing he was crying in a bird sort of way.

Needless to say, I couldn't leave. So I began my incubator-side vigil trying to get him to turn around and come out of the corner. There I remained with the door open, my hand inside waiting patiently for a stubborn Mr. Spock, who just wouldn't budge. Finally, after throwing lots of kisses his way, and talking to him using all his favorite phrases (most of which include the words "pretty bird," he softened up, walked over and jumped on my finger. He forgave me.....that's my "pretty bird." I spent the next 30 minutes, talking to him, hand feeding him fruits and veggies, rubbing his head, and taking him in and out of the incubator for kisses. Finally, when he seemed relaxed and starting to get bored with me, I zoomed out of there.

Off I went to Whole Foods Market to drown my sorrows in organic produce and bins filled with bulk stuff, much of which we will bring back to Backos Bird Clinic on our next visit.

A Little Parrot Humor

A new pet store opens. The shopkeeper puts a parrot in a birdcage outside in front of the store to attract some attention. A woman walks by the shop on her way to work, as she does every day, and the parrot says "You're Ugly." The woman is quite offended and walks off in a huff. The next morning the woman walks past the parrot again and he says "You're Ugly." She is indignant. On the third day, more of the same, the bird says "You're Ugly." This time the woman finds the shopkeeper and tells him about this and demands that he do something to stop it. So the shopkeeper brings the parrot inside, has a little talk with him, and sets him back outside. The next morning when the woman comes along, she looks at the parrot and he says in a sarcastic tone "You Know."

Empty Nest - Medical Leave of Absence for Sr. Consultant

Mr. Spock, our 25-year old cherry-head conure, just spent his second night at the vet's office for a nagging pseudemonas infection and a clogged nasal passage. Poor guy. After undergoing a 2-week course of daily injections, nose drops and mouth drops, one of his tiny little "nostrils" remains as corked up as a bottle of wine. Giving him the injections and meds was as hard on us as it was on him. That frightened look on his face when we approached the petrified parrot to bring him to the "treatment room" (AKA kitchen counter covered with towel)....what a heart breaker. Then there was the running around and away from us to the deepest depths of his cage and play habitats. He never seems to learn that he can run, but he can't hide from us. So Dr. Sam Backos (Uncle Sam to our ailing bird), decided to keep him at his avian hospital in Deerfield Beach, South Florida and work on manually unclogging that hole. I imagine this is something like sinus surgery for a human....eeeeshk. Otherwise, he seems pretty healthy right now.

As you may know, I rely heavily on Mr. Spock's bird editorial perspective when posting on www.talkingwithbirds.blogspot.com . I talk ideas over with him, generally in the evening, while drafting posts. So, while our Senior Consultant for www.talkingwithbirds.com is on medical leave, I am flying solo in writing. Therefore, there may be an extreme human presence detected in the posts until Mr. Spock returns from his leave.

Kirtan...Chanting...A New Way to Talk to A Rambunctious Parrot

Kirtan is the art and practice of devotional chant. When Mr. Spock, our cheerful cherry-head conure, gets a little wild or hyped up on life in general, I have found that a quick way to calm him down and get him into a cozy parrot fluff, is to play some beautiful, melodic chant music. It is Kirtan time for Mr. Spock. This music, with it's rhythmic beat patterns and inspiring voices, speaks to our bird in a way that no other bird talk does. The chanting and melodies see to reach him at a primal level. From a raging string of loud, unending squawking, he will hear the sounds and almost immediately become interested and quiet and begin the listening.

Traditionally thought of as Indian classical music, the sounds are enchanting and almost hypnotic. The traditional Indian musical instruments for Kirtan are the harmonium and the tabla. While many of the Kirtan chants are sung in a traditional manner by the devout, there is also a contemporary style of Kirtan chanting which may intersperse more modern musical sounds, and might even incorporate instruments like the guitar and violin. Kirtan is often a highlight at a yoga retreat, where the participants can all gather and relax and share a special moment. You can have Kirtan with your bird, and speak to his or her at a level that your voice just cannot go. Try it.

Please listen to a sample of this chanting so that you understand how enchanting is is for birds, and people, alike. Our conure's all time favorite chanting diva is Wah! You can hear Wah chanting via her website's sampling of her 18 albums http://www.wahmusic.com/. To hear a clip, click here.

Morning Rituals...A Cherry-Head Conure's Way of Saying "Good Morning"

Each morning we arise to the screeching squawk of our beloved 25 year old cherry-head conure, Mr. Spock. This has been going on, well...for a long time. Somewhere between about 6:30 and 7:00 am when the Eastern Daylight Savings time sunshine begins to fill his cage, our pretty little parrot's morning anxiety begins. Since we are usually already coherent, but not necessarily up and at'em, we can hear Mr. Spock in the next room milling around in his big cage. Mind you...his cage door is open, so he is welcome to go in and out at his pleasure. His a.m. routine begins with climbing down from his sleeping perch, slamming the hanging stainless steel mirror against the wood, stepping up to his inner cage food dish and having a breakfast shack of dry Pretty Bird brand fruity morsels. Now his pallet is awakened and he wants the next breakfast course. So outside of the cage he goes, to the rooftop play area and perch, where he checks his other food dish for something more interesting. This is the place he usually finds his fresh fruit, veggies, pasta, etc. However, since it is the morning...there is nothing, an unacceptable situation to our spoiled bird. So back in to the cage he goes, finding the largest and noisiest of toys and begins to let us know he is awake...bang bang bang the toys go. Grabbing them by the beak, he bangs them in to the side of the cage like a demolition team swinging a wrecking ball. If that doesn't get our attention, the whistling sounds begin. Finally, in his final desperate attempt to get us to rise and shine, he moves in to position on his favorite "screaming perch" and begins the call of the wild. Ear-ouching screeches and squawks. Up we are, filling his dish, wondering how has it come to this. Our cherry-head conure is our master...we are definitely parrot people.

Good Morning !

A Nice Place For Birds in South Florida

Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, FL

Here's a photo of typical Florida wetlands. South Florida is in the midst of a serious drought. The special wetlands that are operated by the local water departments are so very important to our birds at a time like this. These wetlands are safe havens for the birds to live, breed, raise their young, play, eat, and just have fun. The "natural" wetlands in the undeveloped areas of South Florida are having very serious drying out right now. In a short time, the rainy season for our subtropical oasis will begin, then we will be watching our lakes and canals wondering if they will overflow in to our living rooms. But for now, I am happy to say that the birds who find these beautiful wetlands managed by our water departments, are happy and healthy.

Dessert: Baby Food for Big Bird

How does one select a new and delicious snack for a parrot? It has to be safe and nutritious, while tasting good enough to be a treat. What are the odds a sales clerk in the pet food store truly knows what tastes good to your parrot? Also, are parrots taste buds like humans? I only know that our bird likes most of the same foods we like, good or bad as that may be. Too bad choosing from the boxes, bags, and trays of bird treats from the pet food store is not as easy (or as much fun) as choosing from the cookie aisle grocery store. We can usually imagine pretty well how a super chunk chocolate nut cookie will taste. But as for the dry and grainy looking bird treats...who knows!

I know Mr. Spock, our gastronomic adventurous bird, will try just about anything in the world. He often surprises us with the choices he favors. I like our bird's treats to be a vacation from the ordinary. So when I select a new treat from the bird store, I wonder if Mr. Spock will think "wow...this new treat is sooooo deeeeelicious," or will he simply eat it because it adequate. That is why I rarely buy any new treats for Mr. Spock from the pet store. We have taken to creating our own recipes for him.

Treats became easier when our wonderful avian vet, Dr. Sam Backos, was found to be feeding Mr. Spock human baby food. Our bird loves it as a treat. It's easy to find, economical, comes in many varieties, and doesn't make a mess. "Graduates Finger Foods" by Gerber comes in yummy flavors: banana, cherry, strawberry, sweet potato, apple, and sweet corn. They are crunchy little star-shaped puffs of different colors. We like to mix and match them for variety. I have to confess that sometimes I find myself munching on them too. (I wonder if I can serve them to guests....hmmmm.)

Global Warming...Global Confusion? Which Way is Up for Migrating Birds?

This has been a strange winter, which apparently is still not over. There was just a major snowfall in the Northeast this past weekend. I recall hearing news of recent winter temps in March 2007 as high as 80 degrees in New York, while South Florida was experiencing 50 degree temps at the same time. If we humans are having trouble deciding what kind of jacket to wear, imagine how the birds must feel! After all, birds don't migrate by a pocket planner calendar. If the weather is saying summer, but it is really winter, how do the birds know if they are supposed to be coming or going? I don't want to make this point with lots of dry statistics. We all have common sense and can use logic, or even our imaginations to see what a problem this already must be for migrating birds. Sometimes we forget that people aren't the only Snowbirds who travel from north to south to escape the frigid temps and spend a wonderful winter nesting (or vacationing) in South Florida.

CONGRATULATIONS MITCH & KAREN!

"It Must Be Love"

I would like to say Happy 15th Anniversary to Mitch and Karen. These two humans are like more like Love Birds! We speak the same language. They celebrated with the annual renewal of their wedding vows. Send them your good wishes by posting a comment here. Just click comments below.

With Great Affection,

Mr. Spock
Senior Consultant http://www.talkingwithbirds.blogspot.com/

Parrots, Conures and House Guests

"Welcome To My Home"

Jekyll and Hyde could be one way to describe how Mr. Spock, our cherry-head conure, behaves when we have guests staying over. Our lovable bird usually starts out on his best behavior for about 1 - 2 days. He's calm, quiet, and spends most of his time keeping a low profile. The reality is that Spock is hiding out from the "strangers" and under the impression that no one can see him. This makes our courageous conure feel safe and gives him time to observe the new people. He forgoes the usual 'crack-of-dawn' crowing, he abandons clanging his toys in to the side of the cage to get our attention, and he skips the siren-like screeching that we usually hear as soon as we enter the house.

Once Mr. Spock has sized up the new humans and realizes they are not a threat to this proud parrot, he sends out that exact message via shock waves, usually early in the morning, with his 'rise and shine' ear-drum piercing cocka-doodle-doos. Then we know...that he knows...that we know...that Spock is back in charge of the household. Watch out now!

What have we learned? Parrots / conures are good on stake outs.

Finicky About Bird Food or Jelly Beans?

Some parrots and conures are choosy about the brand of bird food they will eat. Our cherry-head conure, Mr. Spock, is not only selective about the brand, but he has a pecking order (pun intended) as to which color he will eat first. It reminds me of how some people will eat jelly beans, Starburst, or lollipops in a certain order.

His favorite bird food is Pretty Bird brand medium size fruity pellets. There are four colors in the mix, and they have a nice fruity aroma. First to go is the purple, next is the yellow, then the red, and finally the green ones. Many times when we change his food, all that is left is a bunch of the green pellets. What's up with that?

What have we learned? Cherry-head conures are not color blind.

Technorati Tune In for TalkingWithBirds.Blogspot.Com

So what is this about? Well, talkingwithbirds.blogspot.com is taking flight and expanding our horizon. If we do this right, more bird people will have join us at Talking With Birds. Come back to www.talkingwithbirds.blogspot.com every day for updates, stories, and more bird photos. Technorati Profile

Migration...Birds of a Different Type

The annual Springtime Snowbird migration is officially underway. April is the time of year when these unique birds begin to tidy up their winter nests and embark on their journey north. As things "heat up" in subtropical Florida, the Snowbirds take to the road, rails and the air to make their way to more temperate areas of the US and Canada. The signs of it are everywhere in South Florida...it begins with the sudden appearance of car carrier trucks stopped at shopping plazas adjacent to the "55 and over" communities, loading up with Toyota Camrys and Lincoln Grand Marquis. The mass pre-closing of hurricane shutters across condo high rises along the ocean is another telltale sign of migration. Other hints of the northern migration include the shorter wait times at banks and restaurants, and talk among the birds about flying dates. The Snowbirds will be back in the Fall when places like New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Montreal show the first signs of dipping temps. After all, these birds don't have feathers to keep them warm.

What have we learned: Not all birds have feathers...and...some birds prefer to take the train rather than fly.

Bird Food: A Mediterranean Experience

What does Mr. Spock eat when he is not crunching on his Pretty Bird brand fruity bits? Well, tonight was falafel night. He had freshly made falafel with whole wheat pita bread, and topped with lettuce, corn, tomatoes, shredded carrots, couscous, and tahini sauce. We know he loved it, because his little red head was buried deep in his dish, chomping away until he had his fill (he eats like a bird you know).

P.S. These aren’t the tomatoes he ate. They are actually from Mom’s garden and just looked too good to not post.

What have we learned? Falafel is actually bird food that humans like to eat too. (Makes me wonder how the fruity scented Pretty Bird pellets taste.)

Backyard Buzzards

The "buzzards" may conjure up images in one's mind of a large birds circling high up waiting to attack it's prey, or the feathered frenzy of beaks and preay in chaos. Well, please allow me to introduce you to our buzzards. These are the unique duck-like birds that hang out in small clusters in our backyard. They sit in a partially shaded area, relaxed and comfortable, minding their own business. They seem friendly. When I begin talking with these birds, they get up and take a few steps closer and seem quite interested in what I have to say, which is mostly "hello" and "how are you today," etc. If I get too close to them, they start to slowly stroll a few feet away. They fly around the lake, take a swim now and then, and dine out. The only time we see them get a little flustered is when another buzzard that is not part of their pack comes over. That's when the dominant ones will do what they need to to scare it off. I haven't figured out what's going on yet, but will keep studying them. They will peck at it, and wings flare open, squawking starts, and they all start running. They might even take the squabble in to the lake and swim a circle around their territory. I kind of figure that is between buzzard and buzzard to work out. As far as our backyard, they are welcome.

What have we learned? A friend may look like a foe. Who would think that a buzzard would be awelcome guest !

Very Special Neighbors: Burrowing Owls..."Hoot a Thought"

A family of burrowing owls has recently settled in a few streets away in our community. They are very special, so I want to share our delight in them. In late afternoon, you can hear them start hooting in a low, almost dove-like coo. Then you can catch a glimpse of one or two of them sitting on a high post or fence near the little quiet park. That's just about when the park empties out and the owls begin their watch. This wonderful photograph of burrowing owls was posted on our community's website by a neighbor. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrowing_Owl these owls are a protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Thank heavens because these little critters made their nest right in the front lawn of a corner house. They dug a long wide tunnel which could possible have been mistaken for a mole hole or something like that. There are a lot of interesting facts about them.

What have we learned? Burrowing owls live in the ground and have a wide habitat area. So be careful next time you see what you think is a mole or prairie dog hole. Burrowing owls population is on the decline due to loss of habitat.

Air & Sea: Birds and Dolphins in Harmony

What a surprise to find these pretty birds at the Miami Seaquarium in Florida (also called home of Flipper the TV dolphin). When I entered the gates, who was I greeted by but a pair of Macaws. The human representative with them assisted as a translator in talking with the birds .... introductions, sharing kisses, and photo ops, etc. On the other side of the park, tucked away in a little corner are these regal, friendly, and well behaved tropoical birds. Only a bird lover would go to a seaquarium to swim with the dolphins, and come home with more photos and memories of the birds than of the dolphins. (The dolphins are were great too. So smart and playful. Smooth silky skin.)

But back to the birds now. Having a home for the birds in the park offers a great contrast of living creatures to see and think about. There were the wonderful water creatures, many of which were large to gigantic in size (dolphins, manatees, orca whales), and of dark or muted colors, with smooth or shiny skin, and oh-so-quiet. In contrast, there were the light, feathery, air creatures in all the glory of their intense colors...our bird friends...and oh-so-noisy they can be. Visitors were delighted to stroll through the bird habitat and absorb the fun and sensational colors, listen to the raucous sounds, and watch them cooing over each other. The birds were not in cages, and were free to move about. However, most of them were content to just sit on a high perch with his or her partner and show off.

The Miami Seaquarium was a nice way to spend an afternoon. Don't miss the Topdeck Dolphin show. The swim with the dolphin experience wasn't too shabby either.

Bring a camera.

What have we learned? Surprises are everywhere...keep looking for them.

Good Bird Medicine (Yum)

As a child and I was frightened of needles. Injections of any sort brought out my wild side...kicking and screaming all the way. Well, as a bird owner, I have that same thing to contend with when medicating Mr. Spock, our cherry head conure/parrot.

Today is day 18 of giving Mr. Spock his 21-days of medication. The stress poor Spock goes through while getting his medication using the vet's method should probably warrant a sedative for him (and for us). What a commotion! Spock is a very independent minded bird and doesn't do what Spock doesn't want to do. He tries to bite and claw his way out of getting dosed. He's also a biter when he feels threatened (the vet techs approach the little guy like he's a vulture).

If it wasn't so serious a matter, I would call it comical. Two human adults chasing a small green and red bird around the house with a hand towel. Slapstick. Spock sees the towel and dives to the floor, then starts a wild run and hop all around (his wings are clipped). Are you a bird owner who knows what I am describing? When we finally get hold of him, it breaks our hearts to see him in that stiff mummy pose. Then...it takes two of us to keep his beak open enough to slide in the tip of a syringe filled with medicine (a needle-free syringe). The first few times, Spock actually tricked us. He concealed the liquid meds somewhere in his beak, then"spit" it all out. Can you imagine? So we learned how to overcome Spock's trickery and get the meds down twice per day...and...make it a pleasure to do.

After about 10 days of the 'stalk/capture/medicate method', we really thought that he would become more accustomed to it and trained to accept the medicine routine. A delusion, I guess. So we switched over to the the 'sneak in to the beak' method. It all came to me while eating a yummy treat from Mercier's Apple Orchard in Georgia. We mix the two medications with about 6 cc's (very little) of sweet, smooth, delicious old fashioned apple butter. I hand feed it to him and whisper sweet nothings at him the whole time. He loves it! Tastes good, he's happy, and he doesn't hate us. We love it too. (Of course, we called the vet's office and got the method approved...which leads me to wonder why in the world they don't give you a little hint like at the start.)

What have we learned? A negative becomes a positive for bird and mankind. By sweetening things up a little when giving our bird medicine, we turned it in to a treat and bonding process with Mr. Spock, instead of one that seemed more of a discipline exercise which controlled him with fear and force.

A Bird in a Bag is Worth Two in the Bush

You never know when a bird will do something that seems so ordinary to him, but becomes so memorable for you. Today our cherry-head conure, Mr. Spock, couldn't have done it better than if he were performing on stage. We brought the little guy in to the kitchen and put him on the countertop so he would have our company instead of screaming for us. He nonchalantly stepped over to a paper bag we just emptied and walked in to it, turned around, and made himself right at home. Of course, I grabbed the camera clicked away. He could not have known how cute he looked.

Maybe the bag represents a camping trip for him, like a little tent. After all, it is made from trees. Why did he want to be in the bag? He was so content to be there, centered, quiet, no sounds or "talking" at all. Just looking like he was trying to say "why haven't you brought me here before now?"

He then had to endure our big faces staring at him and telling him how cute he is, trying to get him to pay attention to the camera, then snapping pictures. Our little star.

What have we learned? An simple, inexpensive and quiet way to entertain the bird, while he in turn, entertains us. Symbiosis.