The Parrots’ Umbrella

04/18/2024

Keep everyone safe.

04/18/2024

“Animal care professionals are some of the most pain-saturated people I have ever worked with. The very thing that makes them great at their work, their empathy and dedication and love for animals, makes them vulnerable.”

- Psychotherapist J. Eric Gentry

Artwork: Kat Fedora

04/14/2024

HUGE thank you to the volunteers who came to our toy making party last month! Here’s just a few of the birds checking out their amazing gifts.

04/10/2024

04/09/2024

They’re coming! Keep them safe on their way!

Timely reminder from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota (WRC) to protect birds from window strikes during migration and throughout the year.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has tips for safeguarding your windows: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/why-birds-hit-windows-and-how-you-can-help-prevent-it/

04/07/2024

This hormone season is wreaking havoc on ALL species. Know your body language! 😬

04/06/2024

Real life with a cockatoo: do you have it in you?

I share my life with a Cockatoo named Ozzy, he is adorable, funny, intelligent, entertaining, sweet, cuddly and the light of my life. Who wouldn’t want one of these amazingly sweet creatures?…

03/28/2024

Learn, understand, respect, accept.

03/20/2024

A little lovebird humor. Truthful humor. ❤️

03/01/2024

This is one of the best articles we have ver read describing the argument for birds in captivity.

From the day he was hatched at a breeding center in North Carolina to the night he fell from the sky into an Upper West Side courtyard, every moment of Flaco’s life was observed, mediated, and constrained by humans. The same could be said of any captive or domestic animal, and of a shocking number...

02/29/2024

Great info especially for our Minnesota birds who live in dry, winter air.

Rhinolith - Nose Stone

What is Rhinolith?
🪢Rhinolith also known as nose stone.🧬
Rhinoliths can obstruct the nasal passage and may show signs of swelling around the nostrils (nares), causes difficultly in breathing and watery eyes. This usually start with small nuclei then eventually become bigger through time. If not treated, this will become big that may result to necrosis of the surrounding tissue inside the nostrils, your parrots health and breathing will also deteriorate.

What are the causes of Rinolith?
* The most common reason for formation of rhinoliths in parrots is due to a Vitamin A deficiency. This is mainly seen in birds whose diet consists of mostly/only seed.
* other causes can be accumulation of the debris like blood, nasal discharge or dust in the nostrils.
* bacterial or fungal infections.
* poor air quality.

How to prevent your parrot from getting Rhinolith
• Good air quality – avoid smoking, dust, hosehold cleaning chemicals, purfume and scented candles.
• Preventing hypovitaminosis A – get your bird off of seeds and onto a good quality pellet, provide a source of fresh veggies and fruit every day.
• You can’t eliminate bacteria or fungus from the environment but you can reduce it. Clean the food and water dishes daily, change the papers on the bottom of the cage daily (make sure they are under the wire grate) and deep clean the cage frequently.

What to Do when you think your parrot has Rhinolith?
Take your bird to an avian veterinarian as soon as you see an abnormality. Once physical changes to the structure have occurred, they don’t go back to normal. Disruption of the normal structure means your bird may be more susceptible to sinus infections in the future.

🚫NOTE: Never stick foreign objects in your parrot’s nares.

Please keep your parrot healthy and clean.

-Marianka T

02/20/2024

Happy Cockatoosday!
Here is a letter from a parrot which we recommend you take the time to read if you are considering becoming a parront!
Share with someone who's always wanted to become a parront.....♥
**excerpted from SilverSageAviaries, photo by The Sock Buddy

Dear person thinking of adopting me,
I am not a dog. I am not your best friend, I do not love you unconditionally, I will not easily forgive you for mistakes, and I do not understand “dominance” or “obedience” the way a dog does. If you try to treat me like a dog, I will be afraid of you. This fear will likely cause me to bite you, or anyone else who tries to touch me.
I am not a cat. I will not be “seen but not heard,” I am not content to be left alone for long periods, and I will not quietly remove myself from the room when guests arrive. I do not like strangers to try and touch me. I will most likely bite your guests because they leave me no other way to defend myself if you do not protect me by instructing them on how to handle me, and teaching me how to interact with them, even if they look, sound, or move differently than you do.
I am not a fish or a flower – I will not quietly and neatly decorate your living room corner. I will make a huge mess by throwing my food everywhere, shredding my toys, scattering feathers and p**ping on everything within 3 feet of my cage. Because I cannot simply run outside or to the litterbox, my home needs to be cleaned often. After all – you wouldn’t want to be forced to live in your own mess, would you?
I am not a “human toddler.” Yes, I am very smart and deeply emotional, but I may never learn to speak or whistle. I can be potty trained, but I will never be human, I will never “grow up” the way a human does. I need my own vet – an Avian Veterinarian is the only doctor who will understand my needs and be able to help me. Birds are very different than dogs and cats, and most vets do not have the training needed to give me the care I deserve.
I am not a short-term pet. Depending on the species, a healthy parrot can live up to 90 years! Before you bring me home, find out how long I will live. If I am likely to outlive you, please put me in your will, and find someone to care for me after you are gone.
Just because I was hand-fed, doesn't mean I will grow up to love people more than other birds..
I am not an easy or inexpensive pet to own, my needs are very complex. In the wild, I may fly up to 20 miles a day just looking for my food. I need exercise, both mental and physical, and a LOT of it. I am a natural wood chipper, paper shredder, alarm clock, etc. I need a varied diet of fresh food, not a dry seed diet, and not a processed all-pellet diet. I need sprouts and vegetables, some fruits, nuts and seeds, and how much of each of these I need depends on my species, not just my size. No two species have the same needs, so making sure I am eating the right things can be a lot of work.
I am small but my mind is huge. If I am neglected I will become bored, lonely, maybe even frightened. This can force me to scream, bite, destroy things, and even hurt myself by pulling out or chewing off my feathers. Sometimes, I might even chew holes in my own flesh.
Please do not bring me home without a lot of research. I can be the smartest, most rewarding pet you have ever had, but I deserve a forever family, not a prison, and not a short-term arrangement. In the wild, I bond with my flock and rarely spend time alone. If you choose to bring me home, you force me to see you as my flock. Do not hurt me by adopting me before you are ready for the whole package – life span and all!
Sincerely,
A Parrot ♥

02/18/2024

It’s been a looong season, and it’s not over yet. We suggest using a hard plastic version for larger birds. It works. We know. 🤣🤦🏽‍♀️

02/10/2024

We all know the price of groceries and bird food has skyrocketed in the last year, especially the last six months. So, how can you afford to feed your birds without switching to a less than optimal diet?
Here’s a photo from one of our volunteers to illustrate some ways to feed well on a budget.
1. Buy your pellets in bulk. 5 lb bags cost less per pound, and 20 lb bags cost even less per pound. Pull out a few pounds, and throw the rest in the freezer.
If the upfront sticker price of bulk pellets is too high for you, ask your bird neighbors and friends if they want to go in on a bag, and split it.
2. As prices of pellets go up and down, try to get your birds used to different (quality) brands, so if one goes up, you can buy another without worrying you’ll waste it when they won’t it eat it.
3. Hit up your local food shelf for produce, grains, and nuts. You’ll eat better, too, and since the produce is day old, some places will let you take extra, so it doesn’t have to get thrown away.
4. Freeze it! Only have one or two birds, but end up with fresh food going bad? Take the extra and freeze it even if it’s just one or two items. That’s peppers or squash or melon you won’t have buy later. You can even freeze greens if you blanched them first.
5. Look for sale items in the produce section or frozen food section.
6. Buy grains and legumes in bulk. It is much cheaper.
7. Hit up the Asian and “ethnic” grocery stores! Their prices are usually lower than big grocers, and you can often find locally grown and species specific produce.
8. Grow some of your own food if you’re able, and it’s not the middle of winter.

Anyone have other suggestions we can add?

02/03/2024

We are in need of STRONG, large bird cages, >= 40”x30”. We have several birds that are dismantling their cages to the point where there’s no fixing them. This is just one of the criminal’s handiwork.

01/29/2024

Great info. We advocate feeding very little fruit. We also try to feed as unripe fruit as we can get.

Check how much Sugar you are feeding to your birds
📷 : Canadian Aviculture association

01/26/2024

Adopt a rescue bird!

Parrots are long-lived creatures who are loud, messy, needy/demanding of attention. The decision to bring a companion bird into your home is a major decision that will affect all who reside in your household. Living with a companion bird can limit your ability to travel, etc. as the bird needs to be fed & given fresh water daily; the bird's cage should be cleaned daily; the bird should get at least an hour of time with their "person" and preferably more than the minimum amount of time. Some birds do not mimic human speech.
If you've carefully considered the pros and cons of companion bird ownership and want a bird, please Adopt...don't Shop. There thousands of birds languishing in avian rescues who would be excellent an addition to your household.

01/21/2024

Our new, improved website is up! We are so excited!!!

01/05/2024

Happy National Bird Day!

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) now includes species-specific welfare standards for birds! Sounds good, right? Well, when USDA issued these regulations, they excluded one important requirement...that birds be provided with sufficient space to fly!

While USDA and big pet retailers don't think flight is essential to the well-being of birds, we sure do! And we're sure you feel the same.

That is why the theme for our 2024 campaign is "Right to Flight." Learn more at http://www.nationalbirdday.org

01/05/2024

Nailed it.

01/04/2024

🥰 support artists, not AI!

The text said:
“She was not quite what you would call refined.
She was not quite what you would call unrefined.
She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot.”
― Mark Twain

Available as stickers, magnets, t-shirts, prints, tote bags and pillows on my store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/lifewithbirds/shop?asc=u&ref=account-nav-dropdown
Plz like and share from my page, do not repost. Thanks.

01/04/2024

This.

The retail sale of birds promotes the suffering of millions of individuals, who are kept in conditions unsuitable to express their natural behaviors, released outdoors to die, or relinquished to overburdened and unprepared shelters.

Petco and PetSmart first eliminated the sale of dogs and cats, then rabbits and larger species of birds, such as cockatoos, macaws, and African greys, due to ethical concerns.

Yet, both of these megastores continue to sell smaller species like parakeets, lovebirds, and cockatiels, whose needs are every bit as complex as their larger fellow birds. Is there anything ethical about peddling any bird because of their size? We think not!

It's 2024. Let’s end the double standard. Tell Petco and PetSmart to stop selling birds! Sign and share our petition. https://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/716/488/144

01/03/2024

We’re starting off the new year with a bang. The bang is sick birds.
Know your bird! Be able to recognize changes in behavior, vocalization, weight, and p**p. Have a relationship with an avian EXPERIENCED vet, and have your birds disease tested.
Birds are prey animals, and they hide illnesses and injury. Often, by the time they are showing obvious signs, they are extremely ill.
With quality care and nutrition, birds are living longer and longer lives. They develop many of the same health issues as aging humans, and many of them are treatable.

01/01/2024

Happy New Year!