The Bird Nerds

12/15/2023

TW: depiction of a neglected bird

Education can prevent relinquishment for these common reasons:
1. Noise
2. Cost
3. Messiness
4. Biting/aggression
5. Difficulty to train
6. Not enough time or space
7. Feather destruction

Source: KAF Parrot Relinquishment (KAFPR) survey

11/22/2023

09/27/2023

Bird Nerds!! Please keep a look out for this precious male Eclectus, lost this weekend near Bluefield and Briargate!!! 😭🦜

Please spread the word! Scotty was LOST on September 24, 2023 in San Antonio, TX 78230 near Bluefield/Briargate

Message from Owner: Please contact us ASAP if you find/ locate Scotty. He is a beloved family member, and we miss him, thank you!

Description: Iridescent green, yellow candy corn beak, green wings with dark blue tips answers to Scotty

For more info or to contact Scotty's owner, click here: https://www.pawboost.com/p/9558520

Lost or found a pet? Report it to PawBoost here: https://pbrs.io/l/rpl

09/05/2023

“I want my bird’s beak trimmed because it hurts when it bites me!” “It’s so long and curved; I want it really short”….I have heard it all! If you’ve questioned your bird’s beak length when in for a grooming appointment and we’ve told you it was unnecessary—here’s some more explanation! It’s not about selling a service. If your bird doesn’t NEED a beak trim, I won’t do it, and I’m happy to explain why not.

What is the purpose of the beak? A longer top beak length with a very pointed end is completely normal. Of course eating is the number one purpose for that sharp point! Your bird was meant to open harder items such as seeds and nuts, but how do they look in the wild? In our prepared seed mixes we buy, many times seeds and nuts are already out of shells, husks, or pods and ready to eat. There are often many protective layers to seeds and nuts that our birds would need to peel away to get their food. The natural point of their beak helps in this process. The length of the beak also protects nerve endings and beak papillae. If we trim it down when not needed, these nerve endings are more exposed which would cause obvious discomfort and lighter eating habits because of the pain.

Every species has a different shape meant for doing different things. A Hyacinth Macaw’s curved, long bill is very different from the short bill of an Umbrella Cockatoo. Yet, a Black Palm Cockatoo’s beak is vastly different from an Umbrella Cockatoo and they’re related! I can’t tell you how many times people see our Slender Billed Cockatoo and try to shame us for her beak length—it’s normal! It’s tough to know what the natural shape of each species should look like to the average bird owner, so we understand why you might ask for your bird to get a beak trim. This is why we do not suggest trimming your own bird’s beak at home. It took me many years of grooming nails before I began grooming beaks and there are still some that come in and stump me due to deformities or injuries. It is not worth the risk of injury when doing it yourself at home.

When we have birds with beak deformities, overgrown beaks due to diet or health issues, or injured beaks, the way we groom and how often we groom will vary from bird to bird. I have some birds with severe injuries that come every month. The average bird with good diet, plenty of hard woods to shred, and in good health will never need a beak trim. Most of the time when we trim an average bird's beak we are filing it down just slightly with most of the build up around the beak (the edging) being cleaned up. We are always happy to give a consultation thru text or email as to whether your bird’s beak needs trimmed or not, too. If you are looking to book an appointment for any kind of grooming check out our website here: https://www.store.sugarcreekbirdfarm.com/grooming

There is a great article from Dr. Scott Echols about the findings of nerve endings and beak papillae using 2D and 3D imaging found here: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/ajvr/84/7/ajvr.23.03.0059.xml

P.S. Regarding the first line in this post (which I hear a lot): A trimmed beak does not mean your bird won’t bite or it won’t hurt as much. If it doesn’t bite much afterwards, it’s probably because it hurts and that is the LAST reason to ask for a beak trim! Your bird’s welfare comes first.

❤Bernie

02/14/2023

🥰🥰🥰

Some birby valentines for your tweetheart! Feel free to print for personal use but please consider buying me a ko-fi if you do

02/06/2023

02/03/2023

Where my cool people at?? 🙋🏼‍♀️🦜

Where’s my cool people at? 😎

01/31/2023

Thinking about getting a bird? Maybe even a cockatoo?
Might want to reconsider 😅😂
(A cockatoo was left alone for a mere ten minutes, managed to swing open the fridge door, and do this💀)

Happy CockaToosday!
Still think you want a cute, cuddly cockatoo?
Well here's a wee thing - Harry's, a gorgeous umbrella cockatoo - this is what's left of a fridge after his mum was distracted for 10 minutes...😒😒
Many thanks to our dear friend and fellow parrot welfare warrior, Caron Lake, at Wings of Hope Bird Sanctuary for her kind permission to use the picture of what was left of her fridge. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1532875183644076/

01/26/2023

Nicholas was purchased by a happy couple in the 1980s. They were in their 40s and it felt like they had all the time in the world. They loved Nicholas and cared for him for 30 years. As they aged, they were unable to continue giving Nicholas the same level of care that they could in the early years.

We often talk about the challenges that come with keeping parrots in captivity - noise, aggression, destruction - but their long lifespan is a challenge in its own right. Nicholas's guardians were excellent caretakers and never shied away from some of his more difficult behaviors, and still he needed to be rehomed.

When you purchase a baby parrot with a lifespan of 50-90 years, it's inevitable that they will be put through a confusing and stressful transition someday. You could be the greatest caretaker in the world, swear that you will never tire of them or give up on them, and still they will outlive you.

Nicholas's family wasn't thinking 30 years into the future when they brought him home. Nicholas is likely to live 30 more. If you're considering bringing a parrot into your life, please adopt an adult bird in need of a home and help end the cycle.

Photo 📸 :

12/12/2022

Birds are living creatures NOT A TOY,
Having a bird is a COMMITMENT! They didn't choose to be with you, you choose them.
So don't let them suffer,
Don't get a bird when you're just emotionally want them cause they're cute.
There's alot to consider and to prepare when getting one.
Research , research, research!

12/01/2022

What a wonderful idea from our friends at Canada Bird School!!
Follow their page to get advent ideas and activities for your flock (and family!) this holiday season!! 🎄🦜

BIRD ADVENT CALENDAR

Spread kindness to all birds this December with our Canada Bird School Bird Advent Calendar. Follow us on social for a daily advent activity. Each activity is meant to spread kindness. Do whichever is available to you and and join in the fun!

Download the pdf and jpg from our Articles page. Link in comments.

11/28/2022

Having animals forage for food is a requirement here at The Animal Behavior Center. Foraging is the act of searching for food. It is a natural behavior and when an animal is under human care, sometimes natural is not enough.

Animals under human care need much more than natural, they need added complexities. Complexities create challenges. Challenges involve learning through manipulation. Manipulation involves mental stimulation which animals learn from. Stimulation incorporates choice and choice empowers the animal. With any animal that resides at or comes to The Animal Behavior Center for care, empowering their lives is our ultimate mission, no matter what their background or species.

If the animal doesn't know how to forage for its food, we teach it. We teach this through shaping; reinforcing small approximations to a target behavior. We then begin shaping challenges. With challenges comes increasing complexities. If a foraging toy is too complex, an animal will stop interacting with it. The key is watching what they can do and then shaping obtainable challenges from there.

The effort an animal puts into a foraging toy must be worth their effort. It is key to identify the animal's individual preferred positive reinforcers. If they do not obtain a positive reinforcer for their effort, their behavior of continuing to search will likely be positively punished.

The more intelligent an animal, the more complex it is to keep and care for. Foraging is a great occupier of an animal's time and is a part of every behavior modification plan we put in place. In one of our learning programs for parrots, we have an Event called FORAGING FRIDAY that we have every week and lasts all week long. We show how we teach these behaviors to parrots, identification and the use of reinforcers, and how to keep the parrot engaged. Each week we show how we make our foraging toys and how you can too. Join us?

11/24/2022

Happy Thanksgiving from our flock to yours!! 🦜

Happy Turkey Day! 🦃 Here's how a Birdhist serves a turkey. ;)
Please consider making a Turkey happy today by supporting your local Farm Sanctuary. As a Birdhist, I believe Turkeys deserve the same compassion as all other birds, maybe you do to? Woodstock Farm Sanctuary

11/21/2022

Having a bird

Ps. It's chaotic but fun. I love birds

11/21/2022

This week is often the most fatal week of the year for companion parrots.
Please be aware that non-stick coatings on pans, pots, aluminum foil, and cookware are fatally toxic to your birds, as well as Turkey bags.
Keep your birds away from and out of your kitchen, and in a separate room with ventilation during this cooking season!

If you're roasting veggies inside, regular aluminum foil without any coating is perfectly safe for your summer side dishes.

Always beware of using anything with a non-stick coating around your feathered friends.

11/21/2022

As if lead wasn’t bad enough, there are other forms of heavy metal toxicosis. The most common of these is caused by lead’s ugly cousin: zinc. While the two share a lot in common, there are some key differences -- sources, effects on the body, symptoms, diagnostic challenges, and treatment approaches --that set them apart. Today we embark on a deep dive into the similarities and differences between the members of this shady family.

First, let’s talk sources. Lead and zinc can be picked up through ingestion of some similar items we’ve talked about, like bits of metal from jewelry, ornamented clothing items and accessories, and home décor items. Any number of metals can contain some zinc because it is a component of many metal alloys. I once treated a parrot who became very ill with zinc toxicosis after nibbling on the edge of a decorative metal picture frame.

Believe it or not, United States pennies minted after 1982 are composed of mostly zinc. Prior to that time, they were made of 95% copper and 5% zinc, but when copper became more costly, the composition was changed to a zinc core coated with a thin layer of copper. Ingestion of pennies is a common cause of zinc toxicosis in pet poultry like chickens and ducks, and also occurs in wild birds and in zoo collections when people toss coins into lakes and ponds.

A source of zinc you may never have thought of is medication containing zinc oxide, like sunscreen and some diaper rash creams. Under the “anything is possible in this crazy world” category, I once saw a parrot who developed severe zinc toxicosis after he decided that chewing up a tube of diaper rash cream was a super fun idea. He ultimately recovered and did great, but it was worrisome there for a bit.

Besides these sources, there is a whole other category of items containing zinc that we need to consider: zinc galvanized metals, including wire, hardware, and fasteners. In the right circumstances, these materials can pose a threat to curious birds. Please stay tuned for the next post to find out how.

Visit the blog:
https://www.aav.org/blogpost/1907684/383600/Zinc-Lead-s-Ugly-Cousin

10/31/2022

10/22/2022

Happy Halloween!
Sign up for my mailing list here: https://tinyletter.com/rosemarymosco

10/22/2022

Come see us at the Alamo Exhibition Bird Club Expo in Schertz today! We’re hanging out talking behavior, encouraging great avian welfare, and giving out clickers and info sheets! Come say hi 😀🦜

10/22/2022

Check out this amazing Foundations course being offered by Canada Bird School! 👀
Classes taught by experts, designed for bird owners everywhere — plus one-on-one coaching! See the post below for more!🦜

A four week live class teaching the foundation behaviours.

10/15/2022

“His eyes met mine as he walked down the rows of cages peering apprehensively into each one. I felt his need instantly and knew I had to help him.

I lifted my crest, not too exuberantly, so he wouldn't be afraid. As he stopped at my cage I sat very still and was very quiet, I didn't want him to know that I hadn't been out of my cage today. Sometimes the workers get too busy and I didn't want him to think poorly of them.

As he read my card I hoped that he wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

He leaned forward and began to talk to me. I shoved my wing and the side of my head up against the bars to comfort him. Gentle fingertips caressed my head; he was desperate for companionship. A tear gathered in the corner of his eye and I raised my foot and touched his finger to assure him that all would be well.

Soon my cage door opened and his smile was so bright that I instantly jumped onto his arm.

I would promise to be his companion.
I would promise to always be by his side.
I would promise to do everything I could to keep that radiant smile and sparkle in his eyes.

I was so fortunate that he came down my row and to my cage. So many more are out there who haven't walked the rows. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.”


-The original poem was written by Janine Allen CPDT, Rescue Me Dog’s professional dog trainer. This was found on another page modified for parrots.-