Home >> December, 2008

Hand Taming Wild Birds – Attracting and Feeding Wild Birds

Posted on: Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 in: Field Notes and Observations on Birds, Fun Stuff

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Now that bird-feeding season is upon us, I’d like to pass along some thoughts on one of the most pleasurable aspects of this hobby, the hand-feeding of wild birds.  Strange as this may sound, it is actually quite simple to train a number of species to feed from the hand – assuming, [...]

Two Mid-Sized Parrot Clowns: the Black-Capped and White Headed Caique, Pionites melanocephala and P. leucogaster, Part 2

Posted on: Monday, December 29th, 2008 in: Bird Species Profiles

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Please see: Two Mid-Sized Parrot Clowns: the Black-Capped and White Headed Caique, Pionites melanocephala and P. leucogaster, Part 1, for general information on caique care.
Black-Capped Caique, Pionites melanocephala
Description
The caiques are unique among South American parrots in displaying a white breast.  This is set off, in this species, by the bright green wings [...]

Aggression in Lories and Lorikeets (Psittacidae, Lorinae)

Posted on: Friday, December 26th, 2008 in: Bird Species Profiles, Field Notes and Observations on Birds

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
The 56 lory and lorikeet species are among the most gorgeous and active of all parrots, and are usually quite bold in character.  In both the wild (particularly Australia) and in zoos, lory feeding stations are a great hit with tourists, with hundreds of colorful birds flocking onto treat-bearing visitors.
The Effect of [...]

Merry Christmas from Frank and That Pet Place

Posted on: Wednesday, December 24th, 2008 in: That Pet Place Promotions

Thanks for being a loyal That Avian Blog reader in 2008! Have an excellent holiday and please accept this exclusive gift from ThatPetPlace.com 10% off your order over $80. Use promo code “HOLIBLOG” at checkout. Offer valid until January 2nd, 2009. 

Blogs will be back December 26th,
Until than,
Happy Holidays from Frank and the ThatPetPlace.com staff.

The Peafowl’s Tail: the Mystery of Flamboyant Male Birds

Posted on: Monday, December 22nd, 2008 in: Field Notes and Observations on Birds, bird breeding

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Have you ever wondered why, in most bird species, the male with the loudest song, brightest plumage or most spectacular display is usually successful in attracting a mate?  Given that birds have so many predators, and that the efforts of both parents are usually required to raise the chicks, it always seemed [...]

Two Mid-Sized Parrot Clowns: the Black-Capped and White Headed Caique, Pionites melanocephala and P. leucogaster

Posted on: Friday, December 19th, 2008 in: Bird Species Profiles

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.The two parrot species known as caiques (pronounced “kai-EKE) have not, until recently, been very popular in the pet trade. In fact, my introduction to both came about as a result of caring for several that were part of the Bronx Zoo’s collection, despite prior experience working for a large bird importer. [...]

Nesting Associations of Red-Cheeked Cordon Blues (Uraeginthus bengalus) and African Vespid Wasps (Ropalidia cincta) may benefit Both Species: Notes from the Field

Posted on: Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 in: Field Notes and Observations on Birds

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.In an earlier article concerning the cordon blue (Introducing the Red-Cheeked Cordon Blue, Uraeginthus bengalus), I mentioned that this popular pet trade finch often nests close to wasp colonies in its native West Africa. It has long been known that certain birds derive protection from predators by nesting near colonies of ants, [...]

Shipwrecks, Vicious Dogs and Escaped Birds….the Odd History of the Canary (Serinus canaria)

Posted on: Monday, December 15th, 2008 in: Birds in History

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
With their calm dispositions, bright colors and cheerful songs, canaries seem extremely well suited to domestic life. Indeed, they are our most popular songbird…but the history of their entry into our lives is steeped in drama.
Canaries in the Wild
Wild canaries differ greatly from those we are accustomed to seeing, being clad in [...]

The Macaws: An Overview of a Spectacular Group of Parrots, Part III

Posted on: Friday, December 12th, 2008 in: Bird Species Profiles

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
We’ve thus far met the largest and smallest of the macaws (please see Part I and II of this article).  Today I’d like to cover a few that, while considered to be “miniatures” in the macaw world, are still quite substantial birds, and not at all small in character.
At 15-20 inches in [...]

Feeding Insects to Pet Birds: Zoo Med’s Anole Food

Posted on: Wednesday, December 10th, 2008 in: Bird Product Review

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Insects are readily taken by most captive softbills (finches, canaries and other “non-parrot” species), and are often essential in bringing birds into breeding condition and for the rearing of chicks.  Those of us who keep birds such as smaller finches, Peking robins, shama thrushes and leafbirds are often hard put to find [...]