Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Feather clipping is a bit more complicated than, well…merely clipping feathers!  Timing, technique and other factors must be taken in to consideration if the procedure is to be successful.
First Step
You would be well advised to observe a veterinarian or experienced parrot keeper clip your bird’s feathers before attempting to do so [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  The world’s approximately 330 parrot species, while superficially similar in body plan, exhibit an incredible diversity of lifestyles.  To those I have highlighted on this blog I would now like to add the long-billed corella (Cacatua tenuirostris), a unique cockatoo which spends much of its time as does none other – [...]

Please see Part I of this article for information on feeding winter residents, hummingbirds, and other summer visitors.  Today we’ll take a look at bird baths, birding opportunities and luring bats and other small mammals.
Birding Opportunities
Warm weather bird-feeding usually results in spectacular bird watching opportunities…driven to catch hundreds of insects daily, raise several broods and [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  In the 5 species of fig parrot (Genus Opopsitta and Psittaculirostris) we find some of the most colorful of all Psittacines, all of which need much attention in terms of captive breeding.  Several, including the gorgeous Edward’s fig parrot, are kept in captivity, but in none is reproduction considered routine.  However, [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  The grass parakeets (7 species in the genus Neophema) are small, active birds that, by departing from “typical” parakeet behavior, offer a delightful change of pace to serious bird keepers.  For some reason, these colorful, hearty parakeets are not as popular in the USA as they are abroad.  However, several species [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  In Part I of this article we examined the pros and cons of imprinting  – the process wherein an animal comes to see adults of another species as its natural parents – as regards birds in zoos, the pet trade and conservation programs.  Today I’d like to relate a few more [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Birds vary greatly in their reactions to car trips. Knowing your pet’s personality, and planning accordingly, will go a long way in ensuring that both of you enjoy a safe, stress-free journey. If at all possible, take your bird on a few short “practice trips” before embarking on long journeys.
Beyond that, [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  To be christened with the name “peaceful” among a group of birds already well-known for their calm demeanors is quite an accomplishment.  Yet the beautiful little Zebra or peaceful dove (Geopelia striata) lives up to its reputation admirably.  Confiding in humans, the zebra dove gets along very with finches, canaries and [...]

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. In 1935 Austrian zoologist Konrad Lorenz published a ground-breaking paper describing how goslings that he raised came to regard him as, in essence, their “parent”.  Further work on this process, soon to be known as imprinting, led to the founding of the science of ethology, the study of animal behavior.
As every [...]

The following blog entry was done by a guest blogger and does not necessarily reflect the views of Frank Indiviglio or That Fish Place/That Pet Place. Please welcome Dave Womach, Professional Parrot Trainer at Birdtricks.com
When you first hear the term, “freeflight parrot” you might expect to see a parrot flying through hoops in bird show at [...]