Home >> October, 2009

Top 6 Bird Care, Conservation and Natural History Websites

Posted on: Thursday, October 29th, 2009 in: Bird Conservation, Birds in History, Fun Stuff, Uncategorized

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  Aviculturists are fortunate in having available a great many bird interest groups….following are several that I’ve found to be particularly worthwhile.  Note: the websites are listed alphabetically, not in order of preference.
The Avicultural Society of America
I first began reading the ASA’s wonderful journal, The Avicultural Bulletin, while working at the Bronx [...]

Bird Breeding – Why Do Good Parents Sometimes Attack Their Chicks?

Posted on: Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 in: Baby Birds, bird breeding

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  Parrots that pair up well, mate, hatch eggs and feed their chicks are every bird-breeders dream.  However, some such birds present us with a frustrating situation – just as the chicks begin to grow feathers, one or both of the otherwise doting parents begin to pluck at their chicks’ feathers.  Bleeding [...]

The English Budgerigar – Calmer and Quieter than its American Cousin?

Posted on: Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 in: Bird Species Profiles, Fun Stuff, General Bird Care

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  Recently, a bird owner confided to me that, although pets were prohibited in her tiny Manhattan apartment, she was able to keep an English budgerigar because it was very quiet and also a good deal less active than the American budgies which she had kept.  Thinking back, I realized that English [...]

Avian Nutritional Considerations: Finches, Toucans and Other Birds

Posted on: Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 in: Bird Health, Bird diet, General Bird Care

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  Today we’ll take a look at some of the finer points (as opposed to the basics) involved in feeding canaries, doves, budgerigars, toucans and related birds. Please see Part I and Part II of this article for information on African Gray and Amazon Parrots, Mynas and Macaws.
Finches
The perception of finches as [...]

Eclectus Parrots in the Wild and Captivity – Part 2

Posted on: Thursday, October 15th, 2009 in: Bird Research or Recent News, Bird Species Profiles, Field Notes and Observations on Birds, Fun Stuff, bird breeding

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. In Part I of this article we discussed eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) behavior in the wild and captivity. Today I would like to focus on one of the more unusual facets Eclectus Parrot natural history – how a unique reproductive strategy has fostered a degree of sexual dimorphism (difference in [...]

Foraging Toys and Treats – Keeping Pet Birds Active and Interested

Posted on: Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 in: Bird Health, General Bird Care

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  Wild birds spend the vast majority of most days occupied with gathering food.  In captivity, where all their nutritional needs are usually met in a matter of minutes, boredom and a general decline in vitality are constant concerns.  While well-recognized in parrots, these same considerations apply to canaries and other finches, [...]

Eclectus Parrots in the Wild and Captivity – Part 1

Posted on: Thursday, October 8th, 2009 in: Bird Research or Recent News, Bird Species Profiles, Field Notes and Observations on Birds, Fun Stuff, General Bird Care, bird breeding

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  One day, while working in Bronx Zoo’s eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) exhibit, a visitor asked me what sort of food additives I used to keep the bird’s colors so brilliant and silky.  Another, upon viewing a pair of eclectus preening, inquired how I had managed to get the two different species [...]

Finches – Sampling the Incredible Diversity of Species Available

Posted on: Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 in: Bird Species Profiles, Bird diet, Field Notes and Observations on Birds, General Bird Care

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  Finch enthusiasts are in the enviable position of being able to easily obtain a wide range of interesting, colorful and unusual species.  Among no other group of cage birds do we find such a variety of captive-bred specimens.  Although some are quite delicate, even those relatively new to the hobby can [...]

Keeping a Preventative and Emergency Health Care Kit for Birds

Posted on: Thursday, October 1st, 2009 in: Bird Emergencies, Bird Health, Bird Product Review, Bird diet, General Bird Care

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.  In caring for birds at home and in zoos, I have found that having emergency care items on hand has often prevented minor mishaps from turning into disasters.  Supplements that aid in preventative health care are also essential.  Today I have assembled a list of products that parallel those used in public [...]