Fun Stuff
Canary Shows – Rating the Songs of American Singer Canaries
Sep 2nd
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Bird clubs and associations regularly sponsor shows in which parrots, finches and others can compete for prizes based on appearance, color and even “breed standards”. Less common, but very popular among canary enthusiasts, are singing competitions. But just how does one judge something as “natural” as a bird’s song? Today we’ll look at the surprising array of criteria used to rate the songs of the ever-popular American Singer Canary. If you are looking to add a new aspect to your hobby, singing competitions might be the way to go (your own efforts will not be appreciated, so please leave the singing to your Canary!).
American Singer History
The breed known as the American Singer Canary was developed in the 1930’s. Canary enthusiasts seeking a good songster with a calm personality searched for breeds that might be crossed to produce a bird with both qualities. The German Roller was chosen for its singing abilities while the Border Canary was selected due to its good nature and suitability as a pet. Cross-breeding Rollers with Borders produced the American Singer Canary, which has become one of the most popular of all breeds. More >
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Loading ...Fossil Allows Researchers to Distinguish Sex of Ancient Bird-Like Creature
Aug 30th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Pterosaurs (incorrectly labeled “Pterodactyls” by old-timers such as I) flew the skies during the Mesozoic Era, some 220-65 million years ago. The huge head crests sported by many have baffled scientists since the first specimen was found in 1784 (please see drawing). However, a recently discovered fossil hints that sexual dimorphism may be involved, and has allowed researchers to determine the sex of fossilized Pterosaurs for the first time.
Technically, Pterosaurs are flying reptiles, not birds. Yet they possess many bird-like qualities, so I thought that bird enthusiasts might be interested in this latest finding concerning their lives. In any event, taxonomy is constantly blurring the lines between various groups (for example, birds are now considered to be “modern dinosaurs”, and closely related to crocodilians), so perhaps Pterosaur classification may change in the future… More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Teaching a Parakeet to Perform Tricks – Target and Clicker Training
Aug 26th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. The Parakeet, Budgerigar or “Budgie”, Melopsittacus undulatus, arrived on the European pet scene in 1840 and has since become one of the world’s most popular pets. However, perhaps because they are small and inexpensive, Budgies are sometimes not viewed as “real parrots” by their owners, and consequently are not given the chance to show off their many talents. In addition to being wonderful mimics, Budgies can learn a great variety of tricks…and seem to take pleasure in doing so!
Trust
Getting your pet to accept your presence, and then to be comfortable with your hand in its vicinity, is an essential first step in training. This is generally quite simple, as budgies are sociable by nature and rather miserable without human or avian company. Please see this article for more on basic care and creating trust. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Myth-Busters – Do Hand-Reared or Parent-Reared Parrots Make Better Pets?
Aug 5th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. This is the first in a new series of what I’ll call “Myth-Buster Articles”, which will focus on beliefs or practices that have aroused debate among bird keepers. After reviewing the available research and my own and other’s experiences, I will attempt to sort fact from fiction. Today I’ll compare the “pet value” of hand-reared, parent-reared and “co-parented” parrots.
General Considerations
“Hand-reared” refers to chicks that are pulled from the nest soon after hatching and fed by hand until fledged. Such birds have long been considered to be the gold standard in parrot pet. However, behavioral problems that are sometimes exhibited by hand-reared individuals have led some to question the value of this technique. More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...How Long do Birds Live? Record Ages for Parrots, Canaries and other Birds
Jun 28th
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Parrots are reputed to live to great ages – over 100 years if some reports are to be believed. Less well-known are the incredible longevities racked up by some very small pet and wild birds. I’ve kept a casual tally of the ages attained by many of the species I cared for at the Bronx Zoo, and recently reviewed some published studies on this subject.
100-Year-Old Parrots?
A recent review of zoo collections, published in the International Zoo Yearbook (please see below), did not uncover any 100 year-old parrots. The most celebrated parrot in this category, a macaw named Charlie, is reputed to be 104 years old. Said to have been owned by Winston Churchill, Charlie now lives in Surrey, England, where he passes his time by screaming anti-Nazi sentiments. Unfortunately his history, and connection to his renowned former owner, could not be traced. More >
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