That Bird Blog – Bird Care and History for Pet Birds

 

The tiny Indian white eye has long been a favorite cage bird both here and abroad.  Captive bred individuals are readily available…for those of you considering something a bit different for your collection, this charming, warbler-like little fellow is worth a look.

Physical Description

White-eyes are a mere 4-6 inches long, and clad in olive to bright green feathers about the head and back.  The breast is bright yellow, and lighter yellow flecks color the rest of the plumage.  The striking white eye-ring gives the species its common name and imparts a bright, alert “look”.

Range and Habitat

This and related species, a number of which have been interbred in the pet trade, ranges from India to China and south through Indonesia.  Feral populations are established in many areas outside of the species’ natural distribution, including Hawaii.

Although usually described as inhabiting lowland forests, white eyes are actually quite adaptable and may colonize open scrubland, farms, villages and parks.

Miscellaneous

According to a recent (Jan. 2009) study funded by the American Museum of Natural History and other institutions, white eyes diversify into new species at a far faster rate than any other type of bird.  Oddly, even populations that are separated by short distances (which could be easily crossed by the birds) regularly form new species.

Because the environments occupied by the different species are similar, speciation seems driven by something other than the need to adjust to a new food or climate (as is the case for other animals).  It’s probably fortunate that Darwin considered Galapagos Island finches and not Solomon Island white eyes when formulating his thoughts on evolution…he might have become very confused!

Indian White Eyes as Pets

General

Despite their diminutive size, white eyes are invariably among the most visible birds in any aviary.   This is due in part to their naturally confiding nature…they tame down very quickly and seem unusually confident around people.  Even in a 2 acre aviary, those I kept were always very much in evidence.   Quick to investigate the possibility of a meal, they always flew right to me when I first appeared each morning.

White eyes are quite active and alert, always hunting, preening and moving about, and are very inquisitive.  Males sing quietly in sweet tones.

Space and Other Physical Requirements

White eyes require a larger enclosure than their small size would indicate.  Provide them with a large indoor finch cage or, in warm weather, a planted outdoor aviary.

Light

Indoors, your pet’s cage should be lit by a full spectrum bird bulb.

Feeding

It does take a bit of effort to feed white eyes properly…most, myself included, find it well worthwhile, but please consider this point carefully before deciding to purchase a pair (they do best in pairs or small groups).

The natural diet consists largely of fruit and insects; captives will not thrive unless provided with a wide variety of each.  Fruit can form a large portion of your pets’ diet…white eyes are especially fond of pears, and will accept oranges, grapes, papaya, banana, apples, mango and most other fruits as well.  They must also be given a variety of small insects daily.  Most aviculturists keeping white eyes establish fruit fly colonies…this is not difficult, and colonies are commercially available.  Please write in if you’d like further information.

I would say that an insect trap is essential for the prospective white-eye owner.  I highly recommend the Zoo Med Bug Napper.  White eyes also relish small live crickets, mealworms and waxworms…but these alone do not constitute a sufficient diet. An ideal way of increasing dietary variety is to use finely chopped canned insects.  I also suggest that you experiment with Zoo Med’s Anole Food.  It contains tiny dried flies…when reconstituted with a bit of water it should prove acceptable to white eyes and similar birds.

Egg Food should be offered daily, in conjunction with a commercial insectivorous bird diet or a mix of cooked ground beef and hard boiled eggs (grind with shells).  Goldenfeast Tropic Fruit Pudding Blend is a very interesting product that should prove useful to those rearing white eyes and birds with similar food preferences.

Several older bird-keepers of my acquaintance swore by pound cake soaked in honey water, using it as a bi-weekly treat for white-eyes, orioles, shama thrushes, bulbuls and many other birds.  White eyes under my care consumed it ravenously.

Breeding

White eyes pair up readily and are fairly reliable breeders.  They will utilize an open finch nest and cotton nesting material (spider webs are often incorporated into outdoor nests).

In nature, and in planted aviaries, white eyes tend to nest within dense vegetation.  If you keep yours caged, it would be a good idea to situate their nest site behind a screen of live or artificial plants.

White eye hens lay 2-4 eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 10-12 days.  The young fledge in a mere 12 days.  Fruit flies and other tiny insects must be available to birds rearing chicks.

Additional Resources

A newly-discovered species breaks a few basic “white eye rules” (including the one about having a white eye ring!).  Read more at:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080314095059.htm

Image referenced from Wikipedia and originally posted by Factumquintus

 

 

A fair percentage of the avian health-related calls and emails I receive involve reports of regurgitating or vomiting in budgies, cockatoos and other parrots.  Today we’ll take a look at some common causes of these problems.

Regurgitation or Vomiting?

An important first step is differentiating between regurgitation and vomiting.  Vomiting, which is rather uncommon in birds, involves the expulsion of food from the upper digestive tract.  The material expelled is often partially digested.

In regurgitation, the bird brings up the contents of its crop, the storage sac positioned between the esophagus and stomach.  Regurgitation is a fairly common phenomenon, and may or may not be indicative of a health problem.  Regurgitated food will appear whole and undigested.

The Least Worrisome Scenarios

Male birds of many species regurgitate food to their mates during courtship…pet male budgerigars, especially those housed alone, are particularly prone to this behavior.  The object of their affections may be a toy or even a favored person.

Another fairly benign form of regurgitation is that which occurs in response to excitement, as when a bird overreacts to a new pet or to being left alone, or to fear.  If the stress is short term, the problem will resolve itself…long term stresses are, of course, a serious matter.

Blockages and Crop Stasis

Crop stasis, in which mobility declines and food remains too long in the crop, is the most frequently encountered cause of regurgitation.  It is very common in hand-fed baby parrots, and usually arises when they are given inappropriate diets.  Foreign bodies or grit lodged in the crop may also be involved.

In a condition known as pendulous crop, muscle tone is lost and crop stasis becomes a more or less constant condition.

Goiter and Iodine Deficiency

An iodine deficiency will cause the thyroid to enlarge (goiter).  This puts pressure on the esophagus and crop, and results in frequent regurgitation.  Birds so afflicted usually have difficulty breathing and may wheeze continually.

Be sure to choose an appropriate diet for your pet, and use an iodine supplement  if such is recommended by your veterinarian.

Other Health Concerns

Regurgitation may also be indicative of a wide range of other health problems, including Candidiasis, lead or zinc intoxication, antibiotic reaction or ailments of the pancreas, liver or kidneys.

Unfortunately, there is no simple way to diagnose these from the mere presence of regurgitation – a veterinary evaluation, which may include blood and fecal tests and radiographs, will be necessary.

Further Reading

Proper care is the best preventative medicine available…please check out our extensive collection of bird care books.

Please see my other health care articles posted on this blog, including The Diagnosis and Treatment of Ailments Afflicting Cage Birds.

 

The magnificent sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) is one of the most sought after of all bird pets.  It is also one of the most intelligent, and as such has become well known to TV and movie viewers the world over as an “actor”.  However, its natural history is less in the spotlight, and holds some interesting surprises.

Range and Habitat

Sulphur-crested cockatoos range along Australia’s north-central coast and throughout the eastern third of the continent and on New Guinea, its offshore islands and Aru Island.  Long-collected as a pet, it has been introduced and breeds in the wild on New Zealand, Palau and Indonesia’s Ceramlaut and Goramlaut Islands.

These cockatoos always live within flying distance of water, but otherwise occupy a range of habitats, including forest, open woodlands, brushy savannas and farms.  Favored roosting sites remain in use for decades, even if changes in food availability necessitate long-distance flights.

A Variable Feeding Strategy

Interestingly, cockatoos living in different habitats show widely varying defensive adaptations.  In eastern Australia, where flocks feed in open country on the ground, sentries are always posted in nearby trees.  These individuals keep watch for danger, rising high into the air and screaming as a warning to the flock.

In northern Australia, sulphur-crested cockatoos usually feed in trees at forest edges, where they are less vulnerable to predators than are ground-feeding birds.  Consequently, the sentinel system has not been developed by this segment of the population.

The World’s Most Magnificent Crop Pest?

It is difficult for non-Australians to imagine these fabulous birds in the role of “crop pest”, but a flock of several hundred descending upon a field can be devastating.  They also have been known to ravage harvested grain by ripping into bags held at storage sites.  The clever “raiding parties”, always forewarned of danger by “scouts”, are rarely caught in the act.

On the other hand, the important role of this species in consuming the seeds of harmful weeds and the larvae of crop-feeding insects is well documented.

Cockatoos as Pets

The sulphur-crested cockatoo’s sizable brain and body renders it a wonderful but demanding pet.  Its basic needs are similar to those of related large parrots – a healthful diet, full spectrum light and a large cage or outdoor aviary.  However, the social aspects of keeping such a bird are quite complicated…this is a species best reserved for experienced hobbyists.

Further Reading

Please see my article on Goffin’s Cockatoos  for more information on cockatoo husbandry basics.

Information on the conservation status of this cockatoo may be found at http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1399&m=0.

 

Image referenced from Wikipedia and originally posted by Noodle Snacks.

In the coming weeks, I’d like to devote some time to parrot tricks.  My work with intelligent, social creatures such as parrots, elephants and marine mammals, has convinced me that the true value of training does not lie in the amusement value of the tricks (undeniable as that is!).  Rather, it is that a properly trained captive is much more likely to fit easily into the unnatural world it inhabits.

I’ll start here with some thoughts on the essential nature of our feathered pets, and how we might approach parrot training in a way that is both effective and enjoyable (for parrot and owner!).

The Parrot Dilemma

Thrusting complex, social animals into an unfamiliar world is a recipe for disaster.  Such creatures are interesting to be around, yet they have learning abilities, instincts and social needs that are largely impossible to fill in captivity.

It is no coincidence that sea lions, parrots, primates and elephants have long been at once both the most sought after and highly frustrating of captives.  Observe great apes in the wild and you will quickly realize that today’s multi-million dollar exhibits cannot begin to meet their needs.  With parrots, however, we can do better – if we take the time to observe and learn.

Understanding Parrots

The essential key to a stress-free relationship between yourself and your parrot is a clear understanding of exactly what a parrot is, and how evolution has shaped it to survive.  However well-intentioned, viewing any animal as a “fur or feather clad person” will ultimately confuse and frustrate both pet and pet owner.

A bird which is not trained in a way that respects its unique characteristics, which have evolved over millions of years, will in almost all cases lead a stressful existence – unaware of where its limits lie and, bright as it may be, completely in the dark as to why we act as we do.

Predator-Prey Considerations

Wild parrots are preyed upon by a wide variety of animals, from ocelots in Panama to amethystine pythons in Australia.  Their instincts and impressive learning abilities are directed towards escaping capture, not making friends with huge, strange beings.  Add to this the fact that confinement cuts down the instinctive flight distance (the point to which the parrot will allow a threat to approach before fleeing) dramatically, and you can begin to see the problem.

Of course, with care, we can modify instinct, but the bird’s essential nature will remain…please keep this point in mind.  We cannot approach a parrot as we would a dog.  Dogs are predators, and their way of “viewing the world” differs radically from that of a prey species.

Pet or Domesticated Species?

Dogs have been living in association with people for over 15,000 years, and are fully domesticated (despite this, most mammalogists consider them to be subspecies of the gray wolf, not a distinct species).  Although parrots have been kept sporadically since the times of ancient Rome, serious interest is a new development…even those bred for hundreds of generations (i.e. budgies, cockatiels) are not domesticated in the true sense of the word.

Further Reading

Understanding of your parrot’s needs is the first step in creating a good relationship.  Please check out our comprehensive line of Parrot Care Books http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/info/22314/category.web.

You can learn how instinctual parrot behaviors often lead to misunderstandings between bird and owner at http://www.silvio-co.com/cps/articles/1997/1997blanchard1.htm.

 

What would the world be like without pets? A new bill proposed in House could make this a reality. All pet owners should be aware of a pending federal government resolution. HR669 stands for House Resolution 669 which is designed to change the way the government classifies non-native species. If passed into law it will have a tremendous impact on keeping pets in America. It will make it illegal to sell and breed many animals common in the pet trade including most species of tropical fish, ferrets, most reptile and amphibian species, corals, and many others. Though That Fish Place/That Pet Place is in favor of an effective invasive species law, we are convinced this is absolutely not the legislation to accomplish that. Please check out my HR669 blog here to find out more and learn what you can do to help prevent this from even being introduced as a proposed law.