See bird books about natural care, diet, and behavioral issues at my book pages Media-Books-Holistic Care  and Media-Books-Animal Behavior.

HOLISTIC/HOMEOPATHIC AVIAN VETERINARIANS

I haven't had a lot of time to research this for you but I do know that Dr. Linda Stern, Holistic Avian and Feline Veterinarian in private practice in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, is available for phone consultations, 717-730-3755. Her website is www.avianandfeline.com  I interviewed Dr. Stern on my internet radio show, Animal Corner, and you can read about that on the Animal Corner Radio Show page. The show can be ordered on CD.

To find other holistic and homeopathic veterinarians, see my Links-Holistic Care page.
 

NEWSLETTERS

http://www.landofvos.com/eclectus.html Land of Vos offers the Eclectus site, where you will find many articles regarding natural care for birds. Topics include first aid, diet, supplements, FAQs, using safe and natural cleaning products around birds, travel tips, and much more. There is also a message board where you can post questions to Carolyn Swicegood, a natural care bird expert.

http://www.parrottalk.com/ Parrot Talk Connection

http://www.companionparrot.com/  Companion Parrot Quarterly

http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/  Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine

http://www.holisticbirds.com/ Holistic Bird Newsletter. Devoted to health and healing of avian body, mind and spirit.

http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/ HotSpot for Birds is an award-winning, family-friendly avian mall and a reference center. Their mall carries products for the care and enjoyment of birds. Their reference center contains many informative articles (including about common illnesses) intended to help keep your bird safe and healthy. Join their mailing list and be notified of new articles and products.

INTERNET RADIO SHOWS

http://www.scritches.com/podcast/index.html  Podcasts of the show "Parrot Chat", hosted by Marguerite Floyd, Associate Member of the Parrot Division of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. For those who don't know, a podcast is a free audible file you can download to your PC or iPod or mp3 player. Easy enough for even the novice. There are a number of very interesting interviews available, check it out! The To hear my interview by Marguerite about animal communication, go to http://www.scritches.com/podcast/Kat.mp3. 

BOOKS

The Healthy Bird Cookbook: A Lifesaving Nutritional Guide and Recipe Collection (Robin Deutsch, 2005). Lots of good information about natural foods and nutrition for birds, and 150 recipes that your bird will love! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR BIRD LOVERS You can order this book through my site www.katberard.com/res_media_books_holi_care.htm, or an autographed copy from the author at www.crittersonthings.com.

The Click That Does The Trick: Trick Training Your Bird the Clicker Way (Robin Deutsch, 2005). If you think your parrot can't shoot a basket or bowl a strike, think again! Using the information in The Click That Does the Trick, you'll be able to train your bird to perform over 30 entertaining tricks, including shooting a basket, bowling, roller-skating, waving, and more. Training your bird is not only entertaining, but it actually helps build a better relationship between the two of you. You'll spend more time together and come to know and trust each other. And, both you and your bird will have fun. Training your bird reduces his level of boredom and gets him mentally and physically active. You can order this through my book page www.katberard.com/res_media_books_anim_behvr.com or an autographed copy from the author through www.crittersonthings.com.

Holistic Care for Birds: A Manual of Wellness and Healing (David McCluggage DVM, Pamela Leis Higdon, 1998).  Section on use of flower essences. Birds are ideal subjects for holistic care. They are especially sensitive to emotional and physical stresses. Based on what we have learned from wild birds and studies completed in the last 10-20 years, this book will help you provide your bird with a longer, healthier life. Each beautifully illustrated chapter is written from two viewpoints, one from the leading holistic avian veterinarian and the other from a bird owner's viewpoint. Holistic care is defined and the value of this type of care in relation to conventional western medicine is discussed. Other interesting topics include the physical bird, the emotional bird, nutrition and special holistic therapies.

The Parrot Problem Solver (Barbara Heidenreich, 2005) When not properly trained and socialized, parrots are prone to developing a number of behavioral problems, including aggression and self-mutilation. Many owners face these problems and need guidance on solving them. Barbara Heidenreich arms her readers with the information they need to turn their pugilistic parrot into a feathered friend. Some of the topics include: -Wild bird behavior and how it affects the bird/owner relationship -The best and worst ways to modify pet bird behavior -Understanding bird body language -Sidebars on the myths and misconceptions of keeping pet parrots. She also covers addressing various types of aggression.

Barbara Heidenreich is a professional animal trainer and founder of Animal Training and Consulting Services, which provides animal training workshops to zoos and other wildlife facilities. She has written and lectured extensively on the training of parrots. Heidenreich is the president elect of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators.

Good Bird! A Guide to Solving Behavior Problems in Companion Parrots (Barbara Heidenreich, 2004) Training is a form of teaching. The subject learns when the trainer positively reinforces or rewards each small step the subject takes towards the desired behavior. In this book the author describes some typical problem behavior scenarios then offers a step-by-step explanation of how to address these problem behaviors using training techniques based on positive reinforcement. Chapters include Preparing the Companion Parrot Owner, Screaming, Biting, Bonding to One Person, Cage Bound Bird and Feather Picking.

CLASSES

www.donteverpanic.com Offering on-line classes and bird chats.
 

BIRD CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

http://www.indonesian-parrot-project.org/index.php Indonesian Parrot Project: Project Bird Watch is a 501(c)(3) all volunteer organization committed to the conservation of Indonesia's parrots and cockatoos. Their missions: Helping to Conserve Endangered Indonesian Cockatoos and Parrots; Helping Provide Sustainable Income for Local Villages to Reduce Trapping of Cockatoos and Parrots; Serving as a Source of Information and Education Related to Indonesian Parrots and Cockatoos; and Improving the Welfare of Parrots in Captivity using Lessons Learned from their Life in the Wild.

 http://www.sobaybirdsoc.com/index.htm South Bay Bird Society is a non-profit public benefit corporation founded in 1974. Our main focus is educating the general public, members, prospective new owners, and potential breeders on the health, well-being, longevity and stability of birds of the world, our treasured companions and those living in the wild. Membership includes a subscription to their newsletter. See their site for definitions of veterinary/medical terms, an anatomy chart and more.

http://www.parrotsinternational.org/  Parrots International is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, not for profit, organization with the goal of benefiting parrots everywhere by promoting and fostering international cooperation. Parrots International's ambition is to promote the conservation of endangered parrot species and to improve the lives of companion parrots. They work in cooperation with other conservation organizations, donors, field research teams, responsible aviculturists and parrot clubs to propose, develop and fund conservation projects throughout the world. They support conservation via aviculture and emphasize "in situ" conservation with the premise that: "Conservation Happens in the Wild". Additionally, they promote the education of the public and parrot owners on the proper care and unique requirements of healthy, happy companion parrots.

LINKS (including Diet information)

www.birdsnways.com/birds/ihang.htm How to make your own bird toys!

www.scritches.com "Everything for the Bird."

http://www.eclectusville.com/  See Susie Christian's site for information about Parrots and including how to purchase her book A Guide to Eclectus Parrots.

See http://www.landofvos.com/links.html for links to many informative sites which deal with birds, as well as bird organizations and clubs.

http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/featherpicking.htm Feather picking article

http://www.birdsnways.com/  Exotic birds, parrots classifieds, bird magazine, breeders, chats, birds supplies, shows, bird care information. Complete guide to pet parrots & exotic birds! Finches, budgies, conures, amazons, african greys, cockatoos, macaws, lovebirds, lories, parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, parrotlets, pionus, eclectus, senegals, meyers, etc.

http://www.landofvos.com/articles/kitchen5.html  Herbal remedies for parrots

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/birds.htm Shirley's Wellness Cafe, natural care information, supplements,  and links to more bird sites.

http://www.boaf.com/article_3.htm  Parrots die from . . . list of things to be careful of/watch out for. I think some of these things can also apply to other bird breeds

http://www.landofvos.com/articles/NutNutrition.html Article, "Nuts Are For the Birds", detailing why fats are important.

http://www.whitewingsfarm.com/roscodiet.html The "Rosco Diet" for parrots

http://www.landofvos.com/articles/kitchen2.html Feeding natural foods to parrots

http://www.sobaybirdsoc.com/ Among other things, you'll find a veterinary medical dictionary of health problems and other information, as well as an anatomy chart, and a list of household products, foods and beverages to avoid using or feeding around birds.

http://www.bbordello.com/ Toys, recipes, disaster kit, articles and more.

www.donteverpanic.com An on-line resource for bird training. They have seminars once in a while, that you go to the "class room" and read from the Instructor. You can also buy the transcript afterwards.

http://www.911parrotalert.com/ 911 Parrot Alert is run and maintained by volunteer members all around the world. Their primary objective is to gather and exchange information on missing and found parrots. They comb through Internet and newspaper ads, make contacts, and offer guidance and support to members with missing or found birds.

CHATLISTS

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HolisticBird/

http://www.topica.com/lists/holisticbird/

NATURAL CARE PRODUCTS and FOODS

See http://www.landofvos.com/links.html for links to sites which sell natural care products for birds.

Essential Oils: See my Essential Oils page regarding the use of oils around and on birds.

Food: I was especially impressed with the quality and variety of the Roudybush products. See www.roudybush.com.

TOYS

http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/ihang.htm Instructions for how to make your own bird toys.

ARTICLES

What To Know Before Choosing A Bird Companion

Reprinted with permission of Robin Deutsch, author of The Healthy Bird Cookbook: A Lifesaving Nutritional Guide and Recipe Collection,

and The Click that Does the Trick, about clicker training for birds.

Parrots have been kept as pets for centuries. Today they are the 3rd most popular pet. Most people had their first exposure to parrots as a child. Some have seen these birds performing tricks in a show. What makes a parrot so fascinating? Well, they have the intelligence of a 3-5 year old, with the emotions of a 2-3 year old and they can live to be 100.

However, parrots can also be messy and noisy. So why would anyone want one? Well, ask any bird owner and they will tell you the same thing -- parrots are affectionate as well as beautiful. They have a sense of humor, and can keep you amused for hours with their antics. Many are adventurous and mischievous. They are capable of talking, and many use speech correctly.

Parrots are very interactive and they are a very social species. In the wild they are seen in large flocks where they are preening or grooming each other throughout the day. In our homes they require this same interaction. They love to cuddle and they love to be with the family. Some birds may even choose a special person as their own.

Is a parrot right for you, your family and your lifestyle? There are many considerations when choosing a bird. Parrots are social and need interaction. If you are not home very often or are always traveling don’t consider a parrot. Don’t buy a bird just because they can talk. While almost all species possess some talking ability, only a small percentage of parrots actually talk. The best talkers are budgies, African greys, Amazons, rock pebblers, and derbyans. Other species may be better at mimicking sounds.

Consider the noise they make. Macaws can scream at 105 decibels, which can be very painful to the ears. This may cause problems if you live in an apartment. Some people find the chirping of a budgie very annoying while the noise a cockatoo makes doesn’t bother them.

Some species of parrots live a long time. Many of them will outlive their owners. Provision must be made for them. Many owners give their birds to their children when they become too old to care for them. Sometimes these children will hand the bird down to their own children.

Birds are messy. Many owners joke that they don’t vacuum anymore but they mow their carpets instead. Birds are messy for a reason. In the wild it is their way of replanting the rainforest as well as feeding animals that live on the ground. A large percentage of their seed winds up on the floor.

There’s also the space factor: the larger the bird, the more room they will need. If a bird feels cramped they may develop behavior problems. Always buy the largest cage that is appropriate for that species that you can afford and have room for.

Now, even given all this, it is unusual to find a bird owner that just has one bird. In fact, over 60% of bird owners have more than one bird.

A great first pet for an older child is a budgie, cockatiel or small parrot. Not only do they make a great companion, but they also teach the child responsibility. Parents do need to ensure the child is taking proper care of their pet. Smaller children need to be supervised since they may not realize they could hurt the bird. Small children may make some birds nervous, as they tend to move quickly and erratically. They need to be taught how to act around the bird.

What about other pets? Dogs, cats and other pets can get along with birds but supervision is needed. Keep in mind that a bite from a dog or cat can kill your bird. What about other birds? Once again supervision is necessary. Some species of parrots will get along fine, while others may become aggressive with each other. Not all species will get along or should be caged together; for instance, it isn’t wise to put a budgie in with a macaw.

Another point to keep in mind is when you go on a vacation, will there be someone available who is capable of taking care of your bird? There are not many places that will do this.

Birds are also expensive. Some species may cost over $10,000 for just the bird. Birds enjoy chewing and they will destroy their toys which need to be replaced often. In addition to the cage and cost of toys, you must consider the cost of food dishes, playcenters, carriers, water bottles, covers, food and supplies.

The larger species of birds should be microchipped so you can prove the bird is yours in the event of an escape or being stolen. While there are no vaccines required for parrots, regular visits to an avian veterinarian are necessary. Birds hide illness. Unlike dogs and cats that have been domesticated for millions of years, parrots are exotics and still rely on instinct. Instinct tells them if they show signs of illness they would be easy prey. By taking the bird in for regular visits the vet will be familiar with what is normal for your bird.

If you are a smoker you might be shortening the life of your bird. Birds have a very sensitive respiratory system. If you are a smoker you may have to go outside every time you want to light up.

Given all that, are they worth it? Definitely! They are worth every moment of it. They will provide you with plenty of entertainment and love for many, many years.

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