Rescue Report

by Shauna Roberts
Winter 2003

Quarantine :: Love Has Wings:Three Rescue Stories :: Improving Overall Health :: Bird Keeping in Japan :: Forever Homes :: Resources

Quarantine, Who Needs It?

By Shauna Roberts

Standards of care are sadly lacking in the Parrot welfare world. Most parrot rescue/sanctuary facilities are often thought of as being run by experienced individuals and many of them are; but assumptions should never be made as to any organization’s education or commitment to such things as quarantine. Something as old and taken for granted as quarantine, is not always practiced. This leads to outbreaks of Pacheco’s, spread of PDD and other diseases. We should always ask questions, seeking answers with which we are comfortable.

No matter how large or small a place may be, quarantine practices may or may not be accomplished for any number of reasons. One reason cited is not having the space. If that is the case, then it should be asked why any more birds are being taken in, jeopardizing those already in one’s care? On the other side of the coin, if present birds are already infected with something, it could be jeopardizing the health of the newcomer. Should birds being rescued mean putting them in jeopardy of disease?

Another interesting belief is that if birds are outside, they do not need to be quarantined. Not true! Disease is spread just as readily outdoors as indoors in most cases. One exception may be PDD. Although it is can be spread outdoors, no quarantine of a PDD bird indoors could have worse effects. The time that it would take for disease transmission, just as in the case of being indoors, will depend on how close birds are to each other. If birds are outdoors in a shared cage or aviary and huddling shoulder to shoulder, sharing a food dish, playing, using the same perches, disease is always a risk and quarantine should be no less than for birds kept indoors.

Some believe that a totally separate air space is needed for quarantine, and this would be optimal, but not practical, for most facilities or homes. A room with a door is usually adequate and with a few other precautions can be improved. These include changing shoes when entering the quarantine room, wearing a smock, covering hair with a shower cap if you like (many birds surprisingly don’t seem to mind), and rolling a towel and keeping it over the bottom crack between the door and the floor. Also important, washing hands and face before and after entering the quarantine room.

It may not sound like much, but more and more I am hearing of and seeing some rescue facilities, as well as individual homes, that are not practicing quarantine. This is a huge concern to homes and rescues who do quarantine as they should. One would think that it would be done out of a passionate love of wanting what is right, yet is all too often ignored. Quarantine is important! I will also mention, there are many rescues who do practice quarantine, so don’t assume one does or does not. Ask questions and if possible visit facilities. Birds don’t have vaccines and tests readily available as dogs and cats do when boarding them together, so it’s important to take precautions to assure the health of those already taken in, as well as any others who enter. Birds don’t have a choice in these matters. It’s up to us to make sure they get the care and love they deserve, and that includes taking proper health precautions.

Love Has Wings That Can Fly Away

By Shauna Roberts

Heidi

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting several birds over the years that stole my heart. One was a Vosmaeri Eclectus named Heidi. While leaving a bird show, I saw a yellow tailed Eclectus parrot on the arm of a teenage woman and her mother, talking to passersby. I stopped to inquire and was told Heidi was looking for a new home and they were taking phone numbers of anyone interested, wanting to screen potential homes. Not really needing another bird I was hesitant, but the yellow feathers that should have been red puzzled me and I left my number. I heard from the mother about a week later, telling me that they wanted a good home for Heidi and she went on to tell me that none of the other homes were satisfactory. We talked and I was still hesitant, not really needing to take in another bird. We agreed to meet at Heidi’s house. Upon entering I noticed that the main house showed absolutely no signs of a bird, anywhere. We then went downstairs, which was finished and nice but wasn’t heated, other than a heat lamp that emitted light, near the cage. There was Heidi, seemingly content on top of her cage, peering out the sliding glass door. I learned that Heidi had been given up due to a divorce, going into a less than committed home as a show piece, and then adopted by this woman and daughter to try and do better by her. They had done what they could to learn about parrots, and truly loved and wanted the best but still, admittedly, had things to learn. The daughter had also become busy as she already had horses and was very involved in school activities. The mother apparently felt I knew the things that Heidi needed, so asked if Heidi could come live with me, and my husband and I agreed.

Heidi did very well and was one of the funniest birds I have ever known; she was truly a clown. There’s nothing like a red feathered Eclectus face in the food bowl making piggy sounds. She also got along very well with the other birds and was so easy compared to the energetic cockatoos I was used to. She seemed to be happy and thriving and my plan, as with any bird that comes to me, was to take care of her forever. All of that changed one day when a woman in her early twenties came to visit. Heidi couldn’t keep her eyes off of Katie and the feeling was mutual. Heidi, a somewhat standoffish bird with strangers, went to Katie and cooed and preened. It was a sight to behold, amazing love at first sight and when Katie left I was told that she felt emptiness. Had it been Heidi’s mood that particular day or had she found true love? Katie came over a few weeks later and that same magic was still very apparent. I couldn’t deny Heidi her true love so respecting Heidi’s decision after a few more visits, I said goodbye. She has blossomed even further in her new home and continues to think the moon rises and sets with Katie…..I miss her but am extremely happy that she found Katie, her true love.

Cookie

I walked into a bird store one day and the sight of a new cockatoo caught my eye. Was it? Yes it was a greater sulpher crested and his name was Cookie. He looked at me and came to say hello and lowered his head for a scratch. We talked for a while, when he wanted me to pick him up. I did and received a giant greater hug. Employees asked me if I knew that he bit, to be careful. BIT? He seemed very calm and gentle, especially compared to a volatile adolescent cockatoo I had at home those days. I visited Cookie several days a week, watching his garden of sunflowers grow from thrown out seed. After that I made an offer to adopt him, but he didn’t belong to the store. He was in the store because he had bitten his person and she was apparently insistent that he go into a breeding program. I begged many times to adopt him but it never came to be. Cookie lived in the store for several months and, it seemed, had everyone bullied but was always great with me. As time went on, his grip seemed to worsen and occasionally he even fell off of perches. I was called once to rescue him off of the aviary floor, as he couldn’t climb back up and was chasing employees trying to offer assistance. I walked in, squatted down and had Cookie in my lap, clattering away; wanting nothing more than hugs and kisses.

His grip became so weak that he was no longer moving in his cage and I asked several times about his need to see a veterinarian. I offered to take him myself, to leave a deposit if they wanted, whatever it took to go see a doctor. Finally the veterinarian visited the store and, I was told, took Cookie immediately and kept him over a week while tests were run and for observation. It was determined my friend had advanced arthritis and the damp Oregon weather was not helping his condition so he went back to California where he had come from. Before leaving, I gave him a bath and spent extra time with him. I received some updates and it sounded like he was doing ok. I heard later that he was finally given a new home, with a man. I miss Cookie and still cry….we had that special connection, which isn’t always easy to find. I dreamed of bringing him home, but it was never to be. I hope with all my heart that he’s doing well and has found happiness.

Pearl

Pearl is a bird I only knew a few days but she sure stole my heart and my mind about those red tail grey birds.

I was told that a man was coming to the house to surrender a grey parrot to a parrot welfare foundation. Pearl was accused of aggressive posturing towards the wife and generally always acting aggressively towards people. It didn’t sound like she was getting much, if any, interaction so it was decided that a new loving home, would be the best course of action. She arrived in her cage and was left, without even a good bye. The cage was filthy so Pearl was asked to come out while we cleaned it. Unsure, she stepped out to the top of her cage, then to us. Regardless of what we had been told, she was one of the sweetest birds I had ever met. She loved being out, would go to absolutely anyone, and was charming. For those few days she was here, she hung out with the girls, being her girlish self (she had arrived as a boy but we suspected and DNA showed she was a hen.) After a few days, it was time for her to take her flight so, with a heavy heart, I said goodbye, all the while wishing she could stay but not really feeling I was her best choice. She arrived at the foundation and after quarantine hung out with the other grey parrots. She was such a sweetie and it didn’t take long before that special home of her own came along. I still think about her and my heart wishes she would have stayed but I tell myself she’s in that perfect home now and very much loved.

Bringing a Rescue Parrot Up To Snuff;
Improving Overall Health

By Shauna Roberts

Health of individual birds depends on their past history including diet, environment and general care. Some may need more help and for much longer periods of time than others and some may never fully recover from previous nutritional deficiencies. Ways to help previously neglected birds could range from mental stimulation, to better lighting to proper nutrition. It should also be noted that there are those birds who have been in such poor previous care, they may literally take years to recover, if in fact they ever do fully recover at all. Poor environment can sometimes result in a forever-weakened state.

A check up by an experienced avian veterinarian can help you to determine problems, not only by a hands-on exam, but also through blood work, tests, and radiographs. Things that might be examined include blood values, feather, skin, eye and cere condition, fecal exam, and also skeletal and general internal condition. These help to establish some long and short-term health history on the bird and also give a starting point for you, your veterinarian and/or holistic professional to devise a plan towards better overall health.

UV Lighting is one of the easiest elements to apply. Natural sunlight is preferable and exposure should be for at least 20 minutes a day. If that is not possible, then full spectrum UV lights can be purchased. These not only help birds produce vitamin D precursors, but provide the light needed to see as they should, enabling them to use their UV vision. I feel it is important to keep in mind that birds are outdoor sunlight creatures and do best when given fresh air and sun.

Rest can be an important aspect of settling a bird in. Most wild parrots live near the equator and so receive 10-12 hours of dark time every night. Captive parrots should receive this much dark time and rehomed or rescue parrots can sometimes benefit from a bit more dark time initially. The body tends to heal during rest periods, and nighttime is optimal for this.

Some birds may arrive too weak to perch and in those cases, should be placed in a smooth enclosure on towels, or thick paper, without perches. Be sure to make food and water easily accessible if the bird is able to eat on its own. When offering food, use plates or spread it around, so it will be easily accessible. As the bird gains strength, use shallow bowls and add perches. In cases of more extreme stress, birds have higher caloric requirements and increased protein needs for tissue repair, blood cell and enzyme production and maintenance of blood proteins. Also more fatty acids are used by the body. In these cases, it may be advisable to offer a nutritional formula such as Ensure Plus.

Diet often needs to be changed, but it is not always advisable to change diet overnight Although some birds will change diet quickly, others need to go slower – let them be your guide as to how fast to go. Improved diets can be offered along with the old diet, with the old diet quantity gradually being reduced, eventually only using the old diet food as incentive, if need be, to consume new foods. Creativity can sometimes go a long way in changing old habits. When offering new foods also research them to see if birds eat anything similar to what they would eat in the wild. For example, cockatiels are mainly seed and grass consumers. Birds have excellent taste sensors but very specialized tongues, so a cockatiel may not be able to taste the sweetness of fruit, not having that taste bud, and thus reject it. Continuing to offer it would be futile. However, they will likely be able to taste the difference between fresh and older seed, sprayed or organic greens etc, tasting much more from these items, than we likely could.

Sometimes birds arrive with calcium deficiencies, diagnosed by blood results or radiographs, showing skeletal thinning. In these cases you would want to offer high calcium foods, along with magnesium, phosphorus and boron. Boron is a trace mineral primarily found in fruits and vegetables and a lack of it can hamper calcium absorption.
Rich sources of boron are found in fruits, especially apples, pears, grapes, dates, raisins, peaches, legumes and nuts - especially hazelnuts and almonds. Also manganese, found in pineapple, oatmeal, nuts, grains and beans works similar to boron. By offering a variety of fresh foods, all elements needed should not be hard to provide. Extra calcium can be found in egg shells and cuttle bone. Also UV light would be beneficial. Foods to avoid or offer in extremely limited amounts, would be those highest in oxalic acid (which may interfere with the use of calcium or magnesium) including spinach, rhubarb, beet greens and swiss chard.

Diet additions to start out with might include probiotics to help establish good gut flora and digestion. These should be from a quality source that has been refrigerated. Avian products are from chickens and not parrots. Human products work just as well at establishing flora. Either product, human or chicken is sloughed off by the body, but stimulates the body’s production of its own gut flora. The process of establishing new flora takes anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks.

A nutritionally deficient bird could benefit from the addition of digestive enzymes. Also any bird exposed to disease can benefit from enzymes as they help break down food to its best nutritional benefit. Always give a correct dosage as too many enzymes could cause harm, just as too much of anything is never a good idea.

Natural supplements are a wonderful addition to any diet, as long as you are not supplementing in some other form, such as synthetic supplements. A certain amount of supplementation is beneficial but too much can cause harm. I personally prefer natural supplements as they contain nutritional elements that scientists are still discovering. . Many also help build immunity and help to heal. Natural contains complete profiles of what’s needed to make this and that nutrient work best, including its own digestible enzymes and chlorophyll. A terrific and often overlooked supplement is alfalfa. Others are wheat grass, spirulina or barley grass. A small amount of kelp can also be added a few days a week. Some rescue facilities receive donated fruits and vegetables. These are past their nutritional prime and sometimes pre-chopped so even more nutrients are lost. Nutritionists refer to the pre-chopped fruits and vegetables as processed foods rather than fresh. If you are offering these, then natural green supplements could help provide nutrients that likely are not being received if offering this type of produce.

A good organic diet, consisting of grains, legumes, greens, vegetables, fruit, sprouts, seed and nuts, is the very best tool to rebuild and maintain immunity and good health but you can further enhance immunity boosting by adding garlic a few times a week. Cayenne pepper is also immune enhancing and birds love it; however, it’s not advised to offer cayenne to a bird with liver problems, as it could over stimulate a stagnant liver. Also plenty of dark orange and green veggies chock full of Vitamin A, Vitamin B and E are also important for immune systems and are found in grains, seeds and nuts. You may also consider offering Echinacea, Astragalus or Saint John’s Wort to very weakened immunities. You should consult with a professional to receive proper advice on dosage. Herbs like medicine, work best when given in correct dosages and could cause harm if too much if given or for too long of a period of time.

Feather plucking is seen in many rescue birds and can have many possible causes, such as environment, nutrition and/or health. An avian vet should always check out birds that are plucking. Even when answers are not found initially, they sometimes are found later on, even a few years later, so don’t think you can never find the answer to help a bird feel better. When the cause of plucking seems to be related to skin condition, a bird might receive some relief from certain herbs. Please keep in mind however, that relieving the apparent itch is far from a cure and the cause of the itching should be investigated and a cure sought out, which may be as simple as diet improvement. You would never want to use alcohol-based herbs for treating the skin. Glycerin based herbs can be watered down or you can make teas. Just as we are individual and different medicines work for one and may not work for another; herbs are the same way. So if your bird doesn’t get relief, don’t give up, you can try another. Some suggestions are: slippery elm, marshmallow, plantain, and chickweed. Aloe Vera can also give relief but should only be given for a few weeks. Calendula can also be soothing and help to relieve pain.

Fatty liver can be a problem caused by too much fat in the diet. Too much fat results in malnutrition in the form of obesity, fatty liver, diarrhea and/or an oily feather texture. Birds with these symptoms could benefit from sprouts to provide essential fatty acids, which have been shown to improve condition of fatty liver. Fats in the diet should be reduced but not too quickly. Set up a plan with a veterinarian, to reach the bird’s goal weight in a period of about 6 months.

Let’s not forget water. By providing a pure water source, free of bacteria and chemicals, you will be adding to general health and recovery.

By providing an optimal diet, happy stimulating environment, UV light and fresh air, you will be giving your bird a good holistic approach to better health and a better chance at a long and fulfilling life.

Birdkeeping in Japan - An American’s Perspective

By Vanessa Rolfe DVM

Soshi Matsumoto spoke at The Gabriel Foundation’s Parrots in the New Millennium 2001 in Tampa, FL. Involved in the pet bird business, he became distressed about the deplorable conditions in which birds are often displayed, sold and kept in Japan. He described many disheartening aspects to bird care in Japan, especially many primitive retail conditions commonly found. He had started an organization, TSUBASA (The Society for Unity with Birds- Adoption and Sanctuary in Asia) as a vehicle to improve these conditions, as well as to provide help for unwanted birds.

His talk was quite shocking because my westerner’s view of Japanese society had order, beauty, cleanliness, and respect for nature being very important – and were what I had always respected about Japan. These qualities were in stark contrast to the conditions I heard described. His pictures showed a treatment of birds that was worse than the conditions we are fighting against in many other parts of the world.

I volunteered to travel to Japan for several weeks to provide any help I could and to observe these conditions for myself. Matsumoto san generously offered to host me. I was able to consult with TSUBASA’s veterinarian, Dr. Yoshie Takenoushi to trade insights and experience, and learn more about the state of avian medicine in Japan. I was able to visit several pet stores and a pet fair to survey common retail conditions. In addition, I was able to participate along with local avian veterinarians, behaviorists and other experts in a two-day seminar for bird enthusiasts.

Dr. Takenoushi has a great love for avian medicine and her patients, and is very dedicated. It was a pleasure meeting her and talking ‘shoptalk,’ albeit through interpretation. An obstacle she faces every day caring for her patients is that there is a lack of veterinary laboratory facilities in Japan that will properly analyze bird samples. This is a major issue in providing proper care to birds. Many don’t realize this, but because most species of companion birds are on CITES, it is time-consuming, expensive, and difficult to send a biological sample such as a blood sample internationally. There are many regulations that control this and a veterinarian would need to fill out many forms and applications just to send for a simple test. These laws are in place to control the illegal traffic of these listed species, but nonetheless they do delay and add to the expense of analysis. Access to a laboratory within Japan to avoid this red-tape, would be quite helpful.

I had the honor of visiting one of the busiest avian practices in Japan. Dr. Naoko Sanada’s bird hospital, Bird House, is located in Chiba prefecture which is next to Tokyo. Several other avian veterinarians from throughout Japan met here with us to evaluate, discuss, and work-up some complicated cases. Many birds, an average of 30 each day, are seen by Dr. Sanada; her hours start early in the morning and continue until late each evening. These clients come from throughout the region, and will often join a queue outside the clinic waiting for hours. It seemed as though the common problems seen by avian veterinarians are universal- nutritional issues remain the most common seen, followed by many other common issues including behavior problems and infectious disease.

There is a huge influx of imported birds, and Japan remains a top importer in the world. These birds are either wild caught or bred in captivity elsewhere in the world. There is no quarantine requirement, and birds are often sold from wholesale brokers bringing in large numbers of birds from many origins. As you can imagine, this fosters a great deal of infectious disease transmission between the birds in these facilities, similar to the conditions in the United States as of 20 to 25 years ago. Because of this, viral, bacterial, and parasitic conditions are seen frequently by avian veterinarians. What would otherwise strike horror in the hearts of American bird keepers, VVND, otherwise known as Exotic Newcastle disease is seen sporadically. Very unusual conditions can be seen, because of the numbers of birds that transit through housing in southeast Asia.

There are very few breeders in Japan to supply the demand for pet birds, and they have a negligible domestic production of parrots other than cockatiels and budgerigars. There are attempts by many bird lovers in Japan to lobby for quarantine measures, citing the risk of VVND to the poultry population.

I spent some time visiting Matsumoto san’s store, CAP!, in Saitama prefecture next to Tokyo. His goal was to encourage the adoption of homeless birds, and he had discontinued bringing birds in from the USA. At that time he planned to stop selling of birds in the store within the next month. CAP! provided clean, properly ventilated, well-lit and sunny places for the birds, and gave them as much room to play as possible including a large flight room. The sanctuary birds were housed within the store as well.

Hygiene was very important, as there was a hand washing and foot washing station at the entrance of the store. Nutritional needs were well-addressed, and birds with medical concerns were kept carefully quarantined in another building, next to Dr. Takenoushi’s office. The birds were respected and given the dignity they deserve- even for the few that passed away, there was a place of burial that was a shrine.

Customers had a great deal of choice of care products. The store had the entries to the latest photo contest on the wall, and gave a place for artsy-minded customers to sell their bird-themed pieces. Cages much roomier than average were also available. Educational literature was everywhere, promoting proper care and encouraging the human-animal bond.

CAP!’s quality contrasted greatly with most of the other stores- they went from bad to worse. The one pet store we visited that was at an acceptable level was part of a department store and had only fish, amphibians, and small mammals, which were provided a clean and well-ventilated environment. Subsequent pet stores kept animals in conditions much worse than the ‘average’ pet store in the USA.

Most of the stores had many different types of birds and animals present; bird species besides parrots and typical finches included raptors such as hawks, owls and falcons, many softbills (including toucans and hornbills); I even saw a penguin at one store. Owls were reported to be more popular than typical because of the recent Harry Potter craze. Although psittacines may need a great deal of care, other species of birds may require much more care including truly specialized diets and most people do not realize that when they bring a raptor or fish-eater into their home.

Birds were typically given only seed, typically sunflower seeds- rarely were additional fresh or formulated foods provided; hygiene was very poor and there was great overcrowding and small cages. If the birds were on perches, they were often leg-chained. Many birds had stereotypical behaviors and did not appear in the best of health. Many were obviously sick (showing symptoms such as swollen sinuses, nasal discharge, lethargy, regurgitation, abnormal droppings). Many had depleted food and water supplies. Most stores were dark and poorly lit and ventilated.

In addition, birds were often housed next to a variety of species of mammals, in conditions similar to the birds’. Species included a variety of primates, rodents (including Patagonian cavies and a porcupine), insectivores (including bats), carnivores (including large exotic cats and skunks), and unrecognizable sleeping bodies. The possibility of cross-disease transmission was great.

A pet fair we attended in Osaka had less objectionable conditions than the pet stores but birds and other animals were on display in crowded small cages and were not well-protected from onlookers. Although I do not speak or read Japanese, it appeared to me that the ‘cool-factor’ of the birds was emphasized without any subsequent information or emphasis of responsibility. This of course was echoed in the retail establishments we visited.

Supplies sold by the pet stores varied greatly. There were many brands of seeds sold, but most were of very poor and moldy quality. Sometimes different types of formulated diets were available from facilities not offering this to their birds. However, cages available were small (often smaller than the already too-small cages sold in the US). There were few toys or other provisions for environmental enrichment.

I was made aware that there are few laws regulating the conditions in these stores or for animal welfare in general. The few existing regulations are not really enforced and these stores appeared to operate freely. It is evident from my discussions that these retail conditions are frequently accepted as SOP and therefore not regularly rebuffed by companion animal owners. There are few animal welfare groups in Japan; the nature of the society does not lead to the ‘expose’ journalism commonly used to publicize and critique similar conditions that might exist in the USA.

The unbelievable retail conditions were increasingly depressing. However, there are signs of hope. Often zoological parks in Japan have conditions similar to those described for retail establishments. However, a children’s zoo in Saitama prefecture had several large outdoor cages for their Amazons, cockatoos and macaws, and the birds appeared to be in good condition with appropriate nutrition and environmental enrichment. The zoo also provided information about conservation and responsible care in a pleasant environment. A bird park I was unable to visit was reported to have good conditions and the pictures I have seen seem to validate that. Several up-to-date bird care manga have become available. For those not familiar with manga, these are what you might consider comic books aimed for readers of all ages and are very popular in Japan in both fiction and non-fictional subjects.

My optimism continued to grow when over 100 people from all over Japan eagerly attended the weekend seminar that TSUBASA organized. Three avian veterinarians lectured, as well as a prominent Japanese behaviorist with a comical and charismatic flair. Finally, a veterinary pathologist announced that he is planning on opening up an avian-oriented laboratory for samples to be processed in Japan.

Attendees were enthusiastic, aware and compassionate bird lovers who were trying to learn as much as possible. They were voracious readers and listeners who absorbed as much up-to-date information as possible, and had done a tremendous job educating themselves already. They provided regular veterinary care for their birds, often traveling several hours by train, to an experienced veterinarian. They, as many here, have become enamored of their birds and are truly dedicated to their well-being. And most importantly of all, they painfully realized the situation in the bird trade and retail establishments, and were significantly energized to improve these conditions through public outcry and lobbying.

TSUBASA donated the proceeds from the seminar, about $700, to The Gabriel Foundation, earmarked for birds affected by the recent 9/11 attacks.

It is quite inspiring when a small group of dedicated bird lovers including Matsumoto san are able to take a big step to improve the life of many birds. I will look forward to helping when I can, and watching with interest what lies ahead.

Forever Homes: Building Relationships That Will Last

By Shauna Roberts

Most often when adopting a parrot into ones life, it is hoped that a commitment or promise is made to the parrot that their new home is forever, meaning for as long as the current caregiver can provide for their new companion. All too often however, even with the best of intentions, parrots find themselves needing a new home after only a few months or years. A large reason for this is due to a lack of understanding of both parrot behavior and our own, and the parrot too often gets blamed with statements such as "they are wild creatures". Although it is true, "wildness" should not become an excuse for why a parrot is misbehaving and going from home to home.

In order to have a better understanding of your parrot, and increase the chance of a long and happy relationship together, there are learning resources available to help. The most popular resource for several years has been magazines, some centering around behavior, and books. Another source would be avian consultants and also trainers, some of whom are available on the Internet to help you. Whenever considering help, it is highly suggested that you look for those who understand, use and teach positive reinforcement methods.

For those interested in learning better observational skills and about behavior, Susan Friedman Ph. D., and fellow bird owner, is available on Companion Behavior List at http://www.parrottalk.com . Susan is an applied behavior analyst, a researcher and a professor of psychology at Utah State University. She has 30 years experience working with severely emotionally disturbed adolescents, (some of the most extreme behaviors on earth some might say); and, in the last decade she has been consulting with zoos and other animal facilities regarding the application of applied behavior analysis to other species. Her work with companion parrots and their caretakers includes the LLP (Living and Learning with Parrots; The Fundamental Principles of Behavior) course developed for on-line students, that teaches the basic science of behavior and learning applied to our companion parrots.  The course is appropriate for beginners as well as those with more advanced education in behavior, as you can go as in depth as you are able. By learning the principles of behavior you and your birds are empowered to live together more successfully. The fee for class is a donation to a selected avian non-profit charity.  Susan also teaches LLP in a two-day workshop format, writes articles and gives presentations about behavior at bird clubs.

There is also another option for those wanting to learn how to teach their parrots to be successful companions. That option is to learn the teaching technology from applied behavior analysis called operant conditioning, which includes positive reinforcement training techniques such as clicker training. Clicker training is not only a way to help you teach your bird important companion behaviors using positive reinforcement but, it also offers us a way to enliven our interactions and our birds’ days. Parrots need more activity than most of us provide. Training is fun, physically active and mentally stimulating for our birds. You can also train your birds to cooperate with husbandry behaviors such as lifting each foot for grooming and inspection, taking medicine, and allowing their wings to be lifted for exams. When we reduce force from all aspects of caring for our parrots, we improve their good behavior and the likelihood that they will remain valued members of our home. But this outcome is up to us as caregivers.

Living with parrots is an every day learning experience, one that should blossom as we can learn much from each other. The next time your parrot bites, ask yourself "what is it that he or she is trying to communicate?" "How can I teach him /her to communicate without biting?"  These two questions will get you off to a better understanding and believe it or not, probably less bites because you will learn to focus on your bird as a learner. Take the time to learn and keep learning about these incredibly intelligent and magical creatures that capture our hearts and all of you can make your home, a forever home.

Resources you may find helpful:

Magazines:
Companion Parrot Quarterly
Parrots

Books:
Abundantly Avian by Phoebe Greene Linden
Companion Parrot Handbook, a compilation of articles from CPQ magazine
Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor
How Dogs Learn by Mary R. Burch Ph. D. and Jon S. Baily Ph.D.

Behavior Classes:
Living and Learning with Parrots taught by Susan Friedman Ph.D.
http://www.parrottalk.com/about.html

Behavior Lists:
Behavior Analysis Solutions (for LLP graduates and those waiting to take LLP) Subscribe at:
http://www.parrottalk.com/mlist1.html
Companion Bird Behavior - Subscribe at:  http://www.parrottalk.com/mlist1.html

Training Lists:
Birdclick http://www.geocities.com/birdtrain/
Clickbird  http://www.clickingwithbirds.com