In Your Flock Holiday Issue 2012 by Sandy Lender

l a r u g Inau ay d i l o H Issue

TEAM VOLUNTEERS AT BEST FRIENDS PG.

Travel Safely Calcium Matters Can I Deduct That? Make it with Pumpkin Watch Birdie Language

November 2012

24 10 21 28 19

In This Issue Inaugural Holiday Issue ARTICLES

Volunteerism Helps More Than Birds by Sandy Lender

19 iěerent Birds a¢ it iěerentl¢ Learn to watch the body language of various parrot species by Lisa A. Bono, ACPBC

21 edu t omethin i e by In Your Flock Staff

22 e orate a el¢ by Sandy Lender

24 Have Bird, Will Travel by Emily Trimnal, PIJAC

Avian Insurance

While options are few, policy gives owners options if you plan ahead by Sandy Lender

Harley is a 23-year-old double yellow headed Amazon. Photo courtesy of Lisa A. Bono

DEPARTMENTS Sydney displays body behavior that says he’s ready for rest. Photo courtesy of Lisa A. Bono

Bernie’s looking for a new home.

5 Editor’s Note Then Came the Day... 9 Adopt Me Parrotlet Bernie 10 Bright Eyes Avoid Calcium Overload 20 Snowball the Dancing CockatooTM 27 E-mail from Parker Later 28 From Petri’s Kitchen Pumpkin Balls for Parrots 30 Parrot Products 31 Parrot Reviews Life with Alex, a memoir 32 HHIW—Foraging Wheel 34 Resource Directory In Your Flock ~ 3

Information How to Navigate In Your Flock If you have an article to submit to In Your Flock, we’d love to hear from you. First, send an e-mail to publisher@inyourĚock.com with the following: 1. your general idea or topic; 2. approx how many sources/ experts you think you can include in the article; 3. approx how many high resolution pictures you can provide with the article; and 4. what credentials you have as a) an authority on your topic and b) a journalist. You can see our editorial calendar with deadlines at hĴps://www.inyourĚock.com/ whos-in-your-Ěock/editorial-calendar/

Our Departments

You’ll know you’re reading a regular department when you see the In Your Flock feather on the page or spread. Also referred to as columns, the regular departments in this publication include: You May Have Heard—news bites Adopt Me—the month’s featured adoptable bird* Bright Eyes—avian health-related topics From Petri’s Kitchen—parrot and softbill recipes E-mail from Parker—Patricia Sund of Parrot NationTM and Parker entertain with their (mis)communications Snowball the Dancing CockatooTM—cartoon Parrot Products—new or favorite items for birds Parrot Reviews—books, movies, websites for parrot enthusiasts Here’s How it Works (HHIW)—in-depth look at parrot products Keep watching our pages! We have a few more fantastic departments in the works to share as the page-count grows.

Take note: Your next issue arrives in January 2013. We hope you have a lovely holiday season, a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

* If you’re an owner or manager of a rescue with a parrot (or other companion bird) ready for a long-term home, contact us at publisherȓinyourĚock.com to see if we can place him or her in the Adopt Me department. 4 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

November 2012 ~ Vol. 1 No. 1

1242 SW Pine Island Road Suite 42-404 Cape Coral, FL 33991-2126 Publisher Sandy Lender Ink, Inc. publisher@inyourflock.com Associate Publisher Joe Dougherty joe@inyourflock.com 888-982-9552 Editor Sandy Lender publisher@inyourflock.com 888-982-9552 Advisory Board Nancy Speed, President American Federation of Aviculture www.afabirds.org Dr. Kirk S. Andazola, DVM Coral Veterinary Clinic http://CoralVetClinic.com Ann Brooks, President, Founder Phoenix Landing www.PhoenixLanding.org In Your Flock magazine and InYourFlock.com are intended for educational and networking purposes. The magazine is published 12 times a year by Sandy Lender Ink, Inc., Cape Coral, Fla. The opinions expressed by experts in the publication are not necessarily those of Sandy Lender Ink or its affiliates. The information presented herein is not meant to replace the expertise of your on-site avian veterinarian. As always, if you believe your companion parrot may be ill, you are advised to take him to your avian veterinarian for examination. In Your Flock magazine staff members cannot vet the breeding sites that may advertise in the magazine pages nor the rescues that may request funds, thus we encourage readers to research facilities prior to spending money or donating to new/ unknown vendors/entities.

In Your Flock is proud to be a Fellow Member of World Parrot Trust.

Editor’s Note Then Came the Day...

Different people develop different skill sets. In my guest post on Patricia Sund’s Parrot NationTM recently, I stated that I don’t have the moxy it takes to open and run a parrot rescue, but I’ve got the background to publish a parrot magazine. What started out as an idea for a conservation and aviary owner resource morphed into an all-out magazine for anything a parrot enthusiast might need. It got scary for a while. I wondered where the start-up capital would come from. It takes a lot of sweat equity, too. The computer on which I type this note, had it any anthropomorphic qualities, would ask to be returned to the store from whence it came. Someone playing World of Warcraft 24/7 would make a better owner. For one, he wouldn’t have parrots pecking at the nifty built-in web cam... What made me add a painful work-week to my current editing schedule? Simply put: the birds. I love each member of my flock. My sun conure taught me the meaning of unconditional love. He is the sunshine in my day. I’ve met “bird people” both online and in real life who love their birds the way I love mine. But that’s not why you risk starting a magazine. We have a responsibility to the birds in our care, to the wild birds in the natural habitats around the world and to the captive birds who have found themselves in need of new homes to learn more about them and to share that knowledge with one another. There’s a revolving door of information called social media that can pose a danger to the feathered friends in our homes when we don’t vet that incoming information with clear thinking. Not every website administrator is a journalist or public relations professional. Not every facebook group moderator understands the concept of primary sources. Not every blogger quotes three independent resources within articles he posts. Heck, that kind of stuff doesn’t show up in half the editorial candidates I interview for jobs these days. For something as important as companion parrot health and happiness, for something as important as habitat conservation and the end of the wild parrot pet trade, for something as important as helping rescues and sanctuaries get birds into long-term homes, for something as important as ending the loneliness of the neglected parrot alone in someone’s garage we must join together with good journalism practices to report well-researched, current information. We need a place where any member of the avian community can go to get reliable information on any number of topics. That’s why I took the plunge. And that’s why I share this quote from Anais Nin: “Then came the day when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” All my best, Sandy Lender In Your Flock ~ 5

You May Have Heard...

ZuPreem Recalls 6SecL¿c )ruLW%leQG )Rrmulas

As you may have seen on the In Your Flock facebook page, ZuPreem®, under parent company Premium Nutritional Products, Inc., voluntarily recalled the 11/30/13 and the 11/13 expiration date codes of ZuPreem Medium/Large and Large FruitBlend™ With Natural Fruit Flavors maintenance formula bird foods. ZuPreem initiated the recall because two lots may contain calcium levels higher than what is recommended. The worry behind an elevated level of calcium is its ratio to phosphorous, according to Dr. Kirk Andazola, a member of In Your Flock’s advisory board. He explained that when the ratio gets out of balance, the bird’s body can create compounds that cause the body to Ěush calcium outȯeven calcium that’s in the bones. Check out this month’s Bright Eyes article on page 10. As always, if you suspect any kind of illness in your companion parrot, take her to your avian veterinarian immediately. The recall is limited only to 11/30/13 and 11/13 expiration dates. Consumers are advised to review the back side of packaging for the “Use By” or “Best By” (expiration date) to determine if the product has been aěected by the recall. All ZuPreem channels, including

distributors and retailers, had been notięed as of ept. 30 of the recall. Each partner had been asked to immediately remove these products from store shelves. The two recalled lots are 598405052 and 598405072. The lot and expiration dates by sku, and this press release, can be seen at hĴpǱ//www. zupreem.com/fruitblendvoluntaryrecall. Sources: ZuPreem and Coral Veterinary Clinic

Greys Make /RJLcal ,QIereQces

oyal ociety Publishing announced ęndings of a study of grey parrots using auditory clues to ęnd food Aug. 8, 2012, in its Proceedings of the Royal Society B that show African grey parrots making logical inferences. In a two-step choice task, six parrots selected opaque plastic cans with nuts inside by inferring that

Lisa A. Bono’s African grey, idney stares at the camera as if insulted that any scientięc group would need to test his remarkable abilities. 6 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

containers shaken by scientists and producing no noise were devoid of a treat. The Royal ociety reported that the scientists were surprised to ęnd the birds’ performance sensitive to the movement during shaking. If the scientists shook the containers vertically, in a motion resembling head-bobbing, the birds had less success identifying which ones were empty. Containers shaken horizontally posed no problem. The paper titled “Grey parrots use inferential reasoning based on acoustic cues alone” is authored by Christian chloegl,

udith chmidt, Markus Boeckle, BrigiĴe M. Weib and Kurt Kotrschal. In the introduction, they explain that most non-human species have trouble picking out the correct “container” when they can’t “directly perceive” the reward. For this study, the noise during shaking lets the non-human par-

ticipant perceive where the reward is. When the scientist shakes an empty container, the non-human participant has to make a two-step deduction. It has to deduce that the absence of noise means there would be noise, thus a reward, in the other container. The authors explain that great apes and 3-year-old children can solve the task, although it takes a 4-year-old child to solve the task at adult-like performance levels. “Non-human primates repeatedly performed poorly in other acoustic problem-solving tasks as well, even if they had mastered visual versions of the same task.” Then along came the African grey parrot. “ imilar to the great apes and in contrast to all other species tested so far, the grey parrots spontaneously used the presence and the absence of a raĴling noise to deduce the location of hidden food.” As mentioned above, motion played a role in the birds’ success. “Through a series of experiments we found compelling evidence for the ability of African grey parrots to use noise created during the shaking of containers to detect hidden food. Even from the very ęrst trial, our sub ects could also use the absence of noise in a shaken container to infer that food must be in the other, non-shaken container. uch behaviour has so far been shown only in the great apes, but not in any other non-human animal. Human children solve this task from an age of 3-4 years, and the birds’ success rate was comparable to those of the 3-year-olds. The parrots’ near-perfect ęrst-trial performances as well as the results of our control experiments suggest that an understanding of the causal properties underlying the task is the most likely explanation for the birds’ per-

formance….It is remarkable that these largely experimentally naïve parrots solved a task that experimentally experienced monkeys were not able to solve.” As a side note, in the explanation of the testing procedure, the authors explain that the birds’ “participation in the experiments was voluntary, and the sub ects were free to leave the compartment any time.” Apparently, the monotony of selecting food 12 times in a row got to one participant. “In one case, a bird left the testing compartment during the session and did not return; the session was terminated and continued on the next day.” To read the entire article, which is a technical, scientięc piece, visit hĴpǱ//rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/279/1745/4135.full. Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences

RLQJLQJ Grey

There’s a parrot in Texas who uses her gift of gab to raise money for avian charities. Einstein the Talking Texan Parrot sells ring tones on Myxer.com for Ǟ1.50 each. All of the proęts from the sale of the ring tones go to beneęt avian organizations involved in rescue, conservation and research. To do your part, simply go to www.Myxer.com/EinsteinParrot, select from the 29 ring tones available, and then follow the instructions to download one directly to your cellular phone. The most popular

Einstein ring tone is “Who Let the Dogs Out,” although the In Your Flock editor prefers “The Clean ong.” The more ring tones you download, the more parrots are helped. Every six months, Einstein has a drawing and randomly chooses an avian organization to receive the money raised from the preceding six months. Currently, ęve organizations are signed up to be in the drawing. They are The Alex Foundation, Dee’s Haven, Feathered Friends Forever, The Oasis and Wings of Love Bird Haven. You can watch the drawing when it’s posted on YouTube at www.YouTube. com/EinsteinParrot. The winner is notięed via e-mail. If you belong to an avian organization and would like to register to be part of the drawings, go to www.EinsteinParrot.com/Ringtones.htm to get more information. Source: Einstein’s Mom (Marcia Kwarsick)

PumSkLQ PaucLWy

Just as the media was telling holiday bakers to expect canned pumpkin supplies to recover from shortages in 2009, 2010 and 2011, this summer’s drought in the United tates stops the presses. Pumpkin patches on the East coast that felt the damage of 2011’s Hurricane Irene aren’t back in full force and patches planted throughout the Midwest have their share of malformed and stunted plants thanks to toohot and too-dry conditions. In Europe, the unseasonably

In Your Flock ~ 7

cold weather during pumpkin growing season has left about 40 percent of the pumpkins too green and too small for Jack-olantern use. The hope there is that pumpkins will ripen once in stores. The hope everywhere is that what has grown will meet the market demand. Of course, higher demand than supply means higher prices. For a couple of recipes that call on fresh pumpkin rather than canned, check out From Petri’s Kitchen on page 28. Sources: multiple

Conservationist Goes Home

With a sad heart, we report that Russell Errol Train passed away Sept. 17 at the age of 92 in Bozeman, Md. Train not only received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Public Welfare Medal, he served as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

from September 1973 to January 1977 and was a founding director of World Wildlife Fund where he led others in working to protect our planet and the life on it. The current CEO of WWF, Carter Roberts wrote on the WWF site, “Undoubtedly Russ would prefer that we not spend a lot of time mourning his passing. He would want us to redouble our efforts to save the animals and places we care about, to solve the problems of climate change and resource scarcity and to build leadership capacity in those countries where it’s needed most.” Sources: multiple

Rescue Opens in Southwest Florida

The 501(c)(3) Parrot Outreach Society held its grand opening Sunday, Sept. 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its new location of 1105 Taylor Road in Punta Gorda, Fla. A supportive stream of

more than 100 visitors shared the day with President Pam Hill and Vice President Paul Perez. Bubba’s Bird Toys sold stands and toys with proceeds going toward the rescue’s efforts and visitor Danielle Newel not only won the 50/50 raffle that afternoon, she also donated her winnings back to the rescue. A spokesperson for the rescue shared that “We had numerous people take applications home and we are looking forward to seeing how many are returned and will lead to adoptions.” With the opening of the new adoption center, Parrot Outreach Society is giving the birds in their care more opportunity to meet potential new families as well as carrying the basic needs of toys, food, play stands, free grooming services and eventually cages. “All money raised through the sales of merchandise goes right back into the rescue to care for the birds. We are volunteer-run and have no paid employees.” U

Sunny is an adorable sun conure who’s had three owners in his short life because the economy keeps getting in the way of a happy home. He waits at Parrot Outreach Society for a new owner to come bond with him. Below, Bubba’s Bird Toys donated proceeds from its day to the Parrot Outreach Society.

Adopt Me Private Owner: Bernie The Adopt Me department of In Your Flock is designed to bring loving, long-term homes and adoptable parrots together. While the intent is to have rescues work hand-in-hand with In Your Flock staě members to highlight gorgeous parrots for placement with new homes, this ęrst edition has a special liĴle friend who hit our radar in an une¡pected way. Meet Bernie.

“I am sure there must be someone out there who would give him more than I can.” Name: Bernie e¡: unsure Hatch Date: unsure Appr¡ Age: ś ŗȦŘ Food: Roudybush mini with cockatiel seeds, nuts, fruit and fresh veggies daily Disposition: happy; gets overe¡cited when he comes out of his cage and nips ęngers, ears age: ŘŘ W ¡ ŘŜ H ¡ ŗŝ D ǻcomes with toysǼ BernieȂs story: This well-loved parrotlet ǻForpus coelestisǼ went to live with a family in ndiana right after he Ěedged in May ŘŖŖŝ. When the human heȂd bonded with went to college, he got lonely, but his grandma has been giving him lots of toys and aĴention while she ęnds him a new family to live with. he says Bernie knows a few words but needs someone with patience and time to work with him. “He will stay with me until that happens, as am not disposed to ust foist him oě on someone who doesnȂt really want him or know what they are geĴing into.Ȅ WeȂll be working with a entral ndiana group to help get Bernie into a great, loving, long-term home. f you have e¡perience with parrotlets or have an interest in oěering Bernie a forever home, please contact In Your Flock at publisherȓinyourĚock.com. BernieȂs looking forward to meeting you. 8

Did you know? Bernie’s cousins in the wild learn their contact calls from both of their parents? The Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B reported in uly ŘŖŗŗ that chicks learn from the parents that raise them, and don’t inherit their “cheepsȄ as once believed. In Your Flock ~ 9

Bright Eyes Avoid Calcium Overload

By Sandy Lender

Editor’s Note: While many sources spell phosphorus with an –ous at the end, the Merck Veterinary Manual does not. We elected to follow their practice. When this author served on the board of the Kansas City Herpetological Society, I prepared the group’s monthly newsleĴer for a while and I seeped myself in knowledge of how to feed a variety of reptiles. As readers might expect, calcium plays an important role in reptile health. eĴing calcium levels right while keeping protein levels down is would cause kidney stones or something equivalent to that. key to proper shell formation for turtles and tortoises. Lizard While, yes, stone-building is one symptom of too much calowners want to dust crickets cium, there are more serious with calcium powder before conditions to watch for in a feeding them to a bearded companion parrot who’s had dragon or leopard gecko. And too much of the mineral. I can still spot a calcium deDr. Kirk Andazola of the ęciency in someone’s iguana Coral Veterinary Clinic shared from across the room. the process by which hyperAll that stored knowledge calcaemia takes its toll on a came in handy when my sun bird. He explained that the conure (Aratinga solstitialis) bird’s body ęrst works to Ěush selected me 13 years ago. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus out the additional mineral. By doing so, the body will actumaĴers when feeding people, ally overcompensate for the reptiles or avians. eĴing problem of too much calcium vitamin D3 from cautious to phosphorus and will end sun exposure helps the body up Ěushing too much calcium. absorb vitamins and minerals The body will pull calcium necessary for good health. As from the bones and reserves in with sun exposure, too much the body to Ěush out bits the of a good thing is not so good. bird needs, resulting in hypoWhen ZuPreem had its calcaemia. The overcompenvoluntary recall of specięc sation results in the opposite foods near the end of Septemproblem; owners will have to ber, the cause for concern was worry about a bird with briĴle suspected increased calcium percentages in the aěected lots bones and nutritional second(See page 6). I asked one of my ary hypoparathyroidism. One way to ensure birds take avian veterinarians if additional calcium in a bird’s body in the right amount of calci10 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

um, vitamin D3, phosphorus and full spectrum light is by controlling their diets and sun exposure. Owners can simulate the sun with artięcial ultraviolet radiation, also known as full spectrum bulb use. The bulb to ęnd is one that resonates in the 315- to 285-nanometer spectrum, which is what Michael David Stanford used in his thesis work at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. In his 2005 thesis report “Calcium metabolism in grey parrots: the eěects of husbandry,” Stanford writes that “The provision of 12 hours daily of artięcial ultraviolet radiation signięcantly increased the plasma ionized calcium concentration independent of the diet fed.” In other words, during the three-year study, the group of 20 parrots (PsiĴacus e. erithacus) to which Stanford fed seed exhibited bone density deterioration until he began “dosing” them with UVB radiation. “This study concludes that

the provision of adequate dietary calcium and vitamin D3, plus UVB radiation are essential for the prevention of disorders of calcium metabolism in captive grey parrots.” While sunshine provides natural D3 that helps the bird’s body absorb calcium, some of the foods we offer our parrots perform that function as well. For instance, the USDA: National Nutrient Database includes in kale’s list of benefits the ability to help the body absorb calcium. The website FitDay.com takes that information a step further, discussing the entire Brassica family of vegetables, of which kale is a member. The Brassicas broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens and kale contain vitamins A, B2, B6, C, E and K; the minerals calcium, manganese, potassium and zinc; and the phytonutrient organosulfur; glucosinolates; and more. The site explained, “Calcium and phosphorous are utilized during bone mineralization to form calcium phosphate. This is a vital component for healthy bone structure….Calcium plays a

vital role in other physiological activities. It helps to regulate enzyme activity, cell membrane functions and muscular contractions. It also regulates blood clotting.” It’s like a power mineral for birds when in proper ratio to phosphorus. That ratio is 2 (calcium) to 1 (phosphorus). How do you know you have enough of one and enough of the other? You can find charts and figures at many dietary sites such as the American Dietetic Association, the Food & Drug Administration and the USDA: National Nutrient Database. These organizations are designed to assist humans in selecting nutritious foods for their plates, but that doesn’t change the organic makeup of a vegetable or its benefit or detriment to calcium absorption. That’s right, some vegetables may be high in calcium, but not good in their “delivery.” Take spinach. Half a cup of raw spinach is known to contain 146 milligrams of calcium. According to FitDay. com, if you boil a full cup of spinach, you end up with 245

Terms to Know

Hypercalcemia—too much calcium in the blood; excessive ingestion of vitamin D causes an electrolyte imbalance Hypocalcemia—not enough calcium in the blood Hyperparathyroidism—when the parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH)—having high blood calcium—hyperparathyroidism kills through heart failure (tachycardia is common), kidney failure (kidney stones are common), stroke or other dangers to your companion parrot Hypoparathyroidism—when the parathyroid glands fail to secrete the necessary PTH to work with vitamin D and calcitonin to maintain calcium levels in the bloodstream—it affects the activity in the bones, bowel and kidneys, and may lead to improper functioning of the heart, nervous system, kidneys and more in your companion parrot Sources: Multiple

milligrams of calcium. Unfortunately, spinach is high in oxalic acid, an oxalate. Oxalic acid can block the absorption of calcium in the body. When explaining this to newcomers to the reptile husbandry arena, I’d tell them to imagine the oxalic acid particle coming up to the calcium particle and grabbing hold of it, bonding to it and preventing it from going through the walls it wanted to go through. That’s overly simplistic, but it puts a picture in your mind to help you understand that spinach isn’t the greatest way to get calcium into a pet’s diet. The aforementioned collard greens are a powerhouse of calcium without inhibitors. Half a cup of raw collard greens delivers 178 milligrams of calcium and when you chop or chew the greens, the phytonutrient sulforaphane is formed. That phytonutrient is known to cause the death of colon cancer cells in humans. That’s good gastrointestinal tract news for our feathered friends. The detoxifying enzymes that the collard greens’ nutrients put into action are especially good news for birds who are prone to liver problems in captivity. I’ve researched a number of vegetables that should be commonplace for U.S. and Canadian readers and made the results of that research available at www.InYourFlock.com on the Bright Eyes page. That page is available to both Flock Members and the general public, so please visit and take a look at the vegetables that offer good calcium sources for your birds and those that might hinder calcium absorption. Above all, keep in mind that too much of a good thing does create a downward spiral toward poor health in our companion parrots. U In Your Flock ~ 11

Volunteerism Helps More than Birds When a group of like-minded parrot enthusiasts visits Best Friends Animal Society, their combined experience forwards health, healing for all By Sandy Lender

Best Friends recently welcomed cockatiels Junior, Edgar, Cygy and Flappy into the Parrot Garden after a 45-day quarantine.

ereȂs a shot of the cockatiel Ěight with its fantastic view. Below: The Best Friends Animal Society’s sanctuary welcome center sits nestled among trees and mountains of calm and quiet. Both photos courtesy of Kelly Moore Parsley

12 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

Depending on your level of experience in the avian community, you may or may not have visited or worked with a parrot rescue yet. For a group of companion parrot owners who met through online networking, a mid-September visit to Best Friends Animal Society (Best Friends) Parrot Garden in Kanab, Utah, made a lasting impression that no group member will soon forget. Tawanna Crabb, Bonnie Grafton, Janet Holt Hilton, Carmel Mayhan, Kelly Moore Parsley, Patricia Sund and Bonnie aĴs staggered their arrivals somewhat, but all met in Kanab to work during the week of Sept. 17 at the Parrot Garden section of Best Friends. Jacqueline (Jacque) Johnson is the manager of the Parrot Garden at Best Friends and said the staě refers to it as a sanctuary. “Parrot Garden is located at the Best Friends Animal Society’s sanctuary, but we are primarily an adoption facility,” Johnson said. “Every bird that comes here to live is guaranteed a home with us for the rest of his or her life, if an adoptive family is not found. So, we are actually both a sanctuary and a rescue.” The 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend® study named Best Friends the Animal Welfare on-Proęt ational Brand of

the Year. It’s recognized as a national animal welfare organization unteers visiting from around building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about the country,” Johnson exa day when there are No More HomelessPets®. Best Friends is plained. “We can have as many as four here at any one time, as the country’s largest no-kill sanctuary. Parsley, a nurse in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, made the trip to the well as interns. We are a teachsanctuary for the ęrst time and shares how the group formed ing facility. Volunteers can do the idea to get together. She explains that Sund had gone to the anything from cage cleaning to Parrot Garden about two years prior, and Parsley had followed socializing birds. They provide the details of that ęrst trip on Sund’s Parrot NationȜ blog. After showers, help feed, and assist that, Parsley started talking to Johnson, the manager of the Parrot in moving birds to and from Garden. Before Sund’s initial coverage of the sanctuary, Parsley their outdoor enclosures. We try and give our visitors an arhadn’t heard of it. “I had no idea the place existed,” Parsley admiĴed. “I had been ray of tasks to choose from so in a few facebook groups with Jacque and we found out we had a that their volunteer experience lot of things in common. Patricia called me in April of this year to is a good one.” see if I wanted to go with her on her next trip out.” “The Parrot Garden is a work of beauty and She explained they talked about it more at the love,Ȅ Janet olt ilton said. “This small staě Chopalooza event at Bonnie’s Birds in Port Charperforms miracles on a daily basis and do it loĴe, Fla. The shop, co-owned by Grafton, sells gladly.” Photo of the Conure Fountain bird supplies and functions as an adoption outlet courtesy of Best Friends for the Florida Parrot Rescue. The guest list for the Best Friends trip grew from there. Grafton and Parsley arrived ęrst, making their ęrst full day at the sanctuary Sept. 1Ş. They stayed until Sept. 23 and performed a multitude of tasks in between. Holt and Sund arrived as if in a tornado of cleaning supplies. Holt went to the sanctuary to make arrangements for her beloved cockatoo ’Ze to have a loving home after Holt’s passing in the far, distant future. Sund made the trip to get dirty. That’s right—volunteers at Best Friends can work with the animals or get down to washing the windows. “We have regular local volunteers as well as volBack, from left: Patricia Sund, Bonnie Grafton, Bonnie WaĴs. Front, from left: Jacqueline Johnson, Kelly Moore Parsley. “Many of our volunteers are new to birds and by necessity are limited in what they can do,” Johnson said. “But having experienced parrot people meant we could turn them loose to work with some birds that needed extra TLC. It also meant we didn’t have to train them in basic husbandry skills; they could work alongside caregivers. Patricia is a cleaning machine! She made sure every baseboard and window were sparkling before she was done.” Photo courtesy of Kelly Moore Parsley

In Your Flock ~ 13

Something interesting about the volunteer program at Best Friends is its openness. “Although a number of our visitors and volunteers are bird people, we do have a high number that do not have any experience, but plenty of interest,” Johnson said. “We try and tailor the volunteer experience to each individual’s level of skill and knowledge.” When a new volunteer arrives, he goes through training with the Volunteer and Visitor Division, which also helps schedule him in the different animal care areas. “When volunteers arrive at Parrot Garden, we have them view a safety video, and then they work alongside staff. We view these interactions as an opportunity to educate and inform people about parrot needs and care. We average four to six volunteers a day during the summer and 10 a week in the winter. We also offer a daily tour that is open to the public. I would estimate that about 2,000 people interact with us a year here at Parrots.” Hilton enjoyed her opening tour of the entire facility with tour guide Faith Maloney. “What a treat!” Hilton said. “What a beautiful lady….I gained a huge amount of respect for her during our short visit.” After tours, the group split into pairs and singles to perform the tasks most suited to them. Parsley told of sitting with a greenwing macaw named Sasha for two hours. “It’s different for everyone,” Parsley said. “It is what you make it....I was there to do everything I could. You can experience all of Best Friends. You can go to Dog Town, go to cats, go to bunnies, go to piggies. We took birds in and out each day.” Grafton told the story of Jammer the Quaker parrot as she described one activity she and Parsley did together. “When his [Jammer’s] owners moved

to California, they didn’t know Quakers are illegal there. The neighbors complained about the noise from next door and officials were minutes from euthanizing Jammer when Best Friends swooped in. Needless to say, this poor bird had just moved to a new house and then got moved away from his family. He was withdrawn and scared. “So Kelly and I sat down with him. It took a while, but after about an hour, he stepped onto Kelly’s knee. Then he stepped over to mine. Pretty soon he climbed up onto my shoulder and I got him to where he thought I was okay. We transferred that so he thought other people around him were okay.

Mescalita shows off what a loving and gentle bird she can be despite the hardships she’s faced in life. Above: Bonnie Grafton spends time scratching the spots a partially paralyzed bird can’t reach easily. Photo courtesy of Kelly Moore Parsley. At left: Beauty shines through bright, healthy eyes. Photo courtesy of Janet Holt Hilton.

14 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

Above and above right: Another parrot at the sanctuary is King O, a fairly young DuCorps cockatoo who was originally named Ophelia. His first guardian loved him and doted on him as King O demanded and deserved. When she passed away, one of her relatives took King O into his family. In his grief, King O acted out and ended up in a covered cage in a room alone, plucking his feathers. Another guardian came along who loved him and he bonded to this new friend. The plucking didn’t stop, but at least there was friendship again. Then the economy took this friend away and King O went to Best Friends for safe keeping. Jacque Johnson (performing one of her most important duties above) shared that O hates to be locked in a cage, but loves to be the center of attention from lots of new people. “His ideal home would be with a small retail business owner that he could accompany to work each day.” Both photos courtesy of Janet Holt Hilton.

“My personal favorite part of the day is early afternoon,” Jacque Johnson said. “All the major cleaning is done in the morning, and early afternoons are for socializing birds, which means we get to play. We try to make sure every bird has a positive interaction each and every day.” Johnson puts in at least 40 hours a week, sometimes 50 to 55 depending on what’s needed for the job. “As a manager I need to be available to fill in for absent caregivers or to respond to situations that may arise ‘after hours.’” Photo courtesy of Best Friends

At right: This macaw gets some fun in the sun. Photo courtesy of Best Friends. In Your Flock ~ 15

Now Jammer is a project bird who has his own intern. Megan will work with him from now on.” Grafton also worked with a blue-and-gold macaw named Mescalita who lives at the sanctuary, but will get to see her person in November. “Lita had a virus as a young bird that left her paralyzed from the neck down,” Johnson explained. “Her person, Susan spent hours and hours on physical therapy for Lita, and she was able to regain a degree of function. However, her feet do not work and she is unable to fully vocalize. Susan had modified Lita’s cage so that she could have a high quality of life and self-reliance. As Susan started to age, she worried about where Lita would end up and she decided to place Lita with Best Friends now. Susan is still very involved in Lita’s life and will be coming to visit in November. All of our birds are available for adoption to the right home and Lita is no exception.” This sounds as if the crew spent their time constantly at work, but there was time for camaraderie and renewal. As Parsley explained, she originally planned the trip to be a fun time. She wanted to go with Sund to enjoy the time away. Then events with a failed rescue in Ohio put her directly in contact with needy birds and contentious issues. “I’ve seen so much bad,” Parsley said. “My expectation was just to see the birds being taken care of. My goal for going became a need to heal.” What Parsley experienced was a common thread among the members of the group. “You couldn’t look anywhere without seeing something amazing,” she said. “It’s hard to understand unless you’re there and you see it and make it tangible. This was something completely different. The first day I was there, we had a quiet moment where it was just Jacque and I, and I broke down sobbing. She asked if it was what I expected and I told her, ‘it’s so good.’ It exceeded whatever my expectations were.” Grafton sought something good as well. “My husband and my business partner will tell you my going was a retreat; I went to recharge my batteries. There’s a lot of burn-out in what we do. It was like Leave it to Beaver. I don’t know a better analogy. There’s such a spirit of community there. Everybody cares. Wendy the vet tech had a barbeque for her son and invited all the people she works with at Best Friends. They’re her family.” Something the family let the visitors share was Hilton’s most At right: Fred and Gringo are amazons that Kelly Moore Parsley likens to an old married couple. “They squabble. It’s like watching Fred and Ethel. At Best Friends, bonded pairs are kept together. When I saw these two cuddled up together for a nap, I just had to capture it. That picture hit home. This is how it should be.” Photos courtesy of Parsley 16 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

memorable experience of the week. “The Parrot Garden had recently lost one of their rescues,” she said. “The bird shouldn’t have died, but years of neglect and an all-seed diet had stacked the cards against it. We were able to attend the burial. Words cannot adequately describe the beautiful ceremony. There wasn’t a dry eye, even though many of us didn’t know the bird that had crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. The love, compassion and care that was shown during this ceremony will never leave my mind or my heart.” “It is extremely hard whenever we lose a bird,” Johnson shared. “Although I believe our residents get the best possible care and diet, sometimes they come to us with medical issues that are too advanced. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, it’s devastating. Each bird is placed with love in Angel’s Rest during a ceremo-

ny we call a Placement.” As any rescue manager will tell you, each day brings a new request to take in a bird for some reason. “Every day we get requests to accept a bird or birds into Best Friends Parrot Garden,” Johnson said. “It would be wonderful if we could take them all, but that isn’t realistic.” The team has to show restraint when letting birds go to new homes as well. “When you are in rescue, you have to walk a very fine line,” Johnson explained. “We need to make sure we use due diligence in screening our applicants. But we can’t make the criteria for adoption so stringent that no one can qualify. If someone wants to adopt from us, it’s our job to educate them and help them learn to provide the right level of care. I feel that I have a staff that does an incredible job of finding the right bird for the right family. “We rarely have birds returned, and when we do we don’t see a lot of negative issues with them. They’re returning to a familiar place with people they have relationships with.” When accepting birds into the sanctuary, the staff starts by assessing each bird’s immediate need. “We have a triage system for admittance,” Johnson said. “First and foremost is for birds with medical issues, followed closely by birds suffering abandonment, neglect or abuse. Then birds that come from the local area, and then finally birds in loving homes that just need placement. “Once a bird is accepted, it goes into our quarantine facility, which is located five miles from the sanctuary in the town of Kanab. This facility is only used for incoming birds and anything that is taken into the building stays there. That helps us maintain the health and safety of our birds at the sanctuary. While they are in quarantine, they undergo a complete medical check-up, including blood work and testing for medical conditions, diseases and nutritional status. “If a bird has an immediate medical need, it may be isolated at our clinic where it can get the medical attention it needs. Our baseline quarantine period is 45 days, but that will be extended as long as necessary to complete any required medical treatment. Best Friends Animal Society has four veterinarians on staff and the Parrot Garden has its own vet tech, who is highly skilled in dealing with birds.” That kind of love, compassion and

dedicated care permeates what the staff at Best Friends does for the animals and for the people who come through the door. “We knew it would be fun,” Parsley said. “We knew we’d meet friends from online. Bonnie and I got there and were in tears the rest of the week, but they were good tears. The place just seeps into your soul. The birds are great and you go for the birds, but you miss the people afterward. We essentially walked into someone’s house and were greeted with open arms.” How beautiful that each bird seeking a new beginning finds open arms there as well. U

Take-Aways For Visitors

• Parrots are not domesticated—they are wild animals in captivity • A seed diet is not appropriate for companion birds • Birds are extremely intelligent, high-maintenance companions that require one-on-one time every day • Hand-raising babies doesn’t guarantee a better companion because the more intelligent a species is, the more it relies on learned behavior • A hand-raised baby doesn’t receive the education it needs to be a happy, confident bird— only another bird can teach those skills Source: Best Friends Animal Society In Your Flock ~ 17

Different Birds Say it Differently Learn to watch the body language of various parrot species By Lisa A. Bono, ACPBC

With more than 350 species of parrot originating from all over the world, it is difficult to generalize the body language of the entire population of parrots with the rise of a few body feathers. As Liz Wilson once wrote, “While parrots might be considered to be rather noisy, babbly creatures, they do most of their actual communication through body language, not voice. This is crucial for us humans to understand if we ever want to successfully communicate with our parrots, so we need to learn to pay attention.” I may specialize in the African grey (Psittacus erithacus) parrot, but I have been the main caretaker to many species of parrot. So I have learned a lot of the differing body language for various species. I quickly learned that

the way I read my Amazons (Amazona) did not necessarily work with my African greys. If I had relied on interpreting my greys’ body language to read my caique (Pionites), I would surely end up with bitten fingers. While it is important to have a basic knowledge of ethology and applied behavior analysis (ABA), it is just as important to know the species with which you live. In the world of parrots, each bird is an individual and while this article may generalize the body language of a species, remember that individuals vary. A parrot that is ready to bite generally shows signs of aggression. A bite rarely occurs out of the blue. When it does, it is usually from a bird whose body language has been ignored for a long time. Why bother warning if no one is listening, right? Parrots that are threatening to bite may show some similar warning signs. They may hold their feathers completely erect to make themselves look bigger. Their eyes may dilate and contract rapidly (eye pinning or flashing). If so, this is a potentially aggressive bird. Should the parrot have his feathers pulled in tight, standing still with eyes wide as saucers, the parrot is frightened and will resort to aggression if necessary. Additionally, Kashmir Csaky says she has noticed that a parrot’s tongue will be held halfway between the upper and lower beak and How many signs of “upset” can you see in Ollie the white-bellied caique? As Kashmir Csaky has observed in parrots, this little one’s open beak reveals a tongue pulled back out of the way in case an unlucky human doesn’t mind the pinning eyes and lunging posture. In Your Flock ~ 19

Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Čą Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â?Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153;Â?Čą Â&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ÇŻČą Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â?Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Čą Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ÇŻ ČąČąČą Â&#x2DC;Â ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;ÇľČą For instance, Amazon parrots are among the easiest to reaÂ?ÇŻ heÂ˘ Â iÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2022; Ä&#x161;air their taiÂ&#x2022;s, Â&#x2022;iÂ?t their Â ings a Â&#x2022;iÄ´Â&#x2022;e Â ith their eÂ˘es Ä&#x161;ashingÇŻ Cockatiels ( Â˘Â&#x2013;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Çź Â ill let oÂ&#x17E;t a hiss with their crest erect. CaiÂ&#x161;Â&#x17E;es stalk, reminÂ?ing me oÂ? a liÄ´le Â&#x2039;Â&#x17E;lldog walking very slowly. They are methodical in their movements and wait for the moment to poÂ&#x17E;nce. Seconds before a bite, cockatoos ( Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x160;) often make a clicking noise with their beaks. Macaws ( Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;) will bob their heads Â&#x161;Â&#x17E;ickly hen StirlingČ&#x201A;s feathers stand Â&#x17E;p, the Ĺ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x;-yearandČŚor lean forward to form a sort of S-cÂ&#x17E;rve old Congo African grey is leÄ´ing yoÂ&#x17E; know to with their spines. keep tender Ä&#x2122;ngers away. arakeetsČŚbÂ&#x17E;dgerigars ( Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;) will be vocal or as call it, Č&#x192;complainingČ&#x201E; mation and incorporate them into what yoÂ&#x17E;r prior to a bite. bird is trying to commÂ&#x17E;nicate to yoÂ&#x17E;. Combined African greys often remain still and sÂ&#x161;Â&#x17E;int, or with the generalized blanket statement for body langÂ&#x17E;age, yoÂ&#x17E; may have a beÄ´er Â&#x17E;nderstanding they growl and rock back and forth. of yoÂ&#x17E;r companion parrot speciesÇˇ 8 ow yoÂ&#x17E; can take those liÄ´le tidbits of infor-

Snowball the Dancing CockatooTM

Snowball the ancing Cockatoo appears coÂ&#x17E;rtesy of ird overs nly, a Ĺ&#x203A;Ĺ&#x2013;Ĺ&#x2014;(c)Ĺ&#x2122; ot For roÄ&#x2122;t ird escÂ&#x17E;e and SanctÂ&#x17E;ary. isit www.birdloversonly.org for information. 20 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

Deduct Something Nice By In Your Flock Staff At this time of year, part of the brain naturally turns to taxes. Not only have we been beat over the head with tax talk from politicians as of late, some of us have accountants reminding us to get things organized for Q4. Whether you seek a 501(c)(3) to which you can give an endof-the-year tax-deductible gift or you merely wish to help out an organization that’s trying to

make it through 2012 still afloat, the number of groups that could use a helping hand is astronomical. For the purposes of In Your Flock, here’s a short list that focuses on the birds we care about so dearly. The following groups did not ask to be listed here. Keep in mind, this list is just the tip of the iceberg in the avian community of need.

Alex Foundation, The URL http://alexfoundation.org This is the foundation formed to assist in furthering the study Dr. Irene Pepperberg has been performing for more than 30 years to bring understanding and attention to the intelligence and reasoning abilities of the African grey parrot. When you visit the home page, you’ll see links across the top to learn about the lab and tabs to donate or purchase items from the gift shop, among other actions. For folks who would like to make a donation without going online: The Alex Foundation Brandeis University MS 062 415 South ST Waltham, MA 02454 (Note the home page has a list of rescues that would welcome support.) American Federation of Aviculture URL www.afabirds.org Established in 1974, the AFA represents all aspects of aviculture and helps educate the public about the responsibilities of keeping birds in captivity and the birds’ special needs. “The AFA is dedicated to the promotion of aviculture and the conservation of avian wildlife through the encouragement of captive breeding programs, scientific research and the education of the general public. To promote the interests of aviculture, the AFA works to educate legislators within the USA. The AFA also represents the avicultural community at CITES meetings.” President Nancy Speed is a member of In Your Flock’s advisory board. Best Friends Animal Society Parrot Garden URL www.bestfriends.org See the article on page 12. When visiting the home page, you’ll find information about all the society’s animal involvement. Click on the “At the Sanctuary” link to visit the Parrot Garden.

Make sure you check with your tax preparer to get credit for the donations you make to non-profit organizations throughout the year. Keep in mind that products you receive in exchange for your monetary gift have a value that should be deducted from the total amount before you list your donation. The item you received is in exchange for part of your gift. U

You’ll also see “Giving to Best Friends.” Or you may send a donation to: Best Friends Animal Society 5001 Angel Canyon RD Kanab, UT 84741 Bird Lovers Only URL http://birdloversonly.org Home of the “infamous” Snowball(r), this is where you get access to his story, his rescue group and his cool stuff. Click on the “About Us” tab to bring up the “How you can help” link. Phoenix Landing URL www.phoenixlanding.org This all-volunteer organization was established to promote and protect the welfare of all parrots, acting as advocates for those who have no protection. The rescue provides educational activities, facilitates adoptions, sponsors wild habitat and natural parrot behavior research, supports conservation and eco-tourism, and more. President Ann Brooks is on the In Your Flock advisory board. When you visit the home page, the donate button is the third from the right, and opens a link to a page of affiliate members who sell bird-friendly products you may need, with proceeds going to assist Phoenix Landing. World Parrot Trust URL www.parrots.org With one-third of all parrot species threatened in the wild, the staff at WPT has a daunting job of conducting and supporting field conservation projects, working to eliminate the international trade in wild caught parrots, and increasing awareness of the plight of parrots both in the wild and in captivity. WPT works with parrot enthusiasts, researchers, local communities and government leaders to encourage effective solutions that protect parrots. You can make a donation or become a member. In Your Flock ~ 21

By Sandy Lender

22 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

As the calendar reaches just one page, our thoughts turn to decorating our homes with silver Menorahs or green and red baubles that make the end of the year bright and beautiful. Whatever holiday you celebrate, make sure the ornamentation is safe for your feathered friends. Read the labels on artificial greenery to see the decoration’s chemical content. You’ll find lead and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in many popular items. If you’ve stored pretties from years past, take pains to remove as much dust as possible before putting them in areas where tender nares will breathe in the particles. The lead I mention here isn’t in paint, as you might suspect. A variety of websites describe the process by which fake needles are made and it involves melting down lead to form the needles and their casings. This is also where PVC comes in. While the scary mention of dioxin, phthalates and vinyl chloride gas spring up all over the Internet when you type in PVC, keep in mind that those chemicals form, or are released, during the production or destruction of PVC. The reaction to get the bad chemical requires heat greater than that generated by typical Christmas lights. Of course, the fact that artificial trees or wreaths do not biodegrade but must be incinerated to avoid eternity in a landfill sheds another dark light on them. Parrot guardians have the option to buy a real tree from an organic Christmas tree farm that doesn’t use pesticides, herbicides, etc. Their numbers are growing. A national group of small farmers got together in 2002 to form a Certified Nationally Grown program to help consumers find produce grown without chemicals. If the idea of self-regulation doesn’t set well enough with you, the Department of Agriculture also developed an organic certification program that year. Given the fact that a small amount of chemicals actually goes into the process of growing a tree over its lifetime, you might not have many worries about bringing a tree from a big-box store into your home. The North Carolina State University, in conjunction with the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center report “on the average it takes 1/4 of an ounce of pesticides over the life of the tree to produce it in the field, which is based on the active ingredient in the pesticides including herbicides, insecticides and fungicides used for an 8-year rotation. This value is for Fraser fir production in western North Carolina only. Other areas of the country produce different species of trees with different pest problems.” If you’d like to err on the side of caution and purchase a real tree or decoration to celebrate the season, you can find a list of organic Christmas tree farms at www.GreenPromise.com/resources/organic-christmas-trees.php. Notice that the list there is from May 30, 2010. www.beyondpesticides.org/christmastrees/alternatives.php offers a more updated list of places to find organic trees, wreaths and gift ideas. Keep in mind that any real tree you bring into your home is likely to contain Aspergillus spores. While it’s commendable to purchase the balled trees that can be planted after the holiday, the ball of dirt and burlap is a breeding ground for spores that could increase your bird’s chance of illness. This might be a great time of year to instead increase your dust-control protocol for healthier avians. No matter how you choose to decorate, may you and your feathered friends have a lovely season together. Editor’s Note: For more information on the chemicals used in Christmas tree farming, visit the In Your Flock website. U

In Your Flock ~ 23

Have Bird, Will Travel

By Emily Trimnal, PIJAC

The holiday season is a time for us to be with those we love—both feathered and not feathered. For many people, the holiday season means travelling to be with family. Travel can be stressful, especially if you decide to take a trip with your companion parrot. Don’t stress this holiday season, and follow the few tips outlined in this article for a safe and stress-free journey.

Tip #1

Get your bird accustomed to its travel cage. Select a quality cage that will prevent your bird from escape, but can allow him to stand and stretch comfortably. For short excursions, cat and dog carriers would be suitable for smaller beaks. Larger birds can easily tear through the plastic of such a carrier, so investing in a wire carrier is recommended. Search for a carrier that ideally has a pull out tray, grate and large access door. Don’t spring a long trip on your bird. Start out by taking fun, short trips around town. Monitor your bird’s habits while travelling and adjust its carrier accordingly. Increase the amount of time the bird spends in the carrier, and keep careful watch to see if he exhibits any signs of car sickness. Once you are satisfied that your bird travels comfortably, you are ready for a longer trip.

Tip #2

Keep ginger root on hand. Ginger root is a common ingredient in anti-nausea medications that are often used for women experiencing morning sickness. It is possible for birds to get car sickness, and if your bird is one of the unfortunates, ginger root may help ease his discomfort. You can buy ginger in its root form in the produce department. Shred the root with a grater and store it in a plastic bag. Feed some to your bird a couple minutes before travel, and see if it helps ease any symptoms. You may feed more, smaller amounts to your bird throughout the trip. Other bird owners have reported that covering the carrier partially can help ease any 24 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

motion sickness. Once you and your bird have settled into travel, the symptoms may subside.

Tip #3

Give your bird fresh fruit instead of water during the trip. Water in a dish can slosh and spill over in the carrier. Instead provide fresh, juicy fruits during the trip to keep your bird hydrated. If you are traveling for an extended period of time, during any rest stops you can offer your bird water, but it is not recommended to keep it in the carrier.

Tip #4

Buckle in your bird carrier. In case of an accident, you don’t want your bird’s carrier to get flung around the cabin of the car. During one of your practice runs, try buckling in your carrier and find the best way to secure the carrier in your seat. Depending on how you secure the carrier, you may find that it tends to slant forward with the lean of the seat. Rolling up a towel and using it as a wedge underneath the carrier will help correct this slant, which can be uncomfortable for your bird during longer excursions. You may find that it is not possible to secure your carrier successfully with a seat belt. Purchase bungee cords at your local hardware store and use these to secure the carrier instead. The best configuration I have used involved anchoring the bungee cord to the head rest of the seat.

Tip #5

Visit your local AAA office if you are planning

on staying overnight at a hotel with your bird. AAA provides handbooks that list hotels by region/state. These handbooks include information such as hotel price range, amenities and pet friendliness, and if there are any fees associated with booking a pet room overnight. Plan your route beforehand, and mark the pages with pet friendly hotel information, so you can easily grab the handbook and reference it while on the road. These books proved invaluable for me during my cross country move with my birds.

more harm than good. Slowly introduce your bird to new people a few at a time, and don’t pressure your feathered companion to interact with your family. If you are not there to supervise your family members around your bird, it would be recommended to put your bird in a room where the door can be closed. Younger children may be intrigued by your feathered friend, and you don’t want those who may not know beĴer feeding any unhealthy or potentially toxic items the bird.

Tip #6

Tip #9

Pack an emergency kit. Along with your normal emergency kit implements, be sure to pack e¡tra blankets ǻpreferably Ěeece or woolǼ, an extra jug of water and heat packs. You can purchase heat packs that are heat activated like glo sticks—snap them until you hear a crackle, and then manipulate the pack to get it pliable as it heats up. These heat packs will provide heat generally anywhere from three to eight hours. In the event that you are required to keep yourself and your birds warm, these packs are invaluable. Once you have the pack activated, place it under your bird’s grate in the travel carrier, or in another area near the carrier in such a way that your bird cannot access the heat pack. Then use one of your emergency blankets and completely cover the carrier. The supplemental heat from the pack should be trapped under the blanket and provide your parrot with a suĜcient amount of heat.

Tip #7

Do not be concerned if your bird fails to eat during your trip. Oftentimes parrots will refrain from eating while on the road, unless they are completely comfortable. You may oěer favorite foods in a dish in the carrier to allow your bird the option to eat. If your bird refuses to eat while on the road, instead oěer foods in the morning and evening while you are not in motion. If your bird gets excessively carsick, oěering warm, soft foods in lieu of pellets and seed will allow his digestive system to rest. Excessive regurgitation can take a toll on a bird’s system, and if this becomes a problem please consult your avian vet.

Tip #8

When you reach your destination, house your bird out of the main family activity area. Your bird will be tired from travelling, and the added stress of new, unfamiliar people can do

If you are taking a long trip with your parrot, consult your veterinarian and get a wellness check before embarking on your trip. You want to make sure your travelling buddy is healthy before you embark on your journey. Additionally, it may be advisable to ask your veterinarian if she has any anti-nausea measures for your pet parrot, just in case. Carry your bird’s critical information with you, including your vet’s name, number and emergency contact information.

Tip #10

Have fun. Travelling with your avian companion can be a fun and enjoyable journey. Driving long hours in a car with your parrot can be a great bonding experience. When introducing your bird to your family, use that time as an educational experience. Answer questions, and if your parrot is comfortable, allow your family members to hold the bird and see what this liĴle bundle of feathers is all about. The ęrst trip is the most complicated, so don’t allow any hiccups in your travels to prevent you from trying again. 8

Behavior, Conservation, Diet, Fun, Health, Nutrition, Rescue, Tips, Toys, Training...

In Your Flock at www.InYourFlock.com

In Your Flock ~ 25

Avian Insurance

While options are few, policy gives owners help if you plan ahead By Sandy Lender

No one wants to think about the worst-case The Avian Plan covers up to a maximum of scenario of a sick bird and a low bank account $7,000 in medical expenses per year per bird. balance. Social media sites are filled with parrot The plan costs $14.35 per month and covers such evangelists who proclaim there’s only one man- services as diagnostics, surgeries, out-patient date: You can’t afford the pet if you can’t afford procedures, accident, illness and injury treatthe vet. That’s the end of their conversation. As ment, medications, and the like. it turns out, that doesn’t have to be the end of The rider is available only as an addendum to the conversation. the Avian Plan and is for routine care. It covers Of course you should consider all the finan- up to $181 of basic veterinary procedures such cial ramifications before bringing any pet into as the annual physical exam, complete blood your home. Veterinary care is vital to a happy, count, cultures, a blood panel, wing and nail healthy companion parrot. trims, and the like. The routine care rider in adEven as the U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics dition to the Avian Plan costs $22.60 per month Sourcebook for 2012 reported pet-owning house- per bird. holds in the United States were on the decline That means you’ll pay a total of $271.20 for due to the economic state, insurance companies the year to cover one bird’s medical needs. Each have bumped up their bird gets his own policy offerings for those house- You will be asked questions to and each bird will need holds. Specifically, comto qualify. panies like Omega Gen- determine if your bird has any When you apply for eral Insurance Company your bird’s policy, you pre-existing conditions. in Canada and American will be asked questions Pet Insurance Company to determine if your bird in the United States are making sure they pro- has any pre-existing conditions. The policy vide a way for pet owners to afford critical care won’t cover those. services for their loved ones. What’s interesting As Jeremy explained to me, if you have a reto see is that households with companion par- homed bird or a bird with an unknown past, you rots still have to wade through plans that cater will only be expected to answer the questions to to cats and dogs. The brochure for Embrace Pet the best of your ability. Leena explained that the Insurance defines the whole concept without policy renews every year with no additional apmention of birds: “Pet insurance is health insur- plication. When you first sign up, you pay the ance for your cat or dog.” first and last month’s premium to get started. This author thanks Chris, Christina and MiIf your bird has recently exhibited any signs of chael at Embrace, trupanion and Petplan respec- lethargy or is new to you, you may be asked to tively for their understanding while visiting take him in for an exam before a policy can be iswith me about the lack of avian policies at their sued. Jeremy said any licensed avian vet of your companies. I commend these companies for of- choice can do the exam; you’re not expected to fering help to pet owners, but how does a trial use a specific vet that VPI selects. plan for a new puppy or kitten help a bird ownIn fact, once your bird’s new policy goes into er? How do sample prices of periodontal disease effect, you can go to any licensed veterinarian treatment give us an idea of how pet insurance you prefer for regular check-ups or emergency might help with a bird who has broken a wing? needs. After I picked up a brochure for VPI® Pet InYou pay the fee at the time of service and collect surance I found a section called Avian & Exotic the veterinarian’s official invoice and receipt for Pet Plan. While the marketing is still geared to- payment in full. When you get home, you can ward the larger audience in the United States, download a claim form from the VPI website or at last a group recognized the costs associated request one be mailed to you. Fill out the form with avian care. and, after making copies for your records, send At this time, VPI has one plan for avian com- the invoice and receipt to VPI for the percentage panions with an optional rider. Jeremy and Lee- reimbursement your policy has remaining. na at VPI spent some time explaining the two Not every bird owner has $271.20 to spend products to me. on insurance per year, but that amount, split 26 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

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E-mail from Parker Later

Â˘ atricia und of arrot ationTM From: Parker To: Mom Sent: 3:06 PM Subject: L8r What time is it?

From: Patricia To: Parker Sent: 3:22 PM Subject: RE RE RE L8r kaÂ˘. o?

From: Parker To: Mom Sent: 3:40 PM Subject: RE RE RE RE RE RE L8r Well, when will that be?

From: Patricia To: Parker Sent: 3:07 PM Subject: RE L8r What diÄ&#x203A;erence does it make?

From: Parker To: Mom Sent: 3:30 PM Subject: RE RE RE RE L8r Well, when is that?

From: Patricia To: Parker Sent: 3:41 PM Subject: RE RE RE RE RE RE RE L8r ater

From: Parker To: Mom Sent: 3:21 PM Subject: RE RE L8r ill stoÂ&#x2122;Â&#x2122;ed Â&#x2039;Â˘ and Â&#x2122;laÂ˘ed with us. nd when he leftÇ° he saidÇ° Č&#x192; ee Â˘ou later.Č&#x201E;

From: Patricia To: Parker Sent: 3:31 PM Subject: RE RE RE RE RE L8r That would be when he gets back.

From: Parker To: Mom Sent: 3:45 PM Subject: RE RE RE RE RE RE RE RE L8r YouČ&#x201A;re Â&#x201C;ust sassing me now, arenČ&#x201A;t Â˘ou? Parker Cracker Boxes Rule! In Your Flock ~ 27

From Petri’s Kitchen Pumpkin Balls for Parrots Ingredients 1 small pie pumpkin about $3.66 2 big carrots about $0.80 1 cup red quinoa about $3.00 2 twigs of Italian parsley about $0.15 Ɯ cup organic Ěa¡ seed about $0.25 Optional 1 cup organic rolled oats about $0.75 Steps

1. Cut the pumpkin into quarters, saving the seeds for another recipe; bake the quarters at 350 degrees F in a shallow baking dish with some water until the meat is soft enough to mash ǻabout 25 minutesǼ; pull oě the peel 2. Boil the carrots until soft enough to mash 3. immer the red quinoa in water until Ěuěy ǻabout 15 minutesǼ; drain and Ěuě with a whisk 4. Mash the pumpkin and carrots together; add the red quinoa, chopped parsley, Ěa¡ seeds; mi¡ it all together 5. Form the pumpkin mi¡ into 1-inch balls 6. oll the balls in the organic oats and oěer the treat to your lucky parrot!

1ş-inch circumference pumpkin and two thick carrots, this recipe makes about 65 balls at the 1-inch size. That means it cost my mom $8.61 to make fresh, nutritious holiday snacks for the Ěock at about 13 cents per treat. he says that’s thrifty for a treat the size of my head.

Petri’s extra notes: The e¡tra pumpkin balls you make can be frozen for later. Refrigerate what your birds don’t eat right away. With a

Pumpkin Seed Recipe This is easy to do if you’re patient with the process. After you remove the seeds from your pumpkin, wash them thoroughly with cool water. Lay the seeds out on a kitchen towel to dry. (They stick to paper towels.) When they look dry, place them on an aluminum cookie

sheetȯavoid the non-stick and TeĚon sheets. You want to lay the seeds in a single layer and put the sheet in an oven pre-heated to 375 degrees F. At 10 minutes and at 20 minutes, use a spatula to turn the seeds over so they don’t burn. You’ll cook them for about 30 minutes total.

28 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

Take them out after 30 minutes, allow them to cool down so they won’t burn tender tongues and share them with your lucky parrot! Petri’s extra note: Remember NOT to salt the pumpkin seeds. Parrots don’t process salt the way humans do. 8

Parrot Products Holiday, Safety, Cold Weather Items ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ Ĵ

The In Your Flock ě e e e he e e e h e e e e h e he e he eǯ The e e e e e e e e ǰ e e he e e e h e he ȓ ¢ Ě ǯ ¢ eǯ Th hȂ e e e e e ¢e ǯ

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30 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

ee ¡ eǯ e ¢ e e h e ¢ e ǯ e ee ǯ e e¡ e e e e ¡ e e he ǯ Bluecorn Naturals e h ¢ eę e ŗŖŖƖ ee ¡ e ǻ h Ĵ Ǽǯ The eę e h e e e e e e he ¡ǰ e h he¢ e ǰ e e h e e he h e¢ e ę e e ee ¡ǯ The e e e ee ¡ e ǯ e ¢ £e ǯ The e hǱ ŗȦŘȄ ŗȄ e e ǰ ŗŖ-ŗȦŘȄ ǰ ś Ĵ ę he ǰ ee ǰ e ǰ e ǯ e The e hǱ śȦŞȄ ŗ-ŗȦŚȄ ǯǰ ŗřȄ ǰ ŗŖ Ĵ £ ǰ e¢ ǰ ǰ e ǯ e The e hǱ ŗ-ŗȦŚȄ ŘȄ ǯǰ ŗŚ-ŗȦŘȄ ǰ ŗś Ĵ ǰ ǯ ǰ ǰ e ǯ The The e h e e e h e hǯ

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Bird Bunker

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Parrot Reviews Life With Alex, a memoir

Reviewed By Sandy Lender

Ȃ he Life With Alex ę e¡ e e ę e ¢ h e Ȃ e¡ e e -h e h ǯ e ǰ he e e e e e e ¢e e e ¢ h ¢ ǯ The e ěe e¡ h Ĵ e Ȯ e e h e e ¢ e h e e h e ee ǯ ee ȃ h e h he h Ȃ e e e ¢ ¢ h h ǯȄ Ȃ h e e ǰ he e e he śś- e ę h h Ȃ ee e e e he e eǯ Ȃ ee ǯ e e e e e ǰ e¡Ȃ e

e eǰ h e h e e h £e he ¢ e¡Ȃ ¢ e e e he e h h h he e ǯ The he eȂ e h he e ǯ e e ee e e he e e e e e e¡Ȃ hee h h e e ę e h ¢ǯ e e e e e e he h eǯ he e eǰ e e e he h e¡ e he he ę e h e he e¡ e he e h h ee e he e eǯ The e e he e he he e e eǯ e e e e h he ę he ¢ h h he e he e ee

e e e e h e¡ ǰ e e e e e e e he ǯ e h e h ę e e he e¡ e h e h e¡ e e¡Ȃ e ¢ǯ he e e he e The e¡ e h h h e Ĝ h ¢ h eǯ The e e e ¢ h e e e e ǰ e ǰ e¡ e e ¢ e¢e ǯ 8 e Ǳ ¢ Life With Alex, a memoir e e¢ ǯ ǯ e h e¡ eǯ ǯ In Your Flock ~ 31

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s How it Works Drs. Foster and Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foraging Wheel 7XIT

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32 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

RI WKH IRXU VHFWLRQV RI WKH VFUHZ :KHQ DWWDFKLQJ WKH ZKHHO DQG SODWH WR WKH FDJH EDUV EH VXUH WR KDQJ LW VR WKH )RUDJLQJ :KHHO ZRQÂ·W FRPH RXW RI LWV KROGHU HDVLO\ 7KH Ã&#x20AC;QDO VWHS LV IRU \RXU ELUG +H ZLOO XVH WKH NQRE RU WKH KROHV RQ WKH IURQW RI WKH ZKHHO WR WXUQ WKH FRYHU $V WKH FRYHU WXUQV WKH WZR KROHV ZLOO UHYHDO WUHDWV LQ WKH WUD\ IRU \RXU FRPSDQLRQ SDUURW WR IRUDJH RXW 8 For more information, call (800) 443-1160 or visit www.DrsFosterSmith.com. Tell them you saw it in ,Q <RXU )ORFN magazine.

Column Ads (Column Ads are sold on a first-come, first-serve and pre-pay basis each month.

Each Column Ad is one (1) column wide by two (2) inches tall, which gives you room for your company name, 30 to 45 words of text, and contact info. Contact joe@inyourflock.com for more information.)

Bonnie’s Birds A bird’s best friend...offering nutritious food, cages, play stands and enriching toys. Services: adoption, behavior, boarding, grooming, rehab, relinquishment. Proud to foster for Florida Parrot Rescue ~ floridaparrotrescue.com Located: 4300 Kings Hwy., Ste. 401, Port Charlotte, Fla.

Q: Why did the budgie go to the candy store? A: To get a tweet!

941.979.8295

This month’s cover models posed courtesy of It’s For the Birds in Naples, Fla. This trio is related, but not from the same clutch. The young lady, Penny, has gone to her forever home where her family is excited to have a famous parrot in the flock! Do you have a gorgeous parrot worthy of front cover treatment? Contact publisher@inyourflock.com.

The long-awaited Life with Alex, a memoir film is now available from Grey Parrot Studios. www.LifeWithAlexMovie.com (a portion of the proceeds from this film will benefit the Alex Foundation)

Resource Directory (In Your Flock’s Resource Directory is designed for you to have quick access to the manufacturers and service providers who can get you the information you need to keep your birds happy and healthy. Let them know you saw them in In Your Flock magazine.) Birdbrain Gifts Contact: Janet Bray www.birdbraingifts.com INYRFLOCK code

Bonnie’s Birds 34 Contact: Bonnie or Rebecca 941-979-8295

In Your Flock is the only avian publication in circulation that brings all the topics you want to one convenient place. Join our experts in sharing our efforts in conservation and education. Join our flock. Subscribe at: www.InYourFlock.com

Grey Parrot Studios LifeWithAlexMovie.com Kissinger, Megan Contact: Megan 239-410-0066 www.megankissinger.com

Doctors Foster & Smith 35 800-443-1160 www.DrsFosterSmith.com 34 ~ November 2012 ~ www.InYourFlock.com

34 2

Your Cool Name Here All your advertising text could be right here, telling thousands of parrot parents what kind of nationwide services you offer for their feathered friends. From building websites for their businesses to building misting systems for their aviaries, you have a skill someone across the country needs to hear about. Let IYF help you get the message out! 888-982-9552

Have a safe and happy New Year!

T VE

RINAR IA

800-443-1160

DrsFosterSmith.com

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“I can only think of one thing greater than being happy and that is to help another to be happy, too.”—Jim Thomson