3 Great Birds For Kids

Since children are often fascinated by birds, which makes them want to own one as a pet. Of course, as parents, it can be hard to determine which bird species are the best pets for your child, especially if it is a first pet. So, to help you out a bit, here are the top three birds that make exceppent pets for children:

1. Budgies/Parakeets: There is a reason that these are the most popular pet bird species out there. Not only are they extremely colorful and fun, but they can also tolerate being handled very well. They are also very easy to care for and they can even learn to talk. Since they do have very gentle personalities, they do bond very strongly with their owners, which makes them excellent pets for kids.

2. Cockatiels: This is the largest bird on this list and do very will with older children that will devote a lot of time interacting with them. Since Cockatiels can easily learn to talk, whistle, and do tons of other tricks, it makes them a delightful pet for children to have. They do require time out of their cages and they do require a bit more care than budgies or our next bird on the list. So, you want to make sure that you learn a lot about them before buying one for your child.

3. Finches & Canaries: These are by far the easiest to care for as they don't require a lot of interaction by you or your child. They are very pretty birds, which make them great for young children, and they sing a lot, which gives your child some wonderful "music" to listen to. Finches don't care too much for interaction with humans, so if you decide to get one, make sure that you get at least a pair so they won't get lonely. Now, you cannot take them out of their cage and handle them, as they can easily get hurt, so these are not the right pet for your child if they want a bird that they can interact with.

Overall, any of these three species make excellent pets for beginners or children. Just make sure that you do read up on the care, diet, and overall health concerns for each one before you head out to the pet store to get a new friend.

How To Choose The Right Avian Vet

When it comes to your feathered friend, getting sick is just part of life. But what do you do when they get sick? How do you find the right vet that knows what they are doing and how to care for your bird? Since a bird's anatomy is very different than a normal cat or dog, you have to find a vet that can provide the specialized care that a bird needs. For new bird owners, you probably have a ton of questions about how to choose the right avian vet. So, here are some things that you can do find the right one for you:

1. Location: A lot of times, the hardest part about finding the right vet for your bird is locating one. Since the Internet is a major part of our lives today, it's much easier to find a vet that is close to you. One of the best places to start is to look at the yellow pages online for veterinarians that specalize in avian or even exotic medicine. Normally these vets will advertise that they do these types of animals so people can find them easier and they will also advertise their qualifications as well. You can also look at the Association of Avian Veterinarians' web site to find a vet near you that takes care of birds as well. They always maintain a list of vets that are qualified to care for companion birds and also have a great vet locator that will help you find one close by.

2. Preliminary Appointment: When you do find a vet close to you, don't just go in and let them work on your bird without finding out what you want to know - and don't wait until your bird is sick. Instead, schedule an appointment with the vet and take your bird with you to just talk to them and introduce yourself and your bird. This will also help your bird feel at easy and help them to know the vet before they are sick and might be a bit cranky towards new people.

3. Questions: Of course, there are some questions that you should ask the vet. Some of these questions include things like:

A. How long have you been treating birds? Keep in mind that experience is the best teacher and you want to find a vet that has a solid background in avian medicine so that you will know your bird is in the best possible hands.

B. How familiar they are with your species of bird? Make sure that you find out how much experience they have in dealing with your specific type of bird. Different birds are all treated and react differently to different medical procedures, so you want to know that the vet you have chosen is familiar with your species of bird, such as what treatment work and what don't.

C. Are they a member of the AAV? It doesn't hurt to ask this, and you want to make sure that the vet you choose is a member of the AAV so that they are held to a higher standard of care.

D. Do they have birds at home? While this might seem like a personal question, don't hesitate to ask it. Those that have birds of any type at home are more likely to know a bird's body language and how to look for signs of them being sick better than those that don't keep birds at their home.

E. Do they have emergency or after-hours care? Most vets offer this today, and you want to make sure that they one you choose for your bird does as well. After all, accidents can happen at any time - day or night.

F. How much do their services cost for birds? Since vet visits can be costly, you want to know in advance how much an emergency visit might cost and have that money set back just in case.

G. Do they recommend normal check ups? Many avian vets will recommend that birds have a well check at least once per year, so that they can help you keep your bird in shape and healthy.

A good vet will answer all of your questions and address concerns without hesitation and you want to make sure that you watch the way that they handle and relate to your bird during your first visit. You want them to be comfortable with your bird and make sure that their staff makes an effort to make things less stressful for your bird. If you or your bird isn't comfortable with them, they might not be the right vet for you.

Breeding Cockatiels In Your Cages for Coins

In Birdland, the name of the game is earning coins to buy bigger and better things and birds. To do this, you can work forever buying and selling Budgies, or you can find a better way. One of the easiest ways to build up a massive coin bank is by buying, breeding, and selling Cockatiels.

To start out, you will want to buy at least two Cockatiels, preferrably one white and one gray - but it doesn't matter which color you prefer. The gray ones will cost you 15,000 coins (yes sounds like a lot but the turnover is great) and the white ones will cost you 15 feathers. Just make sure that you have a male and a female so that you can breed them. Take care of them until they are grown.

When you start breeding, you want to make sure that you have plenty of room in your cage and breed them as often as you possibly can. Now, the good thing is that even though the white Cockatiels only sell for 6000 coins, when you breed them with the gray ones, they are now worth 13,000+ and when you breed the gray ones together, they are now worth 18,000+.

You will get all sorts of different color variations when you breed the white and gray together. Some of these include solid yellow, a mix of gray, white, and yellow, as well as some with turquoise spots on their faces. If you are breeding two gray ones together, you will always bank a profit of 3000+ coins. If you are breeding a white and a gray together, you can bank anywhere from a 2000 to an 8000+ profit, depending on the color variation. Plus, once you get to the point where you're breeding and selling the ones that you've already bred from (and didn't pay for), you will start making a 12,000-18,000+ profit per bird.

So, if you don't have Cockatiels in one of your cages that you're breeding and selling, make sure that you start doing so. By breeding and selling them, you'll find that your coins will quickly go up by leaps and bounds.

Want to know more about Cockatiels in general? Check out these great posts here on our Birdland blog:

Birds of Birdland: The Cockatiel

Teaching Your Bird the "Step-Up" Command

Top 5 Popular Bird Species

Fun New Farm Items In Birdland

For those that haven't checked into Birdland lately, there are some sweet new decorations that you will want to check out. Here are some of the latest and greatest that you have to see:

Farm Well: Own a chicken farm? Looking for something else to dress it up? The Farm Well will help you provide a wonderful way for your chickens to feel at home on the farm. It will cost you 5 feathers, and sells for 7000 coins, buying one will gain you 7 experience points.

Hay Bale: What respectable farm would be complete without some hay bales lying around? If you are finding that your farm is missing some much needed decoration, then these are exactly what you need. You can buy them for 7000 coins and sell them for 1000 coins, and they'll gain you 6 experience points each.

Trough With Water: Along the same farm themed decorations line, there are some new accessories that you can use for your chicken farms. One of these is the new trough with water that you can use to give your chickens water when they need it. Of course, it's large enough that you can use it in any cage and provide more water for your birds than just the small water feeders. This will cost you 28,000 coins and sells for 6000 coins, it gains you 7 experience points.

Board With Hay: Want more farm themed accessories for your farm? The board with hay will give your chickens a wonderful place to roost when they need it. This board can go anywhere in your cage, and you can use it for both big and small chickens. This new accessory will cost you 29,000 coins and sells for 6500 coins, giving you 8 experience points.

Now, you want to make sure that you've got the chicken farm theme so that everything will look just right for your chickens in Birdland. Breeding your chickens together will also bring you some extremely interesting colors and combinations, so don't forget to breed them as often as you can!

Birds of Birdland: The Cockatiel

Known as the Cockatiel, the Quarrion, and the Weiro, this species of Cockatoo is native to Australia. They are a wonderful pet, and excellent parrot companion that is sought throughout the world as they are very easy to breed. In fact, as far as caged pet birds go, the Cockatiel is second only to the Parakete or Budgerigar.

The color of a Cockatiel will vary greatly in shade due to the melanin that provides the gray color in their feathers, eyes, beaks, and feet as well as the lipochromes that provide their yellow color throughout their faces, tails, and their orange cheek patches. Since the gray color will override the yellow and orange mostly, they are mainly grey with slight patches of color spread throughout their bodies. As males get older, the gray will diminish from their faces and they will start to show more yellow and orange.

The Cockatiel lives between 15-20 years, which makes it a wonderful companion for anyone, and there are reports of them living up to 30 years. With the proper diet and exercise, they cna easily live a very full and fun filled life with their owners.

Since they are regarded so highly as good pet birds to own, millions of people throughout the world hold them dear to their hearts. Every Cockatiel has a very different and unique personality, which also makes them an excellent pet. Sometimes these unique traits of different birds will also have an effect on how long they live and how well they get along with other birds. Some of them are extremely sociable, while others are shy and will head to the back of the cage when a stranger appears. But, if they are handled often by their owners, have owners who are patient with them and loving and caring, it is extremely easy to have them become quite tame faster than some of the other parrot species.

If you are considering getting a Cockatiel, make sure that you learn about the bird first. You'll want to make sure that you know what they like to eat, what is safe for them to play with, the best ways to handle them, and so on so that you don't accidentally hurt your new friend or make them sick.

Newest Birdland Bird: The Indian Pitta

The newest bird to grace our Birdland cages is the Indian Pitta, which is a medium-sized bird. In the wild, they are found mainly in Sub-Himalayan areas and they winter in southern India as well as Sri Lanka. They absolutely love thick undergrowth, which helps them to disguize themselves and their families. Their brilliant colors can make them a very beautiful and fun bird to watch and they are often covered in newspaper stories all around the areas that they live in.

So what is it that makes these birds so different? Well, they have a small, stubby tail and very long, strong legs. The Indian Pitta also has a beautiful buff colored crown and stripe with black coronal stripes, this black eye stripes, as well as white throats and necks. Their upper areas of their bodies are green with a blue tail, buff colored under areas, and bright red on the lower belly and vent. They usually hop along the ground through the brush to forage and they have even been known to get caught in small aminal traps.

Normally, they are heard more than they are seen and they have a very distinct whistle that is made up of two main notes, sometimes with a triple note thrown in. They normally will call once or twice, usually with other neighbor birds joining in with them, especially at dusk or dawn. For this reason, they are called the "Six-O-Clock" bird in Tamil.

While they will mainly breed in the Himalayan foothills from nothern Pakistan up to the west to at least Napal and sometimes up into the Sikkim in the east. They also have been known to breed in the central hills of India as well as Wester Ghats to the south toward Belgaum and Goa. They are so common throughout the whole area that they have been known to even show up inside some people's homes when they are exhausted from moving all around, breeding, and migrating.

Since they are a species of bird that makes seasonal movements that go along with the rains, their breeding season is suring the south-west Monsoon from June to August and normally peaks in June in central India and in July in northern India. They build small globular structures with one small, round opening on one side that is built low to the ground or on lower branches. Normally, the Indian Pitta lays four to five eggs which are glossy white and sperical with some spots and specks of deep maroon or purple.

The Indian Pitta loves to feed on small insects and other smaller invertebrates that are picked up off the ground or leaves that are littered all over the ground. Of course, they have also been noted to take food scraps from humans that have been left on the ground.

They are a very beautiful and unique bird to watch and enjoy, and if you haven't gotten yours in Birdland yet - make sure that you get a pair to breed and see what kind of unique color combinations you too can come up with. They will cost you coins, not feathers, and you have to be level 45 to buy them.

Birds of Birdland: The Starling

The Starling is a medium to small sized bird that are found in the wild in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and across the tropical Pacific. Several of these species have been introduced into the wild in North America, Hawaii, and New Zealand where they have thrived and compete with the other birds in that area for the natural habitats that they need. It is due to this that they are considered to be an invasive species, but that doesn't take away from how pretty they are and how fun they can be to watch.

Starlings are a very social bird and therefore like to live in larger, social families. Most of them will stay with flocks that vary in size throughout the year and these flocks can even include species from other families in the. It is this sociality that is fun to watch when they interact with other bird species as well as when they are roosting.

They love to eat fruits, nectar, and insects and many Starlings are key to helping disperse seeds throughout Asia and Africa, especially when it comes to tree seeds as well as parasites. Some scientists have studied the Starling eating fermenting, over-ripened fruit, which has led them to believe that they actually might become intoxicated by the alcohol in the fruit. This prompted to study how Starlings might break down the alcohol in their systems, and they found that they have disposal enzymes that helps them to break down the alcohol extremely quickly.

Although there are many types of Starlings today, there is one that is now extinct, called the Mascarene starlings. Only one of their species is known from specimens that were taken while the bird was still in existance, others are known from remains of subfossil bones and one very early traveler's description.

For those that love to bird watch at home or while on hikes or out in nature anywhere, Starlings can be an extremely fun bird to watch. Since they are so closely related to Myna birds and they are very intelligent, they can be very inquisitive and love to explore things. Building a Starling house in your back yard can also help to attract them so that you can watch them socialize, breed, and raise their young right at your side.

Sparkie Williams - An Extradorniary Budgie

Think that all parakeets are alike and won't ever learn to talk like larger parrots? Well, think again as you meet Sparkie who inspired more than just one person to work with them daily. Sparkie Williams (1954–1962) was a talking budgie who has provided the inspiration for a new opera by Michael Nyman and Carsten Nicolai. The opera was performed in Berlin in March 2009. Sparkie had a repertoire of more than 500 words and eight nursery rhymes, becoming a national celebrity after fronting an advertising campaign for Capern’s bird seed, and making a record which sold 20,000 copies. After he died, he was stuffed and put on show at Newcastle’s Hancock Museum.

Born and bred in North East England, Sparkie was owned by Mrs Mattie Williams, who lived in Forest Hall, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He earned his name after Mrs Williams called him ‘A bright little spark,' and she taught him to speak, recite songs and sing nursery rhymes. Sparkie had a huge repertoire of words and sayings. By the time he was three-and-a-half, he had won the BBC International Cage Word Contest in July 1958. He was so good, in fact, that he was disqualified from taking part again.

Sparkie was courted by bird seed sellers and fronted the advertisement campaign for Capern’s bird seed for two years. He was recorded talking with budgie expert Philip Marsden on BBC radio, and appeared on the BBC Tonight programme with Cliff Michelmore. When Sparkie died, he was stuffed by the best taxidermist in London and taken on a tour of Britain in an exhibition of his life and work, before coming back to the Hancock Museum in 1996. Sparkie Williams is acclaimed as the world’s most outstanding talking bird in the Guinness Book of Records.

He is now part of the collections owned by the Natural History Society of Northumbria.

The new opera inspired by Sparkie is based on Michael Nyman’s 1977 piece Pretty Talk. The original piece used material from a record made by Capern’s bird-food company to help customers teach their pet birds to talk. The 7-inch flexi disc played short sentences spoken by Sparkie’s owner, Mrs Williams, to encourage her pet to speak - followed by replies from Sparkie himself. The new opera, Sparkie: Cage and Beyond, features further recordings from the ‘Sparkie’ archives of the Natural History Society of Northumbria. A CD of Sparkie talking has already been released.

Work on a £26 million extension and refurbishing of the Hancock Museum in Newcastle will see it re-open in May 2009 as part of the Great North Museum. Sparkie will be among the exhibits on show to visitors.

So if you think that a little parakeet won't be enough to keep you happy, or that they aren't quiet as smart as other, larger parrots - think again and take another look at them the next time you head to the pet store. One of them could just be your "Sparkie".

Breeding and Health Problems In Budgies (Parakeets)

Just like any bird, Budgies can develop problems with their health or breeding. But, knowing what do to can easily help you keep your friend happy and healthy and provide another great way for you to bond with your bird. Keep in mind that most breeding and health problems are genetic in budgies, and you can normally expect them to carry on to their chicks, causing them a lower life span.

Breeding Problems

For some parakeets, breeding is just difficult for them. Sometimes the chicks can die from diseases or even attacks from adult birds in the cage. The females can fight over the brood or nesting box, and hurt the young inside. Other times, male budgies just aren't interested in the opposite sex at all and will shy away from them and not mate. Other times, it may require a small flock of the budgies for a pair to mate, such as having several pairs in a household setting where they can see each other. Other times the bird's beak can be under lapped, where the lower mandible is above the upper mandible.

If you find that any of your budgies has fatty tumors or other health problems, you should not breed them. Those that are kept for breeding should always be healthy, active, and unrelated as well. This will provide your chicks the best possible opportunity for a long, healthy life.

There is one problem that you can easily see and correct in young chicks, and that is splay leg. This normally happens when a chick cannot get a good grip on the floor of the nestbox and slips repeatedly, causing one leg to become bent outward and causing problems mating later in life. To combat this, you can simply put several pieces of paper in the bottom of the box for the female to turn into bedding for the babies.

Keep in mind that with proper care and a watchful owner's eye, any budgie can live a very long, healthy, happy life. Plus, any chicks that hatch will have the best possible opportunity to grow up and become someone's feathered friend as well.

Budgerigar Color Mutations

The exact science of budgie color genetics deals with the different mutations and how hereditary they are. These mutations cause the different feahters to change color in the birds when they breed. For example, in the wild, Budgies are normally called "lightgreen" as they contain a black type melanin called eumelanin as well as a basic yellow pigment called psittacofulvin. Other parrot species produce different advanced-psittacin that gives them the ability to produce different colors such as oranges, pinks, reds, and even peaches. But, when these feathers are explosed to sunlight, only the blue part of the spectrum is reflected by their eumelanin granules. Since the blue light passes through the yellow layer of their pigmentations, it results in the lightgreen coloration that we know and love in parakeets.

Of course, there are tons of color mutations that have been bred into them in captivity. All of these fall into four major groups:

Albinism: this is where the eumelanin is partially or completely reduced in the body tissues and structures of the bird

Dilution: this is where the eumelanin is reduced only in their feathers

Leucism: this is where the eumelanin is completely reduced from total or localized feather patches

Melanism: this is where the eumelanin is increased in the feathers

Some of the more popular mutations of budgies colors include:

Dark: this is where they turn a dark green and cobalt blue or olive and mauve

Goldenfaced: this is where they have a golden sheen to their faces

Violet: this is where their feathers are a beautiful purple or violet color

Dilute: this is where they can be any different shade of yellow or white, or a suffused white

There are tons of different colors in between all of these different mutations and you will notice that the chicks you breed will all look different from each other, and normally different from the parents as well. So, don't get discouraged if your first brood doesn't have much in the way of looks or doesn't have any of the different mutations that you were hoping for. Each budgie is special in their own way and you will find that they will all grow up to be beautiful birds.

Birds of Birdland: The Budgie (or Parakeet)

The common parakeets that you will see in pet stores are actually a parrot and are called a budgerigar, or shell parakeet. You'll hear these referred to as budgies or parakeets, and they are a very small parrot species and the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus. They are predominantly green and yellow with black markings, but you will find that they have been bred extensively so that there are so many different color variations today. Some of these beautiful variations include: blue and white, yellow and blue, all white, all yellow, and every mix in between. The closests related parrot species to them is the lories and fig parrots.

In the wild, budgies are mainly nomadic birds that are found in open habitats, normally in Australian scrublands, woodlands, and grasslands. They do keep to small flocks but if needed, they can form a very large, noisy flock. They move wherever water and food can easily be found and drought can drive them into more of the coastal or wooded areas that they would not normally be found it. They love seeds of spinifex, grass weeds, and even ripening wheat.

The budgerigar is only one of two different parrot species that are genuinely domecticated, the other being the peach-faced lovebirds. They are widely regarded as being the most common pet parrot in the world and probably the most common caged bird as well. They have been bred in captivity since the 1850's and throughout the years, breeders have worked to produce an endless variety of different colors, patterns, and mutations in their feathers - some of the more unique ones include solid blue, albinos, cinnamon-ino, clearwinged, crested, dark, opaline, pieds, spangled, and even violet.

When compared to the wild budgerigars, the English (or show) budgies are about twice their size. But, this is a combination of both breeding and the size of their feathers, as English budgies have large, puffy head feathers that exaggerate their looks. These can get so large that their eyes and bead can almost be totally covered by these larger feathers. Of course, those that raise English budgies usually do so for show and they normally live between 7-9 years. Most of the budgies that you will find in pet stores are the "wild type" budgies, meaning that they are more similar to those found in the wild instead of the English ones.

But just because they are small doesn't mean that they are not smart! Parakeets, or budgies, can easily be talk to speak, whistle, and play and love interactions with other budgies and humans. Both sexes can learn to sing and mimic sounds as well as do a few tricks. Of course, the singing and mimicing are more prounounced and easier to perfect in males, as females normally will only learn about a dozen words or so. Males have been known to learn between a dozen and hundreds of words. But, those that talk to and work with their budgies the most will see the most interaction with them as they learn more and more words and tricks. You'll easily notice the differences in personalities that different budgies have, and the more that you work with your bird, the more their personality will show.

Budgies love to chew on just about anything that they can get their little beaks on, and will chew on anything in their cages. Females are the worst at this, as they are used to gnaw around the interior of other wild bird nests. It's a great idea to have mineral blocks and cuttlebones as well as soft wooden pieces that they can chew on.

They love whole cereals and whole grains, such as barley, flax, oats, quinoa, wild rice, and whole rices and these are good for them. You can also feel them edible blossoms, such as carnations, chamomille, chives, dandelion, day lillies, hibiscus, honeysuckle, lilacs, pansies, passion flowers, roses, sunflowers, tulips, and violets. But, you can only feed them the flowers themselves as some of the leaves are poisonous to them. Of course, you'll find a wide variety of fruits and other greens that they will fall in love with as well.

As long as you take good care of your budiges, they can live between 9-20 years, depending on their breeding, health conditions, and overall care that they recieve from you. Don't count these small parrots out if you're looking for a smart bird to own, as they can easily become a great friend to everyone in your home.

Adding Neighbors In Birdland

New to Birdland and wondering where to find neighbors that will help you in the game? Well, there are some great places around Facebook that you can look to gain neighbors as well as find information about the game to help you along.

You'll always want to check out the main Birdland page for the game. Here, you'll find the latest information on new items, birds, and more that are introduced into the game. You'll also find a discussion board where you can add your name to the list for tons of new friends and neighbors. Make sure that you're adding your name to the list daily as there are millions of Birdland players out there.

There aren't a lot of fan pages out there yet, but you will find that the Birdland Fan Page is growing by leaps and bounds. There are plenty of members that will add you as a neighbor and answer questions if you have them about the game.

The main thing that you will want to remember is that when you are on these pages, make sure that you are putting your name on the neighbor lists. Also, you want to do this daily - or more if you can. This way, you get the maximum exposure to your profile and you will gain the most neighbors without doing a lot of work.

Birds of Birdland: The Pidgeon

The Rock Dove, or Pidgeon as we commonly know them, are very intelligent, brightly colored birds that many people have come to know throughout the world. Since they love buildings and city life, it isn't uncommon to find them in just about every city in America and many others around the world. Wild Rock Pidgeons are normally a pale grey with two black bars on each of their wings, but those that have been domesticated or bred with domesticated pidgeons can be found in all different colors and patterns.

Not sure what a "normal" Pidgeon looks like? There are several different distinctions between adults and young, male and female. The adult of the nominate subspecies of the Rock Pigeon is 32–37 cm (12–14½ in) long with a 64–72 cm (25–28 in) wingspan. It has a dark bluish-gray head, neck, and chest with glossy yellowish, greenish, and reddish-purple iridescence along its neck and wing feathers. The iris is orange, red or golden with a paler inner ring, and the bare skin round the eye is bluish-grey. The bill is grey-black with a conspicuous off-white cere, and the feet are purplish-red. The adult female is almost identical to the male, but the iridescence on the neck is less intense and more restricted to the rear and sides, while that on the breast is often very obscure.

The white lower back of the pure Rock Pigeon is its best identification character, the two black bars on its pale grey wings are also distinctive. The tail has a black band on the end and the outer web of the tail feathers are margined with white. It is strong and quick on the wing, dashing out

from sea caves, flying low over the water, its lighter grey rump showing well from above. Young birds show little lustre and are duller. Eye colour of the pigeon is generally an orange colour but a few pigeons may have white-grey eyes. The eyelids are orange in colour and are encapsulated in a grey-white eye ring. The feet are red to pink.

When circling overhead, the white underwing of the bird becomes conspicuous. In its flight, behaviour, and voice, which is more of a dovecot coo than the phrase of the Wood Pigeon, it is a typical pigeon. Although it is a relatively strong flier, it also glides frequently, holding its wings in a very pronounced V shape as it does. Though fields are visited for grain and green food, it is nowhere so plentiful as to be a pest.

Pigeons feed on the ground in flocks or individually. They roost together in buildings or on walls or statues. When drinking, most birds take small sips and tilt their heads backwards to swallow the water. Pigeons are able to dip their bills into the water and drink continuously without having to tilt their heads back. When disturbed, a pigeon in a group will take off with a noisy clapping sound. Homing pigeons, are well known for their ability to find their way home from long distances. Despite these demonstrated abilities, wild Rock Pigeons are sedentary and rarely leave their local areas.

Of course while the Pidgeon is seen throughout cities all over the world, their habitats nclude various open and semi-open environments, including agricultural and urban areas. Cliffs and rock ledges are used for roosting and breeding in the wild. Originally found wild in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, feral Rock Pigeons have become established in cities around the world. The species is abundant, with an estimated population of 17 to 28 million feral and wild birds in Europe.

Pigeons may harbour a diverse parasite fauna.[18] They often host the intestinal helminths Capillaria columbae and Ascaridia columbae. Their ectoparasites include the Ischnoceran lice Columbicola columbae, Campanulotes bidentatus compar, the Amblyceran lice Bonomiella columbae, Hohorstiella lata, Colpocephalum turbinatum, the mites Tinaminyssus melloi, Dermanyssus gallinae, Dermoglyphus columbae, Falculifer rostratus, and Diplaegidia columbae. The hippoboscid fly Pseudolynchia canariensis is a typical blood-sucking ectoparasite of pigeons, found only in (sub-)tropical regions.

Pigeons have been falsely associated with the spread of human diseases. Contact with pigeon droppings poses a minor risk of contracting histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and psittacosis. Pigeons are not a major concern in the spread of West Nile virus; though they can contract it, they do not appear to be able to transmit it. Pigeons are, however, at potential risk for carrying and spreading avian influenza. Although one study has shown that adult pigeons are not clinically susceptible to the most dangerous strain of avian influenza, the H5N1, other studies have presented definitive evidence of clinical signs and neurological lesions resulting from infection. Furthermore, it has been shown that pigeons are susceptible to other strains of avian influenza, such as the H7N7, from which at least one human fatality has been recorded.

Rock Pigeons have been domesticated for several thousand years, giving rise to the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica). As well as pets, domesticated pigeons are utilised as homing pigeons and carrier pigeons, and so-called war pigeons have served and played important roles during wartimes, with many pigeons having received bravery awards and medals for their services in saving hundreds of human lives: including, notably, the French pigeon Cher Ami who received the Croix de Guerre for his heroic actions during World War I, and the Irish Paddy and the American G.I. Joe, who both received the Dickin Medal, amongst 32 pigeons to receive this medallion, for their gallant and brave actions during World War II. There are numerous breeds of fancy pigeons of all sizes, colours and types.

Many domestic birds have escaped or been released over the years, and have given rise to the feral pigeon. These show a variety of plumages, although some have the blue barred pattern like the pure Rock Pigeon does. Feral pigeons are found in large numbers in cities and towns all over the world. The scarcity of the pure wild species is partly due to interbreeding with feral birds.

New Asian Birds & Goodies

For those level 50+, there are some beautiful new Asian tropics birds that have hit the store for you to purchase. The Malkoha comes in three beautiful colors for you to breed and see what you can get. These three colors are the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, the Green Malkoha, and the Red-billed Malkoha.

You will also find some beautiful new perches that have several different styles

to them: Chinese, Medieval, and a Fairytale theme. Make sure that you add them to your new themes as well as match them up with other new items, such as birdhouses and more!

When you add these new birds to the ones that Birdland just introduced last week, you will find more and more ways to dress those cages up and ensure that you have unique birds that no one else will have! So what are you waiting for?

Birds of Birdland: Pelicans

Most people have seen a pelican either in photographs, in nature books, at the zoo, or even in the wild. They are an odd but familiar sight, and they are fun birds to watch. In Birdland, you can find a pelican to adopt out to your friends or purchase for yourself with Facebook credits, and here are the basics about pelicans that every bird lover will want to know.

Pelicans are large birds with large pouched bills. The smallest is the Brown Pelican, small individuals of which can be as little as 6 lb, and 42 in long and can have a wingspan of as little as 6 ft. The largest is believed to be the Dalmatian Pelican, at up to 33 lb, 72 in long, with a maximum wingspan of nearly 10 foot. But, the Australian Pelican has the longest bill of any bird. Pelicans swim very well with their short, strong legs especially since their feet have all four toes webbed. Their tail is short and square, with 20 to 24 feathers and is one of the main noticable signs of the pelican. The wings are long and have the unusually large number of 30 to 35 secondary flight feathers. A layer of special fibers deep in the breast muscles can hold the wings rigidly horizontal for gliding and soaring. Thus they can exploit thermals to commute over 100 miles to feeding areas. Pelicans rub the backs of their heads on their preen glands to pick up its oily secretion, which they transfer to their plumage to waterproof it.

The diet of a Pelican usually consists of fish, but they also eat amphibians, crustaceans and on some occasions, smaller birds. They often catch fish by expanding the throat pouch. Then they must drain the pouch above the surface before they can swallow. This operation takes up to a minute, during which time other seabirds are particularly likely to steal the fish. Pelicans in their turn sometimes pirate prey from other seabirds. The white pelicans often fish in groups. They will form a line to chase schools of small fish into shallow water, and then scoop them up. Large fish are caught with the bill-tip, then tossed up in the air to be caught and slid into the gullet head first. The Brown Pelican of North America usually plunge-dives for its prey. Rarely, other species such as the Peruvian Pelican and the Australian Pelican practice this method.

Pelicans are gregarious and nest colonially. The ground-nesting (white) species have a complex communal courtship involving a group of males chasing a single female in the air, on land, or in the water while pointing, gaping, and thrusting their bills at each other. They can finish the process in a day. The tree-nesting species have a simpler process in which perched males advertise for females. In all species copulation begins shortly after pairing and continues for 3 to 10 days before egg-laying. The male brings the nesting material, ground-nesters (which may not build a nest) sometimes in the pouch and tree-nesters crosswise in the bill. The female then heaps the material up to form a simple structure.

Both sexes incubate with the eggs on top of or below the feet. They may display when changing shifts. All species lay at least two eggs, and hatching success for undisturbed pairs can be as high as 95 percent, but because of competition between siblings or outright siblicide, usually all but one nestling dies within the first few weeks (or later in the Pink-backed and Spot-billed species). The young are fed copiously. Before or especially after being fed, they may seem to have a seizure that ends in falling unconscious; the reason is not clearly known. Parents of ground-nesting species have another strange behavior: they sometimes drag older young around roughly by the head before feeding them. The young of these species gather in "pods" or "crèches" of up to 100 birds in which parents recognize and feed only their own offspring. By 6 to 8 weeks they wander around, occasionally swimming, and may practice communal feeding.

Young of all species fledge 10 to 12 weeks after hatching. They may remain with their parents afterwards, but are now seldom or never fed. Overall breeding success is highly inconsistent. Pairs are monogamous for a single season, but the pair bond extends only to the nesting area; mates are independent away from the nest.

While pelicans are found all over the world, they are very sensitive to environmental damage that is done to their homes. The Pelican environment suffered significant ecosystem damage from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico petroleum disaster. Dead pelicans were seen on Raccoon Island, the largest pelican rookery in Louisiana. Rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina, it was home to more than 60,000 pelicans, but since the oil spill mature pelicans are scarce. Instead, there are thousands of dead birds and emaciated and abandoned juvenile and baby birds.

New Items In Birdland

If you haven't logged into Birdland in a while, you're missing out on some great new birds, items, and more. Birdland is constantly giving us bigger and better things to strive for in our cages and they have released some beautiful new birds for us to collect, raise, and breed as well as some beautiful new birdhouses and new themes to decorate our cages with. Here is what you want to know about these latest additions to the game:

Birds:

There are three new types of birds, the Hoopoe, the Hornbill, and the Pidgeon.

Hoopoe - The Fan Hoopoe is available on the first page of the "Birds" tab in the Store and you'll find that they are very colorful and beautiful birds that you can collect. You can buy them for 1350 Birdland coins and sell them for 1500 coins.

Hornbills - There are a few different colors of Hornbills that you can choose

from now in Birdland. The Green Billed Hornbill can be bought for 18 Feathers and sold for 10,000 coins. The Purple Billed Hornbill can be bought for 20 Feathers and sold for 11,000 coins. The Red Billed Hornbill is unlocked at level 50.

Pidgeons - Of course, there are also some new pidgeons that you can purchase as well. These include the normal pidgeon that can be bought for 5000 coins and sold for 6000 coins, the Pink-headed Fruit pidgeon that is bought for 10,000 coins and sells for 12,000 coins, and the green pidgeon that is unlocked at level 45.

Decorations:

What would new birds be without new decorations? Birdland hasn't let us down here either. Here are some of the new decorations that you'll find:

Farm Well - Can be bought for 5 Feathers and sold for 7000 coins, giving you 7 experience.

Hay Bale - Can be bought for 7000 coins and sold for 1000 coins, giving you 6 experience.

Accessories:

Of course, your new birds need new accessories as well to fix their cages up so they feel at home. Here are the new accessories that you'll find in Birdland:

Trough with Water - This can be bought for 28,000 coins and sold for 6,000 coins, giving you 7 experience points.

Board with hay - This can be bought for 29,000 coins and sold for 6,500 coins, giving you 8 experience points.

Asian Birdhouse - This can be bought for 21,000 coins and sold for 3,000 coins, giving you 13 experience points.

Elvish Birdhouse - This can be bought for 22,000 coins and sold for 4,000 coins, giving you 14 experience points.

Themes:

The new castle theme is now available in the Store and will cost you 15 Feathers to purchase it. Make any bird feel at home with this open theme!

So, make sure that you've logged into your cages and checked out the sweet new things that Birdland has to offer.

How To Level Up Faster In Birdland

Believe it or not, but leveling up in Birdland is actually pretty easy if you know what to do.Leveling up in Birdland is easy and fast, if you have a lot of neighbors. This is the key to unlocking more birds and accessories as you progress through the game. Here are several ways to get to the next level and move to double digit levels in no time.

Add More Neighbors

The first step is to invite as many friends to be your neighbors. You can also visit Birdland’s Facebook page and check out their wall and discussion board. You will always find several people requesting for them to be your neighbor.

At this point, I have about 33 neighbors and counting. Not much but what’s important is to get neighbors who have several cages, which usually are at higher levels (20 onwards). You’ve reached the jackpot If you have neighbors that have both expanded their cages to its maximum and added more cages. This will be beneficial in the long run when you start visiting them.

Visit all your Neighbors

Some actions reset every 24 hours but the hunger and happiness levels decrease faster for smaller birds. Depending on your availability to check back, you will notice visiting often has its advantages. It’s pretty random but you will notice some cages that need to be cleaned and birds to be fed again after a few hours.

What’s important here is to visit ALL your neighbor’s cages. If they have several cages, then visit each one.

Here are the things you need to do for each visit.

Clean their Cages -You get 1 level point every time you clean their cage. By using the broom (cleantool), you need to click about 5 times until you get the point.

Refill their Feeders -The more birds in the cage, the more times you need to refill their feeders andwater tanks. It’s great if their birds are very hungry. This means more level points. Each refill will reward you 1 level point. You will notice refilling each cage about 5-10 times.

Give Love -When you send love, this gives you 5 level points. This is the fastest way to earn points. Again, having more birds is best. Watch that happiness meter and click on each bird until it is full.

Random Help Messages

The longer you stay in the game, you will notice messages pop up asking you to help a neighbor. Accepting this will give you 3 XP. It also sometimes bring you to dirty cages, even if you’ve just cleaned them.

Buying Items

Purchasing new birds and items from the shop also gives you experience points. Most of them reward you 3 level points.

Teaching Your Bird the "Step-Up" Command

Step 1: Choose a Non-Threatening Training Area

The "Step-Up" command is the most basic and important command for a pet bird to know. Not only will you use this command in daily interaction with your pet, it is imperative that pet birds are able to perform this task in the event of a vet visit. In order to ensure that you have your bird's undivided attention during training, it is important that you choose a suitable location in which to teach him. Follow these tips to choose a training area for your bird that will be conducive to the learning process.

Create a Positive Environment:

Birds are very sensitive creatures, and because they are so perceptive, their emotions often depend upon whether they see their environments in a positive or negative light. To ensure your bird's comfort, try to use a room that is well-lit and brightly colored, yet quiet and away from his cage and similar distractions.

Close Off the Training Area:

When training your bird, always make sure to close any doors and cover any windows that may be present. This will help you hold your bird's attention while at the same time protecting your bird in case he becomes bored with his lessons and attempts to fly off.

If you have just recently acquired your bird, the first few training sessions may be very frightening for him. Choosing a training location that will be comfortable for the bird will not only make it much easier for you to communicate with your pet, but will go a long way in easing the bird's concerns.

Step 2: Begin With Socialization

As with most living beings, birds learn best when they are having fun. Training your bird can be a snap if you put forth a little effort to encourage your feathered friend.

Start by Talking to Your Bird:

We all know that birds are very vocal, but they are also often soothed by the sound of their owner's voice. When beginning a training session with your pet, take a few minutes at the beginning to talk and play with your bird so that he understands that he is participating in a fun and desirable activity.

Offer a Treat to Break the Ice:

While treats are used primarily for rewarding the completion of commands or tasks, there is no harm in allowing your pet a tiny treat when you start your training sessions, just to set a positive tone.

Using techniques designed to ease your bird into training sessions often proves to be very useful with pets who are apprehensive or reluctant to cooperate. Always remember to keep things fun for the bird in order to maximize the impact of his lessons.

Step 3: Give Your Bird the "Step-Up" Command

Once you and your bird are settled into your training area and prepped for the lesson, it will be time to begin teaching the "Step-Up" command. Remember to keep a smiling face and positive tone throughout your pet's lesson! Follow these instructions to ensure that your training session runs smoothly.

Slowly extend your hand to the bird: Some birds can be frightened by sudden movements and may not be used to being handled. Make sure that at first you move very slowly and maintain a calm demeanor to avoid scaring your pet.

Gently press your index finger to the bird's lower abdomen: If you have a large bird, use your forearm. Most birds will automatically step-up when they sense pressure on their bellies.

Using a calm, pleasant voice, say "Step-Up": With regular training, your bird will soon recognize this command as his cue to step onto your hand. While all birds are individuals and learn at different rates, this simple yet important command is generally mastered by most birds within the first few training sessions. You may be amazed to find that your pet is quite the little scholar!

Step 4: Praise Your Bird for Completing the Command

Birds, like other pets, need to be rewarded when they successfully complete a task. This is what allows the bird to realize that he has done what you wanted him to do. You should always remember to lavish praise on your bird whenever he achieves even the smallest of victories.

Provide Plenty of Yummy Treats:

Birds can and often do think with their stomachs. Offer your bird a tasty fruit, veggie, or other treat to reward him for a job well done. Make sure to avoid any treats that could be toxic or poisonous to your pet.

Present Your Bird with a Favorite Toy:

Some bird owners prefer to reward their pets with playtime. If you choose to try this method, you should designate a special link text to be used only as a reward for good training sessions. This will allow the bird to recognize that time with the toy is a reward for desirable behavior.

Birds that receive lots of positive reinforcement during training most always end up being fast learners and eager students. Make sure that you always convey your support to your bird by not missing a chance to let him know that he's done a great job.

Step 5: Practice Every Day

Training is an ongoing process that never really comes to an end. Frequent repetition is key in making sure your bird does not forget the commands that he has learned. Once your pet masters a command, it is important to continue to practice it with him each day .

Set a Schedule for Daily Training:

Set aside a specific time each day to practice with your bird. Incorporating training into your bird's daily routine will encourage him to look forward to and anticipate training sessions, while helping him retain the information he has been taught.

Look for Ways to Practice During the Day:

Many everyday tasks of bird ownership provide golden opportunities to practice your pet's training. For example, at cage cleaning time, place your hand inside and give the "Step-Up" command rather than allowing your pet to walk out of the cage on his own. You will be surprised at how many occasions will allow you to creatively sneak in some extra practice time!

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you are sure to have your feathered friend on the road to training success in the blink of an eye. Don't forget to exercise patience with your bird, and set realistic goals for him to achieve. Keep in mind that your bird is a sensitive and emotional creature, and needs to be rewarded for his efforts to understand your lessons. As long as you remember to keep a positive attitude and practice often, training is an activity that will bring both you and your pet great satisfaction.

Basics Of Caring For Your Birds In Birdland

There are two ways of checking how your birds are doing when you visit your cage. At the top of the game screen, you’ll see two bars labeled as “Happy” and “Hunger”. This gives you an overview of how all of your birds are doing. A full bar means they are very happy and well fed. By using the arrow tool, click on each bird. A window will appear which shows the bird’s statistics. You will see the same two bars. Depending on what the bars indicate, you will need to fill up your feeder or show love for your bird.

Your Bird’s Statistics

Clicking each bird with the arrow tool will open up it’s own window which will show the following:

Your bird’s name

Gender of the bird

How hungry or happy they are

Actions to take. Whether you’d like to sell it, breed with another bird of the same species or show love.

You’ll notice two tabs within the window. The fist one looks like a piece of paper and pen. This is where you can edit your bird’s name. The second tab will show the overall statistics of the bird as listed above.

Caring for your Birds

Your birds will need to be fed and kept happy. Once you enter the game, check your cage’s hunger and happiness level. If your birds are very hungry, you will see their thought balloon with a picture of a feeder above their heads. To feed it, all you need to do is click the feeder with either the arrow or hand tool. The arrow tool will open up a window and click on “fill”. Once filled with bird seed, the hungry birds will automatically fly to it and eat. Depending on the number of birds you have in your cage, bird seed can be consumed really fast. Keep an eye on it and fill it again if needed. A faster way is to use the hand tool. All you need to do is click on the feeder and it will be filled.

If your birds are sad, you will see a thought balloon with a picture of a sad face. You can then use your arrow or hand tool and click on each bird. By using the arrow tool, you’ll open up the statistic’s window where you can click on the “I love my parrot” button for adult birds and the “heart” button for young birds. You can opt to use the hand tool and click the bird to make them happy.

Breeding

It’s time to add more birds to your cage. You can breed two birds, one female and one male of the same species once they reach adulthood. By clicking on one bird (doesn’t matter whether it’s the male or female), choose the “breed” option. You will notice two birds flying to the corner and one will start to move closer. Hearts will then appear. If successful, then a bird egg will appear. I suggest you watch the breeding process, it’s just so cute! Take note that the bird will choose its partner automatically. Hey, love can’t be forced right?

What’s fun is the fact that you don’t know whether it’s going to be a girl or boy. You can, however, predict the color of the baby bird which is shown by the color of the egg.

One last note. Before you start breeding, make sure you still have space for another bird. At the lower right just right above the cage images, you will see a counter that shows the number of birds your cage can accommodate.

Keeping your Cages Clean

Your cages will eventually be dirty and cleaning is part of maintaining a great looking aviary. When you visit your cage next time, you will see a lot of gray spots and sometimes a spider web. Go to the menu and click on the “broom” button to activate it. All you need is to keep on clicking on any spot within the cage for it to start cleaning until a window pops up stating your cage is shiny clean.

Top 5 Popular Bird Species

Looking for a new friend to join your family? Well, before you head out and just purchase one, make sure that you research everything about that specific type of bird so you will know what you're getting before you get home. To help you out with choosing one that will best fit your family, here are the top five bird species that many owners choose:

1. Parakeet - These are also called budgies by some people, but their full name is the Budgerigar. These are excellent first birds for anyone, even children. Not only do they come in a vast array of beautiful colors, but they are friendly and require less space and maintenance than some of the bigger birds do. They are very intelligent and even though they will mainly sing and whistle, some have been known to learn words. They live between 12 and 14 years, so be ready when you're purchasing one... or two!

2. Cockatiels - These are another very common birds that are extremely fun to own. They are a very small member of the parrot family and they have a very advanced whistling and singing ability. Cockatiels can be taught to talk, but they do prefer to either whistle or sing or to mimic odd sounds around the house. So, you may end up thinking your phone or doorbell is ringing when it's really not. Cockatiels also are very colorful and come in so many different shades and color combinations. They live between 15 and 20 years.

3. Finches and Canaries - These are smaller birds and are beautiful to own. They are normally about 5 inches long, or less, and take up less space than most other birds as well. They are not quite as social as Cockatiels or Parakeets are, and prefer to live in small groups. They are perfect for those that want to watch birds instead of handling them constantly and training them. They live between 8 to 10 years.

4. Lovebirds - Lovebirds are one of the smallest parrot speices and very

friendly, fun little birds, so don't overlook them just yet in favor of larger birds. Owners that have these great little feathered friends will tell you that they are very intelligent birds, just like some of the larger macaws, and they possess all of the personalities as larger birds do as well - making them wonderfully unique, fun pets. They are about 6 inches long and live up to 20 years.

5. African Greys - This species of bird is usually said to be the most intelligent

of all of the birds, some with vocabularies up to 2,000 words or more. Since they are so smart, they can be a very demanding pet and require lots of attention, affection, and toys to play with since they can get bored very easily. If you're looking for a very intelligent bird that will be around a long time, this is the way to go as they live between 50 to 70 years.

How to Tell if Your Bird is Sick

Does it seem like your feathered friend is not him or herself lately? Maybe they are acting odd or not wanting to eat? When birds get sick, it can be hard to tell if you don't know what to look for, and as bird owners, it's our responsibility to ensure that they don't get sick or that we get them to a doctor when they are. To help you protect your friend, here is a list of tell-tale symptoms that every bird owner should know about and be watchful for when they are taking care of their birds:

Unusual Droppings: The color of your bird's droppings will vary slightly depending on what you feed him. Nonetheless, you should watch out for droppings that are yellow, rusty brown, or tarry black. These can be indicators of internal bleeding, amongst other serious problems. You should also notice if there is a major change in the consistency of your bird's droppings. If they are too runny or too firm, it can cause complications for your pet.

Ruffled Feathers: Birds that sit with their feathers fluffed out for prolonged periods of time are often affected by respiratory problems or other disorders. Ruffled feathers are also good at concealing weight loss, which can be life threatening for a bird. If you observe this behavior in your pet for more than a day or so, you should contact your vet as soon as possible.

Red, Inflamed, or Runny Cere: Your bird's cere is what we perceive as his nose -- the little patch above his beak that holds his nostrils. Pay close attention to your bird's cere. If you observe any redness, inflammation, or discharge, there is a very good chance that you pet could be seriously ill. Make sure to keep your bird wrapped up and warm on the way to the vet.

Cloudy Eyes: If your bird's eyes look cloudy or have a discharge coming from them, he may be affected by a respiratory, nervous, or muscular disorder. You should rush to the vet as soon as possible as your bird needs immediate treatment.

Reduced Appetite: Birds have extremely high metabolisms, so it is vital that they receive adequate nutrition every day. If your bird stops eating and begins to lose weight, it may be a sign of an intestinal blockage or impaction, in which case he could die very quickly without medical attention. Make sure to clean out the bottom of your bird's cage every day before you feed him. This provides an easy way to monitor food consumption, not to mention changes in droppings.

Open-Mouthed Breathing: Respiratory problems are among the most common bird illnesses, and unfortunately the most serious. If you see your bird breathing with his mouth open while at rest, there is a good chance that he is not only sick, but has been for quite a while. This is one of the most serious symptoms of illness in birds, and requires immediate veterinary attention, with probable hospitalization.

Dirty Feathers: Birds are, by nature, hygienic animals that bathe often and preen their feathers daily to keep them clean. If you notice feathers around your bird's face or rump that appear messy, clumped up, or stuck together, it is an indication that your pet could be sick. Food consumption and droppings should be monitored closely for a day or so, and any changes noted and relayed to your vet as soon as possible.

Weight Loss: Many sick birds ruffle their feathers when they don't feel well, effectively concealing any changes in body mass and loss of weight. Weight loss can be devastating to a bird's health, not only in terms of reduced strength, but inhibition of organ functions as well. Weigh your bird regularly so that you will know if your pet is having trouble maintaining his weight.

Tail Bobbing: As with many common signs of illness in birds, prolonged and repetitive bobbing of the tail can be indicative of a respiratory infection. Unlike people, birds lack a diaphragm to separate the chest cavity from the stomach. The muscles located at the base of the tail help birds breathe by playing a part in expanding the lungs to take in air. If a bird is having trouble breathing, the tail muscles will work harder, causing the tail to bob up and down. Tail bobbing is often not noticeable until later, more serious stages of illness, so if you see your bird behaving in this manner, report to the vet immediately.

Changes in Vocalizations: Much like humans, birds who don't feel well often become less talkative than usual. Pay close attention to your bird so that you can learn his normal vocalization patterns. If you stay in tune with the way your bird behaves, it's possible to pick up on clues to that way that he feels. If you notice any changes in frequency or general tone of your bird's vocalizations, he should be monitored for additional symptoms for the next few days. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Why You Should Handle Your Bird Every Day

All pet experts will tell new bird owners to set aside time every day to handle their pets -- but why? Keeping them tame is only one reason that daily handling is so important. Read on for just a few reasons why handling your feathered friend every day is imperative to successful pet bird ownership.

It's important to know your bird's body. Handling your bird every day will give you a good idea of what is normal for your pet in terms of weight and body condition. Because sick birds can become quite thin in a short amount of time, handling your bird often can help you keep a close eye on your pet's health. This can be helpful in alerting you to any health problems early on.

Handling helps to keep pet birds tame. Although dogs and cats have been bred for pets for hundreds and hundreds of years, birds have not. Because of this, they are not domesticated and must be tamed on an individual basis. Handling your bird every day will help build the bond between you and your pet, and will deter wild and destructive behavior.

Handling is soothing to both birds and owners. Perhaps the greatest reason for handling your bird is because it is fun! Being loved and petted is great for a pet bird's mental and emotional health, and research has proven that petting animals can lower stress levels in their human owners. Handling is a win/win situation!

With all these great reasons to invite your bird out to play, you shouldn't have any trouble at all setting aside an hour or two each day to handle and socialize with your pet. Your bird will benefit from all of your love and attention, and in return you will have a happy, healthy, and well adjusted pet.