How to Build and Landscape an AVIARY

Proposed architectural design for a French military aviary to house swallows as messenger birds, 1889 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tips to Construct Your Own Aviary

If you want to have an aviary, you need to know that there is a special way to build and landscape the aviary according to the kinds of birds you want to keep. Here is some useful information regarding the same.

First of all, what is an aviary? An aviary is a very large bird cage. In fact, an aviary is not even a cage but an entire room where you can keep birds. You need to remember that birds are animals of flight so they will need a place to perch and a lot of room to fly around. At the same time, you do not want them to fly away.

Building an aviary

Before you can landscape an aviary and keep birds in the aviary, you need to build one and it needs to be built properly. Building an aviary does not necessarily need to be a very difficult task. The things you need to build an aviary and how to build it are listed below.

1. Treated pine logs can be used to build the basic structure of the aviary. The size of the aviary needs to be at least twelve feet by twelve feet and seven feet high. This type of aviary can be used to house all kinds of different exotic birds. To have this aviary outside, however, you need to also pay attention to your climate.

For example, if you live in the warmer climates of the United States, such as Florida or the Desert Southwest, you can keep more exotic birds such as budgerigar parakeets which are better known as budgies. You can also keep parrots and other exotic birds of the like. In the northern climates, an aviary should be built as an extra room since tropical birds cannot handle cold climates. This kind of aviary can also house larger exotic birds, such as peacocks.

2. Chicken wire or glass for the sides. In the warmer climates, you can use just chicken wire to enclose the aviary. In colder climates, the glass should be added. You need to have glass panels that you can remove in the summer months.

There are other items to get at your local hardware store to fasten the chicken wire and glass panels.

Landscaping the aviary is something that is different from a general landscaping project. Depending on the size of your aviary, there are several different ways that you can landscape your aviary. If you are building an aviary to breed budgies, you need to keep in mind that budgies like to chew things. This means that budgies will destroy many leafy plants.

Furthermore, you need to make sure the houseplants that you buy for the aviary are not poisonous for the birds. For perches, you should find large pieces of driftwood. The pieces of driftwood should be clean and free of any types of toxic substances that could be harmful to the birds.

Breeding budgies can also be affected by the landscape of your aviary. Budgies are social birds and you need four or five pairs to breed. Furthermore, in the landscape, you need to have little birdhouses high up and they should fit with the landscape. Budgies build their nests and lay their eggs in these birdhouses. For beautification of the aviary, make the birdhouses blend with the plants and other parts of the aviary landscape.

Plants

Plants depend on the kind of birds you are keeping. For example, finches do not necessarily destroy vegetation, so if you want to keep finches, plants can be great. With different birds of the parrot and parakeet families, such as budgies, loris, lorikeets, macaw parrots, and lovebirds, you need to be ready to replace the plants on a regular basis.

These birds chew and cannot only destroy the vegetation in the aviary but also can destroy their little bird houses if they are made of a weaker material such as wicker or gasket material. For these birds, wood is a much better material to build their nesting boxes.

Whatever you do, an aviary needs to have a landscape that is very easy to clean. Birds can be very dirty and usually defecate indiscriminately. This means that you need to design the aviary floor with a type of sand that can absorb the bird droppings and can be changed easily.

Having an aviary can be a great stress reliever. You should design the aviary in such a way where you can sit in the middle of the landscape and enjoy looking at your birds.

By Shivraj Ghorpade - (C) Copyright-Shivraj Ghorpade. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Article Source: EzineArticles

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ECLECTUS PARROT - Eclectus roratus

Eclectus Parrot - Eclectus roratus

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Information On ECLECTUS Birds And Their Suitability As A Pet

A pet juvenile male Eclectus Parrot perching on a woman's shoulder in Brighton
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An Eclectus parrot will give you the most inspirational experience if you are a dedicated owner. These birds are known for their mellow temperament and also for their unparalleled beauty. They have a very laid-back character that makes them a favorite of every family and you hardly ever see these parrots getting furious or misbehaving.

Eclectus birds are known for their extraordinary talent to master any mimicry. Although they do not make strong bonds with their pair they love to seek human attention and might get a bit noisy sometimes.

Although these parrots are scientifically known as Eclectus roratus, an Eclectus parrot is known by various other names which might depend upon the species it belongs to. The various names of such kinds of Eclectus birds are:

• Blue Bellied
• Yellow Sided
• Red Sided
• Solomon Island
• Vosmaeri

How big do they grow?

These parrots are basically from the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Australia. An adult parrot may reach approximately 18 to 20 inches when measured from their beak to tail and can cost you around $500 to $3000 US. Interestingly, the female parrot is more expensive than the male because female parrots are more colorful and have more gentle temperaments than the male parrot.

How do you differentiate their sexes?

Eclectus bird sexes can be differentiated by their color as they are sexually dimorphic birds. If you see a bright green color on the head of these birds, along with the yellow-green blended wing covert, then you can ascertain that it is a male parrot. These male parrots furthermore have red patches under their wings and around the breast area. The tail will be almost black with a yellow tip. The iris will be of dark orange and the beak may have a black color at its lower base.

A female bird can be identified when you see them having rich red color on their breast as well as their head. They have deep red wings with a dull blue and purple belly. The tail can be identified with an orange tip and the eyes will have a blue ring around them.

How about their temperament?

These birds are a highly intelligent species with a very passionate personality. They love the companionship of humans and enjoy socializing with people. If you would like to keep an Eclectus parrot along with other birds, then this is definitely possible.

However, you must keep a watch out, as you might see some kind of jealous tendencies.

Eclectus birds will require a large cage as they need a lot of space for their housing requirements and mostly consume a diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables.

These parrots are highly intelligent with a charming personality and can be quite impressed with their ability to talk and they will become passionate pets. They love to interact with every member of the family making them quite sensitive in nature.

For information on how to care for your parrot and how to best rare a pet parrot from parrot expert

By Kaye Dennan - Article Source: EzineArticles

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8 Simple Tips For Keeping Your PET BIRDS HEALTH

Birdseed mixture in a bird feeder (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Birds need to eat a nutritionally sound diet in order to live a long life. Improper feeding can lead to malnutrition and disease resulting in a shorter lifespan. Start off by feeding your bird right from the beginning.

2. Parrots and birds of the parrot family can eat a variety of different kinds of foods. Seeds should not be a parrot’s only food. This is a mistake many new bird owners make. Seeds contain mostly fat and not enough protein and very few vitamins.

3. Birds can eat most table foods but it is best to stick to healthy items including items containing whole grains, pretzels, and whole wheat pasta and bread. Foods high in fat should be avoided. Never feed them avocados as they are toxic to birds.

4. Good sources of nutrition for your bird include beans and legumes as well as various vegetables and fruits. Some birds resist new foods at first while others are open to trying many new things. Although it may take some time keep trying to introduce your bird to a variety of healthy foods.

5. Changes to a bird’s diet should be done slowly and progressively over time. Provide fresh foods twice per day for approximately an hour each time. Be careful not to leave fresh food in the bird’s cage too long as it will develop bacteria which can make your bird sick.

6. Your bird should be fed two times per day. This will result in your bird getting hungry which will make it more active. Also, a good appetite can make it more likely that your bird will try new foods. Feeding at set times twice per day will also allow you to be able to monitor how much your bird is eating. If your bird is not eating well this can tell you that it is not feeling well or has a health problem.

7. If your bird is a picky eater and you cannot get it to eat a varied diet you can try warming or be cooking the vegetables. Take away seeds except at meal time until your bird starts eating healthy foods on a regular basis.

8. Just as water is necessary for people it is also necessary for healthy birds. Keep your bird’s water dish filled with fresh, clean water at all times. Bird bowls can become very dirty and should, therefore, be cleaned each day with hot soapy water. Once every other week you should clean your bird’s water dish with a solution containing bleach. Also, make it a point to pick up some water-soluble bird vitamins at the local pet store and add vitamins to your birds' water daily.

Birds make wonderful pets for the whole family and they can live a long time if taken care of properly. Proper care of birds includes maintaining a healthy diet of seeds, vegetables, and fruit.

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Care of COCKATIELS - Have a Happy and Healthy Cockatiel

My cockatiel, Sunny under a blacklight. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To tell the truth your cockatiel is hooked on seed. That is the sad truth.

A lot of cockatiel owners don't get what can be wrong with feeding your cockatiel with too many seeds. Mainly because we were born knowing that birds eat seeds.

This is not right.

But the really sad thing about this belief, that it kills thousands of different cockatiels around the United States and in fact all around the globe.

The worst thing about seeding your bird with only seeds is that seeds lack all the minerals and vitamins that your cockatiel needs, so as a result of that your cockatiel becomes malnourished, which may lead to illness or even death of your cockatiel.

And if you're like most of the pet owners, this is not a life you wish your cockatiel to have.

The thing is that a lot of cockatiel owners overlook this fact mostly because they don't know that what they are doing is wrong. But the thing is that healthy diet should be your number one priority as a cockatiel owner. Neglecting this might cause your cockatiel to die at its 4th - 5th year of life.

But what else there is if you can't feed your cockatiel with seeds?

Pellets.

Pellets have every single nutrient that your bird needs even though they are manufactured. Pre

And because of to it, you will have a happy, healthy cockatiel. Pretty simple, right?

Actually, no...

Even though pellets are an important part of the daily cockatiel's diet, it shouldn't be the only thing that you feed your bird. Fruits and vegetables are always a great choice as an additional food for your cockatiel's diet.

Ok, so we have number one factor to have a healthy and happy cockatiel. Then what's the factor number two?

Sleep.

Your cockatiel needs at least ten to twelve hours of sleep every night to be a healthy bird. If you neglect this point, it will get cranky, depressed and might get sick.

By Ryan Hudson - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Your RED TAILED BLACK COCKATOO - A 7-Point Plan For Care

Red Tailed Black Cockatoo - Photo  by     russellstreet  (cc)

As highly intelligent birds, Red Tailed Black Cockatoos can often be the cause of both great amusement and certain challenges. The following points highlight some of the main issues which will need careful consideration.

1. You may have bought your cockatoo a cage which looks as though it is quite impenetrable. However, be aware that your cockatoo's intelligence can be applied very easily to the mechanics of the cage door mechanism. These birds will easily take apart items, demonstrating an astonishing degree of dexterity as they do so. They seem to have almost as much dexterity in their feet as we do in our hands, and it is marvelous to watch.

However, marvelous though it may be to watch your cockatoo delicately remove the pins and screws from the cage mechanism, it is not so endearing to watch your precious bird flying around the house, causing chaos, destruction and quite possibly injuring itself in the process. To this end, make sure that you provide your cockatoo with plenty to do, toys and activities to keep it entertaining, and of course as much of your own time and attention as you can. This will help prevent your cockatoo from becoming bored and exploring other means to get your attention!

2. Are you fully aware that Red Tailed Black Cockatoos can live longer than you? Many people buy pets as relatively short-term commitments. Not that they want to, because most pet owners would gladly spend their whole lives with their animals. But the reality is that the vast majority of cockatoos will outlive their owners by many years! Cockatoos can easily live between fifty and seventy years and depend on how old you are when you buy your bird, you may well find that you have a companion for life.

This is a huge commitment, and you will need to think carefully about the chances of any major life changes you have in mind, such as marrying, starting a family, moving away, career changes and such like. Make sure you don't find yourself committing to a cockatoo that then becomes an object of resentment in the future. It's also worth bearing in mind that you will usually need to make some provision for its care after you fall off your own perch for the final time.

3. Don't just feed your cockatoo seeds. Many owners believe that birds eat seeds or insects - period! Imagine if you were owned by a bird, and it fed you nothing but burgers and fries for half a century because they were the only foods they thought you would eat!

Just like you, your cockatoo thrives on variety, and this applies just as much to the world of food as anything else. Use pellets, fruit, vegetables and even extras such as eggs, bread, and crackers. There are some foods which are bad for them, and in even dangerous in certain cases. Avocados, chocolate, caffeine products, alcohol are all fatal if ingested and should be avoided at all costs.

4. All birds need a good calcium-rich diet, but cockatoos require a much higher dosage. If you use a pellet based supplement then in most cases, if this is specifically targeted at the cockatoo family, it should already include a good calcium supplement. However, check this out for yourself, and make sure that you provide your bird with foods which do have high levels of calcium to keep it in tip-top condition.

5. Always make sure that your Cockatoo has a ready supply of clean water available at all times. However, water which may look perfectly clean and drinkable to us can contain toxins which are harmful to Cockatoos. In fact, cockatoos have a tendency to be much more seriously affected by these toxins than other birds or animals. A good tip is to use a water filter to purify the tap water before providing it to your bird. Even better is to provide bottled water if you can manage it.

6. Always keep an eye on your cockatoo's nails. If you notice them getting too long, then ask your vet to have a look and show you how to trim them yourself. Don't try it without having been shown first as you can very easily injure your cockatoo. Always provide rough landing areas such as sand or concrete to help keep the nails in check-similar to cats using a scratching post.

7. Make sure your Cockatoo's air is the cleanest it can be.  Using a high-efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) air purifier virtually eliminates dander, feathers, dust, and other particulates that can clog your bird's airways and that can also carry potentially fatal airborne viruses and bacteria.  Clear air passages mean a healthier bird and increased lifespan.

Giving careful and thoughtful attention to these 7 areas of care will have earned you the right to have your Cockatoo share your home and your life.

By Debbie Davis An excellent HEPA air purifier to remove airborne pollutants from your bird's air is offered by PurerAir.com-- the Bird Dander Purifier See it now at http://purerair.com/bird_dander_air_purifier.html Article Source: EzineArticles

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BLUE JAYS - Clever Mimics of the Bird World

A Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) perched on a tree branch.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The other morning I followed the sound of what I thought to be a baby hawk, possibly in distress. Walking deeper into the woods as quietly as I could, I stopped often to home in on the insistent sounds. I hoped to catch a glimpse of a juvenile hawk, or at least the nesting site.

I finally reached the spot where the hawk sounds were the loudest. However, much to my surprise it was not a red-shouldered hawk that flew out of the tree, but a blue jay uttering the same shrill but nasal 'keyeer, keeyeer'! It was then I knew I had been fooled by one of the best and most versatile mimics in the bird world.

By sounding like a hawk, blue jays easily scatter other birds at the feeder. This gives them the freedom to dine at their leisure with little to no competition. They also have their own form of insect control. Did you know that blue jays often comb their feathers with ants? Presumably, they are using the insects to catch and remove lice and other irritating parasites. Very clever birds!

For at least 15 years now, every Spring there is a very special blue jay that comes to my feeder. This jay has always imitated the sound of an old rotary phone being dialed. It is a very unique sound. I must admit that I look forward to hearing it again every year. I know that jays are long-lived, and my phone dialer is the proof!

In addition to being raucous and sometimes aggressive, blue jays can be gentle and quiet. I watched as two males vied for the attention of a beautiful soft gray-blue female. They each flew from branch to branch cooing softly and trying to get closer to her. Then one male would fly upwards engaging the female to do the same. The pair gently floated downwards in a spiral of unfurled wings, landing on the ground and then retreating to separate branches.

This happened several times as each male took turns trying to impress the female with body bobbing and soft comforting sounds. All three flew off together to another spot in the woods to repeat the same dance. I can only imagine how long it took that female to finally decide which male blue jay was to be her mate. It was fun and fascinating to watch.

Blue Jays are very secretive when it comes to building nests. They use alternate routes and decoy locations so that no predator can easily follow them to the nesting site. They love shiny objects and will often incorporate bits of foil wrappers into their loose twig nests. They like a well-decorated home as much as we humans do! There will be as few as three or as many as seven olive-green eggs covered with brown spots.

Burying stores of food to be unearthed later when food sources are scarce is another tactic employed by these large 11" to 12" birds. Their favorites are sunflower seeds, peanuts, cracked corn, pieces of stale bread or baked goods, suet, and berries. They are also fond of other birds' eggs, so it is a good idea to provide protection in the way of birdhouses and nesting boxes.

Sometimes here in the northeast, if the Winter is relatively mild, our blue jays will stay. It is so nice to see their beautiful blue coloring against the white snow. Jays have a white face, black collar, blue wings and back with a blue tail trimmed with white and black feathers. Their distinctive blue crest will give a hint as to what they are feeling. For instance, when they are calm their crest will be flattened. On the other hand, if they are in an aggressive mood, the crest will be pointed forward.

When both colorful cardinals and blue jays appear on a grey, snow-covered day, it is a sight that helps the winter months seem not quite so long. It is no wonder that they are very often depicted on holiday greeting cards!

My clever blue jays never cease to amaze me with their beauty, aggressive raucousness and mimicry. I look forward to watching them grab a bite to eat at the feeders before winging their way easily through our woods. They will be back many times during the day with the now familiar 'keeyeer' to scatter the smaller birds--self-proclaimed kings and queens of the backyard bird feeder!

By Connie M Smith Connie Smith is the proud owner and manager of Grandma Pearl's Backporch, LLC, and the expert author of many online articles about easy and unique ways you can create the best bird-friendly habitats to help wild birds survive and thrive. Discover how to create fun and safe backyard habitats for wild birds using their preferred plants and foods, while adding color, fragrance, and beauty to your landscape. Find simple how-to projects for making your own unique bird feeders, and learn how easy it is to attract a variety of birds to your yard and gardens. Visit today! http://grandmapearlsbackporch.blogspot.com Article Source: EzineArticles

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Baby LOVEBIRDS

The blue mutant of the Masked Lovebird Agapornis personata.
This variety is called blue Masked Lovebird. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* Exotic birds can come in many various colors; the number of different colors they have can't be determined by just examining one individual. Every different individual bird can have their own unique pattern and colors relevant to their species.

* Exotic birds are available in all sizes and shapes to ensure that you are able to determine on which kind of bird you should have from the cage you are able to afford. Most of these birds are really big and have big wings whilst other birds could be extremely tiny. A small cage could be spacious enough to let it even fly inside it.

* Even if you are not there to exercise the pet or keep it challenged throughout the day, a few toys would be sufficient to keep the animal occupied throughout the day. Just like children they adore playing by themselves and watching them play can be really the treat.

* Some species of parrots try to discover how to speak for themselves. You can discover your parrot trying to mimic the sounds it is hearing through the course of the day. This would be a good sign which means you could attempt training it to speak much more and much more.

* Most species of exotic birds like parrots and Macaws are very lively animals which are extremely playful and are active all day. You can anticipate hrs of fun playing with them without tiring them out.

* Birds are some of the most lovable pets around the world due to their playful nature and natural beauty. Getting a bird can be so much enjoyable whilst it teaches the owner to become responsible and care for the pet.

* A nicely groomed and loved pet bird can turn out to be very lovable and it can turn out to be extremely loyal to you. It could usually be about you look out for you if someone comes too close they might even attack that individual.

* Exotic birds can be groomed to be very clean simply because it is feasible to bath them every day. Some birds will adore bathing every day and even like to play with water. This tends to make certain you have a clean pet that likes water and is simple to bathe.

About The Author  Galen Goodwin Lovebirds, Lovebird Lovebirds adore to play and they are comical to look at whether or not they are playing alone splashing in their water dish or having fun with your hair and sneaking into your collar. Lovebirds make wonderful pets. Lovebirds, Lovebird The author invites you to visit: http://www.articlecity.com

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Training RACING PIGEONS To Become Better, Faster

The inspiration for the name: racing pigeons being held in compartments
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For the first-time owner of racing pigeons, breeding and racing these pigeons can be a tough challenge. There are some certain pigeon needs that should be considered, and its breeding and training are like Science. There is no room for lots of errors and untested training and breeding actions. That is because for it to become a successful breeding and racing program for racing pigeons, you need tested set of suggestions and verified rules coming from the ground.  And it all starts with breeding up until racing. 

If you are starting with newly-hatched pigeons, you are expected to note about the commonalities between these young pigeons.  Remember that these pigeons can be weaned at equal ages. These birds can be vaccinated at the same age and these birds can be ranged and routed as well at the same age. These birds at their tender age are often grouped together in a specialized housing called the loft, and this will serve as their home up until their racing days.

What to expect in the first 28 days

Once these young birds have stayed for around 28 days on their nest, they are supposed to be transferred to a much larger loft. The first few days in their loft are often spent learning where they can source their food and how to eat. This is also the right time for these birds to be allowed outside and to wander so that they will be familiar with their surroundings. Expect these birds to start flying at 6 weeks, and they will start in small circles. The moment these birds start to gain confidence, these birds will fly for hours before returning to their lofts. Now, remember that this is the perfect time for training the birds. They are best trained and guided if the birds have been ranged or routed for at least two (2) weeks. The maximum time that the birds will be out is for 2 hours, and this is a great sight as you watch batches of pigeons pass you by. But the best thing about this activity is that these pigeons get the exercise that they need and they become more accustomed to their lofts.

Training tosses tips

There are some factors too that needs to be practiced when doing the first few training tosses.

• The racing pigeons should be in perfect health during training.

• Consider as well the number of days spent in routing and ranging

• If you can, you also need to consider the quality of pigeons migrating

• The best time to train these pigeons is during a clear day. This means that you need to avoid rain, fog, and strong winds. And speaking of time;

• Did you know that there is a perfect time to do the practice? According to some racing enthusiasts, the perfect time is early morning or before 9:00 in the morning

More than these, there are certain techniques and strategies that are employed in relation to breeding and training of racing pigeons. And these are varied depending on who you ask. Of the many techniques and strategies, some of those that stand out include the use of widowhood and the adoption of proper conditioning.

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Familiarizing Yourself With Different PARROT Species

A per parrots cage in a living room. A model of an African Grey Parrot is standing above the television. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Fascinated by the world of the fast-talking, fun-loving parrots? Are you contemplating on the idea of getting one as your pet bird? If you have plans of purchasing one in the future, then you must familiarize yourself with the different parrot species existing in the pet trades and pet stores today. 

As defined, parrots are a very popular group of birds for possessing high intelligence depending on the degree of its socialization and training. Famous for its ability to imitate human speech and various sounds, these tropical colorful birds are mainly found in Australia and South America.

Having a variety of species, parrots differ in size and color. Some parrots are bigger and grander while others are smaller and typical. When it comes to colors, green is considered the most common shade of parrots and are usually wonderful pets for their amazing talking abilities. Several types of parrots are multi-colored—with a distinctive combination of bright blue, yellow, green, and white mixtures.

These birds are also characterized by having powerful hooked bills and feet meant for tree climbing. Mainly vegetarian, other basic foods of almost all types of parrots have included fruits, chicken or meat and a lot of seeds. Although they belong to only one family of birds, parrot species have distinctive personalities and nature. Some of them are naturally friendly while some are moody and destructive because they pluck their feathers if they are bored or unhappy.

Parrot species include Macaws, Conures, Amazons, African Gray Parrots, Cockatiels, Cockatoos, Budgerigars, and Eclectus. Macaws are one of the most coveted birds in aviculture because of their comical and affectionate nature. Conures, on the other hand, are small cousins of the Macaw that has 2 sub-species: Aratinga and the Pyrrhura.

While Conures are known for its variety of color and gentle personality, Amazons are famous for their superb talking ability. Considered as the most popular large parrots in aviculture that exhibits distinct personalities, amazons are often considered as delightful pets for imitating sounds well.

African Grey Parrots is probably the most intelligent parrot there is. Despite their intelligence, greys can be hard to handle because they are generally quiet, resulting in stress attacks and reactions.

Cockatoos are considered among the favorites because they are beautiful, smart, playful, cuddly, and good talkers. Although they are generally tame, cockatoos can be hard to handle because they thrive in too much attention.

Cockatiels are most common pet birds because they are easy to breed and are relatively inexpensive pets; Budgerigars or “parakeets” that are usually afraid of humans if not trained properly; and the Eclectus that are “sexually dimorphic” or the male and females look markedly different.

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The Bully of the Bird Feeders or When MOCKINGBIRDS Destroy Your WILD BIRD Platform Feeder Plans

Two Northern Mockingbirds at a bird bath in Austin, Texas. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mockingbirds are well recognized to be territorial, and they can seize bird suet feeders and force timid birds away. When other territorial birds, or bullies, take over a feeder, you can usually stop them by modifying the birds feed. Mockingbirds, however, would rather have foods like worms, suet, berries, and insects, but if you're handing out free feed, they will crash your wild bird feeder party every time. Not only do they try to power out other garden birds, but also challenge dogs, cats, and, at times, dive-bomb a human being to let him know who's in charge of the garden bird feeder. It can be really difficult to get rid of a mockingbird once he has made himself feel at home. Your wild bird feeder plans could be pushed off track by these dictatorial birds.

If you can't beat them, join them - or at the very least allow the mockingbirds to dwell in your backyard. Mockingbirds are usually not all bad, obviously; they are really following their natural inclination to assert themselves. They are able to help keep unwanted critters away from your garden, and learning to comprehend their sound is one thing any garden bird lover will enjoy. Even so, perhaps essentially the most prevalent reason why individuals allow mockingbirds to stay in their backyard is that they really don't have any alternative! Mockingbirds will stay for as long as they receive food, even if it is foodstuff that they might not favor if offered an alternative.

Many people try to post plastic or wood owl or hawk posters to stop the mockingbird from coming back, although this is unreliable, and on a regular basis, the mockingbird will catch on that these "fake enemies" are really no threat. A different rather time-consuming, not to mention foolish, a concept is to fill a big squirt gun with soapy water and squirt the mockingbird every instance it comes into your backyard or gets close to the hopper feeder.

What if you do not wish to give up putting out bird food or birdseed simply because you do want to encourage other kinds of garden birds to pay a visit to your backyard and you also want your mockingbirds to stay. How do you get across the really serious obstacle that the mockingbird presents? Try sketching up a different package of garden bird plans and making one more feeder to locate in a different area of your backyard. If at all feasible, make sure to place a green or artificial barrier in between the brand new bird tube feeder and the bird feeder your mockingbird has occupied. A lawn hedge or a wall can get the job done You might also put the other bird tube feeder on the opposite part of your house or a different building. The other birds will begin to come to this bird feeder, whilst the mockingbird is still left to rule over his.

About the Author: Rose Church The author is a full-time copywriter and internet marketer. She has been in marketing for The author is a native Floridian and writes for http://www.bird-feeder-plans.org/ In addition to finding the post, http://www.bird-feeder-plans.org/wild-bird-feeders/bird-feeder-plans/mockingbirds-bully-of-the-bird-feeders/ on this webpage, you can also find content on all types of bird feeder plans and how you'll be able to utilize them to quickly make bird feeders on your own.  Source: www.isnare.com Permanent Link: https://www.isnare.com/?aid=782342&ca=Gardening

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The Origin of Galapagos Finches

Geospiza magnirostris - Picture: Wikipedia

Charles Darwin came to the islands and collected what is now called Darwin's finches, although Darwin himself did not think to give them this name. There are 14 Darwin's finches all in all; 13 in the Galapagos Islands and 1 in the Coco's Island which is about 400 miles north of the Galapagos all of them belonging to the Passerine group.

There is evidence that evolution took place on the island particularly involving Galapagos finches. Finches that have the same ability as woodpeckers because they are able to peck on woods are found here; as well as vampire finches, which suck the blood of other birds. Genetic specialists have suggested that all 13 of Darwin's species have evolved from a flock of giving or take 30 birds arriving about a million years ago.

Darwin's finches / Galapagos finches are 10-20 centimeters in size and the most important differences among each one of them, is the shape and size of their beaks. Each shape and size of beak has evolved and adapted to different food sources. Large-beaked finches like bigger seeds or nuts, while smaller-beaked finches prefer smaller seeds. Middle-beaked finches can also be found on the island.

Apart from seeds, these finches differ in other food choices. Some eat insects, leaves, and some remove turtle ticks. The vampire finch, for instance, feeds on the blood of seabirds. The woodpecker finch, on the other hand, is one among the few birds in the world that uses various "tools" like twigs or cactus spine when feeding. They particularly use these tools to pry larvae and other insects from beneath barks of trees or cacti.

The ground finches have bills that are more adapted to crushing seeds. The Vampire Finch, which is found in Wolf Island, is a type of ground finch and its behavior likely evolved from eating insect parasites from its own plumage.

Tree finches are another type of Galapagos finches. They mainly feed on insects and differ from ground finches by the sharpness of their bill which is better suited in grasping insects. Cactus finches enjoy eating small insects in the flowers of the cactus plants.

The 13 species of finches in the Galapagos are of the genus Geospiza and are likely to have descended from a South American species, either the St.Lucia black finch or the blue-black grassquit. When Darwin was collecting these birds, he did not immediately realize that these birds were all different species of finches. Soon after he suspected that there was more than meets the eye, he began his work on "Transmutation of the Species".

There's no doubt that these species are particularly popular for their significance in the development of the theory of evolution and are popular pet choices as well.

By Grace Hutchings

Grace Hutchings is a World Class Finch Fanatic who loves finches. To learn more about pet finches please go to http://www.petfinchadvice.com.

Article Source: EzineArticles

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DOMESTIC GOOSE - Anser anser domesticus

Domestic Goose - Anser anser domesticus

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Small COCKATOOS That Make Great Pets

An adult Galah (also known as the Rose-breasted Cockatoo,
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cockatoos are renown for their cuddly, affectionate and comical natures and as long as they are given plenty of attention they make great pets.

Usually, when one hears the word cockatoo the first thing that comes to mind is the umbrella cockatoo which at 24 inches from its head to the tip of its tail is a large bird.

Not everyone has space or the desire to own a parrot the size of an umbrella.

Fortunately, there are other cockatoo species that are considerably smaller and still make excellent pets.

Goffin Cockatoo

The smallest cockatoo is the Goffin cockatoo at only 12 inches.

They are white with pink between the eyes and the beak. They have a light yellow on the underside of the wings, tail and ear coverlets.

Goffins are very smart, inquisitive, loving and social parrots that are great at learning tricks.

Rose Breasted Cockatoo

A parrot that is slightly bigger than the Goffin is the rose-breasted cockatoo. They are light to mid gray with rose-colored feathers on the breast as well as under the wings, and a light pink head and crest.

Rosies are more independent and not as cuddly as some other cockatoos, but this independence means they don't need as much attention and can be quite happy in their cages. They are a very intelligent bird that responds well to training.

Bare-Eyed Cockatoo

A somewhat unusual looking parrot is the bare-eyed cockatoo which gets its name from the blue, bare patch around its eyes. They are relatively small birds that are 15 inches in length.

Bare-eyed cockatoos are mostly white with yellow on the undersides of the tails and wings, along with pink between the eyes and beak.

As with the other two species they are quick to learn and make excellent pets. Anyone of these parrots makes a great choice for someone that doesn't have room for a large parrot but wants a bird with the affectionate and fun-loving nature that cockatoos are famous for.

By Gary Caine - Article Source: EzineArticles      

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The Ugly Looking CROWS

American or Northwestern Crow adjacent to the Burke-Gilman Trail (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Crows are very common birds most frequently observed in the sky. They are actually passerine birds belonging to the genus Corvus and family Corvidae. Their body size may vary from small pigeon to large wild raven. They are the inhabitants of temperate regions except for South America. The genus was described by Linnaeus for the first time in his 18th century work Systema Naturae. The name of the genus has been derived from a Latin word meaning raven. Fossils of crow have been obtained in Europe in large numbers but their relationship with most prehistoric birds is still unclear.

Common Raven, Australian Raven, and the Carrion crows are always blamed for killing weak lambs as they are often seen feeding on the dead animals no matter how that animal died. They are also known to imitate human voices just like the parrots. They are often trained to speak and are very valuable birds in East Asia as they symbolize good luck. They are also kept as pets by some humans. In the United States, they are legally allowed to be killed around the months of August to the end of March as during this time they become a nuisance also acts as a vector for a number of diseases. It is believed that crows first evolved in central Asia and then radiated towards North America, Europe, Australia, and Africa.

They are known to produce to produce a wide variety of calls for communication. They are also known to respond to the call of other species. They show remarkable features of intelligence. Crows have a special place in literature and mythology. According to the popular legends in Europe crows especially the Ravens are considered as the harbingers of death because of their dark ugly looking black colored body, big size, and horrible look. It is believed that they feed on the carrion even of humans too. In mythology also crows symbolize spiritual aspects of death. Crows have been observed hovering around the cemeteries. In Hinduism, it is believed that people after death become crows and will come to eat in the form of crows to pick up the food. In Mahabharata, a famous battle is known that was fought between the crows and owls. It is also believed that if a crow attacks a human ill omen will gather around that person and will bring bad luck.

Crows are also susceptible to viral attack. The American crow is susceptible to the attack of West Nile virus. This disease has been recently introduced in North America. This disease is very fatal and the American crows die within a week after getting infection only a few are able to survive. The virus is spreading at a faster rate. Two American species are considered to be endangered because of habitat destruction.

Wildlife needs our attention otherwise our beautiful animals will be lost forever.

By Navodita Maurice Article Source: EzineArticles

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Tips to Use For Caring and Keeping GEESE

Keeping an eye on me This goose appeared quite accustomed to people and was almost certainly eying me up for a crumb or two of bread - something quite a few people were feeding the geese and ducks in this lake. This was one of a trio of geese who were roaming the small parking area in hope of sustenance. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are two major problems that can come about with taking care of geese. These deal with the health conditions of the geese and the fact that in some cases geese may try to escape a farm. Because of these two problems, it will be very important to work towards keeping geese by using a few tips. It helps to look into watching for any health concerns surrounding the geese and to watch for how they are physically kept on the farm.

In many cases, a goose may end up becoming lame. This is where the goose will feel weak in the legs. Getting a goose that has been affected to be wormed will be very important. It helps to get the goose to be wormed at a veterinarian's office as soon as possible to help with removing any parasites that the goose may possibly have.

Another tip to use regarding the health considerations for geese is to consider the amount of grit that is available for the geese. Getting the geese to have plenty of grit is important because geese aren't capable of milling down foods like people do and as a result will need the grit to help them with consuming and digesting food. It will especially be important to do this for females that have laid eggs because when there is not enough grit for these females they can die from complications as a result of laying eggs.

Heat can be a difficult thing for geese to handle. This is one of the main health considerations for geese to see because geese can overheat easily during warmer times of the year due to their feather coats. Having a clean water source in the farm area is very important because this will be used to help with getting the geese to be naturally cooled off.

Although there are plenty of health considerations for geese to watch for it will be important as well to look into the fencing that is used for the geese. A major part of keeping geese deals with getting the geese to stay on a farm. A proper type of wire fence should be used to help keep the geese on the farm. A three-foot-tall fence is important in that it will be tall enough to help with keeping the geese from trying to get out of the farm.

By Andrew Grey Using these tips for keeping geese can be very helpful. There are various health considerations for geese ranging from the grit used in the diets of these geese to the worming that is needed at times. Watching for heat and the fencing that is used will be very important too. If you would like to learn more about raising geese, please visit: http://www.howtoraisegeese.com Article Source: EzineArticles

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