From the parrot’s beak: Cinco de Mayo

Everyone listen up, the “beak” is here! – Photo by George Sommers

MY OH MAYO: Some Mexican/parrot trivia to impress the amigos while noshing on nachos and sipping a Cinco de Mayo margarita. The thickbilled parrot, native to Mexico, once thrived in New Mexico and Arizona, but no longer. Reintroduction efforts thus far have been unsuccessful. Conversely, cherry crowned conures are also native to Mexico, where they are near threatened- but their population as naturalized US residents is growing. They are the official animal of San Francisco and the subjects of “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” by Mark Bittner and made into a documentary film.There are 22 species of parrot in Mexico and that’s not even counting nonnative species that may have become established. And, of course parrots are popular icons on Cinco de Mayo oriented tchochkes such as Tshirts and as ceramic decorations in Mexican restaurants.

Aaron Peskin, candidate for mayor of San Francisco, features some of the city’s iconic cherry crowned conures in his campaign literature.

TAKE YOUR MEDS: Like human kids, parrots often hate taking medicine.·Many avoid being toweled for medication. Syringes are an option, however, sometimes birds will take the medication from the syringe, wait, and then either dribble the medicine out of the side of the beak or hold it in the bottom beak, wait until the coast is clear, and then either shake or dribble it out. African greys come to mind here. It doesn’t have to be Halloween to trick them with a treat by finding something a bird will eat in its entirety and thus consume all the medicine. Ellie, a Mexican red-headed Amazon boarder, didn’t fall for it. A tech noticed that Ellie had a small glob of something sticky in her feathers beneath her beak. He suspected she may have dribbled some of her medicine.The tech gave Ellie a shower to clean the sticky feathers. Ellie enjoyed the attention, but also also wanted to grab David’s glasses .Closely watch your bird when giving medications. If given on a treat, make sure your bird eats the entire treat. When giving medications from the syringe, make sure your bird gets all of it and doesn’t spit or dribble it out, or wait and shake it out. Don’t let your bird outsmart you. If your bird is messy, a shower is often the easiest way to get your bird cleaned and preening. – From Exotic Bird Hospital

PARROTRIVIA: A flock of parrots s called, appropriately enough, a “pandemonium”.

SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT: Foster Parrots/New England Wildlife Center has opened a new corvid aviary. The corvid group, which includes crows, magpies, jays and ravens; rival parrots in intelligence. The Hope Valley, RI rescue is bouncing back after a devastating fire a few years ago.. Check out the video on YouTube to see them exploring their new space.

NO SUCH ANIMAL: “Another spectacular sighting of the ever elusive Macawckatoo captured in its natural Bermuda triangle jungle” reads a Facebook post accompanied by an AI enhanced image of a cockatoo with blue fringed wings. Such fakery is only likely to become more prevalent in the age of artificial intelligence.

I SAY: After a 5-year break, the UK’s biggest show for pet parrots and their owners comes back to Kempton Park Racecourse on 6/9/24..

WE ARE NOT ALONE From Alaska to Florida and in nearly all 50 states, there are clubs where bird owners can socialize, learn and take part in special events. To find your local club, go to Regional Bird Clubs | myBird (myrightbird.com)

Pictured above is NOT what the first South Bay Bird Society meeting in 1974 might have looked like. – From Facebook

CONGRATULATIONS to South Bay Bird Society on their 50th anniversary. See HOT DATES for info about the celebration.

HOT DATES: 5/3: Ask the Vet with Tom Tully, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), DECZM (Avian)  3 p.m. EDT  Lafeber Zoom webinar — 5/4: THE 4 R’s: Join Robin Sullivan and guest James Weeks of Straw Hat Parrots Rescue for a glimpse of rescue done right. Straw Hat Parrots Rescue’s mission is to Rescue, Rehabilitate, Retrain and Rehome any and all displaced, unwanted, mistreated, neglected and abused companion parrots as well as enhancing the lives of companion parrots through educating the public on proper parrot care. ear from James how they work towards that mission daily. Live on Leather Elves Facebook page; 7 p.m. ET. — 5/4: OHPA Bird Fair  Medina, OH — 5/5: SOUTH BAY BIRD SOCIETY 50TH ANNIVERSARY: Potluck supper, auction, games, look back at club history and forward to future. The club will provide cake and beverages. Can’t attend? View the festivities on Zoom starting at 7 p.m. (no interaction or moderation).  A link will be emailed close to meeting time. This meeting may be recorded.  Clips will be used to promote SBBS on social media.  If you are Zooming in but camera shy, keep your camera off.  You may also change the name that appears for you. Kiwanis Club, 2525 Valley Dr., Hermosa Beach, CA — Apopka/Orlando Bird Expo Apopka, FL — Exotic Bird Meet and Greet and Macaw Free Flight Experience  1-3 p.m. PDT Escondido, CA  at Avian Behavior International  $157 — SPRING CAGE SALE: Long Island Parrot Society of New York, Inc. has new and gently used shapes and sizes to suit most birds, small to large. Carriers and play gyms, too. Great prices.Make an offer. Cash, checks & credit cards accepted. 10-2. StorQuest Self Storage, 2021 Lakeland Avenue, Ronkonkoma NY. Call (631) 957-1100 upon arrival for gate code Rain date, Sun., 5/19. If it’s iffy on Sunday, please check Friends of LIPS FB page for updates, or call (631) 957-1100. — 5/9: All About Screech Owls with Jim Wright 7 p.m. EDT  –  The Real Macaw Parrot Club Zoom webinar — Understanding Parrot Body Language in Behavior and Training with Debbie Foster 7 p.m. EDT — 5/9: All About Screech Owls with Jim Wright  7 p.m. EDT  The Real Macaw Parrot Club Zoom webinar — Understanding Parrot Body Language in Behavior and Training with Debbie Foster 7 p.m. EDT  –  Connecticut Parrot Society Zoom — 5/10: Avian Vet Insider: Wild Bird Diseases – Is My Parrot at Risk? with Dr. Stephanie Lamb, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) 3 p.m. EDT  Lafeber Zoom — Rolling Meadows Bird Fair & Sale  Rolling Meadows, IL    

From the parrot’s beak: 4/28

Quaker parrots have been getting some bad press lately. But is it fake news? See story below. – Photo by George Sommers

FAKE NEWS?: Non-native quakers and conures are “directly responsible for decimating the population of some of the most famous and loved birds of the USA,” including the eastern blue bird, red headed woodpecker and purple martin,” according to an apparent search engine description. “This is not proof. It is just someone’s opinion at best.It is also contradictory, I have looked into it. There are some problems in Europe with ringnecks, killing other birds and bats. There are no problems with them in the US killing native birds or bats,” argues a well known bird behaviorist. “Research should show that European starlings and house sparrows are direct competitors with native birds for nesting holes, and have been seen many times attacking and killing nesting bluebirds, woodpeckers, etc. They kill adults, chicks, and break and remove eggs. In contrast, monk parakeets build their own messy nests, leaving native birds alone,” adds a state parrot club president. — “Why Quaker Parrots are Illegal?” asks”Avian Whispers”, a blog about wild parrots. California is the only state where they are illegal. There are restrictions in Colorado and New Jersey. The article additionally claims they outcompete native species and are agricultural pests. This disregards that they’ve mostly colonized urban areas – already populated by such foreign invaders as pigeons, starlings and house sparrows. And rather than stripping Farmer Brown’s cornfield to the ground, the quakers prefer city dining including bird feeders and non-native garden fruit. According to one parrot behaviorist, “Sorry but this article is again just one person’s opinion and many parts of it are wrong. There is a tremendous amount of repetition in the article without any scientific proof to back it. There are some reputable sources that do not back up their claims, but they already have a reputation for accuracy. Even so they make mistakes too. This person is not a well-known and respected member of the avian community.” One credible point is that their huge nests are often built on, and become a potential fire hazard, on electrical wires. causing potential fire hazard. After all, election season also means a lot of fake, or at least misleading news.,

THEY’RE BAAAAACK: it’s been a while,. likely years; since Massachusetts has hosted any major bird events but plans are afoot for a Bird Show & Mart on May 25 in Charlton (it’s west of “Woostah”, aka Worcester). See further details about the Massachusetts Cage Bird Association Show/Mart in upcoming issues.

YOU DON’T SAY: Or do you? If you’d like speak at the American Federation of Aviculture’s 50th annual conference, 9/4-7 in Costa Mesa, CA., proposals should be submitted in the form of an abstract of two hundred (200) words or less, accompanied by a brief biographical sketch of one hundred (100) words or less, identifying your experience with the topic to be presented and contact information. And (duh) it should be bird related. If there is more than one author, please indicate if one or both will present. Submission forms with complete instructions are available: Click to download a submission form

WHERE THERE’S SMOKE: “I started joining bird clubs in 1982. I practically had to hold my breath at some MCBA [Mass. Cage Bird Society] meetings because of the tobacco smoke. Koff, koff!! Worse, when I went to the first October show, then the biggest and oldest cage bird show in the Northeast,  attendees and the 900 birds or so were equally subjected to clouds of cigarette smoke, especially in the cafeteria space! Those of us who are sensitive to smoke managed to gradually reduce, then eliminate indoor smoking, thank goodness,” says Denise Cabral, MCBA president. It’s common knowledge that smoke is potentially harmful and fatal for birds with their delicate lungs. Back in the day along with the tobacco, for some common sense went up in smoke.

BANS OR BAND: Bird Medicine and Surgery, a full service veterinary office in Missouri, recently posted about a parakeet that came in with her foot swollen, partially due to the constricting effects of a leg band on already swollen tissue. She also had a strand of human hair that appeared to be the initial culprit for her injury. The post then cited this as a reason that leg bands should be removed.. “WHO is the vet recommending all bands be removed? Because in some states bands are required. Instead of saying NO to bands, why isn’t this vet stating that bands should be of the RIGHT SIZE for the species! We use bands on all our birds. Bands have enabled lost and stolen birds to be returned to their owners,” argues a prominent expert on avian legal matters. Other responses to a Facebook post were a mixed bag; with some in support of bands, others mentioning incidents with bands getting caught up in toys etc, and still others recommending microchipping as an alternative – but that, too, has issues.

MILLIONAIRE MAKES GOOD BY PARROTS: An anonymous donor has given a record $21m to conservationists to buy a 350,000 hectare cattle station that will be turned into parkland to save ‘one of the world’s rarest birds’ .The philanthropic move was said to be the single largest donation for land protection in Australia, and comes as the critically endangered night parrot was estimated at less than 250 individuals left in southwest Queensland and the Pilbara. The anonymous gift was brokered by the Nature Conservancy which partnered with Queensland’s Miles Government to ensure Vergemont Station becomes protected habitat – also helping the vulnerable yellow-footed rock-wallaby and highly restricted Opalton grasswren. – From Donor gifts $21m to buy cattle station for endangered parrot – realestate.com.au

CONSCIENTOUS OBJECTIONS: We bird owners knew it all along. “The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness” was signed last week at New York University by nearly 40 prominent animal cognition researchers – including Dr. Irene Pepperberg. Far more animals than previously thought likely have consciousness, top scientists say — birds; of course, but also fish, lobsters and octopus – even insects.. The declaration says there is “strong scientific support” that birds and mammals have conscious experience, and a “realistic possibility” of consciousness for all vertebrates as well as many creatures without backbones. It marks a pivotal moment, as research on animal cognition collides with debates over how various species ought to be treated. There is no standard definition for animal sentience or consciousness, but generally the terms denote an ability to have subjective experiences: to sense and map the outside world and for feelings like joy or pain. In some cases, it can mean animals possess a level of self-awareness. Pepperberg is renowned for her work with Alex the African grey; offering convincing evidence that Alex understood much of what he was talking about. Pepperberg and Alex were recently honored with a play based on their training sessions. – More at https://www.nbcnews.com/…/animal-consciousness...

EARLY SIGNS OF PBFD IN COCKATOOS in cockatoos include the loss of powder down. When you touch a healthy cockatoo your hands and clothes should be covered in white powder. If you’re not getting white power on you and if it is not covering everything in your house, get your bird tested. In species that do not have powder down, you won’t notice any change until the bird begins losing feathers. The quills will look deformed and stumped. Deformed and stumped feathers can occur because of injury to a developing feather. So, there is no need to panic if you see one. Just be vigilant. If you go any place with birds wash up and change clothes when you get home. The reemergence of this disease should be taken seriously, so that it does not become a widespread tragic personal loss and a loss to the bird community as a whole. – From International Celebration of Birds.

MAILBAG: Hold the onions – and the burger for that matter. Contrary to views expressed by some regarding the consumption of meat by parrots: “In the crop studies of New World parrots that have been going on for many years there is never any animal protein . In fact there is a famous photo of two beautiful scarlet macaw outside of their nest cavity (sorry for poor quality of reproduced image) ..and then the second photo showing inside their nest cavity …showing literally thousands of beetles and larvae at the lower part of the cavity …living off the leftovers from the chicks food and excrement .  The parents only had to reach down a few inches to eat the bugs but crop studies always show they don’t touch animal protein,” writes .Angela Rosaria Cancilla, CPBC, IAATE, IAABC. The photos were taken by Dr. Donald Brightsmith in Tambopata where Cancilla did volunteer field study. — Jan Odessky Squiciarino Jones likely read the teaser but not the story, commenting, “Meet not meat.” The story was about the consumption of meat by parrots. and the title was a play on words.

CANCEL CULTURE: If you missed South Bay Bird Society’s Earth Day booth at Wilderness Park’s Earth Day celebration last week in Redondo Beach, CA , you weren’t alone. The booth had to be canceled. To make a long story short, an SBBS event organizer recommends against using an office chair with wheels as a stepladder. Plans are still on for SBBS representation at Whale of a Day om 4/23, which itself had to be postponed due to rain.. See HOT DATES.

HOT DATES: 4/26: BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS: Join Robin Sullivan at 7 p.m. EST for an exciting chat about birds and their relatives, the dinosaurs with returning guest, Daniel Sigmon live on The Leather Elves Facebook page — A Look Back at the Phoenix Landing Wellness Retreat with Lisa Bono, CPBC  3 p.m. EDT Lafeber Zoom webinar — 4/27: Greater Kansas City Avicultural Society Spring Bird & Pet Fair  Independence, MO —Southeast Exotic Bird Fair  Dover, FL — WHALE OF A DAY: Public invited to greet nearby migrating Pacific grey whales and participate in multiple events..South Bay Bird Society plans to be on hand with an information booth and some parrots. This event was postponed from 4/7. .10-4 Port Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West in Rancho Palos Verde. CA — DAFFY BIRD SALE: Connecticut Parrot Society holds a fundraiser at the Daffodil Tag Sale, Deals to be had for humans and parrots. 9-2, Hubbard Park, 999 W. Main St., Meriden, CT Rain or shine. www.connecticutparrotsociety.org — Greater Kansas City Avicultural Society Spring Bird & Pet Fair  Independence, MO — Alamo Exhibition Bird Club Bird Expo Garden Ridge, TX — Southeast Exotic Bird Fair  Dover, FL — 4/28: Joliet Bird Fair and Sale Joliet, IL — 4/30: MASSACUSETTS LOBBY DAY FOR ANIMALS: 10:00 a.m. Great Hall, Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA — 5/4: OHPA Bird Fair Medina, OH — 5/3: Ask the Vet with Tom Tully, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), DECZM (Avian)  3 p.m. EDT  Lafeber Zoom webinar — 5/5: Apopka/Orlando Bird Expo Apopka, FL — Exotic Bird Meet and Greet and Macaw Free Flight Experience  1-3 p.m. PDT Escondido, CA  at Avian Behavior International  $157 — SPRING CAGE SALE: Long Island Parrot Society of New York, Inc. has lots of new and gently used shapes and sizes to suit most birds, from small to large. Carriers and play gyms, too. Great prices.Make an offer. Cash, checks & credit cards accepted. 10-2. StorQuest Self Storage, 2021 Lakeland Avenue, Ronkonkoma NY. Call (631) 957-1100 upon arrival for gate code Rain date, Sun., 5/19 If it’s iffy on Sunday, please check Friends of Long Island Parrot Society Facebook page for updates, or call (631) 957-1100. — 5/9: All About Screech Owls with Jim Wright 7 p.m. EDT  –  The Real Macaw Parrot Club Zoom webinar — Understanding Parrot Body Language in Behavior and Training with Debbie Foster 7 p.m. EDT  –  Connecticut Parrot Society Zoom 4/26: BIRDS ARE DINOSAURS

FOUND: Budgie, blue/white male. Centereach, NY. Contact Long Island Budgie Rescue. — LOST: Conure, ‘Jorah’ West Islip, NY (631) 745-3959.

From the parrot’s beak: 4/21

The beautiful nectar eating rainbow lorikeet is also a carnivore. – See feature story below. Photo by George Sommers

From Facebook

GUNS, ALCOHOL AND BIRDS: Not a good mix, according to Ziggy’s Bird Haven. Personnel at the Inverness, FL parrot sanctuary were unpleasantly surprised to learn of plans to convert a neighboring bowling alley to a combination liquor bar/restaurant and gun range. “The parrots under our care have exquisitely sensitive lungs, and the potential impacts of a gun range on their health are deeply troubling. Furthermore, Sportsman’s Bowling Alley has long served as a focal point for family fun and community gatherings, and its loss would be profoundly felt,” reads a statement directed at the local community. There are additional concerns about gun shot noise stressing out the birds, and others have expressed dismay in general over the combination of alcohol and guns. Ziggy’s is asking community members to sign a petition against the proposal, as well as making phone calls to the number on the sign (see photo) to express opposition.

BLUE HAWAIIAN: A rare mutant blue Patagonian conure was photographed on a volcanic cliff in Hawaii. The blue mutation is not known to exist elsewhere, even in domestic Patagonians. This mutation arose due to inbreeding within the small naturalized flock it belongs to. The South American conures, like other foreign exotics, have colonized Hawaii. Some, notably the mongoose, have led to the sharp decline and even extinction of many native species. – From Mutations and Hybrids

Debbie Goodrich and Jesse. – From Facebook

PSITTACINEMA: The competition was stiff, what with racing roaches, an acrobatic dog and a car driving cat, but the roller skating macaw was up to the challenge of “Stupid Pet Tricks”; a spin off of a popular segment of the “Late Night with David Letterman Show” now hosted by comedienne Sarah Silverman. Jesse, the 23 year old female blue & gold macaw, strutted her stuff on the show accompanied by owner Debbie Goodrich. Jesse also talks and plays basketball. Goodrich has an actual specialized light up disco rink but for the show, Jesse simply skated across the stage. And although the audience “ate up” Goodrich’s talk about conservation, including the Bird Endowment, that was cut in favor of photos from Goodrich’s wedding, which included Jesse’s “sister”, a scarlet macaw flying in with the wedding ring. Birds being birds, Jesse had no qualms about pooping on camera, which Silverman felt compelled to sniff. That’s show biz. Anyway, here’s Jesse the roller skating macaw on “Stupid Pet Tricks”. https://www.tbs.com/shows/stupid-pet-tricks/season-1/episode-10/late-night-memories?fbclid=IwAR2Hdtm5Mlvd2KTWyEs5EtboUM_MiooAOBKjlb4UWn9EqTVfUcamt4Rd7w4.

HISTORY OF AFRICAN GREYS: Their popularity as pets may lead to their ultimate downfall. Prior to 1455, European exposure to parrots from other continents was limited. The first Portuguese ship to transport enslaved people from sub-Saharan Africa set sail in 1455 also carrying approximately 150 parrots. In the post-colonial period, as traditional economic prospects waned for people living in the forests of west and central Africa, the parrot trade became an attractive alternative, which over time contributed to drastic declines in the grey parrot population. “Parrots were a raw material that fascinated Europeans,” says Nancy Jacobs, history professor at Brown University, RI; and author of “The Global Grey Parrot”. The book, scheduled for publication in 2026, traces their history from the 15th century to the present. And although trade in wild African greys was banned in 2016, it continues. Jacobs also mentions some of the drawbacks of parrots as pets: feather plucking, screaming and aggression but acknowledges ““It is endangered in Africa, but as a cage bird kept all over the world, it will not go extinct.” – More in: https://www.brown.edu/news/2024-02-29/grey-parrots?fbclid=IwAR3BTTv1l7LTh4JaCL82DhpBqJd3Sh5iKgoa5PggU5DgOAeNoOgCQquUCS8

YO, PAULIE: April 18 was the 26th anniversary of John Roberts’ “Paulie” Paulie the conure goes on several adventures after being separated from his little girl owner. Years later – let’s just say there’s a happy ending. Cheech Marin has a memorable role. Stan Winston and his team at Stan Winston Studio designed and created the animatronic bird puppet double for the movie.

FEATHER FACTS: Parrots molt their wing feathers in pairs, with each side losing the same feather within a few days of each other, ensuring balance in flight. – Feathers pierce through the skin covered in a keratin coating, which protects the new feather during its growth stage. Within the sheath there is a blood supply feeding the new feather with protein and minerals for a healthy and strong new feather. Once the feather has finished growing the bird will crumble the sheath away, revealing the feather. – The tiny facial feathers on a macaw’s face are unique to each bird, similar to a finger print. – Parrots and most bird species use their beautiful colors and appearance to attract a mate. The health of a bird’s feather helps a mate decide if that bird will produce healthy, viable babies to ensure the survival of their species. – From World Parrot Trust · 

Who wears it better? – From Facebook

MY HOW THEY’VE GROWN: They being the wild yellow-naped Amazon chicks bein monitored at Bosque Escondido. The older ones are nearing fledgling age after spending around 65 days in the nest. This critically endangered parrot species faces threats from habitat loss and nest poaching. But thanks to the incredible efforts and protection provided by Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center-zoave, the population in Pilas de Canjel, Nicoya Peninsula, is thriving. –From The Macaw Society at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center- zoave.

MEAT THE PARROTS: By George Sommers When man bites dog it’s news. How about a parrot chowing down on a cheeseburger? The occasional picture on Facebook of a macaw gnawing on a chicken drumstick seems ironically amusing to some. A debate rages over whether parrots should be offered meat as part of their diet, or a treat – or at all. But are parrots naturally carnivorous, or at least omnivorous? As they say, “It’s complicated.”
It’s no coincidence that owls, hawks and eagles have curved beaks -similar to those of parrots. In fact, the raptors and the psittacines split off from a common ancestor around the same time on opposite sides of the family tree.
Clue #2.: New Zealand’s kea parrots naturally eat insects and carrion but have developed a taste for lamb chops and will actually attack and tear off bits of sheep flesh which, of course; did not sit well with shepherds, so the government put a bounty on their heads which led perilously close to their extinction. Antipodese parrots, also from New Zealand, will eat other birds.
Gang gang cockatoos will hunt and eat mice. Cockatoos have gall bladders which make high protein items like meat easier to digest. Some ‘toos will eat flies and cockroaches which unfortunately can lead to potentially fatal sarcosystis.
Tony Silva, whose interesting career spans from accused macaw black marketer to Loro Parque curator to respected parrot authority, says wild parrots eating meat is not uncommon. He has seen South American parrots picking at drying cow hides.
Amazon parrots, he notes, will eat tetras (familiar to home aquarium keepers) and other fish from drying pools. My own Goffin’s enjoyed pieces of tilapia – maybe she thought she was an osprey!
Birdwatchers in Queensland, Australia were startled to observe rainbow lorikeets eating meat left at feeders for kookaburras, magpies and currawongs. The colorful loris are normally vegetarians that feed primarily on nectar.
Now for the bad news. Years ago, Dr. Greg Rich DVM demonstrated at some bird conventions how an amazon seemed to have an extra bone – but in reality had swallowed a chicken bone which became stuck in the crop. Another bird had internal bleeding from a broken bone. Feeding meat to naturally vegetarian birds can subject them to gout, fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis. Macaws, in particular, may be prone to D3 toxicity as well. Sadly, many pet birds that are fed meat succumb to heart disease and atherosclerosis.
But wait, there’s more. Meat is high in D3 which stimulates sexual behavior. More than one owner of a large macaw or cockatoo has received a nasty bite from a horny bird. And studies have shown problems with stunted growth and even fatalities among chicks.
Where’s the beef? The somewhat generalized bottom line is that some wild parrots may eat some form of meat sometimes and the protein is helpful for flying. Usually meat is not needed for pet birds that have little need for flying and it can be detrimental.This feature story was originally intended for the “Pet Gazette”, which ceased publication after their March ’24 issue

THE BLUES: In 2018, shortly after her death, Armonía named the Laney Rickman Reserve in Bolivia in tribute to her dedicated efforts “Saving the Blues”. This vitally important piece of land, comprised of former cattle ranches, protects 6,000 acres of primary breeding grounds for the blue-throated macaw in the wild. Over 150 years of land use has cleared almost all the older-growth trees, reducing suitable nest areas. To remedy this lack of nesting sites, Laney started the Nido Adoptivo supplemental nest box project with partner Armonía in 2006. To date, an incredible 128 blue-throated macaw chicks, including a record 15 chicks last year, have fledged from Nido Adoptivo nest boxes! This number of successful fledges is truly significant – approximately 25% of the wild population, and trending upward! The total number of fledges by year steepens around 2017 – 2018 coinciding with when the reserve became protected and, for the first time, a second-generation chick fledged. The project took 12 years for the first 64 chicks to fledge, yet only 6 years for the next 64 fledges, demonstrating the success of the project and holds promise for future population growth of this critically endangered bird. Now you can donate and be entered to win some great prizes. See The Bird Endowment for more info. If you would prefer to donate directly, visit: https://form.jotform.com/212524599347161or by check, mail to: Bird Endowment 1707 1/2 Post Oak Blvd. #194 Houston, Texas 77056.

MAILBAG: Jeff Delfrate writes: “Love the guys smoking standing next to the birds  I smoke and nope! Down wind and several feet away maybe? Situational awareness, pretty simple but it sure does elude people.” EDITOR’S RESPONSE: Jeff is referring to last issue’s “cover” pic of a man smoking while unloading a cage of birds to bring to an expo. Jeff is correct and the photo was in no way meant to encourage smoking around birds.

HOT DATES: 4/17-20: Spring Chirp  Weslaco, TX * —4/18-21: Galveston FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Festival  Galveston, TX * — 4/19: BUILDING A BETTER BIRD TOY: Ever wondered what goes into designing bird enrichment? Join Robin Sullivan at 7 p.m. EST on The Leather Elves FB page for a discussion of how to create toys that your birds will love.– 4/20,21: Nashville Exotic Pet Expo  Nashville, TN — 4/20: BOGART THAT JOINT: And don’t smoke it anywhere near your birds, for whom smoke can be fatal — 4/21: Southeast Exotic Bird Fair  Kissimmee, FL — 4/27: Greater Kansas City Avicultural Society Spring Bird & Pet Fair  Independence, MO —Southeast Exotic Bird Fair    Dover, FL — WHALE OF A DAY: Public invited to greet nearby migrating Pacific grey whales and participate in multiple events.. South Bay Bird Society will be on hand with an information booth and some parrots. This event was postponed from 4/7. .10-4 Port Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West in Rancho Palos Verde. CA —4/28: Joliet Bird Fair and Sale Joliet, IL — 5/4: OHPA Bird Fair Medina, OH — 5/5: Apopka/Orlando Bird Expo Apopka, FL 

• *The beak” doesn’t normally include wild bird events, except when there is a good possibility of seeing naturalized or wild parrots involved.

From the parrot’s beak: 4/14

Spring and thoughts turn to – bird fairs. Here, some birdy booty is being unloaded in preparation for last week’s Birds Of A Feather Expo in New Hampshire. – Photo by George Sommers,

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: Another day, another newspaper closes shop. This time, it is the Massachusetts based “Pet Gazette”. which distributed 10,000 copies monthly, in addition to an online edition and for which “beak” editor George Sommers (me) contributed feature articles on parrots and aquarium fish. March ’24 was the final edition. I started working for “PG” under publisher Josh Cutler, who later became a MA state representative and currently serving in the MA Gov. Maura Healey administration. The torch was passed to John Harvey, former publisher/editor of “Cape Cod” magazine and 4 weekly newspapers. See later in this column a slightly revised “Parrot Sniffers Anonymous” article, originally intended for the April “Pet Gazette”.

4/20 NOT FOR BIRDS: “It is absolutely 100% safe. I am an avid aviculturist with over 11 years of experience. I have rescued, fostered, and owned almost every bird you can imagine. I have PTSD and smoke marijuana everyday, with my birds beside me. My pineapple conure often steals buds from me and I actually have a tattoo of her holding a marijuana flower on my arm. (I have a sleeve of all 7 of my babies) Hemp seeds are found in bird foods/ seed mixes and most vertebrates have an endocannabinoid system which produce cannabinoids naturally when the animal feels stress of some kind. I have sat through lectures on this. I am a Zoology major, with a focus in Avian Science. I have also worked, and studied, as a vet tech. I would not steer you wrong, birds are my life. 110% positive! They’ve eaten the flowers, the stems, the seeds, and been near the smoke. And I would NEVER allow someone to smoke a cigarette even in the same house with them,” reads a recent Facebook post. The “devil’s lettuce” is becoming legal in more and more states and more socially acceptable, but most experts warn that any kind of smoke can be hazardous to birds. In the interests of better being safe than sorry, stoners should keep their stash, including gummies, spiked cookies and brownies; out of bird reach as well.

Falconer Rita Tulloh and Scarlett O”Hara the red tail hawk at last week’s B.O.A.F. Expo. – Photo taken by Ray Schwartz, B.O..A.F. VP & Marketing Director

ON WITH THE SHOW: Last weekend’s 24th annual Birds Of A Feather Spring Expo carried on despite a couple of inches of snow on the ground from a surprise April snow fall. Dozens of vendors were present; some selling completely out; along with hundreds of visitors. And, of course, there were birds – lovebirds, baby conures, an Amazon, cockatiels, budgies, etc. Special guests included Jasmine Raymond of RAAM Mobile Veterinary Care, who did double duty as free wing and nail trimmer as well as a presentation on the benefits of microchipping pet birds. Also on hand were Rita Tulloh and “Scarlett O’Hara” the red tail hawk for a talk about falconry, the sport of hunting with raptors. And never mind Easter baskets -the event also featured a silent auction with several baskets stuffed with all manner of bird related goodies. No worries if you missed it, B.O.A.F.’s 35th annual Fall Exotic Bird Show and Mart returns 10/26/24.

BUYER BEWARE: The Bird Expo held at New York Bird Supply (see HOT DATES) was criticized for a past event held during a bird flu outbreak . “Nobody at this expo was watching who was coming in so nobody even wiped their shoes before entering,” claims an anonymous emailer with an extensive background in bird care. Crowded cages and some aspects of the physical set up were also targeted.

KEEP ‘EM ROLLING: Kudos to Debbie Goodrich and Jessie, her roller skating macaw; for a successful and educational performance on “Stupid Pet Tricks”.; a revival of a segment of the “Late Night with David Letterman” show, now a full time program in its own right hosted by comedienne Sarah Silverman.

THE PARROT SNIFFERS:The following article was originally intended for the “Pet Gazette”, which recently ceased publication.

     A figure bent over a table snorts up a white talc like powdery substance. If there’s a cockatoo involved, don't grab a straw or call the cops.     
      Parrot sniffing may seem odd, but it’s perfectly legal and no gag. Nor is it a tiny subset. Parrot Sniffers R Us, with some 6.8 thousand members, is one of at least two Facebook pages dedicated to the esoteric habit.
     Why would anyone snort their bird? “It’s medicinal. It’s like the joy of kissing the warm fur of a dog or cat but magnified. My blue crown conure purrs contentedly like a cat when I sniff her,” explains one respondent to a recent online survey. “I could identify any parrot by smell alone. It’s amazing how different they all are,” says one woman.  “My coworkers used to blindfold me and have me sniff feathers. I was always 100% accurate at guessing the species the feather belonged to on smell alone.” Yet another says, “If I could bottle the smell of a hormonal amazon, I’d be a millionaire.”
     Some reported scents could come straight from a movie theater snack bar. “My bare eye smells like popcorn when he's excited,” says Adrianne Mock, an expert on parrot related legal matters, and a 2 year old Senegal has that hot buttered aroma as well. Or if you’d prefer, a bare eyed cockatoo smells like peanuts and an African grey Timneh also smells “nutty” – or how about some moluccan cotton candy? And you can wash it all down with the fruit punch scent of a greenwing macaw.
     Food is a common denominator: Froot Loops or candy factory for macaws, clover honey for a peach front, sesame seeds for an African grey, citrus fruits for caiques, maple syrup for a green cheek and fruit salad for an amazon. 
     Some scent comparisons are downright odd. An African grey smells like a hamster.” (A hamster sniffer, too?) “My favorite Yankee candle smell is a clutch of 12 week old blue and gold macaws,” says Kashmir Csaky, International Celebration of Birds FB page administrator. They’re really reaching for new candle scents! One African grey smells like a (presumably human) baby, and still another grey smells specifically like baby’s breath. Grandma’s perfume rated a mention as did “heaven” and “love”.     
      On the other hand, “When I stick my nose to my moluccan it looks like I've snorted booger sugar,” says a respondent. And, caution: “My budgies have a subtle sweet smell, but it has a price: one sniff = one bitten nose.”  A green cheek conure smells like seagrass mats, a galah “smells disgusting” and one moluccan ‘too smells like “bad breath”.
     Some open ended answers included the sweet smell of lorikeets, musky odors of eclectus and amazons (a little more than eclectus); earthy and powdery.
     Not everyone is with the program. Tom Marshall, author of “Why Parrots? Why Aviculture?”, says, “My caiques don’t emit any smells but they exude warmth.” And a woman calling herself Janine Bird says, “They smell like bird. “

FREEBIES: If it’s free, it’s for me – and it can be for you, too. Albertus Van Tonder’s April FREE standard magazine is ready to download. This edition comes with an offer of 3 free eBooks to choose from. Monthly subscribers receive 1 a month over 3 months. Supporting advertisers on the website make future standard editions possible.

Pdf bird magazine Vol8 No4

WHALE DAY HARPOONED for now. Due to potentially inclement weather, the event has been postponed until April 27. South Bay Bird Society is encouraging members to step forward and their parrots to step up to (wo)man the information table they still plan on setting up.

HOT DATES: 4/12-14: Beyond Words – Dr. Irene Pepperberg and Alex play   Final days. Cambridge, MA —  Acadiana Bird Fair & Sale Lafayette.LA — Keystone State Avian Society – Triple NCS Shows – Class C Chambersburg, PA — 4/13: THE BIRD EXPO: at New York Bird Supply. “The most highly anticipated event of the season”, as they modestly describe themselves. 8:30-5 ET. 3501 Rombouts Ave.Bronx, NY— Rolling Meadows Bird Fair & Sale  Rolling Meadows, IL — Bird Walk Celebrating Earth Day with Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner from One Earth Conservation 9 a.m. CDT  –  Des Moines, IA — 4/14: Mid-American Exotic Bird Society Annual Bird Fair  Hilliard, OH — 4/15-5/15: The 28th Great Texas Birding Classic state of TX. Keep an eye out for parrots! — 4/15: ANOTHER FUN HOUR OF MUSIC: with Roberta Fabiano, sponsored by Long Island Parrot Society Watch and listen on Frog Hollow Music FB page. 5-6 p.m. ET — 4/16 :UNSCHEDULED FLIGHTS: Imagine knowing your parrot will fly back to you if they fly away. Justice Bellar CPBT-KA has developed a technique that is effective and compassionate in training parrots to come when called. In addition, field researcher Grace Innemee will share info about flight and recall with wild parrots. $35 (US) for non-Parrot Club members. REGISTER HERE! FREE for PK Members! They’ll e-mail a Zoom link before the workshop begins. Replays will be available to members. —4/17-20: Spring Chirp  Weslaco, TX * —4/18-21: Galveston FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Festival  Galveston, TX*

• “The beak” doesn’t normally include wild bird events, except when there is a good possibility of seeing naturalized or wild parrots involved.

From the parrot’s beak: 4/7

Eclipse ’24: WTH? I thought dark comes later in spring. –Photo by George Sommers

THE BILL, PLEASE: Are thick billed parrots, once denizens of pine forests in Arizona and New Mexico; and occasionally in Texas and perhaps Utah due for a comeback? Like the extinct Carolina parakeet, thick bills can tolerate snow and cold temperatures. Thick bills still hang on in old Mexico, although considered endangered. Logging, deforestation and just plain being shot caused their extirpation in the United States. One model for reintroduction could be a program in Brazil where captive bred Spix macaws have been released in the hopes of restoring the species, which had become extinct in the wild. Early indications are that that program is meeting with some success. However, attempts at thick bill reintroduction have flopped. Warning signs may have been overlooked. “Remember the USFW agent who ‘proved’ reintroduction doesn’t work! He took thickbills housed in small cages with clipped wings, had the wings imped with new feathers, put them in a constructed flight in the woods for a few weeks, then released them during fall migration of hawks. He planned failure. So his example should be studied and not duplicated of course!” points out Tom Marshall, author of “Why Parrots? Why Aviculture?”

LIVE AND LET DIE: The sad side of nest monitoring is nest predation, notes The Macaw Society at Reserva Nacional Tambopata – Sernanp. A recent post from the group includes a photo of several large blue feathers scattered around a nest site. Fortunately, predation of wild scarlet macaw chicks in Tambopata is low, just 9 % of all chick deaths.Unfortunately this season, two nests were lost to predation, with two chicks that were near fledgling age. They are not sure what got them, but it is a stark reminder of the jungle’s unforgiving nature. Research suggests that a combination of nest characteristics (small entrance, deep cavities, isolated tree location) and high nest attendance by parents are key to preventing depredation of chicks.

PSITTACINEMA:

ECLIPSE AND PARROTS: There goes the sun and here comes the solar eclipse, which will be total in parts of 15 states; on April 8. People living in areas with total or near totality who own birds will see bigger changes in their pets than dog or cat owners. “Birds are almost like having a child with bedtimes,” says Dr.Emmy Budas, veterinarian at Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, Massachusetts. And darkness in midafternoon may seem like bedtime. It’s 93% in this neck of the woods, so I guess my budgies will be 93% bedded down, but I won’t know for sure since I’ll be at a public eclipse viewing wearing my goofy glasses. – Read More: Massachusetts Veterinarian Shares How Eclipse Will Affect Animals | https://fun107.com/massachusetts-solar-eclipse-animals-pets/?fbclid=IwAR0ihgQ1nB_qEihI9XsoDkuHfoADdmSBJrvp7GK0QT68uft4Apv0fx5ifFE&utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

THE CELEBRI-TOO: A blizzard of videos starring Snowball the cockatoo and subsequent studies convinced scientists that humans aren’t the only species that move rhythmically to music – i.e.dance. The ‘too, who boogies to Stevie Nicks, the Backstreet Boys and others, has been featured on TV, in magazines and at least one book. Now Snowball is in a Japanese documentary on music that will be aired worldwide in Japanese and English. It’s produced by NHK Global Media. Also, he’ll be in an upcoming textbook that will also be available digitally worldwide. This is one bird who more than earns his keep in toys, food and treats, with hopefully a little extra for trainer Irena Schulz

SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK AND ROLL STAR: The Rockstar Rescue Tour 2024 featuring The Leather Elves is not an updated Woodstock but a collaboration with Bird Gardens of Naples aiming to provide quality enrichment and food to rescues and sanctuaries from Maine to Florida while promoting a love of aviculture. The plan is to depart Robin Sullivan’s base in Maine mid-July and wind the way down to southwestern Florida. Stops include participating rescues and pop up events, with daily reports. Participants include Rhode Island Parrot Rescue, Lonely Grey Rescue, Nana & Papa’s Nest Parrot Rescue, Cape Fear Parrot Sanctuary, Majestic Wings Rescue, Straw Hat Parrots, Feathered Friends Forever Ziggy’s Haven, A Helping Wing Parrot Rescue and Bird Gardens of Naples. To donate to your favorite, click this link, choose your package and choose the intended rescue from the drop down list. https://theleatherelves.ecwid.com/Be-A-Rockstar-c58989282

WHEN WHALE MEETS PARROT: South Bay Bird Society of California will join in the annual festivities with a table set up and members’ parrots on hand to help welcome migrating grey whales. The march of the Leviathans is viewable from land. More info in HOT DATES. — The club skips its April meeting but will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its May 6 meeting.

DEEP IN THE HEART OF: Texan bird lovers have several upcoming opportunities to photograph wild parrots, compete in a bird count contest or simply observe them with the help of experts. See HOT DATES.

MOVING EXPERIENCE: Rhode Island Parrot Rescue is asking for help as they relocate to their new, larger digs. https://www.401gives.org/organizations/rhode-island-parrot-rescue?mc_cid=35eaf963f8&mc_eid=UNIQID

MAILBAG: “I hate telling you this. The information about how birds talk is not 100% correct. Birds vocalize with the use of the syrinx a box at the base of the trachea. There are two lip like structures on either side of the syrinx. Each fleshy lip like structure has a tube that extend from the syrinx into one of the lungs. Using this muscular organ and by controlling the trachea birds vocalize. They can produce two distinctly different sounds using each lip like structure and regulating the air separately from each lung. Songbirds are famous for this ability. Parrots are capable of it. However, I have only heard one parrot that did this. He’s a cockatiel who repeatedly passed out from not breathing while vocalizing. They can vocalize for long periods of time, if they so desire, by breathing through one lung while vocalizing through the other, then switching to the other lung to breathe. Birds do have a larynx. However, its primary purpose is to prevent aspiration,” says Kashmir Csaky, International Celebration of Birds FB page administrator; updating information from Parrot Trust Scotland from last week’s issue.

HOT DATES: ONGOING — 4/7: “WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL” Coast to coast showings of the remastered documentary film listed here: upcoming-2023-24-screenings/?  —3/14-4/14: Beyond Words – Dr. Irene Pepperberg and Alex play   Cambridge, MA — 4/5: PLANTING FROM THE AVIARY: Despite the surprise spring storm dumping a nearly foot of snow in her state of Maine, Robin Sullivan talks gardening for birds with Jason Crean in this week’s live presentation on The Leather Elves page at 7 p.m.ET —4/6,7: Phoenix Landing Wellness Retreat Asheville, NC  many speakers $169 — 4/6: Peninsula Caged Bird Society Spring Bird Mart  Newport News, VA — Birds of a Feather Annual Expo and Mart  Plaistow, NH — 4/7: Lake City Bird Expo Lake City, FL — OHPA Bird Fair New location. Pittsburgh Bird Fair 10-4 Butler Vagabonds building in Butler PA. $5 /adults; kids 12 and under/ FREE. Feathered Friends, toys, food, perches, playgyms, education, cages and more. Free Parking. Free Behavior consultations and more. — Lengthening Cosmo’s Life with Michele Baker  2 p.m. Hoosier Feathered Friends Zoom webinar. — 4/7: Lake City Bird Expo Lake City, FL — OHPA Bird Fair  Lyndora, PA — 4/8: SOLAR ECLIPSE: Will your bird think it’s birdie bedtime? — 4/13-14: Acadiana Bird Fair & Sale Lafayette.LA — Keystone State Avian Society – Triple NCS Shows – Class C Chambersburg, PA — 4/13: THE BIRD EXPO: at New York Bird Supply. “The most highly anticipated event of the season”, as they modestly describe themselves. 8:30-5 ET. 3501 Rombouts Ave.Bronx, NY — WHALES ‘N’ PARROTS mingle, sort of, at Whale of a Day: celebrate and witness the migration of Pacific grey wheels. South Bay Bird Society will have an informational table along with some of their parrot friends. 10-4 Port Vicente Interpretive Center, 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West in Rancho Palos Verdes., CA — Rolling Meadows Bird Fair & Sale  Rolling Meadows, IL — 4/14: Mid-American Exotic Bird Society Annual Bird Fair  Hilliard, OH — 4/15-5/15: The 28th Great Texas Birding Classic .state of TX. Keep an eye out for parrots! — 4/17-20:  Spring Chirp  Weslaco, TX

From the parrot’s beak: Easter/April Fools mash up

Ehhhh, Happy Easter, Doc! – Photo by George Sommers

AMAZING AMAZONS: Once in a while the conservationists win one. Reintroduced yellow shouldered amazons, or ‘Lora’, are flourishing in their natural habitat in Parke Nacional Arikok, according to Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba. They’re embracing their wild instincts, adapting to munch on cactus (ouch) and other native plants. They are exploring within and beyond the park, displaying confidence in their natural instincts. As they settle into their wild lifestyle, they’re becoming less dependent on human presence and feeding. They’re more alert to danger, communicating a soft prrrrrrr that signifies vigilance against potential predators, freezing and remaining motionless like statues. With their evolved behaviors, they’ve abandoned chicken-like feeding habits (eating when on the ground), now favoring natural foraging behaviors.

WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING VOCAL CORDS: Parrots don’t have vocal cords like humans. Instead of pushing air over vocal cords to create sound, parrots and many other species of birds including corvids and starlings can mimic sounds by using the muscles in their throat to direct airflow over the trachea (or windpipe) in an organ called the syrinx. They make different sounds by changing the depth and shape of the trachea. – From Parrot Trust Scotland

EGG-XACTLY: Best let the parrots enjoy looking at those colorful Easter eggs with their ultraviolet vision, but not eating them. According to some veterinarians, parrots’ digestive systems are not built for eggs, or meat; which can lead to a build up of plaque and potentially fatal diseases. It is a hot topic on social media sites lately as some like offering eggs as a “treat’ or it’s thought the protein is good for them. However, any beneficial aspects from eggs and meat can be had from other foods.

SPEAKING OF EGGS: The Macaw Society at Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center- zoave team has found the first scarlet macaw eggs in a natural nest for this season! The breeding season in Costa Rica is less synchronized than in Peru, so eggs can be laid from at least Jan to March. This is the second natural nest with activity in the area, and they are hoping to find chicks soon. Congratulations to the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center- zoave for their hard work preserving these beautiful macaws. #macaws#parrots#nesting#breedingseason#rescatewildlifecenter#themacawsociety

CONGRATULATIONS TO: Carolina Avian Research And Education; now a USDA licensed facility.

KEEP OUT, EASTER BUNNY: The Easter Bunny might want to forego deliveries to the mountainous region of New Zealand, for there lurks the bad boy of birds, the kea. Like it’s not enough that keas will steal food, eat or destroy anything human related and even make like feathered gremlins and move traffic cones around, disrupting traffic.They also (shades of Elmer Fudd) attack and eat rabbit flesh. They will even attack sheep and for that reason there was a bounty on their heads for many years.Apparently they ignore their doctors’ advice about parrots not eating meat.

PSITTACINEMA:

….And celebrating Easter with parrots: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=PARROTS+EASTER&mid=E34795C0384F21232E1

Duster. – From Facebook

OBIT: Duster, the famous umbrella cockatoo, passed away peacefully at his retirement home with his human mom & dad (Jennie, Florida Parrot Rescue Vice President & and her husband Owen) last week; a bit short of his 100th birthday of June 1, 1925. He was wild caught in Australia, then transferred to California taking up residency at Sea World, training and educating people about his species. Eventually he moved to the sunshine state of Florida where he took up residence in Weeki Wachee and was the star of the bird show in the 1970’s riding his birdie bicycle and roller skating. Weeki Wachee became Silver Springs and in 2012 they downsized to a nature park so in early 2013 the park relinquished Duster to Florida Parrot Rescue

HOT DATES: ONGOING — 4/7: “WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL” Coast to coast showings of the remastered documentary film listed here: upcoming-2023-24-screenings/?  —3/14-4/14: Beyond Words – Dr. Irene Pepperberg and Alex play   Cambridge, MA — 3/20-31: Birding Tours of Cuba in 2024 with BirdsCaribbean  — 3/30: Kansas Cage Bird Expo and Sale Lawrence, KS —  Conroe Exotic Bird Expo Conroe, TX — 3/31: St. Augustine Bird Expo St. Augustine, FL — Sunrise Celebration Bird Walk with Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner from One Earth Conservation  6:30 a.m. CDT  Des Moines, IA — EASTER — 4/1: APRIL FOOLS: No tricks now. — FUN MUSIC HOUR with Roberta Fabiano sponsored by Long Island Parrot Society. Live on Frog Hollow Music Facebook page. 5-6 p.m. ET —4/6,7: Phoenix Landing Wellness Retreat Asheville, NC  many speakers $169 — 4/6: Peninsula Caged Bird Society Spring Bird Mart  Newport News, VA — Birds of a Feather Annual Expo and Mart  Plaistow, NH — 4/7: Lake City Bird Expo Lake City, FL — OHPA Bird Fair New location. Pittsburgh Bird Fair 10-4 Butler Vagabonds building in Butler PA. $5 /adults; kids 12 and under/ FREE. Feathered Friends, toys, food, perches, playgyms, education, cages and more. Free Parking. Free Behavior consultations and more. — Lengthening Cosmo’s Life with Michele Baker  2 p.m. Hoosier Feathered Friends Zoom webinar. — 4/8: SOLAR ECLIPSE: Will your bird think it’s birdie bedtime?

From the parrot’s beak: 3/10

We’ve got you parrot news right here! – Photo by George Sommers

THE DEFIANT BORDER CROSSERS: Barbed wire barriers, border guards and deportations are no deterrent to one group of Mexican immigrants. Investigators at the Free Flying Los Angeles Parrot Project based in Occidental College’s Moore Laboratory of Zoology, aim to solve a puzzle: how red-crowned and lilac-crowned parrots established local urban breeding populations via the pet trade from Mexico, where both species are on the brink of extinction. A potential answer is that Southern California cities have only in the last 100 years provided these sister species with a resource untapped by native birds: the fruits and flowers of exotic trees used for landscaping, according to the team’s new report in the journal Diversity and Distributions. – Read more in https://www.yahoo.com/news/threatened-homeland-feral-mexican-parrots-110035617.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=fb&tsrc=fb

MOVIN’ ON UP: “Due to circumstances beyond BOAF’s control, the spring Expo and Mart has been moved to the Plaistow Fish and Game Club’s clubhouse,” says Raymond Schwartz, president of New Hampshire’s Birds Of A Feather club. It is a larger venue than the one the last few events have been held in. The April 6 event is FREE and features FREE nail/beak/wing trimming – BYOT (bring your own towel). There will also be a presentation on microchipping, and as a bonus; a special exhibition on falconry featuring a live red tail hawk named Scarlett O’Hara.. See upcoming “Beak”s for further details.

A DAY AT THE PET SHOW: Long Island Parrot Society members set up a display table and showed up in force with their ‘toos, ‘tiels, macaws and other feathered friends for the recent Long Island Pet Expo.

PSITTACINEMA: Cockatoo has laughing fit. https://youtu.be/m5A8WlbS1q0?si=6ExQ0aVTwLmsbCai Parrots dancing in the shower. https://youtube.com/shorts/rL2shCBJXeA

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY is March 8. Some of the big names of women involved in parrot conservation include Marcela Priscila Franco Ochoa, World Parrot Trust (WPT) Field Conservationist; Tamara Chirwa of WPT’s Lovebird Programs, Malawi; Noelia Volpe, WPT Yellow-naped Amazon Coordinator; the late Jean “African Queen” Pattison and the late Laney Rickman, blue throated macaw conservationist.

THE REAL MACAW: The Macaw Society at Reserva Nacional Tambopata – Sernanp.reports another successful nest monitoring expedition. Unearthed lots of surprises—both heartwarming and bittersweet. In total, 14 macaw chicks are almost ready to take flight from 10 of their nests. One even fledged during the Society’s time there, hitting the average fledgling age in Tambopata of 84 days. Kudos to an amazing team, including Antenor Hurtado Carmona, Juan Pedro Portaro, Luis Rengifo, and our outstanding volunteers Manuel Pinedo, Pilar Magnolia, Chiara Piano y Anai Poblete Special thanks to fearless leader Carlos Carlim Huamani Callata; also Harrison’s Bird Foods for supporting wild psittacine research and conservation.. – From #tambopara#parrots#macaw#nests#breedingseason#AmazonRainforest#harrisonsbiedfoods#themacawsociety

From Facebook

IDENTITY POLLY-TICS: Those of us of a certain age may remember the anti-pollution ad featuring an Indian with a tear in his eye. The Indian was played by an Italian American actor. No one kicked up a fuss then, but nowadays it’s become fashionable to criticize when an actor/actress plays in a role outside of their own ethnicity. Despite that, when the play “Beyond Words – Dr. Irene Pepperberg and Alex” has its spring run in Cambridge, MA, the part of Alex the African grey parrot will be played by a human as they go about portraying the Model/Rival technique and other methods used in the Pepperberg laboratory. So far no complaints about misrepresentation, but hey; that’s why they call it actin

OLDIES BUT GOODIES: Some reported longevity records: 114 y/o blue & gold macaw in England; 92 y/o green wing macaw, owned by “Pet and Exotics”, USA; 83 y/o Major Mitchell’s cockatoo, Brookfield Zoo, USA. A couple of caveats: many reports are anecdotal and difficult to verify. The average pet parrot, while likely to have a much longer lifespan than the average cat or dog, is unlikely to reach these age lengths. However, there is a good chance they may outlive their human caretakers, so it behooves the average parrot owner to make preparations in case their bird does outlive them.

HOT DATES: ONGOING — 4/7: “WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL” Coast to coast showings of the remastered documentary film listed here: upcoming-2023-24-screenings/? —  3/8-10: Greater Philadelphia Pet Expo Oaks, PA — 3/8: NATURALIZED PARROTS: Parrots in the wild “where they’re not supposed to be” is the subject of Dr. Donald Brightsmith as guest of Robin Sullivan on a live broadcast on The Leather Elves Facebook page; 7 p.m. ET — The Grey Way: Greys & Hormones Live Q&A with Lisa Bono, CPBC  3 p.m. EST  Lafeber Zoom webinar — 3/9: Rolling Meadows Bird Fair & Sale  Rolling Meadows, IL — Cen-Tex Bird Exhibitors NCS Shows Class B  Temple, TX — COSTA RICA IS A BIRD LOVER’S PARADISE according to pro photographer Randy Harwood. Harwood will be making his case at the South Bay bird Society’s club meeting; 7 p.m. 2515 Valley Dr., Hermosa Beach, CA — MEMORIAL SERVICE for aviculturist Jean Pattison aka “African queen”. 3 p.m. Lakeland Funeral Home, Memorial Gardens & Crematory; 2125 Bartow Rd., Lakeland, FL— 3/14-4 14: Beyond Words – Dr. Irene Pepperberg and Alex play   Cambridge, MA — 3/15-17: Super Pet Expo Chantilly, VA — 3/15: The Pressures of Being a Parrot – Hormones Made Me Do It! with Dr. Stephanie Lamb, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)   3 p.m. EDT Lafeber Zoom webinar — 3/16: Understanding Parrots, Taking Cues from Nature with Rosemary Low 1 p.m. EDT  Phoenix Landing Zoom webinar — 3/17: Treasure Coast Exotic Bird Club Annual Exotic Bird Expo  Fort Pierce, FL — ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Break out those green parrots — 3/20-31: Birding Tours of Cuba in 2024 with BirdsCaribbean  –  $4395 — 3/20-22: Global Pet Expo  Orlando, FL  –  for retailers and other professionals, not open to general public — 3/22: Ask the Vet with Dr. Tom Tully, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), DECZM (Avian)  –  3 p.m. EDT  –  Lafeber Zoom webinar

From the parrot’s beak: 2/25

Will the new USDA regs on captive birds impact the casual pet bird owner? Ehhhhh, could be…. – Photo by George Sommers

WHAT DO THE NEW USDA REGULATIONS MEAN TO ME?: They’re not winning any popularity awards among more advanced hobbyists but the new regs may have no to little impact on most casual pet owners. The so-called Animal Welfare Act only applies to the following entities: dealers and breeders of covered animals, research facilities, exhibitors, operators of auction sales and carriers/intermediate handlers. Individuals and entities that do not fall into these categories, such as bird owners who don’t breed or exhibit their pets for money, are not covered by the AWA and therefore, will not require a license under the new USDA regulations. In addition, the new regulations do not apply in the following circumstances: – From https://www.petage.com/aphis-usda-issue-new-regulations-affecting-pet-birds/ However, one legal expert explains, “If at any time you decide to sell your birds, you may need a permit. If you have pets and make any money off videos on social media, you may need a permit. Organization of Professional Aviculturists has hours of video where explaining the regulations and answer question on their FB page.” There is speculation that more breeders are going to go out of business allowing fewer breeders to control the market. There will be even less availability and overhead is going to be higher. This means higher prices and perhaps some species disappearing from the US except on the black market.” Exhibiting and showing your birds for money will also be impacted.” There is speculation that some breeders will go out of business, prices will go up and some species may become unavailable.

SPIX UPDATE: They WERE in Brazil – and then they weren’t; declared extinct. But now they’re back, thanks to a so far successful to attempt to reintroduce them to the wild. There are about 200 Spix’s in existence today, thought to be descendants of seven that were snatched from the wild and smuggled out of Brazil. The released birds came from a breeding program called the Association for the Conservation and Protection of Threatened Parrots in Germany founded by shady character turned bird breeder Martin Guth. When CITES came about, Spix’s was one of the first on the list. From then on, the birds could only be moved across international borders with a permit for specific purposes, such as scientific research, zoological exhibitions or conservation programs – and there are some loopholes. Guth originally purchased three Spix’s in Switzerland. There also six Spix’s in a signless, locked building in Antwerp, Belgium, and perhaps more elsewhere. For Brazilians, the Spix’s macaw remains both a source of national pride and also a symbol of CITES’s lack of power, according to Dener Giovanini, founder of the National Network for Combating Wild Animal Trafficking (RENCTAS), a Brazilian wildlife trafficking watchdog. He called for a halt of any future trades in Spix’s macaws and the return of the population to Brazilian control. “We must never forget that these species were originally taken illegally from Brazil,” Giovanini says. – From World Parrot Trust

EASTER BIRDIE: Cadbury is looking for this year’s Easter Bunny substitute. Thousands of dollars are at stake, so get those bird nominations in. Skeeter, a blue parrotlet with a more than passing resemblance to a blue Peep, was one of 10 finalists in 2012.

WHAT DO THOSE LEG BANDS MEAN?: Earlier editions contained some inaccurate material, due to faulty sources. Some experts weighted in with the correct, current information. Per one source: a round opened band is a quarantine band. If they are closed, they can only be put on babies. And another says: Wild caughts brought through US quarantine stations were OPEN, round bands. The notion that a “flat” band is a domestic breeder is incorrect: smaller birds may have “flat” bands, larger ones may have “round” bands. Birds imported through the US system have round, OPEN bands….and while you can no longer trace a lot from the number, you can find which station they came through if the numbers are still legible, as they often are. IF a bird is banded for some reason as an ADULT, it will have an open band, but this is unusual. No (or virtually no) imports since the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992.

PARROTRIVIA: A pretty accurately and detailed budgie appeared on “The Simpsons” recently. The bird got Homer to do his bidding, such as asking for a cracker. (Long story!)

THE PARROT AND THE GODDESS: A 690 AD sculpture depicts a parrot and a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. Guanyin is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara (Sanskrit: अवलोकितेश्वर) and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Chinese folk religion. She was first given the appellation “Goddess of Mercy” or “Mercy Goddess”

HAPPY HATCHDAY 2/23 was the 8th birthday of Attenborough the kakapo, named in honor of Sir David Attenborough, the legendary British broadcaster, biologist, natural historian, author and conservationist. 2/23.

OBIT: Jeanne Pattison aka “the African Queen” whose contributions to the avian field are numerous passed away on 2/24.

HOT DATES: ONGOING — 4/7: “WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL” Coast to coast showings of the remastered documentary film listed here: upcoming-2023-24-screenings/? — 2/25: Joliet Bird Fair and Sale   Joliet, IL — 2/25: FUN MUSIC HOUR with Roberta Fabiano sponsored by Long Island Parrot Society. Live on Frog Hollow Music FB page. 5-6 p.m. ET — 2/27: Teach Your Bird to Exercise! with Justice Bellar, CPBT . Get that potato off that perch. 4 p.m. EST   Parrot Kindergarten Zoom webinar  $35 — 2/29: LEAP DAY — 3/1-3: Super Pet Expo  Edison, NJ — 3/2-3: Long Island Pet Expo  Brentwood, NY —3/1-3: Super Pet Expo  Edison, NJ — 3/1: Translating Parrot: Parrot Hormones – Just the Facts! with Pamela Clark, IAABC Certified Parrot Behavior Consultant & retired CVT 3 p.m. EST  Lafeber Zoom webinar — 3/2: Bird Tour in Brooklyn Bridge Park with Heather C Wolf  Keep an eye out for those Brooklyn Quakers! 9-10:30 a.m. EST  –FREE Brooklyn, NY  – – 3/2,3: Long Island Pet Expo  Long Island Parrot Society will be represented  Brentwood, NY

From the parrot’s beak: we got fun and games

Is your parrot a prankster? See “Parrots Punking People” by “beak” editor in the Feb. 14 duxburypetgazette Article and photo by George Sommers

BIRD TOYS ARE A BILLION BUCKS BUSINESS: With rising prices and diminishing availability of many parrot species in the pet trade it may seem counterintuitive; but the bird toy business is booming to the tune of billions of dollars per a CoherentMI report, Bird Toys Market. Birds are (unfortunately and inaccurately) considered low maintenance pets leading to the demand for toys. Parrots and parakeets require mental stimulation to prevent boredom and behavioral issues. Pet owners are opting for toys made from natural and non-toxic materials.Wooden toys are dominant, owing to their eco-friendly nature and durability. Wooden toys offer a safe and non-toxic option for birds to chew, and their popularity is expected to drive market growth. Online distribution likely will hold a dominant position in the market, as it offers convenience and a wide range of products. However, offline channels still play a significant role for customers who prefer in-store shopping. There is a growing demand for interactive and puzzle-based bird toys. These toys provide mental stimulation for birds and help in improving their cognitive abilities. Manufacturers are responding to this trend by introducing new and innovative toy designs that challenge birds and stimulate their natural instincts.The humanization trend, where pets are treated as members of the family, also fuels the demand for a variety of toys to keep birds entertained and happy. Pet owners are willing to invest in high-quality toys that mimic the natural environment and provide sensory experiences for their feathered friends. Read complete market research report, “Bird Toys Market, By Product Type, By Bird Type, By Distribution Channel, By Region, and other Segment Forecast 2023-2030“, Published by CoherentMI. – From https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bird-toys-market-to-hit-us-2-16-billion-by-2030-report-by-coherentmi-302056273.html?fbclid=IwAR2KlZsE1NO8Yq1LYYRE3JaEzBTSmhSE0Oi83muH8h7fxnRh5CmyilfpYq8

WHAT’S ON TV THIS SUNDAY?: Debbie Goodrich and her parrot, Jesse, will appear on the premiere of “Stupid Pet Tricks” at 2 p.m. Pacific on a TBS, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet simulcast just prior to and just after some football game.

SPRING FORWARD: Winter may not be done with us yet, but New Hampshire Birds Of A Feather President Ray Schwartz is already laying the groundwork for a spring bird mart/expo on April 6

MACAW REPRESENTS DEATH in what appears to be a very strange movie called “Fantasy” starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Watch the trailer here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14682800/?fbclid=IwAR1nD6a3ofZgppDcOHQX3NSC4cja0GFmXITbjn8TLNUWrPMhbL3avKamRYc

CONSERVATION CONVERSATIONS: 25 recently reintroduced yellow-shouldered amazons in Aruba have been spotted by Aruba National Park Foundation‘s (FPNA) team munching on the local fruit. This is a great sign of them adjusting to their new wild surroundings. The YSAs were reintroduced to this month thanks to the efforts of FPNA, with support from World Parrot Trust, Stichting Vogelpark Avifauna and local organizations.The team is providing the birds with supplementary food while they adapt to their new surroundings and learn to forage and feed for themselves. – More info at https://www.parrots.org/ –projects —The Macaw Society team at Bosque Escondido has discovered the first macaw egg in one of their nest boxes in Tambopata, Peru. It typically takes at least 2 breeding seasons to find eggs in new nests placed in a fresh area (with no other macaw nests around). Well, there it is—during the second breeding season. Last breeding season, the nest boxes were being checked out, but this year, success ! This is a monumental milestone for the scarlet macaw population from the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Thanks to Papa Johns Pizza Costa Rica and Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center- zoave for their support in this collaborative effort. Congratulations Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center- zoave! #macaw#parrot#nestbox#conservation#scarletmacaw#nest#rescatewildlifecenter#themacawsociety — Over 90% of a southwest Ecuadorian cloud forest was wiped out for agriculture, but conservationists including Fundacion Jocotoco are looking to preserve what’s left.The Buenaventura Reserve hosts several species seen nowhere else, offering a haven for the endangered el oro parakeet among others. The restoration reinforces a natural corridor system. An area property owner is willing o sell his land to add to the reserve, but the Fundacion needs donations. To help, go to https://actions.eko.org/a/protect-ecuador-s-cloud-forest-and-10-of-the-world-s-bird-species?akid=130389.1757285.JmzlGP&amount=3&currency=USD&one_click=true&rd=1&recurring_default=only_one_off&source=fwd&t

PARTY GRAS: Parrots are a natural fit for the colorful celebrations in the typically warm settings where the quasi holiday is most fervently celebrated, like New Orleans and Brazil. Gaudy parrots are a popular choice for parade costumes and themes. In this clip, Blu the macaw and friends celebrate Mardi Gras in the 2011 animated “Rio”. Carnival Scene | RIO (2011) Movie CLIP HD – YouTube

VALENTINES/PARROTRIVIA: Bird hearts are proportionately bigger to body mass than those of mammals.This allows more blood to be pumped for the high metabolic rate needed for flight.

Harvard Hasty Pudding parade for Annette Benning participant can’t decide whether to fly, bike or walk home. – Photo by George Sommers

PSITTACINEMA DOUBLE FEATURE: Rock -a-too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcaCMDsk-pk Macaw puts on harness. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DDDvr6CMt0M

MAILBAG: Kashmir Csaky International Celebration of Birds Admins writes, contrary to a quote in last week’s “beak” : “CITES does not prohibit shipping birds. They list them according to the risk the species is at based on trade. A species can be highly endangered in the wild and not be listed. The Cape Parrot is a good example. The treaty is enforced based on the interpretation of each signatory. So, how England, France or Italy, etc. decide to interpret and enforce the decisions in their own countries may differ from how the US (USFW) interprets and enforces the treaty within the US. Even Appendix I species are traded internationally if they meet certain requirements such as being F2. The US is unlikely to grant most people a permit to trade in Appendix I species or ESA listed species.”

HOT DATES: ONGOING — 4/7: “WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL” 2/3: Coast to coast showings of the remastered documentary film listed here: upcoming-2023-24-screenings/?fbclid=IwAR3EvnviyJOk3H9sSbu8yNS5R6whz2raYa5dtmT1mj_XyLXG2D2 —2/6-16: Parrot Lover’s Cruise  leaves from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. They need to hire a “beak” corespondent for publicity coverage. — 2/9: BIOLOGICAL GAME OF THRONES: Robin Sullivan and guest Taylor Hains discuss the “magic” of genomes for a live discussion on the Leather Elves Facebook page at 7 p.m. ET — 2/9: Species Spotlight on the Patagonian Conure with Dr. Stephanie Lamb, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice) 2 p.m. EST  Lafeber Zoom webinar — 2/10: Rolling Meadows Bird Fair & Sale Rolling Meadows, IL — 2/11: HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL STAR: Debbie Goodrich and her parrot, Jesse, will skate into your heart at 2 p.m. Pacific on TBS, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet simulcast premiere. Watch “Stupid Pet Tricks” pre-Super Bowl and right after. — 2/12: RESCUE, REHAB RELEASE of the naturalized parrots of South Bay will be Dr. Theresa Micco’s topic at the South Bay Bird Society’s monthly meeting. Refreshments, a raffle and a drawing for members will also be featured. 7 p.m. Kiwanis building, 2515 Valley Dr., Hermosa Beach CA — FUN MUSIC HOUR with Roberta Fabiano presented by Long Island Parrot Society; LIVE on Frog Hollow Music FB page, replay available 5-6 ET NOTE: Last week’s show was cancelled. Sorry for any inconvenience. — 2/13 MARDI GRAS: Dust off that parrot costume — 2/14-17: 2024 IAATE (International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators) Annual Conference  Eugene, OR  $445 for non-members — 2/14: VALENTINES DAY — 2/16-19: Great Backyard Bird Count  Naturalized parrots my be in your ‘hood.– 2/16-18: Cajun Cockatiel Cluster  Houston, TX  — 2/16: Translating Parrot: Finding a Reputable Bird Breeder with Pamela Clark, IAABC Certified Parrot Behavior Consultant & retired CVT  3 P.M. EST  –  Lafeber Zoom webinar — 2/22: DEFEAT FEET PROBLEMS: Avian vet Dr. Kristin Sinclair addresses Connecticut’s The Parrot Club on Avian Foot Health. Learn about bird foot anatomy and adaptations, problems, treatment and prevention. Ever wonder how your bird stays on the perch while sleeping? Want to know what bumblefoot is? How can leg bands cause injury? What happens if one of your birds bites another’s foot? How are some toys dangerous to bird feet? What can you do to help your elderly birds perch without pain and falling? 7 p.m. ET. Contact info@theparrotclub.org for a Zoom link.

From the parrot’s beak: January ’21

‘Tiels are ‘toos, too. Not widely know outside of the hobby, but cockatiels are members in good standing of the cockatoo family. They can even interbreed with galah cockatoos producing offspring known as galatiels. – Photo by George Sommers

KAKAPO WOES: Like it isn’t bad enough the flightless kakapo came close to extinction, thanks to invasive predators introduced in New Zealand. The males’ strategy for picking up women is to dig a hole and yell aka “boom”; hoping it will set a female passerby’s heart aflutter. When, or more likely, if that doesn’t work out they’ll settle for humping a rock instead. “The males have been known to shag shearwaters to death. An Australian couple I met in Brazil worked for the Adelia Zoo. They went to New Zealand to do research on the kakapo. One night they awoke to screaming. One of the women in their group got up to go to the bathroom. She passed a boom on her way there. The male kakapo darted out and shagged her leg. Her pants were torn and her leg bloody,” adds the administrator of International Celebration of Birds.And there’s the oft repeated tale of how a wildlife photographer’s head got kakapo shagged. Maybe there should be a Plenty of Fish for birds.

GAZA WAR PARROT UPDATE: The macaw found and rescued by Israeli forces in Gaza is a green winged and “If I recall he said the bird was returned to his family in Israel,” says a source in the know.

SNOWBIRDS: As we crawl agonizingly slowly toward winter’s midpoint, some of us Snowbelters may feel a tinge of envy for parrots in their typically balmy native habitats. But not so fast – there are exceptions to the rule. Wild keas, for instance; share with skiers the snowy alpine mountains of New Zealand. It’s an uneasy relationship, as the mischievous and super smart keas will steal or chew up anything hooman related that isn’t nailed down along with some stuff that is. Quaker, or monk, parrots are native to South America – but escaped or released individuals have managed to colonize such unlikely locales as New York City, Chicago and parts of New England. Their anti-winter secret is their unique ability to construct huge, enclosed communal nests; great shelter against the harshest conditions. In their original habitat, they range up into the cooler mountains, which may have given them an additional leg up. The USA’s own once abundant now extinct Carolina parakeet ranged as far north as New York. Ringneck parrots have adapted as naturalized citizens of cooler areas; although they are more prevalent in Europe than in North America.

PARROTRIVIA: Sinbad Jr. and his Magic Belt was an animated ’65-’66 series featuring sidekick Salty, a parrot dressed in a sailor outfit. Most of the taped episodes are literally lost, with only a handful available.

TAKE YOUR PARROT TO THE LIBRARY DAY: OK, it’s really Take your Child to the Library Day in Mineola, NY but the public library has invited Long Island Parrot Society of New York, Inc. to attend the festivities on Feb. 3. Should be a whole lot of “shushing” going on. See HOT DATES for details.

The Puerto Rican Parrot: Rescued from Extinction

PIECE O’ CAKE: In 2023, “The Australian Women’s Weekly” turned 90, so they decided to celebrate with cake. Not just any cake but the winner of a Best Birthday Baker reader competition. And the winner is… after more than 1300 entries and much deliberation and debate: Elizabeth Kelly’s cockatoo cake. Inspired by the Rubber Ducky, Elizabeth’s winning cake is a delicious butter cake covered in lashings of fluffy buttercream and decorated with classic banana lollies to create the cockatoo’s crest, blackcurrant pastilles for the eyes and Mars Pods for the beak. – From https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipe/baking/cockatoo-cake/?fbclid=IwAR2Q8YYVMwOJ-CQEZFA3Z2bNMAmoNowTd9mn-oRmN2pZAHB4E4SLKsU9WaE

BONUS VIDEO: LoraKim is in the field in #Suriname now, working on protecting #parrots there with One Earth Conservation‘s partners in the indigenous village of Kalebaskreek. In this video she talks about this work and identifies the parrots you can hear in the background. #birds#conservation#biodiversity#animals#nature

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FIELD: Estero Llano Grande State Park‘s Quarterly Parrot Count update: Harlingen had a total of 8 red-crowned parrots. The McAllen roost had 55 red-crowned parrots that Friday evening with about 10 volunteers counting at the usual spots in south McAllen. I don’t know how Brownsville did on the 5th, but I was at Oliveira Park on January 3 and there were only two red-crowned parrots there! I did follow Parrot squawks to the Lopez Market at the dead-end of El Paso Road not far away though. Here in Weslaco? It was the most amazing show of parrots I think any of us had ever seen! There were so many parrots it was hard to count but Cindy counted 125 parrots on one telephone line, then multipled by the number of telephone lines, but even then the parrots underneath the dark lines were hard to see let alone count! Conservatively, we’re saying 500, but maybe we had Harlingen and McAllen parrots in our flock that night!!! And maybe we had many more than 500!!! Researchers estimate that there are currently around 900 red-crowned parrots living in the Rio Grande Valley, with four main roosts confirmed in the cities of Brownsville, Harlingen, Weslaco and McAllen– that’s about 250 per roost.

HOT DATES: FEB.; ONGOING: The Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) highlights Adopt a Rescued Bird Month! There are many wonderful birds in overflowing avian rescues. Share your stories – If you have adopted a rescue bird, share your success stories and let’s build a community of well-cared-for, thriving feathered friends! #AvianVeterinarian#AdoptARescuedBird#FeatheredConservation#SayNoToWildlifeTrafficking#aav#aavmember#avianvets#avianveterinarians#avianmedicine#associationofavianveterinarians#avianhealth#parrothealth#parrotsofinstagram#chickenhealth#chickensofinstagram#birdsofinstagram#birdhealth — CONT-20: NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Phoenix Landing “core” class on basic parrot care — 1/20,21: Meika’s Safehouse at the 2024 Mom, Pop & Tots Fair, featured at Woman’s Show at Edmonton EXPO Centre! Explore the world of birds, meet colorful characters, and learn about bird care. Click for fair details; tickets. #birdrehab#mompoptotsfair#birds#meikassafehouse — 1/20: Parrot Cognition and Behavior with Gabriella E. Smith  10-1 EST, Phoenix Landing Zoom webinar — 1/21,28: Bird Photography Workshop Series: 9-11 a.m. EST each day;  Pittsburgh, PA  at National Aviary  $299 for both sessions — 1/22: FUN MUSIC HOUR with Roberta Fabiano presented by Long Island Parrot Society. Live, 5-6 pm Frog Hollow FB page — 1/23: BINGO FOR THE BIRDS: To benefit Second Chance Bird Rescue -West Coast. 6-8 p.m. Rivers Place 787 NE Purcell, Bend, OR. https://fb.me/e/34Gy6S9YK — 1/26-28: Parrot Festival 2024: Houston, TX —World of Pets Expo: Timonium, MD. —1/27: Art of Flight Experience 10-11:30 a.m. PST  Escondido, CA  at Avian Behavior International  $110 — Hickory Bird Fair Hickory, NC — 1/28: Joliet Bird Fair and Sale  Joliet, IL –– 2/2-2/4: Lehigh Valley Pet Expo  Allentown, PA — 2/2: Phoenix Landing 2024 Wellness Retreat – A “Can’t Miss” for Bird Owners! with Dr. Susan Orosz and Ann Brooks  3 p.m. EST Lafeber  Zoom webinar — 2/3: TAKE YOUR PARROT TO THE LIBRARY DAY: Make that “Take Your Child to the Library Day”. However, The Mineola, NY public library invites Long Island Parrot Society of New York, Inc.to bring along some feathered compadres for the public to find out about parrot care, adoptions and volunteering. Suspect there’ll be a whole lot of “shushing” going on that day. 11-3. 195 Marcellus Rd, Mineola, NY