World's Ugliest Bird found in Broward County, Florida, where some pretty ugly things happen as regular daily occurances and the mood's getting uglier by the day. Oscar is the official mascot of the Humane Society of Broward County.
Now "Oscar," , aka, the "world's ugliest bird," is finally getting some notice after 12 years. Why not? Why shouldn't THE world's ugliest bird living in the nation's county with some of the ugliest attitudes not have its "Ugly Day" under the Florida Sunshine? Click and look: Caution, this might be rough for eyes used to only seeing gorgeous chics in Ft. Lauderdale.
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?s=rss&storyid=78445
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Okay guys, feeding time!
I just checked my email late this Easter evening. Church, family dinner, packing our car to take our youngest daughter to Boston this afternoon had to come before blogging. (What a word! Sure sounds like something the Vandals and Visigoths loved to do when they weren't plundering Rome.)
In any event, I came across this email from Nathalie Roberts of Parrotsecrets.com about how and what to feed your parrot. Since Ms. Roberts was kind enough to fill me in, the least I could do is to "link" her info, no, not like sausages, to this blog (oh, please, blog n' sausages, what next, blogsauges?) No thanks, I'll stick to the "electronic" kind of linking.
No doubt Nathalie won't mind if I share n' link this with you, however many millions of you "out there" with hungry birds to feed.
But why is it that my wife's birds keep mistaking my fingers for links, the edible kind?
Happy Easter Season!
In any event, I came across this email from Nathalie Roberts of Parrotsecrets.com about how and what to feed your parrot. Since Ms. Roberts was kind enough to fill me in, the least I could do is to "link" her info, no, not like sausages, to this blog (oh, please, blog n' sausages, what next, blogsauges?) No thanks, I'll stick to the "electronic" kind of linking.
No doubt Nathalie won't mind if I share n' link this with you, however many millions of you "out there" with hungry birds to feed.
But why is it that my wife's birds keep mistaking my fingers for links, the edible kind?
Happy Easter Season!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
New feathery family member!
Being an exotic bird in a jungle can be tough enough for those living in the wild and can handle the stress of such settings of high drama and constant struggles for survival. After all, Macaws and other parrots who might get too close to the ground have to deal with venomous snakes, poachers, and the big cats.
If they're lucky, domesticated parrots, hatched, bred and sold here in the American suburban home jungle, don't have to face nearly as much constant trauma and stress. (Have I slung enough already?) BUT, they do have to deal with fierce, and often as klutzy as they are fierce, American Tabby Tiger cats. Bad characters if they're not fed on time, have too much rest during the day, and nobody's around to watch the metallic new home for our new parakeet, "Mellow Yellow" which Ruth picked up at the Crystal Parrot , where we've bought all our FIDS. The name stays for now, but who knows?
Maybe the bird won't want to stay thanks to an encounter she had with Tigger our Terrible Tom Tiger. He's less than a year old so there's plenty of opportunities for mischief. He took one late this afternoon when he climbed on top of the small wooden cabinet where MY's cage is located. Unfortunately, the cat's getting heavier and the cage is pretty light.
Crash, bam, boom, bang and one tiger scurrying out of harm's way: trouble with Ruth and Meagan. Not a good career move for a young cat. Certainly this dude isn't about to make any brownie points or gray and white stripes with my wife and daughter, even though Meagan found him with her boyfriend on a country road north of here. He was called "Lucky" then. Well, after what he pulled, he's lucky he didn't get more than a stern reprimand (a few yells of exasperation) and MY is indeed lucky she got through all this with nary a scratch or loose feather.
Welcome home Mellow Yellow.
If they're lucky, domesticated parrots, hatched, bred and sold here in the American suburban home jungle, don't have to face nearly as much constant trauma and stress. (Have I slung enough already?) BUT, they do have to deal with fierce, and often as klutzy as they are fierce, American Tabby Tiger cats. Bad characters if they're not fed on time, have too much rest during the day, and nobody's around to watch the metallic new home for our new parakeet, "Mellow Yellow" which Ruth picked up at the Crystal Parrot , where we've bought all our FIDS. The name stays for now, but who knows?
Maybe the bird won't want to stay thanks to an encounter she had with Tigger our Terrible Tom Tiger. He's less than a year old so there's plenty of opportunities for mischief. He took one late this afternoon when he climbed on top of the small wooden cabinet where MY's cage is located. Unfortunately, the cat's getting heavier and the cage is pretty light.
Crash, bam, boom, bang and one tiger scurrying out of harm's way: trouble with Ruth and Meagan. Not a good career move for a young cat. Certainly this dude isn't about to make any brownie points or gray and white stripes with my wife and daughter, even though Meagan found him with her boyfriend on a country road north of here. He was called "Lucky" then. Well, after what he pulled, he's lucky he didn't get more than a stern reprimand (a few yells of exasperation) and MY is indeed lucky she got through all this with nary a scratch or loose feather.
Welcome home Mellow Yellow.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Proposedl Missouri legislation (HB 1847) will hurt birds!
I'm not sure how many noticed in the most recent issue of Bird Talk a short story about a Missouri state rep's proposed legislation that would effectively outlaw owning a parrot, canary, etc. in the Show Me state. In fairness to Beth Low, beth.low@house.mo.gov the youngest elected representative, (a/o 2006, according to a University of Missouri's Legislative Update Newsletter update.), she's young and has a lot to learn. (And I think she will because she otherwise appears to be very bright. None of bat 1.000.) She is the chief sponsor of this bill (along with Republican Senator Tom Dempsey of across-state, St. Charles. (Thankfully the senate's version seems to have stricken the part about owning parrots and other domesticated exotic birds.) tom.dempsey@senate.mo.gov
I've been a political junkie nearly all my life and participated in several campaigns, not to mention covered some as well as a reporter/columnist. And let's face it, I think Low's political gyroscope is way off kilter on this matter. Thankfully, her legislative proposal, House Bill 1847 hasn't even been placed on the House calendar, meaning, it looks like it may not fly at all. (Okay, bad pun, but it's Saturday.) According to Bird Talk, the bill was ostensibly written to help "protect wild animals, such as large cats." In the state Senate, however, things appeared to have gone a little further according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Committee.
I have no problem with that because in setting up stringent guidlines concerning the big cats people import here as pets of all things, protects not only the cats, but people as well. I love the two tigers in my life, but they're Tabbys.
I could be wrong, but isn't any matter dealing with the large cats something that should fall under Federal control?
Bird Talk also says her bill is languishing due to "partisan politics." Could it also be due to letting this turkey of a bill die of a peaceful death for a simpler reason: commonsense? I'm sure there Missouri has its share of parrot and other companion bird owning Democrats who'll be damned before they have to face their family and tell them their beloved birds have to go because of a bill that was passed in their workplace banning private ownership of parrots, and other domesticated exotic birds.
In Massachusetts, where political nitpicking and overregulation are pastimes for some people who can't grasp enough power in their hands, any passage of Low's House Bill 1847 (Sen. Bill 1032)) just might give the wrong people the wrong ideas, resulting in the wrong way of dealing with really wild animals. Before she goes any further with this bill, Low, who sits on the "Appropriations/Health, Mental Health and Social Services; Higher Education; Children and Families; and Elections Committees" would profit greatly by calling on Irene Pepperberg who would undoubtedly give her a wealth of information concerning how much we, especially parents with children struggling with learning disabilities, stand to benefit from companion birds.
Where would the future Alexes then come from? (I forgot: this legislation exempts research facilities. That wouldn't have helped either Alex nor Dr. Pepperberg since their encounter was indeed by chance when she bought him a store that'd effectively be run out of business (at least in Missouri) thanks to Low's proposed law.
Low is a graduate of the University of Missouri/Columbia, and needless to add, a big advocate for public higher education. I'm with her all the way on that and the following: “Training the next generation of professionals in many areas is critical for a positive economic growth pattern and for our national security,” she said. “Without engineers, veterinarians, doctors, and nurses, we not only wouldn’t be economically successful, but we wouldn’t be a safe place to live.” (Source: Univ. of Missouri Government Relations UM Legislative Update Newsletter )
Well! Without pets, and pet stores, private breeders, et al, wouldn’t veternarians find themselves in an “unsafe” occupation and worthy of placing on an endangered occupational species list?
A lot of hearts have been broken throughout history (not to mention lives lost) because people didn't stand up when they had the opportunity -- and moral duty -- to do so. Your birds can't walk the halls of our State Houses and U.S. Capitol. And our birds can't blog or lobby over the phone lines like we can. We have to do their talking (this time) for them.
Let's get working and behind those keyboards and on the phones and urge Missouri to live up to its nickname and show us that commonsense can be reached after all.
I've been a political junkie nearly all my life and participated in several campaigns, not to mention covered some as well as a reporter/columnist. And let's face it, I think Low's political gyroscope is way off kilter on this matter. Thankfully, her legislative proposal, House Bill 1847 hasn't even been placed on the House calendar, meaning, it looks like it may not fly at all. (Okay, bad pun, but it's Saturday.) According to Bird Talk, the bill was ostensibly written to help "protect wild animals, such as large cats." In the state Senate, however, things appeared to have gone a little further according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Committee.
I have no problem with that because in setting up stringent guidlines concerning the big cats people import here as pets of all things, protects not only the cats, but people as well. I love the two tigers in my life, but they're Tabbys.
I could be wrong, but isn't any matter dealing with the large cats something that should fall under Federal control?
Bird Talk also says her bill is languishing due to "partisan politics." Could it also be due to letting this turkey of a bill die of a peaceful death for a simpler reason: commonsense? I'm sure there Missouri has its share of parrot and other companion bird owning Democrats who'll be damned before they have to face their family and tell them their beloved birds have to go because of a bill that was passed in their workplace banning private ownership of parrots, and other domesticated exotic birds.
In Massachusetts, where political nitpicking and overregulation are pastimes for some people who can't grasp enough power in their hands, any passage of Low's House Bill 1847 (Sen. Bill 1032)) just might give the wrong people the wrong ideas, resulting in the wrong way of dealing with really wild animals. Before she goes any further with this bill, Low, who sits on the "Appropriations/Health, Mental Health and Social Services; Higher Education; Children and Families; and Elections Committees" would profit greatly by calling on Irene Pepperberg who would undoubtedly give her a wealth of information concerning how much we, especially parents with children struggling with learning disabilities, stand to benefit from companion birds.
Where would the future Alexes then come from? (I forgot: this legislation exempts research facilities. That wouldn't have helped either Alex nor Dr. Pepperberg since their encounter was indeed by chance when she bought him a store that'd effectively be run out of business (at least in Missouri) thanks to Low's proposed law.
Low is a graduate of the University of Missouri/Columbia, and needless to add, a big advocate for public higher education. I'm with her all the way on that and the following: “Training the next generation of professionals in many areas is critical for a positive economic growth pattern and for our national security,” she said. “Without engineers, veterinarians, doctors, and nurses, we not only wouldn’t be economically successful, but we wouldn’t be a safe place to live.” (Source: Univ. of Missouri Government Relations UM Legislative Update Newsletter )
Well! Without pets, and pet stores, private breeders, et al, wouldn’t veternarians find themselves in an “unsafe” occupation and worthy of placing on an endangered occupational species list?
A lot of hearts have been broken throughout history (not to mention lives lost) because people didn't stand up when they had the opportunity -- and moral duty -- to do so. Your birds can't walk the halls of our State Houses and U.S. Capitol. And our birds can't blog or lobby over the phone lines like we can. We have to do their talking (this time) for them.
Let's get working and behind those keyboards and on the phones and urge Missouri to live up to its nickname and show us that commonsense can be reached after all.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Turning out lights helps birds avoid buildings?
Help: I'm fully aware of my inadequate knowledge of aviary facts, etc., but a recent February posting on the Audubon Society's action page has me stumped. I'll let you be the judge. No doubt Audubon knows why, but I'm still at loss to know exactly what they're getting at:
"Go Dark for Birds and Global WarmingEarth Hour, which originated last year in Sydney, Australia, is now a global event. For one hour on Saturday, March 29, everyone is asked to turn off their lights from 8-9PM local time. Audubon is already doing its part through our Lights Out programs. Lights Out encourages building owners to turn off their lights to help birds avoid building collisions during migration, which account for millions of birds deaths each year. Saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution responsible for global warming is icing on the cake."
Had thoughts of asking our flock but being indoor parrots, they had no immediate thoughts to pass along: "Sorry, mon ... we're too busy making sure you don't crash into our bungee toys." They seemed more interested in making the best use of their licenses to chill.
Wise guys.
"Go Dark for Birds and Global WarmingEarth Hour, which originated last year in Sydney, Australia, is now a global event. For one hour on Saturday, March 29, everyone is asked to turn off their lights from 8-9PM local time. Audubon is already doing its part through our Lights Out programs. Lights Out encourages building owners to turn off their lights to help birds avoid building collisions during migration, which account for millions of birds deaths each year. Saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution responsible for global warming is icing on the cake."
Had thoughts of asking our flock but being indoor parrots, they had no immediate thoughts to pass along: "Sorry, mon ... we're too busy making sure you don't crash into our bungee toys." They seemed more interested in making the best use of their licenses to chill.
Wise guys.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Loving animals is the easy part, Really loving them with a responsible mindset is what counts!
(This response was originally posted within the past hour to a general article about pets in Information World.)
Unquestionably people are becoming more reliant upon pets for companionship, entertainment and security. What concerns me greatly is the rising number of people who are not mature or fully capable of undertaking the responsibilities of caring for their pets.
This is particularly true for people who buy exotic birds and all of a sudden "discover" how loud and messy they can be. The inevitable end result of this is the rising number of birds having to be put down because we don't have enough shelters that don't euthanize and those that do are simply overwhelmed.
This poses another danger: since treaties have made it almost impossible to buy an exotic bird such as a macaw from eggs taken directly from its ancestral breeding grounds in Central and South America, the increased number of mismatched bird purchases/adoptions is bound to result in higher numbers of wholly unnecessary euthanizations of these beauties, and the resulting skyrocketing in prices for the even rarer numbers of birds and recently hatched babies available.
We sure love our animals, but let's not love them into early graves or out of affordable price ranges for those who would probably give them loving homes for many years to come.
Unquestionably people are becoming more reliant upon pets for companionship, entertainment and security. What concerns me greatly is the rising number of people who are not mature or fully capable of undertaking the responsibilities of caring for their pets.
This is particularly true for people who buy exotic birds and all of a sudden "discover" how loud and messy they can be. The inevitable end result of this is the rising number of birds having to be put down because we don't have enough shelters that don't euthanize and those that do are simply overwhelmed.
This poses another danger: since treaties have made it almost impossible to buy an exotic bird such as a macaw from eggs taken directly from its ancestral breeding grounds in Central and South America, the increased number of mismatched bird purchases/adoptions is bound to result in higher numbers of wholly unnecessary euthanizations of these beauties, and the resulting skyrocketing in prices for the even rarer numbers of birds and recently hatched babies available.
We sure love our animals, but let's not love them into early graves or out of affordable price ranges for those who would probably give them loving homes for many years to come.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Human's brain finally meets Alex's brain
It took me a while and it's late to get into today's or early tomorrow's entry, but let's just say I finally got around to reading about Alex the Grey Senegal . To be honest, I'd been playing chicken. (Okay, bad pun.) Anyway, I was playing chicken because of the emotional aspect of Alex's story and his long partnership with his owner, the famed researcher Irene M. Pepperberg, Ph.D. of Brandeis University. One can only imagine the searing pain felt by Dr. Pepperberg upon finding him dead in his cage one September day last year. We felt a kick in the chest over the loss of our first bird, Skyler, aka "Tweedles," and it wasn't easy; especially for Ruth. I can only guess how painfull it must have been for Irene Pepperberg and her staff.
I'm share this right now because of the natural wariness I'm feeling about jumping in, knowing full well how painful it'll eventually be for either Ruth, myself and/or our birds one day. But that's life. We have to move forward on faith, knowing that while somethings can't be replaced, and perhaps it's a fool's errand to think we can. But that shouldn't stop us from enjoying life and giving others hope that life does indeed go on. To paraphrase Garth Brooks' song The Dance," if we don't risk the risk of pain, we'd never enjoy the dances we have with our birds and so many birds wouldn't have so many loving owners and homes.
Time to rest my wings n' feathers as well.
I'm share this right now because of the natural wariness I'm feeling about jumping in, knowing full well how painful it'll eventually be for either Ruth, myself and/or our birds one day. But that's life. We have to move forward on faith, knowing that while somethings can't be replaced, and perhaps it's a fool's errand to think we can. But that shouldn't stop us from enjoying life and giving others hope that life does indeed go on. To paraphrase Garth Brooks' song The Dance," if we don't risk the risk of pain, we'd never enjoy the dances we have with our birds and so many birds wouldn't have so many loving owners and homes.
Time to rest my wings n' feathers as well.
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