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Since 2004, we've been putting all our energies into developing one of the most effective pet adoption tools ever seen in Australia - the PetRescue website.

So far, we've helped save 14,043 animals!

We connect pets with loving homes, while also generating heaps of interest in foster caring, pet transporting and volunteering. So far it's really been a blast!

but now we're on death row...

We need just a few of our subscribers to contribute to keeping the site on the air. If you think PetRescue is worthwhile, or if you adopted a pet through the site and would like others to be able to do the same, we would really appreciate the support!

Also, donations over $20 will be sent our limited edition mini pin. Wear it to show your support of homeless pets!

If anyone can help out we would be incredibly grateful. If you aren't able to help us in this way, perhaps you could forward our plight everyone in your address book, in the hope it might reach other pet lovers.

Thanks for taking the time to help us, help the pets.

Cheers!

Shel, Vix & JB
The PetRescue Team

www.petrescue.com.au

• the importance of a well bird / pre purchase avian vet visit
• various diet needs depending on breed of parrot ( pellet / seed, fruit& veg, nuts etc )
• housing types ( portable inside/outside cages, aviaries, play gyms etc ) to suit individual species size.
• different diseases ( signs & symptoms )
• administering first aid / vet visit in emergency
• perches ( natural woods the best but many types on the market, good to have a selection to exercise parrot feet and wear down toenails )
• worming, wing & toenail clipping ( when needed )
• cleaning of parrot cages, hygiene & cheap effective use of newspaper for cage bottoms.
  

• feather plucking, biting, screeching & screaming ( possible reasons )
• importance of parrot toys, foot toys ( DIY, shop bought )
• the need for human interaction/ bonding
• household dangers
• wing clipping/ free flight ( a personal choice )
• foraging/ supply of different bird safe tree branches for chewing and pulling apart
• enrichment ( wood pieces, various foods, toy puzzles offering nut rewards etc.. )
• human interaction/ the need to be close/ playtime & bedtime
• always have some routine in a parrots day
• simple training techniques ( step up command etc.. )
  

I would like to personally say THANKYOU to Merran for organising this workshop (you have a big heart, its people like you who keep me going when times are tough) and also a big THANKYOU to Sandy Hume and Michelle Bainfield for their kind contribution to the day. The Parrot Rescue Centre is very grateful for the support that Merran has shown us, by organizing these workshops not only to help educate people on pet parrots but also by contributing the profits to help the PRC. The parrots where very happy after the donation was received from Merran. They where all given new toys, fresh sand in their aviaries and lots of nuts. They thought it was Christmas come early! I can personally tell you that they all had a big grin on their beaks and swarmed me with love to say thankyou. I cant say thankyou enough!

by Zarita Garozzo

Birds eye view…keeping an open mind toward unusual behaviours!

This month I would like to talk about the strange, bizarre and sometimes very annoying behaviours that our parrots and other animals adopt.

Naturally, if your parrot begins displaying an unusual behaviour – your first port of call is to consult with a credible Avian Vet to eliminate a possible health concern – but what happens if your Avian vet tells you that the bird is completely healthy and the behaviour is the result of some other habit or stimulus?

Just imagine if you were a parrot and did not have the capability to verbally tell someone how you feel, if something was scaring you or if there was something in your environment you did not like? What physical act or behaviour would you need to display to try to get your message across?

In my experience I have had a number of cases of birds “acting weird” simply because the human owner did not take the time to really look at the birds environment or daily routines. below are some examples that I have come across;

Case 1: A cockatoo suddenly took a disliking to his owners daughter. For quite sometime the owner felt that it was simply a jealousy issue. But the cockatoo had it’s own reasons. As I discovered during my consultation with the bird, apparently the owner had placed a photo frame on a window ledge to stop the bird from sitting there (& thus, chewing the wooden window frame!). Can you guess whose photo was in the frame that blocked the bird from sitting in his favourite spot? Yes, it was a photo of the owner’s daughter!

From the cockatoo’s perspective it was the daughter who was stopping him from sitting in his favourite place!

After our consultation the owner took away the photo frame and replaced it with an alternative method to stop the bird from getting to the window ledge. I am pleased to say that as soon as the photo was removed, the bird once again became friendly with the daughter!

This is a great story to exemplify how animals are incredibly “associative”. Meaning that they will use their extraordinary senses to associate certain images, objects & sounds with physical actions and behaviours!

And Yes, they see & understand images and photos….so it also pays to be aware of the images printed on the newspaper that many people use in the bottom of cages. If your bird suddenly acts scared or frightened after you have changed the paper, take a quick look at what is printed on the paper….it could be something that looks quite scary to your feathered friend!

Case 2: I recently met a parrot who was a habitual plucker. There were no medical reasons and the bird had plenty of chewing stimulus, a great diet, plenty of toys and was well loved. A number of years ago the parrot began to pluck away the feathers around his chest and neck area. Whilst I was connecting with the bird he repeatedly kept sending me a mental image of his male owner with a beard. I enquired about this and the owner explained that for many years he wore a beard, but started shaving it off a few years back. And as it happens the man informed me that it was a daily routine for the bird to accompany him into the bathroom whilst he shaved. The bird would play with some toys while his owner was shaving and then enjoy a daily light spray from the shower. From this one image and brief explanation I immediately understood that the bird was telling me that it was quite normal for he and his male companion to remove the hair/feathers around the neck every day – it was part of his grooming routine, because it was part of his owners grooming routine. Basically, the bird felt it necessary to “shave” just like his companion! He then went on to explain that his owner really hated shaving every day, so he felt it would make him feel better if they did it together!

These are just two examples of how our feathered friends view their environment and us. When animals have medically unexplainable behaviours I really encourage pet owners to stand back, get out of your own mind and try to see things from the animals perspective!

Nine times out of ten the most obvious and simple explanation is the correct one – it is usually us humans who over analyse and complicate things!

Leah Petersen is a well respected Animal Intuitive with a client base from around the world. She has successfully facilitated Animal Communication readings for many pets and their people. Her unique gift provides you with a glimpse into the sacred innermost thoughts and feelings of your beloved animal companions.

Consultations are conducted in person or via telephone.
Phone: (07) 5556-0335 or Mobile: 0427-157-156

If you believe your parrot has a physical ailment or illness please see a qualified Avian Veterinarian before seeking an Animal Communication session.
Investigate the physical, then explore the spiritual!
For On-Line bookings & further information please visit my web site at;

www.animalinstincts.com.au

Due to a mix up with the PRC email database, everyone will be sent the PRC screen saver again. I am sorry for any inconvenience but if you have already received the updated screen saver in 2007 then you will not have to download it again. The email with the screen saver attached will be sent out within a few week of receiving your E-Newsletter.

Thankyou for your support

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WINTER SALE is on now so please check out the PRC shop SPECIALS page!

In the last issue of PRC Newsletter we looked at the use of harnesses on parrots in response to a great question from one of our readers. In this issue we’ll look at the second part of that question that focuses in on the diets we provide to our birds. Let’s revisit Amy’s original question first...

From Amy...
I have three cockatiels – Pearl, Eddie and Sparky. I have read that you can buy bird’s harnesses. Do these hurt the bird? Also, my cockatiels don’t like fruits and vegetables but I would like them to eat it. How do I get them to eat fruits and vegetables?

The level of receptiveness to the food that we present to our parrots will vary greatly between species and individuals. There are many factors that influence whether a pet parrot readily accepts or rejects certain foods. Given the huge diversity in parrot species, and with an understanding that many species present feeding preferences that have evolved to fill a niche role within their natural ecosystem, we need to appreciate that one diet doesn’t fit all when it comes to pet parrots. Here’s a summary of concepts that might paint a picture for readers to consider when developing a diet plan for your pet parrot...

*Perhaps the key consideration when trying to achieve feeding diversity in a pet parrot is the level of motivation the parrot has to try foods other than those it has developed a preference for. If your pet parrot has as many seeds, nuts or other high fat and high palatability foods available in its enclosure during the day then it will likely have little motivation to feed on anything else. Parrots do not possess nutritional wisdom and will generally tend to feed on foods that are highly palatable. Unfortunately, these are often foods with high fat content. If all your parrot eats is seed then it will be necessary to limit the amount of seed it is offered gradually to increase its motivation to explore alternatives. Undertaking such a process is best achieved in consultation with an avian veterinarian or experienced consultant.

*Another key consideration is that feeding behaviours are developed through observational learning. Most pet parrots lack this opportunity through being kept in isolation from other parrots. I’ve seen great results in getting parrots to feed on a more varied diet through the process of flock feeding. You can duplicate this to a degree with pet parrots by integrating them into your feeding times and make it a shared session. Allow your parrot to explore the food that you are eating, provided that it is safe and sensible. Taking food from your mouth is a definite no-no. The bacterial flora of your mouth can potentially present problems to your bird. Always use common sense when sharing food with pet parrots. Keep it healthy, nutritious, fun and safe.

More food for thought...

*Consider the natural diet of the species you keep. A great way of gaining information on the `wild’ food preferences of parrots is to purchase a text such as Forshaw’s `Parrots of the World’ or Juniper’s `Parrots: A guide to the parrots of the world’. These reference books have notes on the natural feeding preferences of each parrot species in the world and a great addition to your parrot literature library.

*Once you have read up on what your parrot would normally feed on in the wild, you can start thinking about how this knowledge might shape the type and presentation of foods you would like to integrate into its diet. Sometimes it might mean a re-evaluation of our expectations when trying to get parrots to feed on food items that are extremely foreign in form to what that species would naturally feed on. I can use my own Glossy Black Cockatoo as an example. This species feeds from the seeds of a single genus of tree in the wild. This is an extreme example of niche feeding preference in a wild animal. It’s not surprising to me that I can only get him to eat three or four different food types in captivity. Compared to my other birds, he exhibits the least expressive behavioural tendency to try new foods. Of course, we have to feed unnatural foods! It just might mean thinking creatively about how these foods are presented so that we increase interest in trying them. There are few parrots that feed on the sorts of vegetables we buy at the supermarket and try feeding our pets. A good example here is the feeding of legumes such as sweet potato. We know that, nutritionally, some sweet potato in the diet might be good for the parrot. But, would an arboreal parrot such as a Conure or Eclectus naturally come to the ground and dig up root vegetables though? In it’s raw form it might not be readily accepted. This is where we might consider lightly boiling some of the vegetables we offer to change the consistency to more closely align with the softer texture of natural dietary foods. Don’t boil them for too long, as the boiling process degrades the vitamins in the vegetables. Just long enough to soften them up to improve palatability. I also take advantage of premixed frozen vegetables and thaw these out with warm water each morning and feed them soft to my birds. They eagerly devour the pea kernels and chew on the juicy corn kernels.

*The natural diet of a parrot also offers insights into how their natural behaviours and physical attributes have evolved to cater for their diet preference. Feeding an almond in shell to a Lorikeet isn’t likely to be successful. Providing nectar-drenched flowers to a Black Cockatoo isn’t going to get it excited either. These are extreme examples, but it’s amazing how much food is offered to pet parrots that they either lack the dexterity to feed on properly or the natural interest in to even get started!

*Knowledge of the wild feeding habits may also influence food presentation. Using our Cockatiel as an example – these guys are largely terrestrial feeders that come to the ground to feed on seeding grasses. Providing a ground foraging tray that is lined with a small amount of millet, mixed with soft vegetables, might provide the sort of stimulus to initiate foraging, exploration and feeding behaviours that result in improved food consumption. On a different level, keepers of lorikeets should consider hanging fruit chunks on skewers and hide these amongst leafy branches as wonderful feeding enrichment for this species group. If you’ve taken the time to watch lorikeets feed in the wild, hanging from the slightest of branches to reach that elusive pollen-laden flower really challenges us to reconsider the convenience of the `smorgasbord’ line-up of easily accessed bowls that most pet parrots look at each day.

Back to our specific focus species – the Cockatiel. Unfortunately, Cockatiels represent a fairly narrow natural feeding preference that is focused mainly on grass seeds in the wild. I’ve seen few Cockatiels that accepted a diverse diet. The best approach is to cater for them by ensuring that their base diet is a quality formulated pellet. This will satisfy the basic nutrition requirements of the bird. You can then offer small amounts of small seeds (budgerigar mix) and soft vegetables as feeding enrichment. Fruit is of little importance in the diet of a Cockatiel. Formulated pellets, fresh vegetables and seeds should be sufficient. When working out seed intake, ensure that it is not excessive. Cockatiels tend to be kept in grossly undersized pet cages that offer no access to ground foraging and often a lack of exercise and flight space to assist with the burning up of high fat, seed based diets. Consider this and provide an enclosure for Cockatiels that caters for setting up an environment that will encourage exploration and foraging. This will then assist you in developing creative feeding strategies. Many parrot species have evolved to survive on a diet that isn’t nearly as nutrient dense as we try to provide our pet parrots. Personally, I don’t think a Cockatiel `needs’ to be feeding on a dozen different types of foods – just because a pet Sun Conure or Eclectus might do! I’d be happy if my Cockatiel fed on formulated pellets, had access to small parrot seeds for enrichment and ate 2 or 3 vegetable varieties regularly. Anything on top of that would be a bonus!

Guys – We’ve got one more workshop series lined up this year at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the weekend of September 29 and 30. Why not make one of the best investments in increasing your knowledge and understanding of the care and behaviour management of parrots by coming along! Contact me via jim@pbec.com.au for a registration form and more details.

The Parrot Rescue Centre spends a lot of time and resources in doing what is best for the parrots by ensuring the birds are regularly vet checked, given fresh food, enrichment, clean aviaries and cages, providing natural habitats and by building larger enclosures.

The PRC is not a large organisation, it is privately owned and managed by Zarita and Family. To help fund the PRC Zarita has created the PRC shop and bird boarding services and also relies on the generosity of the public. The PRC does not receive any financial assistance from the government or other large organisations.

We need your help and support to continue to provide a high standard of care to the PRC parrots.

Thankyou for your support.

Thankyou for your kindness.

Yours truly,

Zarita Garozzo

Canberra Companion Parrot Boarding Service - Story of the month

Merran Douglas has won Story of the month!

Canberra Companion Parrot Boarding Service

Hello to all you parrot lovers out there. Since I was a young child my love for all creatures great & small have been enjoyed in many ways. I have grown up with domestic pets ranging from dogs, cats, wildlife rehabilitation and voluntary work with a few animal welfare organizations, vet practices& zoo. Horse ownership following equine pursuits where a passion for a good many years in my early 20's/30's, seeing me retire from riding in my mid 30's. The past 10 years have been taken up with Companion Parrot keeping, gaining knowledge and experience through education, the internet, books, vet advice and my own HR'd feathered flock.

In my younger days I lived, was educated and travelled extensively overseas due to my father's work. My husband and I now share our home with a very spoilt dog ( I like to call him my four legged child ), a HR'd Sulphur Crested Cockatoo called "Murphy", two male Alexandrine "Jazz" & "Sherman" and until recently a male Eclectus "Paddy Boy". I must not forget to mention the cockatiels, such wonderful little friends with fantastic mimicry.

I was very much taken with the "Parrot Rescue Centre" in Qld, the dedication of the couple who take in abused, neglected and surrendered parrot breeds, offering rehabilitation, in some cases rehoming or a forever sanctuary lifestyle. I have organized two Companion Parrot Workshops in the ACT with the proceeds going to the Parrot Centre to assist with the ongoing costs. I can now offer a Companion Parrot Boarding Service where your parrot will be well looked after with a good breed specific diet, fruit & veg and nuts, own safe portable aviary/home with daily out of cage time, playtime with foot toys, mood chews for busy beaks, enrichment, human interaction, mist shower for plumage preening, hygienic cages. Leave your treasured bird with me and enjoy your holiday.

cost: $15.00 day ( some boarding funds donated to the "Parrot Rescue Centre" )

e-mail micmezdouglas@gmail.com for further details. T'you!

Kind regards Merran Douglas

How to enter the monthly draw to win a PRC recommended parrot toy and have your birdies picture and story part of the PRC Newsletter.

· Fill out the Parrot Rescue Centre Membership Form
· Write a story about your feathered friends, weather emotional, funny or silly
· Send it to zarita@parrotrescuecentre.com
· Include a photo of your bird as an attachment on the email.

It’s that easy! We look forward to hearing your stories!

Written by Peter Wilson
BVSc MACVSc
Avian and Reptile Practitioner

To contact Peter Wilson Click Here

This article will be published in Paws and Claws Journal September/October 2007

Leave your precious birds with understanding and knowledgeable parrot carers.

We provide quality care for your pet birds including clean housing, healthy diet, enrichment, interaction and training (extra fee).

Your bird will not have time to be bored or sad, so stress and frustration will be less likely.

All funds made from bird boarding are directly used by the Parrot Rescue Centre to help with caring and maintaining the sanctuary birds environment.

• Tested negative to Psittacosis
• Tested negative to PBFD
• Faeces Tested negative for worms and bacteria
• Examination suggests that the bird is clinically free of illness or infection and is considered in sound physical health by the examining veterinarian

For more information please contact:

Zarita Garozzo

Ph: 07 5569 2840

Email: zarita@parrotrescuecentre.com

This advertising section is for Businesses who directly support the PRC in some way, either through free or discounted magazine advertising, services and donations etc.

The PRC is very grateful for your support. THANKYOU

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