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June
- July 2007 |
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| "Many
have forgotten this truth but you must not forget it. |
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| We remain responsible forever for what we have tamed" (Antoine de Saint-Exupeny) |
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| COMPANION PARROT UPDATE- By Jim McKendry | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Just a quick message to everyone to let you all know about some great education opportunities coming up for companion parrot owners... First up: Don’t miss the next gathering of all parrot breeders, keepers and companion owners at the Parrot Society of Australia meeting. At this meeting I will be presenting two multimedia presentations. I would like to really encourage pet parrot owners to come along, as the Parrot Society of Australia is keen to start a new initiative with a dedicated companion parrot forum at each of their meetings (now only 4 times per year!). It’s up to you guys – if you don’t come then it will be obvious that there isn’t a need out there for making the effort to bring together pet parrot owners and provide a special forum for them. Your support will see this great initiative continue and hopefully we can grow the concept over the next few years. I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Gary Colvin on working with Shane Hancock and the PSOA committee to get this initiative going – just brilliant. Parrot Society Meeting Presentation Topics...
Presentation 2:
Guest Speaker Lecture: 7:30pm – 8:30pm Date: Saturday
June 23rd If you intend to have dinner at the venue it is essential that you call Stewart Williamson on 07-3289 2523 a.s.a.p. to book your place. Dinner is $25 – payable on the night. If you would like more information about this event then please e-mail me. I am happy to answer any questions :-) The next event that will really appeal to all owners, at all experience levels, of companion parrots are the Companion Parrot Workshops to be held at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday June 30th (Level 1) and Sunday July 1st (Level 2). This is the only dedicated series of workshops covering all aspects of husbandry, behaviour and health for companion parrots being held in Australia. The depth and coverage of concepts is incredible and I encourage all companion parrot owners to attend these workshops as an essential step on the educational pathway as a parrot owner. The Level 2 workshop also features two modules on avian health and nutrition presented by Dr. Bob Doneley from West Toowoomba Veterinary Surgery. These workshops appeal to a broad audience that should include veterinary nurses, pet store staff, animal care volunteers and anybody considering owning a parrot as a companion animal. Please be aware that we have limited spaces for these workshops. Group size is capped at 15 students. Book early to ensure you do not miss out. Details are as follows...
Comapanion Parrot Workshop Level 2 Full workshop scope and sequence details and a booking form are available from http://www.pbec.com.au/education/workshops.htm I really look forward to seeing some of you there! Look forward to seeing some of you at these events. If you intend going to any of these events please drop me an e-mail and let me know! Introduce your self and tell me about your life with a parrot as a pet – I’d love to hear your story. In the meantime, if you are having issues with the behaviour or general environmental care of your pet parrot then send me an e-mail and hopefully we can get together for a consult to develop some strategies that might help you and your parrot. Kind Regards, Jim McKendry BAppSc BTeach |
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| Parrot Society of Australia Meeting | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Don't forget to attend the Parrot Society of Australia Meeting Date: 23rd of June Venue: Acacia Ridge Hotel 1260 Beaudesert Rd, Acacia Ridge, Brisbane Time: Doors open 4pm- complementary tea and coffee available *To assist with dinner catering, it is essential that you phone Stewart by 15th June to book your dinner reservation - $25 Cash payment to be made on night.
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The Parrot Rescue Centre will be attending this event and will be holding a stand selling Toys and Accessories from the PRC Shop, please contact us by email or phone if there is something particular that you would like us to bring, as the whole toy and accessory range will not be available on the night.
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| Canberra Workshop | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The second annual Canberra Companion Parrot Workshop is being held on Sunday 8th July 2007 please contact Merran Douglas at micmezdouglas@gmail.com for further details. There will be a Behaviour Consultant and Avian Vet speaking at the workshop. Merran and Participants kindly donate all proceeds after costs to The Parrot Rescue Centre to assist with the maintenance of the parrots at the PRC. Please show your support by attending this exciting workshop experience.
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| ANIMAL COMMUNICATION- By Leah Peterson | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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In actual fact there is no difference at all. Whether we call our selves an Animal Communicator, Pet Psychic, Animal Intuitive or “Animal whisperer” we all do the same thing. We connect with animals at a soul level and communicate their needs, wants, desires, thoughts and feelings.
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| The word “Psychic” carries a lot of negative stereotyping. It brings up images of scarves, hoop earrings, crystal balls and fortune telling. These images are far from the reality of what we do. To help define and understand psychic abilities the first step is to look at the word “psychic”. It is derived from the Greek term “psyche”, which means “of the soul”. There is nothing about predicting the future or telling of fortunes. So to be psychic is simply to be open to connecting with the soul. We all have some degree of psychic or intuitive ability, however some of us have a clearer awareness of it. Just like we can all walk or run, but not all of us are Olympic athletes! So, don’t shy away from the terminology used
such as psychic, clairvoyance, mediums or intuition. Keep an open
mind and understand that it is not new agey hocus pocus, but it
is something that is inherently natural to all of us, including
our animal companions! |
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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. If you believe your parrot has a physical ailment
or illness please see a qualified Avian Veterinarian before seeking
an Animal Communication session.
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| New PRC Toys and Accessories | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Some of the new Parrot Toys and Accessories are listed below, there are heaps more so please check out the PRC Shop. |
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Please Click here for our full product range.
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And
Lots Lots more...........Click here |
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| Parrot Behaviour & Enrichment Consultations | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| FAQ? | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amy's Question: 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? - This question will be answered in the August/September issue. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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DVD REVIEW |
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Captive Foraging: The Next Best thing to being Free Foraging behaviour accounts for the most significant time investment of the behaviours that we can observe in the daily lives of birds in the wild. In captivity, however, the conditions that many birds are kept in fail to cater for the expression of natural foraging behaviours. The result of this disparity is often an increase in abnormal or problem behaviours. The most devastating of these abnormal behaviours is feather picking. This new DVD, from US avian veterinarian M Scott Echols, examines the foraging behaviours of birds and offers some useful ideas to improve the foraging opportunities for birds kept in captivity. The concept is inspired by the need to address feather picking problems in pet parrots |
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The role model for the DVD is a severely feather picked Umbrella Cockatoo, Missy. Throughout the DVD, Missy demonstrates how artificial foraging opportunities can provide a parrot with stimulation and a successful diversion from behavioural picking to actively engaging with its environment. The DVD comprises four chapters. Chapter One provides an overview of the wild foraging behaviours of birds. While the footage of common urban species provides a certain level of interest, this section of the DVD would have been greatly enhanced by footage of a range of parrot species in the wild, highlighting the different foraging strategies employed by different species groups. It was extremely interesting, however, to see the difference in interactivity with the environment between two hand raised macaws with different degrees of early socialisation experience. The opening chapter highlights that captive foraging reduces some abnormal behaviours, increases activity and improves quality of life- but is not a 'cure all'. The remainder of the DVD focuses on the concept of a 'foraging tree' providing clear visuals that the viewer can use to create their own version at home or in an aviary environment. Sections on setting up a foraging tree and creating both simple and advanced foraging toys offer plenty of ideas and food for thought for the pet parrot owner. While the focus is clearly on applying the foraging- tree concept to relieve picking behaviours, such experiences should be provided for all pet parrots and will be just as important in preventing other behavioural abnormalities as reducing them once established. I strongly recommend that if you are managing a pet parrot with a feather picking problem or would like some visual ideas to make your pet parrot’s indoor environment more stimulating, then this DVD will provide some very useful insights. All avian veterinary clinics should also have a copy available for clients dealing with feather destructive behaviours. Reviewed by Jim McKendry (Parrot Behaviour and Enrichment
Consultant) |
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This
DVD is available from the PRC SHOP under ACCESSORIES please Click
here to purchase. |
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| (Reproduced
with permission from ABK Publications/ Australian BirdKeeper Magazine
Volume 20 Issue 7 © 2007.) |
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| Support the Parrot Rescue Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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.
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| PLEASE HELP NOW | |||||||||||||||||||||||
How
you can help: |
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| 1. Purchase TOYS and ACCESSORIES from the PRC shop click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. Make a MONETARY donation click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. SPONSER a PRC Parrot through Virtual Adoption click here | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alternatively contact Zarita directly
by mail or phone on 0755692840 to discuss Parrot Rescue Centre
Po Box 797 Mudgeeraba, QLD 4213 Thankyou for your kindness. Yours truly, Zarita Garozzo |
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Member
Moments -
Story
of the month |
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KAKA and KIKI STORY! Ahmad has won best story for the month of June/July! |
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Hello, I'm sorry to harass you guys like this, I need to give you a bit of background on my current situation - If you haven't had a coffee yet, now's probably a good time We owned a female Galah (KiKi) for 18 years, she was the same age as my younger brother. She was never confined to her cage for extended periods, and we'd like to believe that she was treated far better with us, than she would have been if she ended up with anyone else. 9 years ago a white Sulphur Crested cockatoo graced us with his presence. He clearly escaped from another home, but bonded with us instantly after a few days of (cageless) eating and drinking. We named him "KaKa" out of cuteness. He and KiKi developed a love/hate relationship. They didn't get along with eachother at all, but clearly found comfort in eachothers presence. KiKi started acting a little strange on a Sunday. She became very picky over what she would eat, and would only take tiny nibbles. Soon after her stool became a little runny, which set off alarm bells in our heads By now it was 4.30pm, and try as we did, we just could not locate an avian vet (or any vet that knows a thing about birds) that are open on sunday - we pretty much called every vet we could find in 4 hours of googling. All had a message saying they were closed, and gave us a number for the "Animal Referral Hospital" 8pm, KiKi started throwing up. Her stool turned fluorescent yellow, and she was clearly having difficulty breathing. We rushed her to the ARH, who slugged us $130, and told us they don't know anything about birds, also that we had to wait till the next day for an Avian vet. Her condition started to deteriorate, and she lost
her ability to perch. She was now clearly in alot of pain, as she'd screech now and again. She wouldn't stop throwing up and was clearly dehydrated. We gave her some water, which she drank ALOT of (4 times more than she usually would) We thought this was a good sign, but I guess we were wrong. She must've tried to inhale while throwing up. 10 minutes later, KiKi passed away in my mothers arms from asphyxiation - I've never cried so much in my entire life, she was like a family member, to see her suffering like that was horrible. Ontop of this I was VERY angry at the fact that there are no emergency avian vets around on a Sunday. After her death, KaKa started acting really depressed.
He'd wonder around the house looking for her, calling out, and sometimes
just standing on the corner of our couch on one foot, extending
his "beard" After quite alot of love and attention, we helped him through it, and he is now closer to us than he's ever been. He'd scream each time he's left alone, so we bought a tiny aviary-raised cockatiel (Spunky), which he found comfort in (as long as there's some form of life near him, he's quiet, and he goes back to eating food and playing) We've decided not to buy another Galah (as much as we love them) - Instead, promised that when we move to a larger house in a few years, we're going to adopt a Female cockatoo for Kaka, and a Female cockatiel for our Spunky.
By Ahmad Tabbouch |
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KAKA |
KIKI |
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| How to Enter Your Member Story: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
It’s that easy! We look forward to hearing your stories! |
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| “From the Avian Vets Desk - PARROTS AND PERCHES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Perches play an important role in maintaining the health of a bird’s beak, feet and claws. They also play an integral part in providing mental stimulation and occupational therapy for your pet. Parrots are “hard-wired” to chew. In fact they need to chew to maintain their beak in tip-top condition. Therefore, perches should be regarded as disposable. Don’t be like one of my clients who said, “The bird kept chewing up his wooden perches, so I replaced them with a galvanized water pipe.” Not only was he depriving his parrot of the only means of chewing in his cage, but he was also potentially poisoning his pet with the galvanized metal. |
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| The most desirable perches are those made from tree branches. However, you need to be careful in choosing the correct trees. Avoid exotic, ornamental, garden plants as many of these can be toxic to your parrot. Avoid any trees with milky, white sap. Stick to Australian native trees (we know that they don’t poison our native birds). Rough bark is better than smooth bark. Rough bark perches are like Dr. Scholl sandals for our feet. (They massage the soles of the feet). The best trees for perches are wattle, bottle brush, melaleuca, ti-tree, paper bark, iron bark. Perches should be wide enough for a bird’s feet to be evenly spread over the top of the perch. Budgies and canaries should have perches the size of a “broom stick”. Perches for a cockatiel should be one and a half times the size of a broom stick. Galahs should have a perch 2 – 3 inches in diameter. Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and Macaws should have perches 3 - 5 inches in diameter. When the bird has chewed the bark from the perches, throw them out and replace them. Any moss and lichens on the bark of native trees are harmless to your bird. They just provide extra nutritional and occupational enrichment. The doweling perches that are supplied with cages are too narrow and smooth for a bird’s comfort and health. Narrow perches that require a bird to grip tightly, with their claws meeting underneath, are the equivalent of a person wearing shoes that are too tight. Narrow perches put too much pressure on the “ball” of the foot and can cause pressure sores in obese birds. Smooth, narrow perches don’t allow nails to wear naturally and the bird’s claws can become long and overgrown. Some manufacturers try to overcome this problem by covering, smooth, narrow perches with sandpaper. Supposedly this is to “file down” the bird’s claws. However, because the diameter of the sandpaper perches is too narrow, the bird’s claws don’t touch the abrasive surface. Instead, the skin of the foot can become abraded and contaminated by droppings, resulting in infections. I also warn clients about using rope and fabric perches. I have treated many birds suffering from fibre impaction that is the end result of chewing on rope perches and tassely toys. Many times, the impaction is so severe, that the birds do not survive. Stick with what’s natural. Don’t just limit rough barked, native branch perches to the cage, include them also on the “training T perch” and the “play gym”. Holes can be drilled in the natural perches. Fresh grass seeds, green leafy branches and native blossoms can be placed in the drilled holes for the added enrichment and enjoyment of your parrot. Suitably sized, rough barked, native branch perches go a long way to maintaining well-groomed, healthy beak, feet and claws for your parrot. They also fulfill a parrot’s instinctive need to chew and forage.
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Written by Peter
Wilson To contact Peter Wilson Click Here This article will be published in Paws and Claws Journal July/August 07
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| Bird Boarding | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do you need a guilt-free holiday? 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.
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| Bird Boarding Health Check Requirement | |||||||||||||||||||||||
All Boarding Parrots are required to undergo a health check by a qualified Veterinarian preferably an avian specialist or vet that has a special interest in birds, please Click Here to find your nearest suitable vet. Health check should include:
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For more information please contact: Zarita Garozzo Ph: 07 5569 2840 |
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Please
check out our new Bird Boarding Directory Click
here |
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| Parrot Rescue Centre Special Supporters | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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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| Paws
& Claws is your online resource for everything Pet or Wildlife
related. We are dedicated to bringing you the most informative and
comprehensive editorial in our quarterly Magazine available free
on the Gold Coast or right across Australia 7 days a week on our
web site. We have a wide range of Products & Services available
and our supplier directory continues to grow more interesting by
the day. To date, we have donated over $100,000 of advertising and
article space in Paws & Claws Journal & Online to non-profit
animal organisations. We donate a further 10% of our profits to
the Animal Welfare League of Qld and the RSPCA Qld. Visit us at
www.pawsandclawsjournal.com.au . |
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Is Australias only
newspaper devoted to the care and breeding of birds, including finches,
canaries, parrots, cockatoos, budgies, softbills, pheasants and
waterfowl. It is full of news, information and feature articles
from Australia and around the world. |
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| Visit BREEDERS CHOICE SEEDS at 3/5 Cahill Court, Andrews on the Gold Coast and see the Parrot Rescue Centres TOY and ACCESSORIES stand. Breeders Choice proudly support the PRC by providing a space in their show room to display and sell our products. Breeders Choice stock a large array of seed mixes, nuts- shelled and in the shell, dried fruit mixes, Lorikeet dry and wet mixes, HAGEN TROPICAN food in bulk quantities for breeders and KAYTEE Pellets and handrearing formulas in bulk for breeders. Bulk quantities are sold at wholesale rates to make it more affordable. CONTACT them today on 1800 637 039. |
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| Pet directory is available online and in book format all over Australia who links us to every pet industry available from wholesalers, breeders, pet shops, trainers and more. Please visit www.petdirectory.com.au. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Is available Bi- Monthly at all Pet shop and Newsagents. It is a resourceful and informative magazine for all parrot enthusiasts. Please visit www.aviarylife.com.au | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Profits made from
Ruby Jam jewellery that has been referred from the PRC website is
donated to the PRC, to help cover transport costs, vet bills and
associated adoption costs. www.rubyjam.com |
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| Leah provides advice to the PRC when we are in any type of emergency due to a parrots health issue or for lost and found parrots etc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Endsearch is the creater of the PRC website and helps maintain the website at no charge. EndSearch offers a one stop shop. All creative development including Digital Photography and Print Media inclusive of Brochures and Business Cards are developed in house. Of course we can maintain your custom web site and help with your online marketing. EndSearch creates consistency across your Corporate Identity. It will all flow together unifying the power of your message. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Support
those who support PARROTS! |
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The World Parrot Trust work to achieve the survival of parrot
species in the wild, and the welfare of captive birds everywhere. For more information please CLICK HERE |
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If you have received this mailing in error, or if you no longer wish to receive email from Parrot Rescue Centre, please send a blank email, with: Remove from Mailing List in the subject line, to zarita@parrotrescuecentre.com You will be excluded from future mailings |
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All
Rights Reserved Parrot Rescue Centre 2007 ©. |
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Hi
Parrot Enthusiasts!
