Should You Get Yourself a Lovebird?

If you've seen lovebirds in a pet store, you may have been told that these birds must be sold in pairs and don't actually make good pets. However, while it isn't a good idea to split up a pair of bonded lovebirds, a single handfed baby can be kept alone and will be quite content to be a family pet. You will need to be sure to handle your bird daily to keep it sweet and tame. If you neglect to handle it for a few days, it may become skittish and nippy.

There are nine lovebird species available, including the peachfaced, Fischer's, masked, Abyssinian, Nyasa, black-cheeked, redfaced, black-collared and Madagascar lovebird. With the exception of the Madagascar lovebird, these birds are native to Africa. The only lovebirds readily available as pets are the peachfaced, Fischer's and masked varieties. However, since there are so many different color mutations in these lovebird species, deciding which lovebird you want can almost be overwhelming. For instance, there are actually seventeen different color mutations for peachfaced lovebirds, but the mutations have been bred together to create thousands of additional colors. Interestingly enough, the sweetest pets are those peachfaced lovebirds with a peach cap. The normal and lutino mutations, which have red faces, are often a bit more aggressive and are usually louder. Since lovebirds are so small, many people use parakeet cages for their birds. However, these birds are so playful and active that a slightly larger cage is really a better fit. This way, they can have a set of rings, a swing and a few other toys in the cage without being crowded. Of course, a smaller cage makes it easier for lovebirds to play with several toys at once, which is a favorite occupation for these high energy little guys.

Lovebirds do well on a varied diet, including cockatiel seed mix, cockatiel pellets, vegetables, bean mix and whole grain cereal. An occasional orange slice is also a good idea. Your lovebird should also have a cuttlebone or calcium block to chew on.

While lovebirds are not known for their talking ability, these little birds can actually learn a few words. Their little voices are not very clear, but they can readily learn to say 'hello' and their names. Lovebirds excel in learning simple tricks, such as playing dead.

This bird's spunky, playful personality and active nature makes it the ideal companion for someone who is wheelchair bound, as long as someone else is nearby to help return the bird to its cage if it gets tired of hanging out and hops down. In fact, the lovebird is often found in retirement and nursing home communities because it is so amusing to watch. So, if you are looking for a clownish, but cuddly, pet that is small enough to ride around in your shirt pocket, then you may want to take a close look at the lovebird. These birds may be small in size, but they have a big personality.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Family: Ardeidae

Habitat: Found in mangroves, and in forested lagoons, swamps, or lakes (A.O.U. 1998).

Distribution: Breeding range extends from Baja California, Mexico, the Gulf coast, and Florida north to northeastern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, southern and eastern Iowa, and southeastern Minnesota east to Massachusetts. Winters in the southern portion of its breeding range (i.e., Baja California, Mexico, the Gulf coast, and along the Atlantic coast north to South Carolina) (A.O.U. 1998).

Field Marks: Crisp, dark gray plumage, with black head, white cheek patch behind eye, and pale-white crown. Compare immature with immature Black-crowned Night-Heron; note comparatively longer legs in flight.

Nest Habits: Breeds in colonies, usually in association with other herons. Nest is placed up to 40 feet high in tree or shrub and is built of twigs and lined with rootlets, leaves, and other vegetation.

Eggs: 2-8, usually 4-5; 51 millimeter; pale bluish-green in color.

Incubation: Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young. Incubation usually lasts about 21-25 days, and young are able to fly when they are approximately 25 days old.

Should You Get a Quaker Parrots?

If you live in a warm climate, you may have noticed a big flock of noisy gray and green parrots flying about. These birds are Quaker parrots, a popular pet for many bird lovers. Because Quakers are so hardy, they have colonized in quite a few spots, including Florida and California. These little guys can really do some damage to your local farm crops. Concerns about crop destruction and competition with native birds have caused lawmakers to ban ownership of Quakers in quite a few areas. Before you decide to buy a Quaker, make sure these birds are legal in your area.

The gregarious Quaker is a fairly good talker. While these birds do not have the mimicking ability of some of the large parrots, such as the African gray, they do develop large vocabularies fairly easily. One major drawback to the Quaker's vocal nature is its noisy vocalization. Although quite a few people keep this bird in their apartments, it isn't an ideal apartment pet because it will disturb your neighbors when it cheerfully greets each new day with a slightly raucous squawk.

Since the Quaker is actually a member of the conure family, it is no surprise that these birds are often cuddly and playful. They are an excellent choice for a family pet, since they rarely bond so strongly to one person that they refuse to allow anyone else to handle them. Quakers are usually quite happy to hang out on a favorite person's shoulder and chatter away to themselves.

Since Quakers have been popular pets for many years, several color mutations have been developed. The normal gray and green Quaker is quite attractive, but you may prefer a blue, yellow, pied, albino, cinnamon or lutino bird instead. Most of these mutations are much more expensive than normal Quakers and are harder to find. Luckily, your bird's color will not affect its ability to be a wonderful pet.

Your bird's cage should be about two feet wide by three feet long. Be sure to shop for a cage made with heavy wire, since this parrot's strong beak can easily bend cage bars that are made with the lightweight wire that is suitable for parakeets or cockatiels. Quakers aren't tidy birds, so if you are concerned about keeping your floors clean, you should look for a cage with a metal apron that is designed to catch seeds and feathers or you should shop for an acrylic cage.

Quaker parrots like to chew, so you should plan to buy bird toys on a regular basis. If your bird doesn't have enough toys and doesn't get enough human interaction, he may start to pluck out his feathers. This behavior is common in Quakers, especially when they are bored.

If you want a bird that is cuddly, playful and talkative, then the Quaker parrot may be the ideal bird for you. Just keep in mind that this bird can be on the loud side, so you may want to meet a few Quakers and listen to their vocalizations before you decide to bring home a Quaker of your own.

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Family: Ardeidae

Habitat: Found in mangroves, swamps and marshes, lakes, rivers, lagoons, and other wetland habitats (A.O.U. 1998).

Distribution: Breeding range extends from southwestern British Columbia, Washington, southern Idaho, Montana, east-central Alberta, Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, the Great Lakes region, southern Quebec, and Nova Scotia south to Florida, the Gulf coast states, Baja California, and Mexico. Generally winters from Mexico, Baja California, the Gulf coast, and Florida north to western Washington, southern Oregon, southern Nevada, northern Utah, Colorado, southern Texas, the southern Great Lakes region, and southern New England (A.O.U. 1998).

Field Marks: Light gray wings and neck, white underneath. Black on crown and back. Compare immature with immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron; note comparatively shorter legs in flight.

Nest Habits: Breeds in colonies. Nest is placed 15-30 feet (and at the extreme, up to 160 feet) high in tree and is built of twigs, reeds, and branches.

Eggs: 1-7, usually 3-5; 52 millimeter; pale bluish-green in color.

Incubation: Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young. Incubation usually lasts about 24-26 days, and young are able to fly when they are approximately 42-49 days old.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

Family: Ardeidae

Habitat: Found in swamps, ponds, rivers, marshes, or lakes, usually in or near forested areas.

Distribution: Breeding range includes Baja California, Mexico, and most of the United States; more locally distributed or absent in areas of the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. Also breeds in New Brunswick and in the extreme southern portions of the southern tier of Canadian provinces (i.e., British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec). Generally winters from southern Arizona, southern Texas, the Gulf coast states, and South Carolina south throughout its breeding range; also winters locally on the west coast north to southwestern British Columbia (A.O.U. 1998).

Field Marks: Except for the Least Bittern, this is our smallest heron. Note white streak down center of throat and neck, reddish or chestnut color on sides & back of neck, and otherwise dark green (or bluish-gray) back and head.

Nest Habits: More likely to breed singly than other herons, but sometimes may breed in small colonies. Nest may be placed up to 30 feet high in small tree or thicket, and consists of a platform of sticks that is lined with twigs, vines, and other vegetation.

Eggs: 2-7, usually 2-4; 38 millimeter; pale bluish-green or light green in color.

Incubation: Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young. Incubation usually lasts about 21-25 days, and young are able to fly when they are approximately 34-35 days old.

How to Choose a Good Bird Breeder

So, you want to buy a bird. All you have to do is find a breeder and give him or her the money, right? Actually, there are some very disreputable bird breeders out there. To be sure you get a healthy, well adjusted bird, you will need to be sure you have chosen a good breeder.

The first thing you should look for when you are searching for a reputable bird breeder is whether the breeder can offer references. A good breeder has a lot of happy customers and some of them will be glad to offer a reference. Of course, the longest list of references in the world isn't very useful if you don't take the time to call one or two of them. Be sure you actually check a few references before you buy a bird.

Next, talk to the breeder. Ask about the type of diet the birds are being fed, whether the aviary is open or closed and whether the breeder shows birds or attends bird marts with birds.

If the breeder only feeds a seed diet, you may be buying a bird with nutritional deficiencies. Seed diets should be supplemented with fresh fruit, vegetables and beans or pellets.

A closed aviary is an aviary that does not buy new birds and does not have people wandering in and out. This means you won't be able to walk through and look at the parent birds, but it also means other people aren't able to walk through either. This means that diseases will not be easily transmitted to the aviary from someone who has visited several breeders.

If a breeder shows birds or attends bird marts, there is a chance that the birds may have picked up a disease. Ask the breeder if the birds that leave the aviary are quarantined when they come back.

After you are satisfied with the breeder, find out how the birds are being handfed. A handfed bird is not necessarily going to be bonded to people and tame if the breeder has been tube feeding babies. Tube feeding takes only a few seconds and there isn't much time for interaction. If the breeder does tube feed, ask if the birds go immediately back into their cages or if they are socialized after they are fed.

When you visit the breeder, look at the baby birds' cages. Of course, they should be clean and have fresh food and water in them, but there should also be some toys. Baby birds need toys to help them grow intellectually.

Then, don't forget to look at the condition of the birds themselves. They should be alert and well groomed and their vents (the area right above their tails on their undersides) should be clean. When you hold one of the birds, be sure to feel his breastbone. If it feels prominent and there doesn't seem to be any meat on the sides, the bird is too thin. This can simply be because he is just weaning, but the breeder shouldn't be selling him in this condition.

Once you're satisfied with the breeder, you can finally start making a much more enjoyable choice. You can decide which of the breeder's baby birds you will take home.

Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis)

Family: Ardeidae

Habitat: Found in actively grazed pastures and grasslands; also on lawns or along roadsides, and occasionally in marshes or flooded agricultural fields (A.O.U. 1998).

Distribution: Breeding range extends from central California, eastern Oregon, southern Idaho, Utah, Colorado, North Dakota, the Great Lakes region, northern Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maine south to Baja California, Mexico, the Gulf coast, and Florida. Generally winters from Florida, the Gulf coast states, coastal Texas, and western Oregon and northern California south throughout its breeding range (A.O.U. 1998).

Field Marks: Of the three typically white egrets (Cattle, Snowy, and Great Egrets), the Cattle egret is the smallest. In breeding season, note orangish feathers on crown, back, and lower neck; bill and leg color also more red or reddish-orange at this time of year. During the non-breeding season, bill and legs are yellowish in color. Compare also with immature Little Blue Heron.

Nest Habits: Breeds in colonies, usually in association with other herons. Nest is usually placed up to 12 feet high in small tree and consists of a platform of sticks, vines, and twigs.

Eggs: 2-6, usually 3-4; 48 millimeter; pale bluish-green or bluish-white in color.

Incubation: Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young. Incubation usually lasts about 22-26 days, and young are able to fly when they are approximately 30 days old.

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Family: Ardeidae

Habitat: Found in marshes, ponds, and lakes; also in lagoons and other shallow coastal habitats (A.O.U. 1998).

Distribution: Breeds south of a line running from eastern Oregon and northern California through southeastern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northeastern Wisconsin, southern Ontario, and northwestern Ohio, to the Atlantic coast (north to Maine); breeding range extends south into Baja California and Mexico. Generally winters from northern California, southwestern Arizona, the Gulf coast, and coastal South Carolina south throughout its breeding range (A.O.U. 1998). Post-breeding dispersal in late summer and early fall results in birds appearing at inland locations far north of their breeding range.

Field Marks: Snowy white plumage, dark legs, black bill, and yellow feet (sometimes called golden slippers). Smaller than Great Egret.

Nest Habits: Breeds in colonies, usually in association with other herons and egrets. Nest is placed on the ground or, more typically, up to 30 feet high in shrub or tree and consists of a platform of sticks lined with twigs and rushes.

Eggs: 1-6, usually 3-5; 43 millimeter; pale bluish-green in color.

Incubation: Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young. Incubation usually lasts about 20-24 days, and young are able to fly when they are approximately 30 days old.