The Brazilian Bird Thats Nearly The Size Of A Human

One look into the menacing eyes of any bird of prey and shivers start rattling through your vertebrae. Their cold-blooded stare pierces your soul. They're not looking for a new friend. They're in the business of hunting, and business is booming.

If you ever watched a Master Falconer work closely with one of their razor-clawed trainees, you immediately understand how careful the handler must be. Birds of prey like owls, hawks, and eagles reign down with full-force when provoked. But all the predatory birds pale in comparison to one Brazilian beast.

To read more on this story, click here: The Brazilian Bird That's Nearly The Size Of A Human

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International Pet Bird Travel: Bringing Pet Birds Back to the U.S.

To prevent the spread of avian diseases, birds coming into the United

States (U.S.) are subject to quarantine. Pet birds meeting certain criteria

may undergo this quarantine at home. First, your birds must be of U.S.

origin, meaning born or purchased in the U.S. Second, your bird must not

have traveled to a country affected by an avian foreign animal disease 

To read more on this story, click here: International Pet Bird Travel: Bringing Pet Birds Back to the U.S.

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Canaries: These Songbirds are a Top Choice for Bird Owners

Canaries have perhaps the sweetest song of any creature on Earth. These small, puffy birds are welcome tenants at any home, whether you live in a house or an apartment. It will take your canary some time to polish his voice — these birds, like people, get better with practice.

To read more on this story, click here: Canaries: These Songbirds are a Top Choice for Bird Owners

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Pet Birds and Air Travel

 

You may have seen a fellow traveler bring a small dog or cat into the airplane cabin or take a larger dog with them as checked baggage. But did you know that a few US airlines allow you to bring your pet bird with you on your flight, provided you meet certain conditions?

Species

Each airline specifies which birds are permitted as carry-on baggage or as checked baggage. Typically, your bird must be a "household" bird, a pet, in other words, not a wild bird, and it must be odorless and quiet.

Hawaiian Airlines, for example, says that your bird must be "harmless, inoffensive, odorless and not require attention during the flight." Most airlines that accept pet birds will not allow you to bring chickens or other poultry, only pet birds such as finches and parakeets.

To read more on this story, click here: Pet Birds and Air Travel

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Pet Travel - Bringing Five or Fewer Pet Birds into the US

The USDA APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) defines a shipment of pet birds as five (5) or fewer birds brought into the United States (U.S.) that are not intended for resale. This does not include birds classified by VS as poultry (chickens, doves, ducks, geese, grouse, guinea fowl, partridges, pea fowl, pheasants, pigeons, quail, swans, and turkeys).

If you are bringing six (6) or more pet birds or any number of birds classified as poultry into the U.S., view the requirements for importing commercial birds and zoological birds and importing live poultry.

To read more on this story, click here: Pet Travel - Bringing Five or Fewer Pet Birds into the US

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Ever Thought About Getting A Bird? They Make Great Pets

Have you ever thought about getting a bird? They make great pets! Here are a few reasons you may consider: 

They are fairly low maintenance

Birds are a good option for those who want to enrich their lives with a pet but are either slightly time poor or don’t want the high-maintenance cats and dogs bring with the need for a lot of attention, exercise, and training. Birds on the other hand, require far less training, unless you want to teach them cool tricks! They are much easier to clean up after as they are self-grooming creatures and their mess tends to be isolated to their cage.

They are highly intelligent

Birds are very smart and curious creatures. They have the capability to learn many new things, such as learning to mimic human speech and behaviours or using objects as tools. This makes them very intriguing and fun pets to watch and play with, especially with their human like antics!

Birds are perfect for small places

If you live in a small house or an apartment a bird is the perfect pet for these spaces. Whereas cats and dogs require a lot of room to run around, birds are quite happy with only a few metres of space for their cage.

They are very social

Birds are considered to be very social creatures as can be heard with their constant chirping and chattering. This makes them fun to interact and talk with, especially if you have trained your bird to speak or it has started mimicking human voices. Either way they are the perfect companion to talk to and get your thoughts off your chest without fear of judgment.

Life long companion

Did you know that some species of birds can live up to 50 years? That truly makes some birds life long companions. However, although some birds can live up to 50 years many have a lifespan of up to 20 years, which is still quite a long time. So whatever breed you choose be prepared for a long and happy life together.

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Judge Cites 'To Kill a Mockingbird' In Striking Down Migratory Bird Protection Changes

 (CNN)A federal judge referenced the literary classic "To Kill A Mockingbird" when striking down a Trump administration policy that she said upended decades of protections for birds.

Judge Valerie Caproni ruled late Tuesday against the Trump administration's interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to "only criminalize affirmative actions," rather than incidental acts. The ruling cites an example of the distinction offered by the administration: Knocking down a barn that contains owl nests would no longer be covered by the treaty if killing the owls was not the reason for demolishing the barn.

"It is not only a sin to kill a mockingbird, it is also a crime," Caproni wrote, referencing the Harper Lee novel.

To read more on this story, click here: Judge Cites 'To Kill a Mockingbird' In Striking Down Migratory Bird Protection Changes

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Bird With Deformed Feet Gets Tiny Casts Made By Veterinarians

A tiny Mockingbird that doesn’t even have a name recently ended up with the California Wildlife Center. They rescued him and took him in after they saw his feet were deformed.

The little bird had ‘knuckled feet’, meaning that they folded in on themselves so it was impossible for him to walk or even perch comfortably.

If the rescue group wouldn’t have stepped in, the little Mockingbird would probably have died.

In addition, the bird probably had to deal with painful sores constantly. Thankfully, a solution was only one creative decision away.

A team of veterinarians got busy creating a little set of shoes for the tiny bird. They made the shoes out of cardboard.

The shoes were designed to help realign the little bird’s feet so that they were back in shape again. It took only one week and his feet were fixed. He was then able to get back to life as normal.

They removed the little makeshift shoes and released the bird into the wild. I guess we could all use a little help sometimes.

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Man Finds Giant Bird-Eating Spider Guarding His Garage

Australia, The Land Down Under, is full of beautiful beaches, incredible landscapes…and scary things that can kill you.

Speaking of scary, meet Martha, the giant golden orb spider who made herself right at home in someone’s garage in Buderim, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Golden orb spiders typically eat flies, beetles, and moths – as well as small birds and bats.

To read more on this story, click here: Man Finds Giant Bird-Eating Spider Guarding His Garage


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Meet The Goliath Birdeater, The World’s Largest Tarantula That Eats Sparrows

The thought of being anywhere near a giant spider is terrifying to most of us. It’s easy to see why gigantic arachnids appear in books and films as villainous creatures — they just look like the stuff of nightmares.

Luckily, big bad spiders like Shelob in Lord of the Rings and Aragog in Harry Potter only exist in the fictional world.

However, there are scary spiders in this world that are very much real, like the Goliath Birdeater.

To read more on this story, click here: Meet The Goliath Birdeater, The World’s Largest Tarantula That Eats Sparrows



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Oldest Bird Fossil Discovered, Nicknamed 'Wonderchicken'

The oldest fossil of a modern bird, dating from the age of dinosaurs, has been discovered, a new study reports.

The tiny fossil, nicknamed the "wonderchicken," includes a nearly complete skull hidden inside nondescript pieces of rock, and dates to more than 66 million years ago. 

That's less than 1 million years before the asteroid impact that killed off all the large dinosaurs.

"The moment I first saw what was beneath the rock was the most exciting moment of my scientific career," said study lead author Daniel Field of the University of Cambridge in the U.K. in a statement.

To read more on this story, click here: Oldest Bird Fossil Discovered, Nicknamed 'Wonderchicken'


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Clever Little Hummingbird Builds A Home With A Roof

Few constructions in nature evoke a sense of coziness and warmth quite like nests — treetop homes built with love and care by birds to raise their babies.

But this particular mom-to-be found a rather ingenious way of making her place even cozier.

Conservationist Bianca Caroline Soares is no stranger to seeing hummingbird nests perched on branches in the jungle near her home in Paraguay. But on a walk last Spring, she spotted one unlike any she’d seen before.

To read more on this story, click here: Clever Little Hummingbird Builds A Home With A Roof



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It Turns Out That Owls Have Long Skinny Legs Under All Their Feathers

Some pictures of what hides under an owl’s majestic feathers have gone viral and are changing the way most people see these birds.

For those who have ever wondered what is hidden beneath an owl’s feathers, wonder no more. The pictures have already gone viral, and as it turns out, it’s not what you may think.

To read more on this story, click here: It Turns Out That Owls Have Long Skinny Legs Under All Their Feathers

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Police Respond to Report of Woman Screaming 'Let Me Out' to Discover It’s a Chatty Pet Parrot

Fortunately, this distress call turned out to be a false alarm!

Police with Florida’s Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office were contacted by a concerned neighbor on Dec. 29, reporting that they heard a woman nearby calling out for help. However, after arriving at the house in question, the authorities found out that the woman in distress was actually just a pet parrot.

“Our Deputies in Lake Worth Beach came to the help of someone screaming for help. Hilarity ensued,” the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook, alongside a video of the encounter.

To read more on this story, click here: Police Respond to Report of Woman Screaming 'Let Me Out' to Discover It’s a Chatty Pet Parrot

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11 Far Out Facts About the Blue-Footed Booby

Looking for some awesome facts about the Galapagos blue-footed booby? Enjoy these 11 far-out facts about these strange blue-footed birds!

Blue-footed boobies are definitely a different sort of bird. The first time I saw them was in the Galapagos when I was only ten. The blue feet and quizzical looks made quite the impression, but the name was what really sold it.

If you were ever young, you surely remember laughing like an idiot every time someone said butt, booby or fart. If you're like me and never really grew up… well, then you may still have ridiculous difficulty containing your mirth when you hear such lovely words. Consequently, you end up embarrassing “classy” people that you may coincidentally be acquainted with (because you clearly would not spend time with such boring folk by choice).

As many of you already know, the word ‘booby' was used in old English to refer to a dimwit, lunk-head, crazy person, clown, idiot, simpleton, or all around silly fellow. The blue-footed booby's name originally came from the Spanish work ‘bobo‘ meaning ‘stupid fellow.'

The boobies walk funny, whistle and honk, and make sarcastic remarks at the tourists, thus earning their name. Okay, so maybe they don't verbalize their quips, but you can see it in their small, beady eyes!

To read more on this story, click here: 11 Far Out Facts About the Blue-Footed Booby




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Pet Peacock Runs Away From Home And Takes Up With Wild Turkeys

A Vermont couple says that their peacock has been on the loose for six weeks, and has apparently started hanging out with a flock of wild turkeys.

The case of the fugitive bird went viral earlier this week, when the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department shared an email on its Facebook page that it had received from one of the peacock’s distraught owners.

“My peacock has run off with the turkeys,” the email read. “Do you have any suggestions on how to catch the little twerp?? I do not believe they can breed……concerned. I know where he is most days. Any information would be appreciated!”

Local news station WCAX 3 tracked down the owners, Rene and Brian Johnson of Springfield, and got the full story. The couple believes that the peacock ― who goes by Pea, Forest or Walter ― took up with the turkeys because he was lonely after his companion, a sibling peacock, died.

To read more on this story, click here: Pet Peacock Runs Away From Home And Takes Up With Wild Turkeys


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Animal Hoarding – What Do You Think?

I am not an expert on this subject. All of the views below come from other sources. I would like to know what you think about Animal Hoarding.

The Humane Society of the United States says:

What is an animal hoarder?
An animal hoarder is a person who amasses more animals than he/she can properly care for. Such individuals generally fail to recognize or refuse to acknowledge when the animals in their custody become victims of gross neglect. Animal hoarders are sometimes referred to as animal "collectors" or animal "addicts."

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)  says:

What Is Animal Hoarding?
Animal hoarding is a complex and intricate public health and community issue. Its effects are far-reaching and encompass mental health, animal welfare and public safety concerns.

For more information on animal hoarding, visit: How Animal Hoarding Develops





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The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore Welcomed Five African Penguin Chicks in October

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore welcomed five African penguin chicks in October.

“We are thrilled to continue our breeding success every year, and so far have hatched out another five chicks to kick off the beginning of our breeding season,” said Jen Kottyan, avian collection and conservation manager. “We anticipate we’ll have more chicks hatch soon.”

Penguin chicks will hatch 38 to 42 days after the eggs are laid.

“With African penguins, both the male and the female take turns incubating the eggs,” said Kottyan. “Once the eggs hatch, parents take turns caring for their offspring; they each protect, feed, and keep the chick warm for 2-3 days and then switch off.”

At Penguin Coast, chicks stay with their parents for about three weeks after they hatch and are fed regurgitated fish from their parents.

Zoo keepers will keep a close eye on the chicks, weighing them to make sure they are growing properly.

When the chicks are three weeks old, they’ll be removed from their nest and must learn that staff are the source for food.

It’ll help the chicks acclimate to the daily feedings, health checks and more.

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Air Force Academy's Falcon Mascot Hurt In Army Football Prank

Two West Point cadets’ prank on the Air Force Academy’s football team went seriously awry over the weekend, injuring the rival team’s falcon mascot.

The bird was bloodied during a botched kidnapping, but the injuries aren’t life-threatening and she appears to be on the mend, according to the Air Force Academy.

The West Point pranksters snatched two falcons belonging to the Air Force Academy: Aurora, a 22-year-old gyrfalcon that serves as the official mascot, and Oblio, a younger Peregrine falcon. The Air Force Falcons football team was at West Point for Saturday’s game against the Army Black Knights, which Army won. 

The Army cadets reportedly threw sweaters over the birds and locked them in a dog crate. When they returned the birds, Aurora’s wings were bloody, likely from thrashing in the crate.

“I think they had them for a couple hours and then they realized it was a bad mistake,” Sam Dollar, the Air Force Academy’s falconry team adviser, told The New York Times. “When Aurora started thrashing around in the crate, they decided that wasn’t a good thing.”

To read more on this story, click here: Air Force Academy's Falcon Mascot Hurt In Army Football Prank

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The Pros and Cons of Pet Ownership – Are You Really Ready for Pet Ownership?

I have always had a pet in my life. Even as a small child, I had pets. Some my parents would let me keep…and others that belonged to neighbors, that I had to return! I have had dogs, cats, birds, and fish.

As a pet owner, I feel that I can speak freely on my experiences with pet ownership. I had two Shih Tzu’s, Sugar and Domino for twelve years each. I got each of them when they were only months old. They have both crossed over the “Rainbow Bridge”.  Sugar in 2008, and Domino crossed on February 25, 2011.

I believe there is a health benefit to having pets. It is said that they can lower your stress level, and blood pressure. We have all had one of those days when we are not feeling well. One day I had a headache, and was lying on the sofa and fell asleep, only to wake up to warm bodies on me. They had both jumped up on the sofa and cuddled up with me, Domino on my feet and Sugar on my back…it was so cute, I actually forgot about my headache!

Then there are the days when I would arrive home from a stressful day a work, only to be greeted by the sound two yapping little dogs ready to go outside!  Once in the backyard running, and playing with them made the stress of the day slowly fade away.

The Pros:

• A pet is a wonderful addition to a family. I say “addition”, because eventually they become a part of your family.
• They are cute, playful and can make you laugh.
• Dogs are great for protecting you and your home.
•  If you get one from a shelter you are saving a life.

The Cons:

• Pets are not toys.
• Require commitment
• They can be expensive
• Hard work
• Require attention and maintenance

Pets Are Not Toys:
Have you ever noticed people’s reaction to pets in a pet shop. You’ll hear “Awww, look at this one…so cute!” or “I want one”. You may also have noticed someone in the street with a well-groomed dog, and think “that is a cute dog, I sure would like to have one like that”. The truth of the matter is that they are all cute…but require commitment, maintenance and can be expensive!

Pets are not toys, and you should never ever give one as a gift. Pets given as gifts usually end up on the streets or in the animal shelter.  Why? Because the person giving the gift thought it was cute, and would make the recipient happy. The recipient accepting the pet also thought it was cute…until it came time to care for it.

Pets Require Commitment:
Some dogs and cats can live up to 15 years and some longer. Are you committed to taking care of a living-breathing animal for 15 years? There are some birds, especially exotic ones that can live over 50 years.

They Can Be Expensive:
Pets can be expensive! Be mindful of your income before deciding to get a pet. I am not referring to pet food unless you have big pets such as several big dogs or horses!  I am referring to Vet bills, unexpected medical expenses, grooming and boarding.

I will refer to my expenses for my dogs. When they were puppies my grooming bill was $50 per dog approximately every 6 weeks, plus $10 tip ($110 every 6 weeks). They saw the Vet once a year for all of their shots, which was approximately $65 per dog. Unless they got sick…which my did several times. The office visit was $35 plus additional if they needed medication. Did you know that some pet medications could cost as much as human medications?

If you take your pet to an animal hospital they are very expensive. I paid $65 for an emergency visit, this was just for walking in! Then you have your Vet charges and medications. I also paid to have them spayed and neutered.

As my dogs turned in to adults, the grooming charges went up to $65 per dog. Thank God, the yearly visit to the Vet bill remained the same, however, they now needed to be on medication for heartworms, flea and ticks. A six-month package of each would run me approximately $35 - $50 depending. Since the packages contained only six doses, that would only last me 3 months because I had two dogs. I estimated it at being approximately $80 for both treatments every 3 months.

As pets get older, they can start experiencing health problems. Sugar was diagnosed with heart problems in August 2008. She was put on daily medications. In October she was rushed to the animal hospital on three occasions. A few days before she passed she was put on oxygen at $25 an hour. She stayed there for 4 hours ($100).

On the day that Sugar passed, I rushed her to the animal hospital where they began to work on her. They called me to let me know that she had passed, and let me know that I had a balance of  $650 due. I chose to have her cremated and put in an urn for an additional $500.

Domino got sick shortly after Sugar passed, and started chewing on his leg, which required a Vet visit and medication.

Now without Sugar, I only had Domino to worry about. Everything was okay for about two more years. Domino got sick in December 2010, right after Christmas. I took him to his regular Vet, and then there where three more visits to the animal hospital, two in the middle of the night. He had test done, x-rays and was put on medication. Domino had a tumor and past at home on February 25, 2011. I also had him cremated, and he now sits in my curio cabinet next to Sugar.

Hard Work
Did I say hard work? When you get a new puppy or kitten, it requires constant attention, and you will be cleaning up after them. You must pet proof your house! Just as you would for a child. You must take time to train them. This means getting your kitten use to the litter box. Did you know that young kittens have to go several times a day…so yes, you have to take them to the box…several times a day. I had them sectioned off in room outside of my kitchen with a folding gate while I was away. He told me to never give them full run of the house even when I was at home until they became adults. This stops them from getting into things and chewing in other parts of the house. The room was big enough for me to put their feeding bowls and water on one side, and their beds and puppy pads in other areas.

I took them out in the mornings, evenings and at night. I am so glad I have a fenced in backyard. Some people have to walk their dogs!  Taking them out three times a day was cute at first, but after awhile, you realize that you have got to stop in the middle of that good movie, or get up a little earlier for work to take them out. Oh yeah, my husband was on yard patrol with his pooper-scooper!

Sometimes, I would come home and they had been playing in their food, and missed the puppy pad!  Then there was the time when I came home and one had diarrhea and the other was spitting up. Oh, well that comes with the luxury of having pets. I would just clean it up. I can’t tell you how many times that I would be sitting at the dinner table and one would decide to throw their dinner back up!  I would have to run and get the cleaning supplies, and then clean them up. You should always clean up their messes immediately, this eliminates staining and odor. I had to make sure that I kept everything away from them, if I dropped anything they would both come running. Pets will eat anything off of the floor. When Sugar was teething, I bought her teething rings…she still chewed up my coffee table leg. Domino took out my Christmas lights! I am sure that some of you have had your experiences with cleaning up after pets.

Require Attention and Maintenance:
I don’t care what type of pet you have…it requires attention and maintenance. Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, hamster…etc. require play periods and some belly rubs and hugs. Dogs especially love human touch.

When you walk your dog the responsible thing to do as a pet parent is to carry a bag to pick up after them. If you have a pet in a cage…you must clean its cage. Birds will throw food all over the place, go in their water, which must be changed every day.

I currently have a 45 gallon fish aquarium that I maintain. I have approximately 60 tropical fish. I change 15% of their water, clean the sand, filter and the glass. I carry buckets of clean water to refill the tank. I do this, every Saturday…whether I want to or not!

I chose my dogs and my fish, they did not choose me. In doing so, I made a commitment to care for them and help them live happy lives.

Before you choose to become a Pet Owner, please consider some of the things that I have mentioned. If your lifestyle does not give you the time to take care of a pet…don’t get one until you have the time to commit. Also, please don’t buy an animal. A lot of pet shops get their dogs from puppy mills. Consider adoption. Check with you local animal shelter, they always have wonderful animals just looking for a forever home.

My intentions are not to discourage you from getting a pet, but only to let you know the requirements behind those cute little faces. Please take time to think before rushing out to get a pet, don’t buy on impulse, check your finances…and your heart. Are you ready for the commitment?

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