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
Bei Bei is off to China but you can follow the plane every step of the way by using the link below. To stay updated on his flight, click here:BEI BEI’S PLANE
WASHINGTON — The giant panda Bei Bei was born at the National Zoo in 2015, and he's been captivating minds and capturing hearts ever since. "When he first got here he was so excited to come here. And I'm just going to miss him so much," Caris Counts said. Counts drove two hours on Sunday morning with her mother to catch Bei Bei before he heads on a 16 hour non-stop flight to China Tuesday. To read more on this story, click here: The Goodbye Celebration Continues for Bei Bei the Giant Panda
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Say goodbye to Bei Bei as he heads to Chengdu, China as part of the panda diplomacy program between the US and China.
WASHINGTON — Bei Bei, the District's beloved giant panda, will play in his outdoor habitat for the last time Tuesday before he heads to China. The Smithsonian National Zoo is sending the four-year-old panda to China as part of the panda diplomacy program. This program between the U.S. and China requires all pandas born at the Zoo be sent to China when they turn four. Bei Bei will make his way to Dulles Airport on Tuesday, and will be transported to Chengdu, China on a specially chartered FedEx cargo plane. He'll ride on a direct 16-hour flight with the National Zoo's animal care team, a panda keeper and a veterinarian. To read more on this story, click here:Here's How The National Zoo Will FedEex Bei Bei The Giant Panda
WASHINGTON – No cramped leg space and blah entertainment in coach for Bei Bei, the giant panda at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in DC. He's off to China this week -- and he's traveling in style. As if flying in his own Boeing 777F private plane dubbed the Panda Express is not enough, handlers will be feeding him his favorite treats during the trip. And the zoo is asking for song recommendations for a mixed tape for the long trip -- just change the title of the original from "baby" to "Bei Bei." To read more on this story, click here:Bye Bye, Bei Bei: Beloved Giant Panda Leaving DC for China in Private Jet
Join the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute “Bye Bye, Bei Bei” (BAY-BAY,) a series of online and on-site celebratory events to bid a fond farewell to giant panda Bei Bei before he departs for China from November 11 to November 18, 2019. Fans can pick up a postcard memento at the Zoo and write their own notes to Bei Bei that will travel with him to China. For fans joining the festivities remotely, Panda Cam 1 will show Bei Bei 24/7. Bei Bei will receive special treats and toys twice each day. All three of the Zoo’s giant pandas will receive ice cakes at 9am on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17 in honor of Bei Bei’s farewell. In addition, free hot chocolate will be served on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17. Click here for a detailed schedule of events. To learn more about this event, click here:Farewell Celebration for Giant Panda Bei Bei
Key West, Florida - Great white sharks are moving to Florida for the winter. A research group, OCEARCH, says the annual migration to warmer waters off the Florida and Carolinas coasts is underway. The Palm Beach Post reports that eight white sharks tagged by the Utah-based research group were spotted from New Jersey to Florida in the last week. Three other sharks that had been tagged were detected Wednesday in waters on North Carolina beaches, and two more sharks —Helena and the 2,076-pound Unama’ki —made their presence known with toothy grins just west of Key West in September. Unama’ki had been tagged off Nova Scotia in September. She’s a big girl —some 15-feet, 5-inches. It’s not unusual for great whites to call southern waters home during winter and sightings are common near popular fishing and diving spots in Florida through spring.
Did you know that cockatiels are among the most popular of pet birds? Normal cockatiels are gray, with white patches on the wings. They have a yellow/white face with a bright orange patch over the 'ear'. Variations include : Pied (varing white patches cover body), Pearl (each feather retains gray color, with white intersperced), Lutino (Bird white with yellow/white/ orange face), and Albino (white bird). Another popular bird is the Budgie also known as the Parakeet. The life-span of Cockatiels is usually around 15 – 20 years, however, it has been reported that some have lived up to 30 years! Having one bird is fine, but you must spend a lot of time interacting with the cockatiel on a daily basis. Having two birds will make it a little easier, but they will bond with each other, and may not bond with the owner. I have often heard people say, “I don’t want a bird, they are dirty!” This is simply not true. If a bird’s cage isn’t clean, it’s the fault of the owner, not the bird! All pets require care.
One thing that I do want to mention, is to never keep your bird in your kitchen. A friend of mine has a cockatiel that she used to keep in her kitchen. I asked her why she had it there, she said that because she spends a lot of time in her kitchen/dining area. Her bird did end up getting sick. The kitchen is generally a poor choice for your cockatiel’s cage. There are a number of fumes in the average household kitchen that can be toxic for birds. A good place the cage is where you and your family spend time so that you can interact with the bird. Cockatiels are vocal creatures. Some make very loud noises. It may sound like they are screaming, but it’s just the natural sounds of the bird. When you arrive home your bird may make noises at the excitement of seeing you. How to tell the sex of your Cockatiel: Males tend to have a brighter facial color. Females have a duller facial color, and have barring under their tails. This method of sexing becomes more difficult in the variations of birds. Feeding your Cockatiel: A seed diet is not adequate, but tends to be high in fat and deficient in vitamin A, calcium, and protein. Seeds can be part of a healthy diet but only a minor percentage. There are other human foods that birds like. Millet is another great food. For a well nourished bird include a variety of fresh fruits crisp or lightly steamed veggies and other table foods in your bird’s diet. Always serve them chopped, sliced, diced, minced and mashed. There are human foods that you can give your Cockatiel: Cooked chicken/ turkey; Eggs/hard boiled/scrambled; Cottage cheese; Yogurt; Asparagus; Beets/beet tops; Broccoli; Brussel sprouts; Carrots; celery; corn; chicory greens; cilantro; collard greens; green/yellow beans; kale; mustard greens; peas and pods; parsley; pumpkin; red/green sweet pepper; romaine lettuce; spinach; turnip greens; water crest; yellow squash; zucchini; bananas; berries; cantaloupe; cherries; cranberries; honey dew; kiwi; mango; oranges(seedless); papaya; pineapple; watermelon; cook pasta; cooked brown rice; dried fruits; whole wheat toast; oatmeal; cheerios; rice krispies; grape nuts; Un salted popcorn; and animal crackers. Foods you should never give your Cockatiel: Avocado, chocolate, coffee, lima beans, milk, sodas, sugar, teas, rhubarb, leaves from potatoes, tomatoes, egg plants, bean plants, alcohol, salt, greasy foods, tobacco, fruits seeds or pits from, apples, apricots, oranges, cherries, or peaches. Tips on caring for your Cockatiel: 1. Your cockatiel needs to have fresh water every day. Change the water every day, even if it looks full. If you find any droppings or feathers in the water cup, change the water, so your bird will not get sick. 2. Some bird noise is very loud but is not screaming, it’s just the natural sounds of birds. Since they are very vocal creatures and you can expect them to greet dawn and sunset with enthusiasm. They may get rowdy just before mealtimes and especially, if you work and the house is empty all day, when you arrive home. 3. Offer foods that have different colors shapes, textures and flavors also vary the presentation. 4. Some birds get startled in their sleep and awaken in a panic. They may start trying to flee the cage and bumping into toys, feeding bowls and their perch. 5. Don't ever give food from your mouth, or kiss your bird. This is harmful to your bird since your mouth carries germs that can make your bird sick. 6. Cockatiels are very dusty. They use a powder to keep their wings water proof. After petting the bird, one normally has a powdery finger. Signs that your bird may be sick:
Birds often pretend to be fine when someone is watching nearby (survival instinct), so observe very carefully
Sleeping excessively. Like people, birds who sleep a lot more than usual may be in trouble.
Any sign of blood, is a bad sign. If your bird is bleeding, you need to stop the bleeding immediately, and contact your Vet.
If a normally playful bird doesn't play very much any more, it may well be sick.
