Alyson's Pet Birds Blog

Say hello to a special bird who's personality is just as beautiful as her plumage -- Venus the Rose Breasted Cockatoo!

Venus and her Dad, Daniel, spend much of their time working from his office. As his personal "office assistant" and company mascot, Venus always has something exciting going on!

Learn all about Venus in her featured profile. You are sure to find her just as charming as those who meet her in person.

Should your bird be the next "Bird of the Week"? If you think so, email me with photos and information about your pet. Make sure that all photos are clear, in color, in .jpg format, and at least 200px.

Photo of Venus courtesy of Daniel Brinkley.

People often come to me for advice about their birds, and those that are new to keeping pet birds almost always ask me the same question: Why Does My Bird Bite Me?

The answer is not always a simple one, mainly because new owners often don't understand that what may feel like a painful bite to us can be a normal and natural behavior for their bird to exhibit.

To find out what I'm talking about, check out this short FAQ on Bird Bites. It will help you figure out whether your bird is behaving normally, or is displaying aggression.

To protect your bird and your family, it is important to have a clear view of what the avian flu really is, how it functions, and how you can prevent it. While the media provides a plethora of important information about the bird flu, myths and half-truths abound in discussion of the virus.

To learn all about the avian flu virus and how to avoid it, take a look at my article on Avian Flu in Pet Birds. Knowing the facts about the disease will leave you better prepared to avoid exposing your pets, yourself, and your family members.

Want to meet a cutie pie of a bird that's already beginning to talk at the tender age of 12 weeks? Then fly on over to the Bird of the Week Archives and check out this week's featured bird, Magic the Congo African Grey Parrot! Sweet and adorable, Magic was bred by his owner, Wilma, and stole her heart the moment she saw him. Learn all about Magic's likes, dislikes, and more in his featured profile!

Congratulations, Magic, on being chosen as the first Bird of the Week for August 2008!

Do you think that your bird should be the next "Bird of the Week"? If so, email me at birds.guide@about.com with photos and information about your pet. Make sure that all images are clear and bright, in .jpg format, and at least 200px.

Photo of Magic courtesy of Wilma Crawford.

I've just added a heaping bundle of new definitions to the Glossary of Avian Terms. Fly on over and check it out to build your bird vocabulary! Includes new information on Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD), Stress Bars, Feather Cysts, Beak Trimming, and more!

Scientists at the University of California have identified a virus that they believe to be the cause of Parrot Wasting Syndrome.

In a study of affected birds spanning two continents, researchers isolated the Avian Bornavirus as the cause of the illness in over 70% of the subjects.

While it is still unknown exactly how the virus is transmitted, it never hurts to practice a little common sense and stay on the safe side when it comes to protecting your feathered friend. To reduce your bird's risk of contracting any illness, keep the following tips in mind:

• Wash Your Hands. If you handle any strange birds, always remember to wash your hands thoroughly before coming home to your own pet. A fresh change of clothes won't hurt, either!
  
  
• Limit Your Bird's Exposure to People and Animals. Don't be antisocial, but do be picky about who and what you allow your bird to interact with. Birds are susceptible to many bacteria and viruses, and risk contracting an illness whenever they come into contact with other people or pets.
  
  
• Keep a Clean Cage. Hygiene is of the utmost importance when dealing with birds. Keep your bird's cage squeaky clean to keep your pet healthy and happy.

We all want to make sure that our feathered friends have the best of everything, so it can be tempting to spoil our birds with every new toy and cool product we come across. While our pets are certainly deserving of such gifts, it's important to remember that not every product that you can buy in a pet store is safe for birds, even if it claims to be.

For some help with choosing safe and fun items for your pet's cage, check out my picks for the Top Five Cage Accessories to Avoid. Knowing the things that can be harmful to your pet will help you make more informed decisions as you shop, and will decrease your bird's risk of accidents and injuries.

Ever met a parrot who could speak two languages, discipline naughty dogs, and sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm?" Samantha Alexandra can!

This six-year-old Amazon Parrot has many diverse talents, but best of all, she is a wonderful companion to her owner, Lori. Learn all about Samantha in her featured profile. And don't forget, your bird could be the next Bird of the Week! You can email me anytime with information and photos of your pet. Make sure that all images are clear and crisp, in .jpg format, and at least 200px. Your feathered friend may be the next big star!

Photo of Samantha Alexandra courtesy of Lori Moses.

Taking time to bond with your bird is essential to building a long lasting and successful relationship with your pet. Birds are not domesticated and operate with a flock mentality, so forming a bond with your pet is crucial to helping him understand that you are his friend.

The strength of the bond between you and your bird will greatly influence the quality of your pet's life, as well as your ownership experience. If you need help bonding with your bird, have a look at my article on Bonding with Parrots.

These tips can offer effective ways of helping shy birds warm up to you. They will likely help if you find that your relationship with your pet could use some work.

Having to trim a bird's beak sounds kind of scary, but it is a necessary procedure for some owners and their pets. Much like our fingernails, a bird's beak grows continuously throughout its life. Because of this, the beak must be constantly ground down in order for it to function properly. If you've noticed that your bird's beak looks overgrown or oddly shaped, then he or she may be in need of a beak trim. To find out more, check out my new article on Trimming Your Bird's Beak. It will help shed some light on how beak trimming works, and what you and your bird can expect.