The Slope to Extinction

There’s a concept in futuristic and speculative fiction that we can take DNA samples of all the living animals on our planet, freeze them or otherwise preserve them, and at the time we find a new planet that is a veritable Garden of Eden, revive and release the Earth inhabitants to the new world. I can think of at least two movies and one book where this concept is key to the story.

A Foraging Party

Parrots and most birds are happiest when their lives as pets have elements of their lives in the wild. Lots of wood to chew on, lots of fresh greens and grains, and lots of contact with their flock. Toys can also keep parrots busy and happy, but there is one better way to keep a bird occupied and not bored.

Gotta Name Them All

You’ve doubtless heard the adage of not naming animals because then you have to keep them. For the most part, that’s true and applies to baby parrots as well. The problem is, in hand feeding, I have to record the weight of the chick every morning. I need a way to reference the birds as individuals to keep the record straight.

Surprise Cockatiel

So much goes on with my flock and my hand feeding chores that I can lose track of what birds are doing what. I learned to do a head count daily, to make sure I haven’t lost anyone. When I get too busy, I get surprises. Not all of them are good surprises.