Parrot News

Parrot Health and Happiness
Written by: Korey Santor, Jan Santor, & Kimberly Santor

The Most Gentle Macaw-The Lovable Green Wing

The Green Winged Macaw, scientific name Ara Chloroptera, is also commonly known as the Maroon Macaw or Red and Green Macaw. They are second only in size to the Hyacinth Macaw. The Green Wing is often confused with the Scarlet because of all the red coloring but can easily be told apart by looking at their backs. The Green Wing has a green band of color while the Scarlet has a yellow band of color across its back.
          The Green Wing is one of the most colorful Macaws, bright red is the dominant color while the feathers near the body are dark red and turn green in the middle of the wing and the tips are lined in a bluish color. The tail is also a dark red with bluish tips. Their feet are dark grey and the iris is a pale yellow. These birds are between 25-36 inches long head to tail and have a soaring span of up to 49 inches. The Lovable Green Wing can tip the scale at over 1800 grams and have extremely powerful beaks.
          The natural habitat of the green wing is Central and South America, running from eastern panama south across northern South America, east of the Andes to Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. They can be found in the rain forests and at clay cliffs running along the river banks. However, because of deforestation and the illegal pet trade, the Green Wing Macaw has been put on the endangered species list. It will probably only be through captive breeding that this lovable bird stays off the extinct species list. Their main source of food is speckled sunflower, high in protein. They also consume white sunflower, shelled oats, corn seed, peanuts, pine nuts, hemp and buckwheat. You can supplement their diet with tropical fruit, vegetables and various nuts.
          The Green Wing is a social bird and flock animal while they mate for life, in the wild these birds can travel in family groups of up to 100 birds. Even in such large flocks mates will stick close to each other. These Macaws are naturally active and spend many hours a day flying, playing and eating. In captivity, these birds still require a lot of activity and must be given ample playtime.
          These birds are very lovable, intelligent, and inquisitive. This makes them great companions for a single person or a whole family, if the bird is socialized properly. However, being inquisitive has its draw backs. These birds see everything in their environment as their toys or food; therefore they can chew on electric cords or tear up those cherished keepsakes, so keep this in mind when you let them out for fun and exercise. Also, because they are so intelligent they sense our mood and often get in that same mood too; i.e., if you are angry they get angry, if you are happy they are happy. Remember, approach your bird as a friend and family member and enjoy a happy and lifelong companionship with your lovable giant, the Green Wing Macaw.

Picture from www.parrot-bird.com

NOW MEET JACK, conure WHO NOW LIVES WITH BABY THE BLUE AND GOLD MACAW.

Abby

I am going to let Bruce Ley tell you Jack's story because he tells it so well, as he takes us on the journey of Jack's "Ransom Rescue" from harm's way; to bringing Jack to his safe haven of well cared for and well loved Parrots. Bruce had to retire early, due to disability, and has since filled his life with parrots that need to be loved, cared for and resocialized. Some will stay with Bruce forever; some will become so well adjusted that they can be found other, loving, forever homes. No, Bruce does not run an "official" bird rescue; he rescues from the heart and connects with the hearts of parrots; almost like a bird whisperer. (Jan Santor)

"When I got Jack he had been locked in a 2ft x2ft x3ft cage with a Military Macaw named Noodles. Their previous owner threw shoes at them and anything else at hand. As near as I could tell he was hit with a left hand. Jack has a fear of left hands. Jack is a feather biter he was down to his downy feathers on his chest and back. When I got him he was about 2 1/2 years old.

Where I picked Jack up was 120 miles from home so I made a perch for the seat of my S10 truck. He sat on that perch for the first 60 miles staring at me, while I talked to him. We got stuck in traffic on the way home and he started climbing on the back of the seat and coming towards me with beak open. Being the first big bird I had ever had; I was a little leery of him, since he didn't seem too friendly. I was ready to jump out of the truck and let him have it all to himself. Jack climbed on my shoulder and looked me straight in the eyes and said "Well Hello!" He sat there the rest of the way home and talked to me.

The first 6 months was a trial and error time, as I learned how to interact with him. That is when I found out about the left hand. That is still his biggest fear. After 4 years he is just starting to go into his cage. Now he has a huge Cage; but he hadn't been in a cage since he came here. He would just reach in and get food and water.

He still is not much on human interaction, only on his terms and when he wants it. Some days Jack will run from me and get as far away as he can get, on his cage, its like old memories that come back. When he wants attention he says Step Up. Then he will take Sunflower seeds out of my lips and never touch them with his beak. He still doesn't like being touched very much. He will get on the love seat with me and sit on my lap or my shoulder and talk to me, and get treats.

Jack still feather bites at times but not as often as he did at first or as much as he did before he came to live with my flock and I. When he sees me eating, he asks if it's good. It's his way of begging for food. It's a long slow process to gain an abused parrot's trust. It's been a little over 4 years for Jack and me; but, it's worth the work. It's still a one day at a time with him, but I wouldn't trade him for 2 perfect macaws.

I just bought a Blue & Gold Macaw 2 weeks ago that has been neglected for the last 8 months. She is next to him; they have become friends. She goes over to visit him and they play together. I'm hoping that she will help him over come some of his issues, because she loves human attention. One day he will be whole again, but; it might take years. Parrots never forget the abuse they have suffered at the hands of man." (Bruce Ley)

**NOTE TO THE READERS: Noodles, the Military Macaw, was "ransom rescued" by another person who loves and cares for him in his new forever home. (Jan Santor)

Egg Binding and Chronic Egg Laying-Part 3

Many times people forget that our parrots are just a few generations from the wild and their instincts still dominate their behavior. Most birds are flock birds and are very social, so if you do not have more than one bird it is your responsibility to spend time interacting with the bird.
          Excessive egg laying and egg binding are generally instinctual and are controlled primarily by environment and nutrition. We will discuss both of these factors, first, how to create a more balanced environment and then how to provide for the nutritional needs of your laying hen. These steps will generally help to curb cronic laying and prevent egg binding.
          When we discuss environment we are talking about all aspects of the hens surroundings. The first aspect of the environment that needs to be controlled is the light. Most birds require 10-12 hours of light and it is best to use UV lights which helps with vitamin b-d deficiency. Breeders who wish to encourage laying will slowly increase the light, while decreasing the light will discourage laying. Other environmental factors are important in discouraging laying, taking away any enclosed dark place will help stop the bird from wanting to lay.
        Removing any materials that can be used for nesting, such as paper, plants or other nesting materials will deny the hen the ability to build a nest. Additionally, any toys that the bird may use as a perceived mate should be removed. Also, one of the factors that create breeding conditions is the abundance of rainfall or baths, so these must be eliminated until the hen stops laying. The availability of abundant fruits and vegetables will also signal the hen into her breeding cycle. You must be careful to create balance for your hen in her environment and it will help keep her from going into the breeding cycle which once triggered releases hormones for the production of eggs.
      Many captive birds will have calcium and vitamin b-d deficiency, it becomes more serious if it is a laying hen. Providing a proper nutrition for you bird is sometimes challenging but a vital part of the birds well being. It is important to provide a source of UV light as it does not penetrate glass windows and is vital to vitamin intake. Also, having many sources of calcium, such as, supplements, cuddlefish and almonds will help with strong bones, muscles and egg production. Additionally, the use of vitamin D-3 will help the bird absorb the calcium better.
       Another nutritional concern is the intake of fat based vitamins like Vitamin F and Vitamin A. These fat based vitamins help keep the mucus membrane around the vent soft and flexible. This can be one of the causes of egg binding because the vent has no muscle tone from lack of calcium and then the lack of fat based vitamins create a vent that is dry and not pliable. If the bird is trying to pass the egg and the vent is dry, try to rub some vegetable or olive oil around the vent. However, it important to add natural sources of the vitamins by feeding oily seeds such as safflower, sunflower and niger seeds.
       Remember prevention is always the best cure. Keep your precious pet healthy with nutritional food, a balanced environment, and plenty of mental stimulation through toys and human interaction.

Molly

MOLLY'S MUNCHIES:

WRITTEN BY MOLLY B. QUAKER TO TEMPT THE TASTE BUDS OF BIRDIES EVERYWHERE.

HAPPY HOLWOWEEN TA AWL MY BIRBIE FWIENDS AND DERE SKIN FAMBLYS. Dis be Molly b. Santor and eye am gonna teech u how to hewp ure skin fambly make gud, gud, snacks fer u. Dunt wet dem trow da seeds owt when dey carbe da jackowantern!!! U telled dem to wash da yucky dem an put dem in zippy woc bag wib sum Honey Woasted Weet Germ an shake it up reel gud. (Fer u birbies dat wike hot stuffs, yew can put some hot peper seeds in da bag too).
Hab ure skin fambly turn da oben on to 350 degreees and put da coated seeeds on a coooky sheet an stik dem in de oben fer bout 10 minutes an den turn dem ober wib a flat tool cawled a patula an put em bak in daa oben fer anober 10 minutes. Wet dem cool reallby reallby gud and den hab a few in ure tweet cup ebery ober day or so.

HAVE FUN TWICK ER TWEETING AN EETING GUD, GUD, PUNKIN SEEDS.

I will bees back wib more gud stuff for ure skin fambly to make fer ewe in da next issue ob da Caged Bird Courier. (Molly b. Quaker)

LEGISLATIVE/FISH & WILDLIFE UPDATES. LEGISLATION AND LAWS:

The staff at Bird Cages Galore is DOING THE HAPPY DANCE!!! PLEASE JOIN US AS WE ANNOUNCE THAT THE FOLLOWING PARROTS ARE NOW BEING CONSIDERED FOR PROTECTION UNDER "ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT"!!!!! These birds should have been protected a long time ago and FINALLY, THEY ARE BEING RECOGNIZED AND CONSIDERED!!!!!!!!! PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW AND SEND YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT NEED TO PROTECT THESE PARROTS! (Jan Santor)

If adopted, the proposal would list the following species as "Endangered" under the ESA:

Umbrella Cockatoos
Moluccan Cockatoos
Lesser Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos
Red-Vented Cockatoos
Blue-Headed Macaws
Blue-Throated Macaws
Buffon's Macaws
Hyacinth Macaws
Scarlet Macaws
Military Macaws
Shining Parrots,
Grey-Cheeked Parakeets
Yellow Billed Amazon Parrots
Green-Cheeked Amazon Parrots

Anyone owning this species would be affected. Consider taking a minute to contact the FWS: http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=09000064809f0e3a

You may read the FWS proposed change at: http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#documentDetail?R=09000064809f0e3a

Quaker Parrot

QPS is a registered 501(c)3 non profit organization for by Quaker Parakeet owners, breeders and conservationists committed to promoting national interest and understanding of Quakers.

We would love to feature your bird in our next newsletter!

If you would like your bird featured just Contact Us with your birds story and a photo.
Sincerely, Kimberly Santor
Bird Cages Galore