Falconry Supplies: Quality and Utility

What are falconry supplies? For a layman to understand, falconry supplies include knives, hoods, anklets etc. High quality falconry are necessary in the preparation of the wonderful art of falconry. Falconry is an art that is practiced in today's world. A lot of organizations and companies support the cause of falconry. Falconry supplies are the pre- requisite requirement of the process of falconry. Over the years,business has flourished.

It is very important for the person who is buying the supplies to know the quality of the supplies and then also be aware of its usage. Because until and unless you would know its utility, there would be no point in buying the supplies. For the falconry lovers, it is important to have the best falconry supplies that fulfil the purpose of being accurately functional: in work and in style.

Gloves is the first thing that a falconer must obtain before he starts learning the art of falconry. What is the purpose of the falconry gloves? They perform the function of the ensuring safety to the falconer while he is after the bird of prey.

At present, there are many equipment that sell the competitive rates to survive in the market. For them, a proper survival in the market is important. Some companies deliver the products within the duration of 24 hours after the payment is made.But for clients, it is very important to get the perfect deal at suitable prices. They would never be interested in wastage of money. You need to chose the most reliable of the companies that provides you with the best of the falconry supplies. You should also possess total information about the products and how to buy them and in which season.

Arabian Falconry is one of the leading names when it comes to the delivery of the falconry supplies such as swivels, hoods, falconry gloves. You will be assured of the best quality at affordable prices. Their products are totally reliable and competitive.

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Red-Bellied Woodpeckers

Red-bellied Woodpeckers have a distinct style of their own. They sometimes are thought of as pests. This is because they like to pick at and make holes in just about anything. They think they can find food under most wood. Tree bark or wooden house side board looks to them like a place to make a nice nest. This does include trees, logs, posts, houses and wooden overhangs. Your wooden structure might be a target.

They are very beautiful birds with bold black-and-white striped backs and flashing red caps and napes. Most of the time, they can be found in the smaller trees and branches of the eastern forests and woodlands.

With your binoculars take some time and look for general markings and characteristics, things that you notice right off. Do not spend a lot of time trying to memorize different aspects of the Red-bellied Woodpecker's. Just look for general information and then you will be able to quickly recognize what group these birds belong to by noticing size, general shape, colors and their behavior.

I suggest that you keep a note book of these characteristics. You can add to it from time to time. This will help you understand and learn. But be patient and note things only one at a time. Otherwise you may get tired and discouraged because you can't remember everything at once. It will all come in time as you watch these birds. Also take a look at the field marks such as a wingbar and eyering markings to tie some IDs down.

Please remember also to note what time of year you see them as well as other kinds of birds you see in your neighborhood. Then you will be able to keep track of them better next year when the return.

A good field book on birds will help, but do not try to memorize everything in it all at once. Just learn about your specific bird of interest.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Size & Shape
A sleek with a well rounded-head, without the blocky outlines of Hairy Woodpecker
Color Pattern
Pale overall underbelly, and a boldly black-and-white striped back, with flashing red cap and nape
Behavior
Hitches along branches and trunks of medium to large trees, picking at bark more often than drilling into it
Habitat
Eastern woodlands and forests

Birding is a great sport, especially watching Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Their antics and activities will keep you busy for hours. With some enjoyable work in preparation by learning a few basics about them and with a good pair of bird watching binoculars you can have many hours of pleasure with your family or by yourself.

Roger Johnson

Pigeon Racing - How It Started in Our Family

Pigeon racing has been a hobby of the Mortons for many generations. My Grandfather's Father was a pigeon fancier when Granddad was a young boy, I don't know very much about him, but my granddad, during his lifetime, I got to know a lot about him.

Fortunately for me, granddad sat his grandson (me) on his knee and told me so many stories that I wrote a book about those stories. I will touch on a couple in this article.

To get back to pigeon racing, granddad built his pigeon loft on a small piece of property that all the coal miners were granted by the Mining Companies way back in 1926, They gave the miners, those who were interested of course, a small piece of land. This land would be approximately ? of an acre. The name they gave it was an allotment. An allotment was so the miners could grow vegetables and have a couple of animals.

Granddad eventually had rabbits and goats and of course his racing pigeons.. The goats for milk, and for breeding, and, if the new borne was a billy (male). It became a lot of meals for the family. The rabbits, also were sold for meat.

He had a nanny goat, and a billy. Granddad had his neighbors bringing their nanny goats to be bred, so granddad did make a few shillings with all his little sidelines.

However, his pigeon racing was his joy.

Granddad, I would say, was the organizer of the pigeon racing, he arranged and organized the whole club.

In those days, no-one really had any money, so arranging for the Station Manager of the local railway station to take the racing pigeons a couple of hundred miles away was quite a negotiation chore.

However, the locals eventually had their pigeon racers and everyone had fun.

Lure Birds Into Your Little Garden With Some Healthy and Reasonable Bird Food

Birds are pleasant animals to have in your backyard. No matter how plain or unremarkable your garden is, if birds frequent it, it breathes of life and energy and draws an animal-friendly ambience. Birds, however, do not just assemble out of the blue and befriend you. Sure there will be few that will wander into your tiny community of plants and animals, but if you want them to pay you a visit in big numbers, you must lure them. Hand them some bird food, and after a time, when they realize there is lavishness just outside your domicile, they will go here more regularly.

Several kinds of birds nourish on several kinds of food. So before you go to the store or concoct your own mix, do some little research and determine what every sort of bird eats. You need to decide, of course, which bird you want to charm and be acquainted with their food. For example, if you want robins to jump down into your patio, get seed mixes that they are fond of. If you want to aim at smaller birds, on the other hand, scatter some millet or some other mixes that do not include oats or wheat. If goldfinches are what you want to pay you a visit, choose niger seeds.

You can feed the bird food to your winged guests in various ways. The easiest is just to spread the seeds or mixes all over the area. This type of feeding is expedient and economical as you do not have to acquire anything else aside from the food. Plus this approach encourages your little friends to trip around the four corners of your space. If you want to do it in a more orderly method and you hate the clutter, find a bird table or ground feeder and leave the mix on it. If the wind blows the seeds a way, a seed feeder would be a good idea.

Some feeds are more nutritious than others. This is another aspect you have to take into account. Sunflower hearts are one of the healthier options because they contain nutrients that make the birds nimble. The downside is that they are slightly pricier than the other seeds. Birds, however, love them and devour every seed since they do not have husks. Black sunflower seeds are a cheaper alternative, but some birds do not like to devour the husks; hence a good fraction of the food is not consumed.

You can also formulate your own mix of bird food. This is great savings for you as you do not have to procure the food; instead you will just have to mix assorted ingredients that are available in your house. Leftover food, for one, is an excellent source of nutrition for the birds. You can mix coconut with peanut butter, for example. Birds are also attracted to bacon, dried fruit, and cheese. And when they realize that there is all the time food obtainable in your area, they will keep coming, and possibly even bring along their younglings to share in some delightful meal.

The Best Tips For Parrot Feeding: From Beginner To Expert

There are many responsibilities involved with raising a happy, healthy animal. Pets need more than just a cage and some water. They need love, training, and also a nutritious diet. Parrots are no different from any other animal when it comes to these needs. Parrot feeding is not a very hard concept to learn if you are serious about wanting an extremely healthy animal.

Parrots need to be fed a lot of food throughout the day. However, you do not want to over feed them. If you find that your bird is always finishing a meal very quickly, then you may not be putting out enough food. If the bird only eats half of the bowl every time, chances are you are putting too much food out for it. As you get to know your parrot, you will soon learn its eating pattern.

Another important thing to remember is that your bird should eat at least 3 meals per day. In some cases they may eat 5 or 6. This all depends on the size and appetite of your bird. Don't be shocked if your bird is eating many meals per day. That may just be because the parrot is so healthy and strong. Although, don't be fooled if your bird is starting to gain weight fast. This means that you need to reduce the amount of food provided or your pet is only going to get fatter.

Now that we have discussed when you should feed your parrot, you need to know what to feed it. If you are feeding your animal one thing all the time, it is not getting proper nutrition. Just like any other pet, parrots need a mix of nutrients to stay healthy and live longer. Some owners put their parrots on seed-only diets. This is a huge mistake. As you can probably already guess, seeds do not have enough vitamins and nutrients to cover an entire healthy diet.

Instead of trying to buy one food that your bird will eat, buy it many different kinds. Parrots are not usually picky eaters. You can feed them vegetables, fruit, nuts, meat, and also a portion of healthy seeds. Just make sure you are always switching it up. If you were fed one specific food every day of your life, wouldn't you get bored? Well parrots are the same way. They don't want to eat one thing every day. Mix it up and feed your animal a variety of nutritious foods.

The thing that you need to remember when creating a healthy parrot diet is this one rule: variety. Make sure that you are feeding your bird as many different things as possible. If you have to, you can even feed them straight from your dinner plate. Just make sure you are keeping it healthy and nutritious.

How To Find The Right Parrot Type

Many people struggle to find a pet that they can depend on and live with for a large part of their lives. They try to find a dog that is loyal, a cat that is friendly, or a parrot that is social. Nowadays, it is hard to find a pet that will become your best friend. You have to know what you are looking for and understand what you truly want. As mentioned above, parrots are one of the animals that people look into because they believe that these birds will make the loneliness in their lives disappear. So how do you find the right parrot type?

Searching to find the right parrot type is a very easy process that does involve a lot of research. It also involves a lot of luck. If you have a computer available, surfing the web for different types of these birds would be very productive. The internet will list all of the kinds of parrots and how each of them differs from each other.

Books are another great resource that you should take full advantage of. Libraries around the world have millions of books on birds, or parrots, to be more specific. Observing and researching using books is a great way to learn about any animal, because the book is made for one subject and does not stray from that topic. Books also give plenty of facts as well as stories about how animals behave.

Listed below are a few of the different types of parrots in the world that are available for purchase. Each word has a summary that will tell you a little bit about each bird.

Cockatiels- These birds are perfect if you are a first time bird owner. They are usually extremely gentle and easy to handle even for children. These parrots are also very easy to train because of how social and positive they are.

Budgies- This type of bird is typically green and yellow. The word budgie is short for budgerigar. These birds are great to have around because of how gentle they are with children. They will make your entire family laugh because they love to entertain a large crowd. These birds are most commonly found in Australia.

Parakeets- This type of bird is normally much smaller in comparison to other normal parrots. What they lack in size they make up for with their beautiful colors and patterns. These birds breed abundantly in Africa.

Macaws- Perhaps the most well-known type of parrot, these birds have the largest wingspan of any other kind. They come in bright colors such as blue and even gold. One downfall to owning a macaw is that they need a lot of training and responsibility. If not trained properly, they may be loud and obnoxious.

Parrot Breeder Information

By now I assume since you are reading this article you have decided to buy a parrot. There are several options available to you. You could buy it online. You could go to a local pet store and buy a parrot but I would suggest that for your peace of mind that you consider a reputable breeder.

Make sure the breeder has raised and sold parrots for a several years. Why? Because that way you will be sure that the breeder has a positive reputation, established over the years.

There is not one standard when it comes to breeding and raising parrots. However, most breeders follow these simple rules. The first concerns handling the baby parrot after it hatches. It is imperative to get nutritious food into the small hatchling right away. Some breeders feed the hatchlings by hand to insure the parrot ingests the proper nutrients.

After the initial feeding the baby parrot must be weaned from that diet and introduced to solid food. For some birds this can be very traumatic and it is best to feed it a diet of fresh produce, warm soft food as well as acceptable seed. Usually a young bird won't starve. It will eat when it becomes hungry. If you try to force it to eat it might become stressed and most breeders can tell if this is happening.

Another key element of breeding is to let the young bird spread it wings. This is very natural behavior for most birds-parrots or otherwise. You will find that the most experienced and humane breeders will not clip a baby parrots wings until it has mastered this natural skill. The reason is that birds that are allowed to learn the skill of flying seem to be better adjusted and socialized. Another words, they are better pets and show less negative personality traits. After your parrot has learned this skill it's OK to clip the birds wings to prevent it from damaging your furniture.

A key development skill is taking a bath. In the wild most birds enjoy this simple pleasure. If your breeder has not introduced the young parrots to this activity I would question their competence. It is a hygienic matter for the young parrot and it can affect the emotional development of the bird.

Visit your breeder's aviary. It is a good way to get a feeling for how the breeder conducts the development process for their birds. I would suggest you do your homework and go to the breeder's location with a list of questions. Most breeders are proud of their facilities and welcome any questions potential clients have.

Although most breeders don't have a money back guarantee I know a few that will take a bird back rather than having the parrot abandoned or placed in an unsuitable environment. It is worth it for the difference in cost to use a breeder. It's a surefire way to guarantee that the history and background of your potential parrot purchase is readily available and that information is critical to a happy healthy and well-adjusted parrot.

About the Author: Michael Joseph is a parrot enthusiast. He enjoys sharing Parrot care tips. Check out his videos at: [http://www.youtube.com/theparrotprofessor]. Michael Joseph is the author of the Learn About Parrots system consisting of 2 eBooks: Raising Polly-Everything you need to know about raising a healthy, happy and well adjusted Parrot and Training Your Parrot-12 simple tricks your parrot can learn. For more information about Parrot Care and to get your FREE 10-part mini ecourse on how to care for your parrot, please visit http://www.learnaboutparrots.com/

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Build A Hutch For Just Two Chickens

If you only want to keep a couple chickens, then you're probably looking for a small chicken coop plan. You might want a movable chicken coop, also known as an ark or perhaps a chicken hutch would work very well for you.

A chicken hutch built properly is easy to take care of and it is also easy to find a good location for it in your yard. It is perfect for someone just getting started.

There are a few things you should keep in mind when building a hutch.

First of all, you need to be sure to build a large enough door. In so doing you will make sure your chickens are able to go in and out of the hutch easily. The door needs to be large enough for them. Do not make the door so small that your chickens will have to struggle to get in and out of the hutch When you make sure the door is large enough you can then attach a wooden flap which will allow them to get in and out and still be protected from predators.

The next thing you need to be sure to do is raise the hutch approximately a foot off the ground. More or less it doesn't have to be exact. Then all you will need to do is make sure the chickens have a ramp for easy access.

Last thing you need to be aware of is the hutch needs a lid thereby making it easy for you to access the interior either to take care of your chickens or to clean the inside of the hutch. It is really important that you keep the inside of the hutch clean and if you do not have easy access you are not likely to clean on a regular basis.

In the event you decide to keep more chickens later on your hutch need not go to waste. Many people place their hutch inside the larger coop, but for the time being building a hutch for just two chickens is much cheaper and will take less time than building a regular chicken coop and will do just fine for your chickens.

So whether you choose a movable chicken coop or a hutch both will serve the purpose very well and your chickens will have a comfortable home in which to eat, sleep and lay their eggs.

Jody Fischer is interested in helping folks learn more about raising chickens and how to build the proper shelter for them. Many people are researching the possibility of raising chickens so it is her hope they will find the information they need here. Please go here for additional information.

building-a-chicken-coop

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Why Pet Birds Like Having Mirrors in Their Cages

Pet birds can bring a lot of joy into a home and are not very expensive to be chosen as pets. Of course, I am talking about parakeets, love birds and other not-so-expensive birds from the parrot family.

A smaller bird will cost less in every part of pet ownership, cheaper cage, cheaper maintenance.

If you have decided on getting a bird as a pet, you need to know that they are social animals. They love being in couples. Keeping one bird will require you to spend much more time with it.

But what if you want one bird. Just a single bird to share the space with you. You don't mind devoting time to it. But there will be days when you will have to leave your bird alone.

That is where the mirror comes in handy.

Pet birds like having mirrors in their cages and putting one in the cage will make your pet bird very happy. It will also make them very talkative. So what's with those mirrors and birds.

Being so social, birds love company. What do you see when you look at yourself in the mirror. Yourself. What does a bird see? Another bird. A friend. A buddy. Another bird to talk to and spend time with.

You can see parakeets spending hours talking to mirrors. They chirp and talk in a voice softer than usual. They are actually socializing with the other bird.

That's all to it. That is why they love mirrors. It gives them the opportunity to socialize with someone else than you.

There is one important thing to know when it comes to mirrors, too. If you are trying to teach your parakeet or other bird to talk, you should reconsider putting a mirror in the cage.

Why? Having another bird is going to make it much harder on you to teach the bird to talk. Having a friend is having someone to talk to. Having a mirror in the cage is the same thing. And if the bird has someone to talk to, it won't talk to you much. That means it will learn our speech much slower and harder.

The Loyal Friendship Of A Pet Parrot

One creature that has forever amazed me is the pet parrot. My aunt had a pet parrot and as a child, I used to enjoy visiting her. The parrot was amusing and extremely friendly. Since my husbands death, I have been alone. This had lead me to spend a lot of time looking at aged pictures. More so, the ones of when I was a child and visiting my aunt to see her parrot. The photos made me think if I should purchase a parrot to replace the vacuum left in my life.

The setback was that I did not know anything at all, about caring for a parrot. Time and patience were the single things needed according to my aunt. The Crisis was that patience was not my strong point. With the right care I knew a parrot would be the perfect pet for me. I would give the parrot friendship and in return, it would become my buddy. The library would be the perfect place to cram up on how to look after pet birds.

The library book was ideal, packed with notes. It advised purchasing a big enough cage to allow the parrot to move around comfortably, to spread its wings. Day-by-day, I would need to place paper at the bottom of the cage. This would catch all mess and food. This wouldn't be a glitch, I always have the hoover on standby. The bird would also require toys to keep it entertained as well as a perch to stand on. Don't forget the food and water bowls.

Some birds also like to take a wash in clean water so I should provide a small bird bath as well. Most importantly, it needed a varied diet to gain all the vitamins it needed. Certain grain foods, nuts, fruit and veggies are ideal things to feed them.After reading the book, I realised that keeping a parrot is not trouble-free work. It didn't put me off though as there was also the prospect of teaching it how to talk. Apparently vocal contact is exceedingly important, that was ok with me as sometimes I never shut up.The next day, I went to the pet shop. There I came across the most friendly pretty African grey Parrot. The staff member said it was a very loving bird. The staff member was also able to give me further pointers such as not using chemicals to clean the cage. So I bought the cage, toys, food and water bowls, a few more books and of course the parrot.

Dolly is the name of my new parrot and she is such a great friend. We bonded straight away and I can't imagine life without her. Much of the advice, tips and hints that have been given to me came from the internet. From the internet, I learned how to keep them on cloud nine to what to do if they were ill.

Do The Best Parrots Come From Parrot Breeders?

Being a breeder for any of Mother Nature's creatures is a very important job as the breeder is taking nature's place and must compensate for what the animal may no longer have once taken into captivity. Understanding the animal and providing a positive and safe environment is very important when caring for animals. In regards to Parrot Breeders, these too need to knowledgeable and caring towards the birds not only for the breeders or future owners safety, but the parrots safety as well.

If you are interested in buying a parrot, you can either buy a parrot from a pet store or parrot breeders. When buying from a pet store, make sure that the stores personnel can answer any questions that you may have, provide information about where the parrot came from and the care it has received. The store should be clean and provide other amenities to care for the bird if needed.

If choosing to buy directly from a breeder, he should be able to answer any question that you may have (before and after the sale) from the color of the eggs to the last meal the parrot had; you should also be able to see where the birds aviary. The younger parrots should eat fresh fruits and vegetables, soft food, seeds or pellets.

The pet store and the parrot breeders should both provide clean and safe environments as well as being known to offer healthy animals to new owners. Be cautious of buying when you are unsure of where the parrot came from as some birds are shipped illegally and without the proper quarantines that are necessary when traveling from one country to another.

Similar to that of caring for a young child and how it affects its adult life, how a parrot is cared for when it's young will affect it during its adult years. Parrot breeders must be able to provide the proper nurturing from the egg to when it is sold; if the parrot breeder isn't good at their job, the bird will give the new owner trouble and be difficult to handle which is not good for either the parrot nor the owner. As with any species, different varieties will require some different things to survive (such as environment and food). This is the same for parrots; each type is a little unique from the next so each one requires something a little different.

The beginning of any life is very important so the care that is provided to the birds is crucial to their health and longevity. Not only should the young be tended to accordingly with safety and food but they should also be introduced to bathing and this should be done before all of their feathers have grown in. Flying is a crucial part of a parrot's life and some owners prefer to have the wings clipped. It is important for the babies to know how to fly prior to the wings being clipped; this is a good question to ask of the pet store and parrot breeders.

Parrots are unique, beautiful, talkative and intelligent birds. Parrots can live a very long life and even outlive their owners so it is important to take this timeframe into consideration when choosing a parrot for a pet either from a pet store or Parrot Breeders

Furnishing Your Bird Room - 4 Must-Haves For a Fabulous Home Aviary

So you've decided to share your home and your life with a bird. You'll spend many happy hours together and form a bond that needs no words. Your bird will depend on you to provide a space that is the best that it can be in every way. Here are 4 things that will make your aviary a place that both you and your bird can enjoy.

A Safe and Spacious Cage---One of the most important things to have is a place where your bird can be kept safely. A stainless steel cage is one of the best investments you can make. Yes, initially it is more expensive than cages made of other materials, but it will last, making it cost effective in the end. Stainless steel is also safe for birds and easy to clean.

Proper sizing is crucial. A cage that is too small is similar to making a person spend its entire life in a closet. And just like a person, a bird's mental and emotional health can suffer because of cramped quarters.

This space for your bird, even though enclosed, should be big enough for it to fly, tall enough for it to move to several different levels, and spacious enough so they are not forced to defecate in the food and water dishes.

Safe Play Area Outside the Cage----It is important to let your bird fly free for several hours each day. This will give you and chance to interact one on one, and keep their wings healthy and strong.

Having a designated play area will keep your bird engaged in activities that are safe, and focus attention on toys that designed for it. This lessens the chances that it will chew on or damage things that it shouldn't.

Include perches, brightly colored toys, and swings with bells. Foraging toys are great for keeping your bird engaged. Be sure to check the condition of toys frequently to make sure they are safe. Rotate toys both inside and outside of the cage so that your bird doesn't get bored.

Low Maintenance D?cor---Encourage yourself to spend time in the room by furnishing it with comfortable sofas and chairs. Choose covering that can be wiped clean, vacuumed, or washed to keep dust and dander levels to a minimum. Choose flooring that can be thoroughly cleaned (linoleum, tile, or wood) and window coverings that hold less dust---vertical blinds, shutters, or shades.

Using furnishings that encourage you to spend time in the room will help you foster a strong relationship with your pet. And studies have shown that happy pets (and people too) live longer, healthier lives.

Air Filtration System---Most home filters that are a part of the heating and air conditioning systems are not designed to adequately handle the additional particles that your feathered friend will produce. That is why an air cleaner in your room is a must.

Dander, feathers, and dust can remain airborne which means both you and your bird are forced to breathe in air that is filled with particles, both visible and invisible. Because avian air passages are so small, it doesn't take much to clog them. And clogged air passages often lead to disease and infection which can greatly reduce the life span of your bird.

Using a HEPA (or high efficiency particle arresting) air purifier will keep particulate levels low, and help reduce the airborne irritants that can trigger asthma and allergy flare-ups in humans. It will also reduce the amount of cleaning you will need to do each day.

Yellow Naped Amazon Parrot: An Overview

If you are looking for a pet parrot and want one with intelligence, funny personality, impressive talking capability and awesome singing ability, then it has to be a yellow naped amazon parrot. In their own habitat these parrots can be found in Central America, along the Pacific slope, North Western Costa Rica and Southern Mexico.

One very disastrous effect is that deforestation in recent years has reduced the number of these parrots in the wild, yet their stunning personality has attracted it towards a lot of parrot owners.

Description:

A yellow naped amazon parrot usually weighs around 480 to 680 grams and in a size of around 35 cm. The most noticeable feature of these parrots is their green forehead with a yellow band across their lower nape. Some parrots develop a lot more yellow on them than others do, while others do not have any yellow feathers at all. These yellow feathers appear with maturity and can also be found at the back of the neck. They usually have pretty feet and a dark grey beak with a lighter upper.

Food:

Yellow naped amazon parrots like a very natural and simple diet of fruits, beans, berries, seeds and nuts. But remember it is important to mix and match these combinations in their diet so that they can keep themselves entertained and attracted towards their food. A variety in their diet ensures that they are getting all the vitamins they need. Vitamin enhanced pellets are also very good for them to have each day.

Personality:

Yellow naped amazon parrot is loved for their yellow and stunning green color but their intelligence and clown personality is usually the final decision maker when a person is looking for a pet parrot. They can be quite impressive when they start to talk. What's more? They can sing too! They can also imitate human voices and have a great sense of voice pitch.

An Amazon parrot can live for 60 years or even longer, provided that you take care of them really well. There are several striking mutations available in many parts of the world with the most beautiful being the Blue Mutation.

Training:

One fact to be aware of though is that a yellow naped Amazon parrot needs training because they do tend to bite, chew or even be very noisy during certain stages in their lives. Even a young bird which has not been neglected requires proper care and guidance which makes it very challenging for the owner.

Because they are so intelligent they do need stimulation and love being around their owners. When owners cannot be there they should have some stimulating toys for the parrot to play with. Perhaps look into the 'talking toys' as these have been working very well keeping parrots entertained.

To conclude, these birds are really attentive and responsive while being trained and this is why a lot of people love to own a yellow naped amazon parrot. These parrots have a fantastic sense of humor and their human imitation can surely cheer up the whole house. They love being around the owners and can become one of the family in a very short space of time.

Pigeon Loft: The Shocking Truth Why Your Existing Structure May Not Do!

Is turning an existing structure into a pigeon loft a good idea? If the existing structure you decide to use does not take into consideration the growing demands of your pigeons you are in trouble. Will you be one of the many first time loft builders who decide to use an existing arrangement only to be left with exceeding costs?

How to know if your existing construction is right for building a pigeon loft is critical. As you read this article you will learn what things to take into consideration before using an existing structure for your pigeon loft?

If you're like me you want to save as much money as possible that's why existing structures seem like an obvious choice. However this may not be the best choice. Let's go over a simple checklist of things you probably already know about pigeons but may not have thought about in your pigeon loft designs.

Pigeons need a lot of fresh air
Pigeons eat and go to bathroom regularly
Pigeons like people need to be able to move

Now ask yourself this question does the existing building you are going to use take into account the bullet points I outlined? If not than your existing structure won't do. But if you are on the fence and believe that the existing place may do here are some things to help clarify your decision.

Ventilation is one of the most overlooked but vital element in your loft design your birds need fresh air and sunshine if its possible adding exhaust fans would be ideal. However make sure you pay heavy attention to having your existing loft ventilated adequately.Is your existing building properly elevated off the ground? Proper elevation is needed for many reasons one in particular is your pigeon loft needs to be dry as much as possible. Finally this ties in with elevation does your existing structure hold out moisture? Moisture ranks #1 when it comes to sick birds. Your structure has to be as dry as humanly possible to not only ward of diseases but to also clean droppings. Dry droppings are easy to clean then wet droppings.

Feathers and Molt

Everyone knows a bird when they see one, but birds have some interesting features that make them unique in the animal kingdom. One thing common to all birds is that they have feathers. We think of birds as being able to fly, but there are birds that don't fly. Think penguins and Emus.

A bird's feathers are analogous to skin in most other animals. Like skin cells, the feathers sustain a great deal of wear, and don't last a bird's lifetime. The growth of feathers and replacement as they wear is called molt in birds. Molt is a well-known but not completely understood phenomenon in birds. Some birds are born naked or nearly naked of feathers, and are called altrical. Others are born with a full set of downy feathers and leave the nest almost immediately and are called precocial.

Most birds have a complete molt of feathers once a year, called the basic molt. This usually happens after breeding in adult birds. First cycle birds grow their juvenile feathers after hatching. Some species keep these juvenile feathers until the next year at the first full basic molt. Others replace some or all of the juvenile feathers in a special molt later in the first year called a preformative molt into the formative plumage. Birds who have a formative plumage in the first year are said to have a complex strategy of molt.

Some birds are commonly known to have a different plumage in the breeding season than in the non-breeding season. These may change by wear of their basic plumage feathers to a different appearance, as in many blackbirds, or by a pre-alternate molt into an alternate plumage that typically occurs prior to breeding season.

There remains much to understand about feather molt in many species, but in the last 10-15 years much study has led to a better understanding of avian molt.

Which One Of The Many Purple Martin House Kits Do You Have?

If you happen to own one of the many purple martin house kits that is resident to this migratory bird then you know what a treat it is to see them.

Purple martin birds are swallows that migrate up from South America and then move upwards to North America. Although they resemble swallows they are larger than that. They have a unique perspective when they find their housing by tucking their wings in at great heights and generate a lot of speed. They are a sight to see if you're one of the lucky people that have a nesting area for them.

Early in the calendar year the male birds start scouting for residency areas. If you have been lucky enough to attract these birds then you can count on them coming back year after year.

The more that people can build housing for these birds the better off the bird population will be. In some places in North America these birds are totally dependent upon man made bird houses to hold them up. Without a place for these birds to nest eventually they would dwindle in population.

People building these houses for these birds are keeping the population alive and well and the payoff is insuring that the breed keeps with nature.

The location of the actual bird house has a lot to do with attracting these birds. Placing these bird houses in an open range away from tall trees is one of the attractions that they look for. It's because of the high diving aerial stunts that these birds love to do that makes houses in open areas fond to them.

These birds diet on flying insects and insuring that they are plentiful in the environment you intend to build will insure that they will visit your spot. Purple martins prey on flies, wasps, grasshoppers, beetles and a whole lot more in that arena. Not enough in the mosquito territory though but most any other small flying insects.

Once the location and environment has been identified then making sure that the actual purple martin house is properly set up is the next important step to take.

You can go to the trouble of making sure that you have the proper hole sizes and distance between the openings or you can purchase pre cut made purple martin house kits.

Essential Bird Care Items

Birds are especially difficult to keep. They require plenty of maintenance and care.apart from that keeping a bird requires time, dedication and being thoughtful. One cannot fully understand what a bird is saying and feeling. However there are people who have a fascination for birds and have the ability to connect with them. Birds do not communicate as well as a pet dog would and hence are not preferred as pets. They are also not as affectionate as your furry four legged pets. However one cannot deny their beauty and their ability to please. People may go into owning pets without really knowing the hardships that come with them. However bird's health is a delicate issue and requires proper handling.

Here is a basic list of essential items required when you decide to domesticate a bird

The right cage: even though birds can be and in some cruel cases are being kept in small cages, doesn't men that it doesn't require space. Remember that they are used to living in large open spaces and so have been built in that manner.

They have a large wing span and they require stretching their wings out ever so often. Having said that, it would be a shame for you to get your pet a small cage. Make sure the cage is appropriate for the type of bird you are buying. You cannot keep a kit in a cage meant for a pigeon. That is just the worst thing one can do. If you are not aware of how to buy the right size, speak to people engaged in the bird world. Also speak to the person manning the supplies store for added information.

The right bird cage cover a cage over is a dark cloth cover that can be put on top of the cage. This cover has a calming effect on the bird. At times there your bird may shriek and make loud cries and sounds. These could be warning calls. Sometimes even after the bird has seen a predator like a cat or a snake, it may cry for hours after the animal has been driven away. At such times it can be calmed by sliding a cover over the cage.

However make sure the cover fits the cage properly. Also make sure that the cover allows for air to pass through it and doesn't result in the suffocation of the bird.

The right bird feed you must study and find out in detail about the behavioral patterns and feeding habits. Doing this will help you be prepared for the upkeep and also help your bird develop into a healthy specimen. Feeding habits and the feed must be correctly selected as per the tailor made requirements.

Right toys and perching objects your bird has claws for perching. In the state of nature birds rest while perching on branches and trees. Make sure you provide the bird with enough objects to perch on.

Water bowls birds require water, not only to drink but also to bathe and groom them selves in. In most birds grooming exercises are a social event with plenty grooming together and helping one another in a symbiotic manner. Make sure you provide your pet with a sufficiently large bathing bowl.

What About Chicken Breeds?

There are many breeds to choose from but it is important to choose the breeds for your particular area, and needs. Some breeds do better in areas where the weather is cooler and others do better in hot temperatures. You will also want to consider breeds for your particular needs and wants. Such as, do you want chickens that lay eggs or do you want chickens for their meat? Perhaps you want chickens who are egg producers and also meat producers. These are called dual purpose chickens. Chickens also come in two sizes.

You can have both sizes in your flock. They will get along. The large size is considered standard size the small size are call Bantam. The Bantam are usually raised for ornamental purposes. Their eggs are edible, but they do not lay on a regular schedule and the eggs are considerably smaller than standard size eggs.

If you live in an area where temperatures drop below freezing during part of the year or year around you would definitely want standard size chickens rather than the Bantam. You need to check the size of the combs and the waffles since the smaller they are it is less likely they will be affected by frostbite.

If the temperatures go above 100? the large size feathery chickens would not do well in your area. You should consider the bantams except for the feathered footed varieties.

If you are looking strictly for egg production, then of course you will look for the laying breeds. There are many people who consider the best layers to be inconsistent and nervous around humans. No doubt you will find it will depend on how you treat them initially and their individual personalities.

If you want to raise chickens for their meat the dual purpose breeds will serve you well.

The dual purpose chickens are the most common around the world. So if you want egg producers and meat producers the dual purpose chickens are the ones to consider. There are many breeds in that category.

Perhaps you are considering raising chickens for game, exhibitions and show. For many years, chickens have been cross bred strictly for this purpose and so you have many many breeds from which to choose the chickens for exhibition.

Obviously, as in anything you should educate yourself about the different breeds and what you can expect from them. You need to consider what you want from your chickens whether it be eggs or meat or both. You want to be sure you get the ones that will survive best in your area depending upon the extreme temperature changes.

Jody Fischer is interested in helping folks learn more about raising chickens and how to build the proper shelter for them. Many people are researching the possibility of raising chickens so it is her hope they will find the information they need here. Please go here for additional information.

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Bird Cages - 5 Top Tips on Buying a Bird Cage

You should know precisely what you are interested in when selecting bird cages. It is an extremely important choice for the well-being of the pet birds. The bird cage will likely be home for almost all of your bird's everyday living, so the cage should be a secure along with safe spot for birds, as well as a pleasant place to play and rest.

If you are new to bird keeping, the range of options, materials, designs and sizes can be extremely confusing, actually bewildering, so listed here are some vital tips to be considered when purchasing bird cages:

Purchase the biggest bird cage you possibly can

The most common blunder when purchasing a cage is deciding on one that is way too small. Buy the largest sized cage you can afford for the comfort as well as health of one's birds. There are bare minimum cage size demands for different bird species and if you would like to keep a number of birds the cage dimension must be proportionately larger.

Bar spacing is crucial

Combined with the cage size, your bar spacing and breadth are vital on your bird's safety. Too wide bar spacing and they will get their heads stuck in between the bars or perhaps escape; too small and they are able to get feet, beaks or wings caught and cause injury. Also the particular thickness is essential. For smaller birds a thin diameter wire is going to be adequate. However the larger the bird, the more substantial and more powerful the bars will have to be in order to avoid the bars getting bent or perhaps broken.

Keep your birds in appropriate shape

Buying a bird cage of the proper shape is actually significant for the health of your birds. Round cages should be avoided in general as this can cause disorientation and psychological disorders in some birds. Rectangular cages tend to be ideal and also, for most birds, breadth is more essential than height. This is especially true for smaller birds such as parakeets, finches and canaries as they have a tendency to fly back and forth in the cage allowing them to exercise.

A bird cage must be easy to clean

Hygiene of the birds should also be key point when selecting any bird cage for your feathered buddies. The bird cage needs to have easy access for cleaning, ideally since birds are untidy creatures. Consequently choose a cage in which your hand can easily reach directly into each place. Cages with broader doors as well as the ones having trays that can be readily taken out are the best options.

Safety is paramount

The most important item to consider when selecting bird cages is safety. The materials from which the cage will be constructed, virtually any sharp corners or edges, use of materials and paints are all aspects which can impact the safety of your pet bird.

Cages should be manufactured from stainless steel or finished with non-toxic paint and oven-baked to make a tough coating. Plastic coated wire is not recommended. Soft or fragile plastics can be simply broken and also consumed easily by birds. If the cage wires are welded together, these ought to be strong enough in order to avoid breakage by the bird and any cut edges should be smoothed and well finished to avoid damage.?

Keep these kind of points in mind when you are investing in a bird cage and you can have the pleasure of your birds in the understanding that you have provided a comfortable, safe and sound environment to reside.

Basics of Bird Breeding

For centuries man has engaged himself in the scrutiny of the feathered bundles of joy known as the birds. They are among the first species that man domesticated. They are captivating creatures that make absolutely wonderful pets and companions.

Choosing them as pets is a commitment that desires your full affection, care and attention. They come in many varieties and variations and keeping one needs ultra care and attention. The cage used to house them should be large enough to accommodate them. It is the home for your pet bird so add some accessories to make the them bloom without getting bored. Decorative and functional, a multi-tenant birdhouse attracts them that nest in small colonies.

Raising them requires a financial and time commitment. The type of bird for you will depend greatly on the commitment you are willing to make while considering one as a pet. Most of them fall into the categories of Parrot, Dove and Pigeons, Soft bills and Finches. Bird breeders intensively research and take great care to preserve the rare and captivating bird breeds.

Many bird experts believe that keeping the birds in an aviary, helps in successful breeding of the birds. The bird aviary should be set up to replicate the natural surroundings to ensure that they and their young ones will have a better chance of surviving in the wild. Some aviaries for caged endangered animal breeding are quite large giving the birds lots of room to roam about while offering the birds with fine nest building materials and sufficient amount of food for successful rearing of their young ones.

Find the bird breeders of ornamental and rare species and bird breeding equipment which you are looking for by going to SearchMe4, the UK based online business information directory, providing wide listings of pheasant breeders in the United Kingdom.

For more information on Bird Breeders, visit our business directory.

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Article Submitted On: January 20, 2011

The Benefit of Pet Bird Toys

Birds are very intelligent and active animals. Unless the person is a bird enthusiast, the average person does not understand the importance of pet bird toys. Pet bird toys are the answer to many self-destructive and destructive behaviors that bird owners may experience. In the wild birds are free to fly as well as interact with other birds. In captivity birds are not afforded these opportunities. Pet bird toys will solve problems that can arise when birds are not in their natural habitat.

There are many common issues that bird owners experience. Birds will sometimes scream for attention or become aggressive towards their owners and other humans. Other behaviors that can occur are self-mutilation such as feather picking. Even taking birds out of the cage for playtime and loving care will not always solve these issues. The reason for this is birds will still face a lot of time and isolation inside their cage. To combat this, pet bird toys will keep their minds sharp and burn up any excess energy. For young pets, bird toys increases body and brain development. And in the case of aggression, the birds will take it out on their toys instead of humans. There are a variety of pet toys that will maintain the sanity and happiness for all in the household - including the humans.

Every bird has the instinct of foraging. Because they are so intelligent, they would enjoy the amount of stimulation that comes with foraging toys. Hiding the food and treats inside the secret compartments will give them the opportunity to hunt and work for their food.

Foot toys are another useful toy, especially for parrots since they use their feet to play with toys. There are many types of pet bird toys that can be used as foot toys such as sticks, small balls, blocks and leather. To keep them interest levels up, rotate the toys regularly.

All birds like to preen. And in the worst case scenario a bored bird will preen to the point of feather plucking. Pet toys that are designed for preening will give the bird something else to pull, shred or pick at - instead of their feathers. These preening toys also give a calming effect to pet birds. They are mostly found in rope or different types of paper.

Also choose ladders, swings and play stands to give your pet plenty of exercise. In the wild they are quite active and are able to move around freely. Adding exercise equipment to your arsenal of pet toys will ensure that the bird is getting adequate exercise.

Certain breeds of birds like cockatoos and parrots have an ingrained desire to chew and taste things. Because of this there is a wide variety of chew toys on the market that are made with pieces of fruits, nuts and see; made to add nutrition to their diet. Other chew toys are made from wood and leather.

The last type of pet bird toys to keep in mind, are puzzle or intelligent toys. These toys are a great way to provide mental stimulation. Some owners have found these puzzle toys to be a success with dealing with a would-be escape artist, whose intent is to find a way out of his cage. The more intelligent the bird, the more they would benefit from a puzzle toy.

Where to Feed Birds With Wild Bird Food

There are many different types of wild bird food that are readily available on the market for enthusiasts to purchase as well as other people who just enjoy the sight of birds feeding on their gardens. Wild bird food is also readily available to buy separate and can be prepared at home.

It is actually quite a simple task to feed these creatures depending on the type of food you are offering. There are some types that can be offered by simply scattering them on the ground while there are other kinds of food that are placed on feeders or trays.

There are members of the tit family that prefer food that is hanging. With these types of birds you can use peanut dispensers and hang it high enough for them to easily feed so as other land animals could not reach it.

Scattering their food on the ground is the easiest way of feeding as many of them prefer feeding on the ground. You can just simply put the food on the lawn but make sure that it is away from places where cats or other land creatures could be hiding. There is also a disadvantage to just scattering the food on the ground as mice or rats or other animals could get at them before the birds do so it is better to use tables or trays where you can put the food when feeding our feathered friends.

Feeding wild or garden birds is a fun thing to do. Just make sure that you are able to offer the food properly for them to get full benefit from it.

Prerequisites of Trapping Harmful Pigeons - Pigeon Netting

Pigeons are birds and have a pleasant singing sound. They use home or office building as a place to build their nests.Its droppings not only appear nasty on everything but also cause diseases. In order to have pigeon control to get rid of birds,and pigeon removal professional can be reached.Bird control specialist uses professional methods like bird spike, bird repellents, bird wires, pigeon netting, and may also perform pigeon trapping, branch amputation, inhabitant's management etc. It is a very involved process and includes one or more of pigeon proofing solutions.

Pigeon netting is the most economical and easiest way to bird control.Netting is the most effective way to deal with bird problems. Only netting can completely remove birds from an area where they are causing problems. Bird netting comes in sheets in various size netted opening that exclude bird from entering an area which has been netted off. The pigeon netting in combination with specialized fasteners and tensioning will create a bid proof barrier that refrain pigeons to enter.Netting can remove pigeons from rafters, ceilings, roof eaves and many other open spaces.Netting treats both residential and commercial pigeon problems quickly at a very economical price. It requires special tools and skills which can only be found with a professional wildlife management company. The netting are available in black, stone or translucent, the black being the best at resisting U.V. light, flame retardant netting is also available.

Pigeon netting is the best way to keep pigeons away from garden.Netting is a physical prevention that is used to exclude nuisance pigeons from garden, under roof space of homes, under awnings and other large open areas. A professional installer such as a pigeon control operator or bird control specialist is the best option for installing pigeon netting. Netting can be ordered in available sizes or supplied, along with sparrow netting and starling net cut to the exact sizes as required.

Choosing the Right Bird for You

If you think birds are like keeping fish or hamsters, think again. Just because they seem like easy-going docile creatures kept in cages and forgotten, birds actually require a lot of time and energy to care for properly, like most pets. You want to make sure to do plenty of research before making the commitment to own a bird to understand completely what you're up against.

Here are a few things to consider before buying the first thing with feathers:

The Bigger the Bird, the Bigger the Responsibility

Let's generalize for a moment: the bigger the bird, the more responsibility the bird will require. It is not hard-and-fast, but it's close to it. Parakeets are wonderful pets and will require much less time and money than, say, a macaw. However, the greater responsibility might also result in greater enjoyment, especially for experienced bird owners. Size DOES matter, so if you are beginner, we would advise against springing for an ostrich-you can't ride them anyway.

Also keep this in mind: the bigger the bird you get, the bigger the cage you'll need. Put more simply: $$$. You also need to buy more food, get the bird more exercise, etc. Just be sure to consider it. Size counts for more than just personal preference.

Birds of a Feather...

The "bird" family of animals is quite expansive and not all birds "flock together". If you think about, it's kind of weird that a penguin and a humming bird are related. And it's not just the look that's different, each bird species will display different temperaments, behaviors, dietary habits, and (if you were paying attention above), sizes. With different species comes different training and care procedures-so research is your friend here. We obviously can't go into detail on every species of bird, but you can check out our recommendations below for different "types" of recommended bird species.

Different Dining!

If you go to the beach often enough, you might be under the impression that birds will eat almost anything. However, this is not necessarily true. Every bird has its own preferred diet. Some birds will have very broad diets, but many will be very selective eaters. Lories, for example, are beautiful birds but are very persnickety eaters, requiring only nectar, pollen, and fruit. It's also a good idea to keep the dirty side of diet in mind. What a bird eats will affect what a bird...um...poops. This, in turn, will affect how difficult it will be to clean the bird's cage. The best bird for you is one with a diet you can easily provide.

Life Span Considerations

Birds can live a long time. They aren't goldfish (do goldfish have short life-spans?). Many birds, especially large parrots, can live a very long time; in many cases they might out live you, the owner. For this reason we cannot stress enough the importance of NOT impulse buying birds. Give it some thought - in 40 years will you still want a parrot? Also, a bird's longevity does not only mean more time but also more money. There are more than just initial costs to consider.

Bird Yoga is a Must!

Birds, even the larger docile breeds (maybe especially larger docile birds), still need time to stretch their wings and get the blood flowing. And they need exercise toys for inside the cage, but also time outside the cage on a daily basis. Imagine if you were cooped up all day in a small space (read: cubicle), wouldn't you want some time out to keep your body and mind healthy? Birds are no different. If you cannot take this time EVERY DAY to spend time with your bird, you may want to think about getting some of the more independent species (finch, canary, etc), or maybe a fish. Even the independent birds should get at least some time with you, a few times a week or so. If you can't give the bird the time it needs, now is not that time to buy a bird!

Finally, if you live in a condo or apartment, be sure that the bird is allowed. And also, check your state and national laws before buying any exotic pet, including birds!

Here are some suggestions, sorted by common "ideal" criteria:

Chatter Boxes -The African Grey (best talkers!), most cockatoos (bare-eyed cockatoo), many macaws, and most amazons

Less Noise -Black Headed or yellow-thighed Caique, orange bellied Senegal (also a good talker), blue-headed, bronze-winged, maximillian, or white-crowned pionus, ruppell's parrot, African grey, green-cheeked conure

Kids' Birds -Noble Macaw, orange bellied Senegal, Pionus, Senegal parrot, sun conure, hahn's macaw, meyer's parrot

Simple Diets- (simple psittacine diet or homemade "mash" diet) - caiques, noble macaw, pionus, ruppell's parrot, eclectus, sun conure

Great First Birds -finches, canaries, parakeets (require less handling, smaller cages, simpler care); cockatiels, lovebirds and parrotlets require more room and handling, but are beautiful and affectionate.

Things About Bird Feeders

Almost every person has her/his own pet. They vary in types, sizes and the like of the person. Some love to have a dog or a cat, while some love to raise chickens and fishes. There are also some that birds are their favorite pets. Birds are like other animals, they need attention and stuffs to make them live while they are on the cage. They need to be cleaned and feed. The usual thing we buy for them are the feeds and their house where they could have rest. Foods are necessary for them as well as the feeders. Bird feeders are the birds' own stuffs or utensil for eating. There you can place their feeds and water.

Bird's stuffs are not so expensive, but there are some who wants more for their pets. It gives them pleasure seeing their pets enjoying the comfort they have offered for them. These stuffs can be seen in different designs or decorations. Others buy simple feeders with a less designs, while to some who wants their birdhouse to be more beautiful they are choosing some decorated feeders or those who have elegant designs. These designs attract the birds to come in. It has a different effect to our houses and to the bird itself; they come with different kind of materials. Others settle to the native bird feeders which is the wooden made feeders. There are also made of aluminum or steel that is more tough compare to the other feeders. The usual feeders that we can see in the markets are the plastic made; they are also the cheapest form of bird feeders. In these days there are lots of improvement to these stuffs, you can now have it with porcelain made material.

These stuffs can be purchased in the market with different sizes and looks. They also vary on the prizes and brands. The prize and brands is the most important thing when you are choosing any object to buy. Make sure that the one you are buying is worth the prize. Expensive stuffs can be justified if you got an item which is durable and satisfying. To some who have no idea about these stuffs you can ask the help of attending personnel in the store and also you could ask question to clear your mind from doubts. It is always important that you know the item that you are buying so that you will have no regrets after.

Bird Dust Solutions - 5 Ways to Reduce Bird Dust in Your Air

Living with a bird means you are subject to many more particulates in the air than a home without a bird. These particles include wing dust from powder down parrots such as African Greys, Cockatoos, Cockatiels, and Amazons.

Add the dander that every bird produces and the additional amount of bird-related particles produced daily is significant. Here are 5 ways to literally keep the dander and dust down in your air.

Continuous HEPA Filtration---Taking the particles out of the air, both bird related and normal household particulates is important for both birds and their owners. And since it is a particulate problem, the best type of filtration is high efficiency particle arresting (often shortened to HEPA) filtration.

As its name suggests it is incredibly efficient at removing particles as small as.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency. This means that 99,997 out of every 10,000 particles are removed from the air. And this type of filter is all encompassing so it would also remove normal household pollutants such as dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, and dander from other pets to name a few. Unfortunately, these are generally found in the cleanest of homes unless the air is being filtered.

Clean Regularly---A schedule of regular cleaning will greatly reduce the amount of irritants that can be inhaled. Reducing the irritants this way will make the room a more pleasant place to be, particularly for those who are sensitive to the dander and powder.

Clean Smarter----Carefully choosing the furnishing in the bird's room can make cleaning easier and more efficient. Upholstery, window treatments, and flooring that can be wiped cleaned are best. Fabrics and carpets make it difficult to clear particles and make it possible for daily activity to continue to send them back into the air. Damp cleaning gathers more of the debris, sending less of it airborne.

Choose Your Bird Carefully---This is not much help if you already fallen in love and adopted a bird. But if you are planning to add to the family with another bird, doing a little research first can help you decide on a type of bird that is likely to produce less dust.

Limit The Numbers----Some birds need another bird to serve as a companion in addition to their people companions. However, you can greatly reduce the amount of particles by carefully considering how many birds your space can handle. And by putting a ceiling on the number of feathered friends you choose, you will automatically reduce the dust and dander available to be sent into your air.

Wild Bird Profile: The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Characteristics: Rose-breasted grosbeaks are large finches with very large bills and easily identified by their plumage. Males are black and white with a bright pink patch on their breast and inside their wings. Females are olive-brown with a distinct pale supercilium on their face and their breasts are streaky. First summer males are similar to males but have browner plumage and a duller pink patch on their breast.

Distribution: RB grosbeaks breed throughout the northeastern U.S. (from the Great Plains to New England) and in central Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia). They also breed along the Appalachian mountain range. During the winter, they breed in southern Pacific slope and Gulf Slope of Mexico, the rest of Central America, and northern South America.

Movement: Based on banding data, RB grosbeaks breeding in the eastern U.S. winter in eastern Central America and South America and western breeders are found in Mexico and western Central America. Migratory flights are typically during the night.

Food: During the breeding season, RB grosbeaks eat equal amounts of insect matter and vegetable matter including fruit and seeds. During the fall, they eat primarily fruits. RB grosbeaks are often found at feeders with black-oil sunflower seeds. They will use tube feeders as well as platforms feeders.

Sound: The male RB grosbeak song sounds incredibly similar to scarlet tanagers and American robins. The song is extremely melodic with a few pauses. The grosbeak song has few pauses compared to robins and is less crass compared to tanagers.

Nesting: Males will arrive to their breeding grounds before females in May. They have eggs and nestlings between May and July and generally have only one brood. Nests are open cups and their eggs are typically pale blue or green with brownish speckles.

Similar species: Rose-breasted grosbeaks are closely related to the black-headed grosbeak but looks entirely different. They will breed (hybridize) with each other where their ranges overlap.

Interesting fact: If you open the wings of the grosbeaks, you will see a bright orange (female) or bright pink patch of feathers. This is rarely seen without the bird in the hand.