1 March 2007

Volume 18 Number 3 March 2007 This issue is FREE Jennifer Slaughter - Editor

By Gregory D. Wilkie

Cockatoos are most sought after as pets due to their ex-tremely outgoing personalities and good looks. Cockatoos come in a variety of sizes and color variations, with the most popular United States species being Moluccan, Um-brella, Sulfur-crested, and Goffins. There are 17 species of cockatoos, with their natural ranges extending from In-donesia to Australia and nearby Pacific Islands. So, you have decided to share your lifestyle with cockatoo(s). Before you pull out your checkbook to pay for your cockatoo, ask yourself…

• Are you ready for a lifetime, or more, of a commit-ment?

• Are you willing to live with the “terrible twos” for the rest of your life?

• Are you, and your neighbors, ready for ear-splitting screams at sunrise and sunset?

• Do you enjoy constantly wiping up and cleaning your home?

Are you willing to watch every word that you speak, since they could be repeated in public by your bird in public at the most inopportune times?

Everything I Need To Know In Life I Learned From My Cockatoos

Reminders!

March’s Membership meeting will cover Emergency Preparedness. Garry

Wallan will share his PowerPoint presentation,

which is a must see!

New Number for the Club

The club now has its own phone number!

The number, 868-9070 rings to voicemail and will allow members

& non-members to leave messages for the club.

Looking Forward

April’s meeting will focus on Harness Training.

May’s meeting will focus on Clicker Training

2nd Annual Chili Cook Off Fundraiser!

Saturday March 17th from 5-9pm

At the Serendipity Adult Day Service Facility. See website for map to location.

Door Prizes, Silent Auction, Games, and Contests.

$10 per person or $15 per family

This is a potluck, so bring an entrée, salad, or dessert. If you are competing, don’t forget your favorite chili!

If you answered yes to these five questions, you are ready to become a cockatoo companion. Yes, I am a cockatoo companion. I decided to share my life with not one, but four cockatoos. What does it mean to be a cockatoo companion? Being a cockatoo companion means joining an exclusive “club” of people throughout the world who are willing to share their lives with a loveable, cuddly, intelligent, feathered individual who can steal your heart away one minute; or have you wishing, on occasion, that your bird would turn into an emotionless, speechless statue. Humans Have Attitude; Cockatoos Have “Cocka-tude” The first cockatoo companion hurdle to overcome is “Cocka-tude.” Just like a typical two-year-old human toddler, your cockatoo companion will want to have his own way, RIGHT NOW, regardless of what is being done. Typical symptoms of cocka-tude are:

• Providing your cockatoo with a nutritious meal, only to have it land on the floor, walls,

(Cockatoos . . .Continued on page 4)

2 March 2007

All Creatures Veterinary Clinic Mi 7.4 Palmer-Wasilla Hwy 376-7930

Alaska Mill & Feed 1501 E 1st Ave 276-6016

Alaska Pet-ography 9130 Elim St (on Abbot across from Fred Meyer) 868-1680

Animal Food Warehouse /PetZoo Mile 37.7 Parks Hwy Lp, 12046 Business Blv. & 7941 Brayton Dr 357-3663/622-2966/522-8006

Chester Valley Veterinary 1571 Muldoon Rd 333-6591

College Village 2036 E Northern Lights Blvd 274-5623

Hillside Pet Clinic 2101 Abbott Rd #1 344-7913 Northern Lights Animal Clinic 2002 W Benson Blvd 276-2340

Palmer Veterinary Clinic Mike 39 Glenn Hwy 745-3219

Petco 8621 Old Seward Hwy 365-5500

Pet Emergency 2320 E Dowling Rd 274-5636

The Animal House 219 E International Airport Rd 561-7387

The Pet Stop 1921 W Dimond Blvd 522-1006

Valley Feed & Seed 16946 N Eagle River 694-2980

VCA Alaska Pet Care 3900 Lake Otis Pkwy 562-7387

VCA Alpine Animal Hospital 12531 Old Seward Hwy 345-1515

VCA Eagle River Animal Hospital 11710 Business Blvd. 694-3800

VCA E Anch. Animal Hospital 2639 Boniface Pkwy 337-1561

If the regular place that you picked up your copy of the Alaska Bird News is out, you may be able to locate a copy at one of the other outlets.

The Alaska Bird News is published by the Alaska Bird Club. The Alaska Bird Club, its members, and its directors are not re-sponsible for any claims, services, or information presented. The views and opinions are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Alaska Bird News.

Alaska Bird News

Club Meeting Information First Tuesday of each month. Be sure to join us!

We love hearing about your birds, but we ask that you do not bring them to the meetings.

Serendipity Adult Day Services 3550 E 20th Ave.

(Doors open at 6:30 to socialize) 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Club Information

President: Leanna Rein 868-7878, e-mail: leannarein@gmail.com Vice President: Kathleen O’Keefe Secretary: Susan Allen 622-2771, cell 862-0118, e-mail: kissmekate59@hotmail.com Treasurer: Cindy Welbourne E-mail: welbourne@gci.net Member-at-large: David Allen 622-2771, cell 862-0117 e-mail: oomingmac55@hotmail.com Sergeant-at-arms: Robert Ekstroem E-mail: wwamwd@yahoo.com Adopt-A-Bird Director: Cindy Welbourne (907) 357-2513 (Wasilla), e-mail: welbourne@gci.net Publications Director: Jennifer Slaughter 868-8640, e-mail: birdabode@gci.net President Emeritus 2006: Gregory Wilkie 332-0500, e-mail: flockoften@hotmail.com Bird News Editor: Jennifer Slaughter 868-8640, e-mail: birdabode@gci.net Membership Committee: Susan Allen E-mail: kissmekate59@hotmail.com Webmaster: Garry Wallan E-mail: bossmacaw@hotmail.com Disaster & Emergency Preparedness Committee: Garry Wallan e-mail: bossmacaw@hotmail.com Hospitality Committee: Susan Allen E-mail: kissmekate59@hotmail.com Lost/Found-Rescue Committee: Amber O’Neill 868-3828, e-mail: akamber@ak.net, cell: 351-2762

Permission for the reproduction of any article is granted to non-for-profit organizations only, under the provision of the Alaska Bird News and the author’s name are cited in full.

The Alaska Bird Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit incorporated in the State of Alaska. It meets the first Tuesday of every month at Serendipity Adult Day Service in Anchorage. Meeting starts as 7:00pm. Location: 3550 East 20th Ave (off of Northern Lights Blvd & Nichols St).

The Alaska Bird Club PO Box 101825

Anchorage, AK 99510-1825 Phone: (907) 868-9070

email: akbirdclub@yahoo.com website: www.alaskabirdclub.org

3 March 2007

Alaska Bird News

The Alaska Bird Club’s Mission Statement:

The Alaska Bird Club’s mission is to promote responsible avian ownership through

education and when possible, to provide rescue and adoption services for

abandoned and unwanted birds in communities across Alaska.

March’s Membership meeting will focus on Emer-gency Preparedness specifically for our birds and how we need to be prepared to help them in an emer-gency. We’ve included a list for a basic Bird Emer-gency First Aid Kit for your convenience (to the right). This list is also found on our website on the Emer-gency Preparedness link.

Garry Wallan will present his Emergency Prepared-ness PowerPoint, which he continues to update to keep current. In addition to being very informative, it also includes his usual sense of humor, so it is a must see. Garry has lots of knowledge to share about planning for emergencies, as he was part of People for Emergency Preparedness Planning for Animals in Alaska (PEPPA) which was formed in August, 1996 after the Miller's Reach fire. He also has many Emer-gency Preparedness articles on the web.

For more information on Emergency Preparedness Planning for Parrots or if you cannot make it to March’s meeting, take a look at our website: http://www.alaskabirdclub.org/ep_parrots.shtml. Garry has lots of helpful information available to help you become prepared.

Leanna Rein President, The Alaska Bird Club

President’s Perch

Leach Seed & Nuts

The Alaska Bird Club has Hookbill Cuisine and other items for sale at the monthly

membership meetings.

**Note: The Hookbill Cuisine and other nut and seed products are not intended to be your birds sole food, it is designed to be a supplement to

pellets, fruits and vegetables.

Board Meeting Info - Open to Members

The Board meets the last Saturday of every month at 11:00 AM at the Denny’s on Northern Lights.

Bird Emergency First Aid Kit

Every parrot owner should have a Bird Emergency First Aid Kit in their home, tailored to meet the special needs of their flock.

Here's a general list of supplies to include in your kit: • An adequately large water-proof or water resistant

container to store the supplies • Phone numbers of vet, emergency pet care, and ani-

mal poison control hotline • A booklet on general avian first aid procedures. • Antiseptic towelettes or hand wash to clean hands

before and after handling bird • Towel for handling birds • Saline solution or clean water for eye and wound irri-

gation • Betadine, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol (don't

use alcohol on head or vent), and/or Neosporin for disinfecting minor cuts and scrapes.

• Styptic powder, corn starch or baking flour to control minor bleeding

• Hemostat, needle-nosed pliers, or tweezers for pulling broken blood feathers

• Nail clippers and several emery boards for trimming nails

• Scissors • "Vet wrap," gauze rolls, gauze bandages, or other

sterile material for cleaning and covering wounds. • Masking tape, nylon stocking, or "vet wrap" for immo-

bilizing broken wings (masking tape is not very sticky and can be removed from feathers)

• Q-tips • 10-cc syringes for administering fluids, irrigating

wounds, feeding, and so on • Pedialyte (pay attention to expiration date and replace

as needed) • Clean, small plastic bags for stool samples or storing

a sample of poisons or other substances the bird may have ingested

Remember, if your bird is wheezing, has been bitten by a cat or dog, has a broken foot/leg/wing, or very deep or open wounds TAKE IT TO A VET AS SOON AS POSSI-BLE! Such problems and injuries need immediate treat-ment but trying to "fix" them yourself can make it worse.

4 March 2007

Alaska Bird News

or ceiling • Purchasing an expensive “parrot-proof,”

acrylic toy, only to have it disassembled within minutes

• Having your extremely talkative and perform-ing cockatoo become a motionless statue in front of guests

Giving your cockatoo snuggles and cuddles, only to have him deafen you with raucous squawks when you place him back on his perch There are other behavioral variations on the cocka-tude theme, with the majority of them being trying on the hu-man companion’s patience and good nature. You can quickly learn patience, emotional control, and diligence from an episode or two of cocka-tude. Manipulation? Wait Until You Meet A Cockatoo! Another feature of cocka-tude is that cockatoos are ex-tremely manipulative. My umbrella and Moluccan cocka-toos know how to make the appropriate vocalizations, such as, “Oooohhh” (given in a fittingly “motherly” tone) at the appropriate times, like when is food landing on the floor. Have you ever approached a cockatoo after some destructive episode with intent to discipline, only to have them say, “Love you” and melt their way back into your heart? Instead of placing your cockatoo in solitary con-finement, you end up snuggling and allopreening one an-other for hours. Avian behaviorists state that companion parrots do not possess an understanding of cause-and-effect relation-ships. For example, your cockatoo may not understand why you place him in a time-out after some unwanted behavior; but they definitely know that when certain be-haviors are exhibited, their human companion will provide them with attention. And SOME attention, even if it is negative, is better than no attention at all. Your cockatoo will learn what it takes to have you come to them when they call, feed them when they scream, take them out of their cage/off their playpen, numerous times per day, and all at their beck and call. You can learn more patience, more diligence, more emotional con-trol and attention to detail, to help prevent falling into a manipulative relationship with your bird. After all, who is supposed to be the flock leader? “52 Pick-up” Is Not Just For Playing Cards One of a cockatoo’s favorite games is “52 Pickup.” Here’s how it goes, you offer the cockatoo something, such as a nut, piece of fruit, or a favorite toy. The cocka-too accepts the item in their beak and then flings same item to the floor (or onto the wall if sticky enough). Be-lieving the poor cockatoo dropped the item, you pick it up and hand it back to the cockatoo who now flings the item in a different direction. The cockatoo instructions for this game are: grab item from human, fling, watch human pickup item, grab item from human (again), and fling again.

(Cockatoos . . .Continued from page 1) One friend was so engrossed in the game, that they stooped to pick up the item at least five times before they realized the cockatoo was playing “52 Pickup.” The dead give-a-way was the cockatoo’s mimicked laughter after each time my friend stooped over to pick up the toy. Patience Is Not Just A Virtue; It’s A Requirement For Cockatoo Companions Birds and cockatoos especially, are egocentric by nature. They know and care of nothing else except themselves. Similar to two-year-old humans, cockatoo attention spans are measured in microseconds. Your cockatoo will be constantly distracted by something, even that shadow on the far wall. It may be difficult, and near impossible, to keep your cockatoo’s attention on the lesson at hand. This is where patience pays off. You may have to repeat a specific behavior many, many times prior to your cockatoo being able to display that behavior on-demand. Another area where patience pays off is in trying to get your cockatoo to eat a nutritious diet. As with their two-year-old human counterparts, cockatoos are not espe-cially fond of ANYTHING their human companion places in front of them. Those freshly prepared vegetables may be the most nutritious meal, but your cockatoo may re-sort to “52 Pickup” (see above) with the bowl and its con-tents. Cockatoos are prone to becoming overweight due to poor diets of human “junk” food and wanting to eat only what tastes good to them. It may take days, weeks, or months before your cockatoo will eat something nutri-tious that you serve them. Or, it may be as simple as cutting the fruits and vegetables a different way (diced instead of sliced) before they will try them. Don’t give up, patience does have its rewards. If you can holdout that long. Body Piercing, Or “Just Try And Kiss The Cockatoo” Have you reached that point in your life when you would like nothing better than a body piercing? Doesn’t matter where you have the piercing? Have we got a deal for you! Notice the beak on a cockatoo’s face. It is a masterpiece of design and functionality. Made out of a light-weight protein, similar to human fingernails, it is expertly shaped to assist your cockatoo with both gross and fine motor skills. A cockatoo’s beak can gently take apart a feather and rezip it back into shape; or the beak can generate enough force to quickly break a human first metacarpal (main thumb bone). In the wild, and in your aviary, the cockatoo’s beak helps in preening, climbing, eating, grinding and a myriad of other functions. If your cocka-too has learned that you flinch or avoid touching them if they point their beak towards you, it also becomes a powerful manipulative tool. In the wild, birds and especially cockatoos to not “bite’ at one another to indicate dominance. Biting is a behavior that is learned through trial and error experimentation

(Cockatoos . . .Continued on page 5)

5 March 2007

Alaska Bird News

The Alaska Bird Club Goals for 2007 1. The Alaska Bird Club will complete it’s mission statement by:

• Offering a variety of educational trainings monthly - Completed • Maintaining a variety of club committee activities to meet membership and avian owner’s needs:

• Adopt-A-Bird Program (see Adopt-A-Bird Committee Goals) • Lost/Found-Rescue Committee • Hospitality Committee • Membership Committee • Seminar Committee • Emergency Preparedness Committee

• Offering an annual seminar • Demonstrating statewide national support of efforts to enhance responsible avian ownership as determined and approved

by the board • Surveying members annually and implementing recommendations • Implementing member-driven goals, seminars and public presentations • Developing a training curriculum to provide species- specific trainings for owners of small, medium and large birds

through the “How To” series • Maintaining a variety of means to disseminate information: newsletter, website, club e-mail address, membership roster,

etc • The Alaska Bird Club Board and membership will review, update and revise the established Standing Rules - Completed

2. The Alaska Bird Club will increase public awareness responsible avian owner ship by: • Offering resources, information and support as defined in the mission statement • Establishing a dedicated phone and voice mail number - Completed • Maintaining a variety of club committee activities to meet membership and avian owner’s needs:

• Adopt-A-Bird Program (see Adopt-a-Bird com-mittee goals)

• Lost/Found-Rescue Committee • Educational Committee • Membership Committee • Seminar Committee • Emergency Preparedness Committee

• Maintaining and updating the club website • Responding to inquiries thought the club’s e-mail address • Participation in at least 4 community outreach events

such as: • Animal Appreciation Day at APU • Adoption Awareness events at Petco • Pet Zoo • Alaska Mill and Feed

• Presenting club information throughout the year • Explore feasibility expanding meetings to Mat-Su valley

on a quarterly basis • Explore the feasibility of establishing satellite chapters in

Fairbanks, Kenai, Homer and Juneau • Research adding an expert advisor to the board

3. The Alaska Bird Club will increase it’s fiscal base by: • Increase it’s membership for a membership goal of at

least 90 members • Increasing fundraiser table proceeds to an average of

$150/ month • Soliciting donations of money and goods though donation

request letters • Offer fundraising events for targeted needs such as

Adopt-A-Bird & Lost/Found-Rescue committees, medical support costs for Adopt-A-Bird program birds, etc 3 X per year

with their human companions. Many a cockatoo com-panion has not heeded the visual displays that a cocka-too gives saying, “Leave me alone.” This error can cause some serious body piercing. The same goes for placing your cockatoo on your shoulder. In the bird world, height is dominance. When your cockatoo can look you square in the eye, they may believe they are “equal” to you. Again, many cockatoo companions have not heeded the warning signs, only to end up with holes in their earlobes, lips, or cheeks. Be aware of your cockatoo’s body language so you can prevent or avoid receiving a body piercing. Final Words Don’t get me wrong, I would NEVER think of giving up my cockatoos. I love all of my cockatoos VERY much. Each one is a distinctive individual with their own likes, dislikes, quirks and personalities. Just like the humans I have befriended throughout my life. I have learned a lot from my cockatoos, all of it has made me a better per-son. If you are willing to take on the challenges, being a cockatoo companion is very rewarding. Gregory D. Wilkie is a degreed ethologist, associate member of the International Association of Animal Be-havioral Consultants (IAABC), past-President of The Alaska Bird Club (2006), and works full-time changing organizational cultures. You can reach Greg at: flockof-ten@hotmail.com

(Cockatoos . . .Continued from page 4)

6 March 2007

Alaska Bird News

By Bird Club member Garry Wallan The Gang of Four Hola! My name is Guapo and I’m the First-hatched member of a flock of Blue-Fronted Amazons who emerged from their eggs the week after Easter, 2005. I thought I was going to be the only one, but soon I had a brother (Google), a sister (Ginkgo) and then another brother (Grace) who, by the time he hatched a week after me, was itty-bitty in comparison. We lived with our bird mommy and daddy for quite a while until the nestbox became so crowded that my daddy starting biting everyone. Luckily, our mammal-dad rescued us and we joined a much larger world. I found out later that mammal-dad accidentally left mommy and daddy's nestbox up and that we were kind of a surprise (mommy and daddy hadn’t had any chicks for over twelve years). He could have just thrown us away as eggs; I’m glad he didn’t! As we were growing up, mammal-dad (or just Dad from now on) gave us yummy food, let us wean at our own pace, and provided toys, places to flap our wings, interest-ing things to do, and humans to play with. We didn’t know it then, but Dad was giving us “environmental enrichment” which is just a fancy way of saying he gave us what all par-rot-slaves should give their birds. Now, we are a flock of four who... Shut up, you! It’s MY turn! Hi, I’m Grace and I’m the real boss, see? I guess some humans think that’s a funny name for a boy bird, but I don’t care. I like it, so there ppphhhbbbbtttt. Hey, that’s MY toy! Leave it alone! MINE! Hi, it’s me, Guapo again. Grace is battling with his brother Google for a toy they just found. Dad likes to hide them from s just to make us think. As the First-hatched, I have total rights to all toys I can see or touch, but I let my siblings have them sometimes so I can nap. My sister, Ginkgo, is hiding behind some stuff on our play area, watching the bat-tle. Sometimes she waits for the right moment and runs out to steal the toy, but usu-ally she stays in the back-ground and lets us protect her from...from...well, the macaws look sort of threat-ening over there, and there’s this funny white bird with a big fluffy head who bounces a lot, and a grey bird with a red tail, and an-

Birds of the Month

other Amazon like us who says his name is Bluto, and who claims he’s our older brother from long ago, but I don’t buy it because then HE would have rights to all my toys! None of them threaten us, really. My sis is just cau-tious, I guess. Google and Grace are the singers of the group, and love the “UP THE SPOUT” part of the Itsy Bitsy Spider song. Grace also likes to hang upside down like a bat, which is kind of weird. Me? I like to hang out with Dad. Whenever he brings us food, I like to try to jump onto his shirt and climb to the Magic Spot on his back where he can’t reach me. It’s wicked FUN! We like it best when Dad brings vegetables, fruit, pasta and beans to us for dinner. It’s probably the only time of the day we are quiet. Mmmm, yummy! Other times we play, scream, sing, play, eat, play, and then take long naps. There are times when.... Hi, Google here! This is MY toy! MY TOY! See it and de-spair all you toyless ones! All mine and not yours, or yours, and especially not yours!

I’ll keep this toy forever and ever and never let it go and...oh look, an ALMOND! Guapo again. I need to go and retrieve the toy Google just dropped. No, not “the” toy...MY toy! And so the Gang of Four, the F o u r W i n g m e n o f t h e Aperchalypse, continue their daily search for toys and new ways to amuse themselves. Who am I? I’m Bluto, their big brother, pat-ently waiting for the moment when I will claim ALL the toys.

7 March 2007

Alaska Bird News

VCA Alaska Pet Care 3900 Lake Otis Pkwy Anchorage, AK (907) 562-7387 Dr. Jackie Frederickson Dr. Doty

College Village Animal Clinic 2036 E. Northern Lights Blvd Anchorage, AK 99505 (907) 274-5623 Dr. Jon Basler Dr. Pam Bluestone Dr. Pam Tuomi

All Creatures Veterinary Clinic Mi 7.4 Palmer-Wasilla Hwy Wasilla, AK 99654 (907) 376-7930 Dr. Cuthbert

Palmer Veterinary Clinic Mi 39 Glen Hwy Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 745-3219 Dr Ronald Williams

Peninsula Veterinary Services 48213 Funny River Rd Soldotna, AK 99669 (907) 260-5850 (907) 252-7806 Cell (Will do house calls on occasion) Dr. Nybakken

Mt McKinley Animal Hospital 800 College Rd. Fairbanks, AK (907) 452-6104

The following list of Clinics have vets, which indicated an interest or a specialty in avian care. This is not a complete list, but to help you find an avian vet. Ask your vet if they are experienced in bird care and if not find one that is.

Bird News From the Secretary, Susan sponded. Garry gave the review of the first Emergency Prepared-ness Meeting. His presentation, at the March meeting, will focus on education. Susan reported that new membership cards are avail-able. Please contact her before you leave to pick up your card. Leanna announce that the Second Annual Chili Cook Off Fundraiser will be held here on March 17th, from 5 to 9 PM. Announcements: Tonight, the Board is soliciting volunteer nomination, to fill the Vice Presidency vacated by Diane, due to health is-sues. If you are interested please contact Leanna to-night. The Eagle River PetZoo is now open; David and Susan Allen have offered to help represent The ABC at the monthly event. Leanna presented tonight’s program: “How To” Series: Feather and Nail Basics - How to trim the wings and nails, and what to do when thing go badly. Tonight’s Program Contest; “Name the three types of Bird feathers”.

1st Place winner- John Bryant received a Blockbuster Coupon. 2nd Place winner- Colleen Ackerman received a Cold Stone gift certificate.

The program was followed by the Fund Raiser Table, the Small/Medium/Large Baskets and ZuPreem Bucket draw-ings. The basket winners were: Small: Suzanne Nye, Medium: Cindy Welbourne, Large: Garry Wallan, the ZuPreem bucket winner was David Allen. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.

Find an avian vet and have your birds checked annually

Leanna called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Leanna announced Julie Forsyth will be covering future Leach Seed orders. Thank yous where given to:

• Robert Ekstroem for setting up our new Café Press / ABC Store, which will be available soon, please see Robert for details.

• Garry Wallan for his wonderful work on our web-site, he now has the Kitchen and Gallery open for submissions.

• Jen Slaughter for our new ABC stand alone phone number, 907-868-9070.

The results of the Memberships Surveys reviewed. The top three scoring Seminar Nominees for 2007 are: Dr Munn, Mr. Martin and Dr Ford. The Revised Standing rules were discussed and approved by the showing of hands by the current membership pre-sent. Committee Reports: Cindy gave a review for 2006 End of the Year Treasure’s Report. She also reported that the Adopt-A-Bird program is actively doing several home inspections. We have had over 30 birds in the program last year. We are running a 2 weekend ad for free Budgies and Cockatiels, the adoption fee will be waived for these adoptions, but the new owners will still have to meet the Adopt-A-Bird program guidelines. Amber gave her Lost/ Found-Rescue Committee report by sharing two rescue stories. Jen gave a reminder that the Bird News newsletter is avail-able via e-mail, US Postal, or at the meetings. She asked people to inform her if they would rather have the newslet-ter emailed to them each month. She again requested as-sistance with drop off deliveries and several members re-

8 March 2007

Alaska

If you would like to assist the Adopt-A-Bird Program, please contact: Cindy Welbourne: welbourne@gci.net,

(907) 357-2513 (Wasilla) or 868-9070 (voicemail) Birds available for adoption:

• Macaw Pals—Macaws– These birds are not ready to be adopted out yet. They are still in rehabilitative training. Learning to trust people and step up. They are listed here to let you see what will be available in a few months. These birds are very timid and need a stable life long home. Adopter will need to commit to several months of hands-on training in Anchorage, Alaska; multiple times per week. Other special conditions apply. If you are will-ing to make this kind of lifetime commitment and meet all adoption conditions, please fill out an adoption appli-cation

• Cinnamon & Dremel—Cockatiels—These two met while in quarantine. Dremel had an injured beak and will probably need continued beak trims to realign his beak. They are very bonded to each other, but tolerate humans well.

• Pearl & Grey guy —Cockatiels—These two met while in quarantine and must be adopted together. • Scrub—Parrotlet - He was pretty wild when purchased from a pet store almost 2 years ago. He is still fearful of

human hands, but will come close to the cage bars if you talk to him. He has developed a habit of throwing screaming tantrums wherever he sees a person in the room for more than a few minutes. He doesn't seem to want attention but is very jealous when other birds are given attention. The adopter will need to be very patient.

• Tiera— A 10 - 12 year old Scarlet Macaw LOOKING FOR FOSTER HOME. She is cage bound, lunges and at-tempts to bite when approached. Tiera is not currently up for adoption. She will need months of rehabilitation in order to be placed in a home environment. She has shared her life in the same room with a 20 year old African grey that will need similar rehabilitation. If you are interested in fostering and rehabilitating Tiera, please fill out a FOSTER APPLICATION.

• Sidney— A 20 year old Congo African Grey LOOKING FOR FOSTER HOME. Sidney is not currently up for adoption. She will need months of rehabilitation in order to be placed in a home environment. He has lived with Tiera, a scarlet macaw for the last 10 years. Even though they don't physically interact, they are bonded to each other and will have to be placed together. If you are interested in fostering and rehabilitating Sidney and Tiera, please fill out a FOSTER APPLICATION.

• Ricky—Conure—She appears to be a Petz's conure (also known as Oranged fronted). Ricky is a very bossy and determined conure. She has overcome having to have her right leg amputated a couple years ago. Her cage is suited with wide wooden walking slats for ease of mobility. She has a quirk, she sleeps lying down.

• Aggie—African Grey— She is a shy 7 year old female. She is a little bit spoiled eating only a diet of home cooked meals, for many years. Any diet change will need to be done gradually. Aggie seems to have a preference for men. She is in good feather.

See more descriptions and/or pictures of the birds listed at www.petfinder.com. Our site is AK27 or just select the state AK. If you are interested in adopting a bird, please fill out an adoption application on The Alaska Bird Club’s website: http://www.alaskabirdclub.org/adoptabird.htm

The Adopt-A-Bird Program

The Alaska Bird Club’s Recommended Care of Pet Birds booklet is FREE and available for download on our website: www.alaskabirdclub.org. Follow the link

on the left marked Bird Care, click Downloads and then select “The Recommended Care of Pet Birds” in a

PDF, HTML, or Word format.

Please feel free to download/print as needed.

The Alaska Bird Club is looking for people who purchased the Northern Lights Coupon Book.

Specifically the Veterinary discounts:

VCA Veterinary Discounts

VCA Microchiping

If you do not plan to uses these, please consider donating them to the club.

9 March 2007

Classified Ads

There is a $5.00 monthly fee for both members and non-members. Current members who pay for a

classified listing will receive a free identical website listing for free. The monthly fee must be received

before the newsletter goes to print. Send to PO Box 101825, Anchorage, AK 99510.

Classified listings must be no more than 10 total lines. Email Jennifer Slaughter with your ad

birdabode@gci.net.

From the Canary Loft Beautiful Canaries-MaleSingers-Females (many

colors). Some Rare Intensive Bonze as shown in photo under classifieds at www.alaskabirdclub.org.

Also Breeder Cockatiels- Lutenos- Pieds- Whiteface. (Some single luteno Males.)

May deliver to Eagle River, Anchorage area. Rhea Carlson 373-0880 or rhea@mtaonline.net

Parrot Behavior Consultations

Need help with any of the following? Aggression, Excessive screaming, Inappropriate

vocalizations, Feather Destructive Behaviors, Diet, Environmental Enrichment

Contact Karen Webster to schedule your consultation today: 929-BIRD (2473) or akpeac@gmail.com.

Alaska Bird News

REMEMBER: Teflon and other non-stick finishes (like a self-cleaning oven, or some irons and hair

dryers) are deadly to your bird. Do not take chances. Bird deaths have been recorded when

nonstick cookware was used even at low temperatures.

Consider replacing all Teflon & other non-stick items in your home -

even if not used around your birds. If it’s not good for them is it really good for us ?

CAUTION:

Never give your parrot alcohol, avocado or chocolate - these can kill your parrot!

Also avoid asparagus, eggplant, cabbage, caffeine products, junk food, milk & cream,

raw potato, and rhubarb (including the leaves).

January Treasurer’s Report

January was a pretty good month for the Bird Club. We brought in $385.00 for Membership. We received a $200.00 donation to the Lost and Found Commit-tee. The Adopt-A-Bird Line brought in $85.00 for adoption fees and $80.00 in misc. donations.

Even with year end expenses, newsletter printing and postage, and magazine renewals, we ended the month with more than we began.

Don’t forget to renew your membership if you haven’t already!

Cindy Welbourne Treasurer

Candle Alternative

Simmer water on the stove with cinnamon sticks and cloves,

adding more water when necessary. Or use a crock pot with lots of water.

Note from the editor This newsletter is dedicated to everyone interested in birds and is designed to help educate people in bird care and to be an avenue to share the advice

and knowledge. Sharing information about proper nutrition, toys, cages, psychological needs, and behavioral problems that we encounter are all

wonderful points of discussion. Send articles you’d like to see published or that you write yourselves to

me at birdabode@gci.net. Jen

Shim, a lovebird, enjoying a nice

shower.

10 March 2007

Alaska Bird News

Thanks to all of our donors of the February’s Fundraiser table!!

Diane O - Stuffed Owl Leanna - Tapes, rope, duck, tie-out cable, books Julie F - Toy hanger Kathleen O - Wire box David A - Vase and teapot Lin - Spice set and 2 calendars Ann G - Bird house, toy, and model Rayma - Bird figurine Susan A - Adding machine tape, tea light lamp Cindy W - 2 toys, wreath, perches Mary - 9 bird magazines Thanks to Ann Taylor for assembling the small, medium, and large fundraiser baskets.

Bring any donations you may have to the monthly meetings for added fun.

Fundraiser Table Reader's Corner Children's Books: Pretty Pete the Parrot by Tully Thorton (2006) What the Parrot Told Alice by Dale Smith (1996) The Parrot Tico Tango by Anna Witte (2005) If You Were a Parrot by Katherine Rawson (2006) The Baby Beebee Bird by Diane Redfield Massey (2003) Adults: Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching by Michael Greger (2006) Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World's Most Revered and

Reviled Birds by Andrew D. Blechman (2006) On the Wing: To the Edge of the Earth with the Peregrine Falcon

by Alan Tennant (2005) Arctic Wings: Birds of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by

Stephen Brown (2006) The Grail Bird: The Re-Discovery of the Ivory billed Woodpecker

by Tim Gallegher (2006) We'll Always Have Parrots by (A Meg Lanslow Mystery) by

Donna Andrews (2006) Parrots in the City: One Bird's Struggle for a Place on the Planet

by Jon-Mark Davey (2004) A Parrot for Life; Raising and Training the Perfect Parrot

Companion by Rebecca K. O'Connor (2007) Mrs. Ballard's Parrots by Arne Svenson (2005) The Parrot's Theorum: A Novel by Denis Guedj (2002)

11 March 2007

Alaska Bird News

THE ALASKA BIRD CLUB MEMBERSHIP FORM 2007 www.alaskabirdclub.org e-mail: akbirdclub@yahoo.com

Non Profit Club EIN# 92-0134866 The Alaska Bird Club’s mission is to promote responsible avian ownership through education and when possible, to provide rescue and adoption services for abandoned and unwanted birds in communities across Alaska. We are a statewide 501(c)(3) [non-profit] educational club. All money collected as dues is used to provide educational training and activities to assist people in caring for companion birds. Our main activities include convening educational monthly membership meetings, producing a monthly newsletter, offering an annual seminar featuring experts in avian care and managing a website. Additionally, The Alaska Bird Club manages a statewide Adopt-A-Bird Program offering placement referrals, emergency/foster care and rescue ser-vices. The Alaska Bird Club also has a Lost/Found-Rescue Committee that aids in the rescue and capture of lost birds. There are numerous other activities and services that The ABC offers. You do not have to attend the meet-ings to be a member.

MEMBERSHIPS: Membership is due annually, and runs from January 1st—December 31st. (rate discount of 50% applies to members joining in August and later). New members receive membership packets and free newsletter mailings.

__ Single: $20.00 ___ Family: $25.00 Mail Payment and form to: The Alaska Bird Club, PO Box 101825, Anchorage, AK 99510

Name(s): ______________________________________________________________

Address:___________________________________City___________State______Zip________

Phone:____________________________ E-Mail address___________________________

Type of Companion Birds you live with and their names: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Would you like to be listed on a registry that is available to other members? Yes __ No __

Would you be interested in carpooling from the Valley with other members? Yes __ No __ Would you like to be on a committee? Yes ____ No ____ and if so, do you have a preference? Adopt-A-Bird: ___ Lost/Found-Rescue Committee ____ Sunshine Committee: ____ Membership Committee: ____ Educational Committee: ____ Seminar Committee: ___ Emergency Services Committee:___ Other: _____________________________________ The Bird Club uses e-mail as the preferred method of communication. Do you wish to be included on this mailing list or not? Yes ____ No ____ Comments:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

Advertising Rates For The Alaska Bird Club News Full Page ................. $50.00 per month Half Page ................ $30.00 per month Quarter Page …………$15.00 per month Business Card ...........$7.50 per month

For further information about advertising, email akbirdclub@yahoo.com

12 March 2007

The Alaska Bird Club PO Box 101825

Anchorage, AK 99510

Place Stamp Here