Patricia Sund

Once all your ingredients are washed, dried, cooked, chopped, you mix them well and place in Ziploc baggies and freeze.  Make one baggie for each day.  Depending on the number and size of your parrots will depend on the size of bag you should use.

Greens used in Chop

Some ingredients that you could use include the following:

Wheat grass powder

Dry oatmeal (old fashion raw cut)

Crush red peppers

Seeds like flax, rape, hemp, celery

Grains like kamut, rye berries, quinoa (cooked)

Wild Rice, brown rice (cooked)

Pastas like whole wheat, quinoa pasta (cooked)

Red, green, yellow, orange peppers

Hot Peppers

Carrots with tops

Zucchini

Turnips

Brussel sprouts

Ginger

Sweet Potatoes

Cauliflower

Butternut squash

Acorn squash

Swiss Chard (green or red)

Dandelion greens

Kale

Cilantro

Broccoli rabe

Red cabbage

Beet green (do not use the beet in Chop because it will turn it red.)

Garlic

This list could go on and go!!

For more information about Chop and to see instructional videos, please visit http://www.parrotnation.com.

The Phoenix Landing cookbook has more information about Chop and other recipes for our feathered friends.  The cookbook can be purchased at PL events or  on our website at http://www.phoenixlanding.org/books.html.

Good luck with your first batch of CHOP!

I finally found the perfect clips for this. They are from Bed Bath and Beyond and have the tightest grip I have found in plastic clips. The bar code for the clip reads: “73287 90025.”

These clips hold the fruit to the cage bars.

I cut apple slices or bananas for dehydrating, but I cut them about 1½ times the recommended thickness for dehydration. I dehydrate them until they are tough like firm rubber, not brittle, so it takes an effort for my lory to tear the fruit apart.

This lory works for his treat.

I position the clip around the cage bar so the bar is not pinched; rather, it is loose between the teeth of the clip and the spring and handle assembly. This way the clip of fruit is free to move around as Bingé fiddles with it and tries to pull it apart.

I clip several of the fruit to hang from the top of the cage and along the sides of the cage, separated as much as possible, so he has to work to get at them. I wrap some of them in paper so he has to figure it out and before he gets to the dehydrated fruit. Then he has to pick at the fruit which is tough enough not just to fall apart from his assault.

Initially the fruit is positioned in the clip so that about 1/3 of it is exposed and 2/3 is behind the teeth of the clip where the cage bar is. That allows the clip to hold tight to the fruit. After Bingé succeeds in destroying the exposed fruit, I move half of what’s left so he can get to it. Later I move the rest so he can get at it. These might be a morning position, a position for when I come home from work, and a last position a while before Bingé goes to sleep. As the fruit is dehydrated it does not spoil even though it is out all day.”

Thanks for sharing this great idea, Frank, and for describing it so well. I love learning from all of you, and look forward to our exceptional classes next year.

However, a new study indicates that parrots may not live as long as we previously thought.

In “Survival on the Ark: Life-history Trends in Captive Parrots,” the researchers analyzed data from the International Species Information System (ISIS) database. Zoos use ISIS to record and track statistics about all of the animals in their care.

After examining over 83,000 records, the study concluded that “Species varied widely in lifespan, with larger species generally living longer than smaller ones. . . but only [12] species had a maximum lifespan over 50 years.”

The oldest parrot was a Moluccan cockatoo at 92 years, but many other cockatoos, such as Rose-breasted cockatoos and Major Mitchell’s were exceptionally long lived.

Lories and lorikeets had short maximum lifespans – in fact the budgie, at 18 years, outlives many species of lory.

The study also states: “Of all the species held in ISIS institutions, 50% never had an individual live beyond 22 years of age, and only 30% of these species had a median adult lifespan ≥10 years, even after limiting data to individuals who survived juvenile mortality (≥4 years). In contrast, when only living animals were considered, 58% of species had a median age ≥10 years.”

The study contains a table listing longevity data on 260 parrot species.

Looking at these numbers, it’s hard not to feel sad at the thought of losing a beloved companion after what seems like a few short years. Stay focused on quality over quantity: provide the healthiest environment for your bird and she is likely to live a long and happy life.

The full study is available here . Thanks to Steve Milpacher of the World Parrot Trust, our wonderful guest last weekend, for passing it on.

One of my goals is to give folks the tools to reduce the number of parrot bites.

People often make statements about their birds that, I must admit, baffle me.

“He’s just pushing the limits to see how much he can get away with.”
“She’s just testing boundaries, but she’ll soon learn who the boss is.”

To this I say, “Huh?”

The statements above are common ones when describing issues in child rearing. It’s natural for us to think of our birds as our children and to use our understanding of how to raise kids when we interact with parrots.

But birds aren’t children.

Birds are prey animals and we are predators.

Can you imagine a chicken testing boundaries with a fox, or a seal pushing the limits with a polar bear? How about seeing how far you can get with a mountain lion?

When a bird reacts by lunging, biting, or exhibiting body language that otherwise expresses discomfort, she is saying one thing, and one thing only: I am uncomfortable with this situation.

Please respect her clear communication, don’t force her to “toe the line,” and make trust building your top priority.

Clicker training is a fun way to interact with your bird, but it’s also a useful tool for addressing behavioral issues. Our September class provided  an introduction to the principles of operant conditioning and, specifically, how it applies to our interactions with our birds.

In addition to explaining how clicker training works, ideas for getting started, and strategies for overcoming training challenges, the class also focused on interactive learning with hands-on exercises designed to let participants work on clicker timing and shaping behaviors.

Below are the slides from the workshop.

Once you apply the principles of clicker training to your daily interactions — regardless of  your bird’s age or previous training — you will be amazed at how effectively you will be able to communicate with each other, how much faster you will build trust, and how quickly your parrot will learn tricks that delight and amaze.

To learn more about how you can build a more positive and fun relationship with your birds, please check the Phoenix Landing events calendar for upcoming classes.

This is very personal for me because Phoenix , my greenwing macaw, should outlive me by several decades. I am “paying forward” in the great hope that someone will look out for Phoenix when I no longer can.   Do you worry about your bird’s future the way I do?

This idea goes to the heart of what Phoenix Landing stands for:

• It’s not often that one person can care for a parrot for their entire life (assuming the bird remains healthy);

• Birds deserve to have a good home each time, not just in the home that first acquired them;

• The term “forever home” is highly discouraged when it comes to parrots.  Even the smallest parakeet can live 20 years, and frankly, very few people remain committed or able to provide a long-term home.  People’s lives change, through no fault of their own, due to health, marriage, children, money, jobs, housing, family responsibilities, and even death.   Caring for parrots can also be hard work.

• Ideally, non-profit parrot organizations will offer a mechanism for ensuring a succession of good homes for any bird that comes through their system.  This means the organization needs to be sustainable for a very long time, and not just operated by one person or out of someone’s house; unfortunately, those organizations don’t tend to last as long as a parrot’s healthy lifespan.  I am so grateful to everyone that is involved with Phoenix Landing, because our strength and longevity will come from many of us each doing a small part.  We are all “paying forward” and I’m guessing you want the same safe future for your birds as I do for mine.

• One way we can help parrots is to encourage adoption.  Let’s inform people that all companion birds deserve to have a succession of good homes.  Someday your bird will likely need one or more new homes too, and you’ll want those to be good ones.   Let’s promote adoption as the norm, not just something for the “rescues.”

• Another way we can help parrots is to teach people that birds are resilient, regardless of their past.  Nature has built them to be adaptable in order to survive. Phoenix Landing rarely uses the word rescue because this word conjures up a sense of abuse, neglect, harm, and baggage.  Most of the birds that come to us are from loving homes where it is just no longer possible for them to care for a bird; but even true rescue birds are likely to adapt if given an opportunity to thrive.  I have yet to meet a parrot that was not adoptable, there is usually an appropriate family for each and every one.

Moose and Gizmo macaws were adopted in 2006, and they are now
looking for their next new home.   They are delightful birds!

Since 2003, Phoenix Landing has taken responsibility for over 1,940 birds.  So far, about 150 of the adopted birds have been re-homed, and foster homes often change too.  As the years go by, a growing number of Phoenix Landing birds will need to be adopted again and again.  The good news is that we put the same hard work and effort into finding the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th homes as we did the 1^st one.

 
Tiffany, a Citron Cockatoo
Looking for Her Next Home

In a handful of situations, we have lost track of a bird because someone chooses not to abide by the specific policies outlined in our foster and adoption agreements.  I must confess that it deeply disturbs me when someone disrespects the goodwill intentions of Phoenix Landing, and most importantly the long-term interests of the bird.   We will never give up trying to keep a watchful eye on every bird that comes thru Phoenix Landing.

One of the ways we try to keep in touch with our adopting families is through our Alumni Program.  Several people help with this function since a growing number of birds now fall under the protective umbrella of Phoenix Landing.  In fact, we could use some additional help.  If you are interested, please email us at phoenixlanding@earthlink.net.

I’d like to give a special thanks to our extraordinary adoption coordinators (Debbie Russell, MD; Jenny Drummey, VA; Sarah Ptomey, WV; Kevin Blaylock, TN/VA; and Nina Roshon, NC).  No matter how many birds they are trying to place, how many need yet another new home,  how many challenging people they encounter – they always keep the welfare and future of the birds first and foremost. They are motivated and rewarded by all the good matches they make, parrot-by-parrot.  I hope you will join me in giving them a special cheer of gratitude.   Someday your parrot may need them too!

So I fired off an email to Debi Boies, the founder and director of Pilots N Paws (pilotsnpaws.org), a volunteer group made up of private and commercial pilots and animal rescue groups. All the pilots give their time, their planes and fuel to help get animals that need rides from fosters to their loving, new homes, or from shelters to foster homes. Debi was delighted that I asked, and gave me her blessing to post for a flight and see what happens.

With that in mind I posted a request for help with moving Quork, a scarlet macaw, from the Fayetteville, NC area to Asheville, NC. Since I thought most pilots would be a little concerned about how big he might be, I scoured the net to find a picture of a scarlet with a person. I also considered that seeing a picture would attract more attention, and it did! Within an hour, Jon, a pilot out of Greensboro, NC replied, offering to fly west with our beautiful macaw. He had flown dogs and cats, but wanted to take Quork since it would be such an adventure. Not only was Jon excited, but his family wanted to go as well! They loved the idea that they could spend the flight entertaining him.

After some initial setbacks and scrambling, we got all the details worked out. His foster family brought Quork to Nina, our Wilmington, NC coordinator, who would see that he got to Jon at the airport for his flight west. Poor Nina and Quork had quite the adventure just getting to the airport, but I’ll let her tell you about that next.

Susan Steenstra was gracious enough to offer to meet Quork at the Asheville airport, and even brought Ms. Molly, her adopted blue and gold macaw as Quork’s welcoming committee. From what she told me, Molly was a huge hit all by herself, and when Quork arrived they wowed the crowd. Imagine walking into a waiting area to see 2 stunning macaws! Cameras clicked and flashes flashed, all centered on the birds!

This is the message I later received from Jon: “Quork was wonderful….not a peep out of him. He just sat there and looked out the window. I think he really enjoyed the flight, to be honest. I don’t know macaws, but that’s what it seemed like. He was a hit in the FBO (Family Boarding Office) at AVL (Asheville Regional Airport). Lots of people there and also young kids. People were taking pictures right and left….nice to see such an animal/bird make an impression. Sorry the flight was so long, ATC (Atlanta Tower Control) was vectoring us all over the place and when we got to AVL area, we were number “5″ for landing….place was packed and weather was coming in. Thanks again for letting us help. This was a really unique trip.” It’s my fondest wish that all who met Quork will be inspired to consider adding a member of Phoenix Landing’s family to theirs.

Quork’s Excellent Adventure, Wilmington, NC to Jacksonville, NC, by Nina Roshon, Wilmington, NC Phoenix Landing Coordinator
Well, as Megan stated, there was an “incident” on the way to the airport that morning…

I was concerned about driving on Highway 17 due to fires and some heavy smoke; however, all reports for the last 48 hours said the smoke in that area had dissipated. And, since my alternate route was a lot longer drive time, I elected to take 17.

As soon as I got past Surf City the smoke became at first dense and then extremely severe. I had the windows open as I think birds enjoy the breeze on their feathers, but I quickly closed everything up and turned on the A/C. However, I could still smell smoke coming into the truck. And I remember one news report stating that if one can smell smoke then one is inhaling it as well.  I also remember reading one expert’s comments that almost no other kind of smoke is as hazardous as forest fire smoke; something to do with the size/number of particulate matter in it. The smoke was so dense that one could not have breathed outside the vehicle without a respirator. Something like out of Dante’s Inferno!

I was too far along on my drive to turn around and go back to Wilmington. I called my friend Wade in Jacksonville and he reported very little smoke there. So I knew I just had to get through maybe 15 miles or so and be in the clear. I told Wade, “let me get off the phone and do the only thing I can at this point which is to drive like a bat out of hell to get through this toxic smoke” – so I did! (actually, probably going 70-75 mph on a 55 mph 4 lane highway; almost no traffic on it at this time of day on a Sunday. I had a very strong suspicion that I would get stopped on this highly traveled road but felt I had no other option and that I would deal with that scenario when and if it happened.

Well, sure enough, after about 10 miles, I saw flashing lights and a State Trooper right behind me. I jumped out of the truck (which I knew would totally concern the officer) but I knew there was NO WAY I was going to open a window with Quork in the truck. As feared, he reached for his gun, and yelled at me to get back in the vehicle. I told him “NO, I am not, as I cannot open a window – this is a matter of life and death.” He then said that it was for my own safety so a passing car wouldn’t hit me. So I said, “I will just walk over on the other side of the truck.” He calmed down when he saw that I had no weapon (and obviously no where to hide one) and I explained that I had a bird in the car, that I knew I was speeding and I was sorry but that I had no other option due to the dense and toxic smoke; I explained where I was heading. He asked to see the bird (I guess he was thinking chicken or parakeet) and he totally flipped out when he saw Quork.  “I have always wanted to get a bird like that; is he available for adoption?”  I  told him “Yes”, here is a card,  quickly told him about the Phoenix Landing adoption program, and how to apply online as an adoption candidate. He said to continue on my trip but not to drive as fast.  So I got back in the truck and after a few miles the smoke cleared by 90%. At the airport the smoke was worse again – but not anything like what we had driven through.

When Quork arrived at The Landing in Asheville, our adoption center, he was offered a drenching shower to wash away any smoke residue. He enjoyed it immensely!

Many thanks to pilot Jon, Megan, Nina and Susan for such a successful flight for the spectacularly beautiful Quork. Quork was adopted in 2004, and he is now looking for his next new family! For more information about our adoption program, go to phoenixlanding.org/adoption.

In July, Pilots N Paws pilot Mary Beth Wicker kindly transported Maria the Senegal from Roanoke, VA to Onslow County, NC to reunite with her former foster, Wendy Autry.

It was a happy reunion after another successful flight. We are most grateful to the caring pilots, Jon and Mary Beth, who gave their time and resources to help Phoenix Landing parrots. For more about Maria’s flight, go to: http://pilotsnpaws.org/2011/07/maria-the-senegal-parrot/

Here’s how I did it.

1. I started with the tree a number of feet away from a T-stand that she uses regularly. I gave her time to accept the tree in this position.
2. I loaded the tree with her favorite toys, like cardboard cut into squares and hung on a chain.
3. Every few days, I moved the tree a few inches closer to her T-stand. It took about a month for me to move the tree so that it was right up against her T-perch. Each time I moved the tree, I watched to see if she was comfortable with the new position. Did she stand further away from the tree on her T-stand? Did she stop flying to and landing on the T-stand altogether? If she did, I moved the tree back an inch or two and waited a few days before trying again.
4. Over the course of a month, I moved the tree until it was right up against her T-stand. However, she still didn’t go on the tree.
5. I put some of her favorite toys on the tree so that she could reach them while still standing on the T-stand.
6. When I saw her play with the toy, I praised, praised, praised, and gave her a favorite treat (a bit of unsalted cashew).
7. I added more cardboard square toys on other tree branches, and other interesting toys too.

Success! One day, I came downstairs and there she was, standing on the tree like it was no big deal.

Why did this method work?

Because:

• I watched her for signs of comfort/discomfort around this new object.
• I moved the tree slowly and let her accept it at her own pace.
• I made the tree valuable to her by covering it with her favorite toys.
• I didn’t make a big deal out of it when she didn’t get on the tree. Birds can sense our frustration and if we fret about their actions (“Why aren’t you using this expensive tree I bought you? Why aren’t you using it RIGHT NOW?!?) Birds respond best to positive reinforcement and a calm approach.
• I did make a big deal out of it when she got on the tree – she got a treat and praise.

Try it out, I hope it works for you.
See Henry enjoying the manzanita tree below, you can see the perch on her T-stand in the lower left.

“I don’t understand what’s wrong with our parrot. Every time he sees us, he runs to the back of the cage trembling. If he gets out, he flies frantically around the room, as though he’s trying to escape. It’s like he’s scared of us.”
“Every time I try to pet my bird, he bites me.”
“My parrot screams at random times during the day. Really loudly! The neighbors are starting to complain.”
“Why can’t my bird just eat his food, and not throw it everywhere?”

These are not “problems” at all, but normal parrot behavior. Too often, our expectations don’t match the reality of parrot care taking, and the result is many birds lose their homes.

Caretakers can work with birds and the environment to minimize or eliminate these behaviors – the operative word being “work.”

What’s the key to understanding any parrot behavior or caretaker problem?

Parrots are prey animals. They are only a few generations removed from the wild.

Loud vocalizations, messiness, fear of predators (us), and many other behaviors that make parrots challenging animals are completely natural.

Conversely, the well-socialized bird is not ordinary. The well-socialized bird is like an athlete who works daily with a trainer to maintain his skills. This takes patience from both bird and caretaker. It takes respect, a keen eye for observation, and empathy.

It takes time.

As an adoption coordinator, I receive applications from new and experienced parrot people who wish to adopt a bird that wants to interact and is friendly. I’m never sure how to respond to this request.

Most birds don’t come fully loaded with Dog Mode. Most birds are normal.

Even a bird that is well socialized can quickly change when put in an environment where people don’t respect the parrot or respond to what the bird communicates.

The screaming terrified parrot is a bird who is acting normally. The parrot that perches on the hand is a miracle. Don’t take this wonder for granted. Don’t become jaded or complacent.

When a parrot steps on to your hand, marvel.

Here is a recipe for pumpkin bread.  Pumpkin is high in vitamin A, an essential vitamin for birds.   Pumpkin bread is often one of the first foods that the birds at The Landing adoption center learn to eat, and then they expand their interests to the mash and other fresh foods that we offer.  A couple of appropriately sized pumpkin bread chunks are just one portion of the wide and varied diet that we try to offer the birds in our care.
RECIPE
Add together:
• 15 oz can of organic pumpkin (including the pie spice, or you can add cinnamon and ginger, most birds really like the spices).
• 1/2 cup applesauce or one of the snack applesauce
(a great substitute for oil)
• 1 egg
• 2 TBL quinoa (if you’d like to add some protein)
• Unsulphured dried fruits or nuts – whatever your birds most enjoy. Walnuts are high in Omega 3’s
• 2 cups flour (interesting flours include garbanzo, millet, ground oatmeal, coconut, organic cornbread mix, etc.). My favorite flour is Bob’s Redmill garbanzo bean flour. I like the texture and the nutritional content.

Make a thick batter. If it gets too thick, add some juice (mango, carrot etc). Garnish it if you like with cereals or nuts.

You can be creative with the ingredients, the important thing is to make a stiff batter. Bake 45 minutes or so @ 350 degrees or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cast iron skillets work well. Freeze in sections, keep 2-3 days worth in the fridge.

Laura Ford’s Trixie eating cranberry pumpkin bread