Birds For Dummies. Gina Spadafori

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СКАЧАТЬ are you looking for in a bird? We talk about the joys as well as the challenges of breeding and raising birds in Chapter 13, and you can find plenty on both the hands-off and hands-on species later in this chapter. But you’re the one who must consider what relationship you’re looking for with your bird, because your decision affects the kind of bird you choose — not just the species, but in many cases the individual bird.

Keep in mind that we’re talking about unique species from a variety of different environments, not simply “breeds of birds.” Our avian friends originate from all around the globe and have evolved to live comfortably and successfully in a particular habitat. When we bring them into our homes to share their lives with us, we have an obligation to think in a species-specific way about what we do with them and for them.

Considering the Species

After you figure out what you want in your feathered companion, you can realistically look at what’s out there and start matching the species that connect with your personality and lifestyle. Don’t feel restricted! The variety of species and types of pet birds available today is so broad that all except the most dedicated quiet-and-neatness types can find more than one species to fill the bill — and probably several!

      We put our observations on the record here to let you know what each species is really like, both the good and the not-so-good qualities. Nobody’s perfect — not you, not us, and not any single bird. But getting the match as close as possible is your best bet for a long, happy, and healthy relationship.

      

Make no mistake: The qualities we’re talking about in this chapter refer to truly healthy pet birds acquired from reputable sources — and in the case of the parrot species, well-socialized birds to boot. Brian’s experience confirms that a healthy, well-cared-for bird can live roughly twice as long as some of the generic life expectancies published in most of the older reference books. You’ll never find a better testimonial to good preventive care. Poor living conditions combined with an unhealthy diet and risky behavior also limit our own life expectancies — similar to what we see in the birds we keep.

      

For information on choosing a reputable bird source, see Chapter 3. And don’t forget that a good start is only a start: Explore the latest on avian nutrition in Chapter 6 and on preventive care in Chapter 9.

      The hands-off color and songbirds

Finches — and canaries are finches, too — have been popular for centuries, with good reason. They’re attractive, active, and fill our world with sound, including the sweet songs canaries are known for. Well-suited to life in a cage or aviary, these canaries and other finches (see Figure 2-1) are perfect for people who don’t want a lot of physical interaction with their pet birds. If you keep the cage or aviary clean and make sure your pets are healthy and well fed, they’re quite content to keep you on the periphery, sharing their lives with you from afar. These small charmers can also be interesting to breed, without the time-consuming hand-feeding that parrots may require.

      Finches

      Relatively inexpensive with a couple of very hardy species in the group, finches make a good first bird, a child’s pet, or charming aviary residents for both experienced or beginner bird keepers. Best bets: society or zebra finches, which are very common and relatively inexpensive (usually starting at around $20). Although small in stature, these little birds do need comfortable housing and a stress-free existence in your home. If you provide a finch with enough enrichment in her enclosure to allow her to choose if she can be seen or not, she’ll feel great comfort and security. Sadly, stress is one of the leading contributors to some of the health problems Brian sees in finches.

      Photograph by Kim Campbell Thornton

      FIGURE 2-1: Canaries and other finches delight with color and song but generally prefer not to be handled.

Beyond society and zebra finches is a world of exotic and lovely finches, such as the multicolored Gouldians or the Fischer’s, with their long tail plumes. The more unusual finches are much more expensive than the society or zebra finches — they cost up to $250 — and they’re also more difficult to keep. Easily chilled and quickly stressed, many of the more unusual finches are best left in the hands of experienced bird lovers.

      

Society and zebra finches are the best bet for anyone looking to bring the zest of these little guys into their lives. They’re both easy to keep. A pair or handful of zebras or societies can comfortably keep themselves amused while you’re at work.

      The finch’s life span is around 3 to 6 years for a “typical” pet, but a healthy bird from a reputable source, cared for properly, can hit the 20-year mark. Finches can thrive in almost any living situation, from studio apartment to outdoor aviary.

      Canaries

      The Sinatras of the pet bird world, canaries have enjoyed a long run of popularity — and a fair amount of fame, too. Consider the classic Warner Brothers cartoon character, Tweety Bird, who has done plenty to promote his real-life counterparts. (We won’t quibble with the fact that Tweety doesn’t seem to sing much at all, since his uncharacteristic gift of conversational skills makes up for the deficit.)

Canaries have been bred for centuries and, as a result, come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and feather patterns. The yellow border fancy is perhaps the one who looks the most like Tweety, a clear, vibrant burst of sunshine in any room. Borders are available in other colors, too, including white, blue, and green. Canaries also come in a dramatic red-orange and a cinnamon color. Fancy feathers were the aim of other breeders, who’ve produced frilled versions with elegant feather puffs or fringes over the eyes.

      

Red canaries need a little human help to maintain their breathtakingly vibrant color. People who exhibit their birds add special ingredients — color foods — to their red canaries’ diets to help them become just the right hue. A more natural way to bring out the red is to feed foods high in beta-carotene, such as freshly grated carrots, chopped broccoli, or pieces of cooked sweet potato, when the bird is molting — the time when new feathers are coming in.

      When it comes to what canaries are best known for — song — the green roller takes the prize. The roller is humble in appearance, perhaps, but eagerly sought out for the complexity and length of his song. (And we do mean “his,” because in canaries, the girls leave the singing to the boys.)

      Canaries can start at prices not much higher than the common finches ($60 to $75 for females and $80 to $100 for males, because of their singing ability), but if you’re really looking for great singing or distinctive colors or feather patterns, you can easily shell out $300 to $400 or more in some cases. Ordinary life span for most canaries is roughly 8 to 16 years, but 20- and 30-year-olds who enjoy good care turn up fairly СКАЧАТЬ