Avian Enthusiast Part 2

[wyntre9]

(continued)

They are a LOT of work.  I have 6 birds and 5 cages.  (I think you get the pic).  They also need a lot of attention (especially the bigger parrots).  And if you travel or go away much, well my flock have their home cages, their summer cottage cages and their traveling cages.

But they are amazingly affectionate.  Whenever I'm at the pc Venus is on my shoulder and Wyntre's flying around in the office.

Most of mine are either rescue birds (the Lutino and Plum-head), adoptions (Amazon) or ferals that flew into cages on my deck (Quaker and parakeets).

Some birds are noisier thatn others.  The Amazon can be the most annoying coz she's the loudest but she's not much of a screamer.

It depends on the bird, the amount of attention and exercise they get, whether they have enough toys in their cages.

They're very intelligent.  The bigger birds are as smart as a 3 -4 year old kid.  I had to put safety locks on all my kitchen cabinets after Venus discovered she could open them.

I could solve the problem by clipping their wings, but that's why I wanted birds in the first place.  I love to see them fly.  And they're Soooo happy when they can.  They do laps around my living room as though training for an ariel marathon.

OK.  I'll stop now.  

[wyntre9]

About acupuncture;

Here's the blurb from the website I posted.

Acupuncture, tattoos, body piercing

A few people have become infected by unsterile needles being used for ear and body piercing, acupuncture and tattooing. The best way to protect yourself is to ensure disposable needles are used and that they come straight out of a sterile packet.

Good luck with your consult.  Sounds like you have time.

[SandyBreeze]

Hello wyntre9,

I received your list you/ve provided and wanted to thank you. :)  Much was going on yesterday with the company I work for, as well as the gym and swimming.

Many good wishes going your way.  I 'm sure hoping treatment goes well for you.  I consult with the hepatologist tomorrow and will attempt to come on afterwards (or at least in the next few days).  My damage is nil and I'm showing no symptoms of HCV so it is unlikely I will treat unless he gives me good reason to change that plan.  I'll keep you in the know ~~

Breeze

[chcnme]

OMG all those bird stories were great!  Big bird fan.  Coltrane's got it going on too :) Wyntre - good to see you.  I don't get by often, but glad you started this post - cool reading!   Pigeon - too funny!  Great birding!

http://tinyurl.com/2vo3yb

[wyntre9]

"I love music, it feeds our soul."

The ultimate in human communication without the bull.  (at least during the actual PERFPRMANCES.  the rest of the time, rehearsals, practicing, gigging, is the same old thing.)

"(clearing throat)."

Sorry.  I jump around a lot.  Can't help myself.  
Lots of fascinating stuff.

[SandyBreeze]

I have to agree with you on Bach.  I love music, it feeds our soul.  All kinds Jazz, Blues, Rock ... but sometime Bach will only do.  A Comfort food?  

Oh... (clearing throat).. the other, that's a whole other day.  It has been a pleasure 'talking' with you!  Cheers!

[wyntre9]

I hard about Telegraph Hill but haven't been able to rent it here.  (I'm on the east coast).

I read it's by a homeless guy (ex-musician, natrually) who started keeping journals about the flocks of ferals in the SF area.  (I think they're red head Amazons.)

Anyway, I gotta see that movie.

I've seen House of Mirth at BB.  Will check it out

Breeze,

IMHO, Bach is German for God.  

Sounds like racy thrillers are a specialty??

[SandyBreeze]

Whoops... didn't mean to repeat after you so much..... above :0)
(the parrots made me do it) the parrots made me do.. the parrots made me do it...

breeze

[Forseegood]

wow, LOVED House of Mirth, if you read her autobiography, I can see why she wrote it.... hope you caught the movie with Jillian Andersen? for my money, pound for pound, one of the best female performances of the century...and overlooked as well...a HUGE object lesson on how a woman should not lose their identites or self-respect with respect to personal relationships, old Edie knew what she was talkin about!

Always liked parrots, did you guys see the "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" a documentary they shot hereabouts...

[pigeonca]

Pigeon was a turquoise male.  His surname, Coltrane, came about because that bird adored Coltrane.  Whenever I played Coltrane records (this was in the days before CD's) birdy would sit on the floor in front of the speakers like the RCA Victor dog and bob his head up and down and sing along.  Later I had another jazz-loving parakeet, who wasn't as smart as Pigeon but still a great bird, named Dorian Gray Dolphy, because he loved Eric Dolphy.  I kid you not.  These little one and a half ounce animals have personal tastes.  The intelligence of birds amazes me.  Have you read any of Irene Pepperberg's books/articles about her African Grey, Alex, who truly comprehends language?  I think birds may be even smarter than dogs.

[GoofyDad]

Seems to me, most around here have become Evian Enthusiasts, LOL. (gettit? It's all the water. Pretty dang funny, huh?)

[Tater-ToT]

LoL... & instead of flying away... we float away!

That was cute!
;)

[honey11]

Yes,,,it does seem like you have a full time job taking care of your crew but very rewarding,,,I can tell!  How do they do if other people are in the house,,,people they may not know as well as family?

[wyntre9]

"Irene Pepperberg's books/articles about her African Grey, Alex, who truly comprehends language? I think birds may be even smarter than dogs."

Oh yes,  I love that documentary.  It proved parrots are as smart as  3 to 4 year old kids.  I've seen some other docs, as well.  I gotta find them and post them for you.

Kalio,

I understand why you posted that and i appreciate it but, to tell the truth, parrots are FAR more susceptible to HUMAN diseases than vice versa.  I'll find that info, if you want, and post it for you.

But, like everything, you can overdo it.  For example, I think one person with 50 cats in an apartment might get sick from that, the same with 50 dogs or 50 of anything.

As long as the birds cages are cleaned regularly, which mine are, and the birds are bathed, mine get 'sprayed' once a week,  and your sleeping area is separate (same with cats and dogs, especially for folks with allergies) then you should be fine.

If you were living, eating and sleeping in the same room 24/7 with the birds, i suppose it could be problematic.

Pigeon - Oh yeah, all the blue note stuff was fantastic.  there used to be a division of the old tower records on Broadway and Eigth with bins and bins of discontinued cassettes, LP's from Blue Note, Vantage, etc.  i used to go nuts.  Never could convert all that stuff to CD.  The record companies made it so damn difficult ya had to go buy new copies in CD format which I refused to do.  Now, with mp3, I don't even know if that stuff is available, but it would still require purchase.

Your little turquoise male had great taste in music.

before I donated my Baldwin spinet to a local artist group last year, I would sometimes play and Venus, the amazon, would just sit at the edge of the keyboard, eyelids drooping, and get this exprtresseion of ecstasy on her beak.  She was always mad when I stopped.

it's amazing how much intelligence, personality and spirit are packed into those perfect little creatures.

[jmjm530]

Let me get pen and paper and write that one down :)

-- J

[SandyBreeze]

Happily independent as well!!  However no children or animals (except in the wild).  Would love to have a feathered mate... but traveling too much now.  One day... one day... ;)

And better a picture of affection than infection! LOL

There are no humans here. I'm an Honorary Avian.

"You paint a . . picture of affection."

The Organ Toccatas and Fugues is God speaking. Yes?

hmmmmmm.... They like racy thrillers??? If I had wings... I'd fly some by ;)

[Forseegood]

P: meant to mention that I hope youre feeling better and better from the procrit, it seems that you are, sure hope so, youre one brave gal! And anyone who like Eric Dolphy (did you know they nicknamed him "bumphead" he he) is okay in my book...

Goofy: well, I sure hope that one of your wives, girlfriends, mom, whomever, has taught YOU to go on the paper...he he he

[wyntre9]

pigeon,
Before I forget, if you liked the doc about Alex there's a great book called "The Parrot Who owned me,".  It's non-fiction and based on a Princeton ornithologist who inherited an Amazon from an elderly Aunt.  

The title says it all!

4C,
yes, jazz used to be my thing especially with soprano sax.  On flute I was always partial to baroque stuff, especially the Bach sonatas.  Hard as hell to play.


And I love Edith Wharton.  I just read through all her works.  

Ethan Frome, of course is her masterpiece, but I like her other works, too, especially "The Custom of the Country",  "The House of Mirth" and "The Age of Innocence."

[wyntre9]

"How do they do if other people are in the house,,,people they may not know as well as family?"

Venus and peekaboo think people are trees with feet.

As long as they think the 'trees" like them, they're fine.

All my birds are perched trained so while everyone can't pet them, they can be handled by most calm people.  They get spooked by anyone who's nervous.

I don't let most people handle Venus, except with the perch, until they've had time to get to know her, as I don't want any 'accidents.'  

Blue fronts are known for their gentle dispositions, but if she was scared (and ONLY if she was scared) she might bite and she could take your finger off.  

Amazons have enough strength in their jaws to crush a walnut.

But it wouldn't be intentional.  :)

[SandyBreeze]

What an interesting person you are!!  

How many humans besides yourself exists in this delightful environment with your dear parrots and parokeets?  The idea of them freely flying throughout their domain is refreshing!  (And nice that they share their place with you!) You paint a touching picture of affection.    

Your choice of music increases their brain space as well, life doesn't get better than Bach sonatas.  I'd put money down you read Edith Wharton aloud to them, at least partially.  Did you?  

[wyntre9]

"How many humans besides yourself exists in this delightful environment with your dear parrots and parokeets?"

There are no humans here.  I'm an Honorary Avian.  

"You paint a . .  picture of affection."

I CERTAINLY didn't mean to do THAT!  *LOL*

"Life doesn't get better than Bach sonatas."

Except for the Organ Toccatas and Fugues.

"I'd put money down you read Edith Wharton aloud to them"

They like racy thrillers.  :)

[Forseegood]

never read the Birdie book, but saw the movie with Mathew Modine and quite liked it, only Wharton I ever read was Edith...you like jazz too? Me too! Like "Chick" singers especially, but I do like the horns too, Coltrane, Miles, Ben Webster, Parker...I really like those two classic Tony Bennet/Bill Evans albums and have been listening to them a lot lately, soothing to the soul for me, glad to know there are other Jazz Babies here...

[jmjm530]

You won't be able to put the book down. Wharton is an excellent writer. Don't confuse it with the movie which was only so-so.

[Kalio1]

I had a friend who had birds free in his house and he became ill, I can't remember now exactly what it was but I remember he said it was from his birds! I guess even from the cages you can catch things from bird feces. I found this about it and it mentions "people with compromised immune systems" which includes those with substantial liver damage. Something to consider anyway before I think of having one for a pet.


Birds
Even if pet birds are kept in cages, they can sometimes pass certain infections to people. Fortunately, getting infections from birds is rare, especially if you are young and healthy.

Cryptococcosis (pronounced: krip-tuh-kah-koe-sus) is one infection that people may get from birds. People who inhale organisms found in bird droppings, especially from pigeons, may get this disease. Cryptococcosis can cause serious illness such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and pneumonia. People with weakened immune systems from illnesses such as AIDS or cancer are at particular risk of getting cryptococcosis. It's very unusual that a healthy person will get it. Cryptococcosis is a type of fungal infection, so doctors treat it with antifungal medications.
Psittacosis (pronounced: sih-tuh-ko-sus), also known as parrot fever, is passed to people when they have contact with infected bird feces or with infected dust in birdcages. The birds that typically carry the organisms that cause the disease are parrots, parakeets, and macaws, especially birds that have been smuggled into the country. A person who has developed psittacosis may cough, vomit, and have chest pains, fever, and chills. Doctors treat psittocosis infections with antibiotics.

[wyntre9]

"Birdy actually becomes birdlike, refusing to act as a human."

You trying to tell me something?  *LOL*

I'm gonna order that book.  It does sound good.