Of all the birds I’ve owned, finches remain among my favorite. I affectionately call them “the happiest little creatures on Earth.” Finches are simply the peppiest, most joyful birds out there – and it’s impossible to be unhappy watching them as they chirp and flutter about. Another benefit? Finches are fairly easy to care for. Read on and you’ll see what I mean!

Finch Basics

There are literally dozens of different finch breeds and varieties within each breed. Finches are incredibly diverse in terms of appearance, so if you’re looking for a brightly colored finch, the Gouldian Finch or the Strawberry Finch (yes, they look like little strawberries!) are probably more your speed, whereas fans of more muted colors will enjoy the Spice Finch or the Society Finch.

Finches are small – just a few inches from head to tail. Their lifespan is also relatively short (for a bird), as most have a life expectancy of 6 to 10 years. Their diet is simple, consisting of seeds, fruits, nuts and vegetables. And they don’t require an expensive cage, though their cage should be on the larger end of the small cage spectrum (i.e. a small flight cage) in order to provide plenty of room for the birds to flutter and fly.

Keeping Finches

Finches are social birds and they must be kept with at least one other finch. Various finch breeds can be housed together, but finches cannot be caged with other birds due to their unique dietary requirements and potential for injury when placed with other types of birds.

Finches are essentially ornamental songbirds. They do not relish direct human contact and handling like other birds such as the parakeet. But nevertheless, finches enjoy passive human companionship and many will sing and flirt when their favorite humans are near.

Finches are capable of some very delightful vocalizations and unlike most other pet birds, finches are not prone to unpleasant squacking and screeching.  Each breed of finch has a slightly different “song” and some breeds – like the Spice Finch – tend to be quieter, while the Zebra Finch or the Society Finch tend to be more vocal.

In terms of daily care, finches require little by way of a daily time commitment. Finches require fresh water and fresh food (seeds and fresh foods like fruits) daily. The perches and grate on the bottom of the cage must be wiped down to remove droppings and the cage liner must be changed. Some finch owners also provide a small, shallow dish to serve as a bird bath of sorts – a treat for finches of all kinds. In all, it takes about five minutes per day and about $15 per month to provide quality care for 2 or more finches.

Adopting Finches

While finches can be purchased from many pet stores, the healthiest and best-bred finches are purchased from professional finch breeders. A major benefit of purchasing a finch from a breeder is the ability to adopt a young finch.

Adult finches who have not been in close contact with humans – like the finches found at most pet stores – are frightened of humans, and they will panic if you get too close of if you place your hand inside the cage. But a young bird is naturally unafraid of humans and by regularly placing your hand inside the cage and allowing the birds to become familiar with your presence, the birds will remain comfortable with humans.

A fearful bird can be difficult or impossible to handle for nail clippings and he will be more difficult to catch if he escapes from his cage. A fearful bird will also be more difficult to treat the event of an injury or illness.

Finches vary dramatically in terms of cost. A Society Finch may cost $15 or less, while a colorful Gouldian Finch can cost well over $200. And remember, a lone finch is an unhappy finch, so you’ll need to adopt at least two finches if you decide that this is the bird for you.

Considering a finch? You may also enjoy learning about canaries, another popular songbird.

This was a major upgrade to our MySQL database and certain plugins were not compatible and new ones were added .. so if you see anything kooky – please let me know!

In the meantime, I will be working in the background to better the archives for all the “LVR” series of blogs, and will be starting on the tag cloud in the sidebar! After that, new content will be forthcoming.

Have a good summer 2008!

The first thing you should consider when you are caring for lories or lorikeets is your bird’s diet. These birds cannot survive on a seed diet. However, feeding fresh nectar can be so messy and time consuming. While this used to be the only solution for people who kept lories and lorikeets, today there are easier diet alternatives. A pelleted lory diet contains all of the nutrients your bird will need. Dry nectar also provides a less messy alternative to fresh nectar, although your birds may not enjoy it quite as much. Adding applesauce, fresh fruit and vegetables and occasional servings of fresh nectar can make your lories much happier and healthier.

If you feed your lory or lorikeet a liquid nectar diet, you may think that fresh water isn’t very important. However, fresh water is a must for all birds. Imagine how you’d feel if you only drank sweet fruit juice all the time.

The next thing to consider as you prepare to keep lories or lorikeets is the cage. Although many people claim that the new diets make lories as easy to care for as other birds, they are still a bit messier. A standard cage has so many bars and little grooves that cleaning bits of fruit or runny bird droppings from the cage can be a nightmare. Instead of a standard cage, you may want to consider shopping for an acrylic birdcage. These cages are made from acrylic panels with air holes in them and can be cleaned completely in just a few minutes. If you do use a standard cage, add a plastic cage barrier to help you keep the wall behind the cage clean.

Perhaps as a result of all the fresh fruits, vegetables or nectar in their diets, lories and lorikeets tend to become quite smelly if their cages aren’t changed regularly. You should plan to change papers or litter and wash out all dishes on a daily basis. The entire cage should be washed down weekly. If you stop cleaning the cage regularly, you could make your bird quite sick. All of the little pieces of fruit and vegetables that he tossed around as he was eating will become moldy. If he eats them, he could develop a bacterial infection.

Finally, just as with other birds, you should be prepared to spend time working with lories and lorikeets to keep them sweet and tame. These birds have a naturally sweet and cuddly nature and love to groom their owners, but if you never handle your lory, he could become shy and afraid of being touched.

Well, although cockatoos are usually affectionate and smart, there are some drawbacks to owning one of these birds. Before you pick out your cuddly new baby, you should think carefully about whether a cockatoo is really right for you and your lifestyle.

If you live in an apartment or town house, a cockatoo can be a bad idea. After all, the loudest sound in nature is made by the flamboyant Moluccan cockatoo. Most other cockatoo species are also on the noisy side. If you live in an apartment and you do decide you still want one of these parrots, you should opt for one of the quieter species.

The rose breasted cockatoo is the quietest of these parrots and has a very sweet disposition. The sulfur crested can be loud, but not intolerably so. Goffin cockatoos are also a bit quieter than many of the other cockatoos. However, you should be aware that a quiet cockatoo is not the same as a quiet bird. Rose breasted and goffin cockatoos are simply not as loud as other cockatoos. Overall, this is not a quiet species and can really cause problems if you live in an apartment or town house.

If you have allergies, you may also find that a cockatoo is a poor choice for you. These birds shed quite a bit of dander, covering the surrounding area with dust. If you do decide to go ahead with your decision to buy a cockatoo, you should be prepared to invest in an acrylic cage and a good air filter. Frequent misting will help keep your bird’s dander down, as well. However, if you have allergy induced asthma and are allergic to birds, these precautions may not be enough to protect you.

While cockatoos are very vocal, they do not have the superb talking ability of an African grey. Since most cockatoo owners are not as concerned about their bird’s mimicking ability as they are interested in its affectionate nature, this should not be a major drawback. After all, cockatoos can still learn quite a few words and phrases.

If you want your bird to be happy and healthy, you will need to be prepared to spend time with it. Cockatoos are social birds and enjoy spending time with the family. When you aren’t there, you will need to be sure your bird is able to amuse himself. Provide toys that require interaction, such as maze or puzzle toys. Just remember that your bird has a very powerful beak and will need toys that are designed for large parrots. Toys for small birds can be unsafe for cockatoos because they are easily shattered.

Once you’ve considered all of the drawbacks to owning a cockatoo, it is time to decide if you can handle one of these wonderful parrots. If you want a cuddly bird and aren’t sensitive to noise, the cockatoo may just be the perfect choice for you.

Having many blogs in my network, I feel completely justified in promoting this event on every domain and blog that I have at my disposal! Please help me pass the word around the internet, and if you can contribute .. please do!

On September 27, 2007 .. a wonderful thing will happen. Bloggers from all around the world will be “Blogging For A Cause”. I will be participating with my fellow bloggers, and am asking you to help me participate in this event. I will be blogging to .. Stop Animal Cruelty and Pet Abuse – over at PetLvr.com – [The Blog]

I’ve done three posts so far for this event

1) An Introduction Post

2) A Clarification Post

3) How we rescued Zeus the Cat

To paraphrase from the PetLvr Site …

You Too Can Participate on September 27, 2007

I will be posting letters from “PetLvr Readers” around the world that have rescued an animal and made a positive difference in the life of one animal. YOU are the hero! I would like you to email me your story. Every story I receive on and before this Thursday will be published and permanently maintained on the PetLvr website, under a new page called “PetLvr Rescue Stories”. I will also link your website if you have one, and post a picture of your pet if you provide it to me.

* Did you rescue an animal from the humane society?
* Did you take a stray dog in and give it a home?
* Did you know any animal being abused and reported its owners to the authorities?
* Did you save any animal from natural disasters, such as Katrina or the Peru Earthquake?
* Do you work for any non-profit agency and helped save the life of an animal?
* If you are a non-profit agency and would like to be linked to your website 9.27.2007

Then … PLEASE! Email me your stories to: hart (at) PetLvr (dot) com with the subject: 9.27.2007

* If you have a blog, you too can join in with thousand’s of other blogs around the world. You can stop the abuse about any topic (elder abuse, children abuse, spousal abuse, environmental abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, abuse in the workplace, etc) .. it’s up to you!
Just follow the link from clicking the above graphic, and if you are not already a member of BlogCatalog.com .. well, join in and add me (PetLvr) as your friend! and you will be able to see your image in the widget in the sidebar when you come back here on September 27, 2007!

* If you do NOT have a blog .. feel free to start a *FREE* blog at PetLvr.com/mypet/ made available by PetLvr.com and start blogging! I will link all participating posts from there back over onto the main PetLvr blog … so start blogging!

cc’ed around the HART-Empire Network!

One of the first things many people who are new to bird breeding wonder is whether the eggs their bird is laying will hatch. If she is a single female, the answer is no. Eggs need to be fertilize before the bird lays them, so before she lays her eggs she does need to have a male bird in her cage to make fertile eggs.

Parrots and other pet birds will lay infertile eggs just as chickens do. Simply throw the infertile eggs away and either pair your female up with a male or try to discourage her from laying more eggs. If she is still alone and doesn’t stop laying eggs, you can try allowing her to keep her eggs until she stops laying them. She may sit on them a few weeks, but she will abandon them when they do not hatch.

Another question new bird breeders wonder about is whether birds will breed without nest boxes. Although some birds do lay eggs and hatch them successfully on the bottom of the cage or in an empty feed cup, you should never try to have them do so. A nest box is designed to keep the baby birds safe and warm and will help the parent birds feel more secure and relaxed. Also, if your birds nest on the bottom of the cage, by the time the eggs hatch and the babies grow up, your cage would be awfully dirty.

Many bird owners also wonder how long it takes bird eggs to hatch. Although the time can vary depending on the species of bird, most eggs take three weeks to hatch. Some birds do not begin to incubate eggs until they are all laid, which causes them all to hatch at the same time, but most birds begin incubating almost immediately. This means that a clutch of five babies can range from one day to ten days old. Some breeders remove the eggs as they are laid and then return them all to the nest after the hen finishes laying her eggs so that they will hatch more closely together. However, before you try this, you should be aware that the parents may not accept the eggs back.

Finally, you may notice that the female bird is not leaving the nest box as regularly as the male. This doesn’t mean she is starving. A good mate will feed the female so she doesn’t have to leave the babies often. However, you should still keep an eye on the situation to be sure the female is getting food and water.

While cockatiels are one of the best smaller talking birds, they certainly aren’t on the same level as the African grey. Your bird will have a high, little voice and will be able to learn about fifty words if you work with it consistently and it has the desire to learn to talk. Some cockatiels simply prefer to whistle and will learn several complicated tunes, but will refuse to say as much as ‘Hello’ to their owners.

If you have family members with allergies or asthma, they may be affected by the dander your cockatiel sheds. These birds, like African greys and cockatoos, have quite a bit of dander. If you decide to get a cockatiel despite the possibility of allergies, be prepared to spend time each day misting your bird’s feathers to help keep dander down. You may also need to consider buying a plexiglass cage to keep your bird from spreading seed hulls, dander and dust where it would irritate your family’s allergies.

If you decide that a cockatiel is right for you, you will need to make another decision – which color mutation you want. Cockatiels have been raised in captivity for so many years that it is no surprise that they come in a wide range of colors.

The standard grey cockatiels are the most common. Males have a bright yellow face with orange cheek patches when they mature. Cinnamon cockatiels are an attractive tan color mutation. Male cinnamons also develop a yellow face and bright orange cheek patches as they mature.

Pearl cockatiels have white pearl-like spots on their wings and chest. However, when males mature, they lose their pearl spots. Normal pearls look like grey cockatiels and cinnamon pearls look like cinnamon males.

Pieds are also very popular. These birds have grey, cinnamon, or pearl splotches on yellow or white bodies. A clear pied is almost all yellow with color on the wings.

Lutino cockatiels, whiteface and yellowface cockatiels are also available. Lutino cockatiels, with their bright yellow coloring, are very popular pets. However, of all the cockatiels, lutinos are the most high strung, often given to ‘frighting’ for no apparent reason. There are exceptions, but for a first bird, you may want to consider a different color mutation.

Finally, once you choose your cockatiel, you will need to select the right cage for it. Although you do not need to be concerned about having your bird bend wires with his beak, you do need to take a close look at the cage spacing. If your bird can stick his head through the bars, it may decide to stick it back in through another set of bars instead of simply sliding it back out.

More than one cockatiel has gotten stuck doing this and it can prove fatal if the bird is not discovered in time. For this reason, be sure you look for a cage designed for cockatiels. The spacing between the bars should never be wider than 3/4 of an inch (1,91 cm).

It is said while creating the canary, God had taken the same utmost care as he did when creating the earth so as to make it one of its finest creations.

The brightest semblance that a canary exerts is that it is both a wonderful pet to view and wonderful to hear sing. It is always in motion, cheering on its own and seems to have a keen interest in things that it comes across.

Truly speaking, canaries form that breed of bird that has been with men for centuries and its selective breeding has led to various shades and colors. The original wild canaries are mostly a drab greenish-brown color whereas it is well-known that canaries tend to be yellow. But yellowness has been developed by selective breeding. Generally people want canaries mainly for their singing ability. Male canaries are the best singers.

It is nice to see, but to keep a canary there are several steps that should be taken essential for its safe and secure livelihood. As is applicable in cases of other pets, certain conditions are also required so as to make the canary’s life more comfortable.

To begin with care must be taken over of all its basic needs like food dishes and water that ought to be provided in a good state. Dishes tend to absorb moisture and that in turn can promote bacterial growth and cause all kinds of health problems and thus endanger the life of these tiny species. They should also be provided with canary seed mixture and cuttlebone for calcium.

The canary’s cage needs a couple of good perches. Therefore due concern should be paid to style, size, and materials to keep the birds healthy and content.

Generally these birds remain happy in those cages that are large enough so as to enable them to fly at ease from one perch to another. Simply hopping from place to place fails to provide sufficient exercise. To enrich their lifestyle the cages should be at least 24” long by 15” deep by 18” tall. This is the benchmark that is expected and should be maintained before proceeding in any venture to keep canaries. Moreover, some people to let them loose at least once a day.

There are also limitations that should be stringently observed. Since these canaries are one of the most delicate species, care should be taken with windows and mirrors irrespective of their sizes – ensure there is no chance of injury.

There are also chances of harm from other pets. Since nowadays we are accustomed to have multiple pets, care should be taken that other animals are kept at bay. There is a possibility of losing the little creatures if they are allowed to fly free out of their cages without taking precautions. Try to make it a habit to clean the bird’s cage thoroughly once a week including the seed (or pellet) cups, the water container, and the perches.

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions at the worlds best homepage or submit or use content at free content resource.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Hartwell

The golden eagle is one of the largest birds of prey; the bald eagle and the California Condor are the only ones that are larger. This bird lives in the western Northern Hemisphere flying over prairies, tundra, barren areas, and in hilly mountain regions. Golden Eagles do not congregate in large numbers; they are solitary birds and will fly alone for the winter.

The Golden Eagle has a large hooked bill, and it is dark brown all over, but has a green sheen on its head. Its wings and tail are very long and broad, which can be seen when it’s flying high in the air. The Golden Eagle is sometimes mistaken for a Buzzard when it is high in sky, but once the long wings and the head come into focus, it will be obvious that it is an eagle

Prey for the Golden Eagle consists of many animals. While it can attack large prey like cranes and domestic livestock, it tends to eat smaller animals like rabbits, hares, squirrels and prairie dogs. A Golden Eagle needs a huge territory of around 3,000 acres to fly over and hunt. When it finds prey, it will soar from the sky at speeds of 150km/h striking the prey with its sharp talons. Spotting its prey while high in the air is not a problem for the Golden Eagle, it has keen eyesight that allows it to see small animals such as mice or lizards. The Golden Eagle catches most of its prey on the ground; however, it sometimes catches birds while they are in flight. The eagle cannot attack a large animal; when it finds a large animal such as a deer, it will only eat it as carrion.

The Golden Eagle population decreased during the nineteenth century because farmers shot them. In the 1960s, the Golden Eagle, along with other birds, were affected by dangerous chemicals. A number of animals in the Golden Eagle’s habitat ate one the chemical called DDT, which had been sprayed onto plants, and since the Golden Eagle was on the top of the food chain, it greatly affected them. Today, Golden Eagles remain protected by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and possession of any body part or a feather could lead to a fine or even up to 10 years in prison.

Golden Eagles live throughout the Northern Hemisphere. When identifying a golden eagle, look for an all over brown color and a hooked bill so that you do not confused it with a Buzzard when they’re flying. Golden Eagles are also one of the few birds that have legs feathered all the way to their toes. It is also one of the largest birds of prey, and with binoculars, you can spot them flying in prairies, and tundra areas. Although DDT greatly affected the Golden Eagles, they have since increased in population, and there are plenty still around today.

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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Birds
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

This is the technique I used to get our backyard hummingbirds to eat from my hand.

1. Make a hand feeder by removing the top part of a small hummingbird feeder & use only the base that has the perches & feeding holes. Fill this part with the nectar that is usually in the feeder.

2. Wear bright colors such as red or pink, as hummingbirds are most attracted to these colors (a flower print shirt will work well also).

3. Put all your hummingbird feeders inside and stand with your hand feeder in a spot where one of your regular feeders used to be (as they will be looking for their food in that spot already). Keep your hand as steady as possible & don’t make any sudden movements.

4. Project happy, loving thoughts to the hummingbirds.

5. HAVE PATIENCE!! It could take weeks of trying before they’ll land on your hand feeder. Continue putting up & taking down the regular feeders.

6. Once they’ve begun eating from your hand feeder & trusting you – try smiling & talking quietly to them.

7. Remember to always be kind & loving with the birds, as it is a great honor that they trust you & allow you to get that close to them.

8. Don’t be afraid to try new things like holding a real red or pink flower in your hand or pour some liquid nectar in your cupped hand & see if they’ll respond and eat directly from your hand.

Good luck & have fun!

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the article, this caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Simone Skorcik – LongBraid Designs Professional Graphic Artist & Photographer> http://www.longbraid.com

Click here to view pictures

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simone_Skorcik