That Avian Blog

Introducing the Zebra Dove

findiviglio — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:37:53 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. To be christened with the name “peaceful” among a group of birds already well-known for their calm demeanors is quite an accomplishment. Yet the beautiful little Zebra or peaceful dove (Geopelia striata) lives up to its reputation admirably. Confiding in humans, the zebra dove gets along very with finches, canaries and [...]

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Friendly Pet Birds or Outcasts: The Positives and Negatives of Imprinting

findiviglio — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:05:30 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. In 1935 Austrian zoologist Konrad Lorenz published a ground-breaking paper describing how goslings that he raised came to regard him as, in essence, their “parent”. Further work on this process, soon to be known as imprinting, led to the founding of the science of ethology, the study of animal behavior. As every [...]

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The Excitement of Training a Freeflight Parrot

thatpetblog — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:00:33 +0000

The following blog entry was done by a guest blogger and does not necessarily reflect the views of Frank Indiviglio or That Fish Place/That Pet Place. Please welcome Dave Womach, Professional Parrot Trainer at Birdtricks.com When you first hear the term, “freeflight parrot” you might expect to see a parrot flying through hoops in bird show at [...]

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Breeding Lovebirds in Captivity: an Introduction

findiviglio — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:55:31 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Despite the “love” part of their name, these tiny parrots (9 species in the genus Agapornis) are actually quite feisty and downright aggressive towards one another at times. Introducing new birds is not easy, but once a pair forms the birds will be quite devoted to each other, and may well [...]

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The A&E Double Flight Cage: How Much Room Does a Finch Need? Part I

findiviglio — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:06:38 +0000

It seems to me that finches are often “short-changed” when it comes to cage space. Their small size, especially when compared to other pet birds, seems to pre-dispose hobbyists to providing equally tiny living quarters. But the facts that a bird “fits” in a cage, and can move about somewhat, does not necessarily [...]

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The Brilliant Gouldian Finch – Care Tips and Newly Discovered Facts – Part 2

findiviglio — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:37:37 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Please see Part I of this article for a look at Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae) natural history and emerging research items. I’ll cover the care of these popular beauties in a future article, but would like to point out a few of their unique requirements here. Cage Size Gouldian finches require more room [...]

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Lumps, Abscesses, Tumors and Swellings on Budgerigars and other Birds – Part 2

findiviglio — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:22:15 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio. Please see Part I of this article for information on related health concerns. Feather Cysts Feather cysts form when feathers growing below the bird’s skin fail to emerge properly. They then curl back and continue to grow, forming elongated lumps at the base of one or several feathers. Secondary bacterial infection may set in, [...]

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Parrot Tricks: Why Train My Parrot, and Where do I Start?

findiviglio — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:09:01 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. People have mixed feelings about teaching budgerigars, macaws, cockatoos and other parrots to perform tricks. Some claim that such is somehow “degrading” (to the bird, I assume!) while others consider training to be vital in forging a good relationship with one’s pet. My experience with captive animals of all types has [...]

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Vitamin A Deficiency and Swollen Eyes in Parrots, Finches and other Cage Birds

thatpetblog — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:57:07 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Swollen eyes (Periorbital Abscess) are a frequently reported affliction of budgerigars, African gray, various Amazon and nearly all other parrots, but are also seen in canaries and other finches, mynas, toucans, bulbuls and a host of lesser-known pet species. In most cases, a Vitamin A deficiency is at the root of [...]

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Lumps, Abscesses, Tumors and Swellings on Budgerigars and other Birds (Part I)

findiviglio — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:34:15 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Swollen areas and assorted growths are regularly seen on the otherwise hearty budgerigars (parakeets) and, less commonly, on other parrots, finches and softbills. Ranging from harmless to quite serious, these typically arise from trauma, abscesses, tumors, ruptured air sacs, hernias, cysts or egg-binding, but other -less obvious maladies may also be [...]

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