Community Discussion Board

Angels without Wings

luciedove — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:39:00 GMT

John Abraham to fight for bird's cause with PETA

New Delhi, Sat, 19 Jul 2008 Shivani Gupta

Social work and Bollywood celebs remain closely associated with each other. Time to time, we listen to the link-up of stars with various NGOs working for a remarkable social cause. Some justify this as being an excellent part on the side of the stars, while others criticise it for being a publicity and honour winning task.

Whatever it may be, but it surely earns commendable profit to the organisation undoubtedly aiding the social cause they are working for.
John Abraham too, in yet next step to provide his aid to an NGO has joined hands with PETA, the world's leading organisation for conserving animal rights on earth, for the protection of birds on the earth. Needless to mention, John has earlier also worked with Earth Matters Foundation for the conservation of the habitat of elephants.

John is shooting a new ad-campaign for the same in which he will be seen wearing huge, angelic wings standing next to the title, with the tagline: Be an angel for birds. Don't cage them. John's new avataar as an angel is sure to fascinate his fans as well as leave an impact on the sadists.

Bird Abuse and PETA

For nearly three decades, PETA is dedicated to working in the field of establishing and defending the rights of all animals. It educates the policymakers and people about animal abuse and boycotts the usage of animals for eating, wearing or experimenting upon.

The caging of birds has been a serious concern to PETA for many purchased birds are later abandoned. As a result, they have to live out of their natural habitat. Parrots are amongst the highest selling breed of birds in the world but about 85 percent of the parrots are sold or given away after a certain period of buying. Reason being, the family members discover that the bird which seemed so adorable in the beginning is quite squeaky and boisterous. But the real cause is that birds too, like human beings, are a social animal and demand attention of others. If left isolated, they turn to vociferous and noisy activities to gain the attraction of the family members.

Moreover, freeing a bird doesn't simply mean opening a window and letting it fly in the open sky wherever it wishes to, but to provide a proper habitat with suitable climate and favourable dwelling conditions to live on. Caging a bird deprives him of his natural habitat and it is forced to live in adverse conditions.

The colourful, eye-catching beauties thus end up serving as a show-peace in a gentleman's drawing room. They pay the price for their virtues. They are often being killed, or shot at, only to gratify the soul of adventure-hungry men and provide them pleasure with their blood. Birds like chicken and geese serve as a delicious meal for the non-vegetarians. In these and many other ways, birds are exploited to the fullest without any serious concern to their rights of living on the earth. They are also artificially breeded for more and more profit and manufacturing purposes. Such is the miserable plight of these birds.

PETA raises its voice against such issues only, which are seldom given a central space in the thought process of the mainstream society. PETA grants its voice to the meek and humble ones who are really in need of an angel to save them from the adversities of the world.

PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry. It also works on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of beavers, birds and other "pests," and the abuse of backyard dogs.

PETA works through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.

Forum: General Discussion

HELP very small just feathered sparrow

jennifer — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:21:49 GMT

My husband found a tiny sparrow on sidewalk fell but from inside a hole in the bricks, I think. No nest to return him to. We have a stuffed nature toy with a real sparrow chirp. He puts it next to tiny syringe and birdie opens mouth to eat. We have baby cereal mixed with tiny amt water. What should we do. He may die but for now has perked up and is doing much better. How to care for him the weekend, where to take him. He will never be able to be returned to the wild, will he?

Thanks,
Jenny

Forum: Injured/Orphaned Wildlife

tiel mom abandoned eggs--HELP

Cindy Miller — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:54:02 GMT

Our cockatiel layed her first clutch of eggs recently, much to our delight. After candling, we determined all five were fertile. Mom was being a good mother constantly sitting and tending to her eggs. However, we are within a few days of the first hatching date and it appears she has possibly abandoned them. Yesterday she didn't sit on them until evening. This morning she was off of them again. We are so heartbroken. Do you think this is normal? Anything we can do to help? Was going to get an incubator if necessary...What do you think?

Forum: Cockatiels

E. coli in parrots

Doris — Thur, 17 Jul 2008 13:57:36 GMT

Several different types of pathogenic E. coli are capable of causing disease. A particularly dangerous type is referred to as enterohemorrhagic E. coli, or EHEC.

The distribution of E. coli in psittacines varies one one species to another. It is less common in amazons and macaws, sometimes found in greys, and common in cockatoos and eclectus. In fact, E. coli can compose as much as 30 percent of the gut flora of some psittacines and others like cockatiels and budgies carry somewhat less.

Transmission:

The bacteria is shed from an infected bird in the fecal material as well as nasal and or ocular secretions. The organism remains stable outside the host body and may dry as a dusty substance. This dust contaminates the air in the form of aerosols. These aerosols are then inhaled by another possible host. Susceptibility as well as the amount of contamination determine whether or not the new host becomes infected with the disease.

Symptoms:

Ruffled feathers - diarrhea - listlessness - weakness - shivering - vent picking. The severity of the illness can depend on the age of the bird, the virulence of the bacteria, the immune system, stress and the degree of contamination. Affected birds can also become carriers showing no disease symptoms.

Prevention:

Keep water and feed bowls free of fecal material. Identify carrier birds and properly treat them. Careful disposal of contaminated materials. Minimize stress in the aviary. People working with contaminated material should practice good hygiene.

Treatment:

Broad spectrum antibiotics should only be started when a sample for culturing has been taken. Oral and injected antibiotics should be given simultaneously in severe cases. The sulfa drugs are good to use orally. Kanamycin and Gentamycin are usually effective by injection. When Gentamycin is used do not allow dehydration. Dehydration may cause toxicity to occur.

Forum: Health & Disease Concerns

Baby Humming birds in nest

Marty — Thur, 17 Jul 2008 13:53:23 GMT

W O W!

AWESOME!

Keep in mind the egg is smaller than a tic tac and a quarter ($.25) fits the opening of the nest! THE BIRTH OF A HUMMINGBIRD - This is truly amazing Be sure to click on NEXT PAGE at the bottom of each page; there are 5 pages in all. A lady found a hummingbird nest and got pictures all the way from the egg to leaving t he nest. It took 24 days from birth to flight. Because you'll probably never in your lifetime see this again....enjoy !

http://community-2.webtv.net/Velpics/HUM/

Forum: Wildlife - General

Top 10 Commandments for Birds

Lin and Kids — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:04:26 GMT

Hi guys and gals thought you might like this.

TOP 10 COMMANDMENTS FOR BIRDS

1. My life is likely to last 10 years or more. Any separation from you will be painful for me.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me, it's crucial to my well being.

4. Don't get angry with me too long, don't lock me up for punishment, you have your work, your friends to entertain. I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your voice when its speaking to me.

6. Be aware that how you treat me, I'll never forget it.

7. Remember, before you hit me, I have a beak that could rip you open or crush your hand, but I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for not being co-operative, lazy, ask your self if something might me bothering me, not the right food, in cage too long, want to be with you or on your shoulder.

9. Take care of me when I'm old, you'll be old too.

10. Go with me on my last journey, never say, oh I can't bear to watch it, let it happen in my absence. Everything is easier if you are there with me.

REMEMBER that I love you.

Author unknown

Linda C. Winfrey Springfield, MO

Forum: General Discussion

How can you tell a Cocatiels age?

Charles Hendershott — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:03:17 GMT

Hi,

I have an 11 year old Cocatiel female. I would like to get her a companion. I am in my mid 60 and want her to kick the bucket before I do. She is so spoiled and I cant see her being thrown to the void as a senior citizen.

Is there a way I can tell if a companion bird is over 10 years old. I really do not want one that is going to live until 2025.

Thanks,

Charles in Canon City Colorado

Forum: Cockatiels

Former State Senator Killed Geese on Gas Grill

luciedove — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:39:14 GMT

Former lawmaker cracks wise after killing baby geese in gas grill

Posted: July 11, 2008 09:25 AM EDT

Updated: July 11, 2008 09:25 AM EDT

JACKSON, MS (NBC) - Former Republican Mississippi state senator Mike Gunn has entered guilty pleas to charges he took young Canada geese from their habitat and killed them in his gas grill.

On Wednesday he was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, serve one year of probation and perform 80 hours of unspecified community service.

Gunn was seen taking the geese April 25th by neighbor Carol Boland.

Boland said her attention was drawn to Gunn when she saw adult geese attacking him, trying to save their young.

She said he put the goslings in a gas grill and when that didn't kill them, he beat them to death.

Gunn told authorities he fed the geese to his dog.

After Gunn pleaded guilty in federal court he joked about the episode

"I ran afoul of the law, and laid a huge egg and have received a gaggle of problems as a result, I am just glad this wild goose chase is behind us now," Gunn joked as he left court.

Jim Walker, spokesman for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the agency that first investigated the incident, said he was pleased with the sentence.

"What's important to remember is the despicable way these baby geese or goslings were killed, and if we find others doing that we will all wind up right back here in federal court," Walker said.

The 80 hours of community service was not specified but must be approved by the court.

Posted by Logan Smith

Forum: Hall of Shame

Help - sick conure (motion sickness info....)

Sharon — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:19:41 GMT

I have a Nanday that was inherited from a friend 12 years ago. He is at least 17, but no one knows for sure I suspect he is quite old as he has trouble preening his lower feathers and moves much slower nowadays. He just started having labored breathing and is puffing his feathers now although his stool looks normal and his appetite has been pretty good. I have never lost a bird to old age...is this what is happening? Should I try to get him in to the vet and risk the stress on him?

Forum: Conures

Molting

kristen — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:23:24 GMT

my sun started to molt.. a couple months ago. he's lost a lot of fluff and some small body cover feathers(no bald spots tho).. replaced only 5 flight feathers, 3 on one wing 2 on the other. and no tail feathers have fallen out.

and now it seams as though he has stopped molting entirely.

can someone please give me some insight as to why he's not yet completed molting, and why it's taking so long and now stopped. i've heard that it should happen rather quickly.

he is 9 years old, but this is the first summer i have had him. is there something wrong with my little birddie??

Forum: Health & Disease Concerns

two lost parakeets

Abigail — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:55:08 GMT

Our two parakeets escaped and are (hopefully) in the neighborhood around Broadway and 193rd. One is female, mostly white with blue and black splotches and the other is male, yellow green and blue. If you have them or have any information, please respond! Email or call 315-263-3827. Thanks in advance!

Forum: Escaped Birds

Strange Lovebird Aggression

Michelle — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:01:53 GMT

I have a lovebird hen that is about a year and a half old. She is bonded to me but adores the other members of the household comprising of my boyfriend and his father. Everyone spends lots of time with her and she is rarely in her cage. All of us can handle her freely including petting and preening. Once we accidentally let her lay a clutch of five eggs, but even then, all of us could stick our hands in the box with the eggs and she would just coo.

Issue: When people come over who are not one of us three, she becomes aggressive towards me, biting my ears or my hands extremely hard. She also tries very hard to get over to the new person. In the beginning we allowed her to go to the new person, but she was very dominating and in the person's face each time. Also they usually had jewelry and couldn't prevent her from trying to destroy it without getting bit. I'm not sure that I understand why she is exhibiting this aggression with new people. All I know to do is to keep her away from all but the most bird-experienced people, but I am aware that refusing to let her come into contact with new people may compound the problem. If she hurts my friends, they will be harder to "re-train" than the bird will be, and that will make things worse as well. Does anyone have any advice on a constructive way to alter this behavior?

Thank You!

Forum: General Discussion

Can a Dusky & Sun reproduce?

Guest — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:03:37 GMT

I assumed I'd be safe keeping a Dusky & Sun conure together, but over the last 2 weeks I caught them "Doing IT" several times, with the Sun taking the male roll (never had either sexed and never had any eggs)

Can they reproduce, or are they more likely just going through the motions?

Forum: Conures

Birds need help/barbaric rites

Guest — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:37:18 GMT

This is a cross post from another forum. I understand that at this time the macaws have been rescued but their situation is tenuous. The woman that rescued them used her mortgage money to do so, there are still further expenses, and more rescues will be imminent. Please read the attached post in its entirety, and feel free to research Santeria rites on your own. Our own country allows these barbaric animal sacrifices to continue even though the methods used can at times allow the animals to die slow, excruciating deaths.

There is a link to donate to these efforts, if you can, through PayPal. Any amount would be greatly appreciated.

Following is the quoted post:

"Hi all....I had phone call from Silvija Vecrumba (she worked so hard with us and came to Wa. to try to get laws for the birds on our books) and other emails asking...begging...me to elicit help for a woman named Maya down in the Florida Keys. I know...another email for help. But here is why and if Silvija says it is a good cause, then it is.

Maya took the mortgage money and rescued 4 macaws...a Shamrock, Greenwing and 2 Scarletts... from some Jamaicans who were going to use them as sacrifice in Santeria (voodoo) rites. She has them in hiding for now because she knows those who wanted them will find out it is she who has them and will come for them. She has been accosted for her animal rescue...one day on a bridge she stopped and tried to grab some egret chicks that were being tossed to alligators for the 'amusement' of the men. They hit her with boards, fists, etc. She has been in the news many times but this time it has to be kept out of it. Seems the Fish and Wildlife, police and other officials are on the grift down there...big surprise, huh? I looked up Santeria and OUR government said, in 1993, that the animal sacrifice was okay..part of their (African, Jamaican, Cuban religion). Well, maybe in their country but this is America and I will be sending out a ton of mail and making phone calls on that one. But for now, there is one little woman from either Iraq or Iran and her retired Naval husband trying to make a difference.

She has a website and I finally signed up for PayPal so I can send her a few dollars.

http://floridakeyswildliferescue.org/fkwr/donations.asp

So if you happen to find an extra five or ten dollars in your wallet, it would be a wonderful donation. And if you want to write to Jeb Bush, Fish and Wildlife and law officials in the state of Florida, go for it. I will have all the websites by the end of the day. I know we all have 'time on our hands and nothing else to do'. ha So, in advance, thank you all for whatever you can do to help.

Wing hugs and love

Renee

```````````````````````````````

Santera săn′tərē'ə, sn′, religion originating in W Africa, developed by Yoruba slaves in Cuba, and practiced by an estimated one million people in the United States. Blending African beliefs with those of Roman Catholicism, it fuses Christian saints with African deities (orishas). Rites are led by a priest or priestess, and reincarnation is a main belief. One of its most important rituals involves animal sacrifice, which was ruled a constitutional religious practice in a 1993 Supreme Court decision.

Please, post to other groups...send to your friends. Thank you so much..."

Forum: Sanctuaries & Rescues

Meeting: Pigeon Nettings/Pigeon Shoots (HSUS)

luciedove — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:06:14 GMT

Hello,

The Humane Society of the United States will be holding an urgent meeting with important updates on how you can help end pigeon nettings in NYC and pigeon shoot contests in Pennsylvania .

Please join the Humane Society of the US.

Wednesday, July 23^{rd, 2008
6 p.m. to 7p.m.}

The Humane Society of the United States
4th Floor Conference Room
200 W. 57th Street , off Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019

RSVPs are REQUIRED due to space limitations. Please send your name, email, and phone number to ^{pkwan@humanesociety.org}

For more info on the cross-state connection of pigeon nettings in NYC and pigeon shoot contests in Pennsylvania , please visit: http://www.humanesociety.org/hunt/campaigns/contests/pigeon_shoots.html

Thank you for your interest in helping to end animal abuse and stopping crime in our city.

Forum: Rock Pigeons