40 September 2006 Publisher .pub - Coastal Bend Companion Bird

September 2006 edition
Published monthly by the
Coastal Bend Companion Bird Club & Rescue Mission
Since 1983
XXXX
http://www.cbcbirdclub.com
The next meeting of the
Coastal Bend Companion Bird Club & Rescue Mission
Is 7:PM September 21, 2006
@
Galilean Lutheran Church
3321 Cimarron Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78414
1
MISSION STATEMENT
The Coastal Bend Companion Bird Club and Rescue Mission seeks to promote an interest in companion birds through communication with and education of pet owners, breeders and
the general public. In addition, the CBCBC&RM strives to promote the welfare of all birds by providing monetary donations for the rescue and rehabilitation of wild birds and by placing abused,
abandoned, lost or displaced companion birds in foster care until permanent adoptive homes can
Raffle
Amanda
Program
Grooming
C.B.C.B.C. & R.M.S.
Officers
President - Debbie
[email protected]
777-0861
Vice President - Bebe
993-0640
Secretary - Joan
[email protected]
241-6243
Treasurer— Aurora
[email protected]
855-8114
Fair Director– Cheryl
[email protected]
592-4856
Newsletter Editor—Larry
[email protected]
592-4856
Reporter —Deryl
[email protected]
729-6745
Monthly Raffle Coordinator- LaVerne
[email protected]
991-3138
A.F.A. Representative - Elke
[email protected]
729-6745
Advertisement Committee - Thea
980-1586
Membership- LaVerne
[email protected]
991-3138
Rescue - Joan –241-6243
The Newsletter can be viewed
In color
on-line at the Club’s Web Site
http://www.cbcbirdclub.com
This is a Nanday, they belong to the conure family and come from Brazil; southeast
Bolivia; Paraguay; northern Argentina in the wild.
This one however resides at Rockport Roost, with Deryl and Elke Davis.
Nandays are considered to be incredibly intelligent and sometimes very noisy.
Our September general meeting is the meeting a nominating committee is formed. The nominating committee is supposed to consider names
to place on the ballot for election of club officers in December.
The nominating committee should ask each member of the Coastal
Bend Companion Bird Club & Rescue Mission; if the club member would
like to volunteer to run for an elected position. The nominating committee
should also ask the members to make recommendations as to whom they
believe would do a good job in the elected positions.
The nominating committee should consider the club members’ inputs and compile a list of qualified nominees and present this list in
the form of a ballot to the members present and in “good standing” at the
December meeting to cast their votes.
All nominees have the right of refusing the nomination.
The positions to vote on are President, Vice President, Secretary,2 Treasurer,
Fair Director, membership and editor
CBCBC Board Of Director’s Meeting
General Meeting August 17, 2006
The August meeting opened with Debbie welcoming a number of visitors who turned out to hear Dr. Tim.
Business was taken care of in a timely manner so as to give Dr. Tim the maximum time possible to teach us all about
penguins. Minutes were approved as printed in the newsletter and membership and financial reports were given by
Laverne and Aurora.
Larry and Cheryl volunteered to do Rehab Days at the Texas State Aquarium on September 9.
The meeting was turned over to Dr. Tim who taught us a lot about penguins. There are 17 different species which
vary in size from 2 1/2 lbs. to 90 lbs. and from 24" to 52" tall. They have three dense layers of black and white feathers on their streamlined bodies.Their wings serve as powerful flippers, their feet and tails serve as rudders and their
shoulder is the only mobile joint. Penguins mainly eat fish, krill and squid and live in the southern hemisphere, antartic and New Zealand. They have incredible diving ability with some species diving 150 - 170 feet in 18 minutes and
others 55 -320 feet in 2 1/2 - 5 minutes.
Dr. Tim had a beautiful powerpoint presentation showing the different species of Penguins and telling us intersting
and sometimes funny stories about them. All in all it was a fascinating presentation and we thank Dr. Tim for his time
and expertise to teach us about these wonderful creatures.
The evening ended after the great raffle that Amanda put on. Thanks Amanda for a good job of shopping.
Secretary ;
Joan Latham
CBCBC General Meeting
September 06, 2006
The CBCBC&RM board met at Laverne's house for the Sept. meeting. Debbie was on vacation so Bebe was in
charge of the meeting.
The importance was stressed of getting someone new to head up a committee to be in charge of the marts for
2007. Cheryl will have everything laid out and simplified to make it as easy as possible for the new chairman to
take over. Cheryl will check with the lodge on available dates.
Laverne reported one new member, Tracy Gutierrez and Aurora gave the treasurer's report. I will check with
Thea and the church about holding future board meetings there.
Secretary ;
Thanks Laverne for the delicious refreshments.
Joan Latham3
Submitted by:
Dear Members,
September is here and soon it will be fall. With September comes the time of year when our club needs to start thinking
about the officers of the board and who will be taking over to run the club in 2007. As our by-laws state we will need to form
an election committee. This is formed by a minimum of two people who will take recommendations from members of the
club on who they think would make a good choice for an officer or a member who wishes to run for an office. In the past few
years we have not had to have any major elections because, sadly, no one was willing to step up and say they were willing to
hold an office. This year, 2007 we need to have our club have a new set of officers, many of the current board have served
for years and need to take a break. Many are tired, work schedules have changed and distances to reach meetings and board
meetings have increased.
Here is a quick run down of the changes happening in this coming year and if we want the club to continue we will need the
following positions to be filled. Cheryl and Larry will be stepping down from their positions they have been running our bird
marts and newsletter for years doing a great job! This means we need someone willing to work with Cheryl at the November
bird mart and learn the ropes. The newsletter will need an editor as Larry will be stepping down. Our club needs these two
key roles to be filled so the club can continue. One is our line of communication and the other sustains our club financially.
The foundation and hard work have already been done so the individuals taking over will have software available to them
and Mart information all ready to go. I have spoken to several other board members and they would like to step down also
this includes me. My work schedule has become increasingly more demanding. The rest of the positions are President, Vice
President, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership. This does not mean that the Board, Cheryl, Larry and I will not help because we all are still part of the club and will continue to be actively involved. We are all willing to help the new officers in
their positions so there will be an easy transition. We are all willing to help in the new year so the new officers do not feel
like they have no one to turn to. We have a great club and I wish to see it continue to grow in 2007 with more new faces, a
new group of officers, and new and exciting topics to learn from. If our club wishes to continue then we need you to think
about which office you wish to serve in.
This months meeting we will be talking about grooming and teaching you how to trim your birds wings and nails. This is
very important as you may never know when you may need to do it yourself in an emergency. I have a neighbor right now
who has lost his Amazon because it was not clipped and he kept meaning to take it in and get it done. I have been trying to
help him recover the bird but it will not even come down to a feeder to eat. This month we will help you learn how to clip
and trim your birds. If you wish to trim your bird at the meeting you will need to bring the following items: A towel, scissors, nail clippers and kwik-stop if you have it. You should have all of these items at home in your bird emergency kit. You
will need these items if you wish to keep trimming your birds yourself. This months meeting is on Thursday September 21st
at 7:00 PM. See you there.
Debbie
Directions to the location of the General Meeting
Galilean Lutheran Church
3321 Cimarron Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78414
Ph. # 991 4593
Directions:
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1) All good seed should be capable of germinating provided it has not been treated either by chemicals or heat.
2) All seed regardless of purported cleanliness has varying degrees of dust, fungal spores or bacteria present and whist this does not
normally affect the birds when given in dry form can possibly have disastrous results if allowed to be present when sprouting seed.
Hence the need to ensure every effort is made to eliminate dirt ad those bugs.
3) To achieve this several disinfecting agents may be used such as Aviclens, Hibitane or chlorine in the form of household bleach. Aviclens should be used at the dosage rate recommended by the manufacturer. Hibitane which is 8 times stronger than Aviclens should be
diluted accordingly before using it at the Aviclens dosage rate and household bleach (ensure it is 4%wv )must be used at 1% dilution
rate
4) To mix the usable diluted bleach we recommend that an empty 2.4 litre container of bleach be used to which is added 600ml of the
4%wv regular concentrated bleach that is then filled with water to reduce the concentration level to 1%, Clearly mark this container and
store it in a place away from any other bleach to avoid confusion when using.
5) Wash the desired amount of seed to be sprouted under a running tap to remove surface dust (use warm water in winter) and place
washed seed in sprouting container and cover with water and allow to stand for 24 hours.
6) After 24 hours, rinse and drain and allow to stand. Rinse the soaked seed twice daily until sprouted then store in fridge.
7) Each day AFTER rinsing take the desired amount of the sprouted seed, place in a container, cover with water and add half a cup of
the 1% bleach solution and allow to stand for 10 minutes. This will destroy any bacterial or fungal growth which may occur whilst the
sprouted seed has been stored in the fridge.
(NOTE). Sprouted seed should never smell sour. If it does, DISCARD and start again. The secret here is to only sprout enough seed to
last 3 to 4 days to prevent it going sour .i.e. start the next batch when you know
you only have sufficient left to last you a couple of days.
8) After allowing the bleached seed to stand for 10 minutes rinse under running water, cover with water and allow to stand for a further
10 minutes to eliminate any residual bleach. Drain thoroughly and it's now ready for use. You may choose to add either Soluvet
(multivitamins), calcium, beak and featherbooster or chopped fruit
before providing it for your birds
9) it is best to ONLY provide birds with sufficient quantity to which can be consumed within 3 to 4 hours particularly in summer as the
seed may become rancid
We have members that have been with the club for a long time, Cheryl and I became members the summer of
1999. Since then we have been very busy doing stuff for the club.. In 1999, then president, Tom Mick, (2 presidents
ago) asked me to do a complete rewrite of the bylaws and Cheryl, was voted to be the Fair Director. Cheryl has been the
fair director since the Spring 2000 mart. During her tenure, she has substituted as club treasurer and club secretary as
well as being Fair Director. In addition to re-writing the by-laws, I was also Cheryl’s gopher and general sounding
board. That year’s, election I was voted in as president for 2001When I was first became president I made it my primary goal to get the two clubs back together again. It took all four of those years to get the job done, but we got it done.
It took plenty of talk, and tons of finesse, and a lot more time than I had thought, but it finally came bear in 2004.. In
June 2003 I was asked to do the newsletter. That was 40 issues ago. 2004 was also my last year as president, I declined
to to run for office again, but I have been doing Club stuff at Petco , and TSA Rehab, setting up for the marts, and other
miscellaneous tasks.
My point here is we have been working our tails off for the club. A small cadre of 5 to 8 people are always
working their tails off, putting in a lot of time and effort trying to make this club something we can all enjoy and learn
something from, after all that is exactly the reason the club was formed and exactly why we are all here.
You hear some of the members talking about getting little or no help from “those other” members. Those “other
members” are complaining that they don’t get a chance to do anything because those other members are always taking
on these responsibilities and tasks and do not give the new members a chance to help.
In December, we are having elections. If you would like to take on one of the positions that are coming open,
then throw your hat into the ring. Give your name to the nominating committee. The people leaving those positions
know how much the club needs volunteers, so there should be no shortage volunteers to help when called for. 5New people with new ideas are good for the club it is called growth..
Parrots call baby chicks by name: Experts
Indo-Asian News Service
Hamburg, August 1, 2006
In a discovery that is likely to rekindle the debate about language in the animal kingdom, researchers in
Germany have found that some parrots appear to give their offspring individual names.
Animal behavioral scientists at the University of Hamburg say that parrots use a distinctive call for each of
their chicks, with no two chicks given the same "name" call.
The small South American parrots also apparently have name calls for their mates.
"The birds very definitely use a particular call exclusively with a particular bird and never for any other
bird," says Rolf Wanker, head of the Hamburg University Zoological Institute's behavioral research laboratory.
"What is not yet clear, however, is whether these calls can be equated with what we would call names such
as Hans or Fritz or whether they could be more generic labels such as 'my baby' or 'my mate'," he adds.
The studies were inspired by observations in the spectacled parrotlet's natural habitat in Colombia. There,
researchers noted that individual parrots seemed to respond to specific calls that other parrots in the same flock
ignored.
"A mother bird had the uncanny ability to utter a cry that would result in her chick returning to the nest immediately amid the cacophony of the other parrots all around," Wanker recalls.
"It was obvious that the baby knew it was being called," he says.
At the laboratory here, studies showed that these name equivalents are fractional cries lasting between 90 and 120
milliseconds.
The cry is distinctive enough to provide acoustic clues as to the identity of the individual uttering the call
and also to the identity of the intended recipient bird.
"A mother bird uses a different call for her baby from the one she uses for her mate, and they respond with
calls that correspondent to her identity," he says.
Similar findings have been achieved with certain primates and with dolphins. Many years ago, British TV
science producer David Attenborough showed that macaque monkeys use distinctive alarm calls to alert other
monkeys to danger.
Macaques will use one call to identify a panther, thus telling other monkeys to climb up a tree. But they
will use a different call to identify a python, thus ensuring that all the monkeys climb down a tree that has a snake
lurking in its branches.
Other studies have determined that birds develop regional "accents" and "dialects" depending on their location. Sparrows in the eastern US are known to have subtly different chirps from their cousins on the west coast.
The German findings are the first involving parrots. The spectacled parrotlet is among the smallest parrots,
only slightly larger than budgerigars. The bright green birds with a distinctive yellow ring around their eyes live in
eastern Panama and northern Colombia.
In the study, parent birds and their chicks were placed in separate cages within earshot of each other but
out of view of each other.
The birds' calls to each other were recorded and later played back to the individual birds to ascertain their
response. The findings demonstrated that each bird used name-specific calls.
Wanker shies away from calling this labeling behaviour any form of language, noting that it has yet to be
proved conclusively whether humans are the only animals capable of abstract linguistic structures.
"Parrots are unique among avians," he says. "They are the primates of the avian world and are very highly
developed creatures with complex social systems and astounding cognitive skills."
6
Did pirates actually keep parrots or other pets? The answer is, we don't know. We don't know if pirates kept
any animals on board ship. It is safe to assume that some pirates kept pets or animals while in town and perhaps on
occasion animals were taken on board ship. We know that horses and livestock were at times carried on board larger
seafaring vessels when ground campaigns were to take place. We know that buccaneers got their name from roasting
wild pigs.
While some sources speculate that pets used as emergency food rations this is unlikely, especially when it
comes to a parrot. There just isn't that much there to eat. Besides, for the most part, pirates tended not to travel far and
when they did roam, they stuck to known trade routes.
I do not know of any historical accounts mentioning the pets of known pirates. However, there are many fictional accounts of pirates with pets and we can assume that these probably have some basis in fact. Despite the lack of
known accounts, we can deduce from historical evidence that pirates probably had pets or work animals aboard ship
some of the time, Why? Because for several centuries animals have been transported by ships.
The case for Parrots.
Historically, we know the following about parrots and human co-habitation. Parrots were first brought to ancient Greece. At the court of Artaxerxes II, the physician Ctesias gave a description of the Plum-headed Parakeet and
noticed it's ability to speak.
Parrots from the genus Psittacula were also well known in ancient Rome.
With the longer ocean voyages around the coast of Africa and later with the discovery of the Americas, the
trade in live parrots became a regular business.
By the time of the Golden Age of Piracy, there was a well established business in exotic animals. It was not
uncommon for royalty in Europe to own live animal menageries. Henry I of England established his Royal Menagerie
around 1125. Philip VI of France founded the Paris Menagerie in 1333. Louis XI (1461-1483) founded the Touraine
Menagerie and Louis XIV (1643-1714) the Versaille Menagerie. The actions of the Heads of Europe, were most certainly mirrored by the lesser members of the ruling class.
The more exotic the animal, the more in demand and the more valuable the animal would be. A talking bird
would fetch a few doubloons in the Royal Courts of Europe, as would New World Monkeys. We also know that if
something was of value, then pirates would plunder it. Some pirates were known to emulate the lifestyles of royalty so
it can be assumed that this would go beyond a fine waist coat or breeches. Whatever was good enough for the royal
courts was also good enough for the well-to-do Pirate. To own an exotic animal would have been a status symbol.
The parrot's social behavior has always made it a good pet. Parrots seem to instinctively accept humans as one
of their flock, which makes touching and holding the bird possible. They may learn to imitate human voices. Their
ability to learn tricks and behavior which is not typical for a wild bird have made them popular with humans7 for century. If parrots were popular with the upper class, then pirates would want them for either status or financial gain.
1. They sleep too late. I mean, honestly, why must they wait for the sun to be ENTIRELY up to get out of bed and feed me?
2. Some learn to talk, but most don't. They have this annoying tendency to repeat the same thing over and over again without any real purpose. I have spent countless hours trying to get mine to learn to scream but to no avail.
3. No matter how many times I fling the kale out of my bowl, my person refuses to get the message and there it is again the next day ruining
my breakfast. Why must it be so difficult to get some cheese around here?
4. Humans are all noisy. They yell across the house all the time. Don't get me started on that awful sound they make at night when they are
sleeping. Sounds like a buzz saw.
5. They continuously hang their little colored blocks of wood and string in MY bedroom. Like I don't have enough of my own stuff, I need to
operate a storage facility too? I destroy the things, and what do they do? They go ahead and hang more. You'd think they'd get the message. I
honestly just don't have the room!
6. Did I mention how hard it is to get a piece of cheese around here??
7. Humans are messy. No bones about it - socks on the floor, jacket on the chair, and when was the last time yours made its bed in the morning.
8. Once a year or so they drag you to this awful place where some complete stranger wraps you in a towel and shines a light in your eye.
Watch out for the needle - they're after your blood, god only knows what for! You're like, "Uh, a little HELP here??", but your human stands
there stupidly and does NOTHING until the strangers have decided they have had enough of you. If you’re lucky you'll get to go home then.
Be sure and bite your human at least once for this indignation to teach them a lesson and maybe they won't take you there again next year.
9. Humans hardly ever keep to a schedule. I like to think I have mine trained to get home at 6:30pm, but then every so often she surprises me
by not showing up until 9pm! The nerve. Also, what is it about Sundays and my not getting breakfast on time because humans like to sleep
in?
10. They let strange people in the house without asking my permission.
11. Humans sometimes carry pests like cats and dogs. I have not yet figured out how to rid them of this problem.
12. If you want to keep more than one human, just be prepared that they don’ t always get along. Other times they get along too well and completely ignore you - a few loud bursts of screaming should solve either issue quickly.
13. Sometimes they place a cover over your bedroom WELL before you have any interest in going to bed.
14. They, not being the brightest creatures, tend to sit in one place for HOURS staring at a box with pictures in it that makes a lot of noise.
Either that or they sit in front of a DIFFERENT type of box and tap their fingers on the tabletop in front of IT for hours. Doesn't take much to
keep them occupied. Use this time wisely and get into and destroy anything you normally wouldn't be allowed to if they were paying attention!
15. Lastly, in spite of all their unpleasant habits, they are GREAT to cuddle with and they scratch that itchy spot you can never quite reach,
and they do offer fabulous room service (when it includes cheese), house cleaning, and spa services.
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By ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: April 29, 2006
CASCABEL, Ariz. — The Oasis Sanctuary is far from the largest retirement community in the Arizona desert, but it is certainly the noisiest.
Along with the morning sun each day, there climbs a riotous opera of screeches, shrieks and squawks along with the
occasional wolf whistle, "What's up?" and "I love you."
Tucked in a remote river valley, separated from Tucson by an enormous mountain range, the sanctuary is a "life care
facility" for some 450 parrots, cockatoos, macaws and other tropical birds.
With life spans that for some species can be 80 years or longer, many of the birds have outlived their human caretakers. Others reached the end of their productivity as commercial breeders. Most were deemed too ornery or skittish for
Sybil Erden with one of the
Oasis Sanctuary’s cockatoos,
adoption as pets and faced euthanasia.
Wee Wee. More Photos
"Nobody wants these older birds," said Sybil Erden, who founded the sanctuary in 1998, noting that a parrot can
take months or years to recover from losing a companion. "People call and say, 'We've had a bird for two months, and it
just doesn't like us.' "
Ms. Erden's goal is definitely not to socialize birds for another try with people. "We're helping them learn to have
bird friends," she said. "Some of them have a hard time understanding that they are birds."
Still, the enduring imprint of owners past, of decades spent in someone's living room or kitchen, was abundantly
audible on a walk through the sanctuary grounds.
Billy, a yellow-naped Amazon, delivered the extended monologue that staff members call a "one-sided phone
conversation."
"Hello," he said as a visitor approached and then continued with considered pauses between phrases: "Uh huh" ...
"Yeah" ... "O.K." ... "Then what happened?"
Ms. Erden, a onetime artist who has parrots tattooed across her back, opened the sanctuary in Phoenix but moved
to this larger isolated location along the San Pedro River six years ago. It occupies an old pecan orchard, miles up a bumpy
dirt road, through a rocky landscape of prickly pear cactus and thorny mesquites.
Wild javelinas wander onto the property in daylight, ignored by the resident menagerie of roosters, geese, goats,
sheep and cows, each animal with a back story that bears out Ms. Erden's admitted soft spot for forlorn creatures.
Sharing one aviary are some racing pigeons that had faced doom because they could no longer find their way
home. The cherry-headed conure named Mingus and two other refugees from the feral flock made famous by the 2003
documentary "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" are also here. Physically handicapped, the three needed a new home after the squatter who
tended them in San Francisco was forced from his house.
Two well-trained dogs protect the birds from coyotes and bobcats.
The larger birds are usually paired in rows of large veranda-covered cages. Some, mainly smaller species, inhabit two larger aviaries
where they flock and fly, getting closer to their natural state. Ms. Erden hopes to build 10 more aviaries.
Many parrots are monogamous, bonding for life with another bird or, in homes, with a human. A top priority is helping them find a new
companion. Self-chosen, companions are not necessarily of the same sex or species.
Milo, a green-wing macaw measuring three feet from head to tail, arrived nearly six years ago after being rescued from an unstable person's fetid basement. Ms. Erden had already been looking to set up Rah Rah, a military macaw nearly as big, so she tried placing them by themselves in a large cage.
"The first thing Milo did was to say 'Hello' in a loud voice," she recalled. "Rah Rah literally fell off his perch."
Two days later, Ms. Erden said, the birds were perched side by side, and Milo actually had a wing over Rah Rah's shoulder. Neither is
friendly toward humans. But Rah Rah, who had never uttered English words, started saying the occasional "Hello" and "How are you?" Of
course, talking with Milo's accent.
Jasmine, a double-yellow-headed Amazon now around 10 years old, was given up by an owner who became infirm after a series of
strokes. Here she bonded with Tabasco, same species, age unknown, and now the two preen and feed each other.
But beware to intruders. When Ms. Erden stopped to talk with Jasmine, Tabasco started biting Jasmine out of jealousy, a behavior these
parrots exhibit in the wild to keep their mates from flirting with rivals.
Their mimicking skills are sometimes so acute that it is hard not to impute humanlike reasoning. As Ms. Erden neared Stinkerbelle, a
small green and grey Quaker parrot, the bird cried out, "No, no, no!" pecked Ms. Erden's finger and mockingly screamed, "Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
The last thing the sanctuary wants is to produce offspring. Sometimes the birds are seen having sex. But without appropriate nesting
sites, they seldom lay eggs, and when they do, ceramic eggs are substituted until the parents lose interest.
Even as she works to expand and improve the sanctuary, whose $250,000-a-year operating budget is financed by donations, Ms. Erden
worries about a potential flood of unwanted parrots as pet-owning baby boomers become infirm.
"We're getting more calls from people in their 60's and 70's who need to give up their birds," she said. "We don't see an end to the problem."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/29/us/29parrot.html?ex=1155528000&en=1c86965cd20d52e2&ei=5070
Pictures by Rick Scibelli Jr. for The New York Times
9
With bird tower, TXU's winging it
Dallas: Utility to feather prolific parakeets' nest to protect its equipment
07:37 AM CST on Friday, March 31, 2006
By KATIE MENZER / The Dallas Morning News
They've been outlawed in California and gassed in Connecticut, but in Texas, we're building them penthouses.
Monk parakeets often call TXU equipment home, but the utility hopes that will change when a new bird tower is
built. The monk parakeet – those gorgeous but controversial green birds increasingly seen soaring through North Texas
skies – are the bane of power companies across the nation. TXU Electric Delivery has struggled for decades to keep the
prolific, non-native birds from building tangled nests in sensitive equipment.
While utilities elsewhere have garnered the unwanted attention of local animal-rights groups by killing birds or destroying nests, TXU
is earning notice for today's planned construction of a 40-foot platform near White Rock Lake designed exclusively for the monks' sanctuary.
So is it Southern hospitality that's won the bird a rent-free, high-rise home overlooking the lake? Or just good PR?
It depends on whom you ask.
"They're one of the good guys," Brenda Piper, president of the Quaker Parakeet Society, said of TXU.
"We don't want to paint them with the same brush as we would the Connecticut folks."
In Connecticut last year, power company United Illuminating outraged residents by removing 119 monk parakeet nests
from its equipment, capturing 186 birds and handing them over to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be euthanized.
Although the company's methods were approved by federal officials and the Connecticut Audubon Society, a nonprofit
animal-advocacy group known as Friends of Animals took the power company to court to stop the birds' destruction. Lawmakers in the state have proposed a bill to outlaw the capture or killing of monks, also known as Quaker parrots or parakeets.
For decades, TXU has tried to keep monk parakeets from building nests in equipment.
"There was a huge cry when it was found out that UI was eradicating the birds on transformers," said Connecticut state Rep.
Dick Roy, who wrote the bill. "We hope to find a way to adapt to them as they have adapted to our environment."
But the question of how to deal with the bright green birds – known for their social natures and penchant for building
nests in high places – is not black and white, said Marcy Brown Marsden, department chairwoman of biology at the University
of Dallas and former president of Audubon Dallas.
The monk is originally from South America and was introduced into the wilds of the U.S. accidentally, either by people keeping them
as pets, through crates of birds breaking during shipping, or through other mishaps.
Dr. Brown Marsden, who studies local endangered bird species, said she's watched as the monk population has exploded in North
Texas in the past 15 years. While she's seen no evidence that the monks are pushing out native species or having a dramatic effect on the area's
ecosystem, she said, there is always a concern when a new species – known in the environmental world as "invasives" – flourishes outside its
native lands.
Kudzu, zebra mussels and Africanized honeybees are all examples of invasive species.
So should the monk invaders be protected with parakeet platforms at White Rock?
Audubon Dallas is taking no stance, said president Larry Sall. The lake's advocacy group For the Love of the Lake also has no official
platform on platforms.
"The problem of monks as a non-native species has been one that people are worried about," Dr. Brown Marsden said. "Non-natives
can create a quick problem that can be hard to deal with once it's out of control."
But unlike kudzu or killer bees, the monk parakeet – almost the bunny rabbit of the sky – is hard not to love.
Monks build multichambered nests, often several feet high and weighing hundreds of pounds, that are the avian equivalent of apartment complexes. And while they live in tight communities – some monks mate for life – they allow other species of birds to nest and play with
them.
"They are not aggressive toward other species," Ms. Piper said. "They live in harmony."
That's why Mari Anne Mourer, a White Rock area resident who admits she's no animal expert, found herself blocking the entrance of
one of TXU's substations with her car this month.
Ms. Mourer and her children enjoy watching the birds, and she said she was distraught to see TXU workers removing the monks' nests
from the power equipment on St. Francis Avenue.
"We love them," she said. "They make a beautiful sound."
She called her neighbors and City Hall and set up a meeting with power company officials to complain.
TXU officials agreed to erect a separate, 40-foot tower out of wood and steel – a design they had been planning since other community
members protested the nests being disturbed last year – at the St. Francis substation today.
They also said they'll place nonlethal deterrents, such as insulation, around their equipment to prevent the birds from nesting in the
electricity towers. Officials said the nests grow large enough to cause fires and interruptions in power service.
"We certainly understand the sensitivity of the bird population of White Rock Lake, and we are working with the community to resolve
their objections," said Carol Peters, a TXU spokeswoman.
If the parakeet platform works, TXU officials said they would consider placing them at two other stations plagued by parrots near
White Rock Lake, although they aren't yet sure they have room.
But officials said they'd like the community to begin erecting its own platforms for the birds.
"We do feel this is a community issue, and we want the community to take ownership of it ultimately," Ms. Peters said. "Our business
is not birds. Our business is to deliver safe, reliable electric service."
10
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/DN-monks_31met.ART0.North.Edition2.7853363.html
If it is on this list, it is
NOT GOOD
for our birds
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
American Coffee Berry Tree see Kentucky Coffee Tree
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis L.)
Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis L.)
Bull Nettle (Solanum carolinense L.)
Bracken or Brake Fern (Pteridium aquilinum L.)
Burning Bush see Fireweed
Buttercup (Ranunculus spp.)
Carelessweed see Pigweed
Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.)
Clover, Alsike & Other Clovers (Trifolium hybridum L. & other species)
Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.)
Creeping Charlie see Ground Ivy
Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii)
Curly Dock (Rumex crispus L.)
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)
Delphinium (Delphinium spp.)
Devil's Trumpet see Jimson Weed
Dogbane (Apocynum spp.)
Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis L.)
English Ivy (Hedera helix L.)
Ergot (Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul.)
Fern, Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum L.)
Fireweed (Kochia scoparia L.)
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.)
Ground Ivy (Glecoma hederacea L.)
Hemlock Poison (Conium maculatum L.)
Hemlock Water (Cicuta maculata L.)
Horse Chestnut, Buckeyes (Aesculus hippocastanum L.)
Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense L.)
Horsetails (Equisetum arvense L. & other species)
Hyacinth (Hyacinth orientalis)
Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)
Ivy English (Hedera helix L.)
Ivy Ground (Glecoma hederacea L.)
Ivy Poison (Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze)
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema spp.)
Jamestown Weed see Jimson Weed
Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata Sieb. & Zucc.)
Jerusalem Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum L.)
Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium L.)
Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioica (L.) K. Koch)
Kentucky Mahagony Tree see Kentucky Coffee Tree
Klamath Weed see St. Johnswort
Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium album L.)
Lantana (Lantana camara L.)
Larkspur (Delphinium spp.)
Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
Mad Apple see Jimson Weed
Maple, Red (Acer rubrum)
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum L.)
Milkweed, Common (Asclepias syriaca L.)
Mint, Purple (Perilla frutescens)
Nicker Tree see Kentucky Coffee Tree
Nightshade (Solanum spp.)
Oleander (Nerium oleander L.)
Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra Willd.)
Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)
Pigweed (Amaranthus spp.)
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum L.)
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze)
Poke (Phytolacca americana L.)
Purple Mint (Perilla frutescens)
Redroot see Pigweed
Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum L.)
Squirrelcorn (Dicentra canadensis (Goldie) Walp.) see Dutchman's
Breeches
Staggerweed (Dicentra spp.) see Dutchman's Breeches
St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum L.)
Stink Weed see Jimson Weed
Stump Tree see Kentucky Coffee Tree
Sudan Grass (Sorghum vulgare var. sudanense Hitchc.)
Summer Cypress see Fireweed
Thorn Apple see Jimson Weed
Tulip (Tulipa spp.)
Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata L.)
White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum Hout.)
Wild Onion (Allium spp.)
Yellow Sage see Lantana
11
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxic/comlist.htm
Great Advertising Rates
We accept ads for the newsletter from outside the bird club.
Rates per year;
our design
print ready
with your approval
Business cards
$12.50
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¼ page
$25.00
$30.00
½ page
$50.00
$60.00
full page $100.00
$120.00
C.B.C.B.C.&R.M. members get a free classified ad.
Pet Shack
Hamsters, Gerbils. Mice, Guinea Pigs,
Rabbits, Ferrets, Iguanas, and of
course Birds. Birds & more Birds, from
Finches to Macaws, plus accessories.
Located in the
Corpus C hristi Trade Center.
Rick Sanchez (361) 765-5272
Buy
Sell
Trade
12
13
August 2005
Membership Application
Membership
Application
Dues are due in January each Year and new applications
are pro-rated monthly
are due inofJanuary
each Year
andpm
new
The Club meets theDues
3rd Thursday
every month
at 7:00
at applications are pro-rated monthly
The Club meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm at
Windsor Park Church of Christ,
Galilean
4420 S. Staples
StreetLutheran Church
3321 Cimarron Rd.
Corpus Christi.
Corpus Christi.
Membership Dues Per Year:
Membership Dues Per Year:
Single Member (1 adult vote)…………………………………………………..…….$20.00
Single Member (1 adult vote)…………………………………………………..…….$20.00
Family Member (2 adult votes, same household).......……………………..……...$25.00
Family
Member (2 adult votes, same household).......……………………..……...$25.00
Commercial Member (1 adult vote, ¼ page ad for 13 months in newsletter) …………..$50.00
Please
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Type
TypeofofMembership:
Membership:______Single
______Single______Family
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Name
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_________________________Birthday
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Address
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City__________________________________
City__________________________________State
State________Zip_________
________Zip_________
Phone
_____
___________________________________________________
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Email
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_________________________________________________________
Birds
you
Birds youbreed__________________________________________________
breed__________________________________________________
Pet
Birds_______________________________________________________
Pet Birds_______________________________________________________
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Specialties______________________________________________________
What
Whatdodoyou
younot
notwant
wantpublished
publishedononClub
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roster__Address
__Address__Phone
__Phone__E-mail
__E-mail
What
Whatsubject
subjectwould
wouldyou
youlike
liketotoknow
knowmore
moreabout?
about?
Bird
Behavior
____
Bird
Taming
___
General
Care
___
Breeder
Bird Behavior ____ Bird Taming ___ General Care ___ BreederProfiles___
Profiles___
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Training
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Bird Training ____ Human/Bird Bonding ____ Medical/Health____
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Nutrition_____
Bird Breeding____ Bird Grooming _____Avian Nutrition_____
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Other _______________________________
Please mail completed application and payment to:
Please
mail completedBird
application
to: Mission
Coastal Bend
Companion
Cluband&payment
Rescue
P. O. Box
6023
Coastal Bend Companion
Bird
Club & Rescue Mission
CorpusP.
Christi,
TX
78416
O. Box 6023
Christi,
TX
78416-6023
Please tell us how youCorpus
heard about
our club:
_______
Bird mart _______ Friend
_______ Handbook _____ American Classifieds ______ Newspaper ______ Other:
Please list: _________________________________
14
15
Club
MeMBer’S ADS
FOR SALE
Pet Birds
1 pet Quaker, $150 (female) tame (does not bite) is a little flighty.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bird House
Georgia & Charles McDonald
Birds for sale: Breeders and hand tamed babies;
Parakeets; Cockatiels; Quakers; Blue & Green, Sun
Conures;
Amazons:
3pr. Double Yellow Head proven, 1pr.DYH bonded
1pr. Yellow Nape proven, 1pr.YN bonded
1pr. Orange wing proven
2pr. Red Lored proven
1pr. Mexican Red Head bonded
Single Amazon proven males: 1 Yellow Crowned, 1 Yellow Naped, & 1 Mealy
Macaws:
2pr. Green-wing proven
2pr. Blue & Gold proven, 2pr. B&G bonded
1pr. Scarlet proven
Catalina Female & Scarlet Male pair proven
Breeders
Pairs:
3 pr. of yellow-sided Green Cheek conures $425 per pair or
All 3 pair for $1195 (guaranteed unrelated pair) 2006 birds,
DNA certificate
2 pair of normal Green Cheek Conures $325 per pair Or both pair for
$595 (guaranteed unrelated pair) (2006 birds) DNA certificates
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Singles
2 males (2006 birds) $175 each or $295 for both
1 yellow-sided Green Cheek, female 2006 bird DNA certificate $225.00
3 Pineapple Green Cheek Conures, females) (2006 birds DNA certifiates)
$395 each or $1100 for the 3 females
———————————————————————————Mature Single
1 (4 yr. old) egg laying Pineapple female Green Cheek Conure (former
pet) $350
————————————————————————————-
Plenty of Cages, Toys, Feeders, nest-boxes and much,
much more.
Call 361-592-1400 for prices.
Will meet within reasonable driving distance (Corpus Christi Area)
www.rockportroost.com
Cockatiels
Black-Mask Lovebirds
Green Cheek Conures
Quakers
Senagals
Hand Fed, & Hand Raised C heryl &
With Lots of TLC
L arry’s
(361) 592-4856
[email protected]
Birds
A viary of
S weet
Y oung
♥
04/ 06
Pictures available on most breeders at:
http://www.rockportroost.com/ys2006.html
TXPARROTS
http://expage.com/Txparrots
NeedleMagic
a new creative addition to TXPARROTS
beautiful unique machine embroidered gift items,
quilts, wall art, welcome banners & much more.
Ultimate playstation gym
constructed of:bird safe wood, rope, toys & s/s hardware.
Recommended for Parrotlets through Amazons size birds.
Toys are included.
Custom cut plexi panels.
Great for keeping the draft off birds, keeping walls clean &
protection at Marts from curious fingers & contaminaion.
Syringes & pipettes.
TXPARROTS@ aol.com
http://expage.com/txparrots
(361)547-9714
04/06
2- male DY HEAD
$675.00 each / over 10 yr old
1- male Red Lord
$675.00 each / about 8 yr old
3- Mexican Red Head
$300.00 each / about 4 yr old
2- Baby Goffins (2wk old) $875.00 each
( I am hand feeding)
16
You can reach me Linda Young by my e-mail at [email protected] or
call me on my cell phone (850) 516-7631 / home # (850) 456-6854
4/06
04/06
Bird Recipe
Nutriberry Recipe
BFA
LS2
GE
KEET
GCC
DYH
E2
CM
BCC
HYM
LB2
HMC
GSC
BHP
CAG
CHC
C2
BSL
BP2
GW
BE2
G2
BWP
GCP
HM
B&G
Blue & Gold Macaw
Blue Crowned Conure
Bare Eyed Cockatoo
Blue Fronted Amazon
Blue Headed Pionus
Black Palm Cockatoo
Blue Streak Lory
Bronze Wing Pionus
Citron Cockatoo
Congo African Grey
Cherry Headed Conure
Catalina Macaw
Double Yellow Head Amazon
Eleonora Cockatoo
Goffins Cockatoo
Green Cheeked Conure
Grey Cheeked Parakeet
Grand Eclectus
Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
Green Winged Macaw
Hahns Macaw
Half Moon Conure
Hyacinth Macaw
Parakeet
Leadbetters Cockatoo
Lesser Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
Use the crumbles in the bottom of the nutriberry bags instead of seeds or crushed nuts. Next time add a half cup
of applesauce if you think they mixture is to dry and they or
crumbly.
Home Made Nutriberries
1 cup of dried fruit
2 tablespoon of coconut
½ cup of uncooked oatmeal
½ cup of raisins
¼ cup of seeds and /or crushed nuts
2 Tablespoons of peanut butter
1 Tablespoon of honey or molasses
Blend all the dry ingredients in a food processor until
chopped finely. Place mixture into a bowl , add peanut butter and honey or molasses. Mix very well and the mixture is
sticky. Roll mixture into small ½ ball and place on a cookie
sheet. Bake at 325 for about 18 minutes. Cool and serve.
I am trying for some puzzle variety. Some folks wanted a new
game. How is this?
Cheesy Sun Crsps
Ingredients:
2 cups cheddar cheese ( shredded)
1\2 cup grated parmesan cheese ( canned is fine)
1\2 cup butter or margarine
3 tablespoons water
1 cup flour
1\4 teaspoon salt ( can be omitted)
1 cup quick cooking oats
2\3 cup roasted sunflower seeds (hearts or whole)
Directions:
In bowl, combine cheeses, butter, and water until
well mixed. Add flour and salt to mixture. Stir in oats
and seeds. Knead until it holds together. Shape into
12" roll. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 4
hours. Cut into slices and bake in 400 degree oven
on greased cookie sheets for 8-10 minutes. Yield: 8
dozen
This makes a great snack cracker for birds or humans and is preservative free!
17
Box Office Box 6023
Corpus Christi, Texas
78466-6316
Contact Cheryl Scott
1(361) 592-4856
[email protected]
18