Adopt a Rescued Bird Month

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Birds make great pets!🦜♥️

For more than a decade, animal shelters and bird rescue organizations across the country have recognized January as “Adopt a Rescued Bird Month” in an effort to find homes for the thousands of pet birds that are abandoned each year.

Is a Pet Bird right for me?

Birds are beautiful, social and smart. Some even talk! It is not hard to understand why companion birds are growing in popularity.

However, bird ownership comes with its own set of challenges. Birds need lots of mental stimulation and environmental enrichment. Birds are very social creatures by nature and when these needs are not met, birds can resort to undesirable behaviour such as plucking themselves bald, screaming and biting. Pet birds can also be very noisy companions.

Most people think of parrots or budgies as a pet bird, but domestic pigeons and doves make great pets too. They are quiet, smart, social and low maintenance.

Birds can make excellent pets and companions, but different species of birds exhibit different behavioural traits and dispositions. Research is important to find the species of bird most suitable for you.

Adopting a bird is a long-term commitment. Small bird species can live from 8 - 15 years while large parrots can live from 60 - 80 years.

Basic Care for Pet Birds:

  • Birds need a well-constructed cage that is large enough for them to stretch their wings and fly short distances. Birds are active and inquisitive, so a sheltered outdoor aviary or an indoor flight-safe room is required for proper stimulation and exercise. Smaller species like finches and canaries should have proper environmental stimulation in their cages as well.

  • Light exposure and sleep are very important to birds. Birds need at least 4 hours of exposure to UVA and UVB rays from sunlight or full-spectrum lighting to provide them with vitamin D, which promotes vitamin A absorption, criticial for upper respiratory health. Birds must also have a minimum of 10 hours of sleep each night.

  • Never use sandpaper perch covers - birds stand on their soft feet and not on their nails, so this would be like us having to walk barefoot on sharp stones everyday.

  • Birds are very sensitive to air quality. Unlike humans, a bird replaces all of the air in its lungs with each breath. Birds should never be exposed to tobacco smoke, chemical fumes or teflon coated materials. Exposure to some toxic inhalants can cause immediate death.

  • Allergy alert - Bird dander can trigger a reaction from people with asthma or allergies. You may need to purchase a HEPA filter for your bird’s room.

  • A bird’s diet should consist of high-quality organic pellets and fresh vegetables and fruit.

  • Birds need veterinary care from a veterinarian that specializes in birds. Your vet will likely recommend annual well-bird examinations.

Even if you are not interested in adding a bird to your family, you can learn about wild birds and the conservation efforts being made to sustain the world’s bird populations. Whether in our homes or outdoors, birds are important, and our world would not be the same without them.

Here is a list of Bird Rescues in the Ottawa area:

DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER BIRD RESCUES IN OUR AREA? LET US KNOW BELOW

Source: Birds make Great Pets, Lisa Bloch, marinij.com, Jan. 6,2020
Adopting a Pet Bird, Emily Cook, ontariospca.ca, October 9, 2014