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The Large Parrot Diary |
| About the author:
Linda Costello was a guest editor for BIRD TALK in 2003, and is a long-term subscriber to the magazine. She and her husband, Ray, live in Ohio and have shared their home with parrots for more than 22 years. Linda's blog is posted bi-weekly. | |
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Parrots Have Taken Over
Our pet birds have taken over our home, but I'm not complaining. It does, however, require a lot of effort to keep things looking somewhat neat! I constantly rearrange cages and furniture to try and come up with the perfect setup. With as many pet birds as we have, it's a challenge because their play areas can take up a lot of room. View Blog>>
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Cupid, My Moluccan Cockatoo
Since this is February I will write about my parrot Cupid! Everybody knows about that boy named Cupid, armed with a bow and arrows, and piercing hearts to make people fall in love. He is known as a mischievous, winged child. My Cupid is a Moluccan cockatoo parrot with big, dark eyes that can pierce your heart and make you fall in love with him. View Blog>>
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Red Hat Ladies
A few years ago, a friend asked me to join her Red Hat group. We get together for dinner, a play or sometimes we meet at a member's house for some fun and games. After hearing many stories about the antics of my parrots, the ladies were curious to meet them. View Blog>>
Thursday, January 7, 2010
New Year Full of Dreams For The Birds!
I love being on all my parrot-related e-mail lists. I get many ideas for my blogs by reading what is talked about on them. View Blog>>
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christmas Time With My Birds
I always include the birds in our Christmas festivities. They get a special present of their own to open. To be safe I use paper towels as wrapping paper since traditional Christmas wrap with its glitter and potentially toxic ink could pose a health risk. View Blog>>
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Silly & Serious Things Parrots Say & Do
On one of the e-mail bird lists I'm on, they were talking about things that their parrots say, which got me to thinking about some of the serious and silly things my own pet birds come up with ...View Blog>>
Monday, November 30, 2009
Keeping Phinny's Trust
I heard Phinny yell like African greys sometimes do when they are playing and exuberantly attacking their toys. I wasn't concerned at first, but I decided to check it out to be sure everything was alright. View Blog>>
Monday, November 23, 2009
Thanksgiving
Time to get ready for the Thanksgiving feast! Is your bird a turkey like mine? My African grey, Muggsy, is a ham ... Err, I mean turkey, who doesn't mind lying on her back. View Blog>>
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Bittersweet Re-Homing
I have been speaking with the lady who has around 11 birds. Health and financial issues are making it difficult for her to care for so many parrots. She is also going through a divorce at 60 years old and has no one to help her. So, my friend Kay, Tina and I went to visit to see some of the birds that need re-homing. View Blog>>
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Halloween Is Almost Upon Us
We don't get a lot of trick-or-treaters here where we live. Although we live in a town, we have a great, out-of-the-way location with a wooded area in the back that is off the beaten track, and I like it this way! View Blog>>
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tiki & Spike
Tiki is an umbrella cockatoo. She makes me laugh when she struts her stuff, crest standing straight up, looking as if she is going to burst forth with the loudest ear-shattering scream you've ever heard ... only to hear this little peep sound instead. View Blog>>
Monday, September 14, 2009
Time For Grooming?
A Peticure could be the answer! Have you ever tried to use the Peti Paws or Peticure, a new tool for grooming pets’ toenails? View Blog>>
Friday, August 28, 2009
What Will Happen to My Parrots?
There are always parrots that need to be rehomed for many reasons. I have taken in birds myself, some because the owners were ill or deceased, and others because the owners just didn't want them anymore or they were afraid of being bitten by them. View Blog>>
Monday, August 3, 2009
Summer's Almost Gone!
It's August already! I can't believe summer is almost over. I always plan on letting my birds outside to enjoy the warm weather and sunshine more often than they actually do. View Blog>>
Monday, July 13, 2009
Inevitable Vet Trips!
Taking my birds to the vet can get pretty expensive, but it is a necessity. I always tell people that when you have a flock, the cost can become mind boggling! The more birds you have, the more likely an unexpected vet trip will be necessary. View Blog>>
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Decorating Bird Style
My birds need plenty of room in for their cages, playstands, boings, swings and more. After all they do need their play time, not to mention exercise! View Blog>>
Friday, June 5, 2009
Birdie Bath Time
In the kitchen, after having a good, drenching shower in the bathroom tub, my birds, Morgan, JJ, Renee and Boo will preen their feathers while drying, and watch home videos of themselves that I have on a tape just for their own entertainment. View Blog>>
Friday, May 22, 2009
Amazing African Greys
My African greys, Muggsy, Mitch and Phinny, are so smart, fun and entertaining. Muggsy will hang upside down from my fingers like a crazy gray bat, play dead or she’ll perform her special “Exotic Drink” trick for anyone who will watch. View Blog>>
Friday, May 8, 2009
Birds Know What They’re Saying
My birds never cease to amaze me. When I talk to them, they look me in the eye as they cock their head knowingly. In my experience, it’s the African grey parrots and macaws who seem so able to communicate on a more mutual level. View Blog>>
Friday, April 24, 2009
We're Back Home
We got back from our vacation on April 12, and we had a good time. All went great at home with the birds. My friends took good care of them and reassured me with phone calls that all was going well. Tina, one of my birdsitters, sent me a picture of her holding Phinny, one of my African greys. View Blog>>
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thoughts Of Parrots
By the time you read this, I should be back from my vacation. I’m wondering how many of you are like me; who find it really hard to leave your birds in someone else’s care and worry that no one else can take care of them the way I do. View Blog>>
Friday, March 27, 2009
Is A Vacation Possible?
There's no doubt my birds can be loud, but their squawking usually doesn't go on for too long. And yes, they bite on occasion. But I've learned to read their body language, which helps me avoid being bitten. The noise doesn't bother me much, but I'm sure people with little bird experience find it hard sharing my feelings for pets that sometimes have been said to resemble a Tyrannosaurus Rex! View Blog>>
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Changes You Make For The Birds!
One of the things I miss reading in BIRD TALK are the personal parrot owner stories. Reading them gave me insight into how other people live with their birds. I think people get too caught up in worrying about misinformation being printed or the fact that the stories weren't written by professionals. View Blog>>
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wintertime Doldrums
We’ve had freezing rain and the roads are all closed. I'm so glad I don't have to go out for anything. Here in Ohio, we have had our share of snowfall, but the birds play happily on their stands and playgyms, listening to tropical music CDs, oblivious to the cold outside. View Blog>>
Friday, February 13, 2009
Destined To Own Birds?
After my mother passed away, I was sorting through her things, and I came across a box of my grandmother's old diaries. In an entry dated March, 1964, she wrote that her mother's (my great grandmother's) parakeet (budgie) had died at 12 years old. View Blog>>
Friday, January 30, 2009
Bird Bites & Body Language
One of the best ways to have a good relationship with your bird is to pay attention to its body language. The one thing you can predict about owning birds is that at some point you will get bitten. Having lived with parrots for over 22 years, I used to say I was never bitten too badly. But I can't say that anymore! View Blog>>
Friday, January 16, 2009
Good Vets and Supportive Bird Friends
I found a great vet for my birds several years ago. The 4 1/2 hour round trip is worth it. My friend Tina and I always make the trip to the vet together. That way, we are there to give each other support along the way if we panic about our sick or injured bird. View Blog>>
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Large Parrot Diaries Genesis
Aside from my blue-crowned conure, CooCoo; my blue-fronted Amazon, Radar; two African greys, Muggsy and Mitch; and the third grey that I just adopted in October, Phinneas; our flock includes Tiki, an umbrella cockatoo; a lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo, Spike; and a Moluccan cockatoo, Cupid. View Blog>>
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