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Enrichment - or Danger for our Birds? |
By John GearyAs
responsible bird caretakers, we have all faced the decision whether or
not to let our birds experience “the great outdoors.”
If we decide
“yes,” we then must decide how to let them experience it. Part of
that “how” involves how much freedom we allow them. If their wings
are not trimmed, do we allow them some supervised free flight? If their
wings are trimmed, do we allow them to wander around on the lawn or in
the garden, or do we take them outside only in a cage?
In recent years, even taking them outside in a cage is no guarantee of safety, as they are still exposed to the growing danger of West Nile Virus and possible death. There are some benefits to taking our birds outside, but there are many more detriments. TAKING OUR BIRDS OUTSIDE: PROSExposure to full spectrum of light, including UV, which helps increase vitamin D as well as potentially helping digestion and absorption of other needed vitamins and minerals. They have the pleasure of our company in the outdoors, rather than being stuck inside while we soak up the summer rays. They can experience new types of stimulation in an environment different from their normal surroundings. (Be aware too much stimulation can also be more stressful, particularly to species like Congo African greys, which are more nervous than many other parrots). TAKING OUR BIRDS OUTSIDE: CONSDanger from neighborhood cats. You can usually deter cats, but don’t let your guard down for a minute, even if your bird is caged. A scratch by a cat’s claws can result in a fatal infection in birds, because of the bacteria present in the claws. Danger from birds of prey like hawks, eagles, etc. Don’t be too sure your presence will deter flying raptors. A few years ago, an owl crashed right through a southern Alberta woman’s living room window in an attempt to get at her exotic birds. Some of them were killed. Also, if something startles your bird into jumping down from your arm, shoulder, or a perch, or up into a tree, a predator may strike before you can react. This is not a concern restricted only to those who live in the country; while living in Calgary, a city of nearly 1 million people, we often saw hawks fly over our house and once even had a young bald eagle land in our front yard’s large spruce tree. Escape through flight. Something may startle your bird, causing instinctual flight. Don’t count too much on any bond you have with your bird. I know someone who was very bonded with his macaw, but one day when he had him outside in his backyard, the bird flew away and never returned. Even if you keep your bird’s wings trimmed, they should never be trimmed so extremely that the bird is totally incapable of a controlled descent; and they may grow back between trims just enough for the bird to fly away - just far enough that you may lose him. Don’t forget, a pet bird not used to flying outside has not developed the navigational skills a wild bird has, and can quickly become disoriented and lose its way even if it does want to return. Sudden flight and accident. If something startles your bird, it could fly away – right into a car coming down the road, or into a neighbor’s pool and drown. Eating poisonous plants. If you let your bird wander around your yard, make sure anything it may investigate is not poisonous, or has not been sprayed with any chemical pesticide or herbicide. Overexposure to sun. Too much heat can affect a bird adversely, causing it to overheat if you’re not careful. If you do take your bird outside …It is wise to supervise him very carefully, keep him on the ground, not in a tree where flight becomes a much greater possibility. To be on the safe side, you should seriously consider taking your bird outside only in a small cage or in a harness. In a cage, the bird cannot fly away, and is safe from any predator (well, almost any predator – see below), unless you leave the yard and leave your bird completely alone. Insect predators: West Nile Virus adds a new danger to the mix. With the increasing spread of this mosquito borne virus fatal to birds, taking your bird outside even in a cage or harness becomes very risky. You may want to fashion some sort of mosquito mesh cover to place over your bird’s cage when outside, to reduce the chances of a mosquito bite. Try to take him out during mid-day and avoid taking your bird outside in the early morning or evening when mosquitoes tend to be more prevalent. It is important to remove any sources of stagnant water from your yard to reduce the chances of breeding grounds for the insects. Change the water in any outdoor birdbaths every day or two, remove old tires, flowerpots, etc. that may contain rainwater. They are potential mosquito-breeding grounds. When making a choice as to whether you take your birds outside, remember what Antoine de Saint Exupery once said, " ... if you tame me ...You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed ..." By taking these tame birds into our lives, we are assuming responsibility for creatures incapable of surviving on their own in our world. Once they’ve escaped, they will not survive northern winters, in most areas they will not find food sources, and their chances of avoiding predators are slim to none. We have to weigh our desires against their health and welfare. We are responsible for the safety, the health and happiness, the very lives of these wonderful, loving, trusting creatures – not something to be taken lightly. (originally published in The African Ark, Volume 10, Number 3; a longer, more comprehensive version was also published in Parrots Magazine in the May 2004 issue)
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General Information About African Grey Parrots
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