Psitta-Social: Melbourne Meet ups Gain Critical Mass!

February 9, the Melbourne parronts and fids held their greatest gathering yet! As the photos and videos show, parrot-lovers of all ages, and feathered friends of many species gathered in a cool great room on a hot summer's day, and reveled in one another's unique, treasured presence. Hop with excitement, oh, ye feathered friends! (Courtesy … Continue reading Psitta-Social: Melbourne Meet ups Gain Critical Mass!

BirdsEyeView: THE Aviculturist– Tony Silva

Tony Silva -- winner of BirbObserver's 1st Annual Birbie for Best Aviculturist-- earned his wings in exotics field research and zoo management (Silva is a former Loro Parque Curator) as well as in aviculture. Author of the ever-informative Psittaculture (now available in its second, updated edition!), Silva exudes a focused energy, keen attention and calm competence. … Continue reading BirdsEyeView: THE Aviculturist– Tony Silva

HatchLine: Parrot Festival Showcases Four Endangered Yet Resilient Bird Species

January 25-27, 2019, Houston. -- The Houston-based National Parrot Rescue and Parrot Foundation (NPRPF) hosted its celebratory 20th Annual Parrot Festival this past weekend, drawing attendance from across North America. "Queen" Georgia Hayes, NPRPF President, and Danny Sigmon, Festival Coordinator, presided over a Convention center decked in colorful tables covered in bird chachki, raffle-ticket drums, … Continue reading HatchLine: Parrot Festival Showcases Four Endangered Yet Resilient Bird Species

NoRoomAttheInn: Celebrate Parrot-People Joy at Parrot Festival 2019

Danny Sigmond, now the Parrot Festival Director, first attended ParrotFestival 2008, having acquired his first bird -- a sun conure -- the year before. The excitement of Parrot Festival gripped Danny from that moment. Danny's selectively, prudently acquired a few more birds -- a parrotlet, a scarlet rescue macaw, a gold-capped conure, a green-cheek conure; … Continue reading NoRoomAttheInn: Celebrate Parrot-People Joy at Parrot Festival 2019

BirdsEyeView: Lara Joseph: Training IS the Most Effective Communication

[At Ms Joseph's request, we have removed the final paragraph. Editorially, we are disappointed to do so, as on the record she had stated what we felt was an important structural social principle related there.] Lara Joseph confessed: dinosaurs, not birds, were her first passion. But as she studied animal anatomy and physiology, birds (yeah, … Continue reading BirdsEyeView: Lara Joseph: Training IS the Most Effective Communication

HatchLine: Congrats to our 1st Annual Birbie Award Winners!

After the arduous and inexact and -- for the contestants, perhaps also anxious -- task of singling out the sole individuals to receive honors, BirbObserver can now name ALL its winners for 2018: MOST INSPIRING:                                          … Continue reading HatchLine: Congrats to our 1st Annual Birbie Award Winners!

TheRoundUp: Hyacinth Holidays! “The Best Companion and Family Bird Ever”

You have to dream before your dreams can come true.                                                                   -- APJ Abdul Kalam, Indian statesman (1931-2015) The Holidays approach, and parrots … Continue reading TheRoundUp: Hyacinth Holidays! “The Best Companion and Family Bird Ever”

HatchLine: Feral Macaws Muse in Coconut Palms

Coral Gables, Florida -- The rubicund sun lengthened the shadows as we stood on a Miami flagstone patio craning our necks, gazing awestruck at six blue and gold macaws roosting high in the tops of royal palms.  Fully half of the remaining flock has showed up to be seen, as if they knew visitors were … Continue reading HatchLine: Feral Macaws Muse in Coconut Palms

HatchLine: Aviculture Tips from South Florida Pros

Beloved author of Psittaculture, Tony Silva, and long-time AFA leader Buddy Waskey hosted a tour of select South Florida aviaries in the days leading up to the Organization of Professional Aviculturists' (OPA) annual meeting. As Florida has enacted a framework of laws favorable to aviculture, aviaries flourish there. The warm weather, though dryer than the … Continue reading HatchLine: Aviculture Tips from South Florida Pros