The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription:

You are subscribed to the following list:

[list_name]

Using the following email:

example@example.com

You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL:

http://news.pethobbyist.com/index.cgi/u/[list]/

If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism.

You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen:

http://news.pethobbyist.com/index.cgi?f=list&l=[list]

If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at:

wingtips@pethobbyist.com

The following, physical address is associated with this mailing list:

This year is over, and that's probably a relief for a lot of us. We hope that all our friends and your families of all species will have a much brighter new year, and that we'll be seeing you around on BirdHobbyist! Happy Holidays to you all!

We also know that the holidays can be a rough time for some of us, especially if we've suffered the illness of loss of a beloved pet recently. That's why the Support Chats on our PetSupport.net site happen every single night of the year, including Christmas Eve, Christmas night, New Year's Eve, and New Year's night. The complete schedule is here, and absolutely no registration is required. Everyone who loves animals is welcome.

Don't Forget the Wild Birds this Winter!

Macayo reminds us: While you are baking and cooking for your companion flock for the holidays, don't forget your wild feathered friends! Here are some ideas for decorating your yard and trees with festive, edible treats. These make wonderful gifts for the wild bird lovers in your family, too. Use either the suet or birdseed/fruit mixture to form the decorations that follow. More information here!

The 2008 Top Ten Best-sellers in the BirdHobbyist.com Bookstore

There will be lots of great changes in the BirdHobbyist Bookstore in 2009 -- watch for them here!

1.The Colored Atlas of Lovebirds: Agapornis : More Than a Hobby, a Passion!
2.The American Crow and the Common Raven (The W.L. Moody Jr Natural History Series, No 10)
3.Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Uncovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence--and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process
4.How to Build Your Own Aviary, Cages, Nestboxes, Etc. and $ave a Bundle: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
5.Parrots of the World: An Identification Guide
6.How to Build Everything You Need For Your Birds: From Aviaries . . . To Nestboxes
7.Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior
8.Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot
9.Pigeons (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
10.Hand-Feeding and Raising Baby Birds: Breeding, Hand-Feeding, Care, and Management

Birds: Making a difference
By PHCanary

From the time years ago when birds first soared through the skies, these feathered beings have brought beauty and songs wherever they fly. Of course, those birds looked different from wild and pet birds of today! In The Awakening: A Tale of Avian Evolution, Mark Jones relates an imaginary account of that relationship between those ancient birds and today's feathered creatures. He tells of "Yellow Streak," a primitive parrot that lived through the passing of the world she and other parrots knew, and awakening to a renewed earth. They struggled through changes, laying the foundation for "Angel," a cockatoo that lived years later. While facing and overcoming difficulties in her life, "Angel" enriched the lives of several humans she encountered. In her passing, "Angel" joined her mate, while leav ing her humans with joy. She truly had a wonderful life and made a difference.

While this book is a novel, our pet birds and the wild birds are indeed descendents of those original birds! How they too have made a difference in our lives! Our reality, especially during this holiday season, lies in living with canaries, budgies, cockatiels, finches, and many other species of pet birds and celebrating the lives of these wonderful creatures; receiving holiday cards featuring a cardinal perching in a snowy tree surrounded by holly berries and bare tree branches; and seeing that beautiful cardinal, titmouse, or woodpecker enjoying a treat of suet in our bird feeder.

During the late winter blizzard of 1993 when deep snow covered the ground in many cities, wild birds were unable to find food easily. During that time, many people threw berries and bird seed on the ground and provided heated birdbaths for the birds to have food and drink. While winters are warmer now, wild birds still enjoy human help in the form of birdseed wreaths hung on doors, refreshing drinks of unfrozen water, or energy-producing suet cakes.

Just as wild birds enjoy a special food treat during the holidays, so do our own pet birds. Creating a special wreath of pellets, providing a toy that encourages the birds to forage for food, or giving a new playstand will be appreciated by our special birds.

Often, we find birds giving back to us! Some may be "angels" that appear in our lives during sad times. Beth had just lost a canary named Sergi, who died while being shipped from a breeder shortly before the holidays. Headed for a sad holiday season, Beth was surprised one day when she received an early Christmas present — a budgie named Francis. Francis quickly settled into a routine, learning to sit on Beth's shoulder and whistle Christmas carols while they played on the computer. Francis lived a live full of meaning, bringing joy to his human.

Perhaps others have had a special "angel" bird that came at just the right time. What better time than the holiday season to celebrate the lives of our feathered friends, whether they live in our homes or outside our window.

Travel with Birds

Winter holidays can mean travel with birds... and that can mean stress for you and your feathered family members. Sharon Pfeiffer learned a thing or two about making it work on a cross-country trip with a Macaw and an African Grey. Learn from her experience in Traveling with Birds -- and share your tips with us in our newly revamped Transporting Birds Forum!

Project FeederWatch

"Even watching common birds can yield uncommon results!" So says Project FeederWatch leader David Bonter of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This popular citizen-science project has been in existence for more than two decades now. More than 10,000 participants across North America have made Project FeederWatch part of their winter ritual. FeederWatch participants track birds at their feeders from November through early April to help scientists monitor bird populations. How can you get involved? Find out here!

Holiday Dangers for Birds

The big family dinner is definitely something to look forward to. And boy is that tree going to look pretty! Your Menorah or kinara is set up and ready to have the candles lit. You've invited thirty guests for the big celebration. These are only a few holiday hazards that could pose a danger for your birds. Find out more.

WingTips is copyright 2008 by OnlineHobbyist.com unless otherwise specified. All rights reserved.

--

The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription:

You are subscribed to the following list:

[list_name]

Using the following email:

example@example.com

You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL:

http://news.pethobbyist.com/index.cgi/u/[list]/

If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism.

You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen:

http://news.pethobbyist.com/index.cgi?f=list&l=[list]

If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at:

wingtips@pethobbyist.com

The following, physical address is associated with this mailing list:

Our BirdHobbyist.com lineup includes:

Sunday, February 10

Dr. Jennifer Periat
Avian and Exotic Animal Health
Sunday, February 10, at 10 PM Eastern, in ExoticHobbyist.com's Chat Room
Dr. Jennifer Periat graduated from MSU (DVM and BS in zoology). Having grown up owning a variety of pets and being quite active in 4-H, she knew she wanted to be a veterinarian from a young age. Dr. Periat enjoys all types of animals and shares her home with many. Dr. Periat is still usually surrounded by animals, spending a lot of time doing public education about the care and conservation of exotic species, taking classes with her dogs and doing rescue work. She has been a very active member of the Michigan Society of Herpetologists, and now serves on the Board of Directors and as secretary.

Saturday, February 16

Carol Frischmann, author of "Conures"
The Care and Keeping of Conures
Saturday, February 16, at 9 PM Eastern, in the Aviary
On the day Carol Frischmann learned to crawl, the family Doberman pinscher gripped her diapers with his teeth to prevent her tumble down a flight of stairs. Ever since, Carol, now a writer and educator, has been repaying her debt to creatures that fly, run, or slither on their bellies. She has shared her love of nature as a high school science teacher, zoo lady, Audubon volunteer, and as a writer for magazines and newspapers.

Graduated from Duke University with a degree in Science Education, Carol is the pet columnist for KGW.com, an NBC affiliate television station, and for her own website. Her top-selling book, "Conures," is a part of the Animal Planet Pet Care series. Three parrots and a Doberman pinscher closely supervise Carol’s work in her Portland, Oregon office.

Friday, February 22

Nigel Marvin
A World of Wildlife
Friday, February 22, at 9 PM Eastern, in kingsnake.com's Chat Room
Born in 1960, Nigel Marven showed early promise as a budding naturalist. He was running a hamster colony at age eight and racing stick insects along his mother’s clothes line by the time he was nine. In his early teens, Nigel had graduated to larger creatures, keeping a caiman, magpie and boa constrictors in his parents’ house. Once his school studies were over, Nigel took a year-out travelling throughout America, where he met hellbenders and amphiumas in the wild (both are kinds of salamanders). Returning to the UK, he moved to Bristol to read Botany and Zoology at university. This would prove to be the ideal place for him, because firstly he could pursue his interest in the natural world at an academic level, and secondly, Bristol is the world capital of wildlife filmmaking. From sharks to owls to anacondas, with a professed special love for birding, Nigel has proven he can hold his own in the animal kingdom! You may have seen him hosting Discovery’s "Shark Week," "Nigel’s Wild, Wild World," "Chased by Sea Monsters," or "Prehistoric Park" on Animal Planet. The host, film-maker and author will appear at the second annual North American Reptile Conference and Trade Show on Saturday and Sunday, February 22-23 at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington Texas, but first he will stop by to chat with our members.

Saturday, February 23

Kara Glasgow
Selecting and caring for your first bird
Saturday, February 23, at 9 PM Eastern in the Aviary
Having a soft spot for all things feathered and seeing first hand experience of people looking into their first bird pet, Kara has worked hard in educating people in the needs of each species. Specializing in hand-fed, well socialized companion bird pets, and assisting in the occasional wild bird rescue, Kara is joining us this evening to discuss how to choose your first bird and how to care for it after you have it home.

How to Attend

These events will be held in the chat rooms linked from this page. To access the chats:

There is nothing to download or install, but the system does require you to have java enabled in your browser settings. We strongly suggest you access the room before the chat, so you have time to address any difficulties you might have. You might want to drop by one of our regular weekly chats as a test run. If you have trouble, please visit our Chat Help Area. --

The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription:

You are subscribed to the following list:

[list_name]

Using the following email:

example@example.com

You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL:

http://news.pethobbyist.com/index.cgi/u/[list]/

If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address. Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism.

You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen:

http://news.pethobbyist.com/index.cgi?f=list&l=[list]

If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at:

wingtips@pethobbyist.com

The following, physical address is associated with this mailing list:

Sunday February 25

Linda Tellington-Jones
Tellington Touch
Sunday, February 25, at 10 PM Eastern in the Auditorium
TTouch - the Tellington TTouch - is a method based on circular movements of the fingers and hands all over the body. The Tellington TTouch is a specialized approach to the care and training of our animal companions, including birds. Developed by internationally recognized animal expert Linda Tellington-Jones, this method based on cooperation and respect offers a positive approach to training, can improve performance and health and presents solutions to common behavioral and physical problems. It also helps establish a deeper rapport between humans and animals through increased understanding and more effective communication.

Tuesday February 27

Wendy LaBanca, American Cockatiel Society
Cockatiels
Tuesday, February 27, at 9 PM Eastern in the Aviary
Wendy LaBanca is Rhode Island state coordinator of the American Cockatiel Society, co-founder and bird show coordinator of New England Cockatiel Breeders & Exhibitors, and a noted breeder of cockatiels. She also owns the ShowTiels and TielBreeders email lists. She has received the National Cockatiel Society Presidential Award in 2004 "for exceptional performance and support way above and beyond the required responsibilites of the position" in 2004 and"for your dedication, support and loyalty toward NCS" in 2005.

Wednesday February 28

Dr. Jennifer Periat
Exotic Animal Health
Wednesday, February 28, at 10 PM Eastern, in ExoticHobbyist.com's Chat Room
Dr. Jennifer Periat graduated from MSU (DVM and BS in zoology). Having grown up owning a variety of pets and being quite active in 4-H, she knew she wanted to be a veterinarian from a young age. Dr. Periat enjoys all types of animals and shares her home with many. Dr. Periat is still usually surrounded by animals, spending a lot of time doing public education about the care and conservation of exotic species, taking classes with her dogs and doing rescue work. She has been a very active member of the Michigan Society of Herpetologists, and now serves on the Board of Directors and as secretary.

Thursday March 1

Kara Glasgow
Selecting and caring for your first bird
Thursday, March 1, at 9 PM Eastern in the Aviary
Having a soft spot for all things feathered and seeing first hand experience of people looking into their first bird pet, Kara has worked hard in educating people in the needs of each species. Specializing in hand-fed, well socialized companion bird pets, and assisting in the occasional wild bird rescue, Kara is joining us this evening to discuss how to choose your first bird and how to care for it after you have it home.

Friday March 2

Rescue Panel
Friday, March 2, from 9-11 PM Eastern, in the Auditorium
A panel discussion with a number of rescue groups for a wide variety of species, including representatives from the Dane County Humane Society, Small Scale Reptile Rescue and Mid Michigan Herp Rescue. Other guests include those involved in dog, cat, wildlife, bird, horse, and exotic/small pet rescue, including TLC Lab Rescue, Wisconsin Chinchilla Rescue, Adopt a Husky Rescue, and Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue.

Saturday March 3

Chance Duncan
Ratites
Saturday, March 3, at 9 PM Eastern in the Aviary
Chance Duncan is a 24 year old university student studying Life and Earth Science Education for the Secondary Level, and will soon be a middle-high school science teacher. He has been interested in animals for the better part of his life, especially those somewhat out of the norm, such as reptiles and giant birds. His interest in ratites began when he was in middle school and watched the ratite industry take a nose dive into the ground. He bought his first emu chicks for $40 each in 1996 (the year or two previously they were $2-5k each!), and it's been love ever since. He has now bred emus and rheas, and has hatched ostriches. He currently breeds normal and blond emus, gray and white rheas, and has high hopes for cassowaries in the very near future. The future also holds greater expansion in the emu color mutations to include whites. He keeps his birds on 14 acres in a rural part of Arkansas.

How to Attend

These events will be held in chat rooms listed above. To access the chats: