Amazon Parrots - Family

Amazon parrots (Amazona sp.) originate from Mexico, Central America, South America and the adjacent islands of the West Indies.

There are several species of Amazon Parrots.Some of the most commonly species are the double yellow headed amazons, yellow napped amazons, yellow or blue fronted amazons, orange winged amazons, green cheeked amazons, and lilac crowned amazons.

A healthy Amazon can be expected to have a life span of around 50 years or even longer with good nutrition and care and their size can range anywhere from about 10-20 inches in length.

The affectionate and loyal nature of the Amazon make this bird a wonderful pet for those experienced with companion parrots. Amazons are highly intelligent and require a devoted owner who is willing to provide significant and meaningful attention, as well as stimulus such as chewing toys to keep them happy and healthy.

Some males can become aggressive when they reach sexual maturity. Gentle dominance training is essential. It is a good idea to teach amazons to step up on a stick on command for those times when they are "over-stimulated." These birds require strong, patient owners who understand their moods. Do plenty of research on behaviour and training before buying one so you can build a strong foundation with the young bird.

The best talkers tend to be the double yellow heads, yellow napes, and blue fronts. Many of these birds can also become proficient singers. They are not shy and will often perform for strangers. Because of these characteristics, these parrots are often selected as performers in bird shows and at zoo's.

Generally, they do not develop feather picking problems the way many parrot species do, but they can if they are neglected, confined in small cages for long periods of time, and not stimulated with interaction and/or toys.

Caging

Amazons are quite active and very prone to obesity if they do not get exercise. The cage provided should be large enough to ensure that they get adequate room for play and exercise. Spacing of bars depends on the size of the species and care should be taken for smaller amazons to ensure that the spacing is not large enough for them to get their head through.

Diet

A diet that is about 25-50 percent pellet based, with the rest made up of a variety of healthy fresh foods is generally accepted as a good guide. Seeds are too high in fat for Amazon Parrots and while they can be fed as treats, they should make up no more than 10 percent of the whole diet. Nuts are a good treat, also in moderation.

Feather and Skin Health

Amazons should be showered regularly for feather and skin health. They can develop a musky odour that bothers some people, but most owners will need to get used to it. Regular shower's keeps the smell from getting too strong.

Noise

Most birds purchased young and properly trained and socialized will rarely vocalize to the point of disturbing neighbours, but generally they do vocalize at least once a day with loud screeches.

Some amazons can be very loud resulting in many older birds being sold because of the noise becoming a nuisance factor to others. They are not great pets to be kept in apartments for this reason and generally, the larger the bird, the louder the call. Amazons that have been kept with other amazons tend to be the loudest.

Sleep

At least 10 hours of dark, quiet sleep time each night. Amazons that do not get enough sleep can be very grouchy and aggressive.

With lots of love, care and an occasional trip to the vet (where flight feathers should be trimmed), an Amazon parrot will be a beautiful and entertaining companion animal for many years.

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New Kind Of Outdoor Fun With Outdoor Gadgets - Technology

You may never have been the outdoor kind of person. You would rather stay indoors and click your way with your computer or maybe play with your fun gadgets or maybe just sit on your couch and do tons of channel surfing. But see, if you are the gadget kind of person, you should be aware that there are some outdoor gadgets which would allow you to discover a new kind of fun outdoors.

Take your time browsing through Gadget Epoint's collection of outdoor gadgets and you surely would be enticed by what each has got to offer to make you experience real fun outdoors. The collection holds various types of outdoor gadgets which would allow both kids and adults to have fun outside their homes.

Flying kites has been one of your favorite things to do when you were a kid. Now, you can be a kid again. The Chinese dragon kite and the parrot kite are two of the most wonderful kites that you may ever have seen. The former has a 30-foot tail and the whole gadget is made from nylon and fiberglass. That means that the Chinese dragon kite is surely a quality kite to play with. As for the parrot kite, the wings of the bird measure six feet and it is made using quite a range of colors so much so that when it is flying high up in the sky, people would be marveling at the sight. And you, as the person flying it, would be proud that it is yours.

Have you ever heard of the Woboba ball? Well, if you haven't, then better check this gadget out. See, it actually can bounce even on water. So just imagine the fun you would be having playing with this. A game of volleyball or basketball or catch while in the water would be something with this.

Outdoor gadgets are the best things to have especially if you are having a day out with your family and friends. After a day of using them, everyone would surely be having a smile plastered on their faces and all would be excited for the next outdoor experience you would be having.

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Blue Tit - Business

taxonomy a perching on a branch. this species was first described by linnaeus in his systema naturae in 1758 as parus caeruleus. most authorities retain cyanistes as a subgenus of parus, but the british ornithologists' union treats cyanistes as a distinct genus. this is supported by mtdna cytochrome b sequence analysis which suggests that cyanistes is not only distinct, but not close to other tits (gill et al., 2005). subspecies the systematics of the complex are unsettled. there are at least nine recognised subspecies: c. c. caeruleus (linnaeus, 1758), the nominate subspecies, occurring in continental europe to n spain, sicily, n turkey and n urals c. c. obscurus (prazk, 1894), ireland, britain and channel islands c. c. ogilastrae (hartert, 1905), portugal, s spain, corsica and sardinia c. c. balearicus (von jordans, 1913), majorca island (balearic islands) c. c. calamensis (parrot, 1908), s greece, pelopnnisos, cyclades, crete and rhodes c. c. orientalis (zarudny & loudo n, 1905), s european russia (volga river to central and s urals) c. c. satunini (zarudny, 1908), crimean peninsula, caucasus, transcaucasia and nw iran to e turkey c. c. raddei (zarudny, 1908), n iran c. c. persicus (blanford, 1873), zagros mountains the two traditional subspecies found in the canary islands (teneriffae) and northwest africa from northern morocco to northern libya (ultramarinus) are distinctive. the canary islands subspecies has a black cap, and the african form has a blue back. research is underway to split these populations into distinct species, with a peculiar "leapfrog" distribution (kvist et al., 2005; kvist, 2006; sangster, 2006): afrocanarian or ultramarine tit, parus ultramarinus bonaparte, 1841 (la palma, hierro, fuerteventura, lanzarote, nw africa) canary islands , parus teneriffae lesson, 1831 (tenerife, la gomera, gran canaria) the former would contain three or four subspecies (palmensis, ombriosus and ultramarinus/degener), the latter the nomin ate p. t. teneriffae and the unnamed distinct form of gran canaria. pleske's tit (cyanistes pleskei) is a not uncommon hybrid between this species and the azure tit in western russia. description the azure blue crown and dark blue line passing through the eye and encircling the white cheeks to the chin give the a very distinctive appearance. the forehead and a bar on the wing are white. the nape, wings and tail are blue; the back is yellowish green; the under parts mostly sulphur-yellow with a dark line down the abdomen. the bill is black, the legs bluish grey, and the irides dark brown. young s are noticeably more yellow. this is a common and popular european garden bird, due to its perky acrobatic performances when feeding on nuts or suet. it swings beneath the holder, calling tee, tee, tee or a scolding churr. the song period lasts almost all the year round, but is most often heard during february to june. behaviour blue and great tits form mixed winter flocks, and the fo rmer are perhaps the better gymnasts in the slender twigs. a will often ascend a trunk in short jerky hops, imitating a treecreeper. as a rule the bird roosts in ivy or evergreens, but in hard weather will shelter in a hole. s are very agile and can hang from almost anywhere. the has an average life expectancy of 1.5 years diet the is a valuable destroyer of pests, though it has not an entirely clean sheet as a beneficial species. it is fond of young buds of various trees, and may pull them to bits in the hope of finding insects. no species, however, destroys more coccids and aphids, the worst foes of many plants. it takes leaf miner grubs and green tortrix moths (tortricidae). seeds are eaten, as with all this family. learning an interesting example of culturally transmitted learning in birds was the phenomenon dating from the 1960s of s teaching one another how to open traditional british milk bottles with foil tops, to get at the cream underneath. this behaviour has decli ned recently because of the trend toward buying low-fat (skimmed) milk, and the replacement of doorstep delivery by supermarket purchases of milk. conservation populations often decrease considerably during harsh winters or after poor breeding seasons where the weather is cold and wet, particularly if this coincides with the emergence of the caterpillars on which the nestlings are fed. references ^ birdlife international (2004). parus caeruleus. 2006. iucn red list of threatened species. iucn 2006. retrieved on 12 may 2006. database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern ^ (latin) linnaeus, c (1758). systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. tomus i. editio decima, reformata.. holmiae. (laurentii salvii).. pp. 190. "p. remigibus caerulescentibus : primoribus margine exteriore albis, fronte alba, vertice caeruleo." gill, frank b.; beth slikas and freder ick h. sheldon (2005). "phylogeny of titmice (paridae): ii. species relationships based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene.". auk 122: 121143. doi: 10.1642/0004-8038(2005)122[0121:potpis]2.0.co;2 html abstract kvist, laura (2006). "response to "taxonomic status of 'phylogroups' in the parus teneriffae complex (aves)" by george sangster". molecular phylogenetics and evolution 38: 290. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.10.012 (html abstract) kvist, laura; j. broggi, j.c illera, and k. koivula (2005). "colonisation and diversification of the s (parus caeruleus teneriffae-group) in the canary islands". molecular phylogenetics and evolution 34: 501511. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.11.017 (html abstract) sangster, george (2006). c status of "phylogroups" in the parus teneriffae complex (aves): comments on the paper by kvist et al. (2005). molecular phylogenetics and evolution. 38. pp. 288289. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.10.009 (html abstract) external links wikimedia commons has media related to: parus caeruleus arkive - images and movies of the (parus caeruleus) the royal society for the protection of birds () videos, photos & sounds on the internet bird collection. nest 2006 part (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) at google video young s leave the nest for the first time at google video ageing and sexing (pdf) by javier blasco-zumeta - ysgol bod alaw - web cam bird intelligence: the blue tit categories: iucn red list least concern species | cyanistes | birds of europe | birds of turkey | birds of lithuania

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Kigelia - Business

Etymology Leaf in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Flower in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Flowering stalk in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Fruit in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Bark in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The genus name comes from the Mozambican Bantu name, kigeli-keia, while the common name Sausage Tree refers to the long, sausage-like fruit. Its name in Afrikaans Worsboom also means Sausage Tree, and its Arabic name means "the father of kit bags" (Roodt 1992). Growth It is a tree growing up to 20 m tall. The bark is grey and smooth at first, peeling on older trees. It can be as thick as 6 mm on a 15-cm branch (Roodt 1992). The wood is pale brown or yellowish, undifferentiated and not prone to cracking (Roodt 1992). The tree is evergreen where rainfall occurs throughout the year, but deciduous where there is a long dry season. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, 3050 cm long, pinnate, with six to ten oval leaflets up to 20 cm long and 6 cm broad; the termin al leaflet can be either present or absent. The flowers (and later the fruit) hang down from branches on long flexible stems (2-6 metres long). Flowers are produced in panicles; they are bell-shaped (similar to those of the african tulip tree but darker and more waxy), orange to reddish or purplish green, and about 10 cm wide. Individual flowers do not hang down but are oriented horizontally. Some birds are attracted to these flowers and the strong stems of each flower make ideal footholds. Their scent is most notable at night indicating their reliance on pollination by bats, which visit them for pollen and nectar. The fruit is a woody berry from 30100 cm long and up to 18 cm broad; it weighs between 510 kg, and hang down on long, rope-like peduncles. The fruit pulp is fibrous and pulpy, and contains numerous seeds. It is eaten by several species of mammals, including Baboons, Bushpigs, Savannah Elephants, Giraffes, Hippopotami, monkeys, and porcupines. The seeds are dispers ed in their dung. The seeds are also eaten by Brown Parrots and Brown-headed Parrots, and the foliage by elephants and Greater Kudu (Joffe 2003; del Hoyo et al. 1997). Introduced specimens in Australian parks are very popular with cockatoos. Cultivation and uses In African herbal medicine, the fruit is believed to be a cure for a wide range of ailments, from rheumatism, snakebites, evil spirits, syphilis, and even tornadoes (Watkins 1975). An alcoholic beverage similar to beer is also made from it. The fresh fruit is poisonous and strongly purgative; fruit are prepared for consumption by drying, roasting or fermentation (Joffe 2003; McBurney 2004). In Botswana the timber is used for makoros, yokes and oars (Roodt 1992). Kigelia is also used in a number of skin care products. The tree is widely grown as an ornamental tree in tropical regions for its decorative flowers and unusual fruit. Planting sites should be selected carefully, as the falling fruit can cause serious injury to people, and damage vehicles parked under the trees. Synonymy Some synonyms are still accepted by a few horticulturists as distinct species, but botanical studies agree that the genus contains only one species (Joffe 2003, GRIN). Bignonia africana Lam. (basionym) Tecoma africana (Lam.) G.Don Crescentia pinnata Jacq. Kigelia pinnata (Jacq.) DC. Kigelia abyssinica A.Rich. Kigelia aethiopica Decne. Gallery Tree in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Leaves on the tree in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Leaves in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Flower bud in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Tree on UCLA campus, Los Angeles, California, USA. Leaves and fruit of tree on UCLA campus, Los Angeles, California, USA. A Sausage Tree in Botswana in use as an airport departure lounge. References Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kigelia africana del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J., eds. (1997). Handbook of the Birds of the World 4: 415. Lynx Edicions. Huxley, A., ed. (1992). Kigelia. In The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening 2: 735. Macmillan. Joffe, P. (2003). PlantZAfrica: Kigelia africana. McBurney, R. (2004). African Wild Harvest. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Roodt, Veronica (1992). Kigelia Africana in The Shell Field Guide to the Common Trees of the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve. Gaborone, Botswana: Shell Oil Botswana Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN): Kigelia africana. Travel Africa: Sausage Tree. Kigelia africana in West African plants - A Photo Guide. Categories: Bignoniaceae | Trees of South Africa | Medicinal plants

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Will Your Pet Bird Outlive You? - Family - Pets

One common misconception about pet birds is that they live for hundreds of years and need to be willed to someone in order to ensure their care after you're gone. While birds do live for quite a long time in the wild, their lifespan in captivity is actually much shorter. Below are some common pet birds and their average life span in captivity given that they receive superior care and a proper diet.

Macaw - 50 yearsCockatoo - 40 yearsAfrican Grey - 25 yearsAmazon Parrot - 50 yearsConure - 15 yearsParakeet - 15 yearsParrotlet - 15 yearsLovebird - 10 yearsCanary - 15 yearsFinch - 5 years

Certainly with a lifespan of 50 years, a bird could outlive you however there are many hidden dangers lurking around that can cut your birds life short. Birds are very fragile and need to be cared for properly in order for them to live a long life.

Here are some things you can do to help keep your bird safe and healthy:

One major danger for birds as fumes from chemical products. Aerosol sprays, Teflon pans and even such things as furniture polish can kill your bird. Keep anything that has a strong odor away from your bird and make sure you use it in a well ventilated area. I suggest you get rid of all your Teflon pants however if you insist on keeping them make sure your bird is nowhere near the kitchen when you're cooking with them and also be sure not to heat them up without food in them as this will cause the Teflon to emit more odor.

Pet birds love to chew on things and will in fact chew on anything they can find whether it's good for them or not. It's important not to let them chew on anything that is welded as they can get lead poisoning from the slaughter in the joints. They also will love your household plants and will nibble on them so you need to be sure that any plants you have are not poisonous to birds.

Birds love to eat fresh fruits and vegetables but you need to take care not to leave the fruits and vegetables out too long or they can start to rot. Just like you wouldn't feed a piece of pineapple that was sitting on the counter for three hours to your family, you shouldn't be this to your bird either. Something should never be offered to birds as food such as coffee chocolate and avocado as these are toxic to our feathered friends.

The holidays pose a special threat to birds as they may want to fly into your tree and chew on it. You need to be very careful with this, however as many trees are sprayed with stuff that is toxic to birds. In addition, the ornaments, tinsel and electric lights might seem attractive to your pet bird but, of course,could be very dangerous for him to chew on.

Birds that are allowed to fly around the house can be fun but you need to think of safety first if your bird does not have clipped wings and has free reign to fly wherever he wants. Obviously, you want to make sure your windows are closed so that he cannot get out. In addition, you probably want to pull down the shades or close the curtains when your birds flying around as you don't want him to fly into the closed window and hurt himself. If you cannot do this, then put some decals on the glass so that your bird will know not to fly into it. The same goes for Mariners or any reflective surface. This is very important as your bird can actually break his neck by flying into them.

Another thing to be careful of is standing water such as water in the sink or toilet you don't want your bird to get in over his head and drown!

Please refrain from cooking while your bird is flying around as you don't want him to win on the stove and burn himself.

Finally, make sure that you do not answer the door while your birds perched on your shoulder. Even a bird with clipped wings could get away in an updraft and their many dangers outdoors such as cats and cars that can harm your bird.

Feeding your bird a nutritious diet and keeping him safe may not ensure that he outlives you but it will go a long way to making sure that he has a long healthy and happy life!

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Best Exotic Pet Birds - Family - Pets

There are many of us who consider our pets as part of the family, and this is evidenced by a recent statistic that states 65% of all U.S. homes own at least one pet. Along with this increase in pet ownership comes the need for services tailored for our petos comfort.

Choosing Among the Best Exotic Pet Birds

Exotic birds are among the most popular pets to keep. Not only are they absolutely beautiful, with their brilliantly colored feathers, many pet owners find them easier to take care of than, say, a fuzzy cat or a rowdy dog. However, choosing among the best exotic pet birds is rather confusing because there are several species to choose from. Here are some of the most popular exotic pet:

Sun Conures C these birds are popular among the medium-sized variety. They grow to about 12 inches in length, requiring less living space than large parrots. The feathers of Sun Conures are tinted with brilliant hues of orange, yellow, red, green, and blue. Like parrots, Sun Conures can learn how to speak, however they can become quite vocal and noisy. They scream and screech and may not be ideal for those living in apartments buildings. Sun Conures usually live to around 20 to 35 years. Would you like to buy exotic pets?

African Grays C these birds are considered to be among the most loquacious among exotic birds, they can acquire a vocabulary of up to 2,000 words. These birds are also rather intelligent, but they can get demanding and easily bored. However, African Greys can also be quite affectionate - perfect for owners who want sensible companions. They may live from 50 to 70 years.

Before you go to the local pet shop and bring home a furry friend, think about your specific needs and wants about having a pet.

Budgerigars C these are the most common among the pet birds and serve as good introduction to owning feathered pets. Budgies can be good pets for children and are quite attractive with a great variety of colors. They also require a relatively small space, while being quite easy to maintain. Though they can typically learn only few words, they are intelligent enough to be able to sing and whistle tunes. Budgerigars may live from 12 to 14 years.

Parrotlets C these are among the smallest varieties of parrots. While parrotlets may be feisty they are quite intelligent just like their giant cousins. Parrotlets are also rather quiet compared to other exotic birds and thus they are ideal for owners who live in apartments or duplexes. The average parrotlet grows only to about 5 inches and lives to about 20 years.

Cockatiels C many find the medium-sized cockatiel as delightful pets. They also belong to the parrot family, and are known to be intelligent. Cockatiels usually just whistle or mimic random sounds, but they can also learn how to talk. They come in different combinations of color and can be quite attractive members of a home. Cockatiels usually live from 15 to 20 years.

There are many more exotic pet birds and it is best to consult with a breeder to find the best one for you.

In a recent discussion about pet safety, the services provided by a website entitled RecoveryPets.Com was compared to microchips and tattoos, and were they a better option to providing identification for pets. During this discussion a lot of statements were made and taken for fact, but here we will dispel some of those myths.

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Check Out These Three iPhone 4 Accessories - Computers

If you're wondering which iPhone 4 accessories you need, you have many possibilities to choose from. You really have to stay current with tech related news if you want to stay informed about iPhone accessories. You have to buy every product you see, but you might find that a few might come in handy.

Almost everybody has a pair of headphones that they use with their iPhone 4, but if you like to listen to music or get good sound from videos or audiobooks, the quality of your headphones is very important. Apple makes its own In-Ear Headphones made especially for their devices. Although these are lightweight headphones, the sound quality is very good. Along with these headphones, you also get a mic, as well as a remote that can control an iPod. You'll appreciate the comfort and sound quality of these headphones, which isolate the sound with silicone ear tips. A hands-free phone is not a new idea, but the Parrot MKi9000 offers iPhone owners a level higher than just hands-free phone conversations when in the car. Yet there's much more this app can offer than just talking hands free; it also allows you to synchronize your car stereo with your iPhone. The moment you set up this particular app, you're able to control any music you have stored on your iPhone from a remote devic e you can attach to your dashboard or to your steering wheel. You can also hear the voice instructions given over your car stereo for directions coming from your Sat Nav. This is a good accessory if you have a long daily commute, travel a lot by car or otherwise use your phone quite a bit in your vehicle.

Anyone who wants easy access to their iPhone when driving will appreciate the Satechi CR-3600 car holder mount, which can be attached to your car's dashboard. You maintain access to your functions without having to hold your phone, the cradle does that part for you. The mount is adjustable so you can keep your phone wherever it's most convenient for you. This is a simple way to talk on the phone hands free while driving. Check with your state first though since some states have outlawed dashboard mounted items.

The iPhone 4 is a sophisticated device that's a lot more than a phone, and with the right accessories you can customize it so that it fills even more of your needs. You have now heard some great tips for accessories for your iPhone for although these are only a couple of the most sought after ones there are many more out there. You'll get the best deal if you shop around for your iPhone accessories.A Few of the Most Interesting iPhone 4 Accessories

The iPhone 4 is the latest release of the popular Apple cell phone range. Today's smart phones are a lot more than just phones, they are devices that perform many different functions, from taking pictures to surfing the internet. In this article we'll be discussing some of the accessories that can help you get more out of your iPhone 4.

An accessory that most will find useful is the Elan Passport Wallet because it acts like a wallet but protects like a case. This is one way to have your cake and eat it too with a stylish wallet and phone case all in one. There is a scratch free lining that allows your screen to be protected from damage or smudges. One advantage of this product is that it lets you keep your phone, along with important items you carry around every day in one place. The convenient storage compartments allow you to keep important papers, ID and credit/debit cards with you too. So why not carry your phone around in useful fashion? The Parrot MKi9000 is a great accessory for any iPhone owner who spends plenty of time in the car and wants to be able to hold conversations hands-free. Of course, it does a lot more than this, as it also allows you to synchronize your phone with your vehicle's stereo system. The moment you set up this particular app, you're able to control any music you have stored on your iPhone from a remote device you can attach to your dashboard or to your steering wheel. You can also hear the voice instructions given over your car stereo for directions coming from your Sat Nav. If you need to commute long distances or travel a lot in your car, this accessory can be very handy.

Your iPhone 4 of course has better battery life than most other comparable phones but who knows when you'll forget to charge it? Maybe you've experienced higher than normal talk times and caused a low battery. That's why it can be useful to have something like the Juice Pack Air, an external rechargeable battery case made for the iPhone 4. This accessory can also act like a hard shell case for your phone as it doubles your battery time. You'll easily be able to see what the power status of your phone is with the power indicator.

The iPhone 4 is a sophisticated device that's a lot more than a phone, and with the right accessories you can customize it so that it fills even more of your needs. The above article has taken you though only a small sampling of the available accessories for the iPhone 4 although you probably know there are many other options. You'll get the best deal if you shop around for your iPhone accessories.

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