Song Bird Audio Training App Needed for Serenity and Survival of Nature in Mankind's Domain

Well, I can't say I am a birdwatcher, but then again I wouldn't say that I'm not either. Being into aviation I marvel at the maneuverability of birds, and their incredible design and engineering through evolution. Indeed, I am completely convinced that in the future the aircraft built by humans will have morphing wings allowing them to create more lift during takeoff and landings, and reshaped in a more streamlined way for higher-speed.

However, today I'd like to talk to you a little bit about songbirds, mockingbirds, and other species of birds that seem to have an acute musical ability and a rather vast repertoire for their small sized brain. Over the years, I've traveled to every state in the US, and extensively abroad. Each area and region of our globe has different species of birds, some which migrate, and some which live all year round depending on the area. Many birds live in urban areas and around human civilization, society, especially in our suburbs.

Perhaps you have a yard, some trees, and have noted on occasion the songbirds tweeting away. Have you ever noted that they will mimic the sounds they hear. I've heard songbirds which live in and around industrial areas that make the sounds of forklifts backing up. I've also noted birds that live around construction sites make the same sounds as the tractors with a backup alerts going ding, ding, ding. Often these call signs and sounds are passed on to future generations. A friend of mine lives in a recent housing track, the birds in the area, some five years later are still making that same sound as the tractors which leveled off the area prior to the building of the foundations of all the homes.

This means that future residents of that housing tract will have to listen to that same ding, ding, ding for years to come, but I have a better idea. Since birds like to mimic and imitate the sounds that they hear such as car alarms, cross walking warnings, and other similar sounds, why not train them using speakers and a special audio device with sounds that the birds can easily mimic, but in a sequence that is pleasing to humans. Perhaps you can teach them a couple notes of your favorite song. Every time the songbirds wake up in the morning, thus, also waking you up, you will rise to your favorite tune.

If we design an app for that, and people can hook their iPads to some speakers, they might go away on vacation, and when they come back the songbirds are now singing their favorite songs, melodies which they will pass on to future generations of birds which live in the area. The birds want something to sing, and they like to make noise, as long as we give them cues in the form of sounds they can easily replicate, mimic, and imitate then humans will be happier with the birds around. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it - but please don't teach them to RAP.

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4 Incredible Facts About Pigeon Intelligence and Abilities

You may already be aware of some of the amazing capabilities of pigeons, but there are many more incredible facts that you likely have never heard of before. Below are 4 summarized points on some of the unbelievable things pigeons can do:

• Pigeons have multiple and exceptional intelligences and skills

What is psychology telling us about these amazing birds today? Pigeons have multiple intelligences. These include verbal, kinesthetic, visual, and high memory skills. Did you know that this bird has the exceptional ability of knowing all 26 letters of the English alphabet? Moreover, they have the kinesthetic ability to learn complex actions and sequences and sometimes use them as a response. Numerous scientific experiments conducted in various universities and laboratories worldwide have led to the conclusion that pigeons are able to compare and distinguish between different photographs. The birds are also particularly good with colors, pictures and patterns. It has been found that their memory of images can last up to several years. Pigeons were found to even recognize themselves on the mirror. Indeed, considering these impressive feats of animal behavior, it is obvious that pigeons are intelligent in nature.

• Pigeon's Abilities Compared to Humans

Comparative psychology tells us that a pigeon's brain and functions are comparable to that of human toddlers. When it comes to eyesight and visual abilities however, pigeons far surpass any human. Pigeons can see ultraviolet, which human cannot. They are also faster and better conservers of water. Due to having these incredible abilities, some pigeons are now being trained by special helicopter units of the coast guard to pinpoint the location of people who are drowning or lost in the middle of the sea.

• Pigeons are Life-saving Heroes

Pigeons have been used to save the lives of soldiers and other military personnel who have been lost at sea during World Wars I and II. In fact, numerous pigeons have been awarded in the past and continue to be awarded today for saving lives, delivering messages and using their navigational skills to help people.

• Exceptional Navigation Skills

The navigational skills of pigeons are indeed exceptional and are even able to trace back their routes. This is one critical reason for pigeons being used to deliver messages, guide and rescue people. One of the very first mentions of pigeons being used by humans is from the Old Testament in the Bible. In the story of Noah and the Ark, pigeons or doves were used to determine whether the flood has already subsided. When a pigeon returned with a fresh olive leaf, Noah and his family knew it was time to leave the ark. Also, the earliest large scale communications network was established during the 5th century BCE in Syria and Persia using pigeons.

Why Do Gouldian Finches Make for Great Pets?   Minimizing Your Cockatoo's Dust - 5 Things You Can Do To Reduce It   The Cardinal   

Finding The Right Parrot Play Gym

You may or may not have heard of parrot play gyms, but in case you don't know they are a climbing apparatus constructed in such a way that parrots can climb and play on to keep them exercise and interested. These set ups allow them to use their natural physical behaviors outside the confines of their cage.

In the wild parrots tend to spend a lot of time perched on trees and playfully jumping from branch to branch, rather than flying around and this is why the use of a play gym is so beneficial to a parrot.

Why your pet parrot needs this piece of equipment

Every parrot whether large or small requires a something to climb on and have fun with at some point of time. They're happy with their cages and swings while they're very young, but as they grow older, their urge to hop and play in places outside their cages becomes apparent. Parrot play gyms are suitable for having outside the cage and essential for the healthy all round growth of all kinds of parrots.

Good play gyms let parrots enjoy a fair amount of freedom outside their cages. They're the perfect solution to the problem of keeping parrots occupied when they're out of their cages. A well equipped gym ensures that your parrot doesn't try to fly out of the window as soon as you open his cage. This is because all your parrot ever wants from the outdoors is already right there in front of him.

The best parrot play gyms:

- Come with various toys and perches to suite the size of your particular parrot pet - Are made of washable wood with no varnish or stain - Are resistant to chewing or have chew toys on them - Are designed with interesting styles to keep your parrot well occupied - Have safe layouts to reduce risk of injury

What you need to know

This equipment should be bought to suit the size of the parrot that will eventually use it. For example, if you have a Parakeet and a Macaw, there is no way that a single parrot play gym will suit both of them. Macaws require larger and sturdier play gyms, with a larger diameter of perch and they also need something available for them to chew on because they tend to chew a lot and forcefully at that.

Smaller parakeets on the other hand will find themselves at ease on much smaller equipment with toys and perches that are suitable to their size. A parakeet would find it very difficult to hold on to a perch that is the right size for a Macaw. Therefore, the size of your parrot donates the size of the play gym that you should buy for your parrot.

It makes sense to never screw the gym on to the floor. Play gyms tend to get messed up over time and it's easier to clean them when they're not fixed tight to the floor. It is best to set it in a solid square of timber as a base.

If you manage to find a play gym that suits your parrot and has all the above attributes, you can rest assured that your parrot will be kept happy climbing and swinging on its apparatus.

Why Do Gouldian Finches Make for Great Pets?   Minimizing Your Cockatoo's Dust - 5 Things You Can Do To Reduce It   The Cardinal   

Gouldian Finches Information

The Gouldian Finch, also known as the Lady Gouldian Finch, Gould's Finch or the Rainbow Finch, is a colorful passerine bird endemic to Australia. There is strong evidence of a continuing decline, even at the best-known site near Katherine in the Northern Territory. Large numbers are bred in captivity, particularly in Australia. In the state of South Australia, National Parks & Wildlife Department permit returns in the late 1990s showed that over 13,000 Gouldian Finches were being kept by aviculturists. If extrapolated to an Australia-wide figure this would result in a total of over 100,000 birds.

In 1992, it was classified as "Endangered in the wild". This was because the viable population size was estimated to be less than 2,500 mature individuals, no permanent sub-population was known to contain more than 250 mature individuals, and that a continuing decline was observed in the number of mature individuals. It is currently subject to a conservation program.

Both sexes are brightly colored with black, green, yellow, and red markings. The females tend to be less brightly colored. One major difference between the sexes is that the male's chest is purple, while the female's is a lighter mauve.

Juveniles also have distinctive colors. Their heads, sides and necks are gray, and their backs, wings and tail feathers are olive-green. Their undersides are pale brown. Beaks are blackish with a reddish tip. Their legs and feet are light brown. Newly hatched Gouldian Finches are pink and naked until about 12 days old when the beginnings of feathers start to appear. Very young birds also have blue, phosphorescent beads on the sides of their beaks to help their parents see them in the dark.

Gouldian Finches are apprehensive birds generally evading populated areas. A relatively quiet bird, the Gouldian has a high-pitched call that cannot be heard over long distances. They have hisses, clicks and weakened whines for their songs. There is an occasional sharp modification of the normal call when startled. During the courtship ritual the male commences with beak-wiping, bobbing, showing off his brilliant colors by ruffling his feathers and holding his body and tail erect. At the same time he expands his chest and fluff the forehead feathers. The female will often do a bit of beak-wiping during the ritual. Much of the courtship takes place on a limb, sometimes followed by copulation in the nest. Both parents brood over the nest during the day, and the female sits the eggs at night. There is always one parent with the nest, they relieve one another with the nesting call.

Gouldian Finches are not ground feeders and favor foraging from upright grasses. Semi-ripe to ripe grass seeds are a major part of the Gouldian Finches' diet. They also eat a variety of insects including beetles, termites, flies, flying ants, and spiders along with their prey right from the web. They drink by sucking.

Guardian health plays a major role in the aviary.

It is not just the cold that causes fatalities but a lack of knowledge of the bird itself.

Although the Gouldian finch comes from a tropical climate it can and it does acclimatize itself to cooler climates and can breed more readily than some of the other Australian finches. Breeding Gouldian finches in colder climates are achievable. They even do remarkably well in England and even in colder places such as Canada, where they breed successfully also. Guardians can be acclimatized to various climatic conditions if you know how to treat them correctly.

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African Grey Parrot

There are two official subspecies of African Grey parrots. The first Congo African Grey "Psittacus erithacus erithacus" is the larger of the two species, growing to 12-13 inches bill to tail. They have light grey feathers, a dark red tail, a black beak and their irises change from grey to light yellow by the time they are a year old. The Timneh African Grey "Psittacus erithacus timneh" is the smaller of the two subspecies and their feathers and tail are darker than the Congo also their upper mandible is a cream color.

The natural habitat of the grey is the primary and secondary lowland rainforest of western and central Africa from Guinea-Bissau in the west to Cameroon in the east. One of the factors of wild flocks being reduced is due to the cutting down of the rainforest. The preferred tree of the Grey is also the preferred tree to cut down for lumber reducing the Greys habitat.

African Grey parrots have been kept as pets for over 4000 years starting with the Egyptians and many wealthy Greeks and Romans had Greys as pets because of their talking ability. During the age of exploration from the 15th -17th century Portuguese sailors kept Greys as companions on they long voyages into the unknown, even King Henry VIII had a pet Grey. Today, African Grey parrots are the most widely sought after parrots. While their numbers are dwindling in the wild and many restrictions are put on their exportation, breeders in the U.S. keep up with demand for the Grey and the black market is minimal here but it is booming in other parts of the world.

African Grey parrots make excellent pets because of their intelligence and sociability. Greys are considered excellent talkers and can mimic many different sounds from telephone ringing to other pet noises. However, individual birds ability to talk varies greatly and can not be counted on when choosing a Grey. Their cognitive ability ranks up among those of the dolphin and chimpanzee and because of this requires a strong commitment by the Grey owner to interact with and stimulate their bird. Greys should get a minimum of 3 hours outside their cage per day and at least an hour of human interaction and playtime.

A physically and mentally healthy Grey will be a source of great enjoyment and companionship. They usually bond to one person, unless constantly socialized with other people. The Grey thrives on a regimented schedule with specific feeding, playing and bedtimes they rarely like to deviate from their structured routine. Greys will live and average of 50 years in captivity, so be sure you are willing to make that type of commitment when choosing this pet. Because of their intelligence Greys require a lot of stimulating toys that can be rotated as the bird becomes bored with them. It is important for the bird's mental health to create a diverse and stimulating environment. If a Grey becomes bored or neglected it can lead to bad habits and health issues like feather picking. One way to help alleviate the chance of boredom is to locate the Grey's cage in the central part of the home where most activity occurs, such as the living room.

The African Grey is an ideal pet for a true bird lover, with their intelligence and social skills they entertain and provide companionship to their owner for many years. Many owners say it is like having a small child around all of the time, but they wouldn't trade them for anything else. Remember Grey's need a medium to large cage with several toys so they have room to move around and interact. Also a play stand gives them an extension of their home and a more diverse environment. Greys need a certain amount of Calcium and Vitamin A rich foods like leafy green spinach and mustard greens.

Why Do Gouldian Finches Make for Great Pets?   Minimizing Your Cockatoo's Dust - 5 Things You Can Do To Reduce It   The Cardinal   

Window Birdfeeders

Birdfeeders are a fun and relaxing hobby. They are also educational as you learn more about the birds that live in your area. Window birdfeeders help to bring all of this to your indoor life. They are the ideal choice in many situations.

Not everyone has a yard where they can place a birdfeeder. This does not mean they have to miss out on the bird watching activity in their area. These window feeders are an excellent alternative for anyone without a yard. They are very affordable and you can get them from any pet shop and at most retail stores.

There is an assortment of lightweight birdfeeders that are designed to hang on your window. These window birdfeeders are held in place with powerful suction cups. Window birdfeeders are smaller and more compact than the traditional yard feeders. Their size is designed to be stable on the suction cups and easy on the glass of the window. Even though they are small, there are a variety of shapes and sizes.

Make sure you hang them properly though so they will not fall off the window. Birdfeeders are designed with a tube or container to protect the birdseed and help to keep it dry. This also helps to keep the seed in place on windy days so that it lasts longer between refills.

People that live in apartments and those in college dorms can benefit from the use of this type of birdfeeder. A window birdfeeder can help to pass the time for someone that is bedridden or simply unable to make the walk out into the yard.

Many people enjoy the ability to watch the variety of birds eating the food while they observe from indoors. They may like to eat breakfast while the birds enjoy theirs outside of the kitchen window. Others place them on their bedroom window so they can wake up to the sound of the birds.

The window birdfeeders can be placed on any window in the house. If the livingroom window is the best, or more preferred window, the bird feeder will do nicely there.

A window birdfeeder can be an excellent idea for young children. They get to enjoy the activity of the animals without the usual mess and responsibility of a pet. As they grow, they can share in the responsibility of filling the feeder. Their new outdoor pets will help teach them about nature and responsibility.

Even if you live someplace where pets aren't allowed, bird feeders are not usually restricted. Making this the ideal way to "keep" a pet.

Once the birds learn that the feeder is in place, there will be a flurry of activity right outside the window. Birds start feeding early in the morning and continue throughout the day.

Since birds are available year round, window birdfeeders are a good way to feed them during the winter months when their food is more scarce. You will not have as many, or as large a variety, but bird watching is an activity that can be enjoyed year round.

Why Do Gouldian Finches Make for Great Pets?   Minimizing Your Cockatoo's Dust - 5 Things You Can Do To Reduce It   The Cardinal