3 comments about Raptors in Captivity: Guidelines for Care and Management.

1. So glad I purchased this book. I needed a book for Raptor care and this is wonderful. This book has it all. Great find.



2. This book is Very helpfull to Raptor rehabbers & Falconers , it's made me think on higher levels in Raptor caretaking!Get this book! And also get Dr.Nick fox's book"Understanding The Bird Of Prey"



3. This is the ultimate professional reference on a very specific topic: the feeding, medical care, and housing of unreleasable North American raptors used in educational display and hand held programs. The information may be useful for those in other situations, but understand that the subject is not falconry, free-flight training, bird-watching, identification or rehabilitation.

2 comments about Long-Tailed Parakeets (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. Until I began reading about parakeets, I did not know LONG-TAILED PARAKEETS existed in the wild. I also thought all parakeets looked like my granddaughters budgies (blue or yellow with undulating stripes on their backs). The `Manual' on Long-Tailed Parakeets by Annette Wolter includes sections on everything from diet and health maintenance to 'how-to' brooding of parakeets. I especially like the many photos of the various wild parakeets from around the world (many taken in their native habitat) including a shot of a Quaker parrot like mine, which is apparently really a Quaker Parakeet. A number of the birds I think of as Conures are also parakeets.
   
   Wolter's book is an accessible easy-to-read volume with much of the material about companion bird keeping also found in other "bird" books (especially those by Vriends, who was her consulting editor) as well as relatively exclusive photos of various parakeets she describes as 'long-tailed'. The only thing I dislike about the photos in this book and many other bird books is that they often show birds biting on plants and almost always fail to identify the plant involved. As a gardener, I would like to know just exactly what that bird is chewing on so that I can grow it in my house (there are plenty of "do" or "don't" plant lists, but I know some of the plants shown in photos are not on those lists.



2. Not worth much more than that in my opinion. I feel it was a waste of my money actually. The book has some nice photo's but as far as information goes, I can learn more from 1 website than I did from this book..

5 comments about Parrot Breeder's Answer Book, The.

1. This did not meet hopes and expectations of having PRACTICAL GUIDANCE for hatching and hand-feeding parrots.
   
   Too many technical details, not enough practical application. Did not tell me anything new that I had not already found on the internet. They need a new edition of this book...



2. This is a very good book. Some authors fill their books with jargons and make the books difficut to read. But Soucek writes in plain language. She makes professional knowledge of parrot breeding understandable to a parrot lover like me. Photos are clear and illustrative. I considered this book is the best one among books of similar topics.



3. Well being a hobby breeder I must say that I had learned somewhat through the years. I walked into a book store and took my husband's advice for once, it turned out to be most rewarding. The Parrot Breeder's Answer Book is filled with so much information which answered alot of my questions concerning my current breeding. Most of all the book is fun to read and the amount of pictuers add alot as well, far from boring like other related books. I must say taking my husbands advise did work out this time since it never ends up good. I would recommend this book to my fellow bird breeder's especially my mother in law she can really use this book as a Christmas Gift.
   
   Yours Truly
   
   Martha Ferrer



4. Very informative, I've been a breeder for 11 years and learned a few things I didn't know!



5. THE PARROT BREEDER'S ANSWER BOOK was written by Gayle Soucek, who has been breeding and training parrots for a number of years and maintains a flock of 70-80 birds at her Chicago home. The fact that she has been able to raise baby parrots in such a cold hostile environment is amazing, especially when she informs the reader that at times she must transport the babies to work because they require "round-the-clock"feedings, just like human babies. Of course she is hand raising the birds she feeds herself. Parent raised babies are cared for all day by mom and dad, but hand raising birds is the key to training them to be friendly animal companions. Reading this book one wonders where Ms Soucek finds the time to care for birds as she works full time for a bird supply business, is involved with a number of bird organizations and writes articles and books. Soucek says "you will never travel again" if you get into this business, and she has a point, although she undoubtedly travels to various locations to speak and lecture.
   
   Soucek covers all the important aspects of baby-bird raising including parent nutrition and avian reproduction; preventive health care, including when to call your vet and when to "do it yourself"; baby nutrition including diets and hand feeding; housing, including cage requirements (do you know the difference between an incubator and a brooder?), air, water and light requirements; characteristics of birds reproductive systems including the difference between DNA sexing and the more invasive laproscopic sexing.
   
   As a full-fledged bird breeder, I found this book highly informative, and recommend it to anyone who thinks bird-breeding is a "hobby."

3 comments about The Proper Care of Cockatoos.

1. Older book however, has good basic information about Cockatoos. Not too much literature on these birds. This book has info all in one place.



2. Layout is good but too many photos and not enough text. This is a very basic guide and left me hungry for more which I am having trouble finding. Can you believe I have found more indepth information on Tarantulas than I can find for Cockatoos?



3. Gave a good background on cockatoos for the new owner

1 comments about Avian First Aid: For Your Companion Bird.

1. This booklet was a hit gift for the owner of cockatiels. It has more than the usual first aid treatment which bird owners should know anyway. A must for those who have birds for pets.

No comments about The Domestic Duck.

No comments about Amazon Parrots (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

5 comments about Australian Parakeet Handbook, The New (New Pet Handbooks).

1. I recently got my first Red Rump parakeet. Ordered this book to get good basic information on care and such. Felt it was a good basis all around book for all Australian parakeets. Went into many types of the Australian keets.



2. The only reason I gave this book 3 stars is because I simply looked through it briefly. I ordered it for a friend of mine who has a Pale-headed Rosella. I assume she finds it helpful. Sorry I couldn't be more specific!



3. THE NEW AUSTRALIAN PARAKEET HANDBOOK by Matthew Vriends, is a relatively technical volume covering "everything about purchase, housing, care, nutrition, behavior, breeding and disease' and a special chapter on `understanding the Australian Parakeet'
   
   Ever wonder where that blue or yellow budgie you own fits into the larger scheme of the Parakeet world? This book won't tell you. NAPH describes the whereabouts of selected parakeets native to Australia, not `Melopsittacus undulatus. You won't find `Budgies' in the index either, and the `Grass Parakeet is not the Budgie according to this book.
   
   Vriends book covers the so-called `broad tailed parakeets' ornamental birds you might encounter on a field trip and want to breed yourself, could you catch a pair. Vriends Includes descriptions of Nymphicus hollandicus known to most of us as the`Cockatiel' and he also writes about lesser known species such as Rosellas, Ring-necks and Red-rumped Parakeets, as well as the Yellow-vented Blue Bonnet parakeet which must be a sight to see in the wild. Vriends book is really a breeding and "birding" book comparable to those published by the Smithsonian on captive breeding programs for `threatened' birds held in captivity and/or finding them in their threatened habitats, and would make a good companion on your next trip through Australia to search the bush and back roads. In fact, one great shot shows an old guy with camper in the background, feeding a wild flock of Australian King Parrots with bright red heads (could this be the author?). The book includes many photos with poor captions and plenty of black and white drawings which I find offputting when trying to determine which species might be lurking on the fence post yonder.



4. This was one of the very few books that covered to any degree the rare species of bird that I recently purchased.

   I have also seen this title in a highly respected local bird farm library.

   Highly recommended for not extensive information on each breed, but short summaries on about every breed of Australian parakeet you need to know about.




5. Dr. Vriends is one of the formost authorities on birds, and this book is an excellent example of his knowledge in unusual species. It covers all Australian parakeets that are usually kept, and is currently the most comprehensive guide to these interesting beauties. Highly recommend this book for all who own or are considering owning Australian broad and long tailed parakeets.

No comments about Bird Watching.

4 comments about Rosie Red Bottom: A Comedian with Feathers.

1. very enjoyable to see such a lovely account of greys in picture. i could relate in every way from the decision to adopt these very sweet and intelligent birds right through to becoming an important part of the family for a very long time. readers will come away with some information that they may not have known.



2. Lucky Press, LLC chose to publish "Rosie Red Bottom" by Donna Mann because of the publisher's love of parrots and ever-growing realization of what happens to them (positively and negatively) when they are purchased or adopted into a human family. Parrots live long lives and require unique care that is not comparable to caring for a dog or cat. Any well-written, practical book on caring for a parrot can only add to the knowledge base and lessen the chance that an additional member of the beautiful avian world will end up in a rescue situation.
   
   Ms. Mann explains a lot of the practical situations related to parrot care. The challenges and blessings. The book is short, with many b/w photos. It would be appropriate for those under 18 whose families have a parrot, as well as adults considering adding a parrot to their home.
   
   This is not the only book the guardian of an African Grey should read, but it is a good addition to the list of anyone caring for these intelligent, long-lived creatures. That is why we chose to publish it.
   
   Also, it is intriguing to read about Rosie's life in Alaska, and a visit to the author's blog is worth the time, just to see the beautiful color photos of Rosie in her magnificent home state.



3. Parrots make fascinating pets in general, and African Grays are particularly beautiful, intelligent, and engaging parrots in particular. In "Rosie Red Bottom: A Comedian With Feathers", Alaskan author and parrot owner Donna Mann tells the story of how one very special parrot became an active and integral member of the Mann family. But "Rosie Red Bottom" is so much more than just an utterly charming and personal story of a family and their parrot companion, it's also 81-pages packed with solid and usable information relevant to the challenges and concerns of raising parrots. Readers will learn of the environmental stimuli and variables that affect parrots, along with the routines, physical set-up, diet, and training techniques appropriate and essential for healthy parrots. Of special note is an appendices with 150 references and web sites for further research and study on parrots and parrot care, including import/export regulations. Entertaining, informed and informative, "Rosie Red Bottom" is especially recommended to the attention of anyone contemplating having a pet parrot of their own!



4. Mann's book will likely inspire criticism among people who will regard certain "expert" books as canon for parronting. I do not agree with every choice Mann makes, but none of us would completely agree with how other parents choose to raise children, either. Points I liked about the book were how Mann did her research on her desired species, knew what she was looking for from her companion bird experience, and how she handled researching breeders to find her beloved Rosie Red Bottom. The book provides practical tips, challenges conventional wisdom at times, and gives the perspective of the everyday parront. While perhaps making too many comparisons between children and parrots, what is important is the attitude that the parrot is a member of the family, not just a decoration. Mann's family does not just enjoy Rosie; Mann's family includes Rosie. That attitude is needed from more pet owners.