5 comments about The Eclectus: A Complete Guide.

1. I found this book to be a great overview that saw me through every stage of my Eclectus flock -- from acquisition and housing to breeding. I've appended the summary on the back cover:

   Quote

   Roger Sweeney has spent several years at various zoological and bird gardens in the U nited Kingdom. In 1989 he became Livestock Manager at "Birdworld", the United Kingdom's largest bird gardens. While at Birdworld success was achieved with a wide diversity of species, including Parrots, Softbills, Pheasants, Ratites, Penguins, Spoonbills, Wading birds and Birds of Prey.

   The Eclectus Parrot has been bred at Birdworld consistently over the last 10 years and considerable work has been carried out into its incubation and neo-natal care.

   In 1993 Roger became a full time consultant at "Birds International", one of the world's largest breeding and research centers located in the Philippines. This facility houses what is surely the world's largest collection of captive Eclectus Parrots!

   While at "Birds International" Roger was also responsible for the management of some of the world's rarest birds including the Spix Macaw, Mount Apo Lorikeet, Sumba Hornbill and Palm Cockatoo.

   As of mid 1994 Riger has been retained as a consultant to "Loro Parque".

   Unquote




2. If you are looking for a book on keeping Eclectus parrots as pets, you will probably find this book disappointing, although it does contain limited information on the subject. (Unfortunately, no book has been written that includes extensive information on Eclectus as pets.) However if you are interested in the natural history of Eclectus parrots or in breeding Eclectus, this book should be part of your library. The chapter on natural and avicultural history is especially strong and brings some sense to the confusing topic of Eclectus subspecies.



3. The book provides some good and useful information about Eclectus Parrots but not enough to justify the price of the book. It is not a big book at all. The book does not go into much detail about things. For example, the author mentions the importance of having the right size and type of perch but never really says what that is specifically. How big around should the perch be? He doesn't say. If money is no big deal then this is a good book to add to your collection of books about Eclectus parrots.

   If you are interested in becoming an Eclectus breeder this book might be worth while. Breeding seems to be the main focus of the book.

   For dealing with parrot training and parrot problems and such I recommend "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot" by Mattie Sue Athan. There are some things I don't agree with in the book like her recommendation not to carry your bird around on your shoulder but there is a lot of good stuff in the book.




4. I bought this book with the expectations of helping me prepare to train a baby eclectus, and was very disappointed. This book covered more information about the history and the anatomy of this parrot, rather than providing any helpful information for an owner to help understand and deal with the behavior and training of this bird. I have purchased other parrot training books that may not apply specifically to the eclecuts, but it does cover more useful information. The book does have good pictures if that is what you are looking for.



5. THis book is more useful for its' pictures than it is for the information on dealing with an electus parrot. It does not go into detail about any of the topics that it should cover. It gives you more information on the history and anatomy of the parrot, than it does on this parrot's behavior. Nor does the book provide any training techniques or answers to behavior problems. I think you would be better off buying a general parrot training and behavior book, than buying this guide to the eclectus.

3 comments about Parrots: Hand Feeding and Nursery Management.

1. If you handfeed birds or plan to this is a must have book. It's a great reference not only for general information on how to feed, but also the problems that can occur while doing so. It also details proper handling and sanitation procedures to keep disease from spreading within a flock. Small breeders may not be able to emulate all the procedures outlined in the book. Regardless, it is an excellent source of information on how an ideal facility should operate (something any size aviary should know).
   
   For breeders who incubate their own eggs I suggest Parrot Incubation Procedures by Rick Jordan as well.



2. This is a must have book for anyone new to breeding, and a great reference book for experienced breeders. Here are the chapter headings:
   
   1: Managing the Nursery
   2: Maintenance of Nestlings (Brooding)
   3: Formulas
   4: Feeding Instruments and Methods
   5: Feeding
   6: Weight Monitoring
   7: Non-Dietary Factors That Control Weight Gain
   8: Potential Health Problems in the Nursery
   9: Non-Pathogenic Death
   10: Medical Procedures for the Aviculturist
   11: Weaning
   
   Each chapter is packed with critical information and well documented with excellent photographs from experienced aviculturists Voren and Jordan.



3. This book is valuable to not only new breeders, but also to experienced breeders. Facts are explained. This book also encourages you to make changes to your existing set-up, supported by facts, rather than to let you question your own dicisions.

3 comments about Owls: Whoo Are They?.

1. This is a great book to introduce children to these wonderful crestures. The illustrations are beautiful and very, very detailed. The text is very informal, interesting and readable. I like using this one in introduction lectures. The book leaves plenty of room for open discussion and truely gives the children incentive to learn more. As a matter of fact. this is not a bad book to introduce adults to owls along with the young one. Highly recommend this one.



2. Owls: Whoo are they? is a very good introductory book for young children on the fascinating subject of owls. The book covers all aspects of owl behaviour and discusses its various unique characteristics. It also touches on the owl in mythology and its conservation. The text is well written and introduces a number of key terms. In terms of the illustrations, I hate to say it, but I wasn't overly impressed. Overall, though, I did like this book.



3. I am a spotted owl biologist, and I just ran into this book at a gift shop. I bought one for myself, my nephew, my friends children,. . .etc. It is really great, not only for kids. It doesn't dumb down the science (using crepuscular and other words, with a glossary in back), and the pictures are well done.

   It's a wonderful book!

1 comments about Training Birds of Prey.

1. Much the same as her previous " Falconry Care, Captive breeding and Conservation" - but was well worth doing as is underlines serious points and issues. On the whole a very good book with excellent information and photography. The author does as with the last book seem to have a very high opinion of herself and holds herself up as THE FALCONER in Britain today.

   I was concerned that the author also seems to put the notion across that her Falconry Centre is the only good one in the country and that everyone else is just either playing at it or only in it to make money - as if she isn't what with at least two books, courses, displays etc... I do believe that she holds the welfare of the birds as her highest priority, but this can only be maintained with adequate finance as is the situation with everyone else.

   Note : Cover picture - Buzzard only held by one Jess 2nd page in - one of the jesses is not secured properly to the swivel, preventing the swivel from working properly.. Pages 78,79 and 81, these are surely unhelpful pictures to put on public view - a falcon shying away and hanging from the fist.The anti-hunting lobby would love this.

3 comments about Avian Medicine.

1. I am a small animal veterinarian and I have an interest in avian medicine and surgery. I have been looking for a good avian medicine book for a while. I saw this one and took a gamble based on the other reviews and some vague reference to this author from my university years. I am happy to report it was well worth it! I was really impressed with all the information especially the detailed drug formula at the back. This author must have a preference for raptors but it still contains a reasonable amount of general bird information as well. It also has detailed clinical pathology for a number of species of bird at the back of the book - i was not expecting that and that was really good. It is a book well worth buying.



2. I have been a rehabilitator of raptors for 13 years, Avian Medicine is absolutely the best one single source of information I have ever seen. This book covers almost anything a rehabilitator would need to know for the birds in their care. The color photographs give great examples of almost any avian ailment you will encounter. Many times rehabilitators will have a bird with a problem that is not something you see every day. Avian Medicine by Jaimie Samour makes it much easier to identify specific ailments. This book also covers drug dosages, blood chemistry, commonly used drugs and everything else from incubation techniques to imping feathers. This is a must have for veternarians that are not avian specilists and avian specilists alike. My vet once told me that birds are an elective in vet school and she learned all she knows because of her personal interest in raptors. Without her personal interest she would not have acquired the basic skills to care for these magnificent birds. Avian Medicine will definitely be an asset to her and anyone else with a passion for birds and their well being. I will recommend this book to all of my rehabilitator friends across the country and plan to buy another copy for my vet as a Thank You for the volunteer service she has provided to the thousands of raptors that have come in to our facility.

   Eileen Wicker Executive Director Raptor Rehabilitation of KY, Inc. Louisville, KY (502) 491-1939 raptors@aye.net

   I know of two people that have already bought this book from you in the last two days, just on my recommendations. Sigrid Noll Ueblacker, Bird of Prey Foundation, Colorado and Christine Macck Alaska Raptor Rehab. If I am awarded the $50. certificate I will use it towards 2 more copies of the same book for both of my vets.




3. This was the first book that I had seen for Avian Medicine that was in color! That was what initially attracted me to this book. I also like the many tables that are spread throughout the book that organize diseases, drugs, etc... I also think that the book is pretty complete in the information that it covers. The only problem I see with the book is that it seems a bit 'regional' as far as the information about specific birds. I had hoped that sort of information would be more diverse instead of just a few species. Other than that I thought it was very good and a nice reference manual to have in your avian medicine library.

No comments about Canaries As a New Pet (As a New Pet Series).

1 comments about Taming and Training Amazon Parrots.

1. I didn't rate this well because; Ifelt it should be more directly relating to it's title. It had a bunch of nice pictures (which could of had species info), but really didn't talk as much of training or taming as it cuold have. Very brief on this info for being titled such.

No comments about Exhibition Poultry Keeping.

3 comments about The Parrot Companion: Caring for Parrots, Macaws, Budgies, Cockatiels and More.

1. This was the first book I had bought on this subject and it was to help me make a decision on what type of bird I was going to get as a pet/companion (I had taken expert advice from a well established aviary and had whittled it down to either a Senegal or an Amazon). Whilst I found this book had a few good tips in various chapters the overall impression I was left with was very negative. I found the author sort of negative towards nearly every breed of bird featured (negative towards keeping one as a companion bird). I completely appreciate that prospective buyers need to understand the huge amount of time, patience and commitment needed to keep both bird & owner happy and I understand that was likely the author's goal but I felt that the book was nearly written to turn people off the idea of getting a bird. Fortunately it has not turned me off and I will still refer to the book for some of the advice on training/caging, etc which I do think will be useful to me.



2. Responsible ownership of parrots means understanding thoroughly how to keep the bird happy and healthy - and THE PARROT COMPANION: CARING FOR PARROTS, MACAWS, BUDGIES, COCKATIELS AND MORE is the item of choice for so doing. Charts offer insights into differences between species so owners can tailor parrot choice and care, while safety tips for parrot and keeper, common behavior and physiological problems, step-by-step training, and more make for a pet owner's reference certain to receive popular attention in any lending library setting.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. This has to be one of my favourites in my collection of parrot books.
   Not only is the book up to date, informative and forward thinking, it is full of information on many species it has accompanying stunning colour photo's throughout and beautiful photo's relevant to the information provided.
   For people yet to choose their companion and for those of us who already have our companions the book is a beautiful asset to your library!
   Jan

1 comments about The Guide to Owning a Lovebird (Guide to Owning).

1. Informative, great pictures. Do the lovebird a favor... Read before buying the lovebird.