5 comments about Cockatoos Complete Owner's Manual.

1. This was just the book I was looking for. I am contemplating adding a Cockatoo to my family, (I already have two Macaws)....and this book was very informative and gave me alot to consider before adding one to my family.



2. I have a goffin cockatoo and I thought this book was great. Very easy to read, good advise, worth the money.



3. This is a great book if you need a quick summary and synopsis about cockatoo ownership. In my case it helped me to see that while I am an experienced bird owner, a cockatoo is not an appropriate pet for me at this time in my life.



4. A great introduction to cockatoos and how to care for them, and it's honest about the challenges as well as the benefits of sharing your life with one of these guys. It has up-to-date information on how to house them, feed them, and keep them busy, and a very helpful section of brief descriptions of each spieces, which lets you compare the sizes, care, and temperaments--read before you choose a 'too! There's lots more to know, but this is a good place to start.



5. This book although fairly short is very informative. Weither your a first time cockatoo owner or have owned them for years this book is for everyone. It goes into detail of complete care for these birds, and mainly anything you need to know about them is there. I enjoyed it, and think any bird lover and cockatoo owner would as well.

5 comments about Good Bird! A Guide to Solving Behavioral Problems in Companion Parrots.

1. This book, along with Ms. Heidenreich's other book, The Parrot Problem Solver, are the best books I've come across dealing with companion parrots. If you understood why your bird is behaving as it does, you can deal with it more effectively. Kindness and reward go far with a companion bird (and, even though Ms. Heidenreich didn't mention it, 11-12 hours of covered cage/darkness a day does, too) than all the reprimanding in the world (which a parrot does not understand). A parrot, much like a cat, is not going to do anything he doesn't want to do, but unlike a cat, you can convince a parrot to want what you want, too. Tell him he's a good bird when he's quiet. Give him a reward when he says something nice. Understand you are his teacher, not his mate and not his slave. Punish him by turning your back, reward him by giving attention and praise. Parrots are a lot like toddlers - they need to be constantly taught how to be good and their companions need to be able to recognize the behaviors (sometimes extremely hard to see) that signal overexcitement, frustration and anger. Excellent book I'd recommend to any bird "owner."



2. Although the arrival/condition of the book was perfect, the content was very limited. I learned nothing new and feel I wasted my money. My parrot is still obnoxious. I had so hoped I would learn techniques to change his behavior.



3. To preface, I'm a bit biased as I am seemingly more in-tune with my birds than most folks are with theirs. Most birds seem to like me, and the behavior solutions in this book are mostly second nature to me. A good book for the flustered who need reassurance to follow the right path.



4. This is a good book for advanced bird owners. Its not really clear enough alot of the time to understand from a beginners perspective. I would highly recommend this book to someone who already has some knowledge of companion birds.



5. A must read for all parrot owners. The advice in this book works. Barbara Heidenreich is one of the very best behavioral consultants in the world. Get this book so you can have the best relationship possible with your companion parrot.Even if you think the relationship is good now, it will become better after you read the book.

5 comments about Clicker Training for Birds (Getting Started).

1. After nearly 14 years with my 14-year-old sun conure, I feel I recognize good behavioral advice. I have always disliked advice that relies on dominance, punishment, or keeping a bird low (they don't have a "top bird" instinct, but feel safer up high). This book tells you how to communicate and develop a trusting relationship with your bird, and that is a priceless thing.
   
   I would have liked a few more specific trick ideas, but I bought an additional clicker training book and registered with Melinda's online forum. So far my bird seems to enjoy the training time, even though I have a lot of learning to do!



2. There is not a better resource available for training companion parrots. This book is well-written, insightful, and informative. Parrots are intelligent and complex creatures. They learn so much from us, both good and bad. It is so easy to inadvertently teach a parrot unacceptable behaviors and they respond poorly to "traditional" training techniques. When these techniques don't work, the birds often find themselves neglected or re-homed. This book helps to teach the trainers to understand their birds and begin building a lasting companion relationship based on trust and positive reinforcement.



3. Melinda's book easily explains the theory behind clicker training and the how to in easy steps. Her book also covers how to use it when dealing with specific problems such as having a parrot stay on his cage. Our past history of training and dealing with animals was one of dominance and control. A realtionship built on that is one of fear and distrust. Training has come so far since then. Clicker training comes from operant conditioning. It is a behavioral science which gives the bird choices. The training uses positive behavioral strategies. Training a parrot this way to do tricks forms the basis for an enriching relationship for both the owner and parrot. Melinda also co-owns a great Yahoo group called Bird Click. It has wonderful files, members from all over the world and a great supportive group. I highly suggest both this wonderful book and the list for those who like the computer!
   Thank you Melinda for an outstanding contribution to the field...which makes our parrot's life and ours more rewarding!



4. I found this book to be a wonderful resource for people who want to clicker train their birds. It's more than a recipe book -- it's a behavior problem-solver. It goes into great detail to teach not only what to do, but why, so in the end you'll have the tools you need to continue past the specific behaviors listed in the book. I must admit -- I'm a bit flummoxed by the earlier review who didn't like that this book delves into theory and bird behavior and is more than a recipe book. I think that's what makes this such an awesome resource. People who have less-than-perfect birds now have a resource that will help them understand why their bird have the problems they do and then help them find solutions that are kind, fun, and incredibly reliable.



5. When you own an unruly bird, you want and need help quickly. If you want a book to effeciently teach you how to click train your bird, look elsewhere.
   If you want a book that goes in extreme depth into bird behaviorism, this is your mecca.
   There are 14 chapters and 156 pages. It doesn't even get to practical use of the clicker until the 8th chapter at page 77. I found myself thumbing thru it to find the "meat" of the book. A lot of fluff preceeds the actual useage of the clicker technique.
   This book will get the job done, but it is much like owning a car. (I'm sure if they read this, they will dissect my analogy of a DRIVING a car to training a bird) Unless you are a mechanic, you simply want to drive the car, not know exactly and precisely how spark plugs fire in synch and the timing chain turns, etc. It is extremely indepth into bird and human behaviorism and if you can stand to wade thru that, you can get info to help you teach a bird to simply step up and do more. But, unless you are a professional bird trainer, it is not always necessary to understand why of everything you do with your pet. Not to this degree, anyway.
   In addition, they direct you to a Yahoo group. Overall, except for Wendy Jefferies, http://www.wendyjef fries.com this group is about as helpful as the book. There is little one on one help as they have this collection of "files" they direct you to if you have a question. Instead, they spend time ananlyzing participant's motives and it is yet another lecture in behaviorism. Nothing much about training your bird, but more of a discussions about WHY you want to train your bird. After my first post there, they actually made a written test for me and I'll put it here because it sums up the book's motive:
   "Now, let's test you. :) Give me two examples of conditioned reinforcers and two examples of conditioned punishers we see commonly in the real world." huh? I want the bird to step on a perch..please tell me how.
   I am not training her to perform in Vegas or on Youtube.
   It's just another chat room with people examining your reason to want the bird to step up rather than helping you attain that goal.
   
   The book and forum, in combo, could help you if you are willing to be extremely patient and understanding with them....while you are being patient and understanding with your untrained bird. The two together are too frustrating.
   You need realistic evalution of your goals, step one, step two to get there. You need to be patient but also efficient in the process and not waste time in needless analytical endeavours.
   If you simply want to learn how to enjoy your pet...this is not the place.
   If you want to know WHY you want to enjoy it, then here is your bird behavioral buffet.

5 comments about African Grey Parrot Handbook, The (Barron's Pet Handbooks).

1. The book is good. It has detailed information as well as stories that encourage the reader and Grey owner to 'do whats right' with their grey. I did not like how you had to jump back and forth through the book to cover one topic. If you can deal with jumping pages and chapters (at times) then no worries. This book is very thorough and will help both the novice and give great reminders for the breeder.



2. Although this book has the potential to be useful, it is let down by a number of faults. Firstly, the authors do not explain a number of key terms that they use frequently throughout the books - for example, "Step Ups". The book never describes how exactly to perform this exercise with your bird, despite referencing it frequently as important in its own right, and as a solution to behavioral problems.
   
   Linked to this problem, the glossary is nigh on appalling, with such definitions given as (using step-ups as an example again): "Step-up: practice of giving the step-up command with the expectation that the bird will perform the behavior." This tells you nothing of what step-ups actually are!
   
   Other problems include references in the text to other sections which don't exist, or references to items, on the same page, which don't appear at all on the page, or on any adjourning pages.
   
   I also found the authors' style of writing annoying at best, jumping frequently from overly colloquial to overly "scientistic". I use scientistic in the context that it seems the author is attempting to sound scientific, without actually pulling it off - instead, it comes off as cumbersome and pretentious.
   
   I don't have another book to recommend as an alternative, but if you are considering buying this book, please consider these faults before you buy and are possibly disappointed!



3. Together with the other parrot-thematic books from the same author it is the hardware of information I have used. I have an african grey for three years now and at the beginning I made a search for every available information about the topic.
   
   So it happens that this books I liked most as they are easy to understand, easy to read and enjoyable illustrated.
   
   African Grey is a parrot which needs time and you have to keep in mind that he may outlive you by years. So what you teach him now will be remembered in 60years when your children will keep him a company.
   It is a responsibility but a nice one:)
   
   Yes, I can recommend to you.



4. Has general good informations, but not sure about some of the writes point of view...



5. This book is great! It deals with ALL aspects of the African Grey - from physical care, to emotional care to socializing with other birds and humans. Through the book I picked up valuable hints and tips which has enabled me to ensure that my Grey is happy, content and playful. I can greatly recommend this book to all. This book will enrich both the novice Grey owner (who still thinks that he is the boss) as well as the seasoned 'pet' of a Grey!

5 comments about Pigeons (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. I bought this book, and it's sister book Doves, the day after I was given an orphan day-old pigeon chick to raise way back in 1997. Normaly I deal with domestic birds (bantams, budgies, ect.) so when my Pidgie came to me, I knew the basics, but I also knew I didn't know enough about pigeons to raise him on my own. These 2 books were all I needed, they provide all the info needed to raise happy healthy pigeons and doves from chick to adult. I am so glad these 2 German classics had been translated and reprinted into English, I don't know what I would have done without them.
   
   ~~EK



2. this is a veryhelpful book



3. If you're thinking about getting pigeons, or if you have a child interested in them then this book is fine. If you want more detail on the different breeds, diseases, reproductive system/cycle, or behavior then this book isn't for you. It's not an expensive book and makes for a nice little read, but if you're hardcore pigeon folk then you'll come away from this book disappointed.



4. IT TELLS OF DIFFERANT TYPES OF PIGEONS. HOW TO HOUSE AND FEED THEM.IT TELLS OF THE DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT.



5. This book has everything one could ask for. Breeding section, Resting Section and Molting Section. You really can just follow the recommendations and you won't go wrong.

5 comments about The Second-Hand Parrot.

1. I run a second hand parrot rescue and I must say this book is really on the ball. So many times people don't really know WHY is my bird acting like that, Does this bird hate me etc. This book lends knowledge to the behavior and how to handle a rehomed bird. I recommend this book to anyone considering a pet bird, especially a rehomed one.



2. This was a very helpful book for my husband and me as we had just adopted a second-hand parrot and we had not idea what we were doing. This book was recommended by our Veterinarian and we really rely on it. Thank you so much for all the info.



3. If you're adopting an older parrot, much of the information in breed specific manuals will not be relevant for you, since it pertains to hand fed babies. This book contains information that is specific to parrots that have lost their home for one reason or another. Much of the information is recycled from Mattie Sue's previous books on parrot behavior, so if you've read them and commited them to memory, you might not need to add this one. If, however, you are not an expert on parrots, but simply want to open your heart and home to one of these wonderful creatures, this book will help make the transition smoother for both of you. It will also alert you to potential problems. There is also new information about integrating a new parrot into an existing flock. Personally, I think this book should go home with every bird adopted from a rescue organization.



4. In THE SECOND-HAND PARROT, Mattie Sue Athan makes a good case for taking on a previously owned parrot as a feathered adoptee. While it is true some adoptees are less than civil, Athan has shown through her own experiences that there may be a diamond in the rough underneath those bristling feathers. (Mattie Sue Athan's experiences with her two adopted Grey Parrots, Bongo I and Bongo II are documented on her web site).
   
   Many pet birds are passed on by owners who are dead, too old, too sick, or move to less accommodating quarters. Many of these older birds need only a short period of getting to know you and TLC to become your best buddy. I've become a believer. Having adopted two Cockatiels two years ago who had terrorized everyone at the animal shelter and had them become two big sweeties I know what a little TLC can do. The sweetest bird I own, however, is a "hand-me-down Conure" with two previous owners. My Conure is also the biggest bird I own and the least nippy. Every morning he says "Give me a kiss" which I happily do with a "Thank-you" as my reward. "Used" birds frequently can talk and have learned cute tricks.
   
   Athan offers all sorts of tips on how to get your birds to comply with various challenges you might offer such as bathing, destroying toys instead of your books, and kissing not nipping when you offer your cheek or stick your hand in their cage. In her section on "The Corrective Environment" she shows how many of the tics the new-old bird learned were brought on by cramped, boring, and/or dirty quarters. It is amazing what a little space and a new toy will do to improve an outlook.



5. Please don't let the title convince you this book is only for people with "re-homed" parrots! It also offers valuable information for AVOIDING losing your companion, and what to do if you find a lost companion parrot. Parrots are lost not just to "fly-aways", but to changing life circumstances in their human flock. This book provides practical tips to help keep the parrot in its home even during times of shifting family responsibilities. Then, of course, it also provides important advice for building trust in the "re-homed" parrot. I HAVE HAD A HARD TIME TRACKING THIS BOOK DOWN IN BOOKSTORES, so I am pleased to find it readily available on Amazon.

5 comments about The Healthy Bird Cookbook: A Lifesaving Nutritional Guide and Recipe Collection.

1. This book taught me a lot about bird nutrition. I own three different parrots with three different nutritional needs and this book described each and helped me pick those recipes that will take care of them. I learned which fruits and veggies have the proper vitamins needed for each.
   
   I have tried several recipes at the time of this review and they did not fail to please at least one of my birds. I plan on trying many more and then I plan on foing back and altering some of the others to please the tastes of my clan.
   
   This book is a must if you want your bird to have a great and healthy life.



2. We raise and sell parrots and every baby goes home with this book. I think it is a wonderful book and very educational with lots of great recipes. I have had the opportunity to meet Robin and she is a great lady that has done a wonderful thing with this book! Thanks Robin!!! From the birdies at Jolley Feathers.



3. My Senegal has enjoyed the foods made from this book. I feel I'm finally giving him the nutrition he needs to stay healthy.
   We've been having problems with feather picking and when we ruled out exercise, toys, humidity and attention deficits one of the last things we could attribute it to was diet. Since I've started to make him varied foods from this book I've noticed a distinct change in his attitude and energy level...he just seems happier. Guess I would be too if I didn't have to eat the same thing everyday.
   
   Anyway, thanks to the author for thinking these recipes up.



4. I thought this was going to be a good recipe book but it is actually one of the best recipe books I have ever owned. It is a must have for anyone that owns birds and would like to provide them with a healthy varied diet.
   I am extremely happy with this book. I highly recommend it.



5. EASY RECEPIES .... GREAT IDEAS !! YOUR BIRDS WILL THANK YOU !!

3 comments about A New Owner's Guide to African Grey Parrots (New Owners Guide).

1. This book is one of the best Grey books I have read. Ms. Moustaki does well in being simple, frank, yet detailed enough to guide the reader in how to care properly for an African Grey. Specifics would have been good in the housing your african grey chapter, but she painted a broad enough stroke and gave enough guidelines to guide the owner in their decision. This is a basic book, and meant for new-owners. It fits its purpose well!



2. This book has great information especially for the new bird owner. I would highly recommend reading it to anyone who is even just thinking of getting an African Grey! It gives alot of insight into things a first time bird owner might not think about ahead of time.



3. This book tell us all necessary information about what we want to know about african grey parrots

5 comments about The Alex Studies: Cognitive and Communicative Abilities of Grey Parrots.

1. This is a great book about how Alex came to be and how he became so smart. Dr Irene Pepperberg chose Alex as a young parrot and began teaching him language and to associate words with objects. Alex became very smart and could hold a pretty decent conversation. This book shows just how intelligent parrots are and they are more than just pets, they are our lifelong companions. The Alex Studies is an excellent read, I reccomend this book highly.



2. What can a bird learn? Irene Pepperberg set out to find out. As with children, the best way to assess what has been learnt is to ask. Primarily for that reason, she chose birds capable of forming human words. An African Grey parrot, who she dubbed Alex [Avian Learning EXperiment], became the subject of her investigations. Earlier efforts in laboratories were unsatisfactory. Why should Mynahs, reputedly excellent mimics, fail to learn speech in laboratory conditions? When in homes with several people providing input, they chatter endlessly, almost to distraction. The solution, Pepperberg decided, was the intense social environment. To that end, she developed a training method that produced astonishing results.
   
   This book thoroughly documents the author's methods and results, providing a fascinating account of the cognitive abilities of at least one psittacine species, the Grey Parrot. Incorporating a technique she calls M/R - for Model/Rival, Pepperberg would "teach" an assistant what she wished Alex to learn. The bird observed this, then was encouraged to emulate the learning experience. This meant the bird had to understand what was to be learned and use its innate abilities to achieve it. Speech was the first lessons, but things moved well beyond simple words quickly. Shapes, colours and materials were the next level, with Alex discriminating among them both singly and in groupings. The object was to understand what Alex could comprehend and act on. Alex also learned to differentiate - "larger", or "different" or, most significantly for a bird - "abscence". He could note when something was missing, naming the missing object. The method resulted in Alex's expressing his own needs and wants, even ending a training session by declaring he wished to quit.
   
   Pepperberg's research findings are in direct contradiction to past scientific efforts. The book is therefore richly detailed with the methods used and was information was obtained. There are photographs of test object layouts, even stills from X-ray videos of how Alex forms his speech. She is clearly challenging the received wisdom of established opinion. She's careful to avoid terms like "consciousness" or even "intelligence", although the latter comes in for some discussion late in the book. She finds only one example of Alex's communication she thinks can be deemed "creative". Much more important, in her view, is that we need to understand previously under-evaluated cognitive capabilities in parrots. They are a long-lived and social species, conditions which lead to interaction among individuals and reinforced learning. Social interaction, combined with carefully devised teaching methods are essential to proper learning, whether with children, other primates or psittacines. The capacity is there, and we need to recognise it. The Alex studies clearly demonstrate that at least these psittacines are capable of far more than the simply mimicry we've long attributed to them. Human primacy in learning, once considered fundamental to our place in Nature, is clearly at an end.
   
   Pepperberg's narrative is thoroughly detailed and supported by an equally thorough bibliography. The reading may be a bit of a slog for the novice reader. The citation method breaks up sentences, a common technique with ethography studies, but cumbersome to cope with. The method is in line with her concern for academic acceptance. She excuses the approach as not desiring "to overwhelm readers with facts and figures" [although there are still plenty of those] but to encourage an enlarged sensitivity to the abilities of non-human species. She has certainly accomplished that task, and admirably. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]



3. The importance of Dr. Irene Pepperberg's work is much wider reaching than just talking parrots. This book chronicles the amazing studies she has done with Alex, her African Grey parrot in cognition and language acquistion. Discovering that Grey parrots have such abilities should make the threat to their habitat and the horror of illegal smuggling of these intelligent birds much more pressing and urgent to the public. That Dr. Pepperberg's techniques can also be applied to assisting children with learning difficulties adds to the benefits of these unique and startling discoveries. If you are interested in animal intelligence, especially if you have a Grey at home, you will be amazed by this book.



4. The book was in great condition and it arrived promptly. The price was also great- I've seen it for more than twice as much more elsewhere. Thanks for the pleasant transaction!



5. The work that Irene Pepperberg and Alex have done is incredible, and this book would be fascinating if the "Notes" were included in the text and the references were footnoted at the end of the book or at the bottom of the page. While the use of APA style substantiates the credibiltiy of her research and increases the book's value as an intellectual property, it is difficult to find a complete sentence without multiple references cited in parentheses scattered throughout. This makes the normal "flow" of reading almost impossible, and unnecessarily compromises both enjoyment and ease of comprehension. Definitely read this book if you're interested, but keep the aspirin close for the headache you're bound to get while trying to sort out the legitimate text from the references.

5 comments about Parakeet Handbook, The (Barron's Pet Handbooks).

1. book is very informant with plenty of pictures. Had information in it that other parakeet books I've read did not have in them. Very helpful. Great book to have if you have parakeets or thinking of getting one.



2. I'm new to parakeets and have been relying on the expertise of others in books. This book is one of the better ones. It's written by experienced bird handlers who know of what they write. The information here is easy to access and written in a clear, understandable syle.



3. As far as I am concerned, when it comes to books on pet birds, Barron's books are the best. BUDGERIGARS by Immanuel Birmelin (translated by Matthew Vriends) falls into this category, although it is somewhat condensed compared with a few other books on the market. However, Birmelin covers all the important issues, such as caging, food, and other aspects of maintenance that you need to know to get started taking care of a pet Budgie.
   
   My favorite section is about "playing" with your pet Budgie. Budgies are intelligent little parrots and you can have hours of fun if you choose to by providing them with sources of amusement. Birmelin lists `The 10 Most Popular Games' you can play with your Budgie and "How-To: Fun and Games." Did you know you could play card games with Budgies?
   
   Although we never want to think about the possibility, sometimes a Budgie gets sick. Birmelin includes a section "If Your Bird Gets Sick" that gives you some ideas of what you can do besides get upset. In this section he includes a `Checklist - Preventing Illness' which is helpful especially if this is your first bird. Keeping his cage clean is a good thing to do, and spending time with him every day will keep him happy. A happy Budgie is a healthy Budgie.



4. I recently acquired 2 gregarious parakeets (Budgies, more specifically) and have found this book to be a wonderful resource regarding the proper care of my new friends. It also offers a wealth of information about behavior (why they do some of the crazy things they do) and health propblems to be on the lookout for.

   I feel like a much better prepared bird owner having read this book, it was a great place to start.




5. Very informative book. I decided to buy 2 birds after reading it! The author is extremely thorough in guiding the reader through all aspects of owning and caring for parakeets. She does, however, tend to be very open with her opinion on having a minimum of 2 birds, but not pushy about it either. I compared this book with several others from the library, and this is the most concise and easy to follow.