Corporate Members Grasslands Exotic Finches Nekton USA, Clearwater, FL Hagen Inc., Rolf C., Canada Sun Seed Company, Bowling Green, OH UM Animal Farms, Pleasant Plain, OH Sunshine Bird Supplies, Miami, FL Luv Them Birds, Miami, FL White Bear Products, Indianapolis, IN Lyon Electric Company, Chula Vista, CA loogen, Inc., DaviS, CA

Rosie Commercial Members Aardvark Imports, Santa Monica, CA Highland House of Birds, St. Paul, MN About Birds, Hebron, IL JDP Enterprises Inc., Cooper Canyon, TX The Qualities of American Bird Center, Goulds, FL James Knapp Aviary, Taylor, MI American Bird Company, Jewels on Wings, Elko, NV Falls Church, VA JimaNI, Inc., Lee's Summit, MO a Handfed And Feathers Bird StUdio, Chicago, IL Jungle Ginny's, Andover, NJ Animal Crackers, Greendale, WI Kaytee Products, Inc., Chilton, WI Blue Rosella Animal Environments, Carlsbad, CA Kellogg, Inc., Milwaukee, WI Avian Kingdom Supply, Inc., Dallas, TX Kookaburra Pets, Carrolton, TX by Rich Long Avian & Animal Hospital, Largo, FL L'Avian Plus Pet Products, Stephen, MN Lakekand, Florida AVi-Sci, Inc., Okemos, WI LGL Animal Care Products, Inc., Bryan, TX Avitech, Inc., Frazier Park, CA Lima's Exotic Birds, Woodland Hills, CA Banish, Theresa, Pinole, CA Loriidae Production Network, Bay-Mor Pet Feeds, Cressona, PA Woodlake, CA Bell M.D., Inc., Walter W., Oklahoma Magnolia Bird Farm, Anaheim, CA hadhearda lot about "Rosie," so Iwas City, OK Max Sharpe, Plant City, FL I really looking forward to meeting Biomune Company, Lenexa, KS Mountain Lake Aviary, Brooksville, FL her. This was especially true, since she Bird Brains, South Africa K.K. Muser was ofa species totally unfamiliar to me. Bird Country, Lewistown, MT Nest Box Aviary, Miami, FL Having lived in a jungle area of Vene­ Bird Gardens, Naples, FL Ohio Association of Animal Owners, zuela for about to years, I had seen a Bird House, Grand Haven, MI Pleasant, OH wide variety of hook bills, softbills, and Birdland Breeding Farm, Elkhart, IN Parrot Jungle & Gardens, Miami, FL Bird-on-a-Stick, Merrillville, IN Parrotville Aviaries, St. Clair, MN myriad water birds. Blue and Gold Ma­ Bird's Haven, Inc., Elmhurst, IL Pet Metro, Irvine, CA caws, mini-macaws, Black-headed C & F Parrot Farm, Corpus Christi, TX Picture Perfect Parrot, Cleveland, OH Caiques, Red-billed Toucans, and sev­ C & J Parrot Pals, Phoenix, AZ Pleasant Valley Animal Hosp., eral Amazon species, were common Cedar Hill Aviary, Northbranch, NY Quakertown, PA sights along the river. Thus, I did not re­ Citrus Park Animal Hospital, Tampa, FL Premium Nutritional Products-ZuPreem, ally consider myself a complete novice Cock-a-Doodle Too, Richmond, VA Topeka,KS to the bird world. Little did I realize how Corners Ltd., Inc., Kalamazoo, MI Gwyn Poor much I hadto learn. Country Critters, Ltd., Medford, NY Precious Hearts Aviary Otherthan having hadpetcockatiels, Crofton Animal Hospital, Crofton, MD Rain Forest Exotics, Soquel, CA I knew very little about Australian birds. Dean Parrot Farm, Dripping Springs, TX Rain Forest Exotic~, Inc., Conroe, TX Our "Rosie," however, opened up a Di Vinci Ltd., Las Vegas, NV R.B. Exotic Birds, Thousand Oaks, CA whole newworldofbirdsfor ourfamily. ORB Bird Ranch, Deming, NM Santa Barbara Bird Farm, Granted, "Rosie," is not a very original Eden's Nestbox, Eden, MD Santa Barbara, CA name for a Pale-headed Blue Rosella Exotic Animal Rescue Service, Schults Bird Farm, Langhorne, PA (Mealy). Yet, it somehow fit her and we Carmel Valley, CA Seven Seas Aquarium & Pets, Auburn, WA neverthought more about it. Fancy Feathers, Sparta, NJ Swan Creek Supply-Grumbach Itall started in class. Iteachsecondary Fancy Publications, Mission Viejo, CA Incubators, Saginaw, MI students Bible and Spanish at a local pri­ "Farm, The" Medford, OR Swelland's Cage & Supply Co., vate school. During the course of the Feathering Heights, Scotts Valley, CA Ramona, CA year, students usually discover my love Featherwood Farms, Phoenix, AZ The Bird Shop, Sacramento, CA for birds, as I often use them to illustrate First Flight, Belleville, IL Tropical Paradise, Fountain Inn, SC various concepts. One afternoon, one F.M. Brown's Sons, Inc., Sinking Turner, Drs. Stanley & Kathleen, Spring, PA Hilton Head, SC of my students, told me about this "just Greenffeld Bird Farm, Solvang, CA Ulrich, Richard A., Clearwater, FL from the nest" Rosella that his father was Gulf Coast Exotic Birds, Panama City, FL Urban Bird, New York, NY handfeeding. His description was vivid. Henry's Aviary, Sequin, TX Waylyn Enterprises, Onyx, CA I was fascinated by his talk of iridescent blues, purples, and black of the wings,

afa WATCHBIRD 11 the cobalt blue breast, and the soft pale Hewasalso careful to remind me that took delight in ourattention. Itwas love yellow ofthe head. I was hooked! I just Rosellas were not normally kept as pets. time, cuddle time, and play time! Soon had to see this bird. He also mentioned He said that they only rarely talked and she was responding to us with peeps, that his dad was president of the local that "Rosie" would probablynever form coos, and whistles. Before she was bird club (Imperial Bird Club, Polk a strong bond with any ofus. As a suc­ weaned, she was wolf-whistling and County, Florida). cessful breeder of Mealy Rosellas (and saying "pretty bird!" If she had learned That eveninghis father, Richard Pear­ several other Australian species), he no more, we would have been happy. son, called me to inquire of my interest emphasized that I would have to enjoy Her desire for learning was phenome­ in the bird. After a lengthy and profitable "Rosie" for her beauty and song and to nal. Teaching times were short, usually discussion, it was decided that I could expectlittle else. about five minutes once or twice a day. pick up the two week old Rosella baby The next few weeks were great fun Since her cage was in our family room, the very next day. My wife, Carol, and I for my family. We actually looked for­ we all spent time casually communicat­ had handfed many birds through the ward to feeding her. I continued with ing with her. Soon she was saying, "I years, yet Richard was very careful to KayTee's Exact handfeeding formula, love you." When wanting a "Cheerio" or give me a refresher course and to teach which proved very successful. Hand seed treat, she would ask for a "cookie." me the nuances of hand feeding a feeding was a special time for all of us, She then masteredsaying"hi" bywaving Rosella. (They can be reluctant eaters.) and most of all for "Rosie." She clearly one foot. She even performed for total strangers. "Rosie" especially enjoyed "kissing" on cue. There has also been some limited success in putting pennies into a mini-bank! What we enjoy most ofall is herabil­ PENGUIN INTERNATIONAL ity to whistle long portions of songs, P.O. Box 012345, Miami, Florida 33101-2345 usually adding a few trills and note changesofherownfor variety. She is ca­ phone r305J 358-5513 fax r305J 381-6020 pableofwhistlingall of'~esus Loves Me" and '~oy to the World!" At times, she im­ Exotic birds from around the world provises tunes that she heard on televi­ for zoological collections sion. She still amazes uswith newthings from time to time. andprivate aviculturists For whatever reason, although I am the onewhodoes the formal teaching of New World Species our Specialty "Rosie," she is much more likely to per­ CaU us about consortium specials! form on cue for my wife. Clearly, she prefers hervoice to mine. Because I had been adequately pre­ pared by Rosie's breeder, we did not haveanyunrealistic expectationsofher. I am convinced, however, that the bond that so solidly developed was the result Birds live best on live foods. of handfeeding. It was not only the ac­ tual feeding itself, but also the quality play time which became a mutually Birds enjoy and benefit most from live food. beneficial experience for all involved. It erubco live foods provide large amounts of high-quality protein and other vital established the foundation for future nutrients, as well as important moisture. learning and communication. I do not attempt to explain how all ofthat learn­ Wax worms, mealworms, fly larvae and crickets - from erubco to your bird ing happens, norwhy it happens. I only with love. know that it does happen! erubco is ready to take your order. Please call us toll-free. My experience with a "non-talking, ------non-performing" species may not be Call or write for your free brochure: 800-222-3563 common. For many aviculturists it may You also can order by FAX: 513-874-5878, 24-hours a day, every day of the year. even be deemed undesirable. Certainly some species bytheir nature and/orrar­ Live Food ity, should never be kept as pets. Many GRUBCO GUARANTEES Mealworms· Wax Worms commonly kept aviary birds, however, 100% Customer Satisfaction. Fly Larvae • Crickets have individuals within the species Live Delivery. which would make excellent pets. We Overcounts. All Foods Available All Year. will never know unless we give them Independent Laboratory Nutritidnal Analysis the opportunity. Obviously, the odds (Upon Request). for success are muchgreaterifthe bird is KNOWN FOR QUALITY AND SERVICE. Box 15001 • Hamilton, OH 45015 U.S.A. handfed. I am grateful that one caring --- breedergave "ROSIE' a chance. ~ 12 January / February 1995