They’re beautiful, social and smart. And some even talk! It’s little wonder that pet birds are growing in popularity.
According to the American Pet Products Association, bird guardianship has been on the rise since 2010. Birds can now be found in more than 5% of homes, making them the nation’s fourth most popular pet after cats, dogs and fish.
Carina DeVera, who adopted her bird, says, “My parrotlet, June, is endlessly curious and fearless, always exploring her world with so much confidence. She amazes me every day with her big personality in such a tiny body.”
Sadly, many pet birds wind up homeless when their guardians no longer want them or are unable to care for them properly.
For more than a decade, animal shelters and bird rescue organizations across the country have recognized January as Adopt a Rescued Bird Month in an effort to find homes for the thousands of pet birds that are abandoned each year.
Birds can make wonderful pets for those who take the time to learn what bird care entails. According to Petfinder:
• Birds are active and inquisitive, and must be provided with ample room to move about and play. An indoor or sheltered outdoor aviary or a flight-safe room — windows covered, no cats or dogs, no ceiling fans, etc. — that will allow the bird to fly is good for exercise. If provided with ample space, toys and climbing structures, birds with clipped wings can get exercise by climbing, swinging and flapping.
• Light exposure and sleep are important. Birds need at least four hours of exposure to UVA and UVB rays from sunlight or full-spectrum lighting to provide them with vitamin D, which promotes vitamin A absorption, critical for upper respiratory health. Birds must have a minimum of 10 hours of sleep each night.
• No matter the species, birds need a well-constructed cage that’s large enough for them to stretch their wings and fly short distances. Time spent outside of the cage in a safe, enclosed room is essential for most birds, while smaller species, like finches and canaries, should have proper environmental stimulation in their cages.
• Diet should consist of high-quality, organic pellets and fresh vegetables and fruits. Though tame, some birds, such as parrots, still display wild behaviors like screaming and pulling out feathers, behaviors that can catch unsuspecting bird guardians by surprise.
When most people think of pet birds, they imagine parrots or budgies, but domestic pigeons and doves make great pets, too. Good-natured and mellow, they love both their own kind and people, plus they’re easy to care for. They’re quiet, smart and social. They don’t bite, pluck or chew, and are low-maintenance pets. They’re also masters of the leisure arts — napping, flirting, sunbathing and nest sitting. And they need homes. Domestic pigeons and doves cannot survive in the wild.
And we can’t forget birds in the fowl family. Chickens, ducks and geese can also make great pets, assuming you have the right environment for them. It’s also critical they have buddies, as they are flock birds and need the companionship of their own kind to remain happy and healthy.
Adopting a bird is a long-term commitment. Most birds live eight years or longer, and a parrot’s life span can be 60 to 80 years. Scheduling a visit to a board-certified avian veterinarian at least once a year is essential, especially since birds are notorious for masking their symptoms when they are sick.
If you’re interested in adopting a bird, go to marinhumane.org, bird rescues such as Mickaboo and Palomacy, or petfinder.com.
Lisa Bloch is the marketing and communications director for Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles. Go to marinhumane.org, find us on social media @marinhumane, or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.
