December 2011
Dear Birds, Humans and Elephants,
The weather has been unseasonably warm and my chickens are out every day. They really enjoy their life; they play in the woods and in the field. They live like chickens should live. I feel so bad for the chickens who are shut in battery cages on factory farms. There are countries in Europe where such cruelty is illegal. Would that we, here in the USA, would have laws motivated by kindness instead of greed.
I am happy to report that both my daughters have had a renaissance in their relationship with Aristophanes. Thanksgiving was good for, at least, that bird. Aristophanes with this redoubtable disposition has kept both of my children (now grown women) at bay, but they both were handling and petting him when they were here for the holiday and he loved it. It made me very happy too. He really can be a wonderful scarlet macaw when he chooses to be. Being playful and friendly adds to the quality of his life and that, of course, is a good thing.
Emma, on the other hand, likes my younger grandson and Elijah likes him. Emma usually prefers women, but one time, in a mood of intense excitability, he bit my daughter, Shannon, on the chin. That was the end of that relationship. Unfortunately, other than me, in my family if you get bitten, you stay bitten and do not come back for more. Zeke is usually good, but cockatiels generally are.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and that the Chirstmas, Chanukkah, Kwanzaa (or whatever) holidays coming up are happy for you. Make sure your birds can participate in your festivities, carefully of course, but make their lives as rich and fulfilling as you can. Our birds depend on us for the quality of their existences and so we are obligated, as their care givers, to keep giving and giving and giving to them. It is like having an another adopted child, but everybody here already knows this.
We are continuing to educate the public via our bird club programs. Last month we did a really good presentation at the Hebrew School of Temple Shalom, here in Monticello. It was arranged by Amy Kristt. We had 7 birds and 4 presenters. We attempt to make our audiences, of all ages, aware of what it is like to have a pet bird and the plight of the birds of the same species in the wild. Kids always ask the best questions and we do our best to answer them successfully. If you, as a club member, wish to arrange a program, please do so and we will follow up by doing it in the best way we can. This is our mission and it extends to being the mission of our shows. Our club is an educational one and the more we do, the better we make the lives of the birds around us. Of course, we do adoptions and fostering and everything else, birdwise, we can do.........but our educational program has become our main focus.
Next month we have a presentation on the Andean Condor by Joanna Hartell, who recently returned from Peru. That should be very exciting and then Dr. Lonnie Kasman will be presenting a program on the birds of Costa Rica in February.
Have a great holiday and I look forward to sharing our holiday party and penny social with everyone.
Be well and happy,
Love,
Richie
The weather has been unseasonably warm and my chickens are out every day. They really enjoy their life; they play in the woods and in the field. They live like chickens should live. I feel so bad for the chickens who are shut in battery cages on factory farms. There are countries in Europe where such cruelty is illegal. Would that we, here in the USA, would have laws motivated by kindness instead of greed.
I am happy to report that both my daughters have had a renaissance in their relationship with Aristophanes. Thanksgiving was good for, at least, that bird. Aristophanes with this redoubtable disposition has kept both of my children (now grown women) at bay, but they both were handling and petting him when they were here for the holiday and he loved it. It made me very happy too. He really can be a wonderful scarlet macaw when he chooses to be. Being playful and friendly adds to the quality of his life and that, of course, is a good thing.
Emma, on the other hand, likes my younger grandson and Elijah likes him. Emma usually prefers women, but one time, in a mood of intense excitability, he bit my daughter, Shannon, on the chin. That was the end of that relationship. Unfortunately, other than me, in my family if you get bitten, you stay bitten and do not come back for more. Zeke is usually good, but cockatiels generally are.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and that the Chirstmas, Chanukkah, Kwanzaa (or whatever) holidays coming up are happy for you. Make sure your birds can participate in your festivities, carefully of course, but make their lives as rich and fulfilling as you can. Our birds depend on us for the quality of their existences and so we are obligated, as their care givers, to keep giving and giving and giving to them. It is like having an another adopted child, but everybody here already knows this.
We are continuing to educate the public via our bird club programs. Last month we did a really good presentation at the Hebrew School of Temple Shalom, here in Monticello. It was arranged by Amy Kristt. We had 7 birds and 4 presenters. We attempt to make our audiences, of all ages, aware of what it is like to have a pet bird and the plight of the birds of the same species in the wild. Kids always ask the best questions and we do our best to answer them successfully. If you, as a club member, wish to arrange a program, please do so and we will follow up by doing it in the best way we can. This is our mission and it extends to being the mission of our shows. Our club is an educational one and the more we do, the better we make the lives of the birds around us. Of course, we do adoptions and fostering and everything else, birdwise, we can do.........but our educational program has become our main focus.
Next month we have a presentation on the Andean Condor by Joanna Hartell, who recently returned from Peru. That should be very exciting and then Dr. Lonnie Kasman will be presenting a program on the birds of Costa Rica in February.
Have a great holiday and I look forward to sharing our holiday party and penny social with everyone.
Be well and happy,
Love,
Richie