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Back Issues - COMPANION PARROT QUARTERLY
There are many in-depth articles from back issues of the Pet Bird Report & the Companion Parrot Quarterly that deal with the common problems people have with their companion parrots. Every issue has information that is invaluable for a successful human/parrot bond. We have published articles about individual species (African Greys, Moluccan Cockatoos, Hawk-headed Parrots, Caiques, Green-winged Macaws, Green-cheeked conures, and Alexandrines just to name a few).
Back issues contain articles on converting birds to better diets, proper towel handling, the importance of showering, taming rescued birds, veterinary care, and just about anything people need to know to live happily with a companion parrot. The following list contains some of the most popular and helpful articles from our currently available back issues.
Drawing by Sally Blanchard
The following back issues are still available for purchase: Issues #8, #10, #16, #17, #26, #27, Issues #30 through #70
Amazons - Issue #19 Several Amazon owners and breeders present information about why they love their Amazons and how they have kept them tame and loving. | Issue #49 features Amazons with articles and stories by Sally Blanchard and others. | Issue #54 Exotic Birds of Ocean Beach: Observations on Feral Amazons & Conures in San Diego. | Issue #55 A Personal History of the Amazon Parrot Starting with Bogie, A Mealy Amazon | Issue #56 As the Perch Turns, or Days of our Amazon Lives, and Second Hand Amazon Gets Lucky with Novice.
Basic Parrot Personality Guide - Issues #28 &29. This comprehensive 2 part series presents short personality profiles of the parrots commonly kept as companions. This is more than just a description of what they look like and where they come from. It is a good place to start in finding out what species may be the right bird for you although we do not recommend that a buyer choose a species just from these articles. | Issue #49 Bird Basics: Body Language. | Issue #55 Reflections on Avian Intelligence, Part I. | Issue #56 Reflections on Avian Intelligence, Part II.
Biting - Issue #25 Preventing and solving biting problems is actually the easiest behavioral problem to work with if you understand the behaviors behind biting. | Issue #40. Don't take attacks personally. | Issue #46 Biting: Getting Past the Fear. | Issue #51 Hello, I'm Back... Ow, That Hurts! | Issue #52 The Syntax of Aggression by Sally Blanchard. | Issue #55 Dealing With Hard-Core Aggression: Using the Tools of "Nuturing Manipulation" by Sally Blanchard.
Bonding - Issue #16 & #26 There are far too many myths about the ways in which parrots bond to their owners. One piece of bad information is that you have to hand feed a baby for it to bond to you. Another myth is that once a parrot bonds to someone, it is engraved in stone and can't be changed. These articles explain how and why parrots bond to their owners and how to win a bird over if he doesn't seem to like you. | The Optimal Environment, Part IV discusses The Social Climate in Issue #50.
Developmental Stages - Avian Adolescence I & Avian Adolescence II are covered in Issues #39 and #40. | The Influence of Hatch Order on Personality, Issue #50. | Interaction Among Juvenile Parrots in the Nursery - Issue #51
Don't Spoil Your Cockatoo - Issue #29 An in-depth article explaining why cockatoos can make such desirable companions, what goes wrong in too many situations, and how to ensure that you have a cockatoo that will stay with you as a lifelong pet.
Ethics - Issue #46 The Poultrification of Parrots by Sally Blanchard. | Issue #47 Kaytee Preferred Birds and PETsMart by Sally Blanchard. | Issue #51 Conserving Parrots in the Wild: Why It Should Matter. Beak Alteration of Male Cockatoos. Also, It's About the Birds (parrot rescue and sanctuary) | Issue #52 The Self, The Soul and The Psittacine by and A (Bird) House Divided Against Itself by Dr. Stewart Metz. | Issue #53 - Creative Parrotkeeping: It's no longer enough to merely love your parrot. | Issue #54 - Q&A;: What To Do About Poor Quality Care of Parrots in Pet Shops. | Issue #55 Esmirelda: Queen of My Heart—A Call to Action (yet another sad PetCo story). | Issue #57 How You Can Make A Difference: Becoming a Parrot Advocate.
Feather Picking - Issue #23 One of the most comprehensive articles ever written on the causes and solutions to feather destructive behaviors with a side bar on Optimizing the Environment. | Issue #45 features a veterinarian perspective on this complex problem. Written by Tammy Jenkins DVM it includes a list of specific tests that need to be performed to rule out physical causes of feather picking. | Issue #46 - The pattern of feather picking often tells the story. | Issue #56 Saving Sammy: Overcoming Obstacles with a Plucking Grey | Issue #57 Inside the Minds of Parrots: Tantalizing Clues About the Caues of Neurotic Feather Plucking and Self-Mutilation in Parrots.
The Intelligent Parrot Purchase - Issue #24 Questions to ask and answers to expect. How to tell if the breeder or pet shop you are thinking of buying a bird from is really raising both physically and psychologically healthy babies. | Issue #47 PBR Q&A;: Defining Good Bird Shops. | Issue #49 The Optimal Environment: Caging and Aviaries. | Issue #51 Continuing Socialization in the New Home.
Medical - Issue #49 Why a Good Bird Vet is Hard to Find; Understanding Holistic. | Issue #53 - Testing for Zinc in Toys and Play Gyms. | Issue #55 Avian Disease Updates with Dr. Tammy Jenkins, and Is It Your Parrots That are Making You Sick? Get all the facts before you make the wrong decision.
Nutrition - Issue #47 Pellets & Seeds Part I: Impressions in Psittacine Feeding; | Issue #49 Pellets & Seeds Part II: Impressions in Psittacine Feeding; The Optimal Environment Part II: Diet and Nutrition; Juicing for Healthier Birds; | Issue #48 reveals The Truth About Nuts, along with suggestions for Creative Skewers. | Issue #51 Encouraging Chewing Behavior. | Issue #52 has three nutrition-related articles: How UV Light Affects Food Choices. Living Color: The Sharp Dressed Man provides in-depth information about carotenes and how they affect health and feather color, and Healthy Sprouting for Parrots. | Issue #55 Mate Mush: Outsmarting a Parrot About Diet Issues. | Issue #57 Stuff Your Parrot Wants You to Know: The Psychological Importance of Food.
Phobic Behavior - Issue #22 Understanding why a parrot may "suddenly" seem to be afraid of everything, everyone, or just their most beloved person and ways to win their trust again. | Issue 33 Reestablishing Touch In A Fearful Grey | Issue 42 Cockatoos & African Greys: Phobic Behavior | Issue 45 Recognizing Progress In A Fearful African Grey Issue #49 Psychological Profile of a Phobic Cockatoo. | Issue #52 Getting Lucky Back: Building Trust with My Phobic Hawkhead. | Issue #54 Long-term Progress With a Phobic Rosie; Vicious Cycle: Helping the Anxious Parrot.
Second Hand Birds - Issue #45 Second Hand Birds - Yours, Mine and Ours. Issue #51 contains two articles: Working with Second Hand Birds, and Beaker's Story—Adopting an Older Amazon. Issue 52 How to Win at Bingo - adoption of an older Amazon. Issue #53 Second-Chance Macaws: Three Success Stories. Issue #54 Second-Chance Cockatoos: Three Rescued Cockatoos; Who Luvs Ya Babe? A Moluccan Story With a Happy Ending. | Issue 56 Second Hand Amazon Gets Lucky with Novice, and Portrait of Dorien the Grey: Creating a Therapeutic Milieu. Sexual Behavior in Parrots - Issue #16 & | #32 Worried about what will happen when your parrot begins to be sexually mature? This article explains in no nonsense terms how to understand and deal with these behaviors. | Issue #54 Sex & the Single Parrot: Recognizing and Understanding Sexual Behavior in Companion Parrots. | Issue 56 Understanding Sexual Behavior in Companion Parrots.
Screaming - Issue #18 Why quick-fixes don't work with screaming and how to prevent and solve screaming problems by understanding their causes and cures. | Issue #49 Understanding & Preventing Problem Screaming. | Issue #55 Setting Your Parrot Up For Success: Keeping Your Parrot Busy So He Won't Need to Scream. #61 In-depth Information about Parrot Screaming
Training - Issue #50 - Teaching Your Parrot to Come When Called. | Issue #51 Clicker Training for Companion Parrots. | Issue #53 - My Bird Doesn't Like It: Teaching parrots to accept change in their lives. Similarities in Learning: Parrots, kids and dogs have some things in common. Beyond Toys: Help your bird control his environment with assistive technology. | Issue #54 The Three Levels of Attention Your Parrot Needs. | Issue 56 Bathing 101: Parrot Bathing and Showering Basics, and Take Time to Give a Parrot a Chance: When You Reach Out—Give the Parrot Time to Reach Back. | Issue #57 Road Blocks: Obstacles to Improving Your Relationship with your Parrot.
Understanding Nurturing Guidance - Issue #21 Understanding why it is essential to establish and maintain nurturing guidance and non-aggressive consistent rules throughout a parrot's life to have both a contented parrot and owner. | Issue #40 Punishment: Why it Doesn't Change Negative Behavior. | Issue #50 Teaching Your Parrot Self-Soothing Techniques. | Issue #53 - Meltdown! How to Handle the Chaos of a Multiple Bird Home | Issue #55 A Few Absolute Rules About Companion Parrot Behavior by Sally Blanchard. | Issue #57 Alternative Thinking About Parrot Bonding: When a Parrot is Happier with Another Parrot.
Weaning and Feeding Recently Weaned Chicks - Issues #13, 19, 20, and 23 all have excellent articles on this topic. These articles will help people who have purchased unweaned birds understand the complicated process of weaning their babies. | Issue #48 includes Weaning Sadie...An Observation by Katy McElroy about the issues surrounding bringing home an unweaned bappy, in this case a Cockatoo. | Issue 56 The "Laziest" Baby Ever: An African Grey Takes Forever to Eat on His Own.
