Rose Breasted Grosbeak Bird

What a surprise to have two male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak birds on our bird feeder in the month of May. Then to our amazement we had three females appear! These birds are neo-tropical migrants. They spend the winter months in an area from central Mexico to northern South America. In May, they return to the North American continent and take up residence in the northeastern United States and southern Canada. Their habitat is shrubbery, woodlands, and brushy stream areas adjacent to open fields. The male birds arrive before the females, select a nesting territory, and begin singing to attract a prospective mate.
The male bird is a proud and devout family man. He helps build the nest of twigs and grasses usually in a small tree or bush five to fifty feet high. The nest appears as a flimsy constructed saucer. He also takes his turn incubating the eggs. The female Grosbeak lays three to five light green eggs with brown spots. Incubation time for the eggs is thirteen to fourteen days. He sits on the nest from morning to afternoon, while the female gets the night shift. After hatching,the baby birds leave the nest in nine to twelve days. The male bird is so happy to be included in the family chores that he even sings while on the bird nest. Both the male and female birds sing; their songs very similar to a robin. Rose Breasted Grosbeaks often sing from the treetops in their loud, clear song. It is richer and a more melodious version of the lengthly sing-song of the robin. The notes are sweeter and they have more slurred whistles.

Best Pet Bird

Depending on what you want, a bird may be the perfect pet for you. Birds require some care of course but not so much as other pets that you might have. Some of the best pet birds are the smaller variety, such as finches, parakeets or canaries, although they do require a bit more attention to their climate and surroundings they are essentially self caring birds so long as they are fed and watered and cared for health wise, and they tend to be pleasant companions.

These types of birds can easily be taught to talk to you if you have the time to spend with them. They are easily cared for, require some attention to detail but can spend some time alone if you are someone who is gone a great deal of time during the day.

Medium sized birds that might be on your list of the best pet birds, depending on the time you have to care for them are the Lorikeet, peach faced love bird, cockatiel, African Grey Parrots, or one of the other medium sized parrots. These too require minimal care, other than climate, health and regular feeding and watering, however they can be taught tricks or to talk if you have more time to spend with them.

You Need a Large Bird Cage For Your Parrot

Imagine being an African Grey, or any other parrot or bird and caged up all your life in a small space. It is not a happy place, especially when you have wings and mother nature intended you to fly free. But as we know, keeping birds domesticated is sometimes good for themselves too. At least, they are well fed, free from the dangers of the wild, and much loved by their owners.
Macaw would need a cage at least three feet long and five feet wide. Other parrots like Amazons, African Greys, Conures, Cockatoos, also require large cages to make them comfortable. Do remember that these parrots live for a very long time, so a comfortable cage will ensure that they live a happy life. Consider the space available in your home before you make a purchase. Some bird owners build a walk-in aviary outside their home where they keep their birds during the warmer seasons. That would be an ideal situation if your property is big enough to accommodate it.

Bird cages that are made of stainless steel or metal are the most convenient because they are easier to clean and maintain, and will not damage easily, especially with the larger birds. You will need to clean the cage regularly so do consider the materials used for the cage.

Advantages of Snake Senses

Eyes - The range of sensitivity of the eyes vary greatly from snake to snake. Most snakes see the actual movement of objects clearer than the object itself. Snakes that are active during the day normally see in this fashion. On the other end of the spectrum, some snakes, such as the blind snakes, see shades of light and dark. Snakes do not have eyelids in the traditional sense. They cover their eyes with a clear membrane, called the brille.

Tongue - The snakes tongue is the most interesting part of their anatomy. Everyone knows the typical action for the tongue; flicking. Snakes flick out their tongue, and either wave it in the air, or touch the ground with it. This is one of their touch sensors. It is also used to find or detect chemical scents. Molecules of any chemical are collected by the tongue, brought back into their mouth, and analyzed by the Jacobson’s organ. Using this method, a snake can more effectively find and follow its prey.

Some snakes can detect infrared heat rays. Some species of snakes have small holed, or pits, on their faces, including; pit vipers, boas, pythons. This pit allows them to distinguish minute changes in temperature in the direction they are pointed. Hunting prey is made simple by picking out warmer temperatures in front of them.

Fall is Mother Nature Out of Sinc

Poor Mother Nature what can she do? Have you ever seen polliwogs in the fall, everything is happening at the wrong time because the weather has them as baffled as us. We are all seeing the dramas of the global warming. When our weather confuses the animals of the wilderness into having their babies in the fall instead of the spring. There are deer babies just starting out and they should have made their appearance in the spring also.
When reading the mail about the cities making green roofs it was amazing, a product that has been in use for years and we are finally catching up. They make gardens and grow vegetables for restaurants that are in the same buildings. This helps take care of the storm water and make the buildings they are on so much cooler and bring nature to birds and animals in safe places. People just need to use the information of old to help us direct nature in a good direction to help people today and tomorrow. We can put our two cents in to help the best we can.

The Turtle and My Arrogance

I took him outside with me every day, allowing him to get sunshine and eat bugs as I trimmed my trees and hedges. The back yard was totally fenced in, so I never dreamed he would get out. But the inevitable happened one day. Moses was no where to be found, and I cried for weeks.

About eight months later, I was digging weeds out of the flower bed in the front yard, and my shovel hit something hard. Thinking it a rock, I reached down to get it with my hands and was shocked beyond belief to find dear old Moses under the dirt! How had he survived without me to feed him?

Bearded Dragon Dog

To me reptiles were cold, could not associate and all they wanted was food from me, I really didn't see them in a very good light. I went in anyways because I was curious and I wanted to confirm my assumptions. I went in and the first thing that hit me was the smell, WOW! What was that? It was reptile smell! Something completely foreign to me. I looked around; I saw snakes, lizards, turtles and spiders. The whole time I was there I had goose pumps and a stranger tingling sensation all over my skin. At some point I was sure this place was not for me and I could not understand why people were interested in Reptiles, I knew at that moment this was not the pet for me. Well, what do you know I walked around towards the front of the pet shop and I see a tank full of tiny little lizards and I thought how cute!
I started to negotiate, I needed a tank, lights, sand, food, a rock, a perching branch, etc. this little girl was going to have the best condo in town. Mr. Pet Shop Attendant set everything up for me, got everything together and sent me on my way. I got home set Ophelia up in her new deluxe condo and got on the Internet, I need to know everything there was to know about Bearded Dragons, I wanted to be the best Mom in Bearded Dragon World.