Parrot Care and Behavior:  An Introduction to Conures and other Parrots

Learn the secrets to the basics of selecting and caring for a parrot from a knowledgable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions.  This e-class starts with considerations in selecting a parrot, including whether a parrot is a pet for you.  Next, you learn what’s required to care for your parrot, including daily care and your bird’s long term health. The class concludes with a look at parrot behavior and training.

March 3-7, 2008

Longtime animal educator Carol Frischmann will be your guide for this course.  After earning a B.S. in Science Education at Duke University, she pursued her love of animals by teaching high school science, educating visitors at zoos and museums, and writing for magazines, newspapers, and the Internet. She is the pet columnist KGW.com, an NBC affiliate television station, and for her own website ThisWildLife.com. Three parrots and a Doberman pinscher closely supervise Carol’s work in her Portland, Oregon office.

Internet access and e-mail.

Lessons are posted each evening for the next day.  The instructor posts answers to questions and discussion comments between 9:00-11:00 am; 2:00-4:00 pm each day.  Discussions on a private class forum available 24/7 during the course and for one week afterwards.

Articles, lists, and hard to find sources of information will be provided during the course based on student questions and discusson.

Day 1:  Considerations in purchasing a parrot and The stuff of daily life
Have you ever thought, “I’d love a cockatiel, but I don’t know if I could take care of one.” Good question.  A list of what’s required to care for a bird, along with what to ask before purchasing a bird, why a bird is unlike other pets, sources of birds, and what to require from the provider of your bird are included in this extra packed first day.
What makes or breaks a relationship is the stuff of daily life.  How do you know how to select the right cage or where to put it?  What kind of bedding and toys does a bird need? The secrets of food bowls and watering choices you learn go a long way towards making your start together a good one.

Day 2:  All about feeding your bird
Grandma fed her bird seed.  That was the best she knew to do.  Today, we know more and what we know is that to take care of your new best friend requires a little knowledge.  Learn the advantages of the various forms of food, when to feed, and how to feed. If you have a bird that’s a seed-only bird, learn insider tricks for converting your bird to a more healthy diet.  The result will be a more beautiful, and a more healthy bird.

Day 3:  Grooming birds
What’s the big deal about bird grooming?  Much of the grooming, your bird can handle on his own.  The key is making the ingredients available.  What are these keys?  Where does your bird need grooming help?  How do the seasons affect your bird’s need for The bathing and his beak and nail care.

Day 4:  Bird health
Birds have evolved to hide their health problems.  We’ll cover how to find a veterinarian for your bird (not a slam dunk) and an emergency clinic that sees birds.  Also, you’ll receive a list of what to put in your bird first aid kit and help in how to use this kit.  Birds aren’t fragile, but when they’re sick, they need help immediately. 

Day 5:  Bird behavior and training
The lesson includes information about basic training, some common problems and solutions, talking, and the importance of routine in keeping your bird behaving well.  Your particular bird behavior challenges, some ideas on how to prevent problems, and where to go when you need help in solving problems.  Interested students can create a list of goals for their bird training.  References that help students reach those goals will be provided.

Conures by Carol Frischmann. Although Chapter 1 includes a section on selecting a member of the conure family, the principles discussed in all the other chapters apply to parrots in general.  Lists of other helpful reading will be provided during the classes.
$50 per student, minimum 4 students.  Payable through Papypal.