Amazons?

[lzver]

Hmm..should have read this before going on the other thread. I guessed you went to Exotic Wings and it seems I was right.

Reading this, it just seems to me that you should keep on researching and getting in contact with potential "interesting" birds for you. Have you often gone to Parrot club meetings? It's by attending those on a number of occasions that I came up with what I wouldn't want as a bird; seeing them in action and talking to their owners about how they are to live with. Doing this, I figured out that there are many types of parrots I wouldn't want to own.
Ironically enough, I didn't really get to meet many Pois owner before thinking they were for me (actually I can't remember talking to any before I got Shade) but their reputation in everything I read seem to me like they were the perfect match for me..and they are

Natacha, I'm doing exactly what you suggest. I'm attending parrot club meetings and I plan on attending several bird shows this year .... in particular the London Bird Show on Thanksgiving long weekend and the Parrot Conference in Guelph in November ... now that I know its local to Guelh, I'd be crazy not to go. This month was the first month I attended the Golden Triangle Parrot Club meeting ... I attended as a guest this month and will definitely become a member next month.

I'm not rushing into this decision. As much as I love Amazon's and they were originally what I thought I wanted, I'm starting to figure out they may not be for us. So as you said, attending the meetings is introducing me to new types of birds I never would have considered and also helping me figure out which types aren't for us.

[Natacha]

Natacha, I'm doing exactly what you suggest. I'm attending parrot club meetings and I plan on attending several bird shows this year .... in particular the London Bird Show on Thanksgiving long weekend and the Parrot Conference in Guelph in November ... now that I know its local to Guelh, I'd be crazy not to go. This month was the first month I attended the Golden Triangle Parrot Club meeting ... I attended as a guest this month and will definitely become a member next month.

I'm not rushing into this decision. As much as I love Amazon's and they were originally what I thought I wanted, I'm starting to figure out they may not be for us. So as you said, attending the meetings is introducing me to new types of birds I never would have considered and also helping me figure out which types aren't for us.

We might see each other next November for the CPC, I do intend on attending once again. I believe Irene Pepperberg will be a speaker this year!

[Michael]

Why are you Canies so much better organized than us!? I live in fricken NYC with over 20 million in the metropolitan area and there isn't a single decent parrot club or show that I'm aware of! Forget about getting cool speakers like Pepperburg.

I've been thinking of starting a parrot club in NY but really don't know enough of a base of parrot owners locally to be able to get it off the ground.

[lzver]

We might see each other next November for the CPC, I do intend on attending once again. I believe Irene Pepperberg will be a speaker this year!

Yes, I saw that Dr. Irene Pepperberg is going to be a speaker. I just finished reading her book 'Alex and Me' last month and would love to see her speak. I think she has another book that is more scientific, but I'd like to read that book as well. I think its called the Alex Studies (could be wrong though).

[Natacha]

Why are you Canies so much better organized than us!? I live in fricken NYC with over 20 million in the metropolitan area and there isn't a single decent parrot club or show that I'm aware of! Forget about getting cool speakers like Pepperburg.

I've been thinking of starting a parrot club in NY but really don't know enough of a base of parrot owners locally to be able to get it off the ground.

I have to drive 6h30 hours to get to the Canadian Parrot Conference, but it's well worth it.
First year I went, we tried saving money, staid with a friend of mine who lived close-by and only attended the Saturday. I did get to hold a Hyacinth macaw that day.



Last year (second year), we staid at the hotel the conference was held in and attended both days. Much better choice. We got there Friday afternoon and managed to sneak in the vendors section in the evening (a friend of mine was tending a booth there) and I got to put stuff aside at a few other booths for the next day (vendor area is really only opened on Saturday morning). I still came in early the next morning to snatch up the Java tree I wanted (I got to look at them well the Friday evening). Barbara Heindereich spoke last year at two seminars and they were both great.

I am planning to go again this year.

[lzver]

I have to drive 6h30 hours to get to the Canadian Parrot Conference, but it's well worth it.
First year I went, we tried saving money, staid with a friend of mine who lived close-by and only attended the Saturday. I did get to hold a Hyacinth macaw that day.



Last year (second year), we staid at the hotel the conference was held in and attended both days. Much better choice. We got there Friday afternoon and managed to sneak in the vendors section in the evening (a friend of mine was tending a booth there) and I got to put stuff aside at a few other booths for the next day (vendor area is really only opened on Saturday morning). I still came in early the next morning to snatch up the Java tree I wanted (I got to look at them well the Friday evening). Barbara Heindereich spoke last year at two seminars and they were both great.

I am planning to go again this year.

What a great picture Natacha! I'n assuming it was a gentle bird. I haven't even considered trying to hold a large macaw ... that's a lot of bird

I feel very fortunate to live in Guelph. I will be attending this year without a doubt. I just wish I knew about it earlier because we've lived here for 2 years and I missed two of them already.

I'm just trying to figure out if the London show in October is worth a weekend trip.

[Natacha]

What a great picture Natacha! I'n assuming it was a gentle bird. I haven't even considered trying to hold a large macaw ... that's a lot of bird

I feel very fortunate to live in Guelph. I will be attending this year without a doubt. I just wish I knew about it earlier because we've lived here for 2 years and I missed two of them already.

I'm just trying to figure out if the London show in October is worth a weekend trip.

Thanks! My boyfriend took it.
The parrot was still a baby and was quite sweet. He actually fell asleep on my arm and I have to say, after a while, my arm felt numb! He was rather heavy.
One of my friends from Guelph, who also has parrots, totally fell in love with him. Unfortunately, she just didn't have the $25,000.00 the pet store wanted for him (the pet store had a booth at the show).

[lzver]

Thanks! My boyfriend took it.
The parrot was still a baby and was quite sweet. He actually fell asleep on my arm and I have to say, after a while, my arm felt numb! He was rather heavy.
One of my friends from Guelph, who also has parrots, totally fell in love with him. Unfortunately, she just didn't have the $25,000.00 the pet store wanted for him (the pet store had a booth at the show).

I imagine that he was heavy

Wow, they were asking $25,000 for him? Don't Hyacinth Macaw's usually go for around $10,000 from a breeder? At least that's what I've seen with all the research I've been doing lately.

[MandyG]

Wow, they were asking $25,000 for him? Don't Hyacinth Macaw's usually go for around $10,000 from a breeder? At least that's what I've seen with all the research I've been doing lately.

I took a quick look around at Canadian Hyacinth breeder's, the only one I found with a price was $15,000. Sounds like a lot but it's probably nothing compared to the price of a huge cage plus keeping multiple toys around for a bird that size! I bet those large $30+ toys would be reduced to toothpicks in a matter of minutes!

[Michael]

Also they must eat a lot and they have a very specialized diet. Cage? Forget about a cage. You won't find a cage adequately big enough. You just have to strip a whole room and that is its cage.