Eighth Annual Chat Week on BirdHobbyist.com
February 26-March 4, 2006
Sunday February 26
 Ken Lockwood, Eagle Valley Raptor Center
Rehabbing and Keeping Raptors
A co-presentation with ExoticHobbyist.com
Sunday, February 26, at 10 PM Eastern in the Aviary
In 1999, Ken Lockwood became head keeper at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas. He has trained at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis on all aspects of rehabbing and exhibiting birds Of prey. In 2001 he received his certification from the International World Rehabilitation Council (IWRC). Ken will discuss a wide range of topics relating to rehabbing and keeping raptors, including initial exams, wing wraps, tube feeding, dehydration, flight training/exercise, diets, cage requirements and permits for raptors.
View transcript here.
Wednesday March 1
 Brian Speer, DVM, ABVP(av), ECAMS, Birds for Dummies co-author
Veterinary Care of Birds
Wednesday, March 1, at 9 PM Eastern in the Aviary
BirdHobbyist.com is very happy to once again welcome Dr. Brian Speer, co-author of Birds for Dummies, and owner and director of California's Oakley Veterinary Medical Center and The Medical Center for Birds. Since 1989, Dr. Speer has limited his practice exclusively to birds species, including psittacines, ratites, gamebirds, raptors and waterfowl. An active member and past president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, he serves as chair of the Aviculture Committee and on their board of directors, Research Director for the American Ostrich Research Foundation, Veterinary Advisory Council for the American Federation of Aviculture, as a director for the Model Aviculture Plan, on the advisory board for the Advocates for Bird Conservation, and as an avian consultant for the Veterinary Information Network.
Dr. Speer is also a co-author of the textbook The Large Macaws, and is a popular guest speaker at veterinary seminars, avicultural conventions and bird clubs throughout the United States and abroad. When he's not working, he can be found with his own breeding collection of ostriches, emus, macaws and waterfowl.
View transcript here.
Friday March 3
 Mike Hutchison, Iowa Parrot Rescue
Rescue Protocol
Friday, March 3, at 10 PM Eastern in the Aviary
Sometimes people buy parrots for the wrong reasons; they look cute, or they can talk, or they're colorful and decorative. Sometimes people's lives change... divorce, graduation, job loss, illness. Sometimes a parrot becomes more than a person can deal with; they bite, make messes and noise, and can be destructive. Sometimes people need to find a new home for a parrot, one where they can be retrained or where their habits won't be a problem, or there's time and space for them.
That's when you need to find a rescue or a sanctuary or a rehabilitator. And that's what Mike Hutchison of Iowa Parrot Rescue does - rescue, rehabilitate, and gives sanctuary to parrots in need. Come talk to him about the challenges and successes of doing parrot rescue, and what should be done when a bird is taken in, and about adoption processes.
View transcript here.
Saturday March 4
 Marie Digatono
Amazons
Saturday, March 4, at 10 PM Eastern in the Aviary
Marie Digatono has had the fortunate opportunity to observe Amazon parrots frequently in their native habitat for more than a decade. She takes small groups of visitors on eco-tours to see Amazons and other neo-tropical species flying free in the wilds of N.E. Mexico. The habitat of Amazona oratrix (Yellow-headed Amazon) is sympatric (overlaps) with two other Amazona species, A. autumnalis (Red-lored Amazon), and A. viridigenalis (Red-headed Amazon, a.k.a. Green-cheeked). Marie is bilingual, and has worked with some of the researchers investigating Amazons in the field in Mexico. This wild experience has intensely influenced her understanding of their behaviors and care in captivity.
Marie raised and bred Amazona oratrix, exclusively, for 25 years at her small aviary, Vista de Pájaro (‘Bird’s Eye View’ in Spanish). All parrots there are pets who are flighted and handled frequently. Because of the difficulty of managing amazons as pets and the enormous complexities and commitment necessary to provide them with a quality home environment, Marie and other quality breeders have made the difficult decision to discontinue breeding.
Marie writes about Amazons regularly, gives presentations, and consults on conservation, behavior and handling, specializing in managing your home and amazons for flight safety, and cage and aviary design. Marie is also well known for her contributions to the AOL Amazon Parrot Message Board and as the Minnesota delegate to the Amazona Society.
View transcript here.
How to Attend
These events will be held in chat rooms listed above. To access the chats:
If you are a registered user of our site, simply follow the direct link to the chat, which for the main birdhobbyist.com chat room is the Aviary, or for the Rescue Panel on Sunday is the Haven, and log in with your username and password. (Forgot them? Click here!)
If you are not already a registered user of the site, registration is not required - simply go to chat.pethobbyist.com and use the "Guest" log-in option, then select the Aviary or the Haven as your chat room.
There is nothing to download or install, but the system does require you to have java enabled in your browser settings. We strongly suggest you access the room before the chat, so you have time to address any difficulties you might have. You might want to drop by one of our regular weekly chats as a test run. If you have trouble, please visit our Chat Help Area.
More Information
There is more information about other chats available at the links in the right hand column. Simply click on the species in which you are interested for a more detailed listing. Some of the chats even have free email reminders you can sign up for!
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