Finch Bird

Thinking about a pet but don’t want a cat or dog? How about a bird? If you like the song of a small bird, then finches or canaries are a great choice. These birds require more climate monitoring as they cannot tolerate a chill.Let’s talk parrot. Small in size, parakeets (budgies), lovebirds and cockatiels come in many colors. Parrots require more attention than the finches or canaries. Some will talk, some chatter, all are comical and will make you laugh. These birds are less costly, quieter and good for those with small spaces  and close neighbors.Medium birds require larger cages, and as you can guess, the mess comes with the size. More talkers, more choices, more colors, more time, more enjoyment and a closer bond. From conures to ringnecks, amazons and African greys. Let’s not forget the mini macaws. Amazons are great at keeping themselves occupied and copying all those annoying sounds. African greys require more attention and stimulation. The bird that is quietest and good with children would most likely go to the green-cheek conure.For those who have time and money the larger macaws are a great choice. Cockatoos, called love sponges, love to cuddle. The large macaws come in plainer colors compared to the beauty of the blue and gold or scarlet. These birds require larger cages and large toys. Some talk, some do not but they all require a lot of attention.All of these birds will, with the right environment, bring joy and laughter. Talking, learning games, just interacting, the joy and beauty of a parrot is awesome.Remember, whatever your choice, be it a finch, dove or parrot, it is important to meet all of their needs fully. Clean cages, clean water, proper diets, plenty of toys to keep them occupied when away and of course as much attention as you can make time for. Don’t forget all of your birds, like other pets, need medical attention as well.

For pocket gardens or multiple feeders in a garden, homemade feeders made from small plastic bottles are ideal. If you use a sports drink bottle for the feeder, it is easy to collect a number of bottles for this purpose in a short time. Materials Needed:Empty plastic bottle(s)– I recommend “Propel” 16.9-ounce sports drink (they call it “fit water” on the label) bottles because of their relatively wide mouths, or 20-ounce Heinz ketchup  bottles.”Goof Off,” “Oops,” or other glue- and label-removing solvent.Small-diameter dowel rods (I suggest 3/16″ from crafts section of Wal-Mart, or a crafts store), suitable for use as a perch by birds the size of finches or sparrows.Floral wire.Ice pick.Hand-held electric drill with bit size about 3/16″.Safety glasses.Wire cutters or scissors.Hunter-green spray paint suitable for use on plastic—such as Rustoleum brand “Paint for Plastic.”Bag of bird seed, preferably thistle or finch feed.Duct tape.Instructions For Use With “Propel” Bottles:1. Remove the label from the bottle(s), and remove any remaining glue or gum with “Goof Off” or a similar product.2. Put on your safety glasses.3. Take an ice pick and punch holes in the bottle as follows: one hole on each side two inches below the cap; one hole on each side three inches below the cap and near or directly below the first two holes; and one (small) hole on each side 3/4 inch above the base.4. Take the drill and use the bit to slightly enlarge the first set of holes two inches from the cap. Then take the drill and use the bit to enlarge the holes three inches from the cap until these two holes are each about 2/3rds the size of a dime. Move the drill slowly in a circular motion to expand the size of the holes.5. Next, take a dowel rod and cut it to a length of about 10 inches (a wire cutter actually works quite well for this purpose). Push the dowel rod through one of the holes two inches from the cap, and continue pushing it through the bottle and the hole on the other side until you have the same length of dowel rod extending from each side of the bottle.