Birds

The "Eagle Whisperer" Calms Trapped Bald Eagle And Saves Him

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Mar 8th 2010 @ 11:00AM Filed Under: Birds

You might have a way with dogs or cats, but how about eagles? Raptor specialist Tim Brown put his bird-soothing skills to good use when a bald eagle became tangled in a rope in Sammamish, Wash. and nobody was able to get close enough to free it. With a soft whistle that he refers to as an "Eagle Song" (and, we like to think a gentle look in his eye), he quickly gained the eagle's trust and was able to calm him, hood him, and free him -- after which the frightened but mostly uninjured bird was transported to rehab facility.

Watch Brown's remarkable work below!

Fly Like An Eagle -- Sort Of

by Eliot Glazer (Subscribe to Eliot Glazer's posts): Feb 24th 2010 @ 11:00AM Filed Under: Birds

You know the dream. You're flying, soaring through the air with nothing but the whistle of wind in your face and your eyes gazing over the land below. This is of course followed by a terrifying plummet and you wake screaming and lying in a puddle of cold sweat. Fun times.

In one of our favorite clips from BBC's "Animal Camera," we are treated to a real-life version of that same dream -- but fortunately, only that first good part. Watch as a lightweight camera is attached to the head of a golden eagle in Scotland and experience this true bird's eye view of the vast landscape below. It is nothing less than stunning. And it would make for an awesome dream if, just once, that dream didn't turn into a night terror.

Hmm... maybe we should look into taking Ambien after all..

Is Blue Blue the Penguin the Next Picasso?

by Eliot Glazer (Subscribe to Eliot Glazer's posts): Feb 15th 2010 @ 1:00PM Filed Under: Birds, Pets News

Mystic Aquarium

Well no, he's not the next Picasso. But Blue Blue, an African penguin living at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, is still quite the little artiste, if we may say so ourselves. It may be fair to say, however, that he's the Picasso of penguins.

Here's how the artist works: Non-toxic paint is applied to the feet of the one-year-old webbed wonder, who then waddles around, creating art to be sold on the aquarium's website. The 16-inch-by-20-inch paintings are double-matted in white with black inner trim and encased in a black wood frame. Available in two three-color combinations -- dark red, blue and green and purple, blue and green -- the works (being sold at under $125) will give a portion of the earnings to the penguin conservation efforts both in Mystic and across the world.

Los Angeles Feral-Cat Program Extinguished

by Rebecca Quimby (Subscribe to Rebecca Quimby's posts): Jan 22nd 2010 @ 5:00PM Filed Under: Birds, Cats

Flickr/parhessiastes

The city of Los Angeles has been barred from subsidizing a trap-neuter-release program for feral cats, the Los Angeles Times reports. A Superior Court judge sided with the Audubon Society and other bird and wildlife groups who opposed the city's support of such a program, which they say isn't effective at controlling the feral cat population.

According to the American Bird Conservancy (one of the plaintiffs in the case), this type of TNR program "turns cats loose so they can continue to kill birds. Scientists estimate that owned and feral domestic cats are responsible for up to one billion bird deaths each year, perhaps the single largest ongoing cause of avian mortality on the planet."

But cat people have a different take. The volunteers who bring about 80 feral felines to Sun Valley's FixNation every day to be neutered feel like they are helping their communities. Francis Battista, founder of Best Friends Animal Society, which helps fund FixNation, told the Los Angeles Times, "This program has been a boon to animal-control folks because it helps them manage an issue in a way that the community approves. If you take feral cats to a shelter, they're dead."

Cat advocates fear more of L.A.'s homeless felines will be euthanized as a result of the ruling.

Finches 101

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Jan 15th 2010 @ 10:00AM Filed Under: Birds

finch Flickr/Art by Karen

Name: Finch

Personality: Finches are generally entertaining, social (with other finches, but not so much with humans) and active.

Grooming: Finches are relatively easy to care for, grooming included. They bathe themselves as long as you provide a water bowl for them to use (separate from their drinking water), and you should let them dry themselves, i.e. no blow dryers. If you give them a rough landing surface, you most likely won't have to trim the nails. Watch while your bird molts, though; this can be uncomfortable or even painful for them, but there are things you can do to help. As with all birds, you will need to be meticulous about cleaning a finch's cage.

Common Health Issues: Finches are hardy birds with a life span ranging from five to 15 years, varying by species. A good diet and appropriate cage (width is more important that height) with access to sunlight will help your bird stay healthy. A healthy finch will have well-conditioned feathers, bright eyes, and legs free of scales or masses.

Training Tips: Finches are not as interactive as some pet birds. While it's possible to hand-train them, this isn't terribly common. You'll need to start slowly and work your way toward taming your finch, using soothing voices and plenty of consistency.

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Camouflage Animals

Madagascar Day Gecko
The green Madagascar Day Gecko lives in the dry regions of forests in Madagascar and neighboring islands. They usually grow to be between four to six inches long. Their tail makes up almost half of their length.

Getty Images

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Argentine Horned Frog Reptiles
The Argentine Horned Frog, also known as the Horned Frog or Pacman Frog, originated in South America. The green and black amphibian, which can grow up to six inches long, is a popular pets and can live for as long as 10 years.

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Walkingstick
The Walkingstick takes its camouflage abilities to the next level by creating the appearance of a stick or twig to hide from predators. While they normally stand still, these insects are able to walk around as though they were a twig caught in the wind. They can be found in tropical forests or woodlands all across the world.

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Dwarf Puff Adder
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Stonefish
Often resembling a rock, the brown colored Stonefish camouflages itself perfectly in the ocean. With 13 venomous dorsal spines on its back, the Stonefish can cause tissue damage and respiratory distress, which can lead to cardiovascular shock if left untreated.

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Chameleons
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Green Anole
Often confused with chameleons, Green Anoles turn brown when they're stressed or sick. Found in the trees and shrubs of the Southeastern United States, these lizards are popular pets.

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The Eastern Wood Frog
The Eastern Wood Frog tricks competitors by changing colors to match its surroundings. Found in North American woodlands, the frog also has a dark black patch from its eye to the base of its front limb that can change colors.

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