Birds fly in with fun
June 5, 2004 | 12:00am
As a child, I remember watching the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds. I recall that I found it difficult to sleep that night because I was scared out of my wits about what birds did. After all, they killed a lot of people in that small town in the US. And if I recall right they did this because they had gotten angry for having been kept in cages. I don’t really understand why the movie scared me so, but it did and shaped my ideas about birds for a long time after that.
As I grew older, we kept birds in cages at home and I would always pray that these birds would not lose their tempers and attack our home.
Thank God, they never did.
Since then, I have outgrown my fear of birds. Some years back, I even went as far as owning a hand-raised parakeet which kept me company, apart from being a cute companion.
"Birds are my first love," says Danny Ang, bird lover and president of the Birds Industry Research and Development Society Inc. "My first pet bird was a Java Sparrow which I bought from a peddler in a market when I was six years old."
I have encountered many pet lovers and just like avid dog lovers, bird lovers are passionate about, well, their love for these fine-feathered friends.
What attracted Danny to the birds are their many and beautiful colors. Of course, just like any other pet birds also have their own personalities. "There are hundreds of mutations of colors and species to choose from, each have their own characteristics and you are sure to find one that will match your personality and lifestyle," said Danny.
Danny assured me that caring for birds is not that difficult once a person becomes familiar with what birds need, namely: their feeding habits, space requirements and even their aviary settings. "I don’t feel sorry that I have to keep some of my birds in cages because all the birds I own are captive bred and they are used to being kept in captivity," said Danny. "Aside from the bird food I give my birds I also give them vitamin supplements, chopped vegetables and I make sure that all their food is clean and healthy."
Anyone interested in getting a pet bird should go to a reputable breeder or a pet shop that specializes in birds. "Feel free to ask the owner of the shop about the best way to care, feed and maintain your bird," advised Danny. "Many pet shop owners here don’t know the diet requirements of the birds they are selling. Some owners might advise a first-time pet owner to buy birdseeds when the bird might actually be a nectar feeder. There are even some birds that can live on just bananas."
Danny knows whereof he speaks, he has owned over 200 birds – Budgies, Finches, African Lovebirds, Cockatiels and Parakeets. Danny advises first-time bird owners to make sure that they get to know all they can about the birds of their choice before going out to buy one. There are seminars, bird shows, and even trade fairs that they can go to where they can meet other bird enthusiasts who are more than willing to help beginners. "For beginners try a pair of Parakeets or African Lovebirds because they are sturdy and easier to maintain," Danny opined.
A thousand bucks is all you need to get started on bird owning. With that one can get a pair of Parakeets which will include the enclosure were they will stay, the feed and other accessories like a nest box and a food dish.
Having been in the business of breeding birds for over 10 years, Danny has been able to breed birds, which have won trophies for him in bird shows. There is a Blue Fischer Pied and an African Lovebird, which have topped the shows for Danny.
Is it easy to teach a bird to talk?
"Patience is a must," shared Danny. "If you really want your bird to learn to talk, you must keep it in a cage alone. This way the bird only focuses on your voice and it is easier for a bird to mimic the sound of a female voice or that of a child which is higher in pitch rather then that of an adult male." But no, not all birds can learn to talk or mimic sounds. There are only certain species like Parakeets, Budgies, Ring Necks, and bigger parrots.
Danny is particularly proud of his hand-tamed Cockatiel which can whistle the tune of Boulevard and which he takes for a ride on his bike, too.
At the end of the day, Danny also takes time to talk to his birds. This is a good way for him to wind down and relax. "I talk to my birds because they are a good outlet for me when I have problems. I can spend the whole day in my aviary tending to my birds," said Danny.
Bird ownership is a responsibility that any pet lover must think about before taking the plunge of living with a feathered friend, even though a common perception is that birds are easier to take care of – because they don’t bark or yap and can stay in an enclosed space like a cage.
"But, please don’t get a Mynah or Katala because these birds are endangered species," said Danny. "Let nature take care of them. Choose a bird that has been bred in captivity because it is the best kind of pet to have."
As I grew older, we kept birds in cages at home and I would always pray that these birds would not lose their tempers and attack our home.
Thank God, they never did.
Since then, I have outgrown my fear of birds. Some years back, I even went as far as owning a hand-raised parakeet which kept me company, apart from being a cute companion.
"Birds are my first love," says Danny Ang, bird lover and president of the Birds Industry Research and Development Society Inc. "My first pet bird was a Java Sparrow which I bought from a peddler in a market when I was six years old."
I have encountered many pet lovers and just like avid dog lovers, bird lovers are passionate about, well, their love for these fine-feathered friends.
What attracted Danny to the birds are their many and beautiful colors. Of course, just like any other pet birds also have their own personalities. "There are hundreds of mutations of colors and species to choose from, each have their own characteristics and you are sure to find one that will match your personality and lifestyle," said Danny.
Danny assured me that caring for birds is not that difficult once a person becomes familiar with what birds need, namely: their feeding habits, space requirements and even their aviary settings. "I don’t feel sorry that I have to keep some of my birds in cages because all the birds I own are captive bred and they are used to being kept in captivity," said Danny. "Aside from the bird food I give my birds I also give them vitamin supplements, chopped vegetables and I make sure that all their food is clean and healthy."
Anyone interested in getting a pet bird should go to a reputable breeder or a pet shop that specializes in birds. "Feel free to ask the owner of the shop about the best way to care, feed and maintain your bird," advised Danny. "Many pet shop owners here don’t know the diet requirements of the birds they are selling. Some owners might advise a first-time pet owner to buy birdseeds when the bird might actually be a nectar feeder. There are even some birds that can live on just bananas."
Danny knows whereof he speaks, he has owned over 200 birds – Budgies, Finches, African Lovebirds, Cockatiels and Parakeets. Danny advises first-time bird owners to make sure that they get to know all they can about the birds of their choice before going out to buy one. There are seminars, bird shows, and even trade fairs that they can go to where they can meet other bird enthusiasts who are more than willing to help beginners. "For beginners try a pair of Parakeets or African Lovebirds because they are sturdy and easier to maintain," Danny opined.
A thousand bucks is all you need to get started on bird owning. With that one can get a pair of Parakeets which will include the enclosure were they will stay, the feed and other accessories like a nest box and a food dish.
Having been in the business of breeding birds for over 10 years, Danny has been able to breed birds, which have won trophies for him in bird shows. There is a Blue Fischer Pied and an African Lovebird, which have topped the shows for Danny.
Is it easy to teach a bird to talk?
"Patience is a must," shared Danny. "If you really want your bird to learn to talk, you must keep it in a cage alone. This way the bird only focuses on your voice and it is easier for a bird to mimic the sound of a female voice or that of a child which is higher in pitch rather then that of an adult male." But no, not all birds can learn to talk or mimic sounds. There are only certain species like Parakeets, Budgies, Ring Necks, and bigger parrots.
Danny is particularly proud of his hand-tamed Cockatiel which can whistle the tune of Boulevard and which he takes for a ride on his bike, too.
At the end of the day, Danny also takes time to talk to his birds. This is a good way for him to wind down and relax. "I talk to my birds because they are a good outlet for me when I have problems. I can spend the whole day in my aviary tending to my birds," said Danny.
Bird ownership is a responsibility that any pet lover must think about before taking the plunge of living with a feathered friend, even though a common perception is that birds are easier to take care of – because they don’t bark or yap and can stay in an enclosed space like a cage.
"But, please don’t get a Mynah or Katala because these birds are endangered species," said Danny. "Let nature take care of them. Choose a bird that has been bred in captivity because it is the best kind of pet to have."
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