5 Pet Birds That Make Great Additions to the Family

Birds are amazing creatures that could be a great addition to your family. When choosing a pet bird, you will want to find the bird most compatible with your lifestyle and living situation. Here are some of the most popular birds that make the perfect pets.

The Parakeet (Budgies)

This is the favorite of all pet birds. These birds are the perfect choice for new bird owners or adults with children living in their homes. Even though the parakeet is not as large as its cousins, it will still require the same type of respect and care as a parrot. Due to their size, parakeets do not require a lot of space and they are easy to maintain. You can choose from a variety of colors, including red, purple, blue and green. Parakeets are smart enough to learn various words and phrases; however, most of these birds are content with whistling and singing. The average life span of a Parakeet is approximately 12 to 14 years.

African Greys

This is one of the most intelligent birds to choose from. African Greys have a very large vocabulary, and once you learn how to care for them properly, these pet birds are easy to train. Due to their intelligence, African Greys can be very demanding pets; this species of parrots become bored quickly when they are not stimulated. When cared for and fed correctly, these birds can live up to three decades or more. If you are looking for a smart and affectionate pet bird, the African Grey is the best choice.

Finches and Canaries

This is a pet bird favorite to choose from. This popular bird measures at five inches or less, and it requires a lot less space in comparison to other pet birds. Finches and canaries have softbills or waxbills, unlike parrots, a species known as hookbills. Since finches and canaries prefer to travel in small flocks, and they rarely pay much attention to humans, this is the perfect bird to choose if you will only be able to provide your pet with minimal interaction. If you provide adequate care for this bird, it can live up to 10 years.

Cockatiels

These birds are a member of the parrot family and they are delightful pets to have around the home. Cockatiels are natives of Australia and they are medium-sized creatures. These birds have advanced whistling and singing abilities that your entire family will love. Even though cockatiels have the ability to speak when trained properly, this bird prefers to mimic random and quirky sounds, such as the ringing of a telephone. You can choose from a variety of diverse color options when adopting a cockatiel. The average life expectancy of this pet bird is between 15 and 20 years.

Lovebirds

If you want to choose from the parrot species, this is the smallest bird in that family. However, many people prefer lovebirds in comparison to larger parrots that are more demanding. Lovebirds are approximately six inches long and, even though they are small, they have a strong personality and great intelligence. These birds are quiet, making them a great choice for the person who lives in an apartment or condominium. The lovebird has a life expectancy of up to 20 years.

These are some of the most popular birds that pet owners love. Before you take any of these birds home, you should always choose the one that matches your personal lifestyle the most. Choosing a bird that is a good fit for your family is the best way to ensure proper care of your pet

Tips for Attracting Cardinals to Your Outdoor Area

The Northern Cardinal is a very common bird found throughout most of the eastern and central states, the entire south, and much of the southwestern United States. They can be in yards, gardens, woodlands, even deserts and have greatly increased their breeding range over the past 80 years. The Northern Cardinal does not migrate in the winter therefore providing shelter, proper food, and fresh water will entice them to visit your yard with enthusiasm and continue to do so throughout the year.

Northern Cardinals prefer dense shrubby areas such as forest edges, overgrown fields, hedgerows, backyards, marshy thickets, mesquite, and ornamental landscaping. Cardinals nest in dense foliage at heights ranging from 3 to 12 feet off the ground in many kinds of trees and shrubs. You will find them nesting in dogwood trees, honeysuckle vines, grape vines, red cedar trees, spruce trees, rose bushes, blackberry brambles, elm trees, sugar maple trees and box elders. They do not nest in bird houses or nesting boxes.

The diet of these beautiful red birds consist mostly of seed and fruit for the adults and the nestlings are fed mostly insects. Cardinals eat many kinds of birdseed. The Northern Cardinal's strong thick bill is perfect for large seeds. Black sunflower seeds, striped sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds are three of their favorites. Other foods cardinals prefer include cracked corn, peanut pieces, fresh berries, apple chunks and small pieces of suet. Offering a mix of these in wide feeders with space for them to perch will attract them to your yard or garden. Do not use small tube feeders unless they have a large tray at the bottom. Platform feeders and fly through feeders are also a good choice. Since Cardinals are ground feeders the food source you supply should be kept at ground level or below about 5 feet. Open air cedar bird feeders mounted on a post are an excellent option. It is also important to note that due to their bright color it is safer for the Northern Cardinal to feed very early in the morning or very late in the evening. They will often be the first to feed in the morning and the last bird at your feeder at night.