January 5th is a day set aside to celebrate the beauty of birds – their roles to the ecosystem and more. And this day has been termed the “National Bird Day”. A lot of activities take place during this day, ranging from bird adoption, studying birds, bird games, amongst others.
Over time, man has realized that birds can also make good pet companions, and this has given rise to more and more people adopting and wanting to adopt birds as pets.
This act by bird enthusiasts has also led to the campaign against endangering birds in the wild.
Therefore, apart from marking the National Bird Day with bird adoption, bird enthusiasts also seize that avenue to educate people on the various ways to prevent birds extinction through their activities with the environment.
The National Bird Day also features activities like taking birds to animal and bird clinics for medication and exploring ways to keep them healthy. Indeed, birds are lovely to be with, especially if you’re able to train and care for them properly. And if you’re looking to adopt a bird or already have one, here are some tips to help you care for your bird the right way:
Feeding Your Bird
What do birds eat? This is the first question you want to ask as an intending bird owner or new owner. Basically, bird foods depend on species, life history, etc. However, most vets often recommend diets that contain vegetables and other necessary nutrients. So, the best thing to do is to visit an animal care center, where you do find professional vets to examine your bird, know the species, and advice on the food to feed your bird. Don’t worry if you feel that’s going to cost you a lot of money. You can find a cheap vet clinic that you won’t have to reach so deep into your pocket to have your feathered friend examined.
Health and General Care
The overall care of your bird is another thing you need to consider. Adopting a bird is somewhat an investment, and also, you don’t want to lose your companion for any reason. Therefore, you need to take good care of your bird.
Keep in mind that birds are different from cats and dogs health-wise.
So you want to make sure that the right vaccines are used to prevent and treat any ailment. You also need to watch out for possible signs of illness and know the right time to contact a vet – you can keep contact with the pet vet animal hospital around you. More so, personal hygiene also contributes to keeping your pet healthy. Keep your birdcage clean, get safe bird toys, regular exercises, proper diet, etc.
Cages and Environment
Birds are naturally made for the wild, and you have to incorporate some of those attributes into their daily routine to keep them happy and healthy. While the cage is the best place to keep your bird, it may never have the chance to fly. So, create a suitable environment where your bird can sometimes fly around, roost, and forage in flocks. It creates a natural feeling for your feathered friend, and you’d enjoy the companionship more.
A better way to do this is to make the cage large, get plenty of toys to keep your bird engaged.
Interaction and Socialization
You should try to understand your bird’s behavior. Birds love to play and make some sound in the form of screaming. You can take your bird out of the cage sometimes and have your kids play with it. Any type of social interaction that keeps your bird happy is encouraged. In all, try to socialize and interact with your bird. You can buy a book that teaches how to interact with your bird to help you learn the right measures.
Intelligence
Based on how you train your bird, they can become very intelligent and heed to your instructions – perhaps through sign or voice recognition. Some birds such as African Greys, Amazons, Macaws, and others are quite good at mimicking. You can train them to recognize certain commands while you also understand their sounds, perhaps trying to mimic you.
Wrap Up
By now, you already know what the National Bird Day entails if you initially had no idea. Also, we’ve provided some tips to help you care for your bird – thankfully, there are a handful of affordable vet clinics that can help you take care of your bird’s health. Birds are excellent social companions, and their safety should be of great concern to all bird enthusiasts.