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FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
From the Founder, Julie Weiss Murad
Knowledge is like a garden; if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.
– African proverb
Spring is a time to re-energize ourselves after the dark days of winter. With summer approaching, now is the time to inspire, educate and entertain ourselves with a slew of good reading and viewing materials. In the May 12, 2008 issue of The New Yorker magazine, read “Birdbrain” by Margaret Talbot, a marvelous piece about Dr. Irene Pepperberg, the woman behind the world’s chattiest parrot, Alex the Grey, who passed away in 2007. Go online to www.newyorker.com to listen to an interview with Ms. Talbot. While browsing, check out A Reporter at Large, "PARROTS," by Michael Stern, The New Yorker, July 30, 1990, a wonderful piece on the history of parrot keeping. In fact, dozens of articles about parrots have been published in this magazine during the last 80-plus years. What rich time travel these musings provide.
Along these lines, Parrot Culture © 2004 by Bruce Thomas Boehrer, provides an additional overview about parrots throughout recorded history. So much has been written about parrots that is wonderful and informative. We owe it to our feathered friends to learn about their role in history and science. An interesting foray into the basics of parrot species and behavior can also be enjoyed in Rebecca O’Connor’s book, A Parrot for Life © 2007, published by TFH, and available at The Birdbrain. To get the inside scoop on good nutrition for parrots, Robert Black’s new book, Parrot Nutrition © 2008 is a parrot caregiver’s tableside companion. It is also available at The Birdbrain along with a wealth of other specially selected parrot care and related books.
Nature’s Corner® Magazine announces its upcoming Alex memorial issue which contains articles by those who were close to him and tributes by those who admired him. Alex was one of a kind. To get an early copy, subscribe to the magazine and receive the special trial offer on the site for two issues.
Whether in your garden, on the sofa, by a favorite resting spot or by the water, take some time for yourself and invest in a good read that truly benefits your flock.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
TGF has been busy this spring with many education and outreach opportunities. Beyond the Bird Basics for Small Parrot Care was another classroom success. This uniquely designed day-long seminar is geared to the husbandry, nutrition and enrichment of the smaller of the parrot species. If you’d like to upgrade your skills and knowledge or are considering the adoption option, join us. The next live version is July 12, 2008 from 9 AM to 4 PM in Denver. To register, please contact Patti Christie, CVT, education@thegabrielfoundation.org. Enrollment is limited, so register now!
Julie Murad, TGF’s Founder and President, and Patti Christie, Director of Education, Adoptions and Avian Welfare, have been on the road teaching Beyond the Bird Basics workshops. Our first stop was Indianapolis. Many thanks to Angela Lennox, DVM, Dipl. ABVP-Avian and her staff at the Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic of Indianapolis. We enjoyed Midwestern hospitality and a full classroom. Also presenting was Dr. Ellen Cook, whose DVD, Happily Ever After, Living and Learning with Parrots (available at The Birdbrain) has been a huge success. Dr. Cook’s infamous Moluccan cockatoo, Merlin, was onsite too, and was a model student. Shirley Morgan, along with Dr. Cook and Companion Parrot Media, took a bevy of photos of this event. See more photos at http://www.thebirdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7303. To watch Merlin in action visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY1qMSUlvZ8.
After a brief return to Colorado, Julie and Patti went on to Minneapolis where they presented at the Minnesota Companion Bird Association to a marvelous audience. Thanks to their generous support, TGF received over $800 in member donations. Many thanks to the club officers, members and attendees. For more info, visit http://www.mnbird.org/
We remained in MN for another weekend workshop of Beyond the Bird Basics, hosted by Karen Anderson and Brenda Weegman of Avian Suites, http://www.birdboarding.com/. While there we had the pleasure of seeing Reno and Mango, macaws who were recently adopted from TGF by Kayla and Ryan F. They are flourishing in their new home!
Still on the teaching track, Julie and Patti traveled to the NDSU campus in Fargo, ND to present Beyond the Bird Basics, hosted by Lois Novacek and CAARE, http://www.caare.net/page1.aspx. It was a successful weekend for all and included 5 parrot welfare caregivers from Winnipeg, Canada. Many thanks to Renee Quimby and PAEP, http://www.parrothelp.org/serv03.htm for her support at this event.
This week finds some of TGF’s staff in Orlando, FL. Networking, resources and education is the focus of the HSUS Animal Care Expo, and TGF is here to be a voice for the parrot community which is so often overlooked. See what we’re up to at: http://www.animalsheltering.org/expo/. TGF is called often upon to provide services and resources for birds from animal shelters throughout Colorado and the US. Networking and liaison with other sheltering organizations is an important part of TGF’s Education and Outreach programs which are dedicated to improving the quality of care for companion parrots.
It’s not too late to register for Parrots International Annual Conference, May 31-June 1, to be held in Long Beach, CA, http://www.parrotsinternational.org . Many fine speakers from around the world will be presenting, and Julie Murad will be presenting about the relevance of conservation and the companion parrot.
More exciting news - Julie will present at Mensa’s Rocky Mountain High IQ symposium held in Denver, CO from July 2-6, 2008. This annual gathering will host a few of TGF’s feathered ambassadors and share a brief history of parrotkeeping with an eager audience. For details, visit http://www.ag2008.us.mensa.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Program4
NOW ON EBAY: “Operation Sell Them Feathers for TGF”, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190221467638
Thanks to the time and support of TGF adopters Gaye and Robert Thomassen, this fundraiser is officially underway with proceeds to directly benefit TGF. All feathers have been naturally molted, and are in beautiful condition. Whether for a special memento, a unique gift or for the fly fishing fanatic, 100% of your purchase dollars go to TGF.
COMING IN JUNE: Aviary Volunteer Work Day: Saturday, June 14
For those of you who missed this fun opportunity (and good food!) - you’ll have another chance! We have scheduled our next Volunteer Work Day at the Aviary and Adoption Center in Elizabeth for Saturday, June 14th. There is still (always!) much work to be done keeping the flights and the grounds in shape. We can’t do it without you!
Other volunteer opportunities:
We can always use your help to keep the indoor cages enriched, so if you have one day a week to come, make toys or put toys in cages, let us know. Any gardeners out there? We need help getting our container gardens going again. Last year’s blooms were lovely. This year promises to be even better with your green thumbs!
Denver’s renowned Old Pearl Street Pet Fair is coming up June 22, 2008. If you’d like to share the streets with us during this fun family festival, we could use your help!.
If you have a day in mind you’d like to help – let me know! Please check your calendar and if you can join us, contact Patti at education@thegabrielfoundation.org
MANY THANKS TO:
Mickey and Peter Paulos for their Plant a Tree, Feed a Bird kick-off fundraiser for TGF. What a special evening with the birds and supporters; to our special volunteers, a heartfelt thank you to Heather B, Virginia, Dana, Raul, Ed, MacKenzie, Sara and Courtney who toughed out the snow, rain, wind, cold and bits of SUN on Saturday to work out in the aviary flights. You were real troopers and your work is so much appreciated! The birds have already begun enjoying the "fruits" of our labor! And to Lyn Tison, TGF’s Volunteer of the Month.
HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP IN JUNE'S FRONT PERCH: AFA Annual Conference, July 30-August 7, 2008, St. Louis, http://www.afabirds.org/2008_Convention/index.shtml; “Georgia on My Mind” AAV 2008; TGF’s Behavior and Learning Workshop, October 3-6, 2008; details about TGF’s July 2009 Symposium, to be held in Washington, DC., and much, much more!
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April Showers bring May Flowers and Sweet Patchouli!
Patchouli is a female Red Lored Amazon, about 7 years old. She came to us on April 22, 2006. This charming bird was a member of Gloria and Ben Ridgway’s flock out at Whitewings Farm in Raymond, WA. When Gloria passed away in December 2006, she had requested that many of her birds come to TGF. Volunteers and Board of Directors members Shauna and Allen Roberts drove the 21 member group of birds out by motor coach. Patchouli had been bred and raised by a long time WA breeder, and was intended to be a friend for Gloria’s Red Lored Amazon, Reba. The two shared a flight, but were not particularly interested in each other. Reba found a wonderful home in 2007 but the right match for Patch hasn’t come along just yet. She is quieter than many of our Amazons, but does enjoy a good happy call if you get her going. She is gentle and likes most people. Patchouli has lived with several other parrots and would do fine in a home with other birds. Having an outdoor aviary, cage or flight for her to enjoy and bask in the sun and fresh air is important, as it has always been a part of her life. She is such a nice girl and would just blossom with a family of her own.
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Meet Avian Wildlife Artist Carole Niclasse
Born in New York in 1964, Carole first remembers falling in love with paint at the young age of four. She moved to Spain at the age of six, where she spent the next ten years of her life. Her love of art and nature were reinforced through her education and her surroundings.
Carole knew from an early age, that being an artist was her calling. She spent time studying fine art in England, and later graduated from New York University with a BFA. In addition, she studied at Parsons School of Design, and School of Visual Arts in New York City. She later enriched her artistic background by studying botanical illustration at the New York Botanical Gardens. Here she re-discovered an old friend: Color Pencil-which has become her medium of preference along with watercolor.
Carole's focus on avian subjects came about as a logical progression: Her love for her own avian companions and that of nature became her inspiration.
In her quest to 'make a difference', Carole regularly donates her work in order to help raise funding for Avian Medicine Research, wildlife conservation and rehabilitation, and habitat conservation.
It is her greatest wish that those who view her work will experience a sense of caring and respect for the beauty depicted, and if nothing else-help them to be aware of the necessity to preserve and nurture the habitats in which these creatures exist. It is important to remember that beneath the dazzling plumage lays great intelligence and sensitivity.
Carole resides and works in Ridgewood, New Jersey with her husband Dean-who as a veterinarian, has helped her to learn about many invaluable aspects of the avian and animal world. They take great pleasure in traveling around the world to gather reference for her work, as well as experiencing wildlife and nature first-hand.
You can buy prints, cards, mugs and t-shirts featuring Carole's artwork at The Birdbrain or at www.thebirdbrain.com.
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Venta Airwashers Still On Sale at the Birdbrain!
Give your bird the gift of good air! Order a Venta Airwasher from us this month and get the lowest prices anywhere. All models come in charcoal grey or off-white.
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MSRP |
The Birdbrain price |
LW44 |
$399.99 |
$329.99 |
LW24 |
$299.99 |
$249.99 |
LW14 |
$199.99 |
$179.99 |
All orders must be prepaid. Please allow one week for delivery.
Click here to learn more about the importance of air quality.
Shop at the Birdbrain, Help the Parrots of TGF
The Birdbrain is now 100% owned by The Gabriel Foundation! Remember that when you need supplies or products for your birds, all proceeds support the parrots and programs of TGF. Shop with compassion, make a difference one bird at a time – and show your support for The Gabriel Foundation.
Online shopping at The Birdbrain www.thebirdbrain.com is about to drastically improve! We know that our E-commerce program has been the cause of great frustration to our online shoppers. Thanks to a restricted donation, The Birdbrain is developing a totally new website for your shopping pleasure and convenience. Meanwhile, Teri and Christal are at The Birdbrain Monday through Saturday to assist you with your birds’ needs. Just call us at 888.923.2140 or 303.446.BIRD or email at sales@thebirdbrain.com. Store hours are Mon-Fri 10:30AM-6:00PM and Saturday 10:00AM-4:00PM. The Birdbrain is located at 1025 Acoma Street in Denver.
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A Beautiful Evening for the Birds
Thank you to everyone who came out to our first Arbor Day fundraiser, Plant a Tree, Feed a Bird, on April 25th. It was a lovely evening full of friends, feathers and feast - and most importantly, thanks to your generosity, we will soon be planting many new trees at the Aviary and Adoption Center!
Our sincere gratitude to Peter and Mickey Paulos for sharing their beautiful home and for their wonderful hospitality!
Click here to see more party pics! |
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Birds in Need of a Sponsor
Profile: Rocky and Louie
Sabra Kahn is the founder of Avalon Parrots, a small retail and e-commerce business providing rehoming for parrots in need, in White Bear Lake, MN. Last month, an adjacent building undergoing remodeling caused such severe damage to her rental space that the building was condemned. Sabra had to find placement for all the birds and her inventory as a result. TGF was asked to help, and Rocky and Louie - the odd couple, flew to CO for a new chapter in their lives. This is their story…
Aviary & Adoption Center Update
In April we took in 28 birds, some went to the Aviary and Adoption Center but the majority are in quarantine at The Birdbrain. Three parrots were adopted out to new homes. Each bird that comes in and out of the aviary requires much attention. Before a bird can join the “flock”, each one must go through medical testing and quarantine, to protect the health and safety of both that bird and all the others. Our adoption process involves several steps to ensure that each bird goes to an appropriate and loving home. Have a look at our Adoption Page to read Happy Tails, just some of our success stories. Our staff goes the distance to make sure that every bird that comes through our doors receives the best care possible. We cannot do this without your help. Please donate now.
For information about Relinquishments, Long-term Foster Care, Sanctuary and Boarding, please contact Karen VanderHyde at (303)629-5900 ext. 216. If you are interested in our online Beyond Birdie Basics classes, Education and Outreach events or want to consider the adoption option, contact Patti Christie at (303)629-5900 ext.213.
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Shop Online - Help the Birds!
Now you can help the birds of TGF just by shopping online with your favorite retailers! This is such a great way to support a worthy cause without spending any money and only a few seconds of your time.
The Gabriel Foundation has partnered with several online shopping sites who will donate a percentage of their profits to us - and all you have to do is shop! There are hundreds of retailers to choose from -amazon.com, The Gap, Best Buy, Home Depot, Nordstrom, Zappos.com - just to name a few!
Click here for details.
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The Wonders of Microfiber
Parrot owners are always looking for cleaning products that are safe to use around their birds - but how about a material that is so easy to keep clean that you don't need all those products? Let us extol the virtues of microfiber...
Until a few years ago, mop yarn and cloth fiber were pretty straightforward — large, cotton or rayon threads woven or twisted into usable form. Building service contractors often purchased the same cloths, pads and mop heads their predecessors bought. Then, microfiber made its way out of Europe and into American cleaning operations, and with it came more questions. What is microfiber, exactly? How is it made? And will it really do what vendors say it’s going to do?
“There is a lot of confusion on the market regarding microfiber. However, there is no black magic about it,” says Bernard Bensussan, vice president of research and development for Unger Enterprises Inc. in Bridgeport, Conn. “Microfiber is the name given to fabric with very fine threads.”
“What defines a microfiber is its size — a microfiber must be smaller than one denier,” adds Shawn Strouse, director of sales, Tuway American Group, Troy, Mich. A denier is a unit of linear measurement equal to the mass in grams of 9,000 meters of the fiber.
However, in cleaning, microfiber has a narrower definition.
“[Cleaning] microfiber is a very thin filament that has been extruded with two synthetic polymers — polyester and nylon,” explains Judy Klein,director of microfiber cleaning, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Winchester, Va. “After it’s extruded, it’s processed mechanically and chemically to be broken into finer parts, 1/100th the diameter of a human hair.”
Read more.
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Parroting 101: Bird Gastronomy by Shauna Roberts
According to Prevention Magazine, researchers in the United Kingdom have found more proof that organics are a healthier choice, containing up to 40% more disease fighting antioxidants than conventional produce.
Fruits can provide several disease fighting antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Try these for a change :
- Fresh figs help reduce blood pressure
- Lychee was shown in a French study to contain polyphenols, which help the heart stay healthy and fight disease
- Guava contains almost 5 times more vitamin C than an orange. Vitamin C is good for the skin.
- Asian pears contain about twice as much fiber as apples and may help lower cholesterol.
- Papaya is one of the best sources of beta-crypoxanthin which has been suggested to protect and fight against lung cancer. Papaya is also a good source of lycopene.
And, try this:
- Radishes aren't new, but have you tried steaming them? Lightly steaming or roasting is a great way to add variety to your bird's diet. When radishes are cooked flavor mellows and sweetens. Don't forget to wash and add the edible green tops to your parrot's salad or mash!
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Farewell Babby, Rest in Peace
When she came to TGF almost a decade ago, Babby, the Mitred Conure was relinquished by an owner who had originally found her in a dumpster. The owner had Babby for several years, and then found herself pregnant, and Babby's vocalizations were too much for her. Babby had free flight at that home, and when she came to TGF she was a skilled flyer. She had an affectionate and 'bossy' personality - and she had her own fan club! We had placed Babby in one home, but she was returned when the caregiver lost her job. By that time Babby showed signs of papilloma, and she entered TGF's papilloma flock. Ultimately, she was paired with Rowan, another Mitred conure whose long-time friend, Martin, died. Babby and Rowan became devoted to each other and enjoyed plenty of outdoor sunshine together before Babby's condition deteriorated last week.
Sadly, Babby's papillomas had become invasive in the past couple of months and she spent quite a bit of time back and forth for supportive care and treatment. This week when we found her at the bottom of her cage she appeared to be worse. She was taken immediately to Dr. Ahlgrim and had barium administered. More than 3 hours post barium, that medium still hadn't passed into her intestines, indicating a blockage, most probably papilloma. Dr. Ahlgrim suggested that it was time to help end Babby's suffering and we agreed.
Some of you knew Babby well, and she was quite the trooper - now she's free at last.
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Our Volunteer of the Month - Lyn Tison!
Lyn Tison has worked tirelessly for The Gabriel Foundation since 2006. Her dedication to further the mission and purpose of The Gabriel Foundation is outstanding. Anyone who has been to The Birdbrain for grooming, Meet The Birds or any holiday events surely has been met with Lyn's smile and energy. She is a constant at all of our outreach events. Lyn is "mom" to several parrots - Hugo (Mealy Amazon), Magoo (Moluccan Cockatoo), Noodles (Ducorps Cockatoo), Bernadette (Black Headed Caique), Kayla and Miguel (Orange Winged Amazons), Juanita (Double Yellow Head Amazon), Zuzu and Tamika (Congo African Greys), Willa & Claude Koda (Congo African Greys); Woody (disabled Yellow Naped Amazon) and Willie Bird (Double Yellow Head Amazon). Click here to learn more about Lyn.
If you are interested in donating your time, please send an email to patti@thegabrielfoundation.org. We can't do it without you!
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Save the Date!!!
BIRTHDAY BASH ALERT – Join our Birdbrain, Julie Weiss Murad, on August 16, 2008 for her very special decade birthday celebration. Details coming soon. You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind party for the parrots!
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Just $10/month can help support The Gabriel Foundation enough to help several birds survive and begin a new life. Help Now!
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