introducing amazons

			Echo's Haven Macaw Rescue Sanctuary The Complete Bird Community
Our goal is to provide a free-flight home for formerly abused, unwanted or problem Macaws.

Home	Bird Supplies	Bird Food	Echo's Haven Department Store	Pet Supplies	My Human My Slave
Subscribe To Our Newsletter	Free Bird eBooks	Free Bird Classifieds	Parrot Library	Bird Articles	Free Bird Photo Calendar
Free Bird Postcards	Parrot Chat	Events Calendar	Echo's Haven Family Photos	Bird Link Directory	Contact Us
" " Excerpt from My Human, My Slave			Bird Vets in Your Area	Echo's Haven Sanctuary	HTML Shoppe Pages

Introducing Amazons

By Len LaRiccia

Found from Mexico on down, Amazons are playful, energetic birds who love to go with their owners on outings. They love the sunlight and need plenty of exercise.

The majority of Amazons bond with only one person, and for this reason is great pets for single people. They also are known for chasing strangers or people they don’t like around the house away from their owner. They may also bite you instead, trying to force you away from the person or thing they dislike. This is what is known as displacement.

Flocks of these birds can be extremely loud. Single birds for the most part are excellent talkers, with vocabularies in the hundreds.

The Amazons diet includes small grubs, fruits and seeds & nuts. They do have a tendency to get fat, and owners need to closely monitor the fat in their diet.

Spectacled, Mexican Redheads and Lilac Crown Amazons tend to be the best pets, developing better temperaments that the larger Amazons and have a friendlier behavior. The price range for these types of Amazons should be between $400-$500. Birds priced significantly lower that this may have come into the Country illegally and may be sickly. Other types of Amazons include the Blue Fronted, Double Yellowhead, Yellow Naped, and Red Lored. These birds are normally priced between $500-$800. All babies are adorable when they are born, but buyer bewares, when the baby reaches the age of about two years they generally develop a temper. Setting rules early is very important. If guidelines are not in place, you and your bird will be very miserable.

San Diego County has a very active breeding community, and Wild Amazons are abundant throughout the region. The normal clutch size for an Amazon is three. In captivity breeding can be difficult, as the males sometimes kill their mates. When buying pairs, Bird Crazy suggests you don’t place two in the same container for transporting.

Amazon Parrots are commonly smuggled into the United States from Tijuana. Smugglers bringing in these birds are not giving them the proper care, with 9 out of 10 smuggled birds dying in transit. Smugglers use anything to keep the babies quiet, including alcohol & drugs. Baby Amazons need heat and the correct nutrients; smugglers often fail to provide these essentials to keep them alive. Babies are being brought into the United States carrying diseases, which can be transmitted to humans.

Bird Crazy is assisting the United States Fish and Wildlife Services Search and Find Team in an effort to cut down on the number of birds illegally brought into the United States. Bird Crazy, in conjunction with pet owners who have their birds clipped at Bird Crazy, is supplying thousands of feathers that are sniffed by Fish And Wildlife Services dogs, which in turn helps them detect smuggled birds. Birds are being found in tires, inside smugglers’ shirts – in every place conceivable hiding place. This special project has been in place for six months, and the results have been astounding.

If you suspect that your bird was smuggled, it is an absolute must that you immediately take it to the vet. Tell the vet what you suspect. He or she will perform the necessary tests to protect you and your pet. Bacteria is common with all babies, if they are not properly cared for both you and your bird could have health problems.

Privacy Statement, Copyright, Contact information & About us