From the parrot's beak: 10/23 edition

- Bittersweet Bird Day Party: Lolo the cockatoo munched a bird seed cake while wearing a paper hat and while Rasheed and the Jazz Collective played "Happy Birthday". Guests at the Washington Square Park, NY event included Lolo's human; Hellen Castiglione, party organizers Joy and Brian Pape, an urban wildlife rehabilitator, several animal lovers and a hedgehog named Meatball wrapped in a pastel-blue blanket,. The party was advertised in a local newspaper, the "WestView News". The not so idyllic back story is that Castiglione and newly turned 21 year old Lolo are homeless since a fire destroyed their New Jersey home thee years ago; forcing them now to sleep in the park or subway. Castiglione, who says she has bipolar disorder and manic depression, showers at a gym, storing Lolo in a locker while hoping he did not make his presence known with an errant “hello.” Castiglione ekes out a meager living by charging tourists $5 apiece for a photo with Lolo on their shoulders.

- Techno bird: There are still a few holdouts who think computers are for the birds, and now they are correct - literally speaking. Mini mac notebooks are now available for budgies, parrotlets, cockatiels and similar sized birds. Bigger beaks might bust the mirror, so this toy is not recommended for them, but even small birds should be suprevised while using.

- Squash that idea: Autumn is a great time for birds to try locally grown seasonal produce, including large varieties of squash. Large chunks and different textures (heated or raw) offer some choices for your parrots. Let them tell you through their behavior how they want their squash prepared. Offer a choice of two different types of squash and see what they choose. - from our friends at Leather Elves, Weymouth, MA based bird supply company.

- New York is Where I'd Rather Stay: The birds are spreading to the 'burbs. Feral quakers have been well established in Brooklyn, NYC for years to the point where there are even organized "parrot safaris" for bird lovers to observe the parrots and their huge nests. Now, they are apparently sspreading out to the suburbs, including Freeport on Long Island. Dozens of the colorful birds have been building nests on opposite corners of the intersection for more than a year. Native to South America, the parrots have been showing up on the South Shore of Long Island since 2013, they were spotted in Amityville in Suffolk County. “They’re beautiful!” said Lisa Acevedo of Freeport. “I didn’t even know until yesterday that they even existed down here.”

- Isst dat Fraulein Heidenreich?: At a Science based Parrot Behavior & Training seminar in Karlsruhe, Germany; presenter Barbara Heidenreich reports she is surrounded by people who say her last name better than she does. Undoubtedly, they also remember how to spell it better than this writer does as well!

- Parrotrivia: In a "Barney Miller" episode titled "The Bird", a clerk that sells Wojo a sick parrot has a sudden change of heart about his strict no-return policy when he learns that the purchaser is police Det. Stanley Thaddeus "Wojo" Wojciehowicz.

‎- Psittacine cinema: They Rescued A Parrot And Took Him Home. What This...

- Quote o' the week: I don't need therapy I have a parrot. - Facebook meme.

- Quick notes: Be sure to catch next week's spooktacular Halloween edition. -- Have you missed a previous edition of "From the Parrot's beak"? Past issues can be seen on the Facebook page, Pet Bird Owners.

- Hot Dates: 10/22, 29: Halloween costume party for pets; participating Petco stiores. How many birds can we get out there?

10/22: 2016 BAA Grand National - DoubleTree Hotel Intercontinental, 15747 John F Kennedy Blvd, Houston, TX 77032 - 10-5 -- Things I Wish I’d Known - Phoenix Landing Educational Seminars- -Fairfax, VA -- Sex & the Single Bird -2 pm, Parrot University Class-Pineville Towne Market, 321 South Polk St., Suite 2C, Pineville, NC

10/23: Avian Medicine -2 pm, Parrot University Class-Pineville Towne Market, 321 South Polk St., Suite 2C, Pineville, NC -- Orange County Exotic Bird Expo! Admission: $10 (Cash Only) Children 5-10y rs.: $5 Parking: FREE in back of building, 1500 S. Anaheim Blvd.\, Orange County, CA -- Tucson bird mart 3750 E. Irvington Rd. Tucson AZ 9-3
$5 to get in

10/29-30: 25th Annual CT Pet Show & TICA Cat Show-Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4

10/29: Toy Making 11 am; Parrot 101 2 pm - Parrot University Classes-Pineville Towne Market, 321 South Polk St., Suite 2C, Pineville, NC -- Central California Cage Bird Club 63rd annual bird show/10th annual bird mart Adults: $5; unde 5 FREE, Free parking. 5411 Luce Ave., Sacramento. CA -- Fun with Food -2 pm, Parrot University Classes-Pineville Towne Market, 321 South Polk St., Suite 2C, Pineville, NC-- CCCBC Bird Mart and Bird Show Stanislaus County Fairgrounds i9-3; $5, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock, CA

10/29-30: 25th Annual CT Pet Show & TICA Cat Show-Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT Sat 10-6, Sun 10-4

10/30: Exoticbirdmart.com Adults $10 kids 5 to 10 $5 McClellan center 5411 luce Ave Sacramento ca 95652

10/31: Halloween. Parrots can join in some of the fun, but make sure they are happy, safe and secure.

11/4: Avian/exotic vet Dr. Laurie Hess book signing "Unlikely Companions", about life as an exotic pet veterinarian: 7pm at BookCourt in Brooklyn Heights, NY