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Post by biteybird on Mar 8, 2016 2:04:26 GMT -5
About 6 weeks ago I joined the Australian Avicultural Society and I noticed they are calling for volunteer speakers at their Melbourne meetings. This led me to consider doing a quick (say 15-20 - minute) talk on quaker parrots, because it's my impression that in Australia they are not well-known or common as a pet bird.
I'm open to suggestions as to what you all regard as the 'essential' info on quakers…of course, I have my ideas from all our discussions on this forum, but I would like some opinions in case I've forgotten something.
I was thinking of incorporating info and photos (from forum members, with permission of course) into a Powerpoint presentation.
Any ideas? Thanks, in advance!
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Post by Jan and Shah on Mar 8, 2016 3:50:54 GMT -5
I am sending Shah to you - you wont need to speak - his potty mouth will do the talking for you  |
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Post by biteybird on Mar 8, 2016 4:04:42 GMT -5
Jan, I HAVE to show them a video of Shah saying "Monkey Breath"...  Any chance of getting one? |
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Post by Angela on Mar 8, 2016 6:44:19 GMT -5
No advise, but sounds amazing! Good on you! |
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Post by julianna on Mar 8, 2016 13:58:37 GMT -5
Bitebird I consider you one of the Experts on here. I am sure you have all the most important information you need for this speech. Congratulations and good luck. As far as photos, you should take the banner with you.... I think it is wonderful and speaks louder than words.
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Post by aaron on Mar 8, 2016 15:19:28 GMT -5
Gosh, there's so much to cover! I think it would probably be easier if you posted your draft presentation and let us see what (if anything) we think is missing. You're certainly welcome to use any photos or stories of Cupcake in building it! If you need any graphics made for it I can help with that too |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Mar 8, 2016 15:41:15 GMT -5
Hi Biteybird, I will try and get a video of the little monster but he seems to know when I want to film it and doesn't say anything. May be able to get a sound recording though. I think it is great that you are going to give a talk on quakers.
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 8, 2016 21:10:27 GMT -5
I would include a bit about QPs being the only type of parrot that builds a stick nest in the wild, and that many of our companion Quakers have the nest-building instinct, and build structures of their own. I'd probably also talk a little about the colonies of naturalized Quakers in various parts of the world, amd how they've adapted to different climate conditions. In my impromptu lectures about QPs  I've found that non-parrot people think these things are interesting. |
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Post by biteybird on Mar 9, 2016 2:09:39 GMT -5
Thanks, all! I haven't actually put my hand up for this YET, but will probably do so in the next 2-3 weeks; as their meetings schedule is planned a few months in advance, that will give me some time to prepare. If I want to use members' photos &/or anecdotes I'll send you a personal message - thanks Aaron for granting your permission in advance & offering to help with layout (I may just take you up on it!) I'll definitely mention all the different names - I found the Monk Parrot thread really informative - plus colour variations, building stick nests, intelligence & speaking abilities and 'feistiness'! |
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Post by aaron on Mar 9, 2016 14:20:53 GMT -5
No problem! Sounds great. I'm sure Julianna would allow you to include pictures of Oscar's nest building escapades as well, if you want to show how these nest building tendencies manifest in captivity |
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Post by Caseysmom on Mar 9, 2016 20:24:01 GMT -5
Sounds like you will have fun researching and organizing. if you need any specific pictures we can try to set them up for you.
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Post by biteybird on Mar 9, 2016 21:17:48 GMT -5
I'd love to embed some videos (e.g., the peekaboo ones). |
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Post by Caseysmom on Mar 9, 2016 22:06:37 GMT -5
Sure, . I can see what else I can get her saying. Can you get it from you tube or do you want them in a google drive file? It might be too big to email. You don't need things right away right? I am dog sitting a big Portuguese Water Dog puppy... Poor Casey hasn't been getting much time out of the cage. Just for showers and dinner when I crate the puppy. He is nine months old and full of energy. Thankfully he doesn't even glance at her cage but I won't chance having them out together. |
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Post by biteybird on Mar 10, 2016 2:19:04 GMT -5
Thanks! I think I can get them from YouTube (I have a program that can save YouTube videos to my computer hard drive). No, I don't need anything straight away. Good luck with your puppy-sitting (he sounds adorable!). I'm sure Casey will forgive you! |
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Post by beccilouise on Mar 10, 2016 8:02:31 GMT -5
Hello BiteyBird! This sounds like a great idea! I don't expect I know anything about QPs that you don't already know. I wondered if you might want too mention about them being one of the few parrot species that is not on the endangered list, and how they have taken up the same spot in the ecosystem in America that the Carolina parrakeet once inhabited before it was extinct. I've been reading a lot about the plight of parrots recently, and the appalling parrot trade that still allows wild birds to be trapped and transported in appalling conditions for the pet trade. I know everybody here adores their birds and would always do their best to treat them well, but it's amazing how many people I've come across who don't feel the same.
A taxi driver of mine the other day told me that he had two parrots. I asked what species they were and he said he didn't know (!?) He showed me a picture and straight away I told him they were rosellas. He asked why they weren't breeding as he had two of them. I told him there was no way they would feel comfortable breeding in a cage that small (their cage, for two rosellas, was smaller than Byron's cage. Granted, his cage is huge, but there is only one of him and he's half the size of a rosella! Their cage should have been FAR bigger than his!) and asked if he knew whether or not they were a pair. He said he didn't even know if they were a male and female. I also had to explain that females were unlikely to mate and lay eggs if they do not have a nest box in which to shack up with their boyfriends. After all that, I strongly advised him not to breed any birds. But it amazed me how little interest he had shown in the birds' happiness, wellbeing and social conditioning. I know this isn't directly about QPs, but David says all I've said to people since I got Byron is 'don't get a parrot'. It's not because I hate him. In fact, it's because I love him so much and desperately want him to be happy and I'm terrified of inadvertently being the reason that one of these little guys ends up in a home where they are misunderstood.
ANYWAY, good luck with your talk! I'm sure you will have lots to say!
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Any chance of getting one?
I've found that non-parrot people think these things are interesting. 
