Читать книгу Birds For Dummies - Gina Spadafori - Страница 26

IN THIS CHAPTER

Deciding what you can live with and what you can’t

Taking a look at some common (and not so common) pet birds

You may find bringing a bird into your life an easy decision. But what kind of bird? That call can be the most difficult of all. So many choices, so much stunning beauty, cleverness, and personality. How can you choose? We say: Choose carefully!

We know people who’ve chosen birds based on some really awful criteria, like which bird best matches their new carpeting — a parrot in just the right shade of blue. Other people choose birds for status — some rare birds can set a buyer back thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. A decision based on these criteria can be a disaster. You may miss out on one of the big benefits of bird ownership — the company and closeness of a new family member — and the mess and noise delivered by that decorative avian status object aren’t likely to win any adoring coos. Vanity can be a pretty expensive lesson, especially when a bird who isn’t getting the care and attention she needs becomes sick or dies.

How can you avoid such a scenario? Start by understanding what birds really are about and what they need, and determine what you can and can’t live with. Even a little knowledge can be good — and the more you know, the better!

We’re not saying you shouldn’t choose a bird strictly for aesthetics. Some pet birds, such as finches and canaries, are content to live with as little human contact as possible, spending their days delighting our lives with song, color, and playful antics in their cages. But expecting a larger and more social parrot to adapt to such a situation isn’t a good idea. We want you to recognize not only the remarkable variety of birds available but also that the bird you’re naturally drawn to may or may not be the right one for you in the long run. Consider your lifestyle, your personal tolerances for noise and mess, and the amount of time you have to care for and interact with a bird. With this information at hand, you have the best chance of pairing up with the particular species that suits you.

Although we feature many varieties of companion birds in this chapter — including a few that the vast majority of bird lovers are best off avoiding — we offer a list of the ten best birds for beginners in Chapter 19.

Here’s a different way of looking at the question: What is a bird looking for in you? When you visit a retailer with birds, look for that individual who comes to you, wants to interact with you, and tells you, “I think you’re kind of special.” This bird may be an entirely different species from the one you were thinking of, but keep in mind, you’re looking for the right relationship with the right bird.