Читать книгу Birds For Dummies - Gina Spadafori - Страница 36

After you figure out what you want in your feathered companion, you can realistically look at what’s out there and start matching the species that connect with your personality and lifestyle. Don’t feel restricted! The variety of species and types of pet birds available today is so broad that all except the most dedicated quiet-and-neatness types can find more than one species to fill the bill — and probably several!

We put our observations on the record here to let you know what each species is really like, both the good and the not-so-good qualities. Nobody’s perfect — not you, not us, and not any single bird. But getting the match as close as possible is your best bet for a long, happy, and healthy relationship.

Make no mistake: The qualities we’re talking about in this chapter refer to truly healthy pet birds acquired from reputable sources — and in the case of the parrot species, well-socialized birds to boot. Brian’s experience confirms that a healthy, well-cared-for bird can live roughly twice as long as some of the generic life expectancies published in most of the older reference books. You’ll never find a better testimonial to good preventive care. Poor living conditions combined with an unhealthy diet and risky behavior also limit our own life expectancies — similar to what we see in the birds we keep.

For information on choosing a reputable bird source, see Chapter 3. And don’t forget that a good start is only a start: Explore the latest on avian nutrition in Chapter 6 and on preventive care in Chapter 9.