In this blog I wanted to write about my experience with
birds, which actually started with the humble chicken.
Me interacting with my chickens
I’ve been around chickens since I was about 4 years old and
my parents can attest to how I would treat them as my pets. I would carry them
around the house and sit them on their back, often leaving them that way, but
hey I was littleJ. One of my chores growing up was to manage the
chickens. I didn’t see this as a chore, though, as I enjoyed just being around
these birds. I learned that chickens could be seemingly
very affectionate, which may surprise people.
Growing up with chickens taught me the power of imprinting
on young birds, which means they recognize their
caretaker as their mother. I raised several chicks to adults that would
literally chase me down if I didn’t pick them upJ. I loved watching my
chickens sunbathe or take dirt baths. Dirt baths become really hilarious if
there are several chickens and they all keep kicking dirt into each other’s
faces, but I don’t think they mind. Chickens were believed by Darwin to have
originated in Southeast Asia from the red jungle fowl. People may be amazed at
the wide variety of chicken breeds, comparable to the variety seen in horses,
cats and dogs.
When I was eight our father brought home an emu. These were
the most exotic birds I had ever seen; large and sometimes aggressive, but they
did a great job of protecting our field from predators going after our goats.
They are considered a pest of agricultural land in Australia, but apparently
have a variety of uses including meat, hide used for leather and their feathers
and egg shells are used for decorations and jewelry. People also use emu oil for
both cosmetic and pharmaceutical uses.
My parakeets, Blue and Odette
My experience with parrots began when I was 13 years old and
I got my first parakeet named Blue (very original, rightJ). Later I got her a friend; a white parakeet called
Odette. I always enjoy listening to my parakeets carrying on a “conversation” that
always brightens the room.
A juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk--my first encounter with a
raptor before I worked for WBS
I’ve had a few run-ins with wild birds. I’ve been known to
rescue baby robins before they could be discovered by our cats and dogs. I
actually saw a raptor up close for the first time a few years ago when my
father brought a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk out from the rain. He looked
stunned due to the hard rainstorm we had. After the hawk regained his senses,
my dad released him near where he had found him. This was a pretty amazing
encounter to me since I had never seen a raptor before then.
Of course, working for the World Bird Sanctuary has really
changed that and showing people the wide diversity in birds of prey has been an
amazing experience.
Submitted by Whitney Cowan, World Bird Sanctuary Grant's Farm Supervisor
Submitted by Whitney Cowan, World Bird Sanctuary Grant's Farm Supervisor
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