Parrots, were they able to verbalize, might sing a similar tune: "All I want is a cage somewhere, Strong and spacious, but not too bare, With tender, loving care. Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?"
Parrot Cages
Just as parrots come in many sizes, parrot cages vary from small to large. They come in rectangles and cylinders, plain and fancy. Parrot cages can be difficult to purchase, and the savvy buyer will do research before attempting to do so. Four of the factors to be considered are given here, but you will want to discuss your final purchase with a knowledgeable dealer.
1. Parrot Breed and Size
The breed and size of your parrot figure strongly in the consideration of available parrot cages.
Large birds need sufficient space to stretch big wings, climb around, and enjoy healthy exercise. Large parrot cages are needed for parrots in the size range of African Grey Parrots, Amazons, Cockatoos, and Macaws. Large parrot cages should be made of steel or metal, and have a bar spacing of one or more inches. Any smaller spacing in large parrot cages will permit your parrot to get caught and injure itself.
Medium parrot cages are good for medium size parrots such as Caiques, Cockatiels, Conures, and Senegals. Medium parrot cages should have steel or metal bars spaced 1/2 to 5/8 inch apart. Parrot cages with larger or smaller bar spacing may allow your bird to be injured.
If you have a small parrot such as a Budgerigar (Budgie), Lovebird, or Parrotlet, you will need to look at small parrot cages. Small parrot cages also should be of steel or metal, since all parrots love to chew. Bar spacing should be 1/2 inch or less in small parrot cages.
2. Configuration
The configuration of parrot cages is the size and shape. Since parrots like to climb and fly, parrot cages need to be tall. Even the most basic, small parrot cages should be at least 7-8 inches taller than their width and depth. Dome tops are functional as well as attractive in parrot cages. The parrot will amuse itself climbing across the dome. Wide cages are important for larger parrots, as they will need to fly back and forth. While some parrot cages are built to resemble castles or Victorian homes, complete with turrets, one must be sure the d'cor does not involve sharp edges or small corners where a parrot can injure feet or beak.
3. Accessories
Accessories can go a long way toward making parrot cages "loverly" in the parrot's thinking. Stands raise parrot cages to a higher level, allowing the bird to see more, and feel more a part of the "flock" in your home. Stands also give owners better access to their parrots. For parrots that crave more attention, parrot cages on wheeled stands can be moved from room to room.
Parrot cages can also be topped with exercise areas, providing entertainment and exercise when the parrot is out for play. Swings, ladders, toys, steps, and more can be included in playgrounds.
The feeder cups in parrot cages should be easily accessible, and should be made of steel, ceramic, or reinforced plastic. Parrots will chew on the cups as part of their exercise, and can readily destroy other materials.
Parrot cages require at least three different perches, each made of a different material. Rope, hardwood, and cement are three possibilities. Proper perches are important to the health of your parrot's feet.
Cage covers are important additions to parrot cages, allowing your bird to get the right dark and light cycle to get sufficient rest.
4. Toys
Finally, all parrot cages will need convenient places to attach toys ? and entertaining toys to be attached. Like parrot cages, parrot toys come in different sizes and materials to suit the breed of parrot. Parrot toys do not have to be elaborate. Toys may entertain, and may stimulate your bird intellectually, but their main purpose is to help parrots use the actions they would use in the wild. Toys help them "hunt" food, hide in the "leaves" of a tree, and exercise their beaks to keep them strong.
Toys in parrot cages can be for their feet, giving them foot exercise that helps them maintain dexterity. Toys may be filled with food that parrots must retrieve, chewing away obstacles as they would in the wild. Small mirrors in parrot cages allow the birds to converse with "friends" in the same tree.
Learn as much as you can about your parrot breed, and ask for appropriate toys that will meet the bird's varied needs.
Conclusion: Parrot cages are a big investment. Be sure you shop carefully.
As I sorted through the cards I noticed an immediate theme... Where Do I Start? This trend also appears in emails I receive, people I talk to after presentations, and people I talk to by phone.
Understanding the Landscape of the Green Economy
First you need to grasp that the green economy is growing, changing and evolving all the time. What's true today may or may not be true next year, the year after that, or five years from now. While that may be a bit uncomfortable, it also means there are plenty of opportunities.
A number of interacting factors are impacting how the green economy is taking shape. Governmental policies, the availability of capital for research and business start up, and incentives and costs of carbon, are just a few of the factors that are coming together to influence the green industry. As time passes we'll see some industries grow while others shrink. It's impossible to predict winners and losers at this moment.
Action You Can Take
Begin paying attention to news about the green economy. Gain a general understanding of what is happening. The more you read and the more you listen, the more you will understand. It's critical that you begin this process immediately so that you are well informed when you enter the green economy. This doesn't need to take much time. Read a few blogs, your local or regional newspaper, and a newsletter or two.
Determining Your Green Focus
The green economy is a huge ocean of possibilities. It is impossible to track, investigate, and understand all aspects of this immense universe. If you try, it's likely you'll be swept away with more information than you can possibly interpret.
The key to your success is your ability to identify your green niche. Now before you panic, let me explain. If you think of the green economy as a huge pie, you want to determine, based on your passions, interests, talents, and experience, which slice of the pie is a good fit for you. This slice can be a sizable segment of the green economy at this point. For example, you may determine that you are interested in green building or sustainability. With this information about your slice of the pie, you can begin to focus your attention and energy.
Determining your green niche is a process. I suggest starting the journey by creating a list of your 20 favorite skills and your 20 favorite interests. If you are leaping to focus on the first green industry that comes to mind or the industry that's getting the most press right now, then you are sabotaging your own success. You want to start with a very rich list of clues to your future career. From there you'll be able to see themes and trends that will point you in the right direction.
Action You Can Take:
As you build your lists, focus on your interests and fascinations at the beginning. Keep your list near by as you notice what draws your attention during the week. What stories are you drawn to read? What topics do you enjoy talking about? What skills do you like to use during your work day and your personal activities?
As you build your list, don't worry about how everything will come together. In fact, don't buy into the assumptions you are making about how much money you can (or can't) make addressing a particular topic or using a specific skill. You'll have plenty of time later to investigate the realities of your potential career ideas.
Immerse Yourself in Your Target Industry/Profession
As soon as you've identified the slice of the piece you want to investigate, you can begin making progress toward your green career. With your focus in mind, you'll be able to identify:
- What to read
- What meetings to attend
- What to learn
- Who to talk with
- What experiences to add to your resume
Action You Can Take:
Don't try to implement everything at once. Create goals for yourself based on the time you have available. Does it make sense to set a goal for each week or each month? By predetermining your focus for the week or month, you'll know what to do whenever you have some spare time. Having that plan in mind will save you a lot of time because you won't have to figure out how to use your time each opportunity you have.
Another strategy is to ask yourself, "what one thing can I do today to move me closer to my goal?" If you don't have much time, perhaps you can read one of your target blogs. If you have more time perhaps you can read a book or take a course.
Keep at it. As you learn more about your target industry/profession, you'll identify key contacts, target companies, training requirements, and most importantly, possible job openings. The more you know about your target industry/profession and the green economy in general, the better prepared you will be to make sense of the information you learn.
Your Time Line
Finding your way into the green economy is a journey. It's not likely to happen instantaneously. Depending on your target green niche, you may find a position in a few weeks, months, or even years. Some of the jobs in the green economy haven't even been defined yet. This time lag gives you the opportunity to explore your ideas and research your opportunities.
Action You Can Take:
If you are currently out of work, I strongly recommend that you find an interim job to tide you over financially. When you have income you'll be able to take the time to invest in your green career future.
If you are employed, do what you can to green your resume. You might be able to green current work, get involved in local green community projects, and take classes.
The green economy wave is just beginning to swell. Now is the time to do what you can to get in position to be able to make the leap into the green economy when the time is right for your target industry and profession.
Both Anna Hart & Carol Mcclelland are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.