By CS Swarens
For new bird owners, venturing into bird ownership can be fun and rewarding, but also overwhelming. Potential customers are not just looking for quality birds that suit their needs, but also a bird breeder that they can trust. If you're a bird breeder looking to pull potential customers away from the mass-production bird factories known as pet stores, keep reading for great tips on how to build your client base using the power of the Internet.
As a professional bird breeder who's invested in their product, you can assure your clients that they're not only getting top-quality birds, but they're also buying from someone who has a genuine love for the species. Unfortunately, a good heart and a sincere interest alone won't make a great business - you'll need advertising, marketing and word-of mouth too.
The best method of hitting thousands of potential birds owners with one stone is online advertising. Internet advertising is an effective tool in guiding bird enthusiasts to find you. Basically, it's designed to help you find your niche market and for your niche customers, in turn, to find you. The advent of the Internet provides clients easy access to find a bird breeder who can supply exactly what bird they want, while also letting you market directly to them.
There are various ways of selling your services online. Keep reading to learn more about the specific ways you can build your bird-breeding brand online.
Online Forums and Discussion Groups
Online forums and message boards will give you a wider access to listen to bird lovers' concerns, and join in the discussions at the same time. Think about this way - Somebody who owns or is interested in owning birds would most likely look to the Internet for answers to questions. If they don't find specific answers, they'll likely post their question on a popular message board or forum. This is your chance to answer those questions, get involved with the bird community and promote your services.
Community Review Sites
Community reviews give you a chance to expose your services online. Websites that offer customer reviews make it possible for satisfied clients to rate you as a bird breeder and your performance. The longer your list of satisfied clients are, the wider the door of opportunity opens for more customers. Remember, recommendation from satisfied customers (or "word of mouth") is the most reliable form of advertisement nowadays.
Online Pet Breeder Directories
Signing up in online bird directories is another method of online advertising. When a potential customer is interested, chances are the Internet is the first source they will turn to for help searching for bird breeders. You should be there, with a good online profile to promote your business. Websites like Find a Pet Online and Bird Breeders are both examples of websites you can join. By joining the list of the breeder directories online, you are expanding your visibility to local breeders and enthusiasts at a click of the mouse.
Social Networking
Posting your profile on social networking sites like MySpace or Facebook is a great way to advertise yourself as a bird breeder. With millions of people browsing through the Internet every minute, it is always possible that somebody who sees your profile is a bird enthusiast or knows somebody who is one. Providing buyers with your online portfolio adds to the security they'll feel after buying birds from you because they know they can contact you for after-sales services anytime. When clients feel secure about you as a breeder, the more likely they are to use you again.
CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065
For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet's pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com
Research over 430 pet breed profiles http://www.findapetonline.com/breeds.html
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Winter Thaw Provides Camouflage For Birds
By Marjie Gemmell
After a five inch snow fall a few days ago, a night of rain and rising temperatures created the expected results, MELTING SNOW.
Despite a persistent, but light mist, I opted for a morning bird walk. Birding activity was very slow along the river trail, with only a few birds observed flitting high up in the trees. After a mile or so, I became aware of rustling noises in the undergrowth, but the noise makers were tricky to find. The snow had melted in some spots, leaving dark areas in the surrounding snow-covered vegetation. Locating the busy birds was a challenge.
I could see birds flitting across the bright snow patches, but then, they seemed to vanish into the melted areas. After a bit, my eyes adjusted to the contrasting backgrounds, and I was able to find the birds as they settled in the exposed areas.
What did I find? Well, not much if I were counting species, but on this fairly quiet day, a trio of Song Sparrows playing hide and seek in the vegetation added a smidgen of excitement to my walk. It was fun to watch them and to observe how the exposed, snow-free vegetation provided camouflage. The sparrows were much more visible when they were pecking around with the snow as background. Guess it does not take much to amuse me, eh?
Continuing down the trail, I came to an area of fallen trees, most of them victims of winds and storms, from many years ago. Today the logs were half covered with snow, the contrast of light and dark another example of what makes finding birds difficult.
Fallen trees and decomposing logs are great habitat as well as one more variety of camouflage. Birds find a thousand crevices and shadows in a dead-fall of trees and logs. Whenever I find this type of area, I tarry for a while to watch for wren activity.
Today, my patience was rewarded, and after a few minutes I detected movement. I was able to see and identify a Winter Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes, a truly delightful little creature. The diminutive size and tiny stub of a tail are all the field marks necessary to identify this species.
Somewhat secretive in nature, it is fairly easy to locate this species, if the habitat is right and you are patient. Once found, Winter Wrens are fun to observe. Petite, lively and seemingly very curious, they poke under every log and pile of branches with tiny, stubby tails quivering with excitement. At least that is how I perceive Winter Wrens anyway.
As I watched the wren scampering around, I heard the familiar "tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle" of our resident Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus. Larger than the Winter Wren, whose size measures 4 inches, the Carolina Wren is 5 � inches. The larger size, bold white eye-stripe and substantial tail allows easy identification, even before you are tipped off by the vigorous and cheerful song.
For a misty, slow morning it turned out to be a charming and interesting bird walk. Certainly nothing earth-shaking, but peaceful and serene. Considering it is December, and only a week before
Christmas, I would say an hour or two of peace and serenity is just what the doctor ordered. Good Birding.
Marjie Gemmell was a naturalist for 21 years teaching bird identification classes to thousands of students and adults. Outside the classroom, Marjie shared her knowledge of birds and her bird watching skills leading bird walks, night hikes and birding tours.
Marjie has followed her avid quest to see and identify birds to nearly all the continents of the world, and in the process has seen 4,000 bird species.
Her greatest satisfaction comes from sharing her birding knowledge with others.
To learn more about bird identification go to: http://www.easybirdidentification.com
For other birding adventures, check out my blog: http://wwwmarjieseasybirdidentification.blogspot.com
After a five inch snow fall a few days ago, a night of rain and rising temperatures created the expected results, MELTING SNOW.
Despite a persistent, but light mist, I opted for a morning bird walk. Birding activity was very slow along the river trail, with only a few birds observed flitting high up in the trees. After a mile or so, I became aware of rustling noises in the undergrowth, but the noise makers were tricky to find. The snow had melted in some spots, leaving dark areas in the surrounding snow-covered vegetation. Locating the busy birds was a challenge.
I could see birds flitting across the bright snow patches, but then, they seemed to vanish into the melted areas. After a bit, my eyes adjusted to the contrasting backgrounds, and I was able to find the birds as they settled in the exposed areas.
What did I find? Well, not much if I were counting species, but on this fairly quiet day, a trio of Song Sparrows playing hide and seek in the vegetation added a smidgen of excitement to my walk. It was fun to watch them and to observe how the exposed, snow-free vegetation provided camouflage. The sparrows were much more visible when they were pecking around with the snow as background. Guess it does not take much to amuse me, eh?
Continuing down the trail, I came to an area of fallen trees, most of them victims of winds and storms, from many years ago. Today the logs were half covered with snow, the contrast of light and dark another example of what makes finding birds difficult.
Fallen trees and decomposing logs are great habitat as well as one more variety of camouflage. Birds find a thousand crevices and shadows in a dead-fall of trees and logs. Whenever I find this type of area, I tarry for a while to watch for wren activity.
Today, my patience was rewarded, and after a few minutes I detected movement. I was able to see and identify a Winter Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes, a truly delightful little creature. The diminutive size and tiny stub of a tail are all the field marks necessary to identify this species.
Somewhat secretive in nature, it is fairly easy to locate this species, if the habitat is right and you are patient. Once found, Winter Wrens are fun to observe. Petite, lively and seemingly very curious, they poke under every log and pile of branches with tiny, stubby tails quivering with excitement. At least that is how I perceive Winter Wrens anyway.
As I watched the wren scampering around, I heard the familiar "tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle" of our resident Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus. Larger than the Winter Wren, whose size measures 4 inches, the Carolina Wren is 5 � inches. The larger size, bold white eye-stripe and substantial tail allows easy identification, even before you are tipped off by the vigorous and cheerful song.
For a misty, slow morning it turned out to be a charming and interesting bird walk. Certainly nothing earth-shaking, but peaceful and serene. Considering it is December, and only a week before
Christmas, I would say an hour or two of peace and serenity is just what the doctor ordered. Good Birding.
Marjie Gemmell was a naturalist for 21 years teaching bird identification classes to thousands of students and adults. Outside the classroom, Marjie shared her knowledge of birds and her bird watching skills leading bird walks, night hikes and birding tours.
Marjie has followed her avid quest to see and identify birds to nearly all the continents of the world, and in the process has seen 4,000 bird species.
Her greatest satisfaction comes from sharing her birding knowledge with others.
To learn more about bird identification go to: http://www.easybirdidentification.com
For other birding adventures, check out my blog: http://wwwmarjieseasybirdidentification.blogspot.com
Saturday, December 15, 2007
How To Fix Your Parrot's Problems - Parrot Behavior Training
By Juan Rodriguez Villa
If you are a parrot owner, maybe you have a lot of problems with your bird pet. It is possible that your parrot, parakeet or cockatiel bites you or attacks anyone that comes near its cage. Whatever the case, we are always facing a "behavior problem" that can be fixed with the correct behaviour training.
If you were already thinking that your wild parrot had no cure for its mean attitude, screaming all day long, biting you or your family and behaving like if it was just taken from the wild forest, I can tell you there is a cure for your parrot's mean behaviour.
The key element here is discipline. A well trained parrot will be a happier parrot, and its interaction with its owner, the family and other pets will also be easier and in a smooth mood.
Another very important thing to consider is the owner's attitude. Without realizing, you can influence in a very important way your parrot's behaviour. If you are angry, your parrot will also behave that way, so you should first of all make sure that you are well rested and calm before you attempt any kind of training with your parrot. This will ensure a pleasant and happy experience for both your parrot and you, its owner.
In many occasions, the way to face behavior problems is also a matter of your parrot trusting you or not. I can give you a couple of advices or tips so you can get your parrot, parakeet or cockatiel to trust you a little bit more than it usually does.
- Hand Treats - Move slowly and offer your bird a treat in your hand. If you do this, you will be teaching your bird pet how to trust you. This simple strategy will bring a lot of positive attitude in order to change any unwanted parrot behavior.
- Step up Training - The following strategy you need to teach to your bird pet is to step up onto your hand when you say the words "step up". The first time you try this gently press against your parrot's belly at the same time you say "step up" clear and slow. It is very important that you keep repeating these words and pressing the parrot's belly until is steps into your hand.
Talking is another key element in a parrot's behaviour training. You should start with a simple "hello" and stay repeating the same word constantly until your pet repeats the word clearly. Only after the first word is already learnt and spoken clearly you will keep teaching the second word, and so on. You have to be constant and patient. Your parrot will feel it and will become more and more trustful and careful towards you.
Just to give you an example, a 19 minute lesson, once per day during 2 weeks is enough to change an unwanted and wild be havior in a parrot, parakeet or cockatiel.
If you want to know in more detail how this behavior training system works, click this link: http://www.parrot--training.weebly.com/
If you are a parrot owner, maybe you have a lot of problems with your bird pet. It is possible that your parrot, parakeet or cockatiel bites you or attacks anyone that comes near its cage. Whatever the case, we are always facing a "behavior problem" that can be fixed with the correct behaviour training.
If you were already thinking that your wild parrot had no cure for its mean attitude, screaming all day long, biting you or your family and behaving like if it was just taken from the wild forest, I can tell you there is a cure for your parrot's mean behaviour.
The key element here is discipline. A well trained parrot will be a happier parrot, and its interaction with its owner, the family and other pets will also be easier and in a smooth mood.
Another very important thing to consider is the owner's attitude. Without realizing, you can influence in a very important way your parrot's behaviour. If you are angry, your parrot will also behave that way, so you should first of all make sure that you are well rested and calm before you attempt any kind of training with your parrot. This will ensure a pleasant and happy experience for both your parrot and you, its owner.
In many occasions, the way to face behavior problems is also a matter of your parrot trusting you or not. I can give you a couple of advices or tips so you can get your parrot, parakeet or cockatiel to trust you a little bit more than it usually does.
- Hand Treats - Move slowly and offer your bird a treat in your hand. If you do this, you will be teaching your bird pet how to trust you. This simple strategy will bring a lot of positive attitude in order to change any unwanted parrot behavior.
- Step up Training - The following strategy you need to teach to your bird pet is to step up onto your hand when you say the words "step up". The first time you try this gently press against your parrot's belly at the same time you say "step up" clear and slow. It is very important that you keep repeating these words and pressing the parrot's belly until is steps into your hand.
Talking is another key element in a parrot's behaviour training. You should start with a simple "hello" and stay repeating the same word constantly until your pet repeats the word clearly. Only after the first word is already learnt and spoken clearly you will keep teaching the second word, and so on. You have to be constant and patient. Your parrot will feel it and will become more and more trustful and careful towards you.
Just to give you an example, a 19 minute lesson, once per day during 2 weeks is enough to change an unwanted and wild be havior in a parrot, parakeet or cockatiel.
If you want to know in more detail how this behavior training system works, click this link: http://www.parrot--training.weebly.com/
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Winter Advantage - Clusters Of Cardinals
By Marjie Gemmell
A few days ago we had our first significant snowfall of the winter season. The snow began around midnight and continued through the morning and early afternoon hours. When all was said and done, we had about five inches of the white stuff.
This snow was of the wet, heavy variety which mounds so beautifully on fences, porch rails, tree limbs and bird feeders. This type of snow provides perfect photo opportunities, no matter your level of expertise, or what direction you aim your camera. All very nice, if you are into photography.
Not being particularly interested in shooting scenery, for me the biggest thrill of a heavy snowfall is that it works like a casting call for Northern Cardinals. Boy do they come out of the woodwork!
Cardinals are no strangers in our yard. We always have a few males and females feeding on sunflower seed. But bring on a few inches of snow and presto ... cardinals by the dozen.
To my eye there is nothing as breathtaking as the bright, vivid red of the male cardinal against dazzling white snow. Multiply that by 30 or 40 cardinals, and it is truly a sight to behold. They dart in and out of the bushes, perch atop feeders and on porch rails and in general put on a great show. Even the less brilliantly colored female cardinal, with her pale red and buffy attire looks quite arresting against a background of snow. I never tire of watching the pictures they pose.
Cardinals feed long after most common feeder birds have gone to roost for the night. It always amazes me that with a backdrop of snow, the male cardinals are easily seen well into dusk. That vibrant red just stands out.
Of course, Northern Cardinals are not the only birds that flock to the feeders when the landscape is snow-covered. Everyone comes to the party. Most of the birds, even the shy ones, seem to throw off their reserved demeanor and become much less inhibited when snow covers the natural feeding areas. Feeding stations are the free lunch counter on snow days.
I especially like to watch the gleaners. They treat the feeders like a fast food establishment. It is not their way to shilly-shally around, nor stop and waste time in community chirpings. No, the Tufted Titmice and Carolina Chickadees dash in, ignore the other birds, grab a seed and take the food with them. They often perch on a nearby branch and I watch first-hand as they pound the sunflower seed open, to get the meat inside. Then it's back to "McDonalds" for another order to go.
Other birds are more hesitant, stopping a few feet away from the feeders to look the situation over, before committing to fly in. Nuthatches and woodpeckers seem to be of this ilk.
Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows and Tree Sparrows usually skulk around in the bushes for a while before they work up the courage to come out in the open and forage under the feeders. I notice that once they get in the 'feeder rhythm' they often become more impetuous and brave, spending less time hiding and more time feeding.
Of course, anyone who has backyard birds is familiar with the technique of the Blue Jay. He just lands a few feet from the feeders and starts squawking. I don't know what language he speaks, but all the little birds seem to understand that he means 'get lost, it is my turn'. Once the Blue Jay runs the others off, he feeds at his leisure. Maybe that is why Blue Jays are generally perceived to be bullies.
My niger thistle seed feeders are always pretty much mobbed by American Goldfinches, and a sprinkling of House Finches. Once the snow falls though, even the finches multiply until the trees are festooned by forty or fifty birds, patiently awaiting an empty port.
On snow days, the backyard is like watching a three-ring circus. There is activity in every arena. Unfortunately, at some point one has to suspend the feeder watching, get out the snow shovel and go to work on the walks and driveway. But it is only a temporary suspension, for when the work is done, I guarantee I will be warming my hands by clutching tightly to my binoculars, delighted again by the winter bird feeding antics. Good Birding.
Marjie Gemmell was a naturalist for 21 years teaching bird identification classes to thousands of students and adults. Outside the classroom, Marjie shared her knowledge of birds and her bird watching skills leading bird walks, night hikes and birding tours.
Marjie has followed her avid quest to see and identify birds to nearly all the continents of the world, and in the process has seen 4,000 bird species.
Her greatest satisfaction comes from sharing her birding knowledge with others.
To learn more about bird identification go to: http://www.easybirdidentification.com
View my blog site for other birding adventures at: http://wwwmarjieseasybirdidentification.blogspot.com
A few days ago we had our first significant snowfall of the winter season. The snow began around midnight and continued through the morning and early afternoon hours. When all was said and done, we had about five inches of the white stuff.
This snow was of the wet, heavy variety which mounds so beautifully on fences, porch rails, tree limbs and bird feeders. This type of snow provides perfect photo opportunities, no matter your level of expertise, or what direction you aim your camera. All very nice, if you are into photography.
Not being particularly interested in shooting scenery, for me the biggest thrill of a heavy snowfall is that it works like a casting call for Northern Cardinals. Boy do they come out of the woodwork!
Cardinals are no strangers in our yard. We always have a few males and females feeding on sunflower seed. But bring on a few inches of snow and presto ... cardinals by the dozen.
To my eye there is nothing as breathtaking as the bright, vivid red of the male cardinal against dazzling white snow. Multiply that by 30 or 40 cardinals, and it is truly a sight to behold. They dart in and out of the bushes, perch atop feeders and on porch rails and in general put on a great show. Even the less brilliantly colored female cardinal, with her pale red and buffy attire looks quite arresting against a background of snow. I never tire of watching the pictures they pose.
Cardinals feed long after most common feeder birds have gone to roost for the night. It always amazes me that with a backdrop of snow, the male cardinals are easily seen well into dusk. That vibrant red just stands out.
Of course, Northern Cardinals are not the only birds that flock to the feeders when the landscape is snow-covered. Everyone comes to the party. Most of the birds, even the shy ones, seem to throw off their reserved demeanor and become much less inhibited when snow covers the natural feeding areas. Feeding stations are the free lunch counter on snow days.
I especially like to watch the gleaners. They treat the feeders like a fast food establishment. It is not their way to shilly-shally around, nor stop and waste time in community chirpings. No, the Tufted Titmice and Carolina Chickadees dash in, ignore the other birds, grab a seed and take the food with them. They often perch on a nearby branch and I watch first-hand as they pound the sunflower seed open, to get the meat inside. Then it's back to "McDonalds" for another order to go.
Other birds are more hesitant, stopping a few feet away from the feeders to look the situation over, before committing to fly in. Nuthatches and woodpeckers seem to be of this ilk.
Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows and Tree Sparrows usually skulk around in the bushes for a while before they work up the courage to come out in the open and forage under the feeders. I notice that once they get in the 'feeder rhythm' they often become more impetuous and brave, spending less time hiding and more time feeding.
Of course, anyone who has backyard birds is familiar with the technique of the Blue Jay. He just lands a few feet from the feeders and starts squawking. I don't know what language he speaks, but all the little birds seem to understand that he means 'get lost, it is my turn'. Once the Blue Jay runs the others off, he feeds at his leisure. Maybe that is why Blue Jays are generally perceived to be bullies.
My niger thistle seed feeders are always pretty much mobbed by American Goldfinches, and a sprinkling of House Finches. Once the snow falls though, even the finches multiply until the trees are festooned by forty or fifty birds, patiently awaiting an empty port.
On snow days, the backyard is like watching a three-ring circus. There is activity in every arena. Unfortunately, at some point one has to suspend the feeder watching, get out the snow shovel and go to work on the walks and driveway. But it is only a temporary suspension, for when the work is done, I guarantee I will be warming my hands by clutching tightly to my binoculars, delighted again by the winter bird feeding antics. Good Birding.
Marjie Gemmell was a naturalist for 21 years teaching bird identification classes to thousands of students and adults. Outside the classroom, Marjie shared her knowledge of birds and her bird watching skills leading bird walks, night hikes and birding tours.
Marjie has followed her avid quest to see and identify birds to nearly all the continents of the world, and in the process has seen 4,000 bird species.
Her greatest satisfaction comes from sharing her birding knowledge with others.
To learn more about bird identification go to: http://www.easybirdidentification.com
View my blog site for other birding adventures at: http://wwwmarjieseasybirdidentification.blogspot.com
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