http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car%3F

If you get as irritated as I am share this URL, the DVD made me want to commit bad acts. 

This was a first for me personally and once I informed the formerly potential “adopter” that I keep 30 pairs of Pacifics I have not heard from them so I assume….So, I have thirty pairs of Pacifics.  They have their own custom built building, climate controlled, timed lighting, bug proof and rodent proof.  My pairs all have larger than most pet flights averaging 24×24x30.  They have perching to include grape, maple, hazelnut, sandy perches, and circular swings in each flight.  They have two feeders and fresh water dish in each flight-one feed station for their quality seed mix, one for cooked or fresh food stuffs, a millet clip and a cuttle bone hanger.  Toys designed for parrotlets are rotated as eaten or at least twice annually.  Trays are changed regularly, flight cages are cleaned twice annually with a power washer.  The pairs are as a general rule not allowed more than three clutches per year and I use only the top quality Eaglecreek boxes which can actually be cleaned properly.  I hand feed all of my chicks my self and never sell unweaned Parrotlets (I do sell unweaned Amazons to a couple of trusted individuals each year but on a much much smaller scale).  I work 7 days a week 365 day per year at this task for well under minimum wage.  I work hard to perpetuate the normal “clean green” bloodlines and educate every chance I get on the same subject. So what am I, bad nasty breeder, bird mill, or a conservationist, breeder, lover of the species or please fill in the blank______________?  Then tell me for my own edification what are you?  DO YOU meet my standards of care?  Do you practice appropriate animal husbandry?  Tell me, enquiring minds want to know! Bob Wheeler 

So many important things going on in the world, the fires in California, Britney is on the rocks again, Blackwater scandal, Woopie is on the View……  We had an event out our way that kind of put me to thinking again.  Dakota, a Vancouver Police Department dog, was murdered by a drunk with a long history, and I know how long his history was!  Talking to folks they seem to be split on the issue, was this a murder or destruction of public property?  The department considers their dogs “officers”, but are they to be considered as such?  The courts will decide this fellow’s fate-looks like a three time loser so we may never have to worry about it.  But this issue brings questions.

Are animals on the same level as humans?  Do they deserve the same treatment?  Are they in need of “rights’?  Some folks think so, some do not.   Me I have mixed feelings.  Bingo, my wife’s dog is a bit more than a dog.  He has found a niche in our lives that is more than animal but is it less than human?

I raise and breed exotic birds (well Amazons and Parrotlets).  I also keep six pet birds who I call the ”house birds”.  Are they different?  Should they be treated different?  Should they have ”rights”?  Or should I practice good animal husbandry and treat them all the best way I know how.  I think that is called animal welfare. (I ain’t seen no checks from the government yet but I keep looking)

I do not have the answers, I doubt anyone else really has the answers either, but can we ask the questions?  Can we look beyond our personal agenda or belief systems and explore the “other side”?  I can see the folks who argue for animal rights (not the PETA freaks or fanatics who want no animals kept by humans) sincerely feel they are looking out for the “lessor” animals.  I also see the need for folks to retain human rights to their investment and property.  With these rights come obligations and a duty to maintain “good” animal husbandry…………  So, just some thoughts, no answers, no solutions, and maybe more questions.

Bob Wheeler 

Bob W 

Spent most of this morning cleaning the brooders out sterilizing and such.  I keep three different types of brooders, the best is an old cat littler box my mentor of old made about a hundred years ago, he placed a reptile bulb-thermostat and a plexiglass door on it and fashioned the best brooder ever.

Loren Ruddlesdin was his name, he and Marcia ran L & M Flights for years raising mostly African birds and a couple Cockatoos.  Loren was a bit of an enigma he came to me to be trained as a chemical dependency counselor and as that ended he became my teacher of many things avian.  I had been keeping birds for a couple years but he showed me the true joy of breeding.  Loren was a big man, watching him hand-feed the smallest of baby birds was a sight to see.  The tenderness exhibited when he handled these little ones was neat.  I was hooked.  Loren passed a few years ago but every time I dust off the old brooder….. Anyway we have kept our promise to him and Goldie the toe-less Senegal is still here and still demands her head scratchings daily, or else, do it now!  LOL.

I still miss that old teddy bear.

Bob W 

In addition to working at raising fine feathered critters I work in a helping profession.  Started way back when I was a radical young save the world type and frankly we still marvel at the way things have changed.  When is the last time you went to a service station for gas?  Ever call customer services at say Best Buy?  Wow that was a night mare for me.  What ever happened to people skills?  I saw three clients this morning all three had a terrible tale to tell about how they were treated else where and were amazed that we were willing to simply listen to them. 

Here is a challenge for anyone willing to read this drivel that I write.  Next time you have cause to interact with someone be it a customer, client or just the old lady down the block, take the time to listen, make a little effort to provide just a bit more than normal service, step outside of self and just give that other human a touch more than you would normally.  Might get an interesting reaction.  OK no more preaching.

We have three baby Blue Fronts in the nest box, woo hoo.  The stinky old Orange Wing hen has refused to come off her nest for two days now and I got me a feeling she might be setting on at least one chick. (would be our first Orange Wing) (some day ask me about Willie my first ever Amazon-he was an Orange Wing and my co-therapist for years).

Bob W 

As we pull up mom (my baby girl) is feeding the grand-baby and of course gramps gets to burp the baby-ha ha the ladies happen to mention that post feeding diaper changing is part of the deal.  Not a problem says I, see Tucker and I have a deal, wet ones are fine but he saves the messy ones for granny.  Hey what can I say.   So he and I spend about an hour flirting telling lies and just eye balling each other-he is 11 days old and oh so wise for his age.  While we work out our relationship his mom is castigating me for my faulty memory.  See when she was little things were different, we were taught different and we did not have the wisdom we have today.  Example: me, “oh hell if he sucks his thumb it’s ok ” daughter, “you put pepper sauce on my thumb…..” dentist,  “she is going to have buck teeth if you let her do that”. (she does not understand things change, we have learned a couple things.)  Here is another, we were told that we should not sleep with the baby as it would cause dependency issues and we might roll over on the baby.  (this daughter slept with us until she was four-I never said we did it right)  But they make soft foam cuddle thingies so the baby can sleep between the parents safely these days.

This is going to be an interesting experience raising a grand-baby is not as simple as I thought.  But damn it’s going to be fun.

Bob W