Customer Reviews (1)

A Good Basic Guide
This is a good basic guide to parrots and their care for those who have no knowledge of the subject.It makes potential parrot buyers aware of all aspects of parrot purchase and care.For those who have more experience it may be a little too basic.Images are sometimes not well formatted to the Kindle Screen.

If you have never owned a parrot and thinking of getting one, this short introduction is a good place to start. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the physical characteristics, habits, and natural habitat of these birds that are popular as pets because of their bright colors and ability to learn tricks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not worth it
Have I read this book? "no" is the answer.
But if someone knew alot about amazon parrots and was going to make a book about them wouldn't you think they would at least put the right specie of parrot on the cover??

You may say "Well maybe it's a book about parrots in the amazon." Nope,not that eather,beacuse the parrot on the cover is a Blue Naped Parrot found in the Philippines and Indonesia. (I even found the same photo used as the cover on the web)

Need I say more? I woulddn't trust anybody who got two completealy seperate species mixed up who are suppose to be the "educated" ones telling you what to do.

If you want an up-to-date book I suggest for you to keep searching. ... Read more

Product Description
Portrays various kinds of parrots in their natural environments. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the physical characteristics, feeding, nesting, and reproduction of this brightly colored bird that lives in hot and rainy mountain forests. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Bad advice for parrot owners
As an avid parrot lover and owner of Cockatiels, Conures and Budgies, I love to read up all I can on them. However, this book does not offer good advise on any subject. The worse offense is the 'Nutrition' section. Ittells you that 'along with a balanced seed diet...'. SEED DIET? Any birdfancier knows, and any wannabe bird owner should know that a seed diet isdetrimental to a birds health and longevity! It states nothing aboutfeeding them nutritious pellets or the different kinds of nutrition. I willsay, that it does tell you to feed them fresh fruits and vegetables, butnothing about NOT feeding them avacados or chocolate or alcohol. There isalot of other erroneous material in this book. Although it is an overviewand not in any way detailed, the information it gives is not, in anyway,going to be helpful to the beginner or novice bird owner. There are severalother great books out there for the same price, but this is not one ofthem.

Also recommended: My Parrot, My Friend, Why Does My Bird Do That?,Conures, The Complete Book of Cockatiels, Cockatiels! ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses various aspects of caring for a pet parrot, including selection, housing, feeding, grooming, and training. ... Read more

Product Description
“Birds are my passion,” says Joanna Burger, “but parrots are my weakness.”Fifteen years ago, when se adopted a neglected, orphaned thirty-six year old parrot named Tiko, she entered on of the most complex relationships of her life.

Sullen and hostile when he entered Dr. Burger’s home, Tiko gradually warmed as she carefully persuaded him of her good intentions.Eventually he courted her, building nests inside household furniture during mating season and trying to coax her into them.He nursed her vigilantly through a bout with Lyme disease, regularly preening each strand of hair on the pillow as she slept.For a while he even fought her husband for her attentions, but eventually theirs became a relationship of deep mutual trust.

The Parrot Who Owns Me is also the story of the science of birds, and of parrots in particular (America’s third most commonly owned pet, after cats and dogs).Woven into the narrative are insights and fascinating revelations from Joanna Burger’s work — not only about parrots, but about what it means to be human.

By turns delightful, hilarious, touching, and enlightening, The Parrot Who Owns Me introduces us to an unforgettable bird and his human companion, whose friendships tells us much about ourselves.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Unfit to be a parrot owner
Worthless and infuriating read. I got the feeling that the author wrote this book to be self serving. She seemed to care less for the bird and cared more about how much her bird needed her and depended on her, like she was getting some kind of a power and ego trip from it. She also does many incredibly wrong things, like letting her bird attack her husband, giving him onion, indulging in his nesting behavior, and many other no-no's when it comes to caring for a parrot.

Another thing that struck me as incredibly odd and creepy was how she seemed to want to share a sexual relationship with her parrots, especially the first one. Do I have to emphasize how strange and creepy that is?

The Parrot that Owns Me
I have purchased this book for many of my friend who own parrots and othe birds. It is an easy read, which gives the reader insight and information on the species not currenly available in the mainstream. At the same time it is interesting and funny. The author is one of the leading experts in parrots with the acedemic credentials to back up her theories and conclusions. If you own any birds or just enjoy the fun of bird watching this is a must read.

Good reading, fun and educational.
I really love this book, the delivery was also quite prompt, arrived in good condition and i will definately purchase more books from yall.

dallaslover
I was surprised at how the book looked.It was like it was brand new and never been read.I'm very happy with the results of buying on Amazon and will continue to do so.

Patience finally won
I read this book years ago when I first became interested in parrots.Now, several years later I can relate to the author and the relationship she built with an Amazon named Tiko.Many people do not understand the huge difference in sharing your life with a cats and dogs vs. parrots.Parrots bond with their human as their flock.If something happens to their flock, they grieve and often die prematurely as a result.They also have incredible memories and hold grudges.This is the case with Tiko who lost his beloved flock in a short period of time and found himself living with the enemy.Luckily, Joanna Burger, who understood parrots, lived next door and was willing to let Tiko live out his life with her and her husband.Over time his grief lessened and he bonded to Joanna in a truly unique way.In her book she tells the story of how patience and love helped Tiko regain his strength and bond to a new human.It is a beautiful story and helped me to understand some of my own parrots' behaviors.
... Read more

Product Description
On Parrot's first day of school, he learns a lesson about talking too much. ... Read more

Product Description
British artist Elizabeth Butterworth, has captured the beauty and variety of parrots, macaws and cockatoos. These are presented in this book in a series of paintings and sketches. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Beautiful book!
The pictures in this book of Elizabeth Butterworth's artwork are really incredible. This book would be an awesome gift for anyone who loves parrots. The pages are heavyweight paper and could be framed and put on the wall. I thoroughly enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys parrots and gorgeous artwork. I am a parrot breeder and many of my customers have enjoyed looking at the book.

Not what I expected
I was looking for books to help with the behavior of my macaw.This book is full of pictures, beautiful pictures.However, I really need help with my bird.Maybe I didn't read the description thoroughly enough.

"For the Parrot & Art Lover Both"
This is an oversized book of vividly colored line-drawings of the Cockatoo, Macaw, and Amazon parrots species.It's a truly magnificently produced book with Elizabeth Butterworth's beautiful artistic drawings that are just so realistic.You could actually frame many of these drawings, they are that good.There's a wonderful introduction about all these parrots by Elizabeth that is inspirational.If you're a lover of birds, or have companion parrots yourself, don't miss this book.

Excellent
One of the best bird drawings I have seen, they are so well done, that one wishes to frame each one of the them, if you like birds and you like colour this book is for you.

Parrots, MacAws and Cockatoos : The Art of Elizabeth Butterw
If you are a lover of cockatoo, macaw and amazon, the line-drawings of these birds will take your breath away. When I first opened the book, I gasped! Ms. Butterworth has captured the essence of their character, evenmore so than a photograph. The line-drawings in this book deserve to beframed and showcased in a prominent position in your home. I bought 3books. I framed pictures from the first, and kept the second for reference,and gave the third book as a gift to Dr. Bernadette Plair who is with theCincinnati Zoo. Dr. Plair recently (March 2000), successfully reintroducedthe blue and gold macaw back into the wild in Trinidad. ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the extinction of several species of parrots, including the Carolina parakeet and the Cuban red macaw. ... Read more

Product Description
The Alex StudiesCognitive and Communicative Abilities of Grey ParrotsIrene Maxine PepperbergCan a parrot understand complex concepts and mean what it says? Since the early 1900s, most studies on animal-human communication have focused on great apes and a few cetacean species. Birds were rarely used in similar studies on the grounds that they were merely talented mimics--that they were, after all, "birdbrains." Experiments performed primarily on pigeons in Skinner boxes demonstrated capacities inferior to those of mammals; these results were thought to reflect the capacities of all birds, despite evidence suggesting that species such as jays, crows, and parrots might be capable of more impressive cognitive feats. Twenty years ago Irene Pepperberg set out to discover whether the results of the pigeon studies necessarily meant that other birds--particularly the large-brained, highly social parrots--were incapable of mastering complex cognitive concepts and the rudiments of referential speech. Her investigation and the bird at its center--a male Grey parrot named Alex--have since become almost as well known as their primate equivalents and no less a subject of fierce debate in the field of animal cognition. This book represents the long-awaited synthesis of the studies constituting one of the landmark experiments in modern comparative psychology.Irene Maxine Pepperberg is Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Associate Professor of Psychology, and Affiliate in the Program in Neuroscience at the University of Arizona.January 61/8 x 91/4 10 halftones, 11 line illus., 44 tables 448 pp.Amazon.com Review
When Irene Pepperberg, a professor at the University ofArizona, says goodnight, she typically hears the reply "Bye. I'm gonnago eat dinner. I'll see you tomorrow." Though the response itself isnot unusual, the source is, for it comes from Alex, a gray parrot,Pepperberg's main research subject for the past 22 years. That parrotscan talk is well known; what Pepperberg set out to study was theircognitive abilities. By teaching the bird the meaning--not just thesound--of words in order to communicate, she hoped to discover how hisbrain worked. She exhaustively details her fascinating results inThe Alex Studies.

Pepperberg bought Alex--a parrot of average intelligence and withoutlofty pedigree or training--from a pet store when he was 1. Sinceworking with Pepperberg, he has developed a 100-word vocabulary andcan identify 50 different objects, recognizing quantities up to six,distinguishing seven colors and five shapes, and understanding thedifference between big and small, same and different, over andunder. He can tell you, for instance, that corn is yellow even ifthere is no corn in view, as well as correctly select the squareobject among various shapes and identify it verbally. What this allmeans, stresses Pepperberg, is that Alex is not merely parroting butactually thinking; he bases answers on reason rather than instinct ormimicry.

Though the anecdotes are rich and Alex makes a lively subject, this isprincipally a research paper relying on intricate details and aprodigious amount of data (the notes and references alone run to 79pages). This is not light reading, particularly for thelayperson. Still, The Alex Studies manages to be more than avaluable contribution to science, for in providing ample evidence ofour similarities to other creatures, the book ultimately calls intoquestion the concept of human supremacy over the animalkingdom. Pepperberg's stated goal is "to provoke awareness in humansthat animals have capacities that are far greater than we were onceled to expect, and to remind us that all we need to examine thesecapacities are some enlightened research tools." She has provided suchtools in this seminal work. --Shawn Carkonen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

AN INTRIGUING "HUMAN/ANIMAL COMMUNICATION" STUDY
Irene Maxine Pepperberg (born 1949) is an adjunct professor of psychology at Brandeis University and a lecturer at Harvard University, and is perhaps most noted for her studies in animal cognition. She notes in the Preface to this 1999 book, "When I began my studies, the capacities of Grey parrots were unknown... How much DID these birds really understand? How much COULD these birds learn to understand? Given an appropriately enriched environment, might parrots turn out to be the great apes of the bird world? I set out to find answers to these questions."The Grey parrot was named Alex, and this book summarizes her research with him.

She states, "At the very least, my research demonstrated that a Grey parrot was capable of far more than simply the ability to mimic human speech."Her results were ambiguous about Alex's counting ability, and she admits, "despite intriguing data, I cannot claim that Alex counts."

She states in the concluding chapter, "I have, however, avoided even trying to answer a question that arises at many of my public talks: Why do these birds have such abilities? I have suggested that a parrot's capacity to learn what I teach in the laboratory must be based on an existent cognitive architecture, but have not intimated why this cognitive architecture should exist--or, from an evolutionary standpoint, what selection pressures may have shaped such an architecture and hence Grey parrot behavior."

Excellent condition!
I needed this book for a research paper I was writing; the only problem was that the latest possible delivery date was five days after the paper was due.But I took a chance and scored big, because this book arrived promptly and in excellent condition and I made an A.

Alex and Me
I have followed Irene Pepperburg's articles on her African Grey Parrot, Alex, for years, both learning and teaching my own African Greys with her methods.I was so happy to see her write this book as her own personal tribute to Alex who was not just a lab specimen but a friend as well.Thank you, Irene.Alex will be missed by many.

Too technical!
I read Alex & Me first and I'm glad I did.This 'studies' book is NOT for the lay person as it is very scientific and technical.I read one page and put it back on Amazon.Unless you want to duplicate these studies you probably will not enjoy this book.

There is so much more we could understand
Animals have magnificent powers of communication. I'm convinced of it. We humans just have not taken the time to ask them questions. All too often we treat all animals as livestock, here on earth as decorations or food. Again and again I've seen people make amazing communications with their pets, ones you wouldn't think pets were capable of -- because we have to change our thoughts about animals. We are the weak ones because we have cognition and communication skills but have not chosen to bring out the same skills in animals. For more on these kinds of ideas I would recommend Paws & Effect: The Healing Power of Dogs, which shows how amazing dogs can predict heart attacks and diagnose cancer. The book shows that probably all dogs can do these things -- we just haven't asked them. Animals are amazing. ... Read more

Product Description
With all of her relatives scrambling to find a hidden key that would make them the inheritors of her grandfather's beloved Kennington Court, Miranda comes up with some ideas of her own about where the key is hidden. Reprint. K. SLJ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This book is very interesting!
I think this book is good for readers that think. It is always more fun to me if I figure out the ending before it is given to you. This book is good for beginers because younger kids enjoy living their lives as charachtersin books such as this one. Enjoy the book! ... Read more

Product Description
From the macaws of South America to the cockatoos of Australia, parrots are among the most beautiful and exotic birds in the world--and also among the most endangered. This stunningly illustrated, easy-to-use field guide covers all 356 species and well-differentiated subspecies of parrots, and is the only guide organized by geographical distribution--Australasian, Afro-Asian, and neotropical. It features 146 superb color plates depicting every kind of parrot, as well as detailed, facing-page species accounts that describe key identification features, distribution, subspeciation, habitat, and status. Color distribution maps show ranges of all subspecies, and field identification is further aided by relevant upperside and underside flight images. This premier field guide also shows where to observe each species in the wild, helping make this the most comprehensive and user-friendly guide to the parrots of the world.The only parrot guide to focus on geographical distribution Covers all 356 species Features 146 color plates depicting all species and well-differentiated subspecies Provides detailed facing-page species accounts that describe key identification features, distribution, subspeciation, habitat, and status Includes color distribution maps Shows where to observe each species in the wild ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Parrots of the World: An Identification Guide
This book is an excellent reference for anyone involved in aviculture, be it the pet parrot owner or just an enthusiast. It is quite detailed as far as the scientific nomenclature, as well as giving a person a good idea of where the birds are from, thier distribution, habitats, ranges, as well as some excellent drawings of the birds. A very good book overall.

Excellent reference book
Very thorough reference book on parrots.Although they are illustrations rather than photographs, the birds are very clearly drawn and coloured so it's easy to find the one (or several) you are looking for.I would have preferred a few more illustrations (wings spread, or flying views), but they are limited due to the shear volume of birds that are included.

You can't parrot this book
Usually, scientific reference works are all text and few pictures. "Parrots of the World" take the opposite approach: all pictures and very little text.

I don't think serious biology students would be very happy about this book. However, if you want to impress your friends, it's perfect. Put it on your coffee table, place it prominently on a bookshelf or opposite your parrot cage, for the best effect. If you're really daring, buy a copy for your kids (not the smallest ones) and tell them to make colorful drawings of the parrots in the book. Just don't give it to your pet parrot!

:-D

"Parrots of the World" illustrates all known species of parrot, and many subspecies as well. However, it doesn't illustrate the various mutations bred in captivity. "Only" wild parrots are included. There are range maps of each species and short description of their habits and habitat. Some extinct species are also illustrated on the color plates.

I bought the book mostly to flash. But no, I don't regret it. However, those who want a more meaty work on parrots should probably invest in a copy of "Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 4, Sandgrouse to Cuckoos", which also includes a extensive section on parrots.

A cracker, anyone?

Parrots of the World
Excellent product, bought mostly for the pictures and for ID-ing birds. Illustrations good and easy to find. Text informative but not intrusive.

Parrots of the World
This book is very comprehensive and the illustrations are beautiful.I like the illustrations because differences between parrots can be more easily pointed out the using illustrations than by photographs.There are so many different parrots in this book with information about each one.
... Read more

Book Description
An informative series that provides, in a concise format, better understanding of animals and their habitats. Fascinating in its diversity, the natural world comes to life on the pages of these spec tacularly illustrated volumes. ... Read more

Product Description
Reclusive David Huntington writes rigorously meaningless poetry to great acclaim. But he lives fearfully, sleeping and working with earplugs, rarely going outside, drawing his life more closely around him every day.
A wild parrot, a gift from his father, becomes the breach in the dike: Little Wittgenstein has a jungle shriek, fierce eyes, and a beak that wreaks havoc. David finally throws the bird out the window--and follows it into the world. His guilty search for the parrot takes him first to Telegraph Hill, where the parrot may have found others of its kind. Inexorably David is drawn even farther, lured to South America by rumors of an ancient flock in the wild mangrove swamps. There he meets the lovely level-headed Fern, an American scientist who has her own reasons for searching for the birds. Will he retreat, or follow the parrots' call?
Jim Paul has created a tender, whimsical romance, told with wit and subtlety, about having the courage to heed the messages the world sends you, and to welcome unexpected love.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Love in the Land of Parrots
This is a very sweet story of romance set against the land of parrots in Equador.The story alternates the lives of two individuals and their quest for self-realization, purpose and ultimately love. It is a rainy-day novel or bedside buddy, the kind of book that can easily be put down only to be thinking about it and then eagerly awaiting that rainy day or end of the day when you can snuggle back up and head to the land of elsewhere.The characters are not flashy, heroic or larger -than-life but they are endearing, identifiable and a tad bit quirky.It's that quirkiness that sets the pace from beginning to end and is sure to capture the hearts of bird lovers as well as those for a yen to travel to distant, exotic locales in search of intrigue, adventure, and love.

suprising and enjoyable
The darling cover photo should be enough to entice you to read this book - this parrot knows all that this book has everything ,a very enjoyable read plus parrots - what more can you ask for!

Lovely story
Oh, I wish I'd reviewed this when it was still fresh in my mind! I picked this book up from the library display table based solely on its cover. The parrot's expression was so... disarming. I love parrots and especially "Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" (both the movie and the book). "Elsewhere" intertwines the stories of two people: David, a reclusive poet striving to write the most densely obscure poetry possible, and Fern, a naturalist searching out an elusive parrot breed in Ecuador. I don't want to give too much away but you won't be surprised that their lives do eventually interconnect. It's funny and earnest, which I appreciated. There are also some surprising similarities with the real life "Wild Parrots" story (maybe too many?) I definitely recommend this one. Sad that it looks like it's out of print.

Such a shame.
-This novel's premise held so much promise. But unfortunately, the author's reach exceeded his grasp...by a considerable amount. In the hands of someone whose talent is equal to the task? This book could have been magnificent. Memorable. Transcendent, even.

-The tone is inconsistent. And when a novel's tone isn't consistent, the result reflects this.

-'Show, don't tell'. 'Elsewhere' is a thesis study in this regard. As I've said in other reviews, taking this tack can actually work out in the reader's favour...*if* the writer has a commanding voice. Paul here, doesn't. At all.

-Hamfisted.

-Facile.

-Ploddingly plodding.

-A consistent lack of editorial guidance, even down to the vocabulary used. (What is it with the publishing industry? Do any of the editors actually *do* anything?!?)

All of the above leads to a novel that is, to my estimation, without actually altering the core of the story, about 40% of what it might have been. (To those who actually felt this was a 4 or 5/5 novel... Good for you. I'm glad you appreciated it that much, derived that much enjoyment out of it.) Frustrating to read, mostly because of how many opportunities were missed.

Maybe the movie will be redeem the premise.

Great read
Excellent book for anyone who loves birds. For that matter an excellent book to learn to love birds. ... Read more