We're in the process of archiving Robirda's articles here; a list is below, just click on a title to read the article. Select a catagory using the 'browse' tool on the right to see a list of articles pertinent to that catagory.
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Recently Archived Articles:
Quarantine!
Photographing Small Birds
Egg-Binding
Banding Babies
To Breed or Not?
Sharing the Dream
Conditioning Canaries
Overgrown Beak
A Night of Lights and Wonder
Alphabetic List of Articles
Wintering Canaries
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
It can be difficult to realize the tremendous difference the changes of season can bring to canaries. The physical changes brought on when their bodies experience the changing length of days throughout the year affects their actions, their health, their state of mind, and their overall quality of life, as you’ll discover when reading this article.
Why Won't My Canary Sing?!?
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
Puzzled as to why your canary isn’t singing? Here’s some guidelines to help you to encourage him to be comfortable and healthy enough to sing out more freely!
Why Soak Seed?
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
What is ‘soaked seed’, and why should you want to offer it to your birds?
What Now?
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
It happens to so many new canary owners; their first canary seemed lonely, so they bought him a mate. They turned out to be more than just friends, and suddenly you’ve gone from owning two birds, to owning a dozen. For now, they’re all sharing a large flight cage, but the question seems inevitable…what now?
Unseasonal Moult
By Robirda Catagory:Moulting
One of the most puzzling problems that can arise for a new pet canary owner, is learning to understand the causes of (and learning how to prevent), an unseasonal moult.
Understanding Territoriality
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
Can canaries share cages, or can’t they? If not, why not – and if so, why, and when? Learn to understand the territorial approach to life!
Troubleshooting Problems
By Robirda Catagory:Health
You think your bird may have a problem, but you’re not sure why? Here’s some ideas on how to set about finding the cause…
Translating Birdspeak
By Robirda Catagory:Musings
Our birds (and their people) all have their own special little ways of communicating with each other, but when it comes right down to it, how much of the time do you know just what your bird is trying to tell you?
To Breed or Not?
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Sometimes it happens that, even though you had planned to breed your canaries, a situation arises that makes it difficult to devote the time and attention you need to breeding, for awhile at least. Should you try to breed your canaries in spite of the time difficulties, or should you try to delay breeding or perhaps even prevent it for the year?
The Treatment Quandary
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Sooner or later every birdkeeper has to deal with the dilemma of how to proceed with the care of a bird that doesn’t seem to be quite as healthy and as vibrant as it should be, but which shows no reliable symptoms of illness to act as a guideline for treatment.
The Pooperoopsie Affair
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
A tale of two hand-raised, hand-tame society (Bengalese) finches, and how they changed Robirda’s life forever.
The Owl and Peggy Sue
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
A true tale of an owl’s visitation to Robirda’s aviary, and what it led to.
The Non-Stick Issue
By Robirda Catagory:Health
There’s more than one controversy in the world of bird-keeping, but of them all, few manage to run the gamut of reactions from mockery to fright in quite the same way as does the Non-Stick Issue.
The Long Road Home, chapter 8
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
The final chapter of a tale of a lost little bird, based on real-life incidents.
The Long Road Home, chapter 7
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
The second-to-last chapter of a fictional tale of a lost little bird, based on real-life incidents.
The Long Road Home, chapter 6
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
Sixth chapter of a fictional tale of a lost little canary, based on real-life incidents.
The Long Road Home, chapter 5
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
Fifth chapter of a fictional tale of a lost little bird, based on real-life incidents.
The Long Road Home, chapter 4
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
Fourth chapter of a fictional tale of a lost little canary, based on real-life incidents.
The Long Road Home, chapter 3
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
The third chapter in a fictional tale based on real-life occurrances.
The Long Road Home, chapter 2
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
This chapter continues a fictional tale based on real-life occurrances.
The Long Road Home, chapter 1
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
Midwinter tradition, in many cultures, includes the telling of inspirational stories. In the spirit of those traditions, we would like to share with you a story comprised of roughly equal parts of what once was, what may have been, and what could yet be…
The Case For Keeping Pet Birds
By Robirda Catagory:Musings
Some people think none of us should keep pets of any kind, especially birds, who are usually caged. Here’s some of Robirda’s thoughts on the subject.
The Best Possible Pet Canary
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Over the years, breeding canaries has been many things to me. It is always challenging, often mysterious, continuously amusing and amazing, and constantly both confounding and enlightening.
The Accidental Canary Breeder
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Many a pet canary owner, thinking their bird needed company, has got him a mate, then found they’d become an Accidental Breeder. What can be done to prevent this?
Supplemental Lighting
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
You’ve decided that your canaries don’t get enough natural daylight, and you want to add some lighting to the area where your bird lives. But what kind of lights should you use?
Spelunky, Handtame Society Finch
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
This tale continues the story begun in The Pooperoopsie Affair . If you’ve never met a tame society finch before, you’re in for a pleasant surprise!
Song Canaries
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
Song canaries are among the oldest distinct canary breeds. Here’s some information on the more popular breeds of song canary.
So, You Want to Breed Your Birds, Eh?
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Decided you want to breed your birds? Here’s a few things to consider before you start…
Should I Buy a Pet Store Bird?
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
Robirda discusses the pros and cons of buy from pet stores – and what needs to be done to improve the situation.
Shipping Birds
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Shipping Birds – should you or shouldn’t you? Some varying viewpoints on this controversial issue.!
Sharing the Dream
By Robirda Catagory:Musings
Over the years, there’s been a great many people who’ve taught me about my birds. They all generously shared their experiences, but on thinking back I find one man in particular who stands out among the rest.
Rumblejumpskin
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
Born a dwarf, this great-grandson of Robirda’s first canary was one of the most personable and affectionate canaries she has known.
Remembrance
By Robirda Catagory:Musings
Some musings on the past, present, and future of canaries and what they have to tell us about the past, present, and future of our world.
Reepicheep and Peepicheep (part 2)
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
In part one, Robirda’s pet canary had given her two youngsters from one egg. What was next? Read part 2 to find out!
Reepicheep & Peepicheep (part 3)
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
This final part of Robirda’s story of her twin canaries recounts more breeding antics, and their final days…
Reepicheep & Peepicheep (part 1)
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
Two canaries from one egg? Impossible! Yet what else could it be? (A true story experienced by Robirda; this is part one of three)
Quarantine!
By Robirda Catagory:Health
As soon as you start thinking of making the move from owning one bird to owning two or more, another factor enters the equation. Too often though, nobody remembers to consider it, yet often a proper quarantine can literally mean the difference between life and death.
Pretty in Pink
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Iif you like a challenge, and red canaries are not enough to satisfy a taste for exotic colours, why not consider breeding the rose ivory canary? You never know, soon you too may be singing the praises of these birds who are so pretty in pink!
Preparing For Breeding Season
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Proper preparation for breeding season can mean the difference between success and failure.
Photosensitivity
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Daylight plays a more important role in the health and happiness of a pet canary than most people would ever be able to imagine, and is even more essential to the success or failure of attempts to breed.
Photographing Small Birds
By Robirda Catagory:Musings
It’s rarely easy to get a good picture of a finch or a canary; in fact, making the attempt is rather like combining two of the most difficult fields in photography, wildlife photography and indoor photography! Read this article to get some ideas on how to get good shots of your small birds…
Pet Birds & the Avian Flu
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Two words that are showing up more and more in the news these days are ‘Avian Flu’, and as fear grows and rumors spread, it is becoming difficult to separate fact from fiction. Little to no factual information has so far been presented to pet bird owners by authorities, but discussions flourish and rumors grow, seeming sometimes to spread at close to light-speed! Meanwhile, more and more pet bird owners are beginning to wonder what the real facts are…
Pet Bird Communication
By Robirda Catagory:Musings
A collection of fascinating observations by scientists and pet owners, on how birds communicate with us and each other.
Pairing Canaries
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
What’s the best way to go about pairing your canaries to get the greatest possible chances of success?
Overgrown Beak
By Robirda Catagory:Health
What causes an overgrown beak, and should you do anything about it? If so, what? Read this article for answers!
Northern Fowl Mites
By Robirda Catagory:Health
None of the usual methods seem to work for long, and you’re at a loss as to just how you are to get rid of these pernicious pests…
Non-Feeding Issues
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
It’s one of the oldest problems in the book, for many canary breeders; parent birds (particularly hens) who refuse to feed their young. Learn to understand why this can happen, and just what can be done about it.
Moving With Your Birds
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
Moving is a lot of work, and stressful for everybody involved – especially your birds! How do you keep the impact from upsetting them too much? Here’s some ideas for you…
Midwinter Magic
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
Often midwinter traditions include telling stories of mystery and magic, and at Flock Talk we’ve adopted this tradition for our own. This is our fourth midwinter tale, a story of life, death, and the rebirth of hope.
Megabacteria
By Robirda Catagory:Health
This often misunderstood and too-frequently mis-diagnosed disease can be deadly, especially if it is not detected, correctly diagnosed, and properly treated early in the infection.
King Henry, Elder Canary (part two)
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
Part two of the story of an elder rescue-canary who went on to live a long, long life.
King Henry, Elder Canary (part one)
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
Already old when he first met Robirda, this canary went on to live a long, long life. This is part one of that story.
Infertile Eggs
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Of all the problems that can arise when learning to breed canaries, one of the most confusing can be learning how to prevent infertile eggs.
Home Free
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
What do those of us who don’t have a large cage and don’t want to take the time to tame our canaries, but want our birds to live a quality life, do? This article covers one of the more unusual solutions to this question; teaching your canary to safely fly freely in your home, under a little supervision…
Handtame; In Praise of the Pet Canary
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
Handtaming a canary is both easier and more rewarding than you might think…
Getting a Gift Canary
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
It seems to happen to a lot of people, sooner or later. Somebody in the family decides that they want a singing canary, and even though you know next to nothing about canaries, you’ve volunteered (or been volunteered) to arrange the process.
Gender-Specific Behaviour
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
Canaries are among those interesting creatures whose gender is difficult for humans to determine, especially when they are young. They seem to be able to easily tell the difference between themselves, but for us it’s another story! So how DO you tell what gender your canary is?
Gardening For Your Birds
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
You’ve decided that you want to grow some greens for your bird; which plants can you grow, and what else do you need to know about them? Read this article to find out!
Flight Cages Are For The Birds
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
Learn why being able to fly is so important to smaller birds such as finches and canaries
Feather Lumps
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Sooner or later, everybody who keeps canaries of any kind may be plagued by a problem with their canaries’ feathers not emerging properly from the skin during moult. Can these be prevented, and if so, how?
Enter the Moult
By Robirda Catagory:Moulting
Of all the things birds do, moulting is perhaps one of the most confusing. Sooner or later every bird owner will find him or herself asking, “My bird is moulting! What do I do now?”
Egg-Binding
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Every springtime you’ll hear them; stories of how a female bird suddenly looks to be at death’s door, when the previous day she was happy, active, and building up a nest. As often as not, the cause of such sudden ‘illness’ is not really a disease at all, but the result of her inability, for whatever reason, to lay her egg. Learn what causes egg-binding, how to prevent it, and more, in this article.
Days of the Turk (part 3)
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
The final part of Robirda’s true story of one of the most remarkable canary hens she’s known. Against overwhelming odds, thtis little bird survived with a style anyone could
envy…
Days of the Turk (part 2)
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
The second part of Robirda’s true story about one of the bravest and stubbornest little canary hens she’s encountered. Against overwhelming odds, this little bird lived with a style anyone could envy…
Days of the Turk (part 1)
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
A true story of one of the bravest, and stubbornest, little canary hens Robirda’s encountered. Against overwhelming odds, she survived with a style anyone could envy…
Cross-Species Compassion
By Robirda Catagory:Musings
A few examples of cross-species understanding and compassion.
Courtship Capers
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
Pet bird can get up to some rather odd antics when breeding season comes along!
Consider The Canary
By Robirda Catagory:Musings
The word ‘canary’ has come into wide use as a term describing a being who has displayed extreme sensitivity to one or more commonly-encountered toxin. In our daily rush, we should remember occasionally to consider the canary, and the impact it has had and will yet have on all our lives.
Conditioning Canaries
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
What is conditioning, and how is it done? In canary fancier circles, this is one of those mysterious operations that can seem to change definition, sometimes rather drastically, depending on who you’re talking to…
Complete Nutrition?
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Are you offering your pet or breeder birds a complete diet or not, and how can you tell?
Colourbred or Colourfed?
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Is colour-feeding unnatural, or isn’t it? What do the terms ‘colourfed’ and ‘colourbred’ really mean?
Collected Songs and Singing Facts
By Robirda Catagory:TipsnFacts
Some interesting facts and scientific discoveries on songbirds and song; including startling facts and humbling discoveries made with the help of our pet birds!
Collected Management Tips (part two)
By Robirda Catagory:TipsnFacts
Part two of a group of useful management tips published over the years in various issues of Flock Talk.
Collected Management Tips (part one)
By Robirda Catagory:TipsnFacts
The first part of our collection of useful bird management tips that have been published in Flock Talk over the years.
Collected Health Tips (part one)
By Robirda Catagory:TipsnFacts
These Health tips were originally published one or two at a time over two year, in various issues of Flock Talk. We’ve grouped them by subject, to make them easier for you to refer to.
Collected Food Tips & Recipes (part one)
By Robirda Catagory:TipsnFacts
These tips were originally published one or two at a time over two year, in various issues of Flock Talk, and have been grouped together by subject, to make them easier to refer to.
Collected Food Tips & Recipes (part 2)
By Robirda Catagory:TipsnFacts
More collected food tips and recipes to help you to keep your birds healthy and happy, from the Flock Talk Archives.
Collected Cage & Toy Tips (part one)
By Robirda Catagory:TipsnFacts
These tips were originally published one or two at a time over two years or so, in various issues of Flock Talk. We’ve grouped them by subject, to make them easier for you to refer to. Happy reading! :-)
Christmas Comfort
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
A little Christmas story for you, comprised of roughly equal
parts of once-was, what-if, and might-have-been. I hope
you enjoy it!
Chickweed, the Bird's Choice
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Learn more about this fascinating and highly nutrious plant that so many birds love to eat, and so many gardeners hate; but which is becoming touted in high-class restaurants as the latest and greatest edible!
Cato And The Canaries
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
For some things, there is no particular expanation; they
just are. That’s the way it was with Cato the Yellow-headed Amazon parrot, and his beloved canaries.
Canary Linebreeding and Genetics
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Do you want to breed for predictability, or adaptability? The latter approach is considered undesirable by many breeders, proving the controversy of genetic diversity…
Canaries & Cages
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
One of the most basic facts in bird-keeping, is that the size, layout, and design of the cage a bird lives in, will establish a baseline for the quality of life that bird lives. Yet as obvious as this fact may seem, it often misses being properly considered by new canary owners.
Can Canaries Share Cages?
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
“He seems lonely” we think, but is he really? Find out the answer to one of the most frequent qiestions asked by a new canary owner…
Building an Indoor Aviary
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
You can’t afford to buy a large commercially-built flight cage, and decided to build one instead? Then all that’s needed is the best way to go about building your own indoor aviary…
Bird's First Aid Kit
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Do you know that you will have what you need on hand if an emergency should arise? Here’s some thoughts on a few items to include in your kit.
Bird Keeper's Lung
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Robirda’s encounter with lung and allergy problems that caused her doctor to want her to get rid of her birds; and what her research taught her that allowed her to save her breath and keep her birds…
Bengalese (Society) Finches
By Robirda Catagory:TipsnFacts
Society finches – also known as ‘Bengalese’ – can make entertaining and captivating pets, with their cute and funny ways. Learn a little more about this under-rated member of the finch family.
Behaviours & Personalities
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Get a clutch of bird-owners together, and you will inevitably hear stories about the odd and quirky things their birds do. But no matter many stories you hear, there will always be something new to learn about our birds…
Basic Canary Care
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
Outlines good basic canary care, including tips on cages, food, playtime, treats, perches, cleaning, and moulting. Follow these pointers to keep your canary happy, healthy, and full of song!
Banding Babies
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
‘Banding’ is the name given to the process of putting a small unique ‘ring’ on a bird’s foot, so as to be able to identify it individually. Should you band your youngsters or not, and if you do, how is it done? Read this article for your answers!
Bald Spots & Tatty Feathers
By Robirda Catagory:Moulting
What to do if your canary can’t seem to finish his moult properly?
Avian Eyesight Facts
By Robirda Catagory:TipsnFacts
Some fascinating facts on the makeup and function of a bird’s eye, and how they see the world very differently from us!
Are You An Ethical Breeder?
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Some considerations for a new breeder on the longer-term importance of being an ethical breeder.
An Introduction to Aviary Management
By Robirda Catagory:Basics
A few guidelines to setting up, stocking, and maintaining an aviary.
Air Sac Mites
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Of all the pests that can infect canaries, these tiny mites are among the most misunderstood. It’s true that most owners know of their existence, but it’s also true that many believe that every time they see a bird having difficulty in breathing, the problem is due to the presence of air sac mites. So what’s the real story behind these tiny pests, and how can you learn to tell whether or not your bird really has…
Air Quality
By Robirda Catagory:Health
Air quality is one of those things that we so often forget to consider, yet clean air is one of the most important ingredients in the recipe for an optiminally functioning living being such as a human, a parrot, or a canary…
A Tale of Two-Bits
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
The story of how Robirda got her first canary…yes, the one that liked to chase the cat around the house, and more!
A Night of Lights and Wonder
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
Many cultures celebrate midwinter, in one fashion or another. Often these traditions include telling stories of mystery and magic, and we’ve adopted this tradition for our own. This is our fifth midwinter tale, and it seems especially appropriate that this story is a tale of the fulfillment of faith, and the rebirth of hope.
A New Home For Ivy
By Robirda Catagory:Stories
Some of the best things in life come from the smallest beginnings….
A Miracle on Bird Street
By Robirda Catagory:Fiction
For thousands of years, in many guises and under many names, the mid-winter feast has been a time of celebration, and telling stories of hope, an affirmation of life and renewal of the spirit. This is a Christmas tale of that kind, with a bird-flavoured twist…
A Hen's Gotta Lay, What a Hen's Gotta Lay...
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Your pet canary hen is laying eggs – what do you do?
10 Pertinent Points About Breeding Canaries
By Robirda Catagory:Breeding
Ten Points highly pertinent to breeding canaries.