#African Grey enrichment activities

[is-the-owl-video-cute]

(Video does not contain gore or upsetting image, it's a bird doing tricks)

https://youtube.com/shorts/g-KmjExgPRA?si=qxYNVZFziV5hHldr

I know it's not an owl, but is that bird ethical to keep? (If you know). Thanks either way!

African grey parrots are high on the list of most difficult parrots to ethically keep because they are incredibly intelligent in a way that requires a lot of mental stimulation. You can’t really justifiably leave them alone in a cage for long parts of the day for the same reason you can’t leave a toddler in their room alone all day.

The enrichment activities in the video are good exercises, but to keep the bird properly enriched you need to either take it everywhere you go or just stay at home all day entertaining it.

They can work fine in an aviary at a zoo where they can fit more enrichment and the birds can people watch and have other birds to interact with (though the greys I’ve known have preferred to keep to themselves or with one person honestly) to pass time, but in most households it is going to be impossible for the bird to be properly occupied.

[isthenapoleoncute]

Rating: Cute!

This Napoleon is doing some math! That’s a great enrichment activity, a lot of people don’t know this, but Napoleons love math, and can even count higher than four! That’s more than a parakeet can count, and parakeets are probably related to African Grey Parrots who are known for being smart!

Always remember that your Napoleon is better at math than a probable cousin of an African Grey Parrot!

I’m just worried about your Napoleon’s pelt? It looks like he’s molting on the top of his head there. A lot of creatures in his ecosystem lose their entire heads, is he trying to fit in by losing some hair? Maybe get your Napoleon some Rogaine.

[system-of-a-feather]

A small tip of perspective for those that struggle to navigate their own needs but are animal lovers / pet parents, try to approach yourself and your needs (and for systems, parts and system needs) as if you were trying to understand a specific needs profile of a breed / version of the pet aren't the most aware of and don't have the ability to look up. I don't know how well this applies to non-dog/bird species, but largely in birds and dogs, there is a large variety of needs depending on the species / breed you get and even within species and breeds. What one needs is going to be drastically different from the other

What sort of enrichment is necessary to make this animal happy and able to live to the most of their natural behavioral capabilities? What sort of social exposure and activity does this animal need to meet their needs and make sure they have an enriched life? What have they been eating? Has it been one same meal over and over again beyond the point of enjoying it still? When was the last time things were changed up? When was the last time they were bathed or given the opportunity to see something new?

Largely our system is a bird, and like any bird, you really can't keep them in a cage all day so we have system rules that we should try to leave the house every day for at least an hour and preferably go somewhere that has something to look at that we haven't done in a while. We call this the "Fly the Coop" time and its just a general welfare rule. Treat the bird in our brain like the bird it is and give it it's "outside time" because not giving a bird that would be very bad for them.

We also are a parrot to be specific so it is very important to give us something to work on, a puzzle to figure out, and active mental stimuli and enrichment. We have a very high curious and drive to learn and figure things out, so like any particularly curious parrot, its important to lay out a number of activities, problems, and puzzles for us to figure out and build on - as a result it is important for us to always have a list of skills and problem solving and creation related things availible for us to engage with.

We are also very social but we aren't so much the active cuddler (save for specific parts) and active affectionate type, so much as we are more around the ways of an African Grey or Cockatiel that needs passive company and benefits from a mutually engaged environment; so it is important to have people (or birds for our case as it fills the need) around us doing their own thing and even better if they are also engaged as it lets us relax in an engaged state. Mutual engagement is one of the solid bonding activities. Additionally, we fill our social needs often in the form of social bathing, social eating, and general social cleaning / preening, so when possible, its good to put ourselves in environments where others are doing similar and/or bring our close people and our birds into those activities with us.

Routine is highly important to us as well which again is a good parallel to parrots so we keep that in mind.

With the general frame work, we can really easily apply a mental check list / needs list by largely applying a "welfare and needs" marker for a "non-existant parrot" and apply that to ourselves so rather than trying to figure out what "We Need", we can just make sure we have made sure the parrot need profile in our head has been met.

Largely following the general caresheet for the specific type of parrot that we are has honestly led to a lot better self care and day to day management of our mental, psychological, and physical health so its a perspective thing I do recommend.

[naturenestsafaris]

Uganda: Africa’s Ultimate Safari Destination

Uganda, often known as the "Pearl of Africa," certainly justifies its title. With stunning views of the River Nile and Lake Victoria, diverse cultures, and numerous national parks teeming with primates, wildlife, and birds, Uganda stands out as the ultimate destination for safari holidays. Its landscapes are incredibly varied and picturesque, ranging from mountains to lakes and forests. Safari holidays in Uganda offer a unique and enriching travel experience with diverse attractions that cater to various interests.

Why Visit Uganda?

Rich Wildlife Uganda is home to a wide range of wildlife and boasts several national parks that provide excellent opportunities for safaris and wildlife viewing. If you're interested in wildlife safaris in Uganda, you might wonder what kind of animals you can see. Uganda is a paradise for wildlife lovers, boasting a diverse range of animal species. From bush elephants to African lions and big cats, Uganda has almost every kind of animal you can imagine.

Among the mammals you can spot are tree-climbing lions in Ishasha, buffalos, elephants, crocodiles, zebras, leopards, elegant antelopes, and hippopotamuses near the picturesque lakes within the parks. Some endangered animals include the Mountain gorilla, Chimpanzee, crested crane, African wild dog, and Pangolin. Uganda is home to around 400 gorillas and various primates like the red-tailed monkey, black and white colobus monkeys, vervets, and olive baboons.

National Parks Uganda's national parks, such as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and the remote Kidepo National Park in the Karamoja region, are brimming with wildlife and stunning landscapes.

Bird Watching Uganda is a bird watcher's haven, home to thousands of bird species, including the Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron, Goliath Heron, Purple Heron, Great Egret, Black Heron, Intermediate Egret, Grebes, Great Bittern, Dwarf Bittern, White-backed Night-heron, Black-crowned Night-heron, Striated Heron, Cattle Egret, and Madagascar Pond-Heron.

Gorilla Trekking One of Uganda's most famous attractions is the chance to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking is a popular activity in Uganda, with permits priced at $600. While it may be expensive, spending an hour with these endangered species is an unforgettable experience. By purchasing a permit, you contribute to the conservation of these primates and their rainforest homes.

Adventure Activities For adventure seekers, Uganda offers numerous thrilling activities. The Nile River near Jinja is renowned for some of the best white-water rafting in the world. The country's varied terrain provides excellent opportunities for hiking and trekking, including the challenging hike to the top of Mount Elgon.

Taste Local Fruits Uganda is well-known for its banana cultivation, which keeps the country lush and green. Visitors can enjoy rare fruits such as papaya, sweet jackfruits, pineapples, and more. Experience the natural flavors of Uganda with cuisine crafted from local seasonal produce.

Supporting the Local Community Visiting Uganda supports the local community, as tourism revenue helps build hospitals and schools. For example, Bwindi Hospital specializes in HIV treatments and is one of the projects supported by tourism.

Best Lodges to Stay Uganda offers a range of accommodations, from budget to luxury, built with African materials and showcasing the rich African culture. These lodges, campsites, and hotels provide comfortable rooms, free Wi-Fi, hot water, bars, swimming pools, playgrounds, and gardens. The friendly and hardworking staff ensure a pleasant stay at a favorable price, depending on the visitor's preference, facilities, location, services, food, and amenities.

For booking safari holidays and accommodations, choose Nature Nest Safaris. You won't regret it. As Ugandans, Nature Nest Safaris is dedicated to ensuring your journey and stay are enjoyable. Their happiness comes from seeing you smile. The team at Nature Nest Safaris plans the best Uganda wildlife safari holidays tailored to your desires, covering accommodations and activities that wildlife enthusiasts will love.

[ashedink]

Play

Whenever I feel very alone I remember that many animals play. They have concept of play and fun. They relax and lounge. It might seem like nothing but like, it reminds me that even when I’m fucking off I’m engaging in something so evolutionary important that basically every animal engages in some sort of life enrichment like this. Mammals, Birds, even Fish. (don’t know enough about lizards and snakes to weigh in on them). Lab rats like driving tiny cars for fun. I had an oscar who was excited to learn and do card tricks and also had a bobber toy he liked to play with and move around (in general people underestimate fish intelligence, he was a smart fish, he recognized faces). I’ve had dogs, cats, horses, rats, and been adjacent to a very possessive african grey parrot, all of which need some sort of play. I’ve seen baby horses so excited to exist, so excited by the concept of LEGS that they can’t keep themselves on the ground. They just have to run around and kick and twirl and LEGS all over the place at this miraculous discovery.

Like if crows took over the world and made it to our level of society/technology/whatever you call this era 2021 we live in, I’m sure there’d be crows sitting around on their treetop desktops playing Skycraft pecking clouds apart with their face and planting peanut farms. Sharing crow memes. Hosting crow netflix marathons.

Not all animal play is the same, I know, but I just think it’s so interesting that it is a thing that developed among so many species. The ability to just have fun. Divorced of actively finding food right now, set apart from trying to make babies, just play. Often times when we play we are unknowingly learning new skills or honing existing ones. For social species maybe it helps you make friends. Maybe it just helps lower the stress of living.

So. Dinosaur play. Wonder what that must have been like. I bet there was some dinosaur out there that figured out call mimicry and used it to prank other dinosaurs. I wonder if Juvanile T-rex would play with each other as a part of keeping their pack bond. I wonder if carnotaurus would race with their siblings in preparation of learning to hunt. I wonder if gallimimus ever just spun around in circles getting dizzy and testing their legs like young emu/ostrich.

And then once I’m done pondering that I feel a lot less alone.

[confetti-critter]

Man I WISH I had an off switch so I could just turn myself off when I wanted to sleep because there isn't an activity I can do before bed that doesn't GIVE me energy so I end up sitting on my bed doing NOTHING until I figure I might as well be lying down in bed, but I'm still wide awake. I'm an African grey parrot and I'm gunna destructively pluck my own feathers due to lack of meaningful enrichment

[thelifedocumentor]

Justice Mukheli On Telling Authentic African Stories Through Art

Justice Mukheli is a film director, photographer, and artist. Through his visual storytelling, he takes viewers through a journey of African stories that embody truth, power, and beauty. He documents everyday South African experiences through his lens which makes his art feel like home. It is evident that Justice Mukheli is rooted in his heritage as he draws inspiration from his upbringing in Soweto to enrich his work. Whether he is capturing on film or digital – his photography is full of soul, which can be seen through the eyes of his subjects. Art becomes a conduit for Mukheli to heal, breathing life into untold stories and contribute towards moving the African culture forward.

From working as an Art Director at Draft FCB to being a Commercial Director for Romance Films TV, how Justice Mukheli has constantly elevated himself through a plethora of creative mediums is truly inspiring. During our catchup in Rosebank over coffee, I learned more about his journey from advertising to art, how he achieved his tremendous success as well as his new path of being appointed the Commercial Director at one of the best production companies in the world, Romance Films TV.

1. How did growing up in Soweto inspire your vision of storytelling? 

Growing up in Soweto inspired me in a lot of ways that are beyond the storyteller I thought I would become. The way we grew up and being a child at the time, Soweto was amazing. There was a freedom that kids don’t have – now that my life is this side of the world. Maybe on a weekend, I would just wake up and leave the house at 7 o’clock and go explore with my friends, come back before the sunsets. And it would be either from going to catch locust in the bush or creating our soccer field somewhere in the bush corner or playing under tunnels. We used to get under tunnels and walk. For example, we would get into a tunnel here, go through the tunnel, and get out in Bryanston. They were like a maze. There were so many activities as a kid. My childhood was amazing with memories and my parents were amazing. I was very close to my dad for the time he spent with us, close to my mum. She used to bake, we used to help her bake and knit. There was so much available to entertain me as a kid growing up in Soweto. There were these older gentlemen, friends of my uncles who dressed up incredibly beautiful and you grow up seeing that and aspiring to that. The car culture, sneaker culture, fashion culture – there was just so much.

2. What are some of the unforgettable childhood experiences you believe shaped who you are today?

When I get work or need to do or tell a story, I have a huge bank of resources and stories to borrow from, to look back into. I become excited about how I can bring those lived experiences into life, into the story I was trying to get. As a commercials director, when I get a brief most of the time, I look back there in my bank of memories. Have I experienced something like this? My latest commercial is about a funeral plan – this old man leaving his last message to his wife. So when I got briefed, it became immediately clear to me that I have experienced this. The point of view might have been different because I was a child but I can remember all those moments when my grandmother lost my grandfather and what happened and the nuance in how she was and how she dealt with the nuance of my culture and how we deal with loss. That was a huge and most incredible resource to go look into as a source of inspiration and borrow from. To breathe that experience into that piece so that it feels authentic. As a filmmaker and artist, we recreate moments and it’s in how close to reality we get. That’s my tool. It’s what I use all the time.

3. You recently joined Romance Films TV as a commercials director. How do you feel about this new path?

I am beyond excited about it. I wrote on my Instagram post that I have been inspired by Romance Films TV before I even thought that I would be a filmmaker. From 2009, when I got into advertising, I remember they would say to us when you write your advert you must write it for Grey Gray to take your script, to even consider shooting your ads for you. Grey Gray is a founding partner for Romance Films TV. He is incredible. He is an incredible storyteller. We used to write these ads and send them to their company. We would cross fingers that he considers our script. Unfortunately, when I was still in advertising I never got to work with him. Maybe our scripts were not good enough. It is exciting that the loop closed. I am excited to learn from them. There is Terence Neale who is incredible, he works mostly internationally. His ads are breathtaking, such as the ad he did for Beats by Dre. I have known them and had a friendship with them for a long time. It feels right to have joined them now because I have gained my own experience. I have scrabbled, built myself and built my confidence. I have proved that I can be a filmmaker. Now it’s amazing that I am part of a team that I have reached to be a part of for the longest time.

4. From working as an Art Director to being a Commercial Director, how did you navigate the transition from advertising to art and how did you own that space?

The transition was relatively easy. And I say this because advertising is an incredible teacher. Marketing teaches you how business works, positioning, and what you need to do to get a product to a certain target audience. I saw myself as a product when I started my journey as a photographer. Like okay cool, I’m a photographer. How do I get myself seen by those I want to book me? I had to build a portfolio using knowledge from advertising. I was in advertising for 7 years before I transitioned. My understanding of the industry helped my transition work seamlessly because I knew what to do. I knew the power of a portfolio, I knew how to get myself in front of the target audience that I need to book me. Owning the space was putting in the work and understanding what is needed to get myself to a position where I am considered or seen as someone interesting in my field or someone who has a different point of view or a different way of doing things. That is part of owning the space and creating work that is unapologetically my voice. And in the same vain, answering the client’s brief and aligning the brand with its target audience. And aligning the brand where marketers intend to get to. I make sure that my work is an extension of what my clients need. As a film director, I am a part of the chain.

Your voice is your own lived experience. For example, when I got briefed on Hollard, there were 2 other directors. There were 3 of us. It’s always important that I borrow from my lived experiences because it will be a unique point of view, a unique point of departure. After all, all the other directors will also come from their point of view, understanding, or lived experiences. That’s how they work and when I present my treatment it will unapologetically be me. It will have my voice, tone, and feels. With Hollard, the way I saw and experienced my grandmother grieve for my grandfather is unique to me. So I reconstructed and rebuilt that world from how I saw it.

5. In terms of your photography, what qualities must a subject have for it to be captivating enough for you to capture it?

For me, it’s not about aesthetic qualities, it’s about the feeling I get from the eyes. It’s not an aesthetic thing. It’s mostly eyes and the feeling that I am trying to capture. My creative process is led by feeling rather than an idea. The idea is secondary to me. For me, the important thing is how does it make me feel. I have always felt that advertising teaches us that “idea is king” and I agree. But for me, the feeling is more important than an idea because you can get an idea but it doesn’t move you. The feeling is more important to me. Sometimes I use to gravitate towards kids a lot because it was a process for me to unpack my other lived experiences - emotions I never got to deal with acknowledge or immerse myself in. Sometimes when we go through what we go through, we are not present enough to go through the emotions of it and deal with it. Photography and film have become a tool I use as therapy for myself. I can tap back into a moment that is important to me and I deal with it, and I can capture that feeling.

6. In your tremendous career, which would you say are your favorite works that you have produced and why?

I love the Ingrams advert and the Hollard advert. There is an advert I have created for South African Tourism, it has a slightly different tone than the ads I am creating now. It was about portraying black people experiencing their land on these spaces that are mostly enjoyed by white people but enjoying them their way. I quite like the advert.

7. The advertising industry in South Africa has transformed in terms of how black culture is represented, however so much work still needs to be done to move the culture forward. What do you think agencies can do better in this space?

Agencies still fall into the mistake of not being mindful of black stories by black people, or at least having black collaborators in the chain of those stories being told. I think the industry very quickly falls into thinking that “ALL LIVES MATTER” type of mentality, that creative is creative. “What makes you think that just because I am a white person I won’t be able to tell a story in a sensitive way?”. I don’t think that’s the conversation. I think the conversation is telling the story most authentically and mindfully. I think advertising needs to create space for black narratives to be inclusive of black people from the process of creating it.

8. If you ever feel a creative block during a project, how do you reconnect and channel your energy?

I have a lot of creative resources and creative outlets. If my photography is struggling, I am going to paint. Now, I have decided that I want to paint again because I am not so inspired photographically. I am going to start to paint more. If directing or my other outlets are struggling, I can make music or I can sculpt, or I can write. I have a lot of outlets.

9. Which creative materials inspired you on your overall journey? It could be a film, book, exhibition, documentary, or anything?

It was a book by Malcolm Gladwell called Outliers. It speaks of the 10 000 hours rule and it touches on the people who are amazing that we love and follow. The people who inspire us decided to put in the work, it didn’t happen by chance. That book taught me that whatever I want to be, I can be. I can make that happen, no one else. And it can never happen by mistake.

10. Which brands and artists would you like to collaborate with in the future?

I would love to work with Netflix. And in terms of artists, there is an artist I like called Sibusile Xaba. He’s really amazing. That’s who I would love to collaborate with.

11. And lastly, which words of advice would you give to young artists who aspire to manifest their dreams in this multifaceted creative industry?

My last words would be what I just said about what I got from the book, Outliers – what you want to be, only you can make happen. Great people are not just great by mistake. It just doesn’t happen to them. It was a choice. If you want to be amazing at something, you need to decide to be. It’s a process, it won’t happen overnight.

Image sources: https://www.justicemukheli.com/work Justice Mukheli Films: https://www.romancefilms.tv/directors/justice-mukheli

[floridarevealed]

Chester Shell

By Joanna Grey Talbot

Chester Shell did not grow up in the easiest of times but he was a man of purpose and vision. Born on February 16, 1892, in Orange Springs, Florida, he learned how to hunt, fish, and train bird dogs. These skills would give him a step up in life and give him the opportunity to change the lives of his fellow African Americans.

By the 1900 census he and his mother, Sofia, step-father, Howard, and five siblings and half-siblings were living in Hawthorne, Florida. Howard worked for the railroad as a crosstie chopper. These are the wooden supports that the rails are laid on top of. Sofia was taking care of the family and the older children, including Chester, were in school. At that time there was no school building for the black students, so they met in private homes and churches for only 3 months of the year. This experience planted a seed in Chester’s mind that would grow into a life-changing decision later in life.

Hawthorne Train Station, courtesy of the Matheson History Museum

In 1910 Chester’s family was listed in the census as still living in Hawthorne and all of his siblings were either working for local businesses or in school. Chester would have been 18 or 19 and isn’t listed, so it’s highly likely he had moved out to make his way in the world.

We find him again in 1917 when he registered for the World War I draft. By this time he was married to Marie Riley, a native of Interlachen, and living back in Hawthorne. He was working as a farmhand for G. D. Moore, the son of William Moore who founded the Moore Hotel in Hawthorne.

The Moore Hotel, 1900s, courtesy of the State Library & Archives of Florida

Chester’s first child, Elmer Randolph, was born in Hawthorne on August 3, 1919. Yet, by the 1920 census Chester and his young family were living in West Palm Beach and he was working as a laborer in “rock work.” In 1921 their daughter Margery Joyce was born and the next year their youngest, Arthur Ray, was born.

At some point we know they moved back to Hawthorne because Chester began working as a porter for the Seaboard Railroad and as hunting/fishing guide for Moore’s Hotel. Chester led hunting expeditions for wealthy, northern visitors. 

A hunting party at Moore’s Hotel, 1900s, courtesy of the State Library & Archives of Florida

Sadly, Marie passed away in 1924 and is buried in the Hawthorne Cemetery. Two years later, though, Chester made a decision that would change the lives of generations of black children in Hawthorne. Remembering his experiences as a student in Hawthorne and watching his own children attending school in private homes and churches, he knew something had to change.

According to the Alachua County Library District’s Heritage Collection he approached the Alachua County School Board in 1926 and requested that a school be built for the black students.  He was told that if he raised half of the necessary money the School Board would match the funds. Mr. Shell decided to put his northern contacts to use, many that he met through his time working at the Moore Hotel. He traveled north to raise money and even solicited the Rosenwald Fund, which contributed $1,200. In addition, the black community in Hawthorne sold dinners and made personal donations. The goal of $10,000 was reached and the school was built in time for the 1927-1928 school year. It covered only kindergarten through the eighth grade, so high school students had to be bused to Gainesville's Lincoln High School.

Chester Shell in the 1920s, location unknown, courtesy of the Alachua County Library District

A high school for Hawthorne's black students was finally built in 1955 and was called Shell High School. Shell High was integrated in 1970 and in the 1990s it became Shell Elementary School, which is still in operation today.

On August 8, 1930, Chester married Millie Dorthula Woodward. It doesn’t look as if they had children of their own, at least according to the census data. I was unable to find them in the 1930 census but by the 1935 state census he is still listed as living in Hawthorne and working for Moore’s Hotel as a “superintendent of woods.”

In 1940 the census states that they are living on Sanders Street and own their home. All three of his children would attend college and Elmer and Arthur served in World War II. Elmer attended Florida A&M, served in the Marine Corps during the war, earned his Master’s, married Gladys Floyd and became an educator and minister. His sister, Margery, became a teacher and married Robert Johnson in 1946. Arthur worked at Camp Blanding and then served in the Navy in World War II. He married Verlee Bonniegene Dubois in 1947.

Chester remained very active in the Hawthorne community, even serving as president of the Alachua County Voters League. He traveled extensively, often for religious and political gatherings, visiting 37 of the 50 states. He loved sports, especially baseball, basketball, hunting, and fishing.

His wife, Millie, passed away in 1956 and Chester in 1967. Both are buried in the Hawthorne Cemetery with Elmer, Margery, and Arthur.

Chester Shell, 1960s, courtesy of the Shell Elementary School Enrichment Class of 1997 website http://www.afn.org/~hawthorn/ourtown/history2.html

[fbwzoo]

i have an african grey. i got her before learning that they’re apparently impossible to ethically keep in captivity. i love her so much, she gets all day out and about and she was a direct rescue from an abusive home. i just feel bad because i didnt know about them in captivity and stuff.

Unfortunately, they already exist in captivity! While there are things we can do to change that (like no longer breeding them or buying from breeders/pet stores), they’re still going to exist in captivity for a while longer, given their long lifespans, even if we stopped all breeding tomorrow.

It sounds like you did a great thing by rescuing your girl and giving her a safe home! ♥ You absolutely shouldn’t feel bad about that. They are extremely difficult to take care of and provide enough enrichment for, but just try to do your best. It’s a huge thing to undertake and if you do end up feeling overwhelmed & like you’re not doing what she needs, there’s no shame in rehoming to someone who’s better prepared to provide for such a smart & active animal.

But just merely having her doesn’t mean that you’re a horrible person or anything, at all. Like I said, parrots still exist in captivity and need to be cared for. The best we can do for them (along with educating people & trying to stop breeding) is to make sure they’re in homes that realize what an enormous task their care is and does their absolute best to provide what the birds need to be happy and healthy.

If you don’t already follow her, @flock-talk is a wonderful parrot owner & resource & has talked before about how much work it is to provide proper enrichment and environments for parrots. She might have some more advice & reassurance for you if you have any more specific questions on how to best provide for your bird or if you need ideas on ways to keep her life enriched!

[architectnews]

Gallery 64, Washington, D.C. housing + museum

Gallery 64, Washington, D.C. Residential Building, New Eye Street Housing, Architecture Design USA

Gallery 64, Washington, D.C.

September 22, 2021

Design: Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners

Location: 65 Eye Street, SW, Washington, D.C., USA

rendering courtesy Beyer Blinder Belle

Gallery 64, Washington, D.C. Housing and Museum

Beyer Blinder Belle Announce Groundbreaking of Gallery 64, Mixed-Use Multifamily Development And Future Home of Rubell Museum on Historic Site

The renovation, adaptive reuse, and redevelopment of the historic, former Randall Junior High School and site will create a vibrant arts campus with a contemporary art museum and Gallery 64, a new 12-story apartment building.

rendering courtesy MAQE

September 21, 2021 (Washington, DC) — Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners (BBB) announce the design and groundbreaking of Gallery 64, a new 12-story residential building providing 492 units of housing. Gallery 64 will anchor the renovation and redevelopment of the historic 2.7-acre Randall Junior High School site located at 65 Eye Street, SW, in Washington, DC, with the existing former school buildings transformed into the Rubell Museum DC, a world-class contemporary art museum. National real estate firm Lowe is the developer along with joint venture partner on the project, Mitsui Fudosan America.

Constructed in 1906, with two significant wings added in 1927, the Randall Junior High School historically served African American public-school students in southwest Washington, DC until its closing in 1978. The Rubell Museum will fill the central building and east wing of the school buildings which will be preserved and repurposed, presenting internationally renowned contemporary paintings, sculptures, photography, and installations.

A dynamic glass addition at the east wing will create an inviting museum entry, with a bookstore, café, and an outdoor dining terrace that enriches street activity along Eye Street. The West Randall building will provide approximately 18,000 SF of creative workspace aimed at variety of potential tenants including nonprofits, cultural institutions, technology incubators, and coworking businesses. The concept design for the redevelopment of the historic Randall School has received unanimous approval from the Historic Preservation Review Board and from the Advisory Neighborhood Commission. With Gallery 64 sited north of the historic buildings, the redevelopment will result in over 500,000 SF of usable space.

rendering courtesy Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners

Gallery 64’s apartment residences are configured as studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units of which 98 are designated affordable. Nineteen two-level, townhouse-style residences activate the street with increased pedestrian connectivity and visual interest. Amenities include rooftop gathering spaces with fire pits, grilling stations, and outdoor kitchens; a dog walk; and a resort-style pool. Indoor communal areas include a spacious lounge with fireplace, game room, fitness center, a maker space, and a sound studio.

Gallery 64 is designed to LEED Gold standards, and the renovation of the historic school buildings will comply with LEED Silver guidelines. Gallery 64 and the overall campus redevelopment are anticipated to be completed by year-end 2022. Project visuals can be accessed here.

The 20-story infill residential tower includes ground-floor and cellar retail space, 121 rental units on the second through twentieth floors, and amenities including a landscaped rooftop terrace, private rear yard terraces, fitness and yoga rooms, resident lounge space, children’s playroom, general and bicycle storage, communal laundry, and pet wash. Located within the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District, the development was approved by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The project’s foundation was completed in March, and the superstructure was completed in late summer 2021.

The unit interiors will boast a clean modern palette with oversized windows. The building’s distinctive design pays subtle homage to the area’s historic architecture with its verticality, rhythmic dark facade, including a polished black granite base, profiled Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) piers, bronze-tone metal detailing and charcoal-grey colored window frames.

image courtesy Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners

About Beyer Blinder Belle

Founded in 1968, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners (BBB) is an award-winning architecture, planning, and interiors practice of 170 professionals in New York City, Washington, DC, and Boston with a longstanding commitment to design excellence, social integrity, and sustainable practices. The firm’s multi-faceted portfolio encompasses preservation, urban design, and new construction projects that span a wide spectrum of building typologies and sectors, including cultural, civic, educational, residential, and commercial.

Planning and design for educational institutions is central to the firm’s practice— and is based on a commitment to understanding mission and responding to the unique physical, historical, and cultural context of each campus.

BBB has designed the renovation and restoration of existing buildings as well as the addition of new buildings for numerous educational institutions including Harvard University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, General Theological Seminary, Denison University, and Stony Brook University. BBB has also provided comprehensive campus planning and facilities planning studies for Dartmouth College, Princeton University, and Amherst College, among others.

About Lowe

Los Angeles-based Lowe, formerly known as Lowe Enterprises, is a leading national real estate investment, development and management firm. Over the past 49 years, it has developed, acquired or managed more than $32 billion of real estate assets nationwide as it pursued its mission to build value in real estate by creating innovative, lasting environments and meaningful experiences that connect people and place.

Lowe established its Washington, DC area office in 1980 and has been an active developer of commercial real estate throughout the region. Among Lowe’s signature projects in the area is The Hepburn, ultra-luxury apartments developed adjacent to the famed Washington Hilton Hotel where the firm completed a $150 million restoration, development of the 700,000-square-foot National Science Foundation headquarters building on Alexandria, Virginia, and CityVista, a transformative mixed-use development in the Mount Vernon Triangle area of Washington DC.

Lowe maintains offices in Los Angeles (headquarters), Southern California, Northern California, Charleston, Denver, Seattle, and Washington, DC. For more information visit www.Lowe-RE.com

About Mitsui Fudosan America

Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. (MFA) is the U.S. subsidiary of Japan’s largest real estate company, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., a publicly traded company with approximately $ 70 billion of assets. MFA is responsible for Mitsui Fudosan’s real estate investment and development activities in North America, and is headquartered in New York, with branch offices in Washington DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu.

MFA has been active in the United States since the 1970s, and currently owns assets in the New York, Washington DC, Boston, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu metropolitan areas. MFA’s U.S. portfolio includes 5.6 million square feet of office space, 6.0 million square feet of office space under development, 1,600 residential apartments, 5,300 additional rental units under development, 350 condominiums and townhomes under development, and 753 hotel rooms.

About Rubell Museum

The Rubell Museum is a 501 c3 non-profit foundation based in Miami, Florida since 1994. The museum presents exhibitions drawn from one of the world’s largest privately owned and publicly accessible collections of contemporary art.

The collection is constantly expanding and includes over 7,400 artworks by more than 1,100 artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, Kerry James Marshall, Cindy Sherman and Kara Walker. In addition to displaying internationally established artists, the Rubell Museum actively commissions, acquires, exhibits and champions emerging artists working at the forefront of contemporary art.

Each year the foundation presents thematic exhibitions drawn from the collection and these exhibitions often travel to museums around the world. Recent exhibitions have been presented at the Detroit Institute of Arts, San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Madrid’s Fundación Santander, Kansas City’s Nelson-Atkins Museum and the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia.

Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners

Museum building designs

Gallery 64, Washington, D.C. Housing images / information received 220921 from Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners (BBB)

Location: Washington, D.C., United States of America

Washington, D.C. Architecture

Washington, D.C. Architecture

Washington DC Architecture Tours

Planet Word Museum Building Design: Beyer Blinder Belle photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division Planet Word Museum

National Museum of African American History and Culture Design: Freelon Adjaye Bond Smith Group image courtesy Freelon Adjaye Bond Smith Group National Museum of African American History and Culture Building

Five rejected White House designs that were never built, brought to life image : HouseFresh White House Alternative Designs

Eisenhower Memorial Design Design: Frank Gehry / AECOM image courtesy of architects Eisenhower Memorial Design in Washington DC

’The Weight of Sacrifice’ Memorial Design, Washington, D.C Design: Joseph Weishaar with sculptor Sabin Howard image courtesy of architects The Weight of Sacrifice Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The United States Capitol United States Capitol Washington, D.C.

Smithsonian Museum Redevelopment – Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard Design: Foster + Partners Smithsonian Institute

US Architectural Designs

American Architects

American Architecture

USA

Comments / photos for the Gallery 64, Washington, D.C. Housing Building design by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners (BBB) USA, page welcome

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Decode Your Bird's Behavior: Stop Night Frights & More - Expert Insights on Understanding & Addressing Sudden Fearful Actions. Read Now!

[vickypritchardblog]

Research 4 - Isle of Wight Zoo (ECTIP)

https://isleofwightzoo.com/ 

The Isle of Wight Zoo, is unique for its location as it is found inside of an old fort, known as ‘Sandown Fort’, which is based along the Isle of Wight coastline. The zoo was once family owned, but recently it became part of a charity, ‘The Wildheart Trust’ which helps “make a meaningful impact on the health of the natural world while actively improving the well-being of animals in human care.” The zoo has a variety of animals within it, but they specialise in tigers and lemurs, as stated on their website. 

I have decided to do some research on the Isle of Wight zoo to see what animals and interactive interpretations/experiences they already have to offer their visitors.  Animals;  Knowing what animals the zoo has is important to our group as we need to know what our interactive interpretation is going to be based on.  Animals the zoo has to offer are as followed; 

BEES: - Bees 

BIRDS (X3 species):  - Tawny Owl  - Ducks - Cockatoo

FARM ANIMALS (X5 species): - Goat - Pig - Ferret - Guinea Pig - Rabbit

INVERTEBRATES (X4 species):  - Giant African Land Snail - Giant Millipede  - Malagasy Hissing Cockroach  - Stick Insects 

REPTILES (X6 species): - Royal Python - Corn Snake - Crested Gecko - Madagascan Day Gecko  - Standing Day Gecko - Spur-thighed Tortoise 

AMPHIBIANS (X2 species): - Mossy Frog - White’s Tree Frog

FISH (X1 species): - Koi 

LEMURS (X7 species): - Black and White Ruffed Lemurs - Ring Tailed Lemurs  - White Fronted Brown Lemurs  - Red Ruffed Lemurs  - Mongoose Lemurs  - Black Lemurs  - Grey Mouse Lemurs 

LIONS (X1 species):  - African Lions 

MONKEYS (X4 species):  - Vervet Monkeys  - Spider Monkeys  - Capuchin Monkeys  - Common Marmoset 

SMALL MAMMALS (X8 species):  - Meerkats - Wallaby - Coati  - Raccoon  - Porcupine  - Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec  - African Hedgehog  - European Hedgehog 

TIGERS (Breed Not Specified On Website):  - Tigers 

Notes: 

Interactive Experiences currently at the Zoo; 

A VISIT WITH OUR PRIDE -  Experience a private tour behind the scenes of the African Lion enclosure at the Isle of Wight Zoo. It is a unique 30 minute opportunity for amazing, up close photography of the lions. The minimum age requirement to take part in this experience is 16, the prices are; £50 for one person, £90 for two people or £130 for three people. 

JUNIOR KEEPER EXPERIENCE -  A three hour experience made for children aged between 8-16 years old. This is an opportunity for children to take part in an active role as a zoo keeper, and help with everyday activities such as; cleaning, feeding, food preparation, animal care and enrichment. Adults must accompany their children but are not allowed to take part, they can take photographs however. Prices are; £150 for one child or £225 for two. 

LEMUR EXPERIENCE -  This is the chance to interact with lemurs at the Isle of Wight Zoo. Lemurs are one of the most popular animals at the zoo, and this experience allows people to help feed them and watch them climb - in some cases they may climb on the visitors. The experience costs £50 per person and lasts 45 minutes, you must be 8 years old or over to participate - children must be accompanied by a paying adult. 

TIGER EXPERIENCE -  A 30 minute tour of the tiger enclosure, where visitors will learn about each tiger and their story. This is a unique opportunity to take photographs of the tigers up close. You must be 16 years old or over to attend and the experience costs £50 per person. 

UNDERSTANDING BIG CATS -  The ultimate experience for cat lovers - visit tigers behind the scenes and learn a deeper understanding of their activities, behaviour, adaption and conservation. Allowing visitors to gain more knowledge of the rescue and rehabilitation work undertaken by the trust at the zoo. The experience costs £100 for one person and you must be aged 16 or over to attend - those under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult. 

ZOOKEEPER FOR A DAY -  A full day experience - 10:00am - 16:00pm, of being an assistant zoo keeper, helping to clean, prepare food, take care of the animals and help with enrichment. Although the animals mentioned on the website are not definite, there is a possibility to work with; meerkats, lemurs and tigers. The visitors are not allowed to pick what animals they work with/look after, it is decided for them on the day. You must be 18 or over to participate and it costs £195 for one person. 

New ideas  These experiences are not free and cost a lot. I think the zoo would benefit greatly from an interactive interpretation that is free to the visitors, that is engaging and informative. Something for young children would also be beneficial that they can interact with, as the experiences that are already offered by the zoo, are to children 8 years and older. 

What next?  Next our group is going to create a mind map, brainstorming all of our ideas we have for this project. Once we have all of our ideas, we will choose the best idea that will be effective for the zoo and will be the most beneficial to make based on our groups skills and knowledge. 

[instantlycoolturtle-blog]

Sun Conure - Species Food, Personality & Care

New Post has been published on https://www.birdsandblossom.com/sun-conure/

Sun Conure - Species Food, Personality & Care

The Sun Conure is a medium-sized, one of the most popular brightly colored parrot habitat in the relatively small region of northeastern South America. They also occur in north Brazil, southern Guyana, and Venezuela, most travelers to coastal French Guiana.

These birds lived alongside the Amazon River in Brazil are now well-known to the sulfur-breasted parakeet. They’re very social birds, normally found in flocks. Sun conures form monogamous pairs for breeding, and nest in cavities of palm in the tropical areas.

The sun conure found in tropical inland habitats may live dry savanna forests and coastal woodlands. They typically inhabit trees with fruits and palm plantations. Cross more open savannah territories only when traveling between areas of forest.

The sun conures are one of the most popular birds of their size due to their stunning plumage, fantastic disposition and excellent quality as a companion bird. They’re active, vocal, and communicative; these birds are known for their beautiful nature.

Sun Conure Description

There are various types of sun conures, which have many colors and size, such as the Nanday Conure is the more abundant species with green plumage and black head. First feathers of sun conures are olive green, change to the yellowish-orange about at the age of 6 months.Black beaks; feet are grey, bare white rings around their eyes and a long olive-green pointed tail with a blue tip.

The males are a little brighter, flatter, square, and females have smaller and round head. Mostly birds have golden-yellow feathers with orange-red around the eyes and underparts.The wing-coverts are yellow, and green; below all the flight plumages have dark grey colors. An average sun conure weigh is about 110 grams or 4oz and 12 inches or 30 cm long. The sun conure lifespan is 30 to 35 years in captivity with an excellent diet and proper care.

Sun Conure Talking Ability

They can mimic human voices, not as some larger parrots like African grey parrot and macaw. The sun conures haven’t much-talking ability but prefer imitating sounds such as whistles, doorbells, telephones rings and perform different tricks.

Sun conure talking does not usually develop broad vocabularies, tending to learn only a few words and sentences. Talking skill and learn various tricks are quite moderate in captivity. Some sun conure never mimics any sounds, and prefer the normal range of vocalizations for their species.

Sun Conures are not very loud

Sun conure my beautiful fluffy companion bird is not very loud. Birds curious personality, they demand very much of attention from their family members, with whom they can affectionate and cuddly.

They’re extremely loving and loyal, an easy to keep and thrive in your family as a beautiful pet. Sun conures are very smart and inquisitive, require constant social interaction and mental stimulation. You should never Keep them with other bird species, make sure you have provided safe areas to walk and explore around.

The loud, high-pitched call commonly is they used to get attention to important situations or particularly at dawn and dusk. Honestly, I never find my sun conure is shrilled at these specific times.

Behavior & Personality

Like other Conure species, sun conures are very sociable and occurs typically in large groups about 25 to 30 birds. They occasionally leave the group, but when they become apart from the flock, they screech in a high-pitched call, allowing birds to talk with their group and return to them. In the wild, their call is used to communicate with other birds miles away.

These birds are relatively quiet while eating, but well-known to be very loud and make shrill sounds when in traveling. They can fly many miles in a day, and they are rapid and nonstop flyers.

The sun conure in a flock roost, feed each other, preen, and bath throughout the day. They move on the trees with their beaks for additional support. They also have the skill to use their feet to help hold, observe, or eat foods. 

During molt sun conures are uncomfortable, so can easily short-tempered. Regular bathing, warm rains, and humidity allow the covers of each pin feather to open more efficiently and reduce their irritation.

Sun Conure Diet

In the wild, they mainly eat fresh fruits, seeds, berries, flowers, blossoms, nuts, and insects. You should offer an excellent balanced diet, with a large variety of fruits and vegetables.

Different foods that including fresh fruits, vegetables such as leafy greens and root vegetables.

Sun Conure loves to eat throughout the day; also give the small amounts of fortified bird’s seeds and nutritional balanced pellets diet.

They also eat red cactus fruit, legume pods; feed ripe, seeds half-ripe both berries and fruits.

Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Seeds & other Foods

Adding a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to your bird’s diet is an excellent way to supplement their nutrients intake everyday. Make sure to chop into small, easily edible pieces before placing into your bird’s food dish.

Some good fruits are apples, oranges, bananas, papaya, strawberries, grapefruits, raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries, rowans, currants, elderberries, cucumbers, tomatoes and rose hips.

Sun conure care is important, many types of vegetables include Spinach, kale, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, cress, carrots, peas, endive, alfalfa, dandelions, and sweet potatoes.

Give beans, sprouted sunflower seeds, grass seeds, chickweed, soaked corn, spray millet. Sun conures likes to feed fruits tree buds like willows, elderberry bushes, aspen, and hawthorn.

Make sure to wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly before feeding your conure to eliminate pesticides. If the fruits or vegetables have a thick outer shell, you should remove this before giving to your bird. You may also need to consider getting organic fruits and vegetables. Give clean, filtered, fresh, chlorine-free water and change daily. Fruits and vegetables should be discarded after a few hours.

Add Pellet Food Seeds, Grains, & Nuts

Pellet food should be the main of your bird’s diet, and this food creates the base of a nutrition diet for your birds.

Offer a pellet food that is all natural so that you can prevent your birds from any dangerous additives.

You can find bird’s high-quality pellet diet at any pet store.

Include the pellet food with seed mixes that you feed the bird most of the time, but grains and nuts should be provided in small amounts.

You can offer healthy, non-sugar grains like cooked brown rice, barley, or crackers.

Supplement Diet with More Vitamins & Minerals

They require more protein consumption during the breeding season, more carbohydrates when raising young, and more calcium during the production of eggs.

Foods are included cuttlebones, ground oyster shells, hard-boiled eggs, low-fat cheese, biscuits, nuts, bread, and mineral blocks.

The females are laid eggs can be prone to calcium deficiency and the problem of egg binding.

Add Seeds, Grains, & Nuts

These foods are the best way to add a little variety and extra nutrition to your bird’s diet.

You can include seed mix with the pellet food that you feed the bird most of the time, but grains and nuts should be given in little amounts.

You can provide your bird healthy, non-sugary grains like cooked brown rice, barley, and crackers.

Add low-salt, unshelled nuts; shells of peanut can be toxic to birds. 

Avoid some Toxic Food

Avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, onion, salt, sugar and high-fat foods, caffeine, and other unsafe drinks.

Avoid feeding your birds sugary cereals or grains, processed foods of any type, or non-vegetarian food.

Health & Common Conditions

Like other conures and parrots, the sun conure can be prone to feather plucking. It may be a medical cause, or lack of proper mental stimulation and boredom can be the reason. Offer your bird enriched environment with lots of opportunities for foraging and safe toys for play and chew. Visit an avian veterinarian for their regular health checkups, as they can help diagnose and treat many illness growths before time.

Health Symptoms

Feeds and drinks water during the day

Active and sociable

Dry, bright eyes and nostrils

Smooth, and neat feathers

Legs, feet, beak are normal

Symptoms of Sickness

Plucked, fluffed or soiled feathers

Inactive and sitting on the floor of the cage

Coughing and wheezing

Beak swelling

Runny poops

When not sleeping supporting one foot

Loss of appetite

Discharge from eyes or nostrils

Swollen eyes

Breeding Season

In the wild, they usually nest in Maurita flexuosa palm cavities. Mature birds form monogamous pairs about one or two years of their age. Before breeding, they love feeding and grooming each other. Usually, size of clutch size three or four white eggs, and the female may lay intervals of two to three day.

The females have responsibility for the complete incubation period from 24 to 27 days, and only leave the nest for small feeding times. The males aggressively defend the nest from predators. Both parents take part in feeding the young.The chicks depended on their parents for 8 to 9 weeks and fledged the nest after 10 to 12 weeks.

Sun Conure as Pet

The sun conure is a playful and entertaining bird that enjoys different antics, very affectionate, and cuddly  to all family members.Hand-reared birds can be very sociable to people, they may be aggressive with visitors and even territorial with guests. Like other pet birds, they require training, you need to have an encouraging and entertaining bond with them. Kind support techniques can be used to train your bird to many athletic antics. Make sure the bird will not respond and never scold or any negative reinforcement. 

The sun conures are very active, they will be happiest in a large cage. Provide conditioning perches, birds rub their beaks and keep them accurately in shape and clean. Perches  are available in different sizes and colors to keep birds stimulated. Sun conures are strong chewers and need treats and toys often. Give 4 to 5 toys like organic wood blocks, rope, or pieces of coconut to chew.

Due to dangers around, they should not be allowed to move and fly unsupervised.Fill a shallow dish with room temperature or lukewarm water and allow your bird for the bath. Never use soap for bathing.

Like many parrot species, the sun conure requires safe areas out of their cage to explore  around. The sun conures are affectionate and playful, they need attention and make the stable companionship.

[tiktokparrot]

New bird on the block? Want to understand your parrot? Learn essential bird teaching techniques & build a lasting bond. Learn how to transform your feathery friend into a dance partner.

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Sun Conure - Species Food, Personality & Care

New Post has been published on https://www.birdsandblossom.com/sun-conure/

Sun Conure - Species Food, Personality & Care

The Sun Conure is a medium-sized, one of the most popular brightly colored parrot habitat in the relatively small region of northeastern South America. They also occur in north Brazil, southern Guyana, and Venezuela, most travelers to coastal French Guiana.

These birds lived alongside the Amazon River in Brazil are now well-known to the sulfur-breasted parakeet. They’re very social birds, normally found in flocks. Sun conures form monogamous pairs for breeding, and nest in cavities of palm in the tropical areas.

The sun conure found in tropical inland habitats may live dry savanna forests and coastal woodlands. They typically inhabit trees with fruits and palm plantations. Cross more open savannah territories only when traveling between areas of forest.

The sun conures are one of the most popular birds of their size due to their stunning plumage, fantastic disposition and excellent quality as a companion bird. They’re active, vocal, and communicative; these birds are known for their beautiful nature.

Sun Conure Description

There are various types of sun conures, which have many colors and size, such as the Nanday Conure is the more abundant species with green plumage and black head. First feathers of sun conures are olive green, change to the yellowish-orange about at the age of 6 months.Black beaks; feet are grey, bare white rings around their eyes and a long olive-green pointed tail with a blue tip.

The males are a little brighter, flatter, square, and females have smaller and round head. Mostly birds have golden-yellow feathers with orange-red around the eyes and underparts.The wing-coverts are yellow, and green; below all the flight plumages have dark grey colors. An average sun conure weigh is about 110 grams or 4oz and 12 inches or 30 cm long. The sun conure lifespan is 30 to 35 years in captivity with an excellent diet and proper care.

Sun Conure Talking Ability

They can mimic human voices, not as some larger parrots like African grey parrot and macaw. The sun conures haven’t much-talking ability but prefer imitating sounds such as whistles, doorbells, telephones rings and perform different tricks.

Sun conure talking does not usually develop broad vocabularies, tending to learn only a few words and sentences. Talking skill and learn various tricks are quite moderate in captivity. Some sun conure never mimics any sounds, and prefer the normal range of vocalizations for their species.

Sun Conures are not very loud

Sun conure my beautiful fluffy companion bird is not very loud. Birds curious personality, they demand very much of attention from their family members, with whom they can affectionate and cuddly.

They’re extremely loving and loyal, an easy to keep and thrive in your family as a beautiful pet. Sun conures are very smart and inquisitive, require constant social interaction and mental stimulation. You should never Keep them with other bird species, make sure you have provided safe areas to walk and explore around.

The loud, high-pitched call commonly is they used to get attention to important situations or particularly at dawn and dusk. Honestly, I never find my sun conure is shrilled at these specific times.

Behavior & Personality

Like other Conure species, sun conures are very sociable and occurs typically in large groups about 25 to 30 birds. They occasionally leave the group, but when they become apart from the flock, they screech in a high-pitched call, allowing birds to talk with their group and return to them. In the wild, their call is used to communicate with other birds miles away.

These birds are relatively quiet while eating, but well-known to be very loud and make shrill sounds when in traveling. They can fly many miles in a day, and they are rapid and nonstop flyers.

The sun conure in a flock roost, feed each other, preen, and bath throughout the day. They move on the trees with their beaks for additional support. They also have the skill to use their feet to help hold, observe, or eat foods. 

During molt sun conures are uncomfortable, so can easily short-tempered. Regular bathing, warm rains, and humidity allow the covers of each pin feather to open more efficiently and reduce their irritation.

Sun Conure Diet

In the wild, they mainly eat fresh fruits, seeds, berries, flowers, blossoms, nuts, and insects. You should offer an excellent balanced diet, with a large variety of fruits and vegetables.

Different foods that including fresh fruits, vegetables such as leafy greens and root vegetables.

Sun Conure loves to eat throughout the day; also give the small amounts of fortified bird’s seeds and nutritional balanced pellets diet.

They also eat red cactus fruit, legume pods; feed ripe, seeds half-ripe both berries and fruits.

Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Seeds & other Foods

Adding a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to your bird’s diet is an excellent way to supplement their nutrients intake everyday. Make sure to chop into small, easily edible pieces before placing into your bird’s food dish.

Some good fruits are apples, oranges, bananas, papaya, strawberries, grapefruits, raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries, rowans, currants, elderberries, cucumbers, tomatoes and rose hips.

Sun conure care is important, many types of vegetables include Spinach, kale, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, cress, carrots, peas, endive, alfalfa, dandelions, and sweet potatoes.

Give beans, sprouted sunflower seeds, grass seeds, chickweed, soaked corn, spray millet. Sun conures likes to feed fruits tree buds like willows, elderberry bushes, aspen, and hawthorn.

Make sure to wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly before feeding your conure to eliminate pesticides. If the fruits or vegetables have a thick outer shell, you should remove this before giving to your bird. You may also need to consider getting organic fruits and vegetables. Give clean, filtered, fresh, chlorine-free water and change daily. Fruits and vegetables should be discarded after a few hours.

Add Pellet Food Seeds, Grains, & Nuts

Pellet food should be the main of your bird’s diet, and this food creates the base of a nutrition diet for your birds.

Offer a pellet food that is all natural so that you can prevent your birds from any dangerous additives.

You can find bird’s high-quality pellet diet at any pet store.

Include the pellet food with seed mixes that you feed the bird most of the time, but grains and nuts should be provided in small amounts.

You can offer healthy, non-sugar grains like cooked brown rice, barley, or crackers.

Supplement Diet with More Vitamins & Minerals

They require more protein consumption during the breeding season, more carbohydrates when raising young, and more calcium during the production of eggs.

Foods are included cuttlebones, ground oyster shells, hard-boiled eggs, low-fat cheese, biscuits, nuts, bread, and mineral blocks.

The females are laid eggs can be prone to calcium deficiency and the problem of egg binding.

Add Seeds, Grains, & Nuts

These foods are the best way to add a little variety and extra nutrition to your bird’s diet.

You can include seed mix with the pellet food that you feed the bird most of the time, but grains and nuts should be given in little amounts.

You can provide your bird healthy, non-sugary grains like cooked brown rice, barley, and crackers.

Add low-salt, unshelled nuts; shells of peanut can be toxic to birds. 

Avoid some Toxic Food

Avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, onion, salt, sugar and high-fat foods, caffeine, and other unsafe drinks.

Avoid feeding your birds sugary cereals or grains, processed foods of any type, or non-vegetarian food.

Health & Common Conditions

Like other conures and parrots, the sun conure can be prone to feather plucking. It may be a medical cause, or lack of proper mental stimulation and boredom can be the reason. Offer your bird enriched environment with lots of opportunities for foraging and safe toys for play and chew. Visit an avian veterinarian for their regular health checkups, as they can help diagnose and treat many illness growths before time.

Health Symptoms

Feeds and drinks water during the day

Active and sociable

Dry, bright eyes and nostrils

Smooth, and neat feathers

Legs, feet, beak are normal

Symptoms of Sickness

Plucked, fluffed or soiled feathers

Inactive and sitting on the floor of the cage

Coughing and wheezing

Beak swelling

Runny poops

When not sleeping supporting one foot

Loss of appetite

Discharge from eyes or nostrils

Swollen eyes

Breeding Season

In the wild, they usually nest in Maurita flexuosa palm cavities. Mature birds form monogamous pairs about one or two years of their age. Before breeding, they love feeding and grooming each other. Usually, size of clutch size three or four white eggs, and the female may lay intervals of two to three day.

The females have responsibility for the complete incubation period from 24 to 27 days, and only leave the nest for small feeding times. The males aggressively defend the nest from predators. Both parents take part in feeding the young.The chicks depended on their parents for 8 to 9 weeks and fledged the nest after 10 to 12 weeks.

Sun Conure as Pet

The sun conure is a playful and entertaining bird that enjoys different antics, very affectionate, and cuddly  to all family members.Hand-reared birds can be very sociable to people, they may be aggressive with visitors and even territorial with guests. Like other pet birds, they require training, you need to have an encouraging and entertaining bond with them. Kind support techniques can be used to train your bird to many athletic antics. Make sure the bird will not respond and never scold or any negative reinforcement. 

The sun conures are very active, they will be happiest in a large cage. Provide conditioning perches, birds rub their beaks and keep them accurately in shape and clean. Perches  are available in different sizes and colors to keep birds stimulated. Sun conures are strong chewers and need treats and toys often. Give 4 to 5 toys like organic wood blocks, rope, or pieces of coconut to chew.

Due to dangers around, they should not be allowed to move and fly unsupervised.Fill a shallow dish with room temperature or lukewarm water and allow your bird for the bath. Never use soap for bathing.

Like many parrot species, the sun conure requires safe areas out of their cage to explore  around. The sun conures are affectionate and playful, they need attention and make the stable companionship.