Flying With Birds

By: Yelena Roslaya Age 15 

Intro: It sometimes seems like traveling should be relaxing but there is some good information to keep in mind: 

1. Find an airline that allows birds.
2. Make reservations for your birds ahead of time.
3. Get a health certificate for the birds you want to travel with from your vet.
4. Buy tickets for the bird to fly and get a receipt from the airline.
5. Have a bird carrier, show cage and small cage that can be folded. The small cage that can be folded should be in your suitcase. The small cage that can be folded should be in your suitcase. So, when you get to the hotel, you can feed and water them.
6. Bring seeds and water with you, white during the flight, put a slice of orange and cucumber. No greens or apples. This makes the feathers messy.
7. Make sure you are at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.
8. Follow all the airline rules and policies.
9. Show the receipt and/or health certificate if the airlines or TSA ask for it.
10. For the carrier, do not use paper or other substrate on the floor. All areas of the cage should be visibly accessible.
11. Instead of sending the birds through an x-ray machine, request a ‘hand inspection’.
12. Let the carrier go through the machine. Also, allow TSA to use explosive detection equipment.
13. Above all be courteous and patient.
14. If any problems do occur –
1. Remain calm
2. Ask for a supervisor
3. Quote Regulation SOP 11 compliance
15. Use a carrier that fits under the seat
16. Write down each bird’s band, type of bird, gender, your name and address on the carrier and show cage. You can use address labels.

Lighting & Your Birds

By: Amanda Leahy Age 11

 

My name is Amanda Leahy. I’m 11 years old and a member of the Superbirds 4-H Club. Today I will tell you about lighting in your aviary.

A canary’s year has three seasons: the rest, the molt and the breeding season. The breeding season begins in February and ends in June. The molt begins in July and ends in September. The rest begins in October and ends in January. 

The hours of light birds get in the molt is eight. During the molt the bird’s lose their feathers and grow new ones. 

The rest period’s hours are weird. They begin with ten hours in October then get turned up to eleven hours in November because of shows. Then, in December, you turn the lights back down to ten hours. January 1^st, you turn the lights up to ten and a quarter hours. On January 15, you turn the lights up to ten and a half hours. 

The breeding season starts eleven and a half hours. On February 14, you pair up your birds. On February 15, the light go up to twelve hours. March 1, the lights go up to thirteen hours and stay that way until the end of the breeding season. I don’t put my lights over fourteen hours.