Parrots For Dummies
by Nikki Moustaki
Parrots For Dummies
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
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Copyright 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2005923243
ISBN: 978-0-7645-8353-7
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7
1O/SY/QS/QY/IN
About the Author
Avian Care and Behavior Consultant, Nikki Moustaki, M.A., M.F.A., is the author of 14 books on bird care and behavior, including Parakeets For Dummies and Finches For Dummies. In her practice as an avian consultant, she works with clients to heal the strained relationships between themselves and their feathered friends. Nikki writes for several magazines, including Bird Talk magazine and Pet Product News. She is the host of www.goodbird.com and regularly gives educational talks to bird clubs and societies. Nikki is also on the board of directors of the Shyne Foundation, a nonprofit free flight avian sanctuary (www.shynefoundation.org).
Nikki has been involved with birds since 1988, when she became very active in several bird clubs and began breeding and showing birds. She had several dozens of parrots at that time, many of them rescues, as her hobby grew. She worked in pet shops for seven years and eventually went on to manage an all-bird shop. These many years spent working in pet shops, breeding birds, and traveling to bird shows gave her unique insight into the various issues that people encounter with their avian companions. Aside from reading everything she could find about birds over the years, she acquired a variety of birdy mentors, including veterinarians, breeders, and rescuers, and received invaluable hands-on experience through them as well as through her own birds.
Nikki has kept lovebirds, cockatiels, budgies (parakeets), lories, macaws, Amazons, conures, Brotergeris, poicephalus, finches, and canaries. She became aware of the bird overpopulation problem around 1993, stopped breeding birds, and began helping in rescue efforts. Today, Nikki lives with various animals, including an African Grey parrot and a Meyers parrot, as well as two schnauzers and a miniature poodle. She splits her time between New York City and South Florida.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to the loving memory of my grandfather, Soli B. Moustaki, who loved birds and who gave me my very first pair of parakeets when I was a little girl.
Authors Acknowledgments
Thank you to all of the people who have helped make this book a solid and informative piece of avian literature: Corbin Collins for his wonderful editing and snarky sense of humor; Tracy Boggier for signing it up and for being the cool chick that she is; Dr. Greg Burkett, D.V.M., for his invaluable advice (www.birdieboutique.com); Carolyn Swicegood for her cyber-friendship and her knowledge about avian nutrition and other great stuff (www.landofvos.com); Bob and Liz Johnson for being spectacular birdy mentors (www.shynefoundation.org); Dr. Irene Pepperberg for reading the intelligence chapter (www.alexfoundation.org); and to all of my friends who supported me throughout the writing of this book.
A huge thank you to all of the people who contributed their photos to this book. It couldnt have happened without you. A special thanks to Vicki Johnson and her caiques for going the extra mile to make sure I had all of the photos I needed. Thanks to Bridget Morrison for being there through thick and thin. Last but not least, thanks to all of the birds that have come through my life and taught me so much.
Publishers Acknowledgments
Were proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.
Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development
Editor: Corbin Collins
Acquisitions Editor: Tracy Boggier
Editorial Program Assistant: Courtney Allen
Technical Editor: Becky Margison
Editorial Manager: Michelle Hacker
Editorial Supervisor: Carmen Krikorian