Customer Reviews

Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior

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The Parrot Rehabilitation Society is a non-profit organization that regularly deals with the problems of companion birds who are without homes because the owners were unprepared to deal with the challenges of exotic bird ownership. As Vice-President of the Parrot Rehabilitation Society and Director of the Adoption and Foster Program, I was very impressed with Mattie Sue Athans' newest book, "Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior".

Because many birds are placed in our Foster Program by their owners due to behavioral problems such as feather picking, screaming, biting, or extreme fearfulness, these sections in the book have proved to provide valuable and practical information for our foster and adoptive parents. The specific suggestions for "Recovering Confidence in a Fearful Parrot" and "Feather Chewing, Snapping and Plucking" are particularly good. These behaviors are so troubling and complex,yet most resource books only give a general overview of possible causative factors, without offering any practical solutions.

The "Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior" is written in a format which allows it to be used for reference, but it is interesting and entertaining enough to be read through from cover to cover.

I highly recommend this book, as well as "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot" by Mattie Sue Athan, to anyone who has a companion parrot in their life, or is considering purchasing or adopting an exotic bird. Both books together provide a valuable reference for insight into the on-going and ever-changing relationships that develop between you and your feathered family members.

Cathy Isbell, Vice-President Parrot Rehabilitation Society

Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior is chock full of brilliant color photos, clear line drawings, and well explained, easy-to-understand terms. There are sections covering the basics of most parrot and parrot-type birds, from tiny parakeets to majestic macaws, and every species in between. The book is stuffed with useful information that will be helpful to both the first-time bird buyer and the experienced parrot owner in the selection of a companion bird.

Chapters include "What is a Companion Parrot?" "Finding the Right Bird," "General Care and Other Considerations," "Behavioral Development," "Occasional Behavioral Issues," and, one of my favorite sections, "Stories About Companion Parrots." One part even covers what happens when a bonded parrot survives its owner. There are many, many informative sections that are invaluable for anyone who loves, and desires to learn more about, companion birds.

This is a well-written, comprehensive book that will provide hours of entertainment and education. I highly recommend it!

This book, along with The Well Behaved Parrot by the same author, is essential reading for anyone who has or wants a companion parrot. This book covers all of the most popular as well as some of the lesser known bird species. I have 4 rescue birds that came to me with a variety of behavioral problems. By following the behavioral techniques and interventions suggested by the author I can honestly say many problems were solved and other were avoided. Get this book and her others if you are serious about your companion birds. It will really help you understand your parrot and prevent problem behaviors from developing.

I was really impressed with the scope of this work, as it covers not only the attributes of different species of birds, but also much regarding behavior, training, general care and help for specific problem behaviors. I would highly recommend this as a 'first read' for anyone that is contemplating adding a bird to their household. It is written in a friendly manner, is easy to read and has beautiful photos, so it's sure to be used as a reference guide by those that already own (or are owned by!) parrots. I think it's wonderful that such an excellent source of information can also be priced so reasonably! Don't wait - get this one right away!!

Author Mattie Sue Athan has performed another courtesy for all parrot-owning and potential parrot-owning individuals. The new book "Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior" is a concise, all-encompassing guide to the beautiful, alluring, exotic birds that the author also calls "little green dragons."

To the uninitiated, companion parrots may appear to be a low-maintenance, showy type of pet. Athan's book goes through the joys and rewards of owning a companion parrot, but she also gives an honest reckoning of the time and effort that must be invested to properly care for a pet that may well be a three year-old toddler in your home for the next 80 years.

The "Companion" book looks great: much larger (many more pages) than her earlier books - and a lot more information. Combined with Athan's first book, "Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot," these two volumes become a "must-read" for anyone considering the purchase (people like to call it adoption) of a companion parrot. Beyond the neophyte prospective owner, all seasoned (well-nipped) owners will continue to use the two books as ready and reliable resources in their day-to-day lives with parrots.

The "Companion" book probably should be read out of sequence. Look through the book at many colorful and helpful pictures and illustrations and read whatever passages catch your eye. Then go back and read the book from cover to cover. Athan gives a short, but to the point introduction, then a short but in-depth review of characteristics of the most popular parrot species. She then goes in to detailed and informative discussions about why and how parrots interact with their human companions. (One final "insiders" note: The usually camera-shy author - who normally only allows her hands to be pictured in her books - actually appears in one of the photographs - the secret is: Which one? It's nice to get a face to go with all the wisdom.)

Beyond these two comprehensive books (the new "Companion" and the previously issued "Well Behaved") Athan has also published two species-specific books - one on the Quaker parrot, the bird that Athan calls "the best and the worst parrot" and another book on Senegal parrots and their companion species. If I were to arrange all of Mattie Sue's books on a time-line (which book to read first, second, third, etc.) I would put the "Companion" book first - it gives the basics of the different species and then how they react as companion birds. I'd recommend "Well Behaved Parrot" as the close second book for an owner to read - how to train your specific bird, and then the species-specific books: Quakers/Senegals as the third or fourth books to read. Athan has another species-specific book in the works - one on the popular African Gray parrot.

Athan has done the world of companion parrot owners a major service by writing books that serve not only the beginner, but also the more seasoned parrot owner as the "bibles" for understanding, caring for, and enjoying these precious, intelligent animals.

Understanding why our parrots do what they do is essential to getting the most out of a relationship with these wonderful (and sometimes challenging) pets. This book offers the insights of someone who's not only an expert, but who also really loves parrots. An entertaining and fascinating must-read for anyone who has or is thinking of getting a parrot. -- Gina Spadafori, co-author, with Brian L. Speer, DVM, Dip, ABVP (Avian Practice), of BIRDS FOR DUMMIES

I was almost hesitant about buying this book because I was looking for a book that was specific to my ringneck's. However, this book was well written enough to cover some very important information on the behavior of my specific bird. This book really covers it well in spite of the many species of exotic birds that are mention on the book cover.

I bought this book a few days back after being disappointed by the author's other book "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot" (see my review for the said book). It is significantly improved over the other book. It is better organized and contains more factual material, including sections on old and new world parrots (some general idiosyncracies). Whereas the previously reviewed book was very poor, this one rates average. It still lacks w.r.t. specificity, depth, and consistency. Maybe 7-8 pages (as opposed 1-2) will suffice to condense the information contained in the book. I also ordered another book "Companion Parrot Handbook" by S. Blanchard. That is a fantastic book (see my review for the said book)!

GUIDE TO COMPANION PARROT BEHAVIOR is a great overview of this family and specifically provides something the specialty books only hint at, a good cross - comparison of the various parrot members from the "Old World", the "New World" and the "Pacific Rim". I have 12 parrots and three canaries and find there are differences among and between them. Some are more shy (Parrotlets), some are more agressive (Love Birds), some can stand cold (Quakers) and some must be kept warmer with individual heaters or lights. Some are unreasonably sweet (Cockatiels) and some are little devils.

Of course Athan might say she never met a companion bird that was a little devil. It is probably true that most anti-social behavior in companion parrots that were hand raised is bought about because the human failed in some way. Athan show the reader how to establish and maintain a happy relationship with your companion bird and how to deal with the problems of feather chewing, screaming, and biting.

If you could buy just one and only one book on how to get along with your bird, THIS IS IT. I bought it in 1998 after seeing the 20/20 segment featuring Ms. Athan. Since then, I have used it as THE GUIDE for questions or curiousities I have relating to how to get along with my bird.

This book is a subsequent edition from the one I have, but I have every confidence that it is just as fantastic as the first edition--which Ms. Athan autographed for me this spring when I attended one of her seminars.

The best part of this book are the games such as "blink" that she teaches. Before bringing home any new bird, read and reread this chapter extensively, then keep it with you like a life preserver and play those games. Blink especially is a fantastic game for gauging a parrot's basic feelings about your presence. I also learned to keep my hands behind my back when approaching my birds from this book so I assume the body language of a relaxed bird.

These and other techniques are absolutely the best.

So again--if you buy just one book in your entire life on parrots--THIS IS IT. BUY IT!!