We have been enjoying watching the different birds here on the deck especially early mornings and evenings when it is cooler. The days here are really too hot for us to be outdoors do to the high humidity as well.
I got to thinking-in years past when I held down a full time job with Illinois Bell (at the time-now merged into a different name) I also worked allot of hours in our bird business-About Birds that was in Hebron Illinois-the back of our property was a stone's throw away from the Wisconsin border.
We had two large indoor aviaries and a small store on our farm property selling to the retail pet bird trade and also wholesale to the ma and pa pet stores, and mainly to other bird breeders We had our business for many years thinking close to 20 years or so. My husband learned allot from hands on experiences working at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Il in his younger years. He was asked to speak about bird husbandry and more at large bird groups when we had our business. It was interesting times and for me personally I learned allot. We bred many species of birds, and worked with the Milwaukee Zoo raising rare and endangered bird species to help keep those species alive.
We did get a first world breeding award from the American Federation of Aviculture for the Celebes Hanging Parrot, and just missed by minutes getting the first world breeding award for the fig parrot.
Here is an article we wrote after accepting this award-sadly they spelled our last name totally wrong. Larry had designed the breeding box along with the very large and long cages for them. Sorry the link to the magazine article pdf will not work and that one had several photos. (if interested just type in breeding celebes hanging parrot by Larry and Kathy-and that pdf will come up)
The Celebes were sweet little birds-here are some photos I found on the web
Our aviaries had special full spectrum lighting and I also set up those garden waterfalls along with soothing music.
That's my blast from the past that you probably did not know about me-Do you have a blast from the past to share??
I admit I did not know about your history with birds. How wonderful to have these memories and they are so interesting! Debra, are you there?
ReplyDeleteThank you Barbara-they are good memories for us
DeleteWonderful information, Kathy. I checked out the PDF and really enjoyed the article. How nice that you created a special formula for them, too. I really enjoyed learning this about your past endeavors. Sounds like a hobby that turned into a very profitable business.
ReplyDeleteThank you Elizabeth, it was a rewarding part of our history together-and we saved from the business to help purchase our woods home when we retired
DeleteThis is a beautiful post and a bit of info about you.
ReplyDeletethank you
DeleteOh, I never knew you were into animals/birds!
ReplyDeleteBelated congrats on the award - never heard of a fig parrot.
Interesting article, boy, that´s a lot of work! But I think rewarding :-) Sorry about the name, though - hahaha, see my post today. Just on that!
Love your blast from the past - and indeed I have some pics ready from 1999, well and today from 1971 or such.
Yes we have always loved nature and the animals and birds. I am off to check out your page
DeleteHow interesting, I certainly didn't know this! Have a great day, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeletethanks you as well-hugs
DeleteThat is really fascinating Kathy. I didn't know this, nor how zoos use breeders to keep rare and endangered birds going. I really enjoyed this post and the photos. I'm off to read the article. Did you husband finish the owl book yet? Just wondering how you and he liked it. Have a great day. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteGood morning Erika, I was going to send you an email but I couldn't find it. I have not read the owl book yet but Larry just finished it this week. I asked him about it-and he was disappointed that he thought the book was more about her and her needs and not more about the owl. He did think it would have been better for the owl's life to be researched in a breeding program instead of as a pet. I will let you know when I read it
DeleteNow that I know you had a bird rearing business, that makes a lot of sense. It sounds like your husband needs a more technical book. I can see why
Deleteyes and I think he felt sorry for the bird-I am anxious to read it now-I am in the middle of a really good series of 6 (thick) books so will take a break for the owl book soon
DeleteAwesome colors birds.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful birds and they usually hang under tree limbs
DeleteWonderful post, pretty birds
ReplyDeleteBlast from the past, I have to think on that.