shanlung

For all it is worth. The best food by far for your parrot will be Tinkerbell mash, a food that you make with love and care for your parrot. No additives or shelf life extenders in it. Morning with Harry & the decision// Sultan of Oman Palace// Tinkerbell Mash Batch 7 http://shanlung.livejournal.com/109957.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/ ps You know why the mash I made need to be kept in the freezer? With only one baggie at a time being thawed and must be kept in the fridge as well? Whereas what you buy in a box need not be in the freezer? Here is why Here is the list of the common additives found in pellets. Do have fun reading that. Ethoxyquin: Is listed and identified as a harsh hazardous chemical by OSHA. It was originally used to preserve rubber. This is not allowed in human food and some feel it is not a chemical that they want in their bird food. The FDA has asked manufacturers for voluntary reduction in its use in pet foods and is in the process of deciding whether or not to ban the use of it altogether. Bird's bodies can not get rid of it like a dog or cat and it then builds up and causes problems. Ethoxyquin promotes kidney carcinogenesis, significantly increases the incidence of stomach tumors, enhanced bladder carcinogenesis and urinary bladder carcinogenesis. Cancers of this type are the most lethal and fastest acting, the swiftest effects being seen among animals. Artificial Colors: Most people are aware of toxic side effects of artificial colors and flavors from coal tar derivatives such as Red #40, a possible carcinogen, and Yellow #6, which causes sensitivity to fatal viruses in animals. Artificial colors DO cause yellow feather discoloration in Eclectus. BHT/BHA: These petroleum products are used to stabilize fats in foods. In the process of metabolizing BHA and BHT, chemical changes occur in the body. These changes have caused reduced growth rates and they inhibit white blood cell stimulation. In pets, they can exhibit reactions such as skin blisters, hemorrhaging of the eye, weakness, discomfort in breathing, a reduction of the body's own antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase and may cause cancer. According to Dr. Wendell Belfield, DVM, a practicing vet for some 26 years, both BHA and BHT are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction and are banned in some European countries. Propylene Glycol: Used as a de-icing fluid for airplanes, this chemical is added to food and skin products to maintain texture and moisture as well as inhibiting bacteria growth in products. It also inhibits the growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive system by decreasing the amount of moisture in the intestinal tract leading to constipation and cancer. It can affect the liver and kidneys and causes the destruction of red blood cells. Salt: Added as a preservative, salt can irritate the stomach lining, cause increased thirst and aggravate heart and kidney problems through fluid retention. Sodium Nitrite: Used in the curing of meats, this substance participates in a chemical reaction in the body that becomes carcinogenic. It is used also in pet foods to add color. Sugar and other Sweeteners: The most common sweeteners in pet/bird foods are beet sugar, corn sugar, molasses and sucrose. They are used as preservatives and have the side effect of creating sugar addicts in pets. They require almost no digestion and are rapidly absorbed into the blood stream. These will provide sugar highs (just as humans experience) and subsequent lows (moodiness), inhibit the proper growth of friendly intestinal bacteria and they virtually shut down the digestive system while being processed. Sugar can also contribute to diabetes and hypoglycemia, cataract development, obesity and arthritis. Go to your cupboard and get your pellets out and find out how many of these additives are in the brand you buy. If there is something else on the ingredients list and you don't know what it is, FIND OUT. Do your research or ask questions of someone who can find out for you. Did you see the natural ingredients on your pellet ingredients list? Why not feed those items in their fresh, natural state instead?

World smallest water lily // Seeing Balad Sayt // More of how much mash Riam ate http://shanlung.livejournal.com/115201.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Keeping an eye for Arabian Oryx and blue whale//How much mash Riam ate http://shanlung.livejournal.com/115156.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Current affairs // Embarrasement at Al Falaj http://shanlung.livejournal.com/114759.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Iceland and Goldman // Jebel Akhdar // Tinkerbell mash batch 8 http://shanlung.livejournal.com/114545.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Smolensk // Looking for Balad Sayt // Recent neighbourhood walks http://shanlung.livejournal.com/114296.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Al Felaj & horses // http://shanlung.livejournal.com/113949.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Lambert, I know I will not stay on in Oman. And Riamfada without papers cannot be taken out of here. Let us all just enjoy the time that we have left. Earth Hour // Riamfada and neighbourhood magpies // Lonely home http://shanlung.livejournal.com/113675.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Luvparrpt, Thank you. I repeat what I have said above. FREE FLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS I urge you and all NOT TO DO FREE FLIGHTS. Allowing your bird to fly at home can bring more than enough magic into them and you. Or taking them out safely in harness and leash ALWAYS CARABINERED TO YOU OR BACKPACK.

Free flights at Edge of Rub Al Khali Revisited http://shanlung.livejournal.com/112689.html Last Footfall in Nepal// Sharon & kitty advice // Riamfada over weekend 18-19 March http://shanlung.livejournal.com/113583.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍

Dhorje, Thank you. I urge you and all NOT TO DO FREE FLIGHTS. Allowing your bird to fly at home can bring more than enough magic into them and you. Or taking them out safely in harness and leash ALWAYS CARABINERED TO YOU OR BACKPACK. Soul searching Reflections on Riamfada at edge of the Empty Quarter and some rants http://shanlung.livejournal.com/112576.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

You can never be too careful. Good for you and your CAG! Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

pearlyn Life can be stranger than fiction. I hope you finished that and can continue below Chile // Riamfada free flights at the edge of Rub Al Khali http://shanlung.livejournal.com/112019.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Luvparrot, That highway was closed because of that Tour De Oman. Hi, I first thought of not posting this in the public forum as this is off topic , and not usual to say the least. I thought of only sending it to others who had written publicly to me in the forum. Then I thought this part is as much a part of me as Tink and Riamfada. I do not know how you folks will find this, maybe a bit beyond words if you are polite and worse, if you gotten out of the wrong side of the bed. If you like to post on to your friends who might be interested, do so by all means. Or you might chose not even to read it. Fragments of earlier memories of Taiwan This entry is not on birds or animals. This is my memoirs that I wanted to write before it faded away with time. There are some adult themes not suitable for minors. There are encounters of mystical strange nature. DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE http://shanlung.livejournal.com/111670.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

luvparrot and friends, At times the harness and leash is important for peace of mind such as in this. Riamfada & cherry blossoms at Wekan // Tour De Oman http://shanlung.livejournal.com/111175.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Buwah Free Flight 2 // Wadi Harban // Riamfada with Jabris again http://shanlung.livejournal.com/111045.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Al Falaj again//Meeting Max //Sailing regatta Extreme Sailing Series Asia http://shanlung.livejournal.com/110792.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9

Thank you my friends, Here is more Thoughts on free flights // Riamfada last weekend with Jabris http://shanlung.livejournal.com/110450.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http:// www.geocities.com/shanlung9

whg and all those thinking of free flight or not, there is this old report I did in Sept 2005 "some recent letters on free flying our parrots (food management to get stronger recalls)" http://shanlung.livejournal.com/21917.html This was a detailed discussion on techniques used to do free flights and the morality of free flights itself using some of those techniques and indeed, do we have the right to do so. In reading that again, I found what I set out then what I am doing with Riamfada now to the point of free flight. Above will be my last contribution to this subject. There seemed to be people here who are so enamoured of Aviator Harness and happily promoting their use. Perhaps they have a cut of that money? Then they might like to know how that money came about. I had included a link as to how Tinkerbell harnesss "Tinkerbell Harness for Piper" http://shanlung.livejournal.com/104066.html can be made for whg that sadly he clearly chose not to read. That is indeed his right . I will extract out a part of what I have written. The harness design that I started in 2002 and given freely to all around the world asking only for a donation to Durell Wildlife Trust or other Wildlife Trust of your choice. I again request that of you who are going to make Tinkerbell harness. Be generous to our wildlife that share our planet. They need us more than ever. Tinkerbell harness was last refined in June 2005 and recorded into my blog here ‘Tinkerbell revisited - meeting with Tsaoling bird whisperer and quirks of harness design’ http://shanlung.livejournal.com/11424.html 2 photos of Tinkerbell in her harness below taken from blog above That had been hijacked and copied into a commercial harness that claimed 8 or 9 patents around Sept 2005 that claimed that their harness is the ‘lightest harness for flighted parrot’ and charging 50 US$. They then had the chutzpah to ‘offer’ me one of their harness . I want to puke. But don’t we know people do rob from church poor boxes. What about robbing from the voiceless creatures that I wished some $$ can go to help. But they rather the $$$ go into their bank that they can go laughing to. Tinkerbell harness weigh in at 3 grams. Try to beat that. This harness is made to fit your bird. I cannot believe in the commercial harness where ‘one size fits all’, and buckles bells and whistles used to ‘’adjust’’ harness to fit. Do make a guess which was the commercial harness that I was referring to. To the extent when that came out, portions of what I written in "harness for flighted parrot" http://shanlung.livejournal.com/8284.html were reproduced in their brochures, including my spelling mistakes. I never felt so sick as when I first saw that. I guess they got more glossy brochures now and CDs even. But silent beasties and birdies that I meant those money to go to will have to do without. Why do I feel as if I am a Madoff whistle blower in 2000-2008 been drowned out by crys of "Invest with Madoff!" from all who profitted by investing with Madoff then. Morality do not seem to exist in this sorry planet of ours. Life is short and I wish to maximise my happiness and minimise aggro to myself and to other folks here. I rather go find a corner to puke in again and please excuse me. You all will understand if I do not appear again. Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/

Janfromboone, I thought I wrote that very clearly in the post Bantienyen soul searching as to the reasons why. I never hide anything, or ever see the need to hide anything. I probably wrote more on the mistakes I made then the stuff that I did. Perhaps your need for answer can best be read in those reports that I made and written close to the events when that happened. Have you indeed read what I wrote? Or you have something else on your mind? Can you be more explicit with me? Why not just tell us what is in your mind. Shanlung<br><br>Post edited by: shanlung, at: 2010/01/31 20:22

RockysMum, You have already given him a greater gift than you think by allowing him freedom of flight at home. Even if he had flown freely before, he would not have missed it too much if you let him fly about in the house. Truly, it is not necessary for you to take him out of the house at all if that is not your nature to do so. Perhaps you like to go to places such as cinema or shopping center where it is not appropriate for CAG to come with you. My nature is to go outdoors that I liked. I want to take my CAG with me outdoors be it Tinkerbell or Riamfada. I do believe taking them out to meet people made them more poised and acceptance of people and a lot less shy than CAGs not taken out at all But if you take them out, take them out safely via a good harness that you make your own and sized to your grey. I CANNOT RECOMMEND ANY OF THOSE COMMERCIAL HARNESSES. Frankly, I think I have more experiences in harness than all those jointly and collectively in making and selling those commercial harnesses in the market. You need not even have to think of free flight. I enjoyed much more the harness flying of Riamfada than in the free flights I had done with her. You have seen her doing flights of 80-100 meters with the harness I designed for her, and I do believe she flew as well in the harness than if she had no harness on. whg There was this letter I posted here that might have saved you from having to climb that tree. Flying down is a lot tougher for birds than flying upwards. I post that letter here again Re:Wing clipping?? - 2007/03/11 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa In this bundled series of letters, I was talking about what I termed as the gyrodrop. That was in the context of the mechanics of bird flights as to how they fly downwards. You can gauge how much I know about the difficulties of birds flying downwards. Feel free to dispute with me on what I wrote, if you have some such experiences. About the end of that article, I suggest the best flight angle for you to induce your clipped or unclipped bird to fly back to you. You never know one day you might need to use this. An article from Part 1 Tinkerbell Early Period http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/w6gyrodrop.htm'>http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/w6gyrodrop.htm Shanlung http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9 And if above works for you and you are grateful, send a nice cheque to Gerald Durrells Wildlife Trust http://www.durrellwildlife.org/ aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Amonge the training that I did with Riamfada prior to free flight were the hide&seek recalls, where Riam would fly to me out of sight of her in different rooms. For a long time I flew her in harness I designed and fitted to her. I flew her in light to very strong head winds, tail winds and cross winds. I flew her in gusty shifty winds I flew her from high up a castle wall to me down below, and vice versa. Her recalls to me were military precision. And yet I do not rely on recalls as when push comes to shove, you cannot be sure of that. My bonding with Riamfada is great. And yet I do not rely on bonding alone in free flights, as when push comes to shove, you cannot depend on bonding either. As to the details why not, please go to my main thread here especially in last few letters where I was explicit in describing those free flights I have done. Do heed especially the warnings http://www.greyforums.net/forums/the-grey-lounge/5189-tinkerbell-love-of-a-flying-cag-in-taiwan.html#181077 I assumed that she might bolt, or Murphy decide to amuse himself. I chose areas with great visibility and which she knew very well. I also read her nuances and her emotions, making myself ultra attuned to her. I find that a big strain on me, detracting from the total enjoyment I have had when flying her with harness. Carly is an old friend. I made 2 harnesses for her Piper. You might like to read this Ramadan & Kitties on beach// Chess -1st Saturday IM Tournament // Tinkerbell Harness for Piper http://shanlung.livejournal.com/104066.html Read the other URLs embedded inside. Read 'cargo cult' , 'playing music to ducks' and 'spooking zones'. Do try to find the time to read all those URLs including URLs embedded. That can save you a lot of heartach. I am stupid enough to make mistakes, and luckier than most in able to recover. Learn where I gone wrong. Read Tinkerbell Legacy, how to live at home with a flighted parrot. That is Part 2 of my webpage in my signature. Do think about using Tinkerbell Ultra-Lite Harness that you make to fit your CAG and train your CAG to wear harness as a safe intermediate stage between indoor flight and that great big outdoor free flights. Read Riamfada's blog to see how I trained her to accept that harness. You might find harness flights to be so emotionally satisfying and to be enough for you. Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/

RockysMum, Yes. That is the reward of treating your bird with respect and dignity due to sentient being who is also your equal even if unequal in size or genes. The reward of returning them the gift of flight, under slowly increasing difficulty and skills and safe conditions at all times humanely possible. Above photos taken from report Harry Potter // Rustaq http://shanlung.livejournal.com/105488.html I wrote as clearly as I could on all the steps I had taken and the training done to do what I have done. I hope what I have written can either be read to consider if they like to take their CAG outdoor safely at the very least. I have to add that I very strongly urge folks NOT EVER to free flight. If any truly wish to do that, they should at the very least, read out, and find out as much as they can before they EVEN THINK of doing so. Free Flight is a life and death situation, a decision that must never be made lightly. Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/

whg, I do flights AND free flights with my Riamfada. But that was after much intense training, step by step steady exposure to outside conditions, outside wind conditions, training for different height conditions, and yet I could never be certain if I covered it all. Your climbing of tree to recover your grey is not good indication of flight, or recall training. Take care. I feel you need a lot more understanding, or a lot more luck, before you attempt your deliberate free flight of your grey. Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/ Post edited by: shanlung, at: 2010/01/29 20:53<br><br>Post edited by: shanlung, at: 2010/01/29 20:54

Janfrombone, Thank you. Dedication // Raining curses on Katie at Al Felaij Dam // Riam in cage at Jabri http://shanlung.livejournal.com/110199.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/

Morning with Harry & the decision// Sultan of Oman Palace// Tinkerbell Mash Batch 7 http://shanlung.livejournal.com/109957.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/