Melly is only 4, too young to die — I flicked on the lights, greeted the Amazons, and opened the flight cage to release the cockatiels and parakeets. Then I saw her. Huddling in a food dish, puffed-out feathers, and glazed eyes, were all signs of illness, but it was her rapid breathing that frightened me. Her respiration rate…

Why I will not rake my leaves — Not much bigger than a quarter, she sleeps now. There beneath the decomposing leaves that blanket the roots of the trees, beneath the surface of the cold earth, beneath the oncoming layers of snow, in a bed chamber unfit for the lowliest among us, she slumbers. Her tireless work has…

Can you imagine if every country followed suit? — If I could wipe out anyone’s jobs it would be dog shelters and dog rescuers. Not because I want to push people out of doing meaningful work but because that type of work shouldn’t have to exist. But hear this! Would you believe that it DOESN’T exist in the Netherlands? …

Dying is hard, sad, and difficult to watch — We had three difficult days in the bird room watching Blue succumb to death. It was not sudden nor totally unexpected as he had been exhibiting signs of increasing frailty for months. His balance was questionable; he often tumbled from perches. …

Now there are ten doves, about 8 too many. — How could I have been so careless? For years, many, many years, I pulled eggs from beneath nesting birds. My fingers searched under warm bellies, then tossed the small ovals into the trash. Because I felt horrible doing this, I chanted, “No babies. …

A bird wake is held before burial — The death of a loved one is hard to accept. Brady’s companion, Gracie, died during the night. I expected the tiny, green body sprawled on the cage floor this morning. I expected an upset Brady. Note: Most of my flock are senior birds, well into their teens. …

And the surprising findings when I checked my assumptions. — As I walked out of my favorite cigar bar recently, I saw a couple approaching me. The woman was blonde, statuesque, and wearing an elegant black dress. The man was muscular, immaculately coiffed in beard and hair, and wearing a T-shirt that said “LIONS NOT SHEEP.” I have heard this…

I know about it because it killed my cat over a decade ago. — When I was eight years old, I got my first pet. She was a black cat with yellow eyes that I found playing with my shoelaces while I will standing in my backyard. She was a somewhat cranky cat, spending much of her time yowling at us or growling when…

After the passing of E.O. Wilson, I take on the responsibility of picking the next great ant expert — When Mother Theresa died, we lost more than a saint. We lost an easy reference for altruism. Once, you could toss off a “Sure, I picked up that piece of trash, but I’m no Mother Theresa,” but those times are fading with her memory. When Albert Einstein died, we began…

Thousands of crows streaming toward me — You know about the crows if you drive north or south on I-495 at sunset over the bridges spanning the Merrimack River in northeast Massachusetts. This massive crow population roosts in the city of Lawrence starting in the fall around October and continuing into March. …

It scares me a little — I worked on a farm in high school. It had horses, chickens, cats, an adulterous farmer, and about fourteen cows. One day, the farmer decided to sell one of our cows. Here’s how he picked the one who would go. He stood at a distance from the herd and said…

Our monthly group bath — Bright eyes focus on me. I alter their morning routine by yanking up the poop-covered newspaper lining the floor and wiping down cages. I lay down plastic sheets on the floor and their excitement increases. It is bath day. …

Another world awaits below the city’s bridges — The bayous in Houston, TX (aka Bayou City) have long served a number of purposes. Early Anglo settlers set up shop along their banks as I imagine native peoples did before them. The waterways also served as trade and transportation routes. Buffalo Bayou — which runs 106 miles — is…

We provide water year-round in our yard — The skunks are the most frequent winter users of the heated water dish in the backyard. We have seen foxes, raccoons, and possums enjoying the availability of a drink, and, of course, the feral cats. There are three heated bowls, a large one in the backyard, a shallow one on…

The truth about creativity, making art, and doing what you love — Chickens have what you might call their own aesthetic when it comes to art. They never had to go to school to learn. They just make art unpretentiously. Prerequisites Because I have been writing a good deal more about art lately, I thought it might be good to share with you…

The truth about stars and the power of one 15-year-old girl — Chickens are unable to see in the dark. As soon as evening comes, they head up to their roosting spots to protect themselves from unseen dangers. Because of this, chickens are not very advanced in the field of astronomy. …

Bird sex, love, and friendship — The poor old guy. He is elderly, barely able to fly; his attempts often end in a crash landing. He is harmless, defenseless. And one of my parakeets understands the dove’s vulnerability and takes advantage of the situation. He masturbates on the dove’s head. So what, you say. A squirming…

Turtles can teach you a lot — Turtles are single-minded when in pursuit of a goal. I’ve had 25 years to observe this phenomenon, and expect to continue these observations for another 15 years. Domesticated turtles have long lives, although calling them “domesticated” might be pushing things a bit. Turtles do what they want to do. …

Or what happens when you dust off the yoga mat and your cat sees it. — Yoga is fun and fruitful. But you know what else is fun? Disturbing your owner during their favourite activity. Did someone say “meow”? Cats think they “own” you and everything around them. …

Humans aren’t the only animals to do this. — What’s in a name? Parents take time to discuss what they’re going to name their children. We then carry this name through childhood, joining clubs and forming friendships. Anything we want to do really, we need to sign up using our name. We will work together and cooperate with other…