Brian L. Speer, DVM, is the owner and director of the Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, California, and an active member in and former president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. Kim Campbell Thornton has been writing about animals since 1985 and is a recipient of multiple awards from the Cat Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and American Society of Journalists and Authors. Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of Dogs For Dummies and Cats For Dummies.

• Introduction 1Part 1: Getting Started with Birds 5Chapter 1: Birds and Humans: It’s Only Natural! 7Chapter 2: Narrowing the Choices 19Chapter 3: Deciding on a Bird of Your Own 47Part 2: Caring for Your Bird 63Chapter 4: Preparing for Your Bird’s Arrival 65Chapter 5: Starting Your Bird Off Right 85Chapter 6: The New Art, Science, and Fun of Feeding Birds Right 107Chapter 7: Beyond Food and Water: Bird Basics 129Part 3: Keeping Your Bird Healthy 161Chapter 8: How Birds Work: The Short Course 163Chapter 9: A Preventive Care Approach to Your Bird’s Health 183Chapter 10: Your Bird in Sickness — and Back to Health 201Chapter 11: Lifelong Care for Your Bird 225Part 4: Living Happily with Your Bird 243Chapter 12: Behavior 101: Getting to “Good Bird!” 245Chapter 13: Living in a Multiple-Bird Household 267Chapter 14: Caring for Chickens and Other Backyard Poultry 283Part 5: The Part of Tens 311Chapter 15: Ten Bird Myths Debunked 313Chapter 16: Ten Steps to a Healthy Bird 321Chapter 17: Ten Questions to Ask When Buying a Bird 331Chapter 18: Ten (Or So) Must-See Avian Websites 341Chapter 19: Ten Best Birds for Beginners 349Chapter 20: Ten Common Dangers to Your Bird’s Life 363Chapter 21: Ten Disaster-Planning Tips for Bird Lovers 371Appendix: Resources 377Index 387

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Brian L. Speer, DVM, is the owner and director of the Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, California, and an active member in and former president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. Kim Campbell Thornton has been writing about animals since 1985 and is a recipient of multiple awards from the Cat Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and American Society of Journalists and Authors. Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of Dogs For Dummies and Cats For Dummies.

• Introduction 1Part 1: Getting Started with Birds 5Chapter 1: Birds and Humans: It’s Only Natural! 7Chapter 2: Narrowing the Choices 19Chapter 3: Deciding on a Bird of Your Own 47Part 2: Caring for Your Bird 63Chapter 4: Preparing for Your Bird’s Arrival 65Chapter 5: Starting Your Bird Off Right 85Chapter 6: The New Art, Science, and Fun of Feeding Birds Right 107Chapter 7: Beyond Food and Water: Bird Basics 129Part 3: Keeping Your Bird Healthy 161Chapter 8: How Birds Work: The Short Course 163Chapter 9: A Preventive Care Approach to Your Bird’s Health 183Chapter 10: Your Bird in Sickness — and Back to Health 201Chapter 11: Lifelong Care for Your Bird 225Part 4: Living Happily with Your Bird 243Chapter 12: Behavior 101: Getting to “Good Bird!” 245Chapter 13: Living in a Multiple-Bird Household 267Chapter 14: Caring for Chickens and Other Backyard Poultry 283Part 5: The Part of Tens 311Chapter 15: Ten Bird Myths Debunked 313Chapter 16: Ten Steps to a Healthy Bird 321Chapter 17: Ten Questions to Ask When Buying a Bird 331Chapter 18: Ten (Or So) Must-See Avian Websites 341Chapter 19: Ten Best Birds for Beginners 349Chapter 20: Ten Common Dangers to Your Bird’s Life 363Chapter 21: Ten Disaster-Planning Tips for Bird Lovers 371Appendix: Resources 377Index 387

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Brian L. Speer, DVM, is the owner and director of the Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, California, and an active member in and former president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. Kim Campbell Thornton has been writing about animals since 1985 and is a recipient of multiple awards from the Cat Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and American Society of Journalists and Authors. Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of Dogs For Dummies and Cats For Dummies.

• Introduction 1Part 1: Getting Started with Birds 5Chapter 1: Birds and Humans: It’s Only Natural! 7Chapter 2: Narrowing the Choices 19Chapter 3: Deciding on a Bird of Your Own 47Part 2: Caring for Your Bird 63Chapter 4: Preparing for Your Bird’s Arrival 65Chapter 5: Starting Your Bird Off Right 85Chapter 6: The New Art, Science, and Fun of Feeding Birds Right 107Chapter 7: Beyond Food and Water: Bird Basics 129Part 3: Keeping Your Bird Healthy 161Chapter 8: How Birds Work: The Short Course 163Chapter 9: A Preventive Care Approach to Your Bird’s Health 183Chapter 10: Your Bird in Sickness — and Back to Health 201Chapter 11: Lifelong Care for Your Bird 225Part 4: Living Happily with Your Bird 243Chapter 12: Behavior 101: Getting to “Good Bird!” 245Chapter 13: Living in a Multiple-Bird Household 267Chapter 14: Caring for Chickens and Other Backyard Poultry 283Part 5: The Part of Tens 311Chapter 15: Ten Bird Myths Debunked 313Chapter 16: Ten Steps to a Healthy Bird 321Chapter 17: Ten Questions to Ask When Buying a Bird 331Chapter 18: Ten (Or So) Must-See Avian Websites 341Chapter 19: Ten Best Birds for Beginners 349Chapter 20: Ten Common Dangers to Your Bird’s Life 363Chapter 21: Ten Disaster-Planning Tips for Bird Lovers 371Appendix: Resources 377Index 387

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