This page is in memory of "Spanky", my blue fronted amazon. Spanky died in late January of 2002. I picked him up from the breeder in October of 1993 (he was hatched June 11, 1993). The following picture is not actually Spanky, but it looks just like him, both in pose and color pattern.

For some really cool and positive memories of spanky, visit this link: memories But please read on for things you can learn to help your bird live longer:

Why did Spanky die? This is a good question to ask, since large parrots are known to have amazingly long lifetimes, typically outliving at least one of their owners. I recently was reading about Amazon parrots living in excess of 100 years. I have often heard it said that the lifetimes of many of these birds in the wild is on the order of 20 years, but in captivity they are protected from many hazards and can live much longer. Sadly, I have also read that the typical lifetime of a captive large parrot is on the order of 5 years! I hope this is not true.

In the final analysis, Spanky died from an illness. However, there are things I could have and should have done, and I now greatly regret this. I lay them before you here, so you can learn and take better care of your birds, please read on:

Every captive bird should have a yearly "well bird" visit to an Avian Veterinarian. Birds mask sickness (I knew this, yet I missed the signs), and can carry diseases without symptoms that can flare up in times of stress. One book I have recently read stated that most cases of sudden death in birds are the end result of a long term cronic illness. My advice is to find an avian Vet that you trust long before you need to trust them. If you are unsure (as I was), cough up the $40.00 consultation fee and pay them a visit beforehand without your bird. Better yet, get in touch with some good bird people and get their recommendations. I have done both these things (after Spanky's death), I have found an excellent group of people and an avian Vet that I would gladly trust.

Pay special care to your birds nutrition. Make sure they get a variety of foods, and in particular foods with plenty of vitamin A. Absolutely, do not simply feed your bird seed. (I did not do this, Spanky had seed, and a variety of fresh foods every day). I know that I was lax in the area of vitamin A, and have since learned that Vitamin A is very important to maintaining a birds mucous membranes, which you probably know is a barrier to infection and disease.

If your bird does act sick, it has been sick longer than you think. If it is less quiet than normal, don't think that it is getting more mellow. If it is less active and sitting quietly and fluffed in the cage, you need to get on the road to the vet right now, and you may be dealing with the final result of a problem that should have been nipped in the bud long before in an annual visit.

I am sorry if all this seems morbid and dark. It does make me sad to write it. I lay it down here so that Spanky's death might be of some benefit to you and your bird; and so that you can learn some things to help your bird live longer.

To summarize:

• Find a good avian vet.
• Pay your vet an annual visit.
• Get to know other "bird people".
• Take seriously symptoms of a sick bird.