"Three little pigeons sitting on a fence, one named peter the other called Paul, fly away peter fly away Paul. come back peter come back Paul." Oh wait, those birds did not come back did they? shucks...anyway that's what birds do, they fly...sometimes away. If you are a natural bird lover or watcher, you will know that birds are freedom creatures and was never meant to be in any sort of cage for any ones pleasure.  Even though we know there are birds which are incapable of flight, those type of birds are rarely considered for petting. Birds such as the Ostrich, Penguin, Cassowary, Kiwi and a few more. When many people speak about having a bird as a pet, they usually think of Parrots and members of the Parrot type family birds such as love birds and budgies. Other than those type of birds, the selection doesn't really get that wide.  If you have any other type of bird as pet, well just say your pet owner life may not be that exciting. So if you are thinking about owning a pet bird, lets look at some of the pros and cons in having a bird as pet.

Grooming is a snap. As a matter of fact, you don;t have to do much grooming when it comes on to pet birds. What most bird owners partake in when it comes on to bird grooming is to groom the birds claws. In the wild, birds claws are naturally groomed by mother nature. They use those sharp claws to help tackle the eating of tough nuts and even partake in tree scratching. Birds will naturally groom themselves and eradicate themselves from any external parasites. 

You rarely have to worry about your bird being flea infested. Unlike cats and dogs who need round the clock flea and ticks repellent. You need not worry as much about this when it comes on to birds.  Birds are normally hung in areas where ticks and fleas are less likely to reach and even if they do reach your bird, they are much more equipped in eradicating this pest themselves with their flexible grooming capabilities accompanied by sharp beaks capable of picking off these parasites.

They are cheaper to maintain. Who doesn't like cheap things right? Compared to cats and Dogs, a pet bird will not see you busting your budget any time soon. Bird food is cheaper than cat and dog food, vet care for your bird is also cheaper.

Birds do not require all the Cat and Dog Fanciness. Having a cat or dog as a pet can be a real fussy thing. You will need constant vet visits, Entertainment for your cat or dog by the means of toys and more toys. Cat and doggy beds, pet clothes and all the dangles associated with dog and cat ownership. Birds are much more humble and require much less entertainment.

Birds are no Fun.  Yes, if you have a intelligent African grey parrot it can kick up a chatting storm but other than a few learned gimmicks here and there, that's just about it. There is no throw the ball and go get it budgie, there is no run and jump and catch the Frisbee, there is no loving purrs and cuddles for you my friend. It will just be a few whistles and a few stares.

They are seen as Food. If there are certain cats nearby, your bird will be seen as food and will become the hunting practice for many nearby cats who are drawn to the whistles of your bird. Cats are conniving and once they set their eyes on a prey, their aim is to have a belly full.

They are too unpredictable. Be careful how you open your pet bird cage as once they see a way for freedom, they will be gone. They have long to stretch their wings to soar and enjoy what nature intended them to do, explore the skies.  Most people actually clip the wings of these pet birds to keep them grounded. The negative effect of this is, if they are attacked by a cat....their goose is cooked!

Birds are actually wonderful creatures, but only a few from the many species are considered as pets. They are much easier to maintain than most pets and are far less prone to many mammal type illnesses. The parrot family has been a renowned pet for centuries and will continue to dominate the bird pet industry. If you are a bird lover and definitely want a bird as a pet, go right a head, pick a bird, love and take care of it.

The California Condor is considered to be a new age vulture. You will notice certain similarities such as the featherless neck and face with these carrion eaters. The California vulture is a large bird with wingspan of 3 to 3.5 meters from tip to tip. Just like the old age vultures, these large birds are no picky eaters and when it comes on to some good carcass gulping, they put the "A" in aggression. The California condor are not massive breeders as the females only lay one egg every two years. Seems like the only thing on this vultures mind is to eat. But even though the bird only lays one egg every two years, if the egg gets eaten or taken she will simply lay another to replace the missing or eaten egg. Just like the old vultures, the California condor plays its vital role in keeping the Eco system clean and disease free by eating those dead and many times rotten animals.