November brings us into the second full month of Fall and the beginning of the 2006 Holiday Season.  As companion bird aficionados, we must always be alert for items in our environment that are completely harmless to us, but could prove dangerous to the birds in our lives.

Number one on the list of dangers is the threat of Teflon® (Polytetraflouethylene) fumes (Teflon® toxicosis).  There are many other brand names that also contain polytetraflouethylene such as: Silverstone®, Fluron®, Supra®, Excalibur®, Greblon®, Xylon®, Duracote®, Resistal®, Autograph® and T-Fal® to name just a few.  To humans, Polytetraflouethylene is odorless, colorless and deadly to companion birds.  That may be a GREAT non-stick cooking set you receive as a present but be wary of the damage the Polytetraflouethylene coatings can do to your feathered friends.  Besides cookware, Teflon® coatings are used on the inside surfaces of new ovens, toasters, toaster-ovens, heating lamps (as a shatter-resistant coating), bakeware (e.g., cookie sheets), on range tops and electric range heating elements.

There are additional hazards:  scented candles, scented pine cones, decorated tree lights, Christmas tree ornaments, toy parts, and many of the foods we consume during the holidays.  If you wouldn’t wish to have a human toddler near ‘dangerous’ items in the home, why would you want your companion bird near the items?  Be on the look out for any items that have small pieces, such as toy parts, bits of food (human and house pet), even wrapping paper. The item could be small enough to be ingested, which could lead to toxicity (inks, mylar or metallic’s from printed gift wrapping) or blockage of the trachea, digestive tract, and compaction.

Like to decorate your home with the beautiful blooming poinsettias?  Watch your companion bird around poinsettias, which are poisonous to them. Need to know which plants are safe and which are toxic to your birds?  Point your web browser to:  http://www.plannedparrothood.com/plants.html, or to:  http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=15&cat=1912&articleid=2236, which lists the specific plant parts that are harmful or toxic to our avian companions.

For a good source of information on safe plants, point your web browser to:  http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/safeplants.htm, or to: http://www.cockatielcottage.net/houseplants.html, which provides information on how to prepare tree branches as perches for your birds.

Know your bird and be aware of their interactions with household items, especially during the holiday season.  Better to be safe than making an emergency run to the closest avian veterinarian during the holidays.

The Alaska Bird Club • P.O. Box 101825 • Anchorage AK 99510
akbirdclub@yahoo.com