Overall, I think this DVD is of great quality. As well, I think it is an important learning tool. Everyone thinking about getting a bird should watch this. Thank you, as I also learned a thing or two. Closing I would like to say that as I watched this…my three handsome ducks watched…they absolutely loved the different birds.

In general, birds enjoy bathing in some form. This may include bathing with water, dust, and other substrates. Obviously, water bathing is most acceptable for pet birds.

While some species are less comfortable with water bathing, such as African grey parrots, a bird’s acceptance of bathing is variable and in part depends on what it was exposed to when young. You can train a bird to accept water bathing using positive reinforcement training and making the event safe and fun. However, I do not recommend forcing this activity as some birds just don’t want to water bathe.

Scott Echols, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice)

Thank you for your question and your kind review! If you, and others, live in northern climates where it is cold in the winter and are concerned about your bird, consider the following:
When normally feathered, bird feathers are amazingingly insulating and can protect against wide swings in temperature. That is unless the feathers become waterlogged in which case, the bird can become cold very quickly. This is a good reason to NOT use products, like some shampoos and soaps, that completely soak the feathers.
If your bird is not normally feathered, such as with feather damaging behavior, skin wounds or other causes that leave skin exposed, then cold and heat stress are more likely.
If your bird is sick, it may not be able to handle cold or heat stress as well as would a normal animal.
A cold bird often shivers.

Keeping these in mind, if your bird is healthy and seems comfortable after a shower it will probably be fine at room temperature (65-75 F). If you are concerned and still want to bathe your bird, then gently dry the bird and give him/her the option to set next to a heat source. If the bird is cold, he/she will more towards the heat (or away if too warm).

M. Scott Echols, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice)

While I do not know the local laws in Phoenix or Arizona, I would recommend contacting Fish and Game officials to discuss the issue. Scott Echols

Thank you for your comments. I do read the reviews and take everything into account as I make the next DVD. You are the first to note the shorter length of Volume II was in fact, ‘too short’. There were more comments that Volume I was too long. I make every effort to pack in as much relevant information such that the chapter progresses forward with new information, is entertaining (as much as an educational DVD can be) and most importantly, provides valuable information! Sincerely, Scott Echols

I started with a re-view of Volume I, and even though I’ve seen it and read all the books on bird care, I still found it insightful. What it does so well is distill a lot of very good information into an easy to review format. I’m re-reading many of the books I’ve already read, and I find that I usually read just a chapter, digest that, and then read the next. The video format really gives a wonderful overview of basic bur important information. I’ll watch it again and again.

Volume II of the series is shorter, about half the running time of Volume I. It’s a little disappointing, as it too is full of really great information. I think the formatting of the video is much better. The speaker/author bios are at the end, so the ‘meat’ of the content is front-and-center. That is a bonus with Volume II.

I love the video elements of Volume II – some of which I recognized from Volume I, others of which are new. I love that there is audio of the birds and videos that illustrate points made in the chapters. It still felt a little light, compared to Volume I. An hour-long video might be the ideal length. I could see each chapter being expanded just a bit.

That said, the tiny bit of dissatisfaction I feel with the length of the video just means I’m even more eagerly anticipating Volume III. The series really is a must-have for parrot owners and parrot lovers. I consider both volumes an important part of my bird-care library, and I thank you for producing such an excellent product.