The Birdhouse Banter

In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of bird vision, behaviour, and care. Our experts share insights on how birds see, communicate, and how to provide them with a humane and enriching environment.

Key Topics
  • Birds see into ultraviolet spectrum and have superior vision
  • Bird communication through body language and feather displays
  • Five freedoms of animal welfare applied to bird care
  • Importance of proper enclosure size and environment
  • Birds' natural behaviors and how to accommodate them
  • Birds as companion animals and social needs
  • Bird species diversity and unique traits
  • Birdsitting services and pet care tips

Sound Bites
  • "Birds see everything we see plus ultraviolet."
  • "Birds' signals are like fireworks to them."
  • "Birds need to feel secure and free from fear."
Chapters
00:00
Introduction to Bird Vision and Perception
00:21
How Birds See Beyond Human Capabilities
01:42
Bird Communication Through Visual Signals
02:41
Bird Mating Displays and Feather Signaling
03:48
Bird Watching and Bird Behavior Observation
04:40
UV Light and Indoor Bird Vision
05:42
The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare for Birds
08:19
Expressing Natural Bird Behaviors and Enclosure Needs
10:49
The Importance of Bird Companionship
14:27
Bird Sitting and Pet Care Services
16:58
The Role of Pigeons and Doves as Companion Birds
19:47
Bird Sounds and Communication Secrets
21:53
Largest Flying Animals and Bird Species Facts
23:17
Conservation Status of Large Bird Species

What is The Birdhouse Banter?

Welcome to The Birdhouse Banter — brought to you by Meika's Birdhouse.

Join host Bryn Griffiths and co-founders Ian Sprague and Janine Couture as we talk birds! Our team brings over 100 years of combined experience and a whole lot of passion for our feathered friends — whether they're soaring wild or perched right at home with you.

We are Alberta's trusted destination for bird lovers. From quality products and expert advice to supporting bird rescue right here in our community — Meika's Birdhouse has you covered.

Bryn:

Welcome to Birdhouse Banter brought to you by Meika's Birdhouse, Alberta's trusted destination for bird lovers. Hey. Welcome back. It's Bryn Griffiths. Ian is with me.

Bryn:

Janine is with me. We are here at Mica's Birdhouse. We're coming to you in bird vision. Well, it's not really bird vision. It's a podcast.

Bryn:

But nonetheless, bird vision is our topic, and, you know, this is a topic I've never even thought of. What do birds actually see?

Janine:

They see so much better than we do. I'll tell you that.

Bryn:

Bird's eye view. Yeah. Right?

Janine:

Yeah. They can see into the ultraviolet. We don't have that many rods and cones in our eyes.

Bryn:

So they could pick out stuff that we obviously are not well, one thing, I think they're very alert. I don't know if people are always that alert. That's for sure. So so how do we how do we test birds eyesight? Like, who's doing that?

Ian:

There's lots of studies on on on on on what? Cause we don't know what the UV looks like. So there's lots of lots of guesstimates and a lot of lot

Janine:

of Speculations.

Ian:

Yeah. Speculation and and and there's technology where they you know. So what what we imagine birds see, have you ever seen a a an infrared camera where

Bryn:

Oh, yeah.

Ian:

You know, all that kind of neat stuff. So they see everything we see plus that, at least At least. So when we would look out and see a crow sitting on on on a fence, we just see a black bird sitting on a fence against a pale sky, whatever. So what a bird will see is they will see a bird of multicolors.

Janine:

Kinda like an oil sheen.

Ian:

Yeah. Lots of lots of colors going on and going on with that bird. And and and and the interesting thing about it is that when birds are communicating through body language, and we know this with the parrots, we know this with hummingbirds, and we know this with the they will they will change their their their their feathers, either they'll rouse them up where they're all standing up or just, you know, flick them this way, flick them that way. So and we just see the motion. Right?

Ian:

We, you know, we don't we don't have really good vision. The birds see a very, like, real signal. Right? So it could be as as blatant as us holding up a stop sign or or, you know, or, you dangerous.

Janine:

Birds of paradise. There's certain ones where they look so drab and then, like, from a certain angle, and then there's they they open up their neck feathers, and it's all this shiny blue, and they dance around, but you can't see it until you look at them from, like, up. You you have to look down on them and see that.

Ian:

It's all yeah. And it's and those are mating displays.

Janine:

Yeah.

Ian:

But yeah. So, you know, if you ever watch Birds of Paradise mating displays, you you just Google that just for the the the Oh, the sheer enjoyment. Amazement of it.

Bryn:

I'm gonna throw a crazy one at you. What category does a peacock fall into?

Janine:

That's a peafowl.

Ian:

Is that what it is? Yeah. So it's

Bryn:

I do a peacock sound effect. You know that. Right?

Ian:

Can you?

Bryn:

Do you wanna

Janine:

hear it?

Ian:

Yes.

Janine:

That's good.

Bryn:

That's how's Is that pretty good?

Janine:

That's good.

Ian:

Perfect. They're gonna come in. You're you're calling them in. Alright.

Bryn:

There we go. Well, I noticed I got all the attention of the birds that are saying, who is that guy? Yeah. Okay. Anyway, carry on.

Bryn:

So

Ian:

Yeah. So you see those

Janine:

And that's peacocks. Yeah. Good example. Example.

Bryn:

Thank you.

Ian:

That that big tail goes up and and and and it's shimmering. You ever notice when they're when they're doing it, you see them. Right? And that is you know, to a bird's eye is like fireworks, man. Like, there's a lot of stuff going on there.

Janine:

Sexy talk.

Bryn:

We have a bathroom window that faces the house next door, and on the top of the roof right by one of the vents, there is a crow there every night. Yeah. And I'm I'm sure it's the same one. Yeah. Because it's the exact same spot at the exact same time every night.

Bryn:

And I've often wondered, what is he like what like, he's overseeing his flight or whatever it is.

Ian:

Window. He's a weirdo.

Janine:

Well, I know. I yeah.

Bryn:

Actually, you know what? I never I he probably can't even see me. Yeah. But, nonetheless, you might be absolutely correct. Yeah.

Janine:

They they do crow. They find their places, and and they call for their their family to make sure that everybody's still, you know, alive before they go to bed. So, yeah, they

Ian:

Yeah. Then I've had it. You know, you watch, you know, any any of that kind of stuff with with bird vision is, is amazing.

Bryn:

Like eagles with rattlesnakes way down on the ground. I don't know how they see it. There are mice Yeah. In the field. I don't know how they do it, but that's that's why they're around.

Ian:

Yeah. So and when it comes to be like, being here, like, we have all the UV lights and all that kind of stuff. Yeah. Not only is it good for hormonal stuff and and vitamin absorption for the birds, but also helps them see when they're indoors. Wow.

Bryn:

I think that's fantastic. Yeah. I I love I love hearing about all the research you've done too. I think it's fascinating stuff.

Ian:

Oh, I understand. It's a Wow.

Bryn:

Yes. Well, we we kept our eye on that topic for a while. Do you wanna take a break and come back?

Janine:

That's what

Bryn:

I do here. Yeah. We're gonna take a break. When we come back, we're gonna tie what are the five freedoms?

Ian:

Oh, yes. That's a

Bryn:

good one. Yeah. We'll get right to it. Time to check-in with Janine and find out what's happening at Mika's safe house. I can't continue to work on that.

Ian:

Yeah.

Bryn:

Yeah. I I think it's not bad. Hey. We we gotta talk about the five freedoms. I have no idea what the five freedoms even are, Ian.

Bryn:

Where are they? So Can you remember all five? Give it a give it a shot.

Ian:

I I well, I got it written down. Oh, there

Bryn:

we go.

Ian:

Yeah. So this will be I'm

Bryn:

guessing you're gonna get all five then.

Ian:

Yeah. I'll get them all right because I have the list in my hand. But, so what the five freedoms are is the five freedoms have been, as as as the criteria basically for humane societies, you know, the SPCA, all these guys, all the humane site all the humane societies use the five freedoms as a basic guide on how to keep animals.

Bryn:

Okay.

Ian:

Alright. And so the first one is the freedom from hunger and thirst.

Janine:

So Don't starve your animal.

Ian:

Yeah. Make sure your food your animals eating and make sure they have access to water always.

Janine:

Yeah. Clean water.

Bryn:

What is the most important of the two?

Ian:

The water.

Bryn:

The water.

Janine:

So hydration. They're both important. They're both equally important, but you can go less time with water without water than with food. So

Ian:

And and and always remember this is this is not necessarily for for wild animals, but this is for Captive. Us keeping an animal. Sure. This is our responsibility to provide for this animal at all times.

Bryn:

Okay. Got it.

Ian:

So the first one is hunger and thirst. The second one is discomfort. So that's when it comes to when we're talking about the birds, that's gonna mean proper enclosures. Space. Space.

Ian:

Right? And and and just having everything they need, right, in in in their in their enclosure.

Bryn:

K.

Janine:

So yeah. Like, don't keep them in a hot car. Don't keep them outside in the cold.

Ian:

Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. Don't don't don't tie your don't tie your budgie to a fence.

Bryn:

I would like to say that's common sense, but as they say, common sense isn't always common.

Ian:

Correct. Correct. And these are these are general guidelines. Right? But it that they're important guidelines.

Ian:

Okay. So and and and number three is freedom from pain injury disease. So Right. Take your animal to the vet once in a while. Make sure Yeah.

Janine:

If you notice there's

Ian:

something get them checked out.

Bryn:

Who is your vet of choice, by the way? Who who who does the work for you?

Janine:

The real name? The name we call him.

Ian:

We call him Murray.

Bryn:

Murray the vet.

Ian:

Murray, but that'll that's another

Bryn:

Is he a Murray? Is he like a Murray? Like, I I I know of, what, three Murray's, and they're very, very good guys, but very serious.

Ian:

Wow. So is he Murray? No. He's a God. He's not like that at all.

Janine:

He's a flame supporter.

Bryn:

That's just it all right there. Yeah.

Ian:

Hold that against him. Alright, Murray.

Bryn:

Yeah. Nice try.

Ian:

Yeah. So so that was pain from injury and disease.

Bryn:

Okay.

Janine:

Free from pain.

Bryn:

Free from pain.

Ian:

Yeah. The next one, number four, and this is the one that I have a hardest time with. It's it's it's it's a hard one to wrap your head around.

Bryn:

K.

Ian:

Alright. For for in the context of birds, Freedom to express normal and natural behavior.

Janine:

Okay. So what's the normal and natural behavior of a bird?

Ian:

In captivity. Mhmm.

Bryn:

Well, I'm hearing a fair bit of noise.

Ian:

Yeah. That's That's natural. That's that's that's and we allow that to happen.

Bryn:

I kinda like it. Yeah.

Ian:

Mhmm. Absolutely. So the next thing is is, are you free to nest? We're not gonna allow that to happen because we don't need any birds.

Bryn:

So Right.

Ian:

We're gonna take that natural behavior away. Okay. Flight. Alright. So you move around.

Bryn:

We can

Ian:

we can give you a certain amount of flight, but we can't give you Full flight. Full flight. Full amount of flight.

Janine:

These guys We can't fly them outside.

Ian:

And we can't fly for kilometers in a day.

Janine:

Yeah. Like they would naturally.

Ian:

It's a that's a hard that's a hard one to For work around. In the bird world to live with. Okay. It's a it's a it's a tricky tricky one, but we need

Janine:

to You wanna make sure that when you get a bird, you wanna give it the biggest enclosure you can. That's that's bar spacing appropriate. So Yes. Give them the biggest the biggest space you can give them.

Bryn:

Do you think that's the biggest problem for people when they get a bird? They just don't buy a cage or an enclosure the right size. You're better off to go bigger rather than Always small.

Janine:

Yeah. I've seen so many birds come in in very inappropriate cages, and it just it hurts. It hurts to see that they've been living like that for however many however long.

Ian:

So yeah. There's a lot of mythology in in the in the pet industry that, you know, that was common what they what they would commonly say, you know, twenty, thirty, forty years ago that just over the or us slowly learning, I'm gonna underline slowly. Yeah. But now we know better. And and but some of that some of that old thinking still pops up every now and then.

Ian:

It's shocking when it does, but it still does pop up. Right. You know? Gotta put a bird in a small cage, otherwise it won't sing.

Bryn:

I've heard

Ian:

that one a few times.

Bryn:

I've never heard that before.

Janine:

It's not true. Don't do that.

Bryn:

Okay. Alright. So, obviously, there's

Janine:

that. Yeah.

Ian:

There's lot of old mythology. And and some of that turns into the last of the freedoms is the freedom from fear and distress.

Bryn:

Well, that feeds off the other one, doesn't it?

Ian:

Absolutely, absolutely. So, know, they need to feel secure, need to feel comfortable. You know? So, you know, it's it's don't know. It's it's not something you'll

Janine:

Don't release them outside because they're not used to it. Don't, don't scare them. Don't Still let them sleep

Ian:

on top of their cage.

Bryn:

No. I cannot I cannot believe we're into episode nine, and I don't think I've ever asked this. Is that how important is it to have a pal?

Janine:

It in parrots, they are companion animals. They do like to have a buddy. Okay. So whether you get another bird for them or whether you're their buddy

Ian:

Well, I I I gotta I gotta open my mouth.

Janine:

Yep. Please. Sure.

Bryn:

We won't have a podcast if

Ian:

you hadn't The whole point of of of people having companion birds is a companion for you. Right? Or you're the companion for the bird.

Janine:

Right? That's the idea.

Ian:

So that's the whole general idea. And yes, I understand that it's it's it's tempting to add another bird, get another bird, get a friend from my bird, get get a you know? You know?

Janine:

There's, yeah, there's a whole another thing that goes along with it too, though. When you get another bird, it changes the relationship between you and your original birds. So So There's lots to think about when when you're adding

Ian:

When you're adding adding birds to your flock, which is it gets to sometimes it gets a little frustrating to listen to when you hear top people talking about it, but it it's a the the whole point of of of getting a a a companion bird or, know, is that it's something it's a bond you wanna have with that bird exclusively. Okay.

Bryn:

So how do you find the right match? Like, you I'm I'm guessing you two have seen it all. Yeah. And you'll you'll recognize that maybe those two birds should not be together or Mhmm. You know, that that might be a good match.

Bryn:

Yeah.

Ian:

And that happens.

Janine:

Yep. It happens. We've like like the cockatiels and the the budgies and the doves. You know, they they pair up if they're put in in places where they they can. We have, you know, a lot of communal birds that we can keep together, and they pair up.

Janine:

But

Ian:

Yeah. Yeah. But the the other problem with that is that when you're when you when you because most parrots, not all parrots, but most parrots pair bond naturally. That's their that's that natural behavior that we talked in Yes. The freedom of where is it?

Ian:

Number four, express normal normal behavior. No. Right?

Janine:

Natural behavior.

Ian:

When they do that, you know, if you're if you're if you started opening as a as a companion to this bird and you've added another bird to the to the situation, and if they really hit it off, you're out. You know? Like Yeah. Hate to break it to you, buddy, but now you are now you're just the help. Like, bring me my food, bring me my water, and clean my

Bryn:

You're a third wheel, I think, is the expression you're looking for.

Ian:

Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. And sometimes that's a

Janine:

I'm kicking you because you said it four times now in the last two minutes. So

Bryn:

so, Jeanine, what is it again? What? What kind of behavior is it?

Janine:

Natural behavior?

Bryn:

Yes. Yes. That's it. We got it. Kicking.

Bryn:

Are you okay?

Ian:

You did? Kicking.

Bryn:

Was That's gonna leave a mark. Yeah. That's all I'm gonna say.

Ian:

Okay. Limp.

Janine:

Now I got it. Yeah.

Bryn:

Hey. As we always do when we we, you know, are talking about safe house, there's a safe house story. Who's our who's our who's our star today? Is there anybody in particular?

Janine:

Well, we're bird sitting him right now. This is Jimmy Lee. Jimmy Lee is a

Bryn:

Jimmy Lee.

Janine:

Jimmy Lee. He's a pigeon that we had for quite some time. And, yeah, he came from he's awesome. He came from, animal care and control, and they, they're like, oh, yeah. He's such an interesting character.

Janine:

He you know, he he's really personable with people. We get him back here to the shelter and, yeah, sure. He flies to us and tries to peck our ears out and peck our eyes out and, you know, tries to him Yeah. So that's why

Ian:

they call he's named after a serial killer.

Janine:

Yeah. He is. Serial killer pigeon.

Bryn:

Now are you out? Okay.

Janine:

He got adopted from a lovely lovely young lady who loves him just for who he is, his serial killer ish self.

Bryn:

Well, I gotta ask you this because I wouldn't normally think of a pigeon as being a real pal. I have heard of homing pigeons, which are up on the roofs of

Ian:

Yeah.

Bryn:

Places in New York City. I've seen all the movies.

Ian:

Yeah. Yeah.

Bryn:

But so when you're talking about a pigeon that kinda likes people, how would you know?

Janine:

There's some really wonderful pigeons. Jimmy Lee just needs some some guidance, you know, to to learn not to be so aggressive with people. But, really, he really does like people. He just needs But, to no, most doves like, I think doves and pigeons make great companions. They don't Ignore this whole thing that I just talked about Jimmy Lee, but, like, 99% of pigeons and doves don't bite, and they're great for people that want a bird that is gentle, like, you know, the They piece of

Ian:

are, like

Janine:

And they're easily trainable. You see magicians with them all the time. Yeah.

Ian:

Yeah. But they're they're they're probably the I don't know if they're they'd be the first companion birds, but they're definitely one of the first companion birds. Like, before, you know, before we had the telephone, we were using pigeons to send messages.

Bryn:

We Oh, yeah.

Ian:

You know, during the war, they were they were flying pigeons to to to to for codes and all this other

Bryn:

kind of stuff. They were the first Canada Post.

Ian:

Absolutely. If I'm not mistaken. Probably more efficient.

Bryn:

I was just gonna say speed wise. Never mind. We're gonna get letters. We're gonna get emails. Right?

Ian:

Don't worry. We'll never get them. Yeah. Anyway, that's that's another story. But yeah.

Ian:

So these these these are the first birds that that that I'm tired. Clearly, I'm tired. Really well. Right? So they are they are for the most part domesticated.

Ian:

They wanna spend time with people. They love they love human habitat. So, you know, you go to any bridge, building top, or anything like that, generally balcony. Right? They're not wild.

Ian:

They're not they're not native to to this area anyhow. Wow.

Bryn:

Mhmm. Well, pitches are not always well liked around apartment buildings and, you know, tall buildings. So Yeah. You know? But

Janine:

Oh, but love them. Just love their soul.

Bryn:

Here's the thing. They've never met Jimmy Lee. Yeah. Right? Absolutely.

Bryn:

I I'm convinced he's misunderstood and was hanging around with the wrong batch.

Janine:

That's That's yeah. He just needs a little good at guidance.

Bryn:

Well, there you go. This is another story and a few really bad jokes too from the safe house.

Janine:

Womp womp.

Bryn:

Okay. It's now time for the seed and time to wrap things up. You know what I was wondering? Because there's so many birds here. Do you guys babysit birds?

Janine:

Yes.

Bryn:

Or birds sit?

Janine:

Yes. We do. Yes. We do.

Bryn:

It's How does that work?

Janine:

It's it's good. The people just bring their birds in their carrier, and we provide everything. We have, proper enclosures, all the toys, all the perches, all the food, everything, and they have a vacation here.

Bryn:

It's just like a bird BNB or whatever.

Ian:

Yeah. Absolutely. And and right now, we're sitting inside. I almost said it.

Janine:

All inclusive.

Ian:

Not the then I quit. But Yeah. Yeah. But what we're sitting in is actually where when when they're cleaning cages and stuff like that, a lot of

Janine:

times Or free time or

Ian:

free time for the

Janine:

the Yeah.

Ian:

Yeah. They come in here and they fly around in here.

Bryn:

And Really?

Ian:

Yeah. That's why we have all the stuff hanging.

Bryn:

Oh, now I get it. Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah.

Ian:

So yeah. So this is Well, they've

Bryn:

been in here for, what, seven, eight episodes, and I'm now figuring it out.

Ian:

Yeah. This is so This is where they come to play with.

Janine:

The rooms. We have another room on the other side too for the bigger ones, and then we have the stands out there that they hang out with. And

Bryn:

So do people know this? Like, the like, well, we're getting the word out now. Yeah. I know that. But so, like, where somebody's going on holidays, it's like, is that is that how it works?

Bryn:

It's like a kennel?

Ian:

Yep. Just just like when they take their dogs to a kennel or anything like that. It's the same same idea.

Janine:

Yep. You betcha. It's it's fun. And I love getting to know people's birds. Oh my goodness.

Janine:

They they make me smile. We have this one bird that we birds sit named, Kiwi, the hands mini macaw. And the first time he did his or she, I think it's a girl. Let's go Oilers.

Bryn:

And it's like,

Janine:

I'm not even kidding. We had this bird that did that. We we birdsit for Wow. Yeah. And it's the neatest thing.

Janine:

Yeah.

Ian:

And You gotta do, like, you know, when Dude, after the heaters doing the drum, boom boom boom boom And then the Let's go. I Yeah. I think we have it on

Janine:

I do have it on tape one time. Yeah.

Bryn:

Yeah. Yeah. Somewhere. Fire it off to me. We gotta have that on the

Ian:

podcast at same

Janine:

point. Find it. I don't know. It's been a while. But yeah.

Bryn:

But I'm guessing no. That's a happy chant. Yeah. Do you get some chance that maybe you probably shouldn't hear?

Ian:

Well, yeah. I could tell. I what I'll say is it's really important not to keep your birds in your bedroom. Okay. Alright.

Ian:

Because sometimes, not always, but sometimes they tell secrets. And so, you know, we'll be watching birds and I was like, what what are we hearing?

Bryn:

This is a Hollywood movie, whatever it was

Janine:

like. Yeah.

Ian:

Okay. Religious at home. They're talking Yeah.

Bryn:

Yeah. Okay. I

Janine:

well, but true.

Ian:

This is so

Janine:

true. We do hear some some secrets.

Ian:

Yeah. So we do sometimes your secrets are revealed, but they're safe with us.

Bryn:

Yeah. Wow. So is it is it an expensive thing? Or, like, I mean, how do people get a hold of you if they wanna get some more information on this? Because this is the first I've heard of it.

Ian:

Yeah. So it's on our website, under services. So they'll you can just go to our website, you can see, basically, the the

Janine:

The breakdown.

Ian:

The breakdown, the gist of what goes on while your bird's here.

Janine:

And I think there's a cost thing on there as well.

Bryn:

Rachel, there prepared to

Ian:

put it on there. So

Janine:

Yeah. I think I did that. And, yeah, you could even book online, or you can phone, or you can email, or you can text.

Bryn:

Yeah. Well, I'm gonna tell you right now based on what I've seen around here that if you're going away, your bird's gonna be really comfortable and at home here.

Ian:

Oh, yeah.

Bryn:

Now are they are they singled off from everybody else? They're not in the regular population. Right? Or they

Ian:

have their They're own kinda they're kinda segregated from the from the from the Yeah. Super. Sanctuary. But yeah.

Janine:

So Yeah.

Bryn:

Okay. Wow. Love it. Janine, you know it is?

Janine:

Is it fun fact time?

Bryn:

It is. Time for fun facts.

Ian:

Fun fact. There we go.

Bryn:

There we go. What are we talking about today? What's the fun fact? Who's got this one today?

Ian:

Yes. Is it Janine again? Okay.

Janine:

I got it. I got it. This one's gonna be a really quick one. The heaviest living animal capable of flight weighing in at 24 to 42 pounds. Being able to fly is the Cori Bustard.

Ian:

The what? Cori Bustard.

Janine:

Isn't that cool? These guys are found in I

Bryn:

went to school with Cory Bustard. You're gonna be shocked to hear there's a bird named after.

Ian:

Yeah. You can fly.

Janine:

Yeah. Yeah. Cory Bustard. And, yeah, they can they're from Africa. And, yeah, they're pretty impressive.

Ian:

They're a funky looking bird. Yeah. They really are the cunts.

Janine:

They're huge.

Ian:

Yeah. You guys have seen secretary birds.

Bryn:

Right? Like, I do you know what I was thinking when you were mentioning this? The condor. The was it the California condor? Yeah.

Bryn:

That's probably

Janine:

gonna be different continent. Yes.

Bryn:

There is.

Ian:

Continent. Big bird too.

Bryn:

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Huge. Okay.

Janine:

But not that big. Yeah. No. These guys mainly stay on the ground, but they do fly. Like, they they do fly.

Janine:

So but, yeah, they look like a big secretary bird. You know what? The big feathers and the Yeah. The yeah. The you know?

Ian:

That's amazing.

Bryn:

I'm glad your facility and audio functions.

Janine:

Right? Yeah. And they look like this.

Ian:

Yeah. But they yeah. They're they're they're they're they're they're mainly a ground dweller. They they look like a secretary bird if you know what a secretary bird looks like. It has sound effects to

Bryn:

it. Okay.

Ian:

Yep. But yeah. No. They're they're they're big heavy duty guys, and, yeah, they're amazing.

Janine:

And they can fly.

Bryn:

Are they almost extinct or no? There's lots of them?

Janine:

They're they're I think they're critical. They're, like, almost listed as critical.

Ian:

Think they're threatened.

Janine:

Yeah. They're threatened. Wow.

Ian:

Yeah. Yeah.

Bryn:

Super. I guess not. We anyway, so once again, a Corey Bustard. Bustard. Yeah.

Bryn:

I'm gonna have to look that one up because I I wouldn't even

Janine:

Corey with a k.

Ian:

K o r I.

Bryn:

See, that's the difference. I'm gonna say Corey with a c. Yeah. K

Ian:

o r

Janine:

I, Bustard.

Bryn:

That's why I got confused there. Yeah. Okay. Sorry, Corey. If I don't know.

Bryn:

I've not seen Corey for years.

Janine:

Years. So

Bryn:

I'm guessing if he

Janine:

He flew away.

Ian:

Yeah. He he might have done that. Yeah.

Bryn:

Guys, thanks very much. This has been a lot of fun. The birds have been well behaved today.

Ian:

Mostly. Mostly.

Bryn:

I say especially that budgie.

Ian:

Yeah. Well

Bryn:

From the last episode.

Ian:

Move on another one.

Bryn:

Yep. Oh, sorry. Didn't see dinner together right now. Turn away. Turn away from the hideousness.

Ian:

Yeah.

Bryn:

Okay, guys. Thanks very much. Hey. Thanks for joining us today. If you're a bird brain like me and you don't wanna miss our next podcast, then check us out on any of your favorite ear candy sites like Apple, Spotify, Google.

Bryn:

There's lots of them out there. Make sure you tell your friends and make sure you follow or subscribe to our podcast. That way when a new one drops, you'll get the new one right to your home perch. And also, if you're not as the crow flies and you can't drop into our location, check us out online at mikasbirdhouse.com. That's it for the Birdhouse Banter.

Bryn:

Have yourself a great day. Let's get chirping.