Last year southern California endured some of the most extensive wildfires in the nation's history. Over 2,000 homes were lost, and pet owners had to scramble to save not only themselves but their companion animals.

In Wildfire!, I talked to some of the bird owners who barely escaped with their pets and homes intact. They and the professionals who came to their aid have a few survival tips for the rest of us.

Petco's first bird fair
What happens when mega-pet store chain Petco teams with a bird rescue group? The first-ever Petco-sponsored bird adoption fair, held in San Bruno, Calif.

Does this mean Petco eventually will stop selling birds? That would be good news for those who believe the chain neglects its animals. Read more about it in this issue's Bird adoption day at Petco.

Do you have an opinion about Petco's animal care practices? Take the poll on this page and check back in the coming weeks to see what others are saying. (If you see no poll box, try refreshing the page.)

Last issue's poll results
At this writing in late December 2003, more than 625 of you have voted in our November-December reader poll. The question was, "In a perfect world, what would be done about the homeless pet-bird problem?"

Currently, opinion is divided almost evenly between those who believe there is no problem and those who think steps should be taken to curtail breeding or better educate prospective bird owners. To add your vote to this poll, go here.

Calling all "second-hand" bird owners
With the exact severity of the homeless bird problem unknown, the pet store chain PetsMart has decided to sponsor a study. The Petco rival says it will use the results to help it decide whether to continue selling birds in its own stores.

The Gabriel Foundation, a bird sanctuary based in Aspen, is conducting the PetsMart study with the help of Dr. Cheryl Meehan, associate director of the Center for Animal Welfare at the University of California at Davis.

Meehan and an advisory board composed of about 30 experts from the avicultural, rescue and education parrot communities have put together a series of surveys they hope will shed light on why pet birds are relinquished by their owners. They also hope to find out where parrots end up once they have been relinquished, and the numbers of relinquished parrots currently available for placement in new homes.

If you have any experience with "second-hand" birds - as a relinquisher, adopter, sanctuary, zoo, pet store, bird club, breeder, or avian behavior expert - you can contribute to the PetsMart study. Simply go to National Parrot Relinquishment Research Project and click on the appropriate survey.

The online surveys will be available Jan. 2 through February and results will be posted in late spring. (Note: a database crash lost surveys submitted in 2003. Meehan asks that anyone who filled one out then to please return and take the survey again.)

Welcome, new advertisers!
Need a good utility cage or walk-in aviary? Sierra Wire and Steel offers these plus rolled wire for do-it-yourselfers and manzanita branches.

For those shopping for new indoor accommodations, Birdcages4less offers a range of custom and King stainless steel cages, handsome full-length cage covers and manzanita playgrounds. The site also sells books, art and maintenance products such as Poop-Off.

Smart birds need toys with movable parts. Avian Mechanics sells "hand tools" for birds - safe toys and parts made of stainless steel, coconut shell, tanned leather and colorful woods. Visit them at www.avianmechanics.com.

Pet Star update
The first time they appeared on Animal Planet's Pet Star, Tani Robar and her performing caique, Cassie, lost to a dog that played soccer (Pet Star!, September-October 2003).

Here's an update: In October, Tani was called back to appear on a special wild-card show. This time, Tani and Cassie walked away with first place - and $2500 in prize money. "Cassie was in great form," Tani reports (ParrotChronicles.com missed seeing the Friday night episode). "I did basically the same routine as the first time, but I added a few things. I had her pull down a sign saying "That's all Folks" to end her act."

Tani and Mario, the show's host, had planned another trick for Cassie, but in a funny moment onstage, Mario flubbed it by asking to shake hands with Tani's "dog."

Tani and Cassie went on to compete in Pet Star's $25,000 grand competition in November. They placed fourth, not bad out of a field of 15! Way to go, Tani and Cassie!

It takes resolve
What's your bird-related New Year's resolution? E-mail it to resolution@parrotchronicles.com by end of January 2004 and I'll share the best ones in the March-April 2004 About This Issue column. Hope your new year is terrific so far!

-- Carla Thornton, Editor