travel

Q. How long can the birds stay in the crate?

A. If you count driving time, we can be gone for an entire afternoon. I usually don't leave them sitting in the car, alone, for more than one hour. After an hour, I let them out to go to the bathroom and then we are off and running again.

Q. Do you worry about someone stealing them?

A. Safety is always a major concern. I always park as close to the front entrance of wherever I may be going. I've waited 10 extra minutes to find front row parking but it's never a big deal. I do not take them with me if I have to park in large parking lots, such as malls. Nobody knows my birds are in my vehicle until I am preparing to leave when I might take them out to go potty before we drive away. Also, I have tinted windows so even pedestrians can't see them and the birds are very quiet while the car is parked, so no one hears them.

Q. What about them being too hot or cold?

A. During hot days, my birds don't go with me in the car because the temperature in vehicles can rise rapidly. If it's just a bit warm outside I will soak them down before they get into the crate. I also keep two extra spray bottles filled with water in my car along with a full gallon of fresh water. I'll spray them down as necessary which they really enjoy. I also leave my sunroof open so they can enjoy the fresh air. As for winter? It doesn't get very cold where I live so that's not a problem.

Q. Where do you take them?

A. Pretty much everywhere. If I'm out running errands, I take them with me and they wait patiently in the car. They love going to the bank because I park under a huge tree and they get a kick out of watching the Grackles. On weekends I'll take them to go meet other bird friends and their flocks. We meet at courtyard eateries and the birds sit outside with us and enjoy breakfast or lunch. We also go to Home Depot on the weekends and the birds go inside the store and shop with me.

Q. How do they go potty?

A. If it's a quick errand, they hold it. If I am running them from place to place I will stop and take them out of the car so they can go potty. I put them back in and we are on our way. They do potty in their crate sometimes and I just switch out the towel which is why I keep spare towels in my car. They are free to potty if and when they want to.

Q. Do they ever scream in the crate?

A. No. They are way too busy. They will sit and watch me as I drive and if I look at them in my rear view mirror, they will start playing peek-a-boo. They love to listen to music and spend a lot of time dancing in the crate. When I park the car they sit very quietly watching birds fly by and simply people watching.

Q. Your crate is obviously large enough for two birds but if I only have one bird, do I still need a really big crate?

A. I'd recommend buying as large a crate as possible. This way they don't get bored and have more room to play. Just fill the crate up with lots of toys and rope perches.

Q. Instead of a crate can't I build a perch so my bird can sit in the passenger seat?

A. No. Even a very minor accident can cause your bird to be thrown into the dashboard or window. Sitting in the passenger seat, holding your bird, is also dangerous. During an accident your body may be tossed forward, crushing your bird. Airbags may also inflate, killing your bird instantly. You should never carry a bird in a car without a crate.

Q. Is it hard getting your birds in or out of the crate?

A. No. they love going for rides. Sometimes Samson (GW) will grab hold of the edge of the crate as I'm putting him in. He thinks it's fun. I work around this by flipping him upside down and sticking him in the crate quickly. He then grabs a perch and pulls himself right side up.

By the time we get home they are so exhausted that they want to get out and take a nap or if it's dinner time, they eat and go straight to bed without making a sound. It's sort of like driving a baby around in the car for whatever reason it calms them down and helps them relax.