Welcome.

Hello and welcome. My name is Jessie, and Peggy is my Jenday Conure. This blog is where I post the articles I have written about wild and pet parrots. I write primarily for “Parrots” magazine, but I’ve also written for “Companion Parrot Quarterly” and “Good Bird” magazine. I also post interesting links, videos, and articles about parrots and other animals as I find them.

The list of parrot-related articles I have had published are as follows:

1) An Introduction to the Lineolated Parakeet. Companion Parrot Quarterly, March 2006, Issue 69.

2) Living with a Maroon-bellied Conure. Parrots, December 2006, Issue 107.

3) Living with a Red-lored Amazon. Parrots, July 2007, Issue 114.

4) The Importance of Environmental Enrichment for Pet Parrots. Parrots, August 2007, Issue 115.

5) Meet the Kaka – the Kea’s Lesser-known Cousin. Parrots, November 2007, Issue 118.

6) The Behavior of Wild Amazon Parrots and its Implications for Companion Parrot Keepers. Companion Parrot Quarterly, Winter, 2007, Issue 71.

7) One Day of Parrots in Sydney Australia. Good Bird, Winter 2007, Volume 3-4.

8 ) A Trip to New Zealand: The Land where Birds Rule. Good Bird, Spring 2008, Volume 4-1.

9) Parrot Rescues. Parrots, May 2008, Issue 124.

10) Meet the Kea. Parrots, July 2008, Issue 126.

11) Clicker Training as a Tool for Managing Aggressive Parrots. Parrots, November 2008, Issue 130.

12) Play Behavior in Wild Parrots. Companion Parrot Quarterly, Issue 72.

13) The Evolution and Behavior of the Extraordinary Eclectus Parrot. Parrots International, 2009, Issue 2.

14) Living with a Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. Parrots, June 2009, Issue 137.

15) The Benefits of Fresh Foods for Parrots. Companion Parrot Quarterly, Issue 74.

16) In the Land of the Hyacinth Macaw. Parrots, February 2010, Issue 145.

17) The Diversity and Classification of Parrots. Companion Parrot Quarterly, Issue 75.

18) The Nest Building Behavior of the Adaptable Quaker Parakeet. Parrots, July 2010, Issue 151.

A bit about me: I’m from Alberta, Canada and have lived here my whole life. I’m originally from Lethbridge, but I’m currently living in Edmonton.  I recently completed my Ph.D in ecology at the University of Alberta and my academic interests are quite broad and include population genetics, systematics, and behavioral ecology. My thesis work specifically was on the evolution and behaviour of pikas. Pikas are small relatives of the rabbit, and there are two species in North America: the American pika and the collared pika. Both are very cute and generally live on alpine boulderfields. There are also about 28 species from northern and central Asia and the far southeast of Europe.

I also completed my M.Sc at the University of Alberta, and it was in systematics and evolution. I received my B.Sc in biological sciences at the University of Lethbridge.

I’m quite passionate about biology and my non-professional interests tend to be nature or animal oriented as well. I love to go birdwatching, hiking, and horseback riding. I’m currently doing some volunteer work at Elk Island National Park, which involves doing surveys for yellow rails, soras, bitterns and nighthhawks. I love traveling as well and have been all over North America, New Zealand and central Brazil. I’ve also been volunteering with various animal-related organizations since I was 15. I volunteered at the Lethbridge Humane Society for nearly seven years, and I’ve fostered a few parrots for two different rescues since moving to Edmonton. I also edit the newsletter for the Edmonton Pet Parrot Association.

An American Pika

I enjoy watching and studying wild parrots and have several as pets. My own parrots include  Lucy (a Maroon-bellied Conure), Ripley, (a Red-lored Amazon),  Peggy (a Jenday Conure),  Garnet and Emerald (the Lineolated Parakeets), Mitri (a Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo), Chiku! (Green-cheeked Conure) and a Bourke’s Parakeet and a Budgie. I also have two button quail, who live with the linnies and an aviary full of society, spice and Gouldian finches.  I also have two dogs (Pharaoh, a mix and Micro, a Maltese), two cats (Phoenix and Freya), two snakes (a Ball Python and a Ribbon Snake), Brin the Chinchilla, and a Chinese water dragon. Oh, and my husband who luckily enjoys animals as well!

I also like riding horses, although I don’t have the time or resources to own my own horse. For now, I am just taking lessons, in English riding.

If anyone out there wants to contact me, I can be Emailed at jzgurski “at” ualberta “dot” ca.

Here are some photos of my animals:

Mitri chewing on his wicker basket

Peggy the Jenday Conure

Lucy on her boing

Ripley the Red-lored Amazon

The button quail settle down for the night. I've taken these guys to a couple of animal behavior labs and everyone seems to love them. They're very cute!

Pharaoh the mixed breed. We don't know his breed or mix, but he's an awesome dog! Very friendly.

Compy the retired racing greyhound who passed away from cancer recently. He was a very gentle dog.

Freya watches Mr. Snake, the ribbon snake.

Phoenix checks out some hay I put out for a bunny I was taking care of. Luckily, he knows not to eat it.

Flammie, a Chinese Water Dragon.

Lineolated Parakeets

Chiku! a Green-cheeked Conure cross.

Bourke's Parakeet

Micro the Maltese and Phoenix.

Society Finches

Rocket, the Morgan/Appaloosa I have been part leasing.

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