Richie & Jackie

Chiger

Recent Catskill Exotic Bird Club President, Richie Chiger,

I have been a member of the Catskill Exotic Bird Club since it began. Creating the bird club was not initially my idea. The owner of a local animal-products store had a female customer, Lucy, inquire about a bird club in the area. The store owner contacted me and the club was born. Other people involved in the creation of the bird club include Matt Frumess, Ann Marie McKeon, Mary Lewis, and Rick Stein to name a few. Janice Trust made the arrangements to use the basement of the now, Hudson United Bank in Monticello, NY. Initially, I was the vice-president of the club and took over the shortly vacated position of president. Before the club's first meeting, advertisement, written by Matt Frumess, was used in the Times Herald Record..."Bird Lovers of the World Unite". That first ad launched the "Catskill Exotic Bird Club" into its present day 15-year existence.

2. How many birds do you currently own?

6 Parrots

35 Chickens

3. List the species of each of your birds and the birds' names.

4. Which species that you have owned or currently own is your favorite? Least favorite?

5. If you were to buy another bird, which species would you buy?

6. At what age did you acquire your first bird?

7. What do you feed your bird(s)?

Depends. My birds have a very mixed diet. I do feed my birds Haggen pellets mixed with seeds, fruits, and vegetables. I give my birds just about everything...whatever I am eating at that time.

8. Describe the funniest encounter that you had with one of your birds.

Richie

My scarlet macaw, Aristophanes, is no stranger to taking a shower with me. While I like to take him into the shower often, I generally only do so about once a week in the winter months. Anyway, I told my wife Jackie, that I was going to take a shower. After being in the shower for only a couple of minutes, I heard this knocking on my shower door. Hearing a knock on the shower door was the last thing that I expected and, as you can image, scared me tremendously! Instantly, I had images of the shower scene from the movie, Psycho, running rampant through my head! I slowly opened the shower door only to find no one...until I looked down at the floor. There was Aristophanes, with one leg lifted in the air, saying, "Step Up!" Aristophanes apparently heard that I was going to take a shower, left his perch, walked through 3 rooms to get to the bathroom, came through the partially opened bathroom door, and knocked on the shower door with his beak!

Jackie

Many years ago we had heard one of our cats meowing, but we couldn't find it.  The more we listened, the more we thought she was caught inside one of our walls.  We were just about to start breaking down the walls when we realized the meows were followed by a tiny clicking sound.  We knew the cats couldn't click their tongues.  So, we went into the other room and found one of our cockatiels meowing and clicking!

9. What advice would you give to a first-time bird owner?

Richie

Know everything there is to know about the bird (good and bad) before buying. Know how often the bird screams, what his feeding requirements are, and consider what rearrangements to your furniture and house are. Never buy a bird on impulse!!! Also, the prospective bird owner should keep in mind that stores are in the business to make a profit and will try to sell you anything!

Jackie

Start off with a small manageable bird and then if and when you feel confident or ready, get a larger bird.  Also, don't think having a bird is like having a dog...it's not the same.  There is much more work, but it is very rewarding.