Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwm.edu!rpi!uupsi!intercon!ooblick
From: ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: INDOOR: Wing clipping
Message-ID: <27BEAA61.5224@intercon.com>
Date: 17 Feb 91 16:08:00 GMT
References: <3217@legs.UUCP> <1991Feb14.165445.23866@eng.umd.edu> <27BC1320.3C83@intercon.com> <1991Feb15.233832.9126@eng.umd.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: InterCon Systems Corporation, Sterling, VA
Lines: 26

In article <1991Feb15.233832.9126@eng.umd.edu> linco@eng.umd.edu (Sam C. Lin) writes:

>Considering birds on a case-by-case basis is *not* a simplistic
>attitude.  A simplistic attitude is to assume that all birds are too
>stupid to handle not having their wings clipped.  Birds do not have
>arms so that they may fly; taking away their ability to fly is taking
>away one of their greatest enjoyments.  More importantly, as I mentioned in
>my previous posting, my own experience is that some birds HARM
>THEMSELVES when they have clipped wings,  by attempting to fly, and
>then losing their breath and crashing.  My lovebird, whose wings I
>clipped recently, managed to fly 7 feet upwards, run out of breath,
>and fall, bouncing off her cage, a table, and onto the floor!  She was
>very lucky not to have broken any bones, especially her neck!
>Therefore, *IMHO*, clipping birds indiscriminately can sometimes cause
>them unnecessary danger.  There are far more dangers in a house that a
>bird is exposed to besides flying into windows and getting loose
>outside.  A bird owner must carefully consider the circumstances of
>each bird in order to decide to clip or not to clip.  Mind you, I
>agree that clipping is called for in some circumstances.

I was referring to the contention that birds flying away is "a load of
cow turds".  THAT is what I consider to be a simplistic attitude.
Even the tamest of birds can be startled into making for the highest
tree.

Mikki Barry