Here are a few reasons why you should listen to Nora Caterino...
Reason #1: She has owned parrots for over 25 years! Beginning with a budgie, then a cockatiel that was tame and talked.
Reason #2: In 1982 she found Bird Talk magazine and purchased every back issue they had in stock! She even attended parrot shows where she learned many techniques from professionals such as Sally Blanchard.
Reason #3: Later her input to Bird Talk magazine was published on several occasions - On topics of traveling with parrots and moving (changing residence) with parrots.
Reason #4: In 1985 she began breeding budgies and soon added cockatiel breeding to her resume. At one time in 1986, she had as many as six breeding pairs of cockatiels and a sun conure (who died suddenly in 2002 at age 17) in her 1-bedroom apartment.
Reason #5: In 1992 she purchased an outdoor aviary - which held as many as 12 cockatiels and 6 budgies, all breeding pairs!
Reason #6: While working at Kennedy Space Center, she became known as the "Bird Lady" - this was due to her hand-fed baby birds which were sold through newspaper and bulletin board ads, often to friends that she worked with. She was also often sought out for bird advice by owners or potential owners of parrots of all kinds.
Reason #7: She has written dozens of articles for publication on websites - Plus she taught many other people how to breed birds and how to hand feed their babies.
Reason #8: She is now living in Mississippi and has written 3 books about parrots as a freelance writer. –The books are on the topics: How to Select, Tame and Train Your Parrot to Talk; Don't Feed Your Parrot to Death; and Parrot First Aid.
Reason #9: Over her 25 years with parrots, she has taught many birds to talk. For instance, she owned a female cinnamon cockatiel that she obtained as an adult bird. While female cockatiels are not known for their speaking ability, using the time-proven techniques she learned from other experts combined with her own unique experiences, this female cockatiel learn to speak quite a few words. And that was while the female was raising babies!
