Gardening truly is for the birds it's easy, healthy for your birds and good exercise for you! Cool weather is the climate that lots of greens like to grow in, so let's get started with some basic greens. Collards are full of calcium, with two cups raw containing 104 mg. Turnips are about the same for one cup, and the other greens go down from there except for dandelion, which is the highest in calcium with 205 mg in two cups. (Don't bother growing them as you can pick all you want in the spring, providing the yard is free of pesticides and fertilizers.) Other greens to consider are arugula, beet, escarole, kale, chicory and watercress.

Greens need a minimum of either four hours of sunshine or eight hours of grow light time daily, with the grow light no further than six inches above the plants. Any container that allows water to drain out the bottom will work for planting, and soil can be either purchased or gathered from your own yard if it's good, nutritious soil with no additives like fertilizer or pesticide. Fill the container with soil to about one inch below the top. (Or, in warmer climates, plant outside!) Sprinkle the seeds on top, then cover them with just enough soil to completely hide the seeds. Pat down to firm the soil, then water. Collard greens will take one 3-gallon container per plant, but several kinds of smaller greens will fit in that size as well. Try planting one 3-gallon container with a collard plant, and another with a mix of mustard, turnip, radish and an edible flower like pansy. These are all cool weather foods that our birds love.

The Second Annual StopPDD Online Conference will be held November 15th and16th. Participants will receive all conference information in their email boxes, then have the opportunity to ask questions of the experts involved. For only $25 you can learn about many areas of aviculture, from safe cleaning products to avian health issues. Conference articles will be distributed via email, and all participants will have the chance to ask questions of the experts. (All questions will be answered publicly.)

This years authors include:

• Joe Arbogast
• Geri Aronson
• Dr. Greg Burkett
• Mike Burton
• Pamela Clark
• Dr. Harvey Cohen
• Joanie Doss
• Bob First
• Dawn Henson
• Jean Pattison
• Janice Shade
• Carolyn Swicegood
• Garry Wallan
• Liz Wilson

Ever spend hours searching the internet for parrot-related health information, only to come up with dead links and outdated info? The days of wandering aimless through a sea of electronic misinformation looking for one jewel of knowledge are over Avian Experts On-Call has arrived! Each month, AHN will feature a health-related question from a bird owner in need along with an answer from a qualified avian expert. From toe nails to blood feathers, nutrition to molting, and wheezing to sneezing if you have a question, AHN will find the most accurate and up-to-date answer available from some of the worlds top avian health experts.

This is where you come in we need your questions! So if your bird is exhibiting an unusual symptom thats got your puzzled, or you have questions about the lab report from your recent vet appointment, dont wander through life uninformed. Simply send your questions to avianexpert@avianhealthnetwork.info, and well find an expert with an answer.

There have been some great pictures arriving for the Avian Health Network CD! If youve caught your bird doing something photogenic and actually managed to get the camera in time, share the photos with others and help raise money for PDD research! The photos can be silly, cute, playful its up to you. You may submit photos or questions to Steffanie@StopPDD.org.