It has long been suspected that telomeres decline and the ageing process are closely linked, but this has not been proven in humans, and studies thus far have relied on limited monitoring during a lifespan. This recent study started measuring telomere length when the zebra finches were twenty-five days old and continued periodically over the course of the birds’ lives. The results, which were published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed a close association between telomere length and longevity. Although the results in this study are very convincing, ecologist Pat Monaghan of the University of Glasgow notes that this does not necessarily hold true for humans, and telomere researcher Duncan Baird of Cardiff University agrees.

Zebra finches were chosen for the study as they breed well in captivity and have an average lifespan of nine years, allowing researchers to draw conclusions in a relatively short space of time when compared to humans, while at the same time not being as short-lived as mice. A total of ninety-nine finches were used in the study and it was noted that the association between lifespan and telomere length was strongest at twenty-five days of age. This is a time in the bird’s life when it is almost fully grown, but still sexually immature and reliant of its parents for sustenance. This age would be roughly equivalent to a prepubescent human.

More research needs to be done to determine the significance of the results, as it is known that telomere length is not exclusively genetically determined and can be shortened by stressful events. Baird also noted that the data doesn’t reveal whether telomeres are driving the ageing process. Moreover, the results were for the entire population of birds being monitored, individual results may present a different picture.

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It’s been an incredible 41 years since the razorbill chick was born and ringed and now it seems that a British razorbill is completely dominating previous bird age records. The razorbill, known as razorbill M23170, has been crowned the oldest bird of its kind in Britain. It wasn’t a tough decision to make since the average lifespan of a razorbill is just 13 years.

When M23170 was still growing his adult feathers, the Beatles had just released their legendary Sgt Pepper album, hippies were braiding their hair and spouting their “make love not war” slogan and Vietnam was being ravaged by war. It was a time when legends were being made and this little bird must have wanted in on the action. Now, at the grand old age of 41 years, M23170 is the oldest known bird of his kind. In order to survive this long he has had to not only defeat his genetically pre-programmed lifespan but he has also had to avoid dangers such as oil spills and fishing nets. And yet somehow he has managed to conquer all these obstacles and he is still living in the same place where he was born and tagged back in 1967 – Bardsey Island off the coast of north Wales. The bird was spotted on the island during a survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology. If it was possible to follow the life story of this incredible creature it would no doubt be an eventful one.

The incredible bird joins a list of ‘extreme’ age records of birds who have far outlived their peers. He shares the list with a 31-year-old curlew (average life expectancy is five years) and a 13-year-old barn owl (average life expectancy is three years). The curlew was doing remarkably well and was still breeding when it was last found. The barn owl was unfortunately found under much less favorable circumstances. The discovery of the razorbill brings to light the importance of ringing birds, since this enables ornithologists to monitor the survival and movement of a particular species. If you find a ringed bird – dead or alive – you should make every effort to contact relative authorities so they can put the data on the bird’s ring to good use.

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People who keep birds as pets, generally do so because they enjoy their company and entertaining antics. Yet many of these bird lovers inadvertently allow their pet birds to become overweight, even to the point of obesity, exposing them to a host of possible health problems. Pet birds are very often confined to a cage and have their wings clipped to prevent flight and possible injury, resulting in a lack of exercise. Add to this the temptation to offer tasty tidbits to your feathered friend, and it is easy to see why pet birds can have the tendency to gain excess weight.

Of course prevention is better than cure, but if your bird is already a little on the chubby side don’t despair, with some patience and discipline, this situation can be corrected. There is no clear cut definition for obesity in birds, but dogs and cats are considered to be obese if they are 15% above their ideal weight, so this is can be used as a guideline. In a nutshell, obesity results from a bird taking in more calories than it can burn off. Lack of daily exercise is therefore a major contributing factor to obesity. Also, most bird owners incorrectly feed their birds a diet which consists mostly, or completely, of seeds. Birds love seeds because they are high in fat and taste good, however, this type of diet is not only deficient in many essential vitamins and minerals, but is the leading cause of obesity in birds.

Obese pets – cats, dogs, birds – have an increased risk of a number of life-threatening diseases, including heart disease, arthritis and cancer. Additionally, obese birds run the very real risk of developing hepatic lipidosis, more commonly known as “fatty liver disease”, making them very susceptible to stress and repeated infections. Health problems lead to an increased number of visits to the veterinarian, which is a stressful event for any animal, but for an unhealthy obese bird this type of stress may prove to be too much to bear, and could even result in death.

To maintain optimum health, pet birds should have a daily diet consisting of pellets, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, with a limited quantity of seed. Any switch in diet must be done very gradually or your bird could become stressed and refuse to eat. Remember that it took a period of time for your bird to gain its excess weight and it will take possibly even a longer period of time to lose that weight. Rest assured though that your bird’s eating habits can be changed, and the resultant health benefits, along with the extended lifespan of your beloved pet, will make the effort well worth while.

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If you are considering purchasing a parrot as a pet, you should consider the Senegal Parrot. They are perfect for owners who are living in flats, as they are not as noisy as most other parrots can be. Their unique personalities and entertaining characters make Senegal Parrots a great choice as family pets. Originating in West Africa, this popular pet bird now finds itself in all corners of the earth in the homes of loving owners who adore them.

Senegal Parrots are relatively small birds, growing to approximately twenty-three centimeters in length. Adult birds are easily recognized by their grey heads and their green and yellow coloring across the rest of their bodies, which is often remarked on, as it looks like a yellow vest has been put on over their green plumage. In some cases, the male Senegal Parrots grow to be a little larger than the females, and extremely small changes in their plumage distinguish the two genders.

In the wild, Senegal Parrots live for between twenty-five and thirty years, and can reach the same age in captivity, although some birds have been recorded to live to almost fifty. They can either be kept in a large aviary (preferably six feet by six feet), or in smaller indoor cages. It is essential to ensure that the parrots are able to move and climb freely within the cage, and that there is enough room for them to spread their wings.

When it comes to talking, the Senegal Parrot is not capable of the wide range that the African Grey is famous for, but is able to manage a respectable number of phrases and words. But it is their personalities that shine through and owners grow attached to their attentiveness and not their speech range. Owners will have to think for the Senegal Parrots, as they are prone to getting themselves into difficult situations. Basically, they should be regarded as children and owners should be aware of small things like leaving the toilet seat closed, not letting them near open windows and keeping them away from harmful kitchen appliances. Their diet should also be watched closely. Keeping cages and bowls clean is essential, and vegetables and fruits are a vital part of their diet. When feeding beans or foods that spoil quickly, owners should remove the remaining food to ensure that their parrots do not eat spoilt food that could affect their health.

Senegal Parrots are generally very social birds, and should build a special bond with each of the family members. Hand rearing a parrot leads to them becoming playful, comical, attentive and interactive pets that will soon find a place in their owner’s heart and everyone they meet.

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What have these scientists found? Well, in general, larger birds live longer than smaller birds… some record-holders include a 53-year-old Laysan Albatross, a 34-year-old Great Frigatebird, and a 32-year-old Golden Eagle. Many penguins and auks regularly reach their 20′s and some hawks and owls may live over 30 years.

These long-lived birds don’t need to raise many chicks in their lifetime, to replenish the population. Albatross are an extreme example. They raise only one chick every other year.

Smaller birds, like robins, chickadees and bluebirds, have a hard go of it. Their record lifespan rarely reach 10 or 15 years old, and an average bird may only live 2-3 years. They are particularly vulnerable in their first spring and summer after hatching- predation, cold, starvation, and disease take out many. But these short-lived bird species compensate by hatching many chicks each year.

Most bird species can live longer lives in captivity than in the wild. Record-breakers include an Andean Condor that reached 77 years old, and a common raven and a cockatoo that both reached 80!

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