Birds have a wide range of appealing qualities, which explains why human beings have been keeping them as pets for more than 4, 000 years. While some birds display multiudinous colours & exceptionally beautiful plumage, others may have a beautiful song or even be capable of imitating human speech, & it is this diversity, combined with the sharp-eyed intelligence that characterises all birds, which makes bird-keeping such a fascinating & rewarding pastime. This comprehensive handbook is an ideal reference guide for anyone who is interested in keeping birds, regardless of the scale of their project. This wide-ranging practical guide offers useful, practical advise for the setting up & maintaining of all caged bird environments; from a small individual cage to a spacious highly populated aviary. All the key areas related to caring for birds are covered including accommodation, food, health & breeding, as well as individual sections giving important specific information about caring for individual pet birds & also for aviary birds. In addition, advice is given on what to look for when buying a bird to give you the best possible start, & for those interested in showing their birds, there is also an extremely valuable introduction to the competitive world of bird shows. This authoriative guide to keeping pet birds in the home or outdoor aviary is enhanced with more than 150 sumptuous colour photographs which help to illustrate the concise way. This comprehensive manual provides all the information you need to make the right choices with complete confidence & will provide an invaluable reference for bird-keepers everywhere.