PARROT EYE HEALTH

I believe there are two critical factors that influence eye health in captive pet birds -- natural, unfiltered exposure to sunlight, and antioxidant load from fresh foods.

Diurnal birds (including parrots) were meant to spend their days with their bodies exposed to direct (not through windows) sunlight. Through natural adaptation, parrots' bodies have come to require healthy doses of sunshine for optimal health.

Here's how the system works. The bird's retina contains cells called cones which transmit color information to the brain. Humans have three types of cones yielding three colors -- red, green and blue (trichromatic vision). Birds have a fourth cone cell to sense UV light (tetrachromatic vision). In humans, UV light is unable to pass through the lens of the eye, but birds do not have this limitation, so there are substantially more color possibilities in their world (which is probably critical for differentiating between sexes and foraging for food).

The latest research demonstrates some birds can see five primary colors (pentachromatic vision) and can differentiate between two different wavelengths of UV (ultraviolet light). Birds rely on natural light (and the angle at which it moves around the earth) for normal foraging behaviors, sleeping, social behavior, breeding, molting, and endocrine health. The intensity, color composition and direction of light are transmitted to the parrot's brain through the optic nerve and through a special pathway to the pituitary gland.

Birds have an additional way of perceiving light through the Harderian gland around the eye. This special gland communicates with the pineal gland about the photoperiod, which regulates much of a bird's behavior and health.

Avian vets agree that parrots need 10-14 hours of daylight in the summer and 8-10 hours in the winter for normal endocrine function and health. Because sunlight regulates the oculo-endocrine cycle, healthy sunshine affects every aspect of a bird's life.

My recommendations for achieving excellent eye health for pet birds involve lots of light! I recommend all birds be acclimated to spending time outside in warm climates (with all safety and stress precautions addressed) and during the winter months, and a specific "bird bulb" should be added to their environment for supplemental, correct UV exposure. (Note: a reptile light is very high in UVB and can cause lens and retina damage in birds, and aquarium and plant grow lights are the wrong spectrum, so make sure it's a bulb made for parrots.)

When your bird is inside, open the shades! Do not leave your bird in a dingy room. Birds need bright room light and UV light. Natural daylight brightness is measured by a Color Rendering Index (CRI). Parrots need a minimum CRI of 88. Fluorescent lights yield a CRI of only 60 (and flicker, which annoy birds), so the best choice inside is adding full spectrum lighting that fits a parrot's natural UV spectrum.

When selecting a bird bulb, most avian vets agree the overall output of intensity should be close to that of natural sunlight, which is 5,500k. For birds, a color temperature of higher than 5,800k is not suitable. Parrots need close to 12 percent UVA and no more than 2.4 percent UVB (with a UVB wavelength between 290 and 310 nanometers). I recommend you replace the bulb annually, even if it still works (the UV spectrum diminishes three times faster than visible light). For optimal absorption, the light should be positioned no more than 18 inches above the cage, but follow the manufacturer's recommendations, as bulbs differ. As with all things new, birds will need to be acclimated to their UV light so they are not afraid of it.

Unfortunately, most pet birds go their entire lives without access to direct sunlight. Research shows parrots need unfiltered (not through screens or glass) UV exposure to manufacture critical nutrients, including vitamin D, which is necessary for the absorption of minerals, such as calcium, and a host of health immune reactions within a bird's body. Without proper exposure to direct and natural sunlight, parrots will have negative changes in their behavior, breeding cycle, plumage vibrancy, immunologic and nutritional health.

Without proper nutrient absorption, birds often end up with subtle nutritional deficiencies that lead to organ degeneration, including a decline in ocular health. In addition to appropriate lighting, I recommend you add lots of fresh, preferably organic fruits and vegetables to your parrot's diet. Fresh foods contain enzymes, phytonutrients and antioxidants that scavenge free radicals and slow down degenerative ocular changes.

If your bird will not consume a variety of fresh foods, ask your avian vet to recommend an antioxidant supplement you can add to your parrot's pellets. Make sure not to use dog or cat supplements for your parrots, as they may contain toxic levels of fat soluble vitamins (including A and D) which can harm or kill your bird.

ANOTHER INTERESTING LINK: This is an article relating to all birds: How Birds See Color

CATARACTS: You may or may not be able to visibly notice the start of cataracts in an older bird's eyes. In an advanced state, the eye will appear cloudy. Parrots do adapt well to the lessening of their eyesight so long as their environment remains the same. Having a cagemate is kind for an older bird that doesn't have full vision. Avian cataracts, like human cataracts, can be removed and the lens replaced. You would need to discuss the procedure and risks with your veterinarian.

EYE PINNING: Eye pinning or dilating is triggered by excitement, anger, fear, hostility, or avid interest in you or something near the bird such as a new toy or something that the bird has heard and liked. You need to learn the difference between those emotions and the body language of your parrot so that you don't get beaked or chunked! Those rapid dilations and contractions are like disco strobe lights.

PARROT TRIVIA: While the colorful Eclectus hens are on eggs, they are fed by several different males.