Video of the Day: Spyker C8 Car Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzwXmPuSFNc&list=PL53DA2690B89DF1E1

Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson test drives the super car Spyker C8 and scrutinizes the cool design by the revived Dutch car company.

Species of the Day: Australian King Parrot

Scientific Name: Alisterus scapularis
Adult Size: Over 16 inches long; 195 to 275 grams
Races Including Nominate: 2; A.s. scapularis, A.s. minor
Adult Plumage: A.s. scapularis: Male- red head, neck and underparts; blue band on the base of the neck; back and wings dark green; wing has silver-green band when folded; blue lower back and rump; black tail tinged with blue; upper mandible orange-red with a black tip, lower mandible is black with an orange base; yellow eyes. Female- green head and upperparts; red lower breast and abdomen; silver green wing band is minimal or absent; dark green tail with a pink tip; gray bill; yellow eyes. A.s. minor: Both adults the same as scapularis, but smaller in size.
Call: Flight calls are shrill and somewhat loud. Alarm calls are a harsh and metallic shrieking. Males give high pitched, flute-like notes when perched.

    Captive-bred Australian King parrots make calm and relatively quiet household pets. They have a limited talking ability and normally prefer not to be handled, but they do bond readily to people and can be very sweet and devoted. Will tolerate other species outside of the breeding season.
Captive Status: Fairly common as pets in Australia; less so elsewhere
Longevity: up to 25 years in some captive individuals
Housing: Walk in aviary; minimum length of 10 feet
Diet: Small seed mix such as canary seed, oats, safflower and hemp; spray millet; limited sunflower seed (dry, sprouted or soaked); sprouted or cooked beans and pulses; boiled maize; leafy greens such as Swiss chard, Romaine lettuce, sowthistle, dandelion greens, chickweed; vegetables such as carrots, celery, zucchini, squash, green beans and peas in the pod; fruit such as apple, pear, banana, cactus fruits and oranges; nuts such as lightly cracked hazelnuts, pecans and roasted peanuts; complete kibble.

World Population: over 50,000
Range: A.s. scapularis: Southeastern coast and eastern-central mainland Australia; A.s. minor: Northeastern Australia
Habitat: Occurs up to 5330 feet in elevation. Found in a variety of habitats from high, forested areas to lower, more open spaces. During the breeding season, birds are found in more dense forest such as wet sclerophyll forest, gullies, eucalyptus woodland and savanna woodland bordering with riverine forest. Also, outside of the breeding season, they are found in cultivated lands, parks, orchards and sometimes backyard gardens.
Wild Diet: East fruits, flowers, berries, nuts, seeds, insect larvae, buds and other vegetation. A favorite is a species of mistletoe, Viscum album. May eat some food crops.
Ecology: Seasonally nomadic to a degree. Usually found in pairs or small groups, or post-breeding flocks of up to 50 individuals. Conspicuous when not feeding, weary and quiet while eating. Gathers in groups to feed in the morning, then sits quietly through the heat of the day, becoming active again in the late afternoon.
IUCN Rating: Least Concern
CITES Rating: Appendix II
Threat Summary: Population appears stable but may have been affected by the wild bird trade and habitat loss to some degree

Video of the Day: Beardie Bath

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RpI0Wj363Y&list=PLC6E2D733AAA12D12

It's always important to give your bearded dragons a good soak, but some can learn to be adept swimmers.

Breed of the Day: Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog

Country of Origin: USA
Group: Working; Unrecognized
Purpose: Cattle herder, livestock guard and companion
Average Life-Span: 10 to 13 years
Color: Blue/grey merle to black or tan to dark brown
Grooming: Brush weekly with a curry comb and wipe down with a wet wash cloth. Bathe as needed.
Height/Weight: Males: 20 to 24 inches at the shoulder; 70 to 90 lbs. Females: 18 to 22 inches at the shoulder; 55 to 75 lbs.

    The Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog was developed in the southern enclaves of the United States during the 18th century. The breed originated from crosses of the now extinct White English Bulldog and one or more of the local herding breeds such as the Catahoula Leopard Dog and the Black Mouth Cur. The breed has been known by a series of names such as the Otto, Cow Dog, Silver Dollar and Catahoula Bulldog. It was originally bred for the sole purpose of coursing and catching wild and unruly cattle, afterward establishing itself on many farms, ranches and plantations as an all-around utility dog (guard dog, herder and varmint patrol). It was not bred to put on threat displays or even look a certain way, but it did need the right equipment to take care of its real bulldog duties. It needed to be strong enough to catch and hold ornery cattle and athletic enough to catch feral hogs. The Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog is a functional and exaggerated bulldog with a square head, broad chest and prominent muzzle. It is dutiful, highly trainable, possessive and attentive, which makes them eager companions for the family. They are protective of their property and establish territories at a young age. They are not suitable for kennel situations, preferring the role of devoted family companion. These bulldogs are intelligent, athletic and aloof with strangers. Training and socialization are recommended at an early age. The Alapaha Blue-Blood Bulldog is hardy, resistant to disease and requires minimal grooming.

Video of the Day: Tennis Ball Parrot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaKvvZ-RSb4&list=PL1E76AC184F7135B2

A male Eclectus parrot loves to play with tennis balls and rough em' up!

Species of the Day: Barking Tree Frog

Scientific Name: Hyla gratiosa
Family: Hylidae
Adult Size: 2 to 2 3/4 inches
Range: Found in the most part in the southeastern United States as far west as extreme eastern Louisiana and as far north as southeastern Virginia
Habitat: Barking tree frogs utilize both arboreal and terrestrial environments. During dry periods they will burrow into the ground or hide under surface cover to avoid dessication.

    Barking tree frogs, one of the larger tree frog species found naturally in the US, are a colorful species, with a predominantly green dorsal coloration that is typically broken up with scattered dark spots. At night or during periods of stress, the color will change from green to a deep purple or brown. Males can be differentiated from females by the presence of a green or yellow throat.
    Barking tree frogs can be kept quite easily in captivity, when provided with a few basic requirements. A variety of substrates will suit the needs of these frogs, including simple paper towels to more natural substrates, such as peat or green moss, ground coconut husks or a mixture of ground coconut husks and orchid bark. It is important to have a drainage layer at the bottom of the enclosure, which can be made using either large-grade pea-gravel or expanded clay pellets, and then covering this with fiberglass window screening to prevent the finer substrate from filling the gaps in the drainage layer. Suitable plants include philodendron, pothos, Aglaonema, dieffenbachia and other large-leaved, sturdy plants. It is also important to provide a large, clean water dish to allow them to soak regularly.
    Crickets make a good staple food item when supplemented with meal worms and small silk moth larvae. Barking tree frogs have a voracious appetite and can become obese if over-fed. Gut loading food items with vegetables and commercial gut-loading food will provide a more nutritious meal for your frogs. Dusting food items with a vitamin/mineral supplement is also a good idea with this species, especially for younger animals still going through periods of rapid growth.

Video of the Day: Sports Bloopers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMpxZDS1gSI&list=PL8C69D109332B910F

Sometimes, in the great game of soccer (or football if you live outside of the US), accidents happen, and not everything goes as planned. But you should still always look on the bright side of life!