Modern Day Raptors

Modern Day Raptors At Modern Day Raptors, I share what it’s like living with parrots, from tiny parrotlets to big macaws. Every day is an adventure!

08/20/2026

One of my favorite things about living with multiple parrots is seeing just how differently they interact with the exact same enrichment.

A simple box filled with foot toys can turn into an entire afternoon of entertainment and apparently there is no correct way to use it. You can dig through it, carefully inspect everything, throw the contents across the room, or just ignore my efforts completely and play with the box itself.

As long as they’re busy, curious, and having fun, I consider it a success.

Sometimes enrichment really can be that simple.

08/19/2026

Well, it’s official… Nico isn’t going anywhere.

What started as my first attempt at fostering somehow turned into another permanent member of the flock. Apparently, I severely overestimated my ability to send a bird packing after watching him settle in and become part of the family.

Seeing how much his confidence has grown has been the best part. He’s exploring, making friends, getting involved in everyone’s business, and genuinely seems happy here.
So Nico officially has a forever home.

And I have officially learned that fostering may not be one of my strengths.

From now on, I think I’ll stick to volunteering at the sanctuary when I need my “new bird” fix. My house is officially FULL.

08/18/2026

Macaws are incredible birds, but there’s a BIG difference between loving them and being prepared to live with one.

Beyond the time and attention they require, they’re also a major financial commitment. A properly sized macaw cage can easily cost $1,000 or more, and that’s just the beginning. Add in large perches, carriers, play stands, a never-ending supply of toys, quality food, routine veterinary care and the occasional unexpected expense, and things add up quickly.

They’re also incredibly intelligent, social animals that can live for decades, so bringing one home isn’t a decision to make based on that beautiful bird you saw behaving perfectly in a 30-second video.

I absolutely adore sharing my life with mine, but I’ll always encourage people to research the entire reality of macaw ownership first. They’re amazing companions for the right home, but they come with some very big needs to match those very big personalities.

08/17/2026

I get quite a few questions whenever I mention feeding sprouts, so I figured I’d leave an easy reference list here to go along with the video.

What I use:
• True Leaf Market —
- Bird Seed Mix
- Radish seeds

• China Prairie —
- Avian FRESH Diet Micrograin
-Avian FRESH Diet Psittacine
- Delight dry mix

• Grocery store — Dried chickpeas/garbanzo beans, green lentils, red lentils & split peas

The chickpeas and lentils sprout surprisingly well even when I buy the inexpensive generic versions. The split peas don’t sprout, but my birds love them soaked and mixed in with everything else.

The batch you see at the end of the video isn’t quite finished yet either. Those tiny tails are just starting to peek out—another day and they’ll be right where I want them.

Hopefully this makes it a little easier for anyone who has been curious about what’s actually hiding inside my mysterious containers of bird food.



True Leaf Market chinaprairie

08/14/2026

A month of work finally made its way to the birds today, and seeing their reactions made every minute of it worth it.

Lynnlie and I originally started this project with one simple goal: make sure every bird at Magnolia Exotic Bird Sanctuary received something new to enjoy.
Somehow that turned into roughly 300 handmade toys, plus perches, treats and plenty of extras for future visits.

But my favorite part wasn’t seeing the mountain of toys we created—it was watching the birds enjoy them.

Enrichment is such an important part of keeping parrots happy and busy, and being able to create something specifically with each bird’s needs and abilities in mind made this project even more special.

Of course, Lynnlie learned that hanging 300 toys is nearly impossible without stopping for a few cockatoo cuddles along the way.

08/13/2026

Some volunteer days are a little more ambitious than others, and today definitely earned a spot in that category.

With Friday’s big toy delivery coming up, I wanted to get ahead on some of the less glamorous—but very necessary—work around the sanctuary. Keeping outdoor aviaries clean is a never-ending job when your residents happen to be professional food flingers and p**p wherever they please.

It was a long, exhausting day, but there’s something incredibly satisfying about leaving knowing you made their space a little cleaner and better.

Now I’m back home, officially off duty, enjoying some Baby Doug time. I’d say that’s a pretty good way to end the day.

GoodFeathers.and.Chubs
Sharon Marie Markland

08/11/2026

I am forever grateful for every animal that has come into my life the ones who share my home today, the ones I’ve had the privilege of knowing along the way, and all the animals I have yet to meet.

There’s something incredibly special about being accepted into an animal’s world, earning their trust, and getting to experience life alongside them. Of all the things this life has given me, I don’t think anything will ever feel quite as magical as that.

08/09/2026

I’ve got string in my pocket. - Nico

08/06/2026

Every parrot has their own way of communicating, and Baby Doug has definitely developed a unique system over the years.

This is his not-so-subtle way of letting me know he’s ready to come out of his cage. It’s loud, a little messy, and surprisingly effective...

One of my favorite things about parrots is watching how they adapt. If something gets the result they’re looking for, they’ll remember it and keep using it. In Doug’s case, he’s found a strategy that’s impossible to ignore.

08/05/2026

People often see the fun moments on social media, but behind every happy, healthy bird is a whole lot of work that rarely makes it into the final video.

The cleaning, the meal prep, the maintenance, the planning... it’s all part of responsible parrot care. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It’s a labor of love, and seeing them thrive makes every bit of effort worth it.

Address

Houston, TX

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Modern Day Raptors posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category