Educational Resources

Resources forBird Care & Conservation

Access comprehensive guides, training materials, and expert recommendations to help you care for and protect our feathered friends.

Bird Care Guides

Proper knowledge saves lives. The Canadian Avian Society provides detailed care guides to help owners give their birds the healthiest and happiest lives possible.

Our care guides cover essential topics for both new and experienced bird keepers, including:

  • Nutrition and Feeding: balanced diets, fresh foods, and safe treats.
  • Housing & Enrichment: ideal cage sizes, safe toys, and ways to prevent boredom.
  • Health & Hygiene: signs of illness, routine cleaning tips, and basic first aid.
  • Species-Specific Care: practical guidance for conures, cockatiels, cockatoos, finches, and pigeons.
  • Behavior & Bonding: taming, socialization, and creating trust-based relationships.

These guides are created from real experience in rescue and rehabilitation and are regularly updated in consultation with avian experts.

⭐️ Resources & Guides

Helping Canadians care for, understand, and protect birds.

The Canadian Avian Society provides accessible guides for bird owners, fosters, adopters, volunteers, and anyone looking to support avian welfare.
All documents are based on CAS standards and best practices in bird care, rescue, and conservation.

Nutrition and Feeding Guide

Bird Care Guides

Bird Care Basics

A simple introduction to keeping companion birds healthy and comfortable. Covers daily care, housing, enrichment, safety, and health monitoring.

Housing & Enrichment Guide

Nutrition Guide

Clear guidance on balanced diets, safe and unsafe foods, hydration, and transitioning to healthier meal plans.

Health & Hygiene Guide

Housing & Environment Guide

Everything you need to set up a safe and enriching home for your bird—cage sizing, placement, lighting, cleaning, air quality, and enrichment.

Species-Specific Care Guide

Behaviour & Socialization Guide

Understand bird body language, build trust, reduce stress, and support healthy socialization.

Emergency Care Guide

Emergency Care Sheet

Quick, essential steps for stabilizing an injured bird, safe transport instructions, and signs that require immediate veterinary care.

Rescue & Welfare Resources

🐦 Rescue & Welfare Resources

Rescue Intake & Quarantine Protocol

This guide explains the process CAS follows when accepting surrendered or rescued birds. Includes visual checks, documentation, safe handling, and the 30-day quarantine procedure.

Foster Program Guide

Foster Program Guide

Information for new and experienced fosters: home expectations, quarantine rules, enrichment, observation skills, what CAS provides, and when to contact us.

Wild Bird Rescue Guide

Wild Bird Rescue Guide

Learn when a wild bird needs help, how to safely contain and transport it, legal considerations, and who to contact for wildlife rehabilitation.

Adoption Resources

❤️ Adoption Resources

Adoption & Post-Adoption Handbook

Everything you need to know before and after adopting from CAS. Includes adoption steps, home requirements, transition tips, bonding, behaviour understanding, and ongoing support.

Volunteer Resources

👥 Volunteer Resources

Volunteer Training Manual

A full guide for CAS volunteers covering roles, safety standards, hygiene procedures, handling basics, shift expectations, and emergency responses.

Education & Conservation Resources

🌱 Education & Conservation Resources

Monitoring & Survey Protocol

A simple community-science guide for observing birds ethically, recording sightings, and contributing to conservation data.

Governance & Transparency

📊 Governance & Transparency

Governance & Ethics Policy

Outlines the CAS commitment to transparency, ethical bird care, board responsibilities, conflict-of-interest rules, privacy standards, and reporting.

Annual Report Template

Annual Report Template

The structure CAS uses for preparing clear, accessible annual reports, including achievements, statistics, financial summaries, and future goals.

Annual Report Template

Bird Surrender Guide

A clear overview for owners who may need to surrender a bird.
Explains when surrender is appropriate, what information CAS needs, what happens after intake, and how CAS ensures the bird’s welfare under our By-Laws.

Annual Report Template

Surrender Agreement (Ownership Transfer Form)

The legal form required for transferring a bird into CAS care, as outlined in Section 12 of the CAS By-Laws.
Once signed, ownership fully transfers to CAS to allow proper care and rehoming.

📥

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Training Videos

Learning through visuals makes bird care simple and engaging. CAS produces and shares free video tutorials to help people improve their understanding of bird handling, training, and enrichment.

Video Topics Include:

  • Safe ways to handle and interact with birds
  • Teaching recall and step-up commands
  • Tips for cage setup and cleaning
  • Nutrition preparation and feeding demonstrations
  • DIY enrichment ideas to keep birds mentally active
  • Recognizing stress and behavioral cues

All videos are beginner-friendly, filmed with real birds from our rescue program, and focused on positive, humane methods.

Handling Training
30 minutes

Safe Bird Handling & Interaction

Learn safe ways to handle and interact with birds of various sizes and temperaments.

Recall Training
25 minutes

Teaching Recall & Step-Up Commands

Master essential training commands for better communication with your birds.

Cage Setup
20 minutes

Cage Setup & Cleaning Tips

Essential tips for creating safe, clean living spaces for your birds.

Nutrition Preparation
35 minutes

Nutrition Preparation & Feeding

Demonstrations on preparing nutritious meals and proper feeding techniques.

DIY Enrichment
40 minutes

DIY Enrichment Ideas

Creative DIY enrichment ideas to keep birds mentally active and engaged.

Behavioral Cues
28 minutes

Recognizing Stress & Behavioral Cues

Learn to identify stress signals and understand bird body language.

Recommended Vets & Sanctuaries

Finding reliable avian care professionals is critical for every bird owner. CAS maintains a list of trusted veterinarians, sanctuaries, and rescue partners who share our values of compassion and high welfare standards.

Recommended Avian Veterinarians (Calgary area):

Calgary Avian & Exotic Pet Clinic

Calgary, AB

Specialized avian veterinary care with experienced bird specialists and comprehensive services.

Phone:(403) 555-0100
Hours:Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM

Fish Creek 24 Hour Pet Hospital

Calgary, AB - Avian Division

24/7 emergency veterinary services with dedicated avian care specialists available around the clock.

Phone:(403) 555-0247
Hours:24/7 Emergency

Cedarbrae Veterinary Clinic

Calgary, AB

Full-service veterinary clinic with avian care expertise and preventive health programs.

Phone:(403) 555-0345
Hours:Mon-Sat 8AM-7PM

Partner Sanctuaries & Rescues:

Calgary Bird School

Education Partner

Educational programs and training workshops for bird owners and enthusiasts.

Phone:(403) 555-0456
Hours:By Appointment

Alberta Rescue Aviary Network

Rescue Partner

Province-wide network of rescue facilities and foster homes for birds in need.

Phone:(403) 555-0678
Hours:Daily 9AM-5PM

Local Wildlife Centers

Native Bird Referrals

Specialized care for native and wild bird species requiring rehabilitation.

Phone:(403) 555-0789
Hours:24/7 Hotline

This resource helps members and the public quickly access professional help in emergencies and connect with reputable welfare organizations.

Need help with a bird in distress?

Contact our 24/7 emergency hotline for immediate assistance with injured or distressed birds.