Feathered Minds—My Parrot Blog

When I first brought Barry home, I lived on the internet. I devoured books, fell parrot-care rabbit holes, and lurked on every bird forum that I could find. I wanted to give him the best possible life that I could provide.

But the deeper I went, the more confused I became. Everyone seemed to have a different opinion. Some said that tomatoes were deadly; others said swore parrots love them. Some recommended “happy huts” as cozy homes; others warned they were an impaction hazard waiting to happen. Most of it was helpful, but some left me unsure of what to believe. 

There were moments where I felt like I was failing him. What if I was missing something important? What if he needs more of something, and I didn’t know what? 

Over time, I realized I needed a different approach. Instead of reading everything indiscriminately, I started seeking sources that corroborated each other, focusing on careful, evidence-based research. I learned to weigh conflicting advice, verify information, and draw conclusions grounded in thoughtful analysis rather than opinion.

By 9th grade, I wanted to share what I had learned (and what I was still learning) with the parrot community online. I started Feathered Minds, an educational parrot blog on Instagram, which is now home to over 45 posts on topics ranging from nutrition and enrichment to random parrot facts. 

Feathered Minds turned my curiosity into action: researching deeply, thinking critically, and translating what I learned into something tangible. It’s become a quiet record of growth, one post at a time.