Welcome to the Doctors Corner
Local avian Veternarians and other important links.
There are several local avian veterinarians available to the aviculturist in the lower mainland (Vancouver area). Omission from this list of your favorite or preferred veterinarian merely means that you, or the veterinarian, have not mentioned that you would like to be listed here.
This list is alphabetical.
Bird & Exotic Animal Hospital Dr. Sharon Prus 604-597-7387 Surrey
Eagle Ridge Animal & Bird Hospital Dr. Hugh Upjohn 604-464-3343 Coquitlam
Huff Animal Hospital Dr. David Huff 604-943-1124 Tsawassen
Huff Animal Hospital Dr. Robert Hopper 604-943-1124 Tsawassen
Kennedy Heights Animal &
Bird Hospital 		Dr. Rebecca Ferrier 604-591-5304 Delta
Kennedy Heights Animal & Bird Hospital Dr. Linda Schild 604-591-5304 Delta
Park Gate Animal & Bird Hospital Dr. John Cruikshank 604-929-1863 North Van.
Calgary Avian & Exotic Pet Clinic Dr. Kerry Korber 403-249-8160 Calgary
For the traveler or for our long distance customers we will add veterinarians as they are recommended.
Helpful advise for the care of your birds
Is my Budgie Male or Female
Help for Splayed Legs
Complete Product List
Bird Safety
Toxic and Non Toxic Plants for your Avian Friend     budgie-place/p_plants.html
B.C. Drug and Poison Info Centre 604-682-2344 dpic@vcn.bc.ca www.vcn.bc.ca/dpic
Poisonous Plants not-for Birds     http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/poison.htm
  Sites of Interest  
B.C. Aviculture Society
President: Egon Nielsen		 604-888-7477 president@bcavicultural.org www.bcavicultural.org
B.C. Exotic Bird Society
President: Ken Fesenmaier		 604 762-4074 President@bcexoticbirdsociety.org www.bcexoticbirdsociety.org
Central Island Bird Club
President: Nicole Simpson		 250-245-4577 nsimpson@shaw.ca http://members.shaw.ca/centralislandbirdclub/
Grey Haven Exotic Bird Sanctuary
President: Melanie Walker		 604-878-7212 info@greyhaven.bc.ca www.greyhaven.bc.ca
Okanogan Bird Club
President: Rolande Girouard		 250-492-0599 rolandegirouard@hotmail.com www.okanaganbirdclub.homestead.com
Vancouver Canary Club
President: Herb Hansen		 604-469-9490 hhansen2001@yahoo.com www.vancouvercanaryclub.com
Western Canada Budgerigar Association
President: Jim Marshall		 604-824-9377 showstaff@wcbudgerigar.org www.wcbudgerigar.org
Western Canada Songbird Society
President: Pat Clarot		 604-526-4731 clarot4731@shaw.ca www.wcsongbird.org
Is My Budgie A Male or Female?
First, how old is your budgie? This often plays a role in whether or not you can tell it's sex. If your budgie is not one year or older, you will not be able to tell for sure if it is a male or female. Look at your budgie's cere (the fleshy patch of skin right above the beak where the nostrils are located). The cere will be tan or brown for a female over 8-12 months, and blue or purplish-blue on a male over 8-12 months. If your budgie is recessive pied, lutino, albino, or fallow, the cere will be white or tan on a female, and violet or blue for a male. If your budgie is less that one year old, none of this will apply. You can also look at behavior to determine gender. Males often bob their heads, sing, and are usually outgoing. Females are usually snitty and bossy over other budgies in the cage, and tend to be quieter.
Picture Examples
Males:

Normal Blue Cere		 Purple Cere (Recessive Pieds and Albinos/Lutinos)
Females:
Normal Brown Cere Normal Tan Cere Pale Blue / White Cere
A Good Comparison:
Normal Male on the left. Normal Female on the right.