We were captivated by the natural parenting skills both adult doves exhibited with their young and were able to watch as they fed them, preened their new feathers, encouraged them to leave the nest, and taught them to fly. Five weeks after hatching, Paloma and Noah were fully grown. The entire experience has been one grand adventure for all of us. My daughter has learned invaluable lessons that she could never have learned from a textbook. Not only has she learned the ins and outs of avian care and breeding, but she also has gained a respect for life.
Budgies can even learn to talk when trained.
Before purchasing any bird, be certain to do as much research as possible. Magazines and books can be found at any library or bookstore. A good place to start is reading back issues of Bird Talk magazine. The internet is also a valuable resource. There you will find Bird Breeder On-Line as well as other related websites.