Your bird is a fragile creature with very sensitive lungs and a delicate, easily harmed body. In the wild, she would have to worry about a multitude of dangerous predators, but in your house the dangers are mostly man-made, which means you can protect her against them. It takes a well-informed owner to be aware of the multitude of hazards that are present in what looks like a safe, everyday household environment. If you take the time to learn what these hazards are and take steps to reduce them, your bird will reap the benefits of your knowledge by enjoying a longer life.

Being aware of the dangers that are inside and outside your house is the first step to safeguarding your bird against them. For example, it is a beautiful, sunny day outside, and you want to take your bird out for a breath of fresh air. Everything looks safe, but in fact, your yard has many areas that can be hazardous to your bird. Herbicides, poisonous plants, insects poisoned by pesticides and the bait used for the poison, predators and drowning are just a few of the dangers that lurk in your back yard.

Indoor environments can be equally hazardous. Here are some suggestions to help you in your quest to safeguard your pet:

• Fumes of any sort are very dangerous to your bird. Your pet is highly susceptible to inhaled toxins, so you should never expose her to fumes of any kind. Craft glues and paints are deadly and should never be used when your bird is present. Teflon and other nonstick cookware items are particularly hazardous to her, so you may want to make your kitchen "off-limits" to your bird.
  
• Birds can drown in a tiny amount of water. It sounds ridiculous, but birds have been known to fall inside a champagne flute and drown because they could not work themselves free. When you walk around your house, keep a constant eye open for any liquid that could be dangerous to your bird, and cover it or dispose of it. Toilets are an obvious culprit, and glasses of liquid should never be left accessible. Aquariums should always be closed, as your bird can also pick up an infection from drinking the water.
  
• Clip your bird's wings. This process is not harmful to your bird; she will still retain limited ability to fly and it will cut the dangers in your household in half. With full flight ability, your bird can access a wider array of places in your home, including the ceiling -- where you may have a fan with whirling blades. A bird with clipped wings also can't escape.
  
• Your bird will pick up the objects you leave around the house. Many small objects on the floor can be swallowed, chewed or splintered by your bird. Some of these items may contain zinc or lead, two toxic heavy metals that are very common in household objects. Before letting your bird out of her cage, you should always do a quick survey of the room and store any questionable objects safely away.

Sound like a lot of work? It isn't really, once you learn the basics of household safety. It will take you less time to bird-proof your house than it takes you to brush your teeth in the morning, once you get into a routine.