Because birds are such social creatures, many owners allow their pets to be included at mealtime. While sharing food with your bird is a lot of fun -- not to mention wonderful for your pet's emotional health -- there are many common human foods that can be harmful or even fatal to your bird.

Owners need to know which foods are fine for sharing, and which pose a serious risk. Check out this list of toxic bird treats on to find out the top ten foods that are hazardous to your bird's health.

This week I'd like to highlight a cute video I found of Obi, an African Grey Parrot, chasing a laser pointer.

Check out Obi's video and you're sure to have a quick chuckle. My own birds, especially Oliver, enjoy chasing "the red dot" as well.

Remember, I'm always looking for funny birds to feature here each week! If you run across a cute bird video that you'd like to share, send me a link at birds.guide@about.com. I always enjoy the videos that are submitted, and I look forward to seeing more every week!

So, you really want a pet bird. So much in fact, that you've already picked out a name, chosen a location for your pet's cage, and scoured the internet for information on your favorite species. While you might think that you are quite well prepared to dive into the world of bird ownership, there are many aspects of keeping a bird that most owners don't find out about until after they've purchased one -- and most of the time, they wish they had known beforehand.

Read What You Should Know Before Buying a Bird for some insight into what it really takes to care for a bird on a daily basis. You may be shocked to find that inviting a feathered friend into your home may require a few lifestyle changes on your behalf!

Indian Ringneck Parakeets are charming, beautiful, and intelligent -- but they're not for every pet bird owner. Like other pet bird species, Ringnecks have unique characteristics that make them better suited for some owners that others.

If you own an Indian Ringneck Parakeet, add a summary of what it's like to live with your bird in What's It Like to Live With an Indian Ringneck Parakeet? Your experience may help a future bird owner decide if an Indian Ringneck Parakeet is the right bird for their lifestyle.

Photo (c) 2010 Alyson Burgess licensed to About.com, Inc.