Book-signing Benefit with Sy Montgomery

National best-selling author, Sy Montgomery, will be in the Chicago area on May 23 promoting her two books "Kakapo Rescue" (written for children in grades 4 - 9) and "Birdology" (written for adults) which features a chapter on Snowball the Dancing Cockatoo. Sy has also won The Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award for 2010. These awards go to authors or authors-illustrators "whose body of work has contributed significantly to the quality of nonfiction for children."

The Boston Globe once called Sy Montgomery "part Indiana Jones and part Emily Dickinson." Her sense of adventure is evenly matched by her sincere compassion for animals and their environment. Sy Montgomery is an author, naturalist, newspaper columnist, documentary scriptwriter, all-around adventurer, and wrote for the TV show "National Geographic Explorer." Sy travels the globe to research the animals she writes about and enchantingly delivers them to you via her books.

Sy Montgomery has generously agreed to do a book-signing and presentation of her adventures to benefit Bird Lovers Only Rescue on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010. Both books will be available for purchase at the book-signing. Proceeds from ticket and book sales will go to fund the continuing care and research of parrots at Bird Lovers Only Rescue. So please join us for an enchanting and fun-filled afternoon with Sy Montgomery.

Please visit Sy Montgomery at http://www.authorwire.com/

WHEN: Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
TIME: 12 noon until 1:30pm
WHERE: Bird Lovers Only Rescue
1448 Tanglewood Drive
Schererville, IN 46375
219-322-0037
EVENT: LUNCHEON hosted by Irena Schulz and Snowball the Dancing Cockatoo. An intimate luncheon with Sy Montgomery to be followed by the opportunity to dance with Snowball. Participants may request songs. Book-signing and photo opportunities with Sy Montgomery and Snowball. Limited seating available so order your tickets now. (Luncheon menu available upon request)

WHEN: Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
TIME: 2pm until 4pm
WHERE: Dyer United Methodist Church
2016 Church Street
Dyer, IN 46311
219-865-8947
EVENT: PRESENTATION hosted by Irena Schulz at Dyer United Methodist Church. An enchanting afternoon with award-winning author, Sy Montgomery. Sy will take you on her "Kakapo Rescue" adventure to be followed by a book-signing opportunity. Finger foods, desserts, and beverages will be served.

TICKET PRICES PRIOR TO APRIL 1, 2010:
$75 to attend both of the above events (Luncheon & Presentation)
$10 to attend the Presentation only.
TICKET PRICES AFTER APRIL 1, 2010:
$85 to attend both of the above events (Luncheon & Presentation)
$15 to attend the Presentation only.
Payment Options (please be sure to state how many tickets you wish along with whether you will be attending both events):
Send check or money order to:
Bird Lovers Only Rescue
PO Box 552
Dyer, IN 46311
Please RSVP to Irena Schulz at birdloversonly@sbcglobal.net or 219-322-0037

Tickets will be held for guests at the door of the events.

Snowball a favorite of 2009 in Science Magazine

Snowball made the Top Ten list for favorite and most read stories of 2009 in Science Magazine.

http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/1224/1

Go Snowball!!!

Snowball's Sponsors

Snowball wishes to thank the sponsors who so generously pledged to make the dance-a-thon on Saturday, November 14, 2009 a success for the children. Not only did Snowball raise enough money to provide clothes and toys for disadvantaged children at Christmas, but enough money was raised to purchase school uniforms for those living in gang areas. School uniforms will replace street clothes that promote gang colors, resulting in less gang violence on school grounds. And finally, 50 families will each receive a 12 pound turkey with all the side dishes for Thanksgiving.

Snowball continued to receive donations for the children after the sponsor board was created, so we wish to thank not only those who did make the sponsor board but those who did not. The complete list up to and including November 21st is as follows:

• Pet Supplies Plus (Dyer, IN) - in addition, PSP has provided bird food at a very reasonable cost to Snowball and his friends at Bird Lovers Only Rescue.
• Bird Paradise (Burlington, NJ) - in addition, BP has provided toys and food at a very reasonable cost as well as Snowball's show cage. Snowball liked this cage so much that he now uses it as his regular cage where he retires for the night.
• Sy Montgomery, national best-selling author - not only has Sy been a wonderful supporter, but she has become my mentor and adventure hero.
• Global Ideas, Japan - an innovative and creative company.
• Beth Krum - for creating the beautiful sponsor board.
• The Platinum Parrot (Lisa & George Bono)
• Ellen Cook DVM - an avian vet who I greatly admire for her knowledge of parrot behavior.
• Christy Woloszyn from the Hair Cuttery (Dyer, IN).
• Su Gould - in addition, Su has been instrumental in acquiring a professional photographer for Snowball and in volunteering her skills in graphics.
• Michelle and Brandon Grabarek
• The Garvey family
• Dawn Satkowski
• Joseph Rybicki
• Mike and Sylvia Wilson
• Nancy Gray
• Jeanette Lesich
• Ramona Cooper
• Christine Misiak
• Main Event Music - to Jef Jarecki for providing DJ service for the dance-a-thon (219) 322-6309
• Joe Fisher
• Sarah Katherine
• Jan Kullman
• Juanita Jarecki - for making the Snowball costume
• Jim Beil
• Sandy Kowalski
• Lynne Jackson
• Sammy Chow
• Gayle Podowski - for Snowball's "red carpet"
• Kay Sheridan
• Hoosier Sports - Judy Hein
• Carole Young - for continuing support of the birds at Bird Lovers Only as well as promoting avian education and awareness.
• Lynn Watts
• Nancy Stannard
• Carol Baskas - for dressing up like Snowball and entertaining all the children!
• Prairie Junior High School
• Dyer United Methodist Church
• Chuck and Irena Schulz
• Bird Lovers Only Rescue
• The dancers who took part in the dance-a-thon.
• The 'behind-the-scenes' volunteers that made this happen.
• And a very special thank you to Natasha, Dan, Jef, and Chris. There would not have been a dance-a-thon fundraiser for the children if not for you! Thank you for two fun-filled days!

Snowball's "Angel Tree" Dance-A-Thon Fundraiser

Snowball will be hosting a Dance-A-Thon Fundraiser on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 between 1pm and 3pm at the following location:

Dyer United Methodist Church
2016 Church Street
Dyer, Indiana 46311
(219) 865-8947

We need dancers, but we also need sponsors to make this a financial success! The "Angel Tree" program purchases clothes and toys for disadvantaged children in the Northwest Indiana region so that they may experience Christmas. The families of these children have experienced job losses, foreclosures, and other financial burdens. With your help, and with Snowball's help, we can make this a success.

Snowball, the world famous dancing cockatoo, has been on programs such as Letterman, Inside Edition, Ellen, Leno, Animal Planet, Mike and Juliet Show, Good Morning America, Bonnie Hunt, and numerous other tv, radio, and news programs around the world along with writeups in magazines, newspapers, and books worldwide. Snowball has also been in commercials such as Taco Bell and Geico in the US as well as Loka bottled water in Sweden.

Snowball is also looking for those willing to sponsor him. Sponsors may contact Irena Schulz directly via email birdloversonly@sbcglobal.net or by calling 219-322-0037. Snowball will be making his appearance toward the end of the Dance-A-Thon, but there will be two "Snowball impersonators" to try their best to mimic Snowball.

If you would like to be a dancer, please print the forms shown below and inform Irena Schulz through email or phone that you will be participating so that we will have an accurate number on those participating in this event. There will be a film crew there, so those participating will need to sign a release form stating that it will be ok for them to appear on tv.
Fundraiser Information Form - http://www.birdloversonly.org/media/Snowball_Angel_Tree_fundraiser.pdf
Fundraiser Pledge Sheet - http://www.birdloversonly.org/media/Snowball_Angel_Tree_PLEDGE_SHEET.pdf

Please feel free to contact Irena Schulz

or Dyer United Methodist Church

if you have any questions regarding the event.

Snowball's Rise to Viral Fame

I was interviewed recently regarding the story of Snowball's rise to fame. I had expected, once again, for my words to be edited into a much more glossed over version of the actual story. Much to my surprise, and a very pleasant one at that, my words appeared as I had written them...unedited!
http://bestinflock.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/the-story-of-snowballs-rise-to-viral-fame/

I have had many people ask me if I work in addition to what I do at the rescue. I have to chuckle to myself because I work over 80 hours per week at the rescue without a break even for weekends, holidays, or other special occassions. My duties include everything from being Snowball's manager and a collaborator in scientific research to scrubbing and disinfecting bird cages. At the end of major cleaning days it's not unusual for me to look like Mel Brooks in "High Anxiety" after he's been satirically pooped on by a flock of birds.

I've been judged by some for the content of the tv programs which I have been on with Snowball. But I have never had control over what is edited out and what is left to be shown to the audience. Heaven knows I've tried to emphasize to the interviewers the abuse and neglect that I see and how much I want to do something about this in the form of legislation, but Snowball's charm always prevails and the sad parts end up on the floor of the editing room.

I have recently been able to write, direct, and produce my own videos and have them show up on Jennifer Viegas' blog "Born Animal" which is found on Discovery News. This also happens to be one of my three favorite blogs (and I do follow many), so I was overjoyed at the prospect of having my unedited (albeit rough and amateurish) videos appear there.
http://blogs.discovery.com/news_animal/

So when my words do go unedited and I am able to speak my mind, I am grateful. To those of you who have allowed this...a very, very sincere thank you!

The Snowball Challenge

I enjoy reading all the blogs that write about Snowball. Bird owners have known for years that birds can dance, yet there are so many skeptics stating that Snowball is just mimicing me. How does a child learn to dance? Does he watch his parents? His teachers? His friends? TV? Or is it something much deeper within one's self that inspires that child to dance? If so, what is it?

I cringe every time I watch myself dance in the World Science Festival video. Elaine from Seinfeld is a graceful ballerina in comparison. Yet as good as Snowball's dance moves are, so many think he's really mimicing me. To those who think that...thank you, but I can't take the credit for any of his dance moves.

I've even left comments on some of the disbelievers' blogs. I've invited them to come see Snowball for themselves. No reply.

So, I invite all skeptical bloggers and scientists to...

the SNOWBALL CHALLENGE!

Bird Lovers Only is a 501c3 charitable bird sanctuary. Donations are down because of the state of the economy. Individuals donating a minimum of $200 (donations are tax deductible) are invited to come and watch Snowball dance in person. I may even be able to have a camera crew come to film the event. Let's set a date for Saturday, November 14th, 2009. Those interested should contact Irena Schulz at Bird Lovers Only at the following email address:
birdloversonly@sbcglobal.net

To view the latest article on Snowball in Psychology Today:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/music-matters/200910/snowball-the-dancing-cockatoo-is-he-listening-or-imitating

Music Has Power Awards

IMNF Scientific Advisory Board member and The Neurosciences Institute Ester J. Burnham Senior Fellow, Dr. Aniruddh Patel, was honored for his contribution to the therapeutic power of music alongside New York native and long-time IMNF supporter, Peggy Rice, in New York on September 9th (far right photo). Dr. Aniruddh Patel and wife, Jennifer Burton, are pictured in the far left photo. For the full story, click on the link. http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_Music_Has_Power_Bene