We’ve got news for anyone who thinks aquarium keeping is a boring hobby -in fact, a year’s worth of headlines.

Donner party revisited: Two goldfish not only survived the Feb. New Zealand earthquake that killed 181 people, but also lived in an aquarium uncared for until humans were allowed to return to the area 134 days later. They apparently survived by eating algae and aquatic plants – and perhaps their 4 tankmates that didn’t quite make the cut.

“Tanked” joins Animal Planet line-up. Unusual aquariums are built into unusual places, like jukeboxes and cars, by Acrylic Tank Manufacturing, the largest such facility in the US. The New England Patriots’ Chad Ochochinko’s Florida mansion features an arch-shaped tank over his bedpost, designed by the company.  Steven Spielberg and Dr. Dre are also among the pair’s clients – who have also custom designed aquariums for everything from Burger Kings to Las Vergas casinos.

WAR, UNEMPLOYMENT, TERROR : it’s been a year of headlines for the birds so here’s a year’s worth of headlines ABOUT the birds.

“Rio” flies high at box office animated parrot flick is based on the true story of a male Spix macaw in a re-establishment program for his endangered species.

Quaker parrots legal in New Hampshire; law signed by Gov. John Lynch. The adaptable parrots thrive as ferals in parts of New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island; with a smattering in Massachusetts. NH lawmakers were apparently convinced that local winters are too harsh even for these hardy birds. Meanwhile, in New York; Brooklyn College’s local Quakers get new nesting platforms as the playing fields the birds like to roost in are refurbished.

It started with a man, a parrot and a pottery shop on the Somerville/Cambridge, MA line 20 plus years ago. Today, Marc Johnson, along with wife Karen and a dedicated staff, look after some 550 parrots – as well as African porcupines, Russian tortoises, South American maras and assorted other animals on a 15 acre former chicken farm turned sanctuary in a town called; appropriately - Hope Valley, Rhode Island. Primatologist Jane Goodall cut the ribbon to Foster Parrots/New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary in 2007.   It’s worth a field trip for anyone with at least a passing interest in parrots. Call ahead, though; as reservations are required.

FP/NEEWS takes in abandoned and unwanted parrots – an underreported problem as bad if not worse than the unwanted dog and cat situation. The novelty of a pet parrot can wear off quickly, especially by people lacking awareness of some of their less desirable traits who buy them impulsively.  Parrots often get shuttled from owner to owner. The resulting “merry-go-round” life is psychologically damaging to these social and long lived creatures.

A regular sleep routine is vital to your pet bird’s health. Although they may take a nap or two during the day, parrots need a minimum of 8 uninterrupted sleep hours at night, even up to 10-12 hours. Like humans, nearly all parrots are naturally diurnal- active during the day and asleep in the dark. A notable exception is New Zealand’s kakapo, which is coincidentally known as the owl-faced parrot.

Parakeets might not immediately spring to mind as a zoo staple, never mind a star attraction. But what if you could wander down an outback trail among kangaroos and prehistoric looking emus; taking a rest at a pond with geese and black swans swimming by – and overhead hundreds of chattering parakeets fly among the trees? You don’t even have to go to Australia. It’s all happening at Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo’s year old budgie aviary. The open air exhibit will be closing for the season some time in September, so you may want to call ahead.

The biggest favor you can do for your pet bird is to learn, and keep learning, as much as possible about it. The Internet is a useful tool, however there is a lot of contradictory and false information in cyber space. TV shows like “Petkeeping with Marc Morrone” are great sources of information. “Pet Gazette” and other pet oriented newspapers and magazines fill us in on current trends and issues. There are myriad DVDSs, CDs and computer programs on parrot care and training as well from experts like Chet and Dave Womach and Steve Martin (no, not THAT Steve Martin).”The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill”, “Paulie” and “Rio” should be in every parrot lover’s DVD collection.  Joining a club like Mass. Cage Bird Association is a great way to connect with local hobbyists of a feather and find out about local events. Here are some books in THIS columnist’s library that you might want to stock as well.

Parrots add color to our lives AND the English language. Consider these words and phrases:

Polly wanna cracker: likely originated from and certainly came into mass usage after the 1937  Merrie Melodies cartoon, “I Wanna be a Sailor”, featuring young Petey Parrot.. The first parrot named Polly is lost to history, although use of the name dates back at least to the 19th century.

Fids  –– as in feathered kids –– is of much more recent vintage; often seen in social networking sites among aviculturists, or bird enthusiasts.  

Avian enrichment authority Robin Shewokis travels the globe as a consultant to zoos and other organizations, advising on how to provide domestic parrots with a richer life. She explains, “We turn them into perch potatoes. We don’t want to do that.” Ms. Shewokis also heads up Weymouth, MA based Leather Elves; manufacturers of many fine pet bird products.

A blue parrot in winter gear and the word “Rio” appear on a billboard on the SE Expressway. The Pet Gazette got the inside scoop on the new 3D animated parrot movie, opening April 15, from “Rio”  producer Bruce Anderson and 20th Century Fox publicity spokeswoman Kate Aconfora.

Parrots are unique among birds, but the kea and kakapo are unique among parrots. Like other creatures living on isolated islands, these New Zealand natives have evolved to fill very different niches than their continental cousins.