For many years I owned a beautiful scarlet Macaw. My husband and I originally met when he was on tour in Panama, and this was his first gift to me. We have no idea how old Ambrose was when we got him (and actually, we don't really know it was a "he", since Macaws can only be sexed through a rather complicated process). However, he lived with us for over 26 years.
I discovered on moving to the States, that bird owners generally knew NOT to use Teflon pans around these birds, since the fumes can kill them. This gave me furiously to think, and I was not surprised when information began to came to light about the toxicity of these kinds of pans. I had already eliminated mine from the kitchen just in case, and I urge you to consider doing the same.
I have written about this before, but was inspired to do so again when, to my surprise, I came across a recipe in Vegetarian Times which began: coat a non stick pan with oil ...
The convenience isn't worth it, believe me. A thin coating of some healthy oil on a normal saucepan will fulfill much the same purpose without the dangers.
DuPont to pay millions in fines
Many links on the Teflon subject
