Nukhet Barlas is a free-lance senior environmental consultant. She has a BS degree in industrial engineering, and an MS degree in environmental science. After 14 years of graduate study and work in the USA, now lives in Istanbul, with her husband, son, and cat. In Turkey, she served as a board member of a leading conservation society for 6 years.

The author is also an amateur photographer. Most of the photographs used on this site were shot by herself.

PARAKEETS

The author had these parakeets. The green female Cucuk was special. She shared author's home with Kara, the cat.

AUTHOR'S CATS

This cream tabby is Sedef; she was born about the time Kara died. She is a Turkish Angora mix. She is a bit moody, typical of Angora's but extremely playfull and intelligent. Loves to tease you.

The black one is Kara; he died in 2005 at age 19. He was an American short-hair. He was very gentle and smart.

Tombik in the black & white photo was the family cat when the author was a teenager. She also was a Turkish Angora. Died at age 16.

Minik was the family cat when the author was in elementary school. He was a mix long hair tabby. He lived only a couple of years. He was extremely friendly and nice tempered.