Barely an adult with 2 children I realized that I missed having a pet. I decided I would get a bird. That was in 1983. I went to the local pet store, knowing nothing about parrots and got a Senegal. We named him Lucky. I bought bird seed, fed him pizza crusts or anything we ate. He died in 1985, probably from poor nutrition.
I missed my friend so I decided I would get another bird. This time I talked to some friends and the pet store owner. I wanted to do everything right. I bought another Senegal. She was named Chilly. She ate better, had a bigger cage, and seemed to thrive in our home. I was bitten by the bug. A few months later I went to the pet store to get some food for Chilly and there was this adorable bird calling out to me. When I went over to him, he reached through the cage, grabbed my finger and I knew that I had to have him. He was a Patagonian conure, Shadow became just that. My shadow, my best friend. Then came Jazz who had been a friend of mines bird who needed a new home. And home he came with me. Jazz was a Senegal.
In 1989, while moving from one apartment to another, my house was broken into. The only thing stolen were my birds and cages. I was crushed. I cried my eyes out. No one saw anything. I was crushed. I would imagine as we drove around that Shadow was calling for mama. I decided that I would never own another bird. It was just too painful.
In 1999, someone contacted me about a Double Yellow Headed Amazon they had. Did I want him? My heart raced, a part of me said, "say no" the other said, "YES". I agreed to come meet the bird. It was a 4 hour trip to Queens but I was a bundle of nerves and dont think I noticed. I rang their bell, they let me in. As I walked into their dining room, this blur of green, yellow, blue, and red flew past me then landed on my shoulder. "Hello baby, I love you" is what he said to me. I was in love. Thor came home with me that day.
We started getting phone calls asking us if we would take in this bird and that bird and it was so hard to say no. I had wanted a CAG for a long time and decided to search for one. I found my Bandit. It was love at first sight. Then my husband fell in love with a Brown Headed Parrot, so I got Andi for my husband for his birthday. She is his little pride and joy. Then came the call that a sun conure and a cockatiel was in a bad way. Could we please please please take them in. We did. They share the same cage and have bonded with my husband. Sunny and Buddy were part of the flock too.
I fell in love with a Blue and Gold and my heart cried out for one. I volunteered in a local bird store and had learned to handle macaws. I brought my baby, Harmony home. We swore she would be the last. Since this summer, we got 2 more emergency calls for birds that needed to be rescued. My husband and I couldn't say no. One was living in a shed. We brought these two home. One a 26 year old CAG, Goopy, and a 7 year old B&G Coco.
This is our flock. No more will be added. But we feel we have learned so much about birds and their diets and their needs. I keep thinking about poor Lucky that wasn't very lucky at all. If I knew then what I know now.....
Laurie Kombert
Please send me your "Parrot Tale!"
Tell me how your life with parrots got started, and I'll post it here on my next ezine! Email it to:
goldie_web@yahoo.com
