Bogart
You gave me 21 years of your devotion (up to January 2007). I thought you and Merlin would be with me for nearly all my days on earth, or so I hoped. Those inquisitive eyes taking in the entire world could see beyond the known. How I loved that dusty grey smell. Who would have thought a grey bird with maroon tail would have taught me so much? I adopted you when someone changed their mind after purchasing you. You were probably about a year old. We started out together with you learning to step up on the perch, then my two fingers. At first I was a little afraid of you. As time went on, you requested some head scritches. Your eye would close when I touched your white mask with my finger. That flat grey head was kissed a number of times.
Your first word was "What?" Mostly, you were a master of repetition for household noises. I thanked you for microwaving for me. You cried like a baby (like the kids) and went on to say, "Awww" to comfort them. You could have left out the smoke alarm sound that was too loud! Exploration was part of your routine, whether it was walking around the house or darting over to bite some toes. Once, I frantically looked for you in every room and found you hiding in the entertainment cabinet behind the glass door. How could I scold you after you playfully said "Whoop?" I will never forget your song, "My Girl" by the Temptations. I changed the words to include "My Bird" as a substitute. You could keep good time with the vertical bob dance.
When Merlin (Blue Headed Pionus) was added to the household, clearly you looked annoyed. After all, you were the Queen of the house. He was merely a prince in your eyes. After all, he was not a Grey. You tolerated him, even when he stole the food off the bottom of your cage. You learned to fly a little after witnessing a few of his short flights.
I will always love my Bird Girl. You are with the larger flock in heaven.
Susan
Merlin
Your big brown saucer eyes looked at me when I first looked inside the cage at you. Not only that, a rainbow could not compete with all the colors God painted on you. A stunning indigo blue head, rich green body with bronze accented wings, coral pink color dotted beak/ neck feathers, and red-orange tail feathers tinged with royal blue tips. Little did I know that a quirky disposition was behind all the plumage. When you were excited to see your favorite people, a musky forest smell wafted in the air. The odor was termed "Pionus Cologne." The funny wheezing that you did reminded me asthma, but I am glad it was not. Those flirty little eye blinks meant you were happy.
Everyday you greeted me with, "Good Morning" when I lifted off the cage cover. The breakfast was served right away as you expected. You relished with oatmeal, vegetables and fruit. My favorite inquiry of yours was,”You Okay?" Early morning was not your favorite time, but you briefly woke up to appease me. I loved coming home to your excited greeting in the evening. The head feathers were raised and tail feathers fanned as you ran around the bottom of the cage saying, "Hi, Hi" over and over again. As long as I had your almond ready and birdie bread you were happy to wait until the rest of the dinner was ready. The best part is that you were happy just to be with me and your other favorite person, Carolyn. When it was time to go to bed (early, as Pionus birds need beauty sleep), you would say me "Goodnight Baby." when I covered the cage.
Your time with me was far too short, as you
departed earth on
Susan
Bye to Pumpkin
My buddy (A.K.A.) Pumpkin passed on June 3rd. He will be missed
every time I cook, eat watermelon, salad, or his new favorite a
banana. It took me four years to get him to taste a banana..
Pumpkin was not the easiest companion to care for Like most
Amazons he had his grouchy moments.. He live with me for 5
years and, even though he was abused at one time, he learned to
trust me. For the first year in our home he would study us all the
time. He knew what I was going to do even before I knew what I
was going to do . He loved food! Anytime I would cooked or would
be in the kitchen cutting up something he would go crazy.
Sometimes he got so excited he would fall off his perch or cage. I
never seemed to get those "Tasty treats" to him fast enough.
Then I would have to run over and baby him, pick him up and put him
back.
He loved to sun by the window or when I took
He loved his showers and he wanted to be drenched. He also loved to
torture Ted . He would love to charge at Ted and lunge at him too!!
One day while I was at work, Ted walked a little too close to
Pumpkin’s cage. Well…Pumpkin just could not resist and, he
went for it.! He leaped ON TEDS NECK
Pumpkin also did not like to be held that much but he wanted to be
as close as he could to me. About a year ago he decided that
peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Pumpkin did not live to be a
ripe old age but he did live well and with zest. WE will miss you
Big Guy!
Mary K. Perva
My Friend Gizmo
March 2005 I fell in love with my cherry headed Conure. It was by chance that our paths crossed. You see, I had put my name on a wish list and I believe there was divine intervention for our relationship. I got the call and it was love at first sight.
Gizmo was an abused bird, he had difficulty eating from a previously overgrown beak. He had difficulty climbing and holding on, such a clumsy little guy. No socialization skills, but what energy. He ran like a roadrunner. When you walked by his cage, he puffed and hissed like a snake. What a brave little dinosaur. What baggage he had, his history I never knew but his future was mine.
As time when on, he became more trusting and loving. What a clown he could be, what a joy. I developed a special bond with my little green buddy. Every night before I went to bed, I went to his cage to say, “good night Giz” and I would get a purr or “I love you”. He was my favorite.
Someone’s cast off became my treasure. This rescued bird touched my heart and will always be in my memories. If there is a birdie heaven, he deserves to be there. I love you Gizmo.
Blue-Crowned Conure- Bo
Bo was a pet of mine for 15 years, who was wild caught and unwanted because he was too loud! When I first rescued him he was only feed sunflower seeds, NOT A HEALTHY DIET which leads to fatty liver!!!!! Being a Conure, they have a high pitch scream that could be heard down the block from my house.
R.I.P.
He passed away
Alex
Known
as one of the most famous African Grey parrots in history, Alex
pioneered new avenues in avian intelligence. He possessed more than
100 vocal labels for different objects, actions, colors and could
identify certain objects by their particular material. He could
count object sets up to the total number six and was working on
seven and eight. Alex exhibited math skills that were considered
advanced in animal intelligence, developing his own “zero-like”
concept in addition to being able to infer the connection between
written numerals, objects sets, and the vocalization of the number.
Alex was learning to read the sounds of various letters and had a
concept of phonemes, the sounds that make up words.
Alex’s personality was very evident in his
everyday life. He was “in charge” of his home and relished ordering
“his” humans to perform various tasks for him. He also acted as a
coach and cheerleader to his fellow birds, Wart and
Purchased from a
We miss him dearly.
Fly high Little dude!!