August 2013
Dear Birds, Elephants and any human who can read this,
Scarlet macaws have an "iffy" reputation, disposition-wise. Having had two of them, I understand why. Aristophanes, in particular, is moody as hell. Yesterday and today he has been a sweet and loving pet. The past two weeks, or so, have been murder. I have more bite wounds on me from him during this time period than I have had in a very long while. I thought that he did not like the puppy; I was wrong. He loves the puppy but I don't think he loves me all the time. I wish he did; I wish he acted toward me like Debbie Napolitano's macaw, Sammy, acts toward her, but he doesn't. It is like the old adage, "when he is good he is very, very good, but when he is bad, he is horrid". I would never recommend one as a pet, but at this point I would not recommend too many parrots as pets. If you have a great one and it loves you and you love it, then you and the bird are very lucky. Most people I know do not and that is why so many are re homed.
Emma is good. Emma prefers women, but Emma gets super excited when he interacts with a woman and that can lead to Emma biting. Yellow napes always had a great reputation as a pet. Again, I have seen the other side and there are redoubtable napes, many of them. I have placed several of them too. One that I placed is a very happy and loving pet, the others.... not so much.
Once again, I have to concur that a good cockatiel (or a good parakeet or budgie) is probably the best parrot pet one can have. Any house or apartment is big enough for them to fly around and exercise and their dispositions, when you get a good one, cannot be beaten. They are usually very happy little birds when given enough love and attention and they are small enough to not be intrusive. In my experience, unless someone has one that is untame, I get the least calls of all about them not being wanted and needing new homes.
One thing though, again in my experience, do not take an adult cockatiel or budgerigar that has not been tamed and attempt to make it into a loving pet. That is a very difficult thing to do. I once got one of our vendors angry with me because I relayed that information to a potential customer. I was right. I just saw that person, who has the bird for a year now and still cannot get near him. Make sure that if you buy a cockatiel or budgie to keep as a companion, that you get a baby. They are the easiest birds in the world to tame down and turn into a great pet....do not let anyone convince you to buy an adult that has not been handled and tell you that it will tame down and be a great pet with "a little" work.
Tonight we have a program that I am really sorry I am going to miss, but I cannot be there. I am doing another play at the Rivoli Theatre in South Fallsburg, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and I have rehearsal. If you want to come and see it, the performances are Aug 23-25 and Aug 30, 31 and Sept 1. That is another hat I wear....not just the hat that has birds or elephants on it.
Tonight's program is from Wildwatch. Our presenter is part of a group that locates wildlife rehabbers for people who come across injured wild animals. Also, she will talk about killing animals for sport. That is for people who see living animals as living targets. That is a mindset that I will never understand. I wish I could be there tonight, but AnnMarie, Pat and Jackie will run the meeting. Little Matthew B is hiding, once again, in California. Don't you all wish you could hide there with him?
Next month will bring us a program that was rained out in June. Under My Wing Avian Refuge will be our program in September. I am still trying to get an avian vet for October. Then in November, our program will be about bald eagles. That all should be wonderfully educational and I will tell you more about all of them next month,
Have a great meeting.......kiss every bird and elephant you see................maybe a human or two won't hurt either.
Be well and happy,
Love,
Scarlet macaws have an "iffy" reputation, disposition-wise. Having had two of them, I understand why. Aristophanes, in particular, is moody as hell. Yesterday and today he has been a sweet and loving pet. The past two weeks, or so, have been murder. I have more bite wounds on me from him during this time period than I have had in a very long while. I thought that he did not like the puppy; I was wrong. He loves the puppy but I don't think he loves me all the time. I wish he did; I wish he acted toward me like Debbie Napolitano's macaw, Sammy, acts toward her, but he doesn't. It is like the old adage, "when he is good he is very, very good, but when he is bad, he is horrid". I would never recommend one as a pet, but at this point I would not recommend too many parrots as pets. If you have a great one and it loves you and you love it, then you and the bird are very lucky. Most people I know do not and that is why so many are re homed.
Emma is good. Emma prefers women, but Emma gets super excited when he interacts with a woman and that can lead to Emma biting. Yellow napes always had a great reputation as a pet. Again, I have seen the other side and there are redoubtable napes, many of them. I have placed several of them too. One that I placed is a very happy and loving pet, the others.... not so much.
Once again, I have to concur that a good cockatiel (or a good parakeet or budgie) is probably the best parrot pet one can have. Any house or apartment is big enough for them to fly around and exercise and their dispositions, when you get a good one, cannot be beaten. They are usually very happy little birds when given enough love and attention and they are small enough to not be intrusive. In my experience, unless someone has one that is untame, I get the least calls of all about them not being wanted and needing new homes.
One thing though, again in my experience, do not take an adult cockatiel or budgerigar that has not been tamed and attempt to make it into a loving pet. That is a very difficult thing to do. I once got one of our vendors angry with me because I relayed that information to a potential customer. I was right. I just saw that person, who has the bird for a year now and still cannot get near him. Make sure that if you buy a cockatiel or budgie to keep as a companion, that you get a baby. They are the easiest birds in the world to tame down and turn into a great pet....do not let anyone convince you to buy an adult that has not been handled and tell you that it will tame down and be a great pet with "a little" work.
Tonight we have a program that I am really sorry I am going to miss, but I cannot be there. I am doing another play at the Rivoli Theatre in South Fallsburg, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and I have rehearsal. If you want to come and see it, the performances are Aug 23-25 and Aug 30, 31 and Sept 1. That is another hat I wear....not just the hat that has birds or elephants on it.
Tonight's program is from Wildwatch. Our presenter is part of a group that locates wildlife rehabbers for people who come across injured wild animals. Also, she will talk about killing animals for sport. That is for people who see living animals as living targets. That is a mindset that I will never understand. I wish I could be there tonight, but AnnMarie, Pat and Jackie will run the meeting. Little Matthew B is hiding, once again, in California. Don't you all wish you could hide there with him?
Next month will bring us a program that was rained out in June. Under My Wing Avian Refuge will be our program in September. I am still trying to get an avian vet for October. Then in November, our program will be about bald eagles. That all should be wonderfully educational and I will tell you more about all of them next month,
Have a great meeting.......kiss every bird and elephant you see................maybe a human or two won't hurt either.
Be well and happy,
Love,