March 2014

Dear ELEPHANTS, Birds and Humans,
 
This is my second try in writing this letter; my first one was eaten by the computer.  Last month was the 2nd time in our club history, of almost 28 years, that we canceled a meeting due to weather conditions.  This is quite a winter.  On the positive side, you get to read 2 of my letters this month (if my computer allows me to finish the current one).  Our program for February, luckily, was not canceled like the meeting, but postponed and John Haas will share his expertise with us on the wild birds of this area  in June.   
 
Aristophanes, my redoubtable scarlet macaw, is doing really well since he lives in the elephant room with the other birds.  His allergies have stopped.  I had him to three veterinarians who diagnosed him with sinus allergies that none of them had ever seen in a macaw.  Well, since his move out of the cage and onto a parrot stand in another room in the house he no longer goes through the painful sneezing fits that plagued him most of his life.  There was something in the room or the cage or, as Jackie thought, in his toys that he was allergic to.  I am so happy for him and for me because my brain can rest a bit easier.  He suffered so much that it was terrible.
 
Emma (now Emmet) is doing fine and so is Zeke.  Zeke, being a little cockatiel that loves to fly all over the house, needs constant supervision because as much as Opie, my pup who is now 1 year old, loves Aristophanes, I don't like the way he looks at Zeke.
 
We have a great program for you tonight.  Fellow club member and Avian Veterinarian, Dr. Joe D'Abbraccio, is our scheduled speaker (and Little Matthew B gets to try out his new projector for Dr. Joe's talk).  I forwarded all the suggestions that you sent to Joe for tonight and I am sure that his presentation is going to be a great learning experience.  I, unfortunately, cannot be here because I had a last minute change in rehearsals for the show I am doing and our dress rehearsal had to rescheduled for tonight.  Leon Hilfstein our amazing pianist and Isobelle Morales, one of our performers cannot be at this meeting either.
 
Everyone is welcome to the show.  It is Disney Songs and Other Musicals You Love, presented at the Sullivan County Museum in Hurleyville on March 14, 15 and 16.  Call me or email me for more info.
 
I am truly sorry that I will miss Dr. Joe, I was very much looking forward to seeing him.   We have a great program in April, Craig Russell, president of the SPPA (Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities) is coming to share his expertise on chickens and other poultry.  He should be bringing along some spectacular and rare birds with him.  He is my chicken guru.


We have a photographic program on Bald Eagles in May.  This will be presented by Gene Weinstein and Joh Haas comes back to us in June.
 
We have a nice schedule and I hope that everyone attends every meeting.  I need suggestions for whom you would want to hear speak at our 28th anniversary dinner in July.
 
I want to wish a great big Mazel Tov to Little Matthew B as he is going to be a grandfather again.  His daughter, Becky, is having a baby.
 
Again, I am so sorry to miss this meeting, but Matt will run it.........
 
Hope everyone survived our very snowy and cold winter......
 
Be well and happy and love your birds,
 
Love,
 
Richie