goodbirdinc.com

We as parrot people must constantly avail ourselves to new information, new ideas, new ways to engage our friends.

First source of dynamite info is http://www.goodbirdinc.com/. This web site and its creator, Barbara Heidenreich, will appear over an over again on this site. I am a disciple of hers, though she doesn't know it. I encourage you to explore her site, order her training and informational DVDs and subscribe to her magazine of the same name, Good Bird magazine. These are fantastic resources for anyone interested in companion birds.

A companion parrot is typically caged and therefore utterly dependent on its caretaker for just about everything. Food and water, sure, just like a traditional pet. But also interaction, stimulation and freedom, which one could suggest, a parrot never truly experiences living in homes with people.

I struggle philosophically, intellectually and emotionally with parrots as pets. Parrots are birds, built to fly, forage for food, mate, nest and raise babies - freely. Most captive birds don't ever engage in these behaviors naturally, at will. I do believe parrots can have good lives in captivity - at least partially. (I partially believe it, and they can live partially good lives. But that's a debate for a different day, and quite possibly a moot debate at that. Parrots are kept as pets. We must do our best to raise awareness for their needs and educate on how best to live with them.)

Depending on species, parrots can live to be 15 or so (parakeet); 25-35 (conure, senegal), 45 (African or Timneh grey) or 80+ (amazon, macaw). Given this reality, it's pretty likely most parrots will outlive their owners which means they have more opportunities for good circumstances and more risk for bad ones.

Parrots are not domesticated; they are wild and require educated handling, patience and consistency to be able to live in harmony with people in their homes.

These two facts make parrots unique; unbelievably stimulating, rewarding creatures to be around; and extremely frustrating and confounding "pets."

If they live out their lives to a natural old age, it is almost guaranteed our parrots will have more than one home, more than one caretaker. If they were "brought up badly," they're also guaranteed to bounce from home to home.

As friends to parrots, it is our job to help them live well and train them to be good birds, so they can be the alluring, engaging creatures they can be and down the road, comfortably transition to a new home. Good birds are wanted birds, and more likely to live well. Parrots living well is the goal.

Starting Out

Best Friends Elmo & Gigi

This is my first blog and first blog post. The long view is for this blog to become a well-organized, collaborative, welcoming repository and exchange of information and resources for people who are, or want to become, parrot parents. It is also intended to help raise awareness for the third or fourth (the jury is still out on which) most popular "pet" in the U.S., possibly the world -- the plucky, in more ways than one, precocious parrot.

I am the proud parent and friend to nine rescue parrots of varying sizes, ages, colors and creeds. They are, in order of adoption first to last:

Nanday conure Gigi, 6 years old
Gold Capped conure Elmo, 13 years old
Parakeet Lucy, 3 years old
Mitred conure Fred, 23 years old
Military macaw Theodore, 5 1/2 years old
Senegal Beaker, 9 years old
Blue Front amazon Callie, age unknown
Mealy amazon Fred, age unknown
Military macaw Aloisius, Allie for short, 14 years old

It all began with Gigi who I adopted from a family who felt they were not giving and could not give the future give her the attention she needed. I knew I was an animal person and a parrot seemed like fun which made me like most people who decide to take on a parrot. Enamoured, but clueless.

But I am super inquistive. So before I went and fetched her home, I researched - online, books, vets. I got a lot of good, but conflicting, info that dialed up the intrigue and effort to find out all I could. Living with a parrot didn't seem as straightforward as most pets, but I felt capable and challenged. I was determined to get it right and give this little nanday pumpkin the best ever.

I have since made numerous mistakes with Gigi and my other birds, and thank goodness, I've been forgiven. I've also learned perfection and parrots don't go together any which way you slice it.

I hope to share some of my shortcomings as well successes, and I invite others to post theirs. The hope is that this blog can help people and parrots live well together.