My birds - Cockatoo andAmazon

[elswithp]

Hi everyone, I thought I would start a new discussion here since a lot  of the other subjects re not of interest to me. Please feel free to put in your two cents worth.

I have two companion birds - both rescues and both females. I plan to write about them on a daily basis and tell of their habits, and antics.
Today I will introduce Aussie, a 15-year old Umbrella Cockatoo. I have had her for almost two years now. Here is how I got her: I am a member of a Yahoo bird group, and at the time was looking to buy a cockatoo. although the sale I was pursuing fell through, the group members knew me, and one of them made a joke about my buying the male, and suggested I could buy his female. Well, since the ale with the male had fallen through, there was no reason to get the female. I told him as much and the case seemed closed. Except that five months later, I received a voice mail saying that if I still wanted the female, to come and get her - for free. I jumped in my car and drive more than four hours and took Aussie home with me. She has a genetic beak defect - it does not close upper mandible over lower, but crossed. That necessitates a trip to the vet every 6 - 8 weeks to have it shaped. But she is the most loving and lovable bird anyone could have. She bonded with me instantly, and spends her days mostly on my shoulder. She loves to cuddle - really, who ever heard of a bird that cuddles - under my chin and will spend hours "zoning" wrapped around my neck.
Tomorrow I will introduce my other bird Paco, a Yellow Nape Amazon.

[Gerianne]

The Activity Director where I live has 2 cockatoos and she has a number of stories to tell and personal videos.

[elswithp]

So today is the day for Paco to be introduced. She - yes, she - is a Yellow Nape Amazon, is about 26 years old, and I have had her for four years now. She is, as I said earlier, also a rescue, and came to me from a couple who were splitting up after they had her 22 years, thinking all the while she was a boy. Hence the name. Mom, whom Paco was bonded with, did not want to take her with her to Washington State, and Dad in Michigan was deathly afraid of her. When I first met Paco, I stuck my fingers through the cage bars, and scritched her neck. Her former owner Hank said: If I did this, I would be minus a finger. Her bite does pack a wallop. Paco has an extensive vocabulary; however, she does not swear and the worst thing she says is: Up your nose with a rubber hose.She loves nothing better than to sit on the shower curtain rod, going through her entire vocabulary, while I take a shower. But take a shower herself? Not on your life! Maybe a little sitz bath in her water dish, just getting belly and chest feathers a little wet. But that's about all as far as bathing is concerned.
Tomorrow, I will begin telling little anecdotes about my babies. Stay tuned....

[kay7]

I love hearing about you birds and will follow this thread!  I don't have any inside birds but my husband and I love to watch the birds outside our front window.  We've been feeding them for years and grown quite attached to some.  We had a little sparrow who was missing a foot who lived here for a couple of years but we haven't seen him for at least a year now

[elswithp]

Thank you to all those who are reading this. Today is an overcast day, and both birds are kind of quiet. Aussie wanted to just sit on my right forearm while I was on the computer typing; every so often, she lifted her head for a little kiss. And she would ask "I your baby?" and I would reassure her. Of course she left a mess on the keyboard because she was preening herself and all the little pieces of the feather hulls were ll over me and the keyboard like dandruff. What a mess!!
Later, as I was making a phone call, I was telling the lady I was talking with about having two birds, and I mentioned the name Paco - and immediately Paco had to chime in and ask "I are?" and repeat almost endlessly Paco, Paco, Paco..... But right now - early afternoon - it is their "zoning" time. They just sit on their perches, eyes half closed, and snooze.
I found a new website to make money with, so I will cut the pot short for today, and go to work... Have a great afternoon nd evening, and come read again tomorrow...

[elswithp]

Well, here it is Saturday already. After I had put the birds to "bed" for the night, and when I was getting ready to go myself hours later, I decided to take a shower. When I was done and came out of the bathroom, I could hear Paco going through her entire repertory of words and phrases. When I looked in on her and asked her what she was doing up t midnight, she answered: Hi pretty bird - whatever.  I finally got her to say good night, and I closed the door and watched TV some more.
I guess I need to explain our evening routine. As the sun starts setting, we sing a self-invented song together. I start, and the birds - both of them - chime in. "The sun is going down, the sun is going down. The birdies in the nest, the bunnies in the hole. The sun is going down, the sun is going down." That's when Paco says "good night" and I take both birds, one on each arm, to the bedroom where I have their sleep cages. They are never closed or locked, and I put each bird on top of their respective cage, saying: good night, Paco; and good night Aussie. I love you. Good night! I then leave and close the door - and that's it. Just like little kids!
So - enough for today; I need to leave some of the story for tomorrow. Have a great Saturday everyone.

[thetop31]

I love Birds, I like Cockatoo too, before I have a parrot,but unfortunately when I move, I gave it to my sister, her dog bit my bird and ate it. I was upset..... what a bad dog!

[elswithp]

I am sorry that your parrot got eaten. What a horrible death! Have you given thought to getting a new one?
My two were very good today. I got up early after Aussie decided to fly to my bed and begin to walk up and down fr om my toes to my shoulder, all the while brabbling Hi Aussie, Hi Baby.....
I took them both and put them in the living room into their daytime cages, and I went back to bed since it was barely dawn. At about 8:30 AM, I got up and while my coffee was brewing, I made Ramen noodles for the birds. They just love those things but I hold back on the flavoring since it contains a whole lot of salt, and MSG. Paco has learned to perfectly imitate the sound the ramekins make that I serve the noodles in when they clack together. While they ate their noodles, I had a peaceful time drinking my coffee. Then I went to church, and when I got home about 1 PM, both birds were contentedly snoozing int heir respective cages. More tomorrow!