Smokey the Wonder Budgie (or Budgie Butt): How I Survived a Dog Attack!

Budgie Butt right before Cage Cleaning!

Hi Humans, my name is Budgie Butt (previously known as Smokey) and I am a budgie. If you aren't familiar with that term, we are also called parakeets. I am a lovely smokey greyish purple color with lots of white. I'm not being boastful, my foster family told me I am lovely. I used to live with a family and then one day, out of the blue - I was attacked by a dog. It was horrible, painful and very, very scary. My legs, feet and wing were damaged and I will never really walk again but I love to hop! When my foster family took me in, I had exposed bone in both feet and protruding bone in my left ankle. They took me to a wonderful person called an Avian Vet who gave me pain medicine right away!! I was so happy and then a little sleepy. I hadn't had any medicine in the four weeks since I had been attacked. This had given me an infection and made me feel very sick. I stayed with those nice vet people for several days and had an operation to amputate a toe on my right foot and to remove bone from my left foot. Soon after, I went home with my new family who gave me four medications twice a day (I really didn't like it much at all). Two weeks ago, I had another operation to remove a little more dead bone from my left leg. This time I only stayed one night and went right back home! My foster family celebrated because this meant that my leg could finally finish healing. I live in a very nice condo now (single story because my feet don't work and I can't climb) but they have put in a handicap ramp and a viewing platform so I don't always have to be on the floor!! I love my food and haven't stopped eating since I came to live here.  The foster family is trying to help me get used to being held and I am really working hard to trust people. Sometimes I get scared because I think something is going to get me!! Foster mom says that it's okay and I will feel calmer every day.  My mom says that a lot of you nice humans gave money to help me get better, I wanted to say thank you. They couldn't have done it without you!

The tiny black dot is where they removed the protruding bone.

The amputated toe area.

Meeting the Public with the Parrots

 This past weekend Parrots as Pets Rescue hosted a booth at the Gainesville Downtown Arts Festival. There were huge crowds of people, great art and some pretty good food (or at least that is what the birds told us as as they were sampling everything!). We were set up near some other animal rescue groups and had a lot of shade...thank goodness! There were quite a few learning opportunities for me as well as our guests who stopped by. It is always important to get a feel for what the general public knows about parrots and to see again the wonder and fascination people instinctively have for these beautiful creatures. I took Madison Macaw down, Henry came with Dusty the Umbrella Cockatoo (who does fun tricks!) and Harley (Harlequin Macaw) came in with Jeff from Orlando. Kovak the Grey, Tilly Shamrock Macaw and Rubix the baby Quatro Macaw came to visit with Casey! I think the most common comment of the weekend was, "oh my God, how beautiful!". The second most common was usually something like, "I knew someone with a parrot once, they had to get rid of it." While the comment usually  makes me sad, this weekend it gave us great openings to talk about parrot care, the time and effort involved in owning one and why it isn't the pet for everyone. People who had never touched a bird got to touch and see them up close. We gave out lots of literature about bird care and about the rescue. We have already had an application come in. We met a young man (around 11) who owns three parrots and provides all their care. His mother vouched for him; he wants to be an ornithologist. He asked great questions and got information about being a foster parront. I was so impressed by him!

We raised some money with a raffle and were surprised by people who gave us donations and didn't even want a raffle ticket - they just wanted to help! We have a few prizes left over and I will be running an online auction at the end of October to finish our fall fundraising efforts! We have a waiting list of birds who need to come into the rescue so please think about fostering a bird!! We will have extra posts this week, including an update about Smokey the wonder budgie!! He is doing great! Time to go make the oatmeal and fruit and veggies and.......!

What? You Mean My Parrot Might Not Be That Into Me??

Recently, I have begun to draw parallels between rearing kids and fostering/raising parrots. I don't do this to minimize or marginalize parenthood. I am definitely still a parent and it is the hardest job ever. I love it almost 99% of the time! The same is true about parrot rescue and parrot ownership. Sadly we have all been led astray with the "fairy tale" version of bird ownership. You know the one...the bird instantly loves you, never poops on you, loves everyone it meets, never gets hormonal, never bites and has a vocabulary of 1000 words. Your neighbors never hear the bird or they think that his/her evening calls are like sweet music.  <queue the violins here for a crescendo> The bird lives sixty years and you both pass gently away together, ending the perfect bird/human relationship. WAKE UP!!! That just doesn't happen! Birds are unique creatures, each with their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses. Just like toddlers, they have good days and bad days. Recently my Jardines parrot has been in a "mood". I have been very busy, my mom was in the hospital, we had new parrots come into the rescue, my daughter had the nerve to sound like me (which got her bitten.) My son, Michael, happened to catch Jasmine biting me for the first time in years. He was shocked and offended! "You have fed her since she was a baby, you clean her cage, you take her outside, she gets to eat near the dinner table. She doesn't even realize how good she has it." I wish I could have recorded that, seriously. I stared at him a minute and I said, "everyone has a bad day once in awhile and Jasmine is just tired of me right now." He paused a minute, looked at me and said, "Your bird just isn't into you right now? Is that what you mean? That's kind of pathetic, mom. You and the birds are making me crazy." He strolled down the hall to the kitchen where he proceeded to eat the food that I had made and put out.

Jasmine my Amazing Jardines

Just as I don't take it personally when my teenagers/young adults say thoughtless things (with no malice intended); I try not to take it personally when one of the birds that live with me are having a bad day. The good Lord knows I have had plenty of them. Sometimes, just sometimes, I get tired of certain people too.

I have seen birds end up in rescue because their owners are convinced that the birds no longer "loves" them. This is so sad. All parrots and people go through seasons (hormonal and otherwise). Try to remember, it's not always personal. Your love-bug might have gotten up on the wrong side of the perch. Hormones may be raging through your bird that would make a teenager's hormones look tame. Sometimes birds are getting sick or having a physical problem that they are masking and their only communication option is to act like a jerk. If this has happened to you or you feel like it is happening, reach out to other bird people for help, ideas and encouragement! Don't give up! Even when it hard and all the birds are throwing their expensive, organic fruit and veggies on the floor like its the worst food ever (which two of mine are doing right this minute!) Start asking questions, watch for clues, because maybe it's just not about you.

No, You Shut Up!!

So, my children are pretty much grown. I homeschooled all three and they are now married, in college and a senior in high school taking his freshman college classes at a local junior college. I share this information so that you will have an idea of my perspective on some parrot behavior. Madison (foster macaw) is three years old and a wonderful bird. Sadly for her, one of her phrases that she can repeat is "shut up". I know very few birds who have learned that particular phrase under positive circumstances. Well, my daughter(19) was playing with Madison who had decided to get a little vocal. Sarah said, "shhh, Madison". Madison responded with "shut up." Sarah paused a minute and said, "no, you shut up." And being a parrot who sensed fun drama coming, Madison shot right back at her, "you shut up." This went on for two more rounds (Sarah was not yelling, we don't yell at birds here)before I had to say, "both of you be quiet". I seriously tell you that I thought my 19 year old daughter was going to say, "she started it." I had to laugh. It reminds me so much of kids. The whole "you stop it" syndrome that fuels numerous sibling debates every day in the world. That was funny enough, but now my grumpy old man bird has it going with Poppy the Grey. I attach a video for your listening pleasure. This exchange between Fancy the Grump and Poppy the Grey was over Poppy wanting Fancy to stop screaming. (I definitely feel his pain!)

Don't Forget about Gabby!!!

Please keep Gabby in mind. She was our bird of the week this week and is looking for that perfect someone/family. She is gorgeous and a great entertainer, she can't wait to meet you!

Grumpy Old Men (or Cockatoos) as the Case may Be

This is Fancy. He came to me as a Foster/Adoption through my Avian vet's office. He is 21 years old and had lived with the same gentleman his entire life. This man loved Fancy (whom he thought was a female) very much and carried him everywhere. While this nice man was alive, life was perfect for Fancy. Unfortunately, this kind gentleman became ill and passed away. His wife gave Fancy to the vet. During the husband's illness Fancy injured a wing and shoulder and it wasn't properly cared for (not intentionally). Soon Fancy became lame. He was lame when I brought him home and had very little extension in his wing and shoulder. He also missed his human companion terribly. Once home with us, we began working with his wing and shoulder and he has a much larger range of motion, but he still will never really fly. He has a permanent bald spot on his chest and has naked little legs. Fancy can destroy Macaw toys and is one of the best destructo birds I have ever met! He has to be kept busy with lots of toys. Sometimes he is hilarious, others he is grumpy. I am grumpy occasionally myself so I feel his pain. LOL. Fancy is content with us, he may even be happy - I'm not sure. He is one of our birds that I hope just the right person comes along for. A patient person, with a lot of time to spend with him - someone who enjoys the Cockatoo crazy call during the morning meeting time and the evening flock time. Someone who finds his hide and seek game adorable. Until that time, he will be with us because I promised him when he came home with us that if we weren't right for him, he could stay with us until the right one came along. I meant that.

This toy on the right is the toy that Fancy killed in about 20 minutes the other day. It used to have Finger Traps on every rope piece and leather tied onto both ends of the Finger Traps. He went to work right after he went on the hanging stand and when he was done with it, he unhooked it and threw it on the floor. Then he looked at me as if to say, "my work here is done, where is my oatmeal?".

Bird of the Week - GABBY the Moluccan Cockatoo

Gabby is a beautiful Moluccan Cockatoo who is looking for her forever home. Gabby is ten years old and loves to entertain. She is a dancing queen looking for a forever partner. Gabby, of course, can be LOUD at times - after all, she is a cockatoo. For this reason, Gabby cannot be adopted out to anyone living in an apartment or condo.

Gabby can talk and loves physical interaction with people. She says, "Hello, Hi, Hi Gabby and I love you." She loves to travel with you and will go out to eat or just hang out with you on your favorite public patio! If you are interested in meeting Gabby and getting to know her, please contact us at Parrots as Pets Rescue. Message us on Facebook or leave a comment here with your contact information. Gabby is currently fostered in the Orlando, Florida area. Gabby's adoption fee is $500 or $650 with a cage. You can use Paypal to make your payment!