Held Captive: My Life Owned by a Parrot

About six-and-a-half years ago, I became the proud owner, er captive, of a Blue and Gold Macaw. Now you have to understand something, these birds aren't so much owned as they are the owners.

To own a parrot, to love a parrot, to co-habitate with a parrot, is to become a parrot-person. In essence, you are their flock. And as such, you are looked to for attention, affection, grooming and an all around patsy.

Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a strictly one-sided relationship. True, my days are marked by dirty papers, thrown food, loose down and feathers, and unexpected screeches and cat-calls. However, I also get something in return.

You see, birds aren't the trusting type, so it's a beautiful thing to not only have a bird but to actually be able to touch and hold one as well. Trust between a parrot and a person takes time and patience but the rewards are immeasurable. There is nothing like seeing your special Parrot Someone wave that little foot over that cute head in a gesture which begs, "Scratch me!"

Often I am torn between, "I am so over this!" and, "I love you!" with my Bird Buddy. The fine dust that I can never quite get ahead of, or the loose poof of down that rolls across the floor like a lone piece of tumbleweed, is overshadowed by the loving growl I get as I rub his head and he covers my hand and arm by his out-stretched wings. He lovingly enfolds me in an embrace of winged closeness akin to a hug.

As I lovingly scratch and stroke his head, cooing and talking to him, his eyes dilate and constrict as he listens to my voice. He takes in the tone, timbre and pitch of my voice as well as my accent. Later I am rewarded at unexpected times by hearing the sound of my own words and voice repeated back to me. Imagine my surprise! It is much like a digital recording, not at all like the scratchy, mimicking voice of Hollywood voice-overs for parrot speech.

While it seems most of the food I prepare and give my Bird Buddy end up on the floor or spattered on the wall, this is not done in rebellion. In the wild, these bits of food and seeds would be food for animals below the trees where Macaws are perched or become plants to furnish and feed yet another generation of parrots.

I sometimes mutter in frustration, "You're on your last perch" in reference to moving him out, yet I know life without my little friend would never be the same. And the fact he could quite possibly out-live me is not far from my mind. My Bird Buddy is only 13 years old, a mere "babe" in parrot years! You see, if healthy and taken care of, a large parrot can live up to 65 years or more. At that rate I realized I had to plan for his care in the event of my passing before him. Yet another example of our give-and-take relationship.

But for all our faults and foibles, ours is most well put as a loving relationship. For with a turn of his head and a cute little dance, my face lights up. He's always glad to see me when I return from being away even for a few minutes. And I'm am forever amazed at the beauty I see in each neatly groomed feather adorning his head, wings and body. Each and every blue, gold, green and black feather is groomed each day, a process I'm never tired of watching. He perches on one leg, reaches the oil gland above his long blue tail, and taking his beak spreads the oil over his feathers one-by-one repeating the trip to the oil gland as needed so that each individual feather on his entire body is made waterproof. This is called preening. I hear a rustle of feathers as he repeats this process over and over until his entire body is groomed and every feather in place.

To aid in the preening process, I give my Bird Buddy baths. I gently mist him with a water bottle or outside with a hose. This often causes him to become so happy he quite literally makes a fool of himself! He will laugh, dance, spread out his wings and shake his head and tail feathers. Sometimes he will get so beside himself with joy he flips! He'll hang upside down while laughing and flapping his wings in a topsy-turvy attempt at saying, "Thank you! This feels so good!"

Much like myself, he can become downright grouchy at times! He will lunge at me with his beak open and sqawk at me when I change his food and water bowls. Like me, he sometimes just doesn't want to be bothered by the necessary routines of life.

By and large, I have found my Bird Buddy to be a real pal. I want to talk, he willingly listens. He's even given his own imput with a laugh or an "Aaaah" at just the right time. I can't name the many times I've dropped or spilled something and he's laghed at me or when I've stubbed my toe only to hear him say, "Ooo, oh, ow!!!" I still haven't figured out how he knows the right time to give just the exact response needed for a particular incident, but he always seems to be able to do so. I've even been crying and he will get really still on his perch and quitly say, "Aw." Moments like these are truly touching.

Yes, my days are marked by messy papers, dust and down, but they are also marked by the special relationship between us. Because for me, to have my Blue and Gold Bird Buddy is to be his as well.

Addendum

Since I first wrote this piece, I have had to find a new home for my little buddy, Sebastian. For you see, "mommy and daddy" are getting a divorce.

It was the hardest decison i had to make concerning my little Friend. He and I had become inseperable during the seven years we were priviledged to have him.

I'm pleased to say that he is very happy in his new home, surrounded by a "new mommy and daddy" and has several children who love him and will now call him "brother".

I bid a tearful good-bye to Sebastian, but he will forever be in my heart...live well, my Little Buddy!

Sites linked below can provide more information and resources on all things Parrot related.

www.birdchannel.com/  

Official site for BirdTalk 

Magazine

http://bird-talk.net/

Posts for news, information,tips

and care for all pet birds

www.ParrotStuff.com/

Online store for all things 

Parrot related

www.drsfosterandsmith.com/

Online store for all pet

products including birds