September 22nd, 2006 - "Athena"

Athena is a mustache parakeet. Her age is unknown. We have had her about 3 years. I had made arrangements to purchase some birds from a breeder. The breeder offered me Athena free with the condition that I would not breed her. I accepted the offer.

Athena had been a breeder all of her life. Her mate attacked her, took her toes and she fought back. Athena broke his beak. This happened over a weekend. The breeder broke the neck of the male. Athena was placed in a small cage in their room with no vet care. She was given food and water. The breeder watched for excessive bleeding. I was told “she fought hard to live those first couple of days, I could not let her die.” “I think she would be happier as a pet.” Athena was never given vet care during all of this.

This had happened about 6 weeks before we got her. By that time her toes had healed. She got around very well. After seeing her I fell in love with her. This breeder never named her birds. So we started choosing names for all of the birds. Many of my flock are named after Gods. Well choosing her name was easy. Athena is the goddess of War.

Athena is not a snuggly bird, she is quite a character though. When she wants attention she will fly and land on your shoulder. She loves to have you lean your head against her, and she will grind her beak and chatter happily. If your hands go near her, or if one of the other birds tries to chase her off of you, she starts a very fast chatter in an angry tone. Athena is truly my goddess of war - a fighter and a lover.

January 21st, 2005- "Sunny"

Stephanie Tillitt writes...

Last summer I started volunteering at my local bird rescue as we had recently lost our little parakeet due to old age and missed having a bird in our home. Boy did I find out I had a LOT to learn so I started fostering some of the birds that needed one on one rehabilitation and training. To say the least, my husband became a bit jealous as the birds would only come to me. I work at home and he doesn't so I was able to spend large portions of my day with the bird children and had earned their trust.

My husband said he really wanted a project but not adopt a bird so I talked to my boss at the orphanage (volunteer so much time there that I'm not just a volunteer but a part of their family). Right about that time I was adopted by one of the free flight quakers at the orphanage (all the birds are given at least 1/2 a day outside of their cages a day and are not wing trimmed). Sasha just decided to land on me and stay. We also had a very special little sunconure who needed physical therapy.

Sunny's history is that her previous owner fed her nothing but salted peanuts and didn't take care of her cage so her perches fell down and she spent over a year on the bottom of her cage until her owner gave her to the orphanage. The lack of perches caused her little feet to curl in toward eachother and the joints hardened so she could no longer clutch w/ her feet. Our vet stated that w/proper physical therapy and massage she might be able to perch again. So home she and Sasha came. My husband was immediately enchanted by Sunny and she with him. She was supposed to be a foster biird here but within a week she had wormed (pun intended) her way into our hearts. The physical therapy that we are doing, bending her toes and moving her joints after a couple of weeks allowed her to start climbing up her cage. She has such a good attitude and excellent manners that caring for her feet was a joy.

One morning I got the birds up to find she was perched on her branches in her cage instead of sitting on the bottom of her cage She hasn't stopped perching since. She can't quite clutch yet but she's trying to. When she is given time out of her cage she's attatched to her daddy, my husband and spends all her time grooming him, kissing at him and ribbiting like a little frog. She surprised my hubby one day when he fell asleep w/her on the couch to find when he woke up that she had crawled into his shirt and was asleep. If she could be surgically grafted to my husband she'd demand that option.

To this day, she's been with us for 8 months now, that after what she had gone thru with her first owner that she is so kind and giving. She loves everyone which is unlike most sunconures. She happily visits each person who comes to our home then goes back to dad.

January 5th, 2005- "Snow"

Terri Flowers writes...

Hello! I wanted to tell you about "Snow", my recently adopted Umbrella Cockatoo! My Congo African Grey named Kiwi had passed away in September after bad veterinary care. She received the wrong medicine from a careless vet. I had grieved so much that my daughter began to look for another baby to replace Kiwi in our lives, as she was like our child.

In less than a month, she found a U2 that someone had never picked up from a vet's office. A worker at the clinic had taken the umbrella cockatoo home with her, hoping to keep her, but the bird and her small children weren't getting along. So, she ended up on the internet looking to find a forever home. After several emails, we decided to go meet the family. We drove up reluctantly, as I still longed for Kiwi.

As soon as we arrived, entered their home, and approached her cage....I was attacked!! She jumped on me, pulled my glasses off and had to be captured and returned to her cage immediately. I was very worried about adopting this bird to say the least. We did take her home.

For a full week, I sat near her cage and spoke to her quietly, gave her fresh fruits, vegetables, and treats. When she tried to come to me, I told her to wait a little and we could learn to love one another in time. One day, she had reached out to step up and I allowed her to step onto my arm.

Now, she is my velcro bird! We cuddle lots during the day, dance, sing, and yes, she can talk. She has been part of lives now for about 3 months, and has settled into our family quite well. She is a beautiful, loving companion that I hope will outlive me, since she is in my will now! I can't imagine how anyone could not love her. She can never replace my darling Kiwi, but has a huge place of her own in my heart. We call her "Snow"

December 19th, 2004 - "Matt"

Carolyn writes...

On January 31, 2003, after losing my umbrella cockatoo in December of 2002, my heart just ached for another cockatoo. I searched the internet for another umbrella but couldn't find one at an affordable price. I advertised all over different sites and one day went to check my email and had an email from someone saying that they had a goffins cockatoo. I was told that this little guy was tame and a real sweetheart. The price was right, so I jumped at the chance.

Well, needless to say, he was not tame and everytime I went to approach him, he bit and brought blood. I think he was abused because he was terrified of hands. I worked with him everyday and to make a long story short, today he is a real sweetheart. Now, my home is blessed with 3 goffins, to which one I rescued and am still working with her, and a TAG.

My little man's name is Matt and he is a real sweetheart now and would never bite anyone. He is now cuddling. He'll be with me for the rest of my life. I still hope someday to have that umbrella but for now, he fills my life with love. Just look at those eyes, you can't help but fall in love.

December 10th, 2004 - "Rosie"

Gina writes...

I am owned by many birds and love all of them, but one has a special place in my heart. She's a Princess of Wales and her name is Rosie. I'm not sure of her age, but I've had her for about two years. I used to visit her in the local bird store where she had been brought to sell on consignment. She is handicapped and wasn't able to perch well, but she's so pretty I was fascinated by her.

At the time, I just couldn't bring another bird home, but I would visit her when I could. Eventually someone bought her, but returned her to the store after a few months. The owner of the store, remembering how attracted Rosie was to me, called to say she was back and that Rosie's owner didn't want any money for her, but just wanted her to have a good home. So, the store owner asked if I wanted her and I immediately said yes. She's still hand-shy, but has learned to handle her perches much better and climbs all over her cage to play with toys. She is so sweet and loves to sit on her cage and let me rub her head.

She now has a forever home with me!

December 3rd, 2004 - "Spike"

Kristy wrote us to tell us about her cockatiel, Spike. She writes:

This is my thirteen year old male cockatiel, Spike. He's been my companion since I was six years old and I can't imagine life without him! He's a wonderful parrot that loves his veggies (especially carrots and brocolli!) and enjoys serenading me with his whistle songs, "pretty bird," and kissy noises.

He's only got eyes for me, but the rest of the family understands when he flies away from them to perch near me. He is my first feathered love and I'm thankful for the many great years past with him and the many more to come!

Would you like to see your pet bird feathered here? Email us with a good picture of your bird and telling us why they're special and if we feature him/her in a future issue you'll get a free gift certificate!

November 19th , 2004 - "Buddy"

"Buddy" is owned by Delta, one of our moderators on the Pretty Parrots message board. Delta writes...

I would like to introduce you to Buddy. He is a 3 year old quaker parakeet whom I have adopted from a parrot sanctuary. This little guy has changed my life forever.

I believe Buddy was abused and he would attact me when I first brought him home. He was sooo aggressive, scared and vicious that I wondered sometimes what I had gotten myself into!

It has now been 7 months and Buddy now allows me to kiss him and pet him. No cuddling yet but I am sure in time it will come. He has gained confidence, security and is extremely happy. He loves all his toys and adores all foods that I give him.

Buddy is a perfect example of what love and dedication can do to help a bird that has had a bad past. Never give up on those who need you the most.

November 12th , 2004 - "Spooky"

Our Bird of the Week this week is Spooky, an Umbrella Cockatoo owned by Wanda in Georgia.

Wanda writes...

This is Spooky my umbrella cockatoo who is just a little over a year old. She is my baby. I have always wanted an Umbrella Cockatoo ever since I was a child. I got Spooky when she was about 4 weeks old and finished hand feeding her out. She is 1 in a million to me and I wouldn't take a million bucks for her. Spooky is very lovable, huggable and the sweetest bird that I have ever met. I can set on the sofa with her laying her head on my shoulders for hours, both of us very content. Spooky is also not to bad of a screamer either..only when she says "mama mama mama" loudy when she wants me. But I can deal with that. I got the bird of my dreams, who is everything I ever wanted and more in an Umbrealla. I love her to pieces!

October 29th, 2004 - "Zander"

Our "Bird of the Week" this week is Xander, owned by Carol.

Carol writes…

This is Xander, pronounced "Zander" or "Zanny" like we sometimes call him for short. Xander is a male Nanday conure who is approximately five years old. He is the newest addition to our flock. He is somewhat of a rescue bird in that he was in need of re-homing due to his last owner being unable to keep him when she moved. I recently found out that this was not the first time he had to be re-homed, but several times previously because he was "too loud." Yes...he is loud (especially when he starts his lazer gun imitation!) ...but Nandays just are...and we don't mind one bit!! Someone has mistreated him before I think, because if you reach for him when he's making noise, he flinches or ducks like he expects to be smacked. Here though Zanny has found a permanent home and he will learn that no one is EVER going to hurt him again. Xander is so affectionate and such a sweetie...he just loves to sit with you and cuddle and have his head scritched

October 22nd, 2004 - "Coqui"

Meet Coqui (pronounced Co-Key), our 4-year old Senegal. She is a wonderful Poicephalus and certainly has many of the typical traits associated with the Poicephalus family. I would describe her as bold, confident, not too noisy, often gentle but sometimes bossy. As with all African species and other species as well, each individual bird can have it's own personality. Coqui is our first bird and I must say that she is an important part of the family.