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macawdreams
Forum Admin
610 Posts |
 Posted - 01/10/2006 : 23:33:37
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Hi everybirdie,
I can't tell you how happy it makes me that we have a growing number of bird owners here who have taken in birds. Not just Macaws but other species too.
It got me thinking. I would like to create a new page on our website http://macawdreams.com that tells the story of these birds.
If you would like to participate I would greatly appreciate it. Send me a photo of the bird with information such as name, age, species, history etc. Then tell us all about how you came to adopt the bird and how things are working out.
I am going to post each bird's photo along with each owner's unedited story. Again, it doesn't matter if the bird is a Finch to a Macaw. Every bird is loved and will get equal treatment here.
My goal behind this is to encourage potential bird owners to consider adopting a bird in need of a good home. It would be much better coming from those of you who have done this yourselves.
So, please participate so we can help other birds find good homes too.
E-mail to :macawdreams@aol.com If you have any trouble, let me know. THANKS!!!
Angie R.
Macaw Dreams Site Owner
"The future of Macaws starts here"
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MaryG1959
Gold Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2006 : 19:30:17
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I have adopted all six of my birds----4 from less than perfect homes (or should I say Horrible?)
Mary
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macawdreams
Forum Admin
610 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 02:02:02
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Mary, what a wonderful person you MUST be. I would love to post photos and your story. If you get a chance please forward them to me at macawdreams@aol.com. Meanwhile, we would love to hear more about your entire flock here. 6? Wow, you have a huge heart Mary! Tell us about these lucky birds.
Angie R.
Macaw Dreams Site Owner
"The future of Macaws starts here" |
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MaryG1959
Gold Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 05:19:11
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I would love to share on this topic. Unfortunately, so many adopt only because they are looking for free birds. I adopt to save them from certain misery and possibly death. All my adopted birds (on avg) have cost me twice as much as a newly weaned bird. (Including vet bills, cages, toys, food, supplements etc).
I have made the commitment for "better or worse" to keep them until one of us leaves this earth. They all have their own unique personalities and I'm looking forward to sharing their individual stories. (However right now gotta go get ready for work! :( lol |
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Gpsyps
Top Gold Member
USA
308 Posts |
 Posted - 01/16/2006 : 10:22:50
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Mary, I'm just catching up on the recent activity here. WOW the board has been busy as well as Angie. Anyhow you have 6 rehomes that is amazing. God Bless you. Please share when you have time what species you have in your crew and how it works for you. Do you work in home, outside of home. Your hours, schedule etc;. No I'm not writing a book, just sincerely interested.
Look forward to hearing more!
Natalie & Girls |
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MMOXIEE@aol.com
Top Gold Member
81 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 11:23:21
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Hi Mary,
I know from personal experience there is no such thing as a "free" bird. I always tell people " If you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet!"
take care,
Lindsey |
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MaryG1959
Gold Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 17:31:32
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| Excellent Lindsey, mind if I use that saying? It is perfect! My thoughts exactly!!! |
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macawdreams
Forum Admin
610 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 19:13:36
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I agree!!! Mary, which birds do you have? Tell us all about them. :)
Angie R.
Macaw Dreams Site Owner
"The future of Macaws starts here" |
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MaryG1959
Gold Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 19:56:44
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Ok here goes:
1. Bart--Blue and gold macaw who came to us w/the comment "I am positivie he's a he!"---NOPE! She's a DNA'd female! So now she's lady bart. She's 5 yrs old and was loved and cared for by her former owner. The lady went through a divorce, needed to work overtime and felt bad about leaving "him" alone so much. She's wonderful, fully feathered and the previous owner only cared about her going to a good home.
2. Angel-A severe macaw---he's between 25 and 40---(hard to say) probably wild caught. He came to me from someone in NY who I met through a macaw message board. The woman who had him kept him in a cockatiel sized cage & gave him a poor diet---she fed him from her mouth! His cage was so small his tail bent at the end. Her husband hated the bird (and the feeling was mutual) so rather than see him throw it out the window in a fit of temper---she found a new home for him "ME!"---To back track---Angel was found on the streets of Manhattan---the first "known" owners after this event let their kids hit him with perches and mistreat him.....When I got him he pulled his feathers----hed never been to the vet at all---EVER! After $1500 in vet bills he became healthy. He was infested w/internal parasites and had Giardia.
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MaryG1959
Gold Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 19:59:25
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| 3. Willy the cockatiel! We got him from someone who'd bought him as a gift for a 90+ yr old woman. The lady said "What do I want a bird for!---don't you know I'm 90?"----so---they called me and the rest is history. We got him at 10 weeks old and kknow about the store he was purchased at. They force weaned him and we had a difficult time at first getting him to latch on to eating on his own. We originally named "HIM" Lilly---then he started talking & talking & Talking! HE was then determined to be a BOY! |
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MaryG1959
Gold Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 20:07:48
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4 & 5 go together :)
Lucy and Ethel are 11 yr old female blue and gold macaw clutch mates. They came to us (do you see the pattern?) as "ABSOLUTE" males. Both have been DNA'd and are female. Someone on another board posted a pitiful "petfinder" photograph. We went to see him at this place that was referred to as a "RESCUE!"----When we got there there were these two pitiful, plucked, skinny and sickly looking blue and gold macaws. When we went there my husband and I decided we wouldn't get them unless they "picked us"---they were begging for someone to help them. The woman at the rescue had them both shoved into one small cage. This was no rescue but a money making proposition. They had very little food to eat, dirty water (what little there was) and there was a St. Bernard and kids running through terrorizing them. The cages were filthy and she made it clear that she needed the "money from the ADOPTION" fee ($800)to pay her mortgage. So we plunked down their ransom and took them home. We took them to the vet and found out they were severly malnourished and had psittacosis. For 8 weeks we went to the vet every Friday at 8:30 PM for their weekly shot. When we first got them---they ate their food like someone was going to steal it from them...I thought their crops would burst they'd eat so much. They know now that fresh and healthy food comes twice a day whether they want it or not. Along w/that they get pellets and fruit/nut mix, various nuts, birdie bread and other treats.They have their own cages, toys, plenty of food and play gyms. They cost around $1500 in vet bills and we've only had them about 16 mo's. They are now healthy and active----although their feathers aren't totally better it is a big improvement over a year ago! |
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MaryG1959
Gold Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 20:13:01
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| #6. We went to the vet and my wonderful veterinarian told me about this little hawk headed parrot that they had in her office. One of the vets in the practice went to the humane society where someone had dropped it off in a cardboard box. This bird was in bad shape, sick and severly malnourished. So the vet took it back to the office where my avian veterinarian nursed him to health. He looks like a plucked chicken---he makes the sounds of a creaky cellar door (probably because this is where he lived his life) and his ramblings are "muffled"---maybe because that is all he could hear from the cellar? Not sure and I guess we'll never know. He's really a sweetheart and tries very hard to say "Pretty boy" and says "awwwwwwww" ---We are crazy about him!! We've bought him a nice big cage and some nice toys---he's got plenty of food. We don't care if he ever grows his feathers back---He's beautiful the way he is! |
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MMOXIEE@aol.com
Top Gold Member
81 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 21:37:34
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Well, I can't claim to have thought of it myself, but I found a T-shirt that captured exactly what I felt. http://www.cafepress.com/wuukiee/632768
Thank you for telling us about all of your birds. I think its important to note how you said, quote:
we wouldn't get them unless they "picked us".
This is SO true, a lot of people don't realize that birds really do pick their humans, and you don't need to go out and get a baby bird for it to "BOND" to you.
take care,
Lindsey |
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Gpsyps
Top Gold Member
USA
308 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2006 : 22:28:41
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OMG Mary I am speechless along with tears flowing. This is heartbreaking to hear of the conditions out there. We all know they exist and hear about them but I think it's so awesome that they found a loving forever home with you.
What a special story each one has and I'm certain a true joy to love. As well as I'm sure everyday is a new day.
Thanks so much for sharing. And yes it is so true that they pick whom they love and age I feel is irrelevant.
Natalie & Girls |
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jennyklong
Top Gold Member
USA
46 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2006 : 01:24:05
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Wow Mary!
I don't even know how to say how much I admire you for all you've done. Not to get corny here, and PLEASE nobody be offended if they don't agree, BUT......
Those of us who believe in God (and some who don't) agree that we each have a special gift and purpose in our lives. There are always the obvious ones like the Mother Theresas and the Martin Luther Kings and the brilliant reconstructive surgeons who treat poople in third world countries for free.
Sometimes our families and friends tease us and they think we're crazy when we spend so much time, energy and money on our pets (birds especially). I have to admit, I used to let the criticism get to me sometimes and feel like I was investing too much in my "silly animals", but as time goes by, I see much more clearly that this is just our "ministry". The fact that we don't do it in connection with any church or non-profit organization doesn't make it any less important. The Bible says that Adam and Eve were given the "job" of caring for the animals....even naming them. It also says that not a sparrow falls from the sky without God knowing. 
I just wanted to tell you that I believe people like you (and many others here) are very much appreciated "upstairs", even if the people around you don't "get it". I also know that the blessing you get from working with these "throw-away" birds is so big that it's even changed your life for the better, huh?
OK, I'm done. If anybody's been cringing at the religious talk, I didn't mean to offend. It was just meant as an encouragement to all of you for all you do.
You go, Mary!!
Jenny |
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MaryG1959
Gold Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2006 : 17:56:49
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| Thanks Jenny! I feel the same way, that this is what I'm here for--to make the world better for a few animals. I also bought a cockatiel that was purchased on Dec 3 and was put to sleep on Dec 26. There have been people that have told me that tiels are not good birds to have, that they aren't worth the risk etc etc etc....that somehow a big bird has more value than the life of a small one. In any case, I bought this guy from a store that had been in business 20 yrs. They claimed to have a closed aviary and claimed to have only lost one bird in 20 yrs.....I feel both statements are false. In any case he had polyoma and died. He thought I was his mother....my vet who's the best vet in the world (as far as I'm concerned) came in on Christmas, took this bird to her home to nurse him all the time knowing that he probably had polyoma which was a death sentence. I asked her to try to save him. The next day (although he'd done well the day before thanks to my vets treatments)---he was going downhill fast. When I went into the vets office to see him and give the vet my ok to have him euthanized---he saw me and took his last bit of energy to fly to the person he thought was his mother. He laid on my chest and let me stroke him---barely able to hold up his head and barely breathing. He was passing blood and dying as we watched. The kind thing to do was to put him to sleep. My sister is making me a head stone for him and I will never forget him. In 23 days I spent over $600 trying to save his life---people think I'm a fool as I would've spent that much more if it had been possible to save him. It wasn't to be. I told my little friend that he was to go to heaven and find a child that had died before his time and that he was a wonderful sweet and precious creature. I told him someday I'd see him again. It was the saddest day of my life. If someone asks you how much he was worth---well to me---he was priceless. Rest in Peace little "Socks"---the best cockatiel in the world. |
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Adopted Bird Dedication
