These are just a few of our recent Happy Endings:
UPDATE 4/19/05
Here is the latest report from Aztec's new Mom:
"Aztec is doing great! He's been mimicking sounds of farm animals (!?) such as goats and horses (and dogs) and does a movement routine that looks like a cross between modern dance and tai chi. I had made an appointment with an avian vet for a new adoptee well visit and he checks out just great so far (waiting on blood test results). While he is still a bit timid, he has become especially fond of my four year old son. He cozies up to him and has never flinched at his movements (you know how kids tend to wiggle a lot). He especially enjoys foot toys. Harrison's has been his primary diet and fruits and veggies are hit and miss, although he will burn through oranges like they're going out of style. He is adapting well to our other birds(ARA Oliver, CAG, and Harley, Conure). He appears happy and healthy and we feel lucky to have crossed paths with such a sweet bird! What a nice addition to our family."
Once I was lost, but now I'm found -- if I can find the right person. My name is Aztec, and I'm a male umbrella cockatoo, about 14 years old. My former owners found me in their yard, but they’ve now surrendered me to ARA. I'm missing 2 toenails, possibly from frostbite, but am otherwise in good condition. I'm timid and sweet and working on this step up thing. I enjoy having playtime outside my cage and love receiving scritches. My job is guard bird -- I'll let you know if any other bird is going where he shouldn't or if some animal shows up in your backyard. Your job is, of course, to learn something about big cockatoos and then help me to become your best friend. Am I just what you're looking for? (Note: We ask you to visit the mytoos website before pursuing adoption of a cockatoo. Make sure you turn up your speaker volume before going to the site!)
UPDATE 4/7/05:
Life is good! My foster family adopted me, and I have a new "palace" (a huge cage) for those rare times they make me stay inside. I still love fruit and pellets and I've learned about a lot of vegetables ... green beans, radishes, romaine, carrots and broccoli are now on my list of things I'll eat. I love my shower perches on the big kitchen window and, if they let me on the counter, I can clear it in seconds. Oooh, and the paper towels -- what fun! I also love to dive into drawers and clean them out too. In other words, I'm very helpful around the house! Head and under-the-wing scratches are very high on my list of priorities. I still pluck my chest and legs but, hey, it's a habit. Anyone who bites their fingernails can understand. I'm happy and they tell me how beautiful I am all the time. Yes, life is good!
Is there a "blue book" for birds? Apparently some of you humans have one that shows unbelievable depreciation in bird value. How else can you explain what happened to me? Somebody must have paid good money for me, and taken care of me, and even loved me. But I was dumped at an animal shelter. Well, throw out the blue book that says I have no value, and check out the BLUE and GOLD book. That's MY book and it says I'm worth a fortune. My name is Chakra, and I’m a blue and gold macaw. Not much is known of my history because of my unceremonious dumping. But my foster mom will tell you I'm a sweetheart. I love scritches and (so far) have not been terribly loud. I do make announcements, however, and give orders. Sometimes I just have to tell my noisy housemates (or the street sweeper) "Quiet!" I also say "hello," and "good girl." (My sex is still secret, so I won't say whether I'm describing myself or someone else with that last phrase.) I like to hang out on my cage, chew toys, and eat grapes, apples, and warm oatmeal. From my picture, you might notice I'm a bit plucked. That's not too uncommon for us blue and gold beauties. If you like to play detective, you might figure out why I do this job on my feathers and help me be more gentle with them. Or maybe you'll have to accept me the way I am. We've already established that the way I am is sweet, friendly, talkative, playful, so who needs perfect feathers? (Or, as the car salesman might say, forget the paint job and look under the hood!) Come meet me and I'll teach you something about value blue-and-gold style.
UPDATE 5/12/2005
Sidney and Carley's foster mom adopted them. Here is what she said:
"I adopted the two little "dumpster birds." A very nice lady (who had been approved by ARA) called about adopting them, and I began thinking, "Will she cover them at the right time at night?, Will she put the millet in the right spot for them?" ... Realizing how ridiculous my thoughts were meant only one thing — I needed to adopt Carly and Sidney myself! I have to "chase" them around the cage to get them out, but once out, they will step up and sit on my finger. If I leave the cage door open, Sidney loves to come out and explore, followed closely by Carly. And if he's feeling brave, Chaz (another foster budgie) will follow. So that's their story, and it has a happy ending!"
I wish budgies could scream, because I would like to yell at the top of my little lungs that BUDGIES ARE NOT THROWAWAY BIRDS! For that matter, no bird, no animal, should be tossed away like a used dixie cup. I'm Carley and my budgie friend is Sidney. We were found in a small container by a dumpster. My feathers are broken and messed up right now, but someday I will again be a pretty blue and white bird. Sid is green and yellow. Together we are quite a rainbow. We are sweet birds and, despite being treated like garbage, are not too skittish. If you are a human being (I don't think our former owner qualified) and can tell the difference between trash and treasure, please come meet us. We are two little treasures who just want to be cherished!
