Second Hand Birds - Yours, Mine and Ours
By Pamela Clark, Clark's Exotics

 

One More Lost Home

The subject of "rescue" birds or second-hand birds has come up several times on the Pet Bird Report Internet discussion list, as well as many others. The number of unwanted and neglected or abused parrots grows larger each day, and it has become an issue of which few can remain unaware. The stories abound. In any discussion of the problem, I hear the dismay expressed by caring people who hate hearing that one more parrot has lost it's home. I also hear their reluctance to take on the problems of such a bird, based upon their doubts that they would be able to meet the challenges presented by an older bird with established problematic behavior patterns. I hear concerns about the "sacrifice" that taking in such a bird could entail.

I intended at one time to have only three parrots, my Blue-headed Pionus, my Double-yellow Headed Amazon and my African Grey. Although I still believe that a total of three parrots in one household is ideal, 15 parrots now live with us. Some of them I think of as "rescued" birds, just because they came from unhappy or abusive circumstances to enjoy a more complete and nurturing existence in our home. Each has found his way to us and seemed at the time to be a good fit. Each one of them has had something to teach me, and they bring light and love to my life. Sometimes the things they teach me touch me in the deepest recesses of my heart.

My Raffle Bird

Some time ago, in PBR Issue #39, I told the story of Goldie, our Blue and Gold Macaw. She came to us from a bird mart raffle almost four years ago. Our original delight at bringing her home had quickly turned to apprehension and dismay when we realized the extent of her behavior problems. In that original article, I described how she would scream for long periods, then berate herself in an angry man's voice, calling herself names. I spoke of making a commitment to her, the commitment to see her through her behavior problems. At that point in time, I had no idea of the many things she would teach me over the years that we have had her. Today, Goldie enriches my existence in a way I never would have dreamed. Her exotic beauty has only grown, as she has continued to enjoy a better diet. And her warm, loving heart has only become more apparent as she has learned appropriate ways of behaving.

Just recently, I caught her in the act of playing with one of her toys in the same manner in which I play with her. She sat on her perch, holding a hanging toy in one foot. She leaned toward her toy, and at the same time brought it closer to her, touched her beak to it while making a loud kissing noise, then said, "Oh...I love!!!" Having her has been difficult at times as we struggled to negotiate a relationship, but the rewards have been far greater than the challenges, and today our home is graced by her presence in a manner for which I will forever be grateful.

Goldie provided me with my first lessons about taking in second-hand parrots. She specifically taught me that, when I take in such a bird, it must be done on the bird's terms, and that it is up to me to make the situation work. She taught me that the early environmental patterning that young parrots experience in their first homes, leaves an imprint on them that will remain for a long, long time.

Creating Security

Being prey animals, parrots imprint strongly on their physical surroundings, as well as other elements of their environment, especially in their first homes in which they live when young. Thus, when taking in a parrot that has had a previous home, especially one who has suffered neglect or abuse, one of the most effective tools for the rehabilitation of that bird will be to perform an ongoing "informal interview" of that bird, to determine his "likes" and "dislikes". We must work to discover which set of circumstances will create the greatest sense of safety and security for that particular parrot.

This takes the willingness to be a bit of a sleuth and a readiness to throw out all the generalizations that usually work with most birds. We must begin the gentle process of offering choices to such a bird, in order to find out what strikes a cord in that bird which reminds him of the security he once had—a certain design of cage, another species of bird, a certain gender human, a particular type of fast food.

What makes him happiest? Does he light up when you cook scrambled eggs in the morning? Watch his body language. If so, bring him to the table with you or stand next to his cage and share those scrambled eggs. To you, they might just be eggs; to him, they might equate to all the love he has ever experienced. If you turn on music and you see him bobbing his head... turn it up loud. Honor what he shows you. Sing to him...loudly. It doesn't matter what you sing...the spirit will not be lost on him, and if music ever meant anything to him, he will be just that much more secure.

A Critical Job To Do

There is always something that will spell security to such a bird. Our job is to find it. For my Goffin's Cockatoo, it's music and dancing. For my White-capped Pionus, it's friendship with my little Senegal. For my Blue and Gold Macaw, it's having a cover over the top of her cage all the time, even if the sides are pulled up during the daytime.

We can discover what makes a rescued or second-hand parrot feel safe and happy by providing choices and watching carefully to see his reaction. And, this leads into my statement that we must be willing to throw out all the generalizations. Our greatest desire is to allow the bird to settle into his new home with as little adjustment trauma as possible, which will then create an ambient atmosphere for work with any existing behavior problems.

My Umbrella Cockatoo, Professor, is very nervous, especially when handled. Being on my hand creates incredible anxiety for him. He immediately tries to scurry up to my shoulder. I don't allow that, but I insist that he step up on my hand, praise him for this, and then give him permission to get on my shoulder for the walk to another perch. It's against all the "rules" to allow a male adult Umbrella Cockatoo on your shoulder, but in this case, I can use it to increase his trust and comfort, and eventually I will phase out this privilege.

Preferring Birds

Further, I have learned that I need to dispense with my preconceived notions of what an adult parrot who has had previous homes might want. Some don't really want primary bonds with people. They prefer birds. They have never learned to have a good relationship with a human, and they don't really want one either. This usually becomes apparent at some point, and I think must be respected. I have a rescued African Grey right now who is like this. She has been here for well over a year now and has made great strides in accepting a new diet and enhanced environment. She has learned to step-up and be handled without biting or fearfulness. However, she does not really wants more attention either. She enjoys the company of other Greys more, and will, I think, do well with an avian cagemate or friend. I believe that a parrot needs a primary bond, and if this is not with a human, then we should let it be with another parrot. Not for breeding purposes at all—just for companionship and the joys of mutual preening.

A Need For Human Friendship

On the other hand, some rescued parrots want in the most desperate way to have that closeness with a human that they once had and lost. Wanda, a male Timneh Grey, was left at some point for boarding in a pet shop in New York City. His owners never came back for him. He then found his way to a breeder in California, who ultimately decided not to keep him after all. Wanda incorporated himself into our household without much ado.

He is 17 years old, according to his closed band, and has a steady, affectionate personality. Since I had a Timneh hen at the time, I had imagined that they might make up a breeding pair. However, Wanda has been making clear his desires...which seem to include being pet again. He shows no interest in Timera, my female. Instead, he frequently climbs down from his perch and comes to find me with the silent request that we spend time together. He barely knows me at this point. However, he tells me in the little Timneh whispers of communication I hear that a human is what he knows. He likes the other birds, but they were not his earliest bonding experience. He has convinced me to give up my plans for breeding him.

Wanda is a good teacher, and reacts to his new environment in ways that teach me a lot about his past. Occasionally, I will take whatever I am eating and walk around the room offering to share it with any bird that is interested. I get varying responses. However, Wanda always acts like he has been starving to death when such an offer is made. What he tells me is that at one time he was a pet who was able to frequently share his human partner's meals. That experience was so profound for him that he has never forgotten it. He has had other homes, and the one he is in now is a good one, but he exhibits no happiness greater than when he enjoys this small pleasure that reminds him of the home he once had, in which he was so happy. I think that he and I both wonder what he could have done to lose it.

A Unique Rescue

I sometimes joking refer to Ruby, our female Senegal, as a bird we rescued from ourselves. Her story offers a good example of the truth that parrots are complex creatures, with desires of their own, and that we do our best work with them when we make allowances for these preferences. We purchased Ruby as a chick with the intent that, after weaning and fledging her, she would be placed in a breeding situation. According to plan, she was placed in a nice flight with a well-tempered male when she was old enough. A few months later, I noticed she was missing her tail feathers, and I wondered if she had broken them off. Within a week, I observed that she was now missing several flight feathers, and these had obviously been chewed off. I thought back to her sweetness as a chick and to how much she had seemed to enjoy the human contact she received. Sensing that she was not happy in her current situation, I brought her back inside that day and placed her in a nice cage, well-appointed with toys. She remains with us, despite my less-than-whole-hearted attempts at placing her as a pet. She makes it abundantly clear that her wish is to stay with us, and she is quite persuasive.

Six Homes In Nine Years

Topper, our little Goffin's Cockatoo, came to us from Northcoast Bird Adoption & Rehabilitation Center, Inc. in Ohio. He has been displaced six times in his nine years. I have found out quite a bit about his past, and some of it is tragic. However, his first home was a happy one with a woman who loved him deeply, and this early experience seems to have served him well. We have had Topper now for about a year, and he has adapted well to our home. He can be loud, as all cockatoos can. However, it is hard to imagine that the normal, but manageable, amount of noise he makes could have outweighed the pleasure of his charm. His greatest moments of enjoyment seem to be in listening to music and dancing. No doubt, someone in his past used to show him love in this manner.

Gracie, a Red-lored Amazon, came to us several months ago. Her history includes having been physically abused to the point that she experienced seizures from swelling of the brain. For the last 8 years, she lived in a parakeet cage (12"x12"x12") with one perch, a dish of seed and a dish of filthy water. I had sworn that I wouldn't take in another bird. And then one day, circumstances saw me in the same room with this bird with the current caretaker who couldn't keep her and was concerned that she might have trouble placing her because she was such a "special needs" bird. I was presented a choice at that moment ... and Gracie came home with me. I didn't even have to think about it. Life is sacred, and when presented with a choice to honor that truth, we had better rise to the occasion in whatever way we are able.

In the beginning I had to find ways to handle her without touching her, since she's terrified of being on someone's hand. My first challenge was to get her out of that tiny cage, into a temporary cage I could put up high to foster a sense of safety in her. She spent the first three weeks in this cage on the dining room table, watching me handle and play with all the other birds. She ate like she'd been starving to death. Gradually, she started letting me touch her and stopped threatening to bite. Soon, she had grown comfortable enough to ask for scritches, by tucking her head, every time I walked by or came over to talk to her. In fact, her comfort level was pretty good, so I sensed it was time for the next challenge.

My goal was to move her into a small California Cage with a playtop, where she would be at a lower height also. I want her to learn to live as my other parrots do. This will make her more "adoptable", if I decide I can part with her and I find an appropriate home. Occasionally, she flies off the top of her cage, where I've been letting her hang out. When this happened again, I picked her up (she will now step up from the floor) and placed her on the cage I had ready for her. I knew she'd stay put because 20 years of no exercise and injuries has made her a pretty stay-in-one-place bird. She has adjusted well to her new cage, and appears quite happy with life overall. She is beginning to regain the strength in her feet from playing with foot toys.

I can't even begin to articulate the bond I feel with this bird and the respect I have for her...as she takes the risk to trust me. She exemplifies the courage, resourcefulness and resiliency possessed by the majority of parrots. She has been a gift to me. There has been no sacrifice on our part. Every morning since she's come here, I have awakened to the happy anticipation of getting to know her better. She is incredibly sweet-natured. The challenges of making her comfortable here have demanded that I bring the very best in me to the situation. She, in turn, is offering me her best. I have thought for some time that having parrots is a very spiritual experience, and none has been more spiritual (or full of spirit) than this one.

I gave this illustration for a reason. I haven't been doing this for years and years. I do have common sense, and the good fortune to have impeccable intent when it comes to my birds...and they sense this. Gracie is my 10th rescue, and I have neither spent huge sums of money nor had terrible problems with any of them. The fact is that many behavior problems, which cause a bird to lose his home, are the result of really bad environment and nutrition. Simply providing a healthful diet, exercise, adequate light, proper cage and enough attention and stimulation will resolve many problems. Others can be dealt with by consulting with a good behaviorist.

Most Recent Arrival

Our most recent arrival is Cody, a wild-caught African Grey. Still in quarantine, he will not meet my eyes, nor give any indication of wanting to learn of his new surroundings. Captured from the wild, he has spent the last 10 years in a round wrought-iron parrot cage, eating only a seed diet, receiving little attention in an otherwise barren cage environment. I visit him several times a day, and grow more concerned each time. He mystifies me somewhat, and I have struggled to find the words to describe in my own mind his demeanor. All I can say is that he gives the impression of having no soul, of a parrot whose spirit left him years ago. Not until yesterday, did I see a glimmer of personality. I got a little silly with him, and he looked directly at me for the first time and whistled. I breathed a sigh of relief. He'll come back—it will just take some time.

We Are The Solution

We tend to wring our hands and talk about bad breeders and the need for more rescue facilities. However, the truth is ... the solutions lie with us as parrot keepers. I believe that, if we choose to keep an undomesticated pet, then we fall responsible for the welfare of all those others of like species improperly cared for, as well as those in danger of extinction in their natural settings ... in whatever way we can act with the resources we have.

Keeping parrots carries with it a higher level of responsibility than keeping dogs and cats does ... just by virtue of the fact that they are undomesticated. By default, if we have a parrot, we are embroiled in the politics of man vs. nature. I'm sure this sounds extreme to some ... but I believe it to be a very direct and simple correlation. At the very least we all need to accept the responsibility for educating anyone we can get to listen, about how parrots should be cared for. This alone may reduce the numbers of birds who lose their homes.

But, ultimately what is needed are people who can decide to, instead of buying one more hand-fed baby, give an older parrot a home. You don't have to have years and years of experience to do this. If you have one bird or two that are happy and healthy, then why not—if you are sure you want another bird—take in one whose life needs repairing? I have no greater pleasure than watching as my "rescue" birds grow more comfortable and trusting with each day and allow their personalities to unfold and be revealed to us. It was a major breakthrough one day with a previously abused and neglected African Grey, Sammy, when he looked right at me and belched the heartiest burp he could ... he was trying to make me laugh—a gesture of friendship and trust—an attempt on his part to bridge the gap between himself and humans that had long ago arisen.

Rescue birds are not someone else's worry. They are your worry. They are my worry. If we have one parrot as our companion the rest belong in our hearts as a worry. Be ready, for your turn may come. You might be asked: "Will you take this bird?"

 

This informative article has been reprinted from the Companion Parrot Quarterly . For more information about the Companion Parrot Quarterly, please contact: The Companion Parrot Quarterly, PO Box 2428, Alameda, CA 94501-0254.

E-mail: info@companionparrot.com

Website: www.companionparrot.com.

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