One Giant Leap of Faith for Mimi

[Wolf]

Many of you know that I adopted Mimi last Feb. and that she came to me as a total basket case, having suffered severe mental abuse for her entire 14 yrs. of life. She was totally terrified of people, of coming out of her cage and nearly everything else that you could imagine. The first couple of months here were filled with her incessant nonstop screaming from the instant that she woke up in the morning until she went to sleep at night with only short breaks while she ate her food.
She has made a lot of progress during her time with us and has made the effort to come out of her cage to perch on a perch that I mounted on the inside of her cage door so that when it was open ( nearly always) she would be out of the cage and even less frequently to perch on a tree that I built for her and placed just outside of her cage. Every time she took one step forward it was followed shortly by two steps back into her own private hell. Even now she only come out of her cage for short periods of time onto the door perch and maybe once a month to perch on her tree.
The biggest change has been in the tone of her speaking as she is quite the talker. At first all of her words were screamed and gradually the volume lessened to mostly approximate someone with a loud piercing voice but it had this deep, seated sadness and tormented quality to it. It is almost impossible to describe the tonal quality of it, but it just ripped your heart out to hear it and felt like your heart was being shredded in front of your eyes. It has been a very difficult year.
This tonal attribute in her voice has gradually started to change a little, to the point that it doesn't quite rip your heart out all of the time and for the first time ever since she came to live with us, this Thurs. ,past we heard her speak with just the slightest bit of joy in her voice. It almost sounded normal although it only lasted for a minute and then sank back beneath the surface again.
Saturday afternoon for the very first time she actually allowed us to touch her on the head and neck for a few minutes and even more remarkable was the fact that she reached out to touch us with her beak. Although it looked rather menacing from the side she was very gentle and made absolutely no attempt to bite although it looked like she was going to take your fingers off at any moment. She also was asking to be touched and reaching to touch again yesterday.
For Mimi, this is a monumental step forward and has taken all year to achieve this step in her healing process. I just wanted to share this remarkable accomplishment, from this extremely remarkable bird. I am just so proud of her!!!

[liz]

Wolf, that is just wonderful. Thank you for sharing. My day is brighter now.

Not many people can rescue and rehab but with your personality I had no doubt. You are such a kind soul that the birds can feel it. They have more going on in their little bird brains than most people know.

Unless a person has done it, there is really no way to explain the joy we feel when the little battered bird reaches out.

"Tickle tickle" started out backwards really. By saying it and wiggling one finger, Myrtle would put up a foot to block me. She was so afraid of everything. When her foot was up I tickled the palm of her foot. It has become like a hand shake. She asks for a tickle tickle every time she lands on me.

[Pajarita]

Awwww, how very wonderful for her and you, Wolf! People don't realize how long it takes to get a parrot to begin to forget their previous bad situation and finally break out of the wall they built around themselves. They think that a couple of months should do it and it cannot be farther from the truth! It takes years and years for the poor things to fully trust again... but what an incredibly rewarding experience each little step they take is for us who have been patiently trying, waiting and suffering for them! Kudos to you, my friend!

[Wolf]

I am hoping that we will be able to keep this step alive and well and that it isn't another one step forward and two step back again. But even if it turns out that way it is still a tremendous improvement for her and a sign that she is still healing and that our efforts to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to her healing is not in vain.
I do try to encourage her without pushing and to let her know that it doesn't matter to me that she is loved regardless of any issues that she may have. She is the one doing all of the hard work leading to every forward step no matter how long or short its duration. I am so proud of her!!!

[Harpmaker]

Congratulations Wolf and Mimi! I am happy for you both. May Mimi's progress continue!

[liz]

To me they feel like little war orphans who can't speak your language and can't tell you what horrors they have been through.
Even though she can't tell you, I am sure Mimi has learned that you love her/

[Pajarita]

I know for a fact she will continue to improve, Wolf. It's always two steps forward, one back with abused birds and it does take years for them to actually 'come back' but if one shows patience, doesn't push in any way, is consistent in the routines and talks talks talks talks talks in a sweet praisy tone of voice, they do begin to show an interest. I've had Zeus (male Yellow Nape Amazon, around 15 years old or so - previous owner punched him when he bit) for 3 years or so and it's only been about a month or so that he allows me to touch his beak and, mind you, he was the one that took the first step to approach me because all I ever did was talk to him.

Also, don't forget that although better diet and a solar schedule help A LOT with their moods, they also take a long time (it's not only a matter of getting them used to it, it's a matter of the body producing the level of hormones it needs and I am not talking only sexual, I am talking the happiness and reward hormones). Nothing is fast with parrots. Nothing!

[shiraartain]

How lovely! So great to hear of your progress thus far-and amazing for Mimi, as she has found a home where she is safe and happier.

[Pajarita]

Yes, you have actually hit the nail right on the head, Shira! For abused birds, feeling safe is what makes the difference and the very first step toward rehabilitation.

[Wolf]

Just in case anyone is interested, it has been about 10 days and Mimi is still reaching out to us, primarily to my Lady, but still reaching out. She now steps up about 40% of the time for her and lets my Lady carry her around the room and pass her to me for short periods of time and then back to my Lady for another pass around the room and she is also climbing around a little on the sides of her cage, this is on the outside of it not on the inside. She has also just started to climb over to her tree on her own. This is another step forward, with no steps back just yet.