An old bird

[Georges mom]

This past week George has lost his footing while playing atop his cage and has fallen off and flew down to the ground. Both times he got a little weird about it and puffed out his wings squawked then resumed playing. Today, he was playing on his rings that hang from the ceiling and he just flew off them and landed on the floor. He climbed on top of his cage was hanging out on an outside perch and flew down to the ground. I know he can't fly but it's like he's just discovered he has wings. Is this ok for him to be doing this?? It's like he's discovered a shortcut from having to climb down now when he wants to come out. Also, with the help,of Wolf a picture of George should be posting soon.

[liz]

Flying is very important to physical and mental health. It is a large part of their lives. Encourage him to continue. He will really have to work at it to strengthen the muscles required.

[Wolf]

Flying inside of a house can be very difficult for a bird that is the size of a Grey or an Amazon as they have to slow down their normal speed in order to maintain the maneuverability required to avoid obstacles and this require more physical strength than their normal flight would require. This is one of the reasons for outdoor aviaries and the development of harnesses and flight suits for birds. It is also one of the reasons that many of our larger parrots do not fly very much, they are in an enclosed space that is too small for them to fly in their normal manner. Most of these birds only fly to the degree that they need to in order to not get hurt when they forget to hang on or for landings from a higher place to a lower one. That is what it appears to me that George is trying to do. I really doubt that he will do much more than what you have already described him as doing although he could become fairly proficient at that. I would not discourage this.

[Pajarita]

YES!!! It's not only 'OK' for him to be doing it, it's FABULOUS!!!! YAAAAYYYYY for George!!!! If I were you, I would praise him profusely every time he glides or flies -even if it's a quasi-failing attempt. Flying is not only very healthy for them from a physical point of view, it is also greatly beneficial to their emotional wellbeing.

[Wolf]

Pictures of George from George's Mom.

[Georges mom]

So, how does George look for being 60? I've seen so many beautiful birds through this forum and I'm not sure if he looks ok for his age better or worse. He eats like a horse and gets tons of exercise but the vet said he has fat sacks underneath. His labs are all good but his feet need a little oil. When looking up close at him I noticed that he has beautiful eyelashes. Can't believe I didn't notice them before.

[galeriagila]

Georgie Porgie, PUDDIN' AND PIE...

YOU are the (Parrot) MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am honored to know of you!

Finally, the Rickeybird has a big brother to look up to you!

Wow.

And he's gorgeous!

[Pajarita]

Awww, there he is! Handsome George! And, I have to tell you, I think you lucked out because, unless George has a closed leg band indicating that he was born in 1956, I seriously, seriously doubt that bird is 60 years old. For one thing, amazon parrots lifespan is 50 -60 years but, even within the 'normal' life expectancy, it is VERY rare that they actually reach it in captivity (the greatest majority of them die before they are 40 and, for what I have been able to gather through birdsites, most of them die in their 20's or early 30's as a matter of fact). It is possible that, in the future, they will reach a grand old age but all the old parrots we have nowadays were fed crap for so many years that they either did not make it or look terrible (like my Mami). This parrot has unsunken eyes (one of the two aging signs in parrots), unswollen joints (inevitable in all old parrots kept in captivity), normal looking skin on his feet (they are not scaly at all), perfect plumage and a very small yellow spot (all the 'yellow headed' amazons have the characteristic that their yellow 'mark' gets bigger with age) - all this put together tells me this is not an old bird.

So, congrats, my dear, I think you will have your George for many years still!

[Georges mom]

I hope so. The vet actually said the exact same thing you did and I can only go by what the rescuer told me. She said he was with same owner for first 40'yrs then bounced around for the last 20. I'd be so lucky to have him another 20-30 years.... We could grow old together

[Georges mom]

Also...... A big thank you to Wolf for posting pics of my George!