My name is Stephan (pronounced like Steven but never, ever spelled like that) and I live in Eugene, Oregon, where I study at the University of Oregon. I'm majoring in Russian & Eastern European Studies, hence my username — "parrot" in Russian.
When I was 6 years old, a cockatiel showed up in my grandparents' backyard. My parents agreed to let me take care of her, and we couldn't locate her owner after a month, she could be mine. That month came and went with no success (luckily for me), and she became my very dear companion for the next 14 years. I named her Bubbles initially, but over time she became Bird. (I know, I know.) Bird helped me through many very tough times. I can't really express how difficult her passing was for me. I still miss her.
About four years ago, before Bird passed away, a male cockatiel showed up in a friend's backyard. I tried everything I could to find his owner, but to no avail. Buster was a quirky addition to the flock, coming as he did with some interesting songs (or attempts at songs) and affinity for feet. I have no idea how old Buster is, but he often strikes me as a grumpy old man.
After a couple of months without Bird, I felt that I really needed to find another bird with whom I could share that special bond. I looked into various species before setting my heart on getting a Senegal parrot. They don't seem to be very common in Oregon, so I ended up contacting Rainbow Parrots, a breeder in Georgia</a>. I found my baby Senegal parrot, Georgie Girl, and watched her grow in pictures and videos until she was old enough to send to me. She is generally affectionate and hilarious... though at times she is a downright menace. She'll be three years old in a month.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to being part of the community here! I hope everyone is having a nice December.
-Stephan
