Hi from Kissimmee FL

[Rita Edwards]

Hello everyone,

My name is Rita and I have been involved with animal rescue for a long time.

Last Thursday night I was visiting my local pet super market for one particular treat that my dogs enjoy. As I was waiting at the checkout with my item, it was difficult to avoid looking at and listening to a beautiful bird that was in a yucky cage (not a cage like the store has) at the end of the cashier's station and so I asked only one question..."what kind of bird is that?"...it was such an innocent question...

The cashier began to ramble on and tell me that some woman came into the store a couple of hours earlier and left him there! She said she didn't want the bird. The cashier was trying to explain to the lady that it was not the stores policy to accept unwanted pets. The lady had given the cashier just a little information about the bird when the cashier had to excuse herself for one moment to take care of a customer and that's when the lady left the store.

Needless to say I was floored...but not shocked. I have seen this kind of thing many times in my life and it always saddens me...

So I asked the cashier what she was going to do. She told me that all she could do was to call animal control because the bird could not stay there and she didn't want the bird either but that I could take the bird, cage and all if I wanted to and that it would save her the trouble.

Yes...I took the bird. I purchased some food (Healthy Select Parrot Food) and got home with the bird.

What I was told about the bird is that his name is Piper, (not even totally sure he is a boy now) Piper has a pretty nice vocabulary, I was told he is a Grey Headed Cape, 7 years old, he does not have a band on his leg, he is very sweet and allows me to handle him and I have been handling him often throught the days so that he gets familiar with me and builds trust. His wings are indeed clipped.

Yesterday I found a beautiful cage for him on Craig's List that is really for a McCaw but is in excellent (like new) condition and the price could not be beat! I figured that in this case, bigger is better. I went and purchased extra perches and climbing ropes so that he could manuver his way around better. He seems to LOVE it.

I have been reading as much information as I can find on these birds since Thursday night.

On Friday morning I called the local news to see if they wanted to help me in an effort to rehome the bird to someone more qualified but they said they were not up for this kind of story at the moment and it sort of ticked me off.

Ok...so I am in love with Piper now and have decided to keep him and also to educate myself so that I will be a good fit for him as well and a responsible Cape mommy.

Any tips are appreciated. This forum and site seems to be the one that has the most information available and things are explained in terms that are easy to understand and with great detail. I like that.

Sorry for my long winded introduction...

Oh...my crew (pack) (Scrabble, Sparky, Pippi, Sparkles and Hershey) are not bothered by the new family member which is good but I will keep Piper a safe enough distance from them for now to be sure there are no accidents, especially when I am handling him.

Silly question of the day...Is Piper usually the name of a boy bird or a girl?

Thanks!!!!

Rita

[parrotsareyay]

not sure about the name, but welcome!
Sometimes, pets just appear in our lives like that huh?
such a nice story, hope ur cape is still doing good and is having an awesome time!

[LemonLover]

i lve that u took the bird! Welcome!

[Conure_Concierge]

Rita,
Welcome and bless you; it takes courage, commitment and a big heart to rescue animals.

I’m relatively new to this forum, but I do have an (un)Cape myself. Piper is a unisex name so you’re okay either way. Adult Poicephalus fuscicollis are sexually dimorphic, the females have orange foreheads and the males have grey.

Don’t be surprised if he/she drools… capes sometimes do that and it’s a real strange sight.

[liz]

Welcome to the forum.

I know nothing about Capes. Many in our forum have them. Key Cape in search to go back and pick up on posted history. Someone will get back to you soon who has knowlege to share.

You are a good soul. If you had not taken it, someone who really didn' care about birds might have come in and taken it on impulse. That would be a terrible fate.

Thank you.

[Rita Edwards]

Rita,
Welcome and bless you; it takes courage, commitment and a big heart to rescue animals.

I’m relatively new to this forum, but I do have an (un)Cape myself. Piper is a unisex name so you’re okay either way. Adult Poicephalus fuscicollis are sexually dimorphic, the females have orange foreheads and the males have grey.

Don’t be surprised if he/she drools… capes sometimes do that and it’s a real strange sight.

I think I am going to be in for a lot of surprises! I figured Piper might be a unisex name but wasn't sure. I'd rather risk asking a silly question than to stand around scratching my head and wondering about it.

I'm guessing Piper is a "he" since his forehead does not have orange feathers...

I really appreciate the feedback!! Thank you!!!!

[Rita Edwards]

Welcome to the forum.

I know nothing about Capes. Many in our forum have them. Key Cape in search to go back and pick up on posted history. Someone will get back to you soon who has knowlege to share.

You are a good soul. If you had not taken it, someone who really didn' care about birds might have come in and taken it on impulse. That would be a terrible fate.

Thank you.

I was also afraid that someone would just set him free thinking he can fend for himself, which I am pretty sure he can't. It doesn't take much time for any pair of blinking eyes to get to my heart. On top of everything, while I was making coffee yesterday morning, he said "good morning" to me... I just about fell over!

[liz]

LOL - he has you now.

No telling where that poor kid has been during his lifetime. They won't tell.

Michael has a baby Cape named Truman. He just posted a Halloween video. Key in Truman on search.

[Rita Edwards]

LOL - he has you now.

No telling where that poor kid has been during his lifetime. They won't tell.

Michael has a baby Cape named Truman. He just posted a Halloween video. Key in Truman on search.

From what I have been reading and watching, this Michael knows his birds! And now I think that it is official...I've been pooped on.

[Michael]

Welcome. Sad story, but glad the bird found a good home. I caution you to wonder what baggage this bird comes with if someone was so eager to just dump it off at a store. There could be more than meets the eye. Cape Parrots can be really sweet but if they get aggressive, that's a heck of a big beak to take a chomp from. Regardless of how tame the bird is, I suggest working on taming from scratch anyway to develop a training relationship:

http://TrainedParrot.com/Taming