Rhode Island Parrot Rescue

[Pajarita]

I thought it was just due to his age. I know all birds that come in get a full work-up from a vet. I also know that as part of the adoption process you have to establish a relationship with an avian vet.

No, birds don't really 'slow down' much when they age - that's a mammal thing. Birds continue their life normally, laying eggs and raising young, migrating, etc and, one day, they die.

As to 'full work-up'... well, there are work-ups and then there are work-ups and I know for a fact that rescues don't have the resources to do a complete physical on all birds that come in (and I know because I did in mine and I had to close it down when I went broke -I even lost my house because of it). If they did, they would have to charge $300 for a budgie adoption... Usually, they just do a fecal and a CBC.

[Navre]

This is a Hispaniolan Parrot named Tanya. She has a broken foot and fatty liver disease with multiple lipomas caused by a seed diet.

She is at least 20 years old.

Tanya is going home on Wednesday. Or, should I say, coming home. I'm adopting her.

[Pajarita]

Imagine that! In her prime and already having an old bird disease... Poor thing!

[Navre]

I know her previous owner had her for 20 years. I'm not sure of her age. She is being fostered because of the broken foot. I had never seen this species before.

[Navre]

I tried to work with Taco today. He is an Orangewinged Amazon. He is getting a bit cage aggressive. He just doesn't get out enough.

I sat with him in the playroom for about an hour. He would eat out of my hand, but he never did come out of the cage.

[Navre]

I also worked with MacKenzie today. She is a Peachfront Conure who has been abused in the past. She is a lot less shy now, and she will take treats out of my hand. She would relax with my hands in the cage, but she wouldn't come out today, either. At least she is moving in the right direction. She seems to be getting better.

Some birds do really well at the rescue, some do well for a while and then regress, others are immediately placed into foster situations because they can't take all the noise and chaos. (And I can't say that I blame them)

There just isn't enough time or enough help to get them all out of their cages as much as they need to be. We usually don't have more than one out in the main room at one time. Sometimes I'll have a bird out while another bird is out on the other side of the room, but I only do with with birds I can scoop up and move without hesitation. That pretty much means the just they greys and the 'zons (except for Taco). Another volunteer at the rescue calls me "The Grey Whisperer." Greys and 'zons like me. Macaws and Cockatoos do not. Not even a little. One of the Greenwings, Shane, is the sweetest bird. She steps up for everyone, she lets everyone scratch her head, but all she wants to do with me is bite me. We have 6 Macaws, 3 GW and 3 B+G, and I can only handle one. We have 4 cockatoos (Moluccan, citron, 2 goffins) and I can't handle any.

[Wolf]

Why do you think that this is ? I mean what do you think may be factors in why you are not able to handle these birds?

[Navre]

Why do you think that this is ? I mean what do you think may be factors in why you are not able to handle these birds?

I'm not really sure. It's probably the same reason I seem to be able to handle some birds that others can't. Birds are strange creatures!

I'm sure some birds don't like the beard, but I have no real explanation why the Greys and zons like me and the macaws and cockatoos don't.

[Wolf]

I suppose that one of the things that I was wondering was if you feel intimidated at all with the size of the bird and/ or its beak and if so is that strong enough for them to see it in your body language. Or if you think there might be other factors involved.

[Navre]

I suppose that one of the things that I was wondering was if you feel intimidated at all with the size of the bird and/ or its beak and if so is that strong enough for them to see it in your body language. Or if you think there might be other factors involved.

I don't think that's the case. The goffins and the citron crested are smaller than Greys or most of the Amazons. The greenwing with whom I do get along is probably the biggest bird in the place.