Rhode Island Parrot Rescue

[Navre]

I've been tying to work with Nicholas, the TAG, but he really doesn't like me much. He will take corn, or pastachios from my fingers, but if I hold them on my open palm, he won't take them.

He still won't come out of the cage for me. He does come out for other people.

I'm working with him twice a week.

[galeriagila]

Thank you for the work you do.

I'm sure some of your rescues have had awful experiences, and are scarred in mind and sometimes body. I think you're wonderful for helping them.

Sincerely,
Gail

[Navre]

Thank you for the work you do.

I'm sure some of your rescues have had awful experiences, and are scarred in mind and sometimes body. I think you're wonderful for helping them.

Sincerely,
Gail

Thanks. The birds are pretty awesome. I should post another batch of photos of the birds. We have a lot of new ones.

[Pajarita]

I would not say that all parrots in a rescue had awful experiences just because they don't come out of their cages or refuse to take a treat. For one thing, it seems to me that the owners must have cared about them if they put them in a rescue because they could have just as easily sold them in CL and make some money in the process. And, for another, rescues are terribly traumatic for parrots... especially species like grays that need to bond deeply and be able to rely completely on a single human. The care and the love is there but there is no 'chosen one' that is always there for them so, although everybody tries real hard, they still don't get what they need.

[Navre]

And, for another, rescues are terribly traumatic for parrots... especially species like grays that need to bond deeply and be able to rely completely on a single human. The care and the love is there but there is no 'chosen one' that is always there for them so, although everybody tries real hard, they still don't get what they need.

This is why I want to take Nick. I figure he'll come around eventually once he is home. He has been in the rescue for a year, now.
I don't want to take him until I'm able to get him to come out of his cage. He will have to come out for vet visits, etc. I'm just willing to take him well before he bonds with me.

[Pajarita]

John, if I were you, I would not wait for any particular behavior from him before I take him home - and, most especially, I would not wait for a behavior that is based on trust. Grays are difficult birds. They are naturally high-strung and distrustful, and they seem to require more than other species to trust their human 100% before they even start to warm up to them - but that is not something that comes easy to them even under the best of circumstances (remember that these are highly intelligent birds for whom not belonging is real hardship). Sometimes, you get lucky and they see something in you that maybe reminds them of a person they loved in the past and they love you at first sight but, although this does happen (it happened to Wolf with Kookooloo and it happened to me with Sophie) it's actually not common. Most of them take their own sweet time and, when they are in a rescue, been cared for by different people, it's not likely to happen (it's all that stress). But it doesn't mean it won't happen once he is in your home and he realizes this is his new home. If you are worried about taking him to the vet, just do it on your way home when you adopt him - that way, the stress is only once and once this is over, he can begin to relax in his new home. I bet you he will be a completely different bird once this happens!

[Navre]

That's the plan right now. His cage was delivered yesterday. Once I get it set up, I can try to schedule a vet visit and take him to the vet on the way home. He's due for a vet visit anyhow. His last one was in June of last year.

[Wolf]

And I have no idea as to what she would have seen that would have reminded her of the guy that she had chosen as her human. Her first sight of me was through the windshield of my pickup truck. Then I got out and she could really see the difference between us as from my information he was about 6foot tall, with short hair and no beard and he is black, or African American or whatever is correct these days. And since she liked me before I said anything, I am not thinking that my voice had anything to do with it either.

I have often wondered about what it might have been that could have reminded her of him, or if it was something else. They do see into the ultra violet so perhaps she saw something there which of course would be invisible to us.

[Pajarita]

Maybe you looked like the man who bred her originally - or maybe the husband of the woman who bred her - they do have long memories so it could have been somebody 'nice' from her infancy. I looked a little bit like Sophie's owner (woman, blonde, short hair) so I think that was what made her bond with me so easily, but Sophie is quite unusual in that she also has an easy-going, calm personality and gets along with practically anybody.

Sounds like a great plan, John! Please let us know how things are going as they develop (you know how nosy we are when it comes to other people's birds )

[galeriagila]

When I walked into the bird store where I first met the Rickeybird, he raced to me, ran up my arm, and tumbled over onto his back, cooing and kicking. Everyone was stunned. Yes of COURSE I bought him. I'll make a long story short. After tracing the information on his band, which I still have saved after we had it removed, led me to his breeder. We exchanged information; she sent me her brochure. She could have been my twin. Tall, thin, long red hair, big 80s glasses. I sent her a picture of me with the bird. I wonder if I still have that brochure...