Ok, so I never use craigslist but since you brought it up I went there to see what you're talking about. The first thing I came across was this:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brx/for/1738736083.htmlThey go on and on about what a wonderful, beautiful, playful, friendly parrot is is and how picky they are about the new owner being less of a bastard than they are that will love the bird and not rehome it! And then they want $3,000 for the parrot!? The nerve! They are getting rid of the bird "Unfortunately because of my spouses and my demanding schedule, we are no longer able to prioritize Malibu or bestow any genuine attention." And then they want someone who is better to take the bird: "We are looking for a true bird lover/ buyer, who are willing to treat Malibu as a member of their family, and are truly going to care for her as a child." Are you fucking kidding me??? Seriously??? Do people do this to their children? "Woops, sorry kid, don't have time to work, go out, AND take care of you so I guess we're going to have to find a new home for you" The poor bird lives in a museum piece case as it is. Maybe the sick asshole is bored of it because he just treats it like a piece of furniture and never spends enough time with it to develop a relationship he'd enjoy! The bird is only 2 years old and this has to happen to it because some lazy inconsiderate prick thought it would decorate his room nicely? And then after all that he is going to ask money for it!!!!????
Everyone has a busy schedule... I think it mostly just comes down to people choosing how they spend their "off time." Perhaps for some people, they have so little that it would have to all be consumed by their parrot while for others they can do other things as well. But I'd really have a hard time believing someone could buy a parrot but not have enough time for it later on unless they are just really selfish and want to spend the time for themselves and not their parrot commitment.
If I were in a truly desperate situation (other than bankruptcy) where I had no other choice but to have someone else care for my bird, I'd probably be the one to pay them and give them money toward a fund to care for the parrot. And these sick people, after making all sorts of demands, are claiming to give you a bargain deal cause they spend $10,000 on it but are only asking 3,000????? This is just sickening.
And then there are others about people bouncing parrots around. They wanted to be all noble and rescue it but now they got bored of it themselves, etc.