It’s Only the Good Friday!

What is it?: Only The Good Friday
When is it?: Every doggone Friday
What do you post?: Anything you want, as long as it’s “good”–meaning “not negative.”
How do I join? Write a post. Link back to Only the Good Friday at This Eclectic Life

Pick up a banner made by yours truly here, if you want!

What’s good in Thorne’s World today?

When we change the way we view things, we change the way we feel, the way we write and the way we are perceived in return. All that adds a lil more good in an often f-ed up world. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a good idea!

Wooo Hooo!!  Thornie and her flock are gettin’ their good on in the new aviary!!  Here’s the deal.  I love my parrots and my evil ‘Too, Kisses.  Right now my flock is holding at 6, and they are all my babies.  When I fist fell in love with my African Grey, Hildy, and began to learn about companion parrots, providing for her needs was practically instinctive to me.  She is an intelligent being who requires love and companionship and stimulation for that active mind and curious beak (or is that curious mind and active beak?  Both, really).  Pretty simple, right?  A bigger cage, a varied diet, lots of brightly colored toys to chew and destroy.

Not simple enough for most folks who find themselves enamored by these beautiful feathered creatures.  Now bear with me, because I know this is Only the Good Friday, and I’ve got good to share, but I need to give you a little bit of back story before I get to the good.

These 3 images are of Kisses having a shower!  He loves to be sprayed with the hose when the weather is warm.  He flaps his wings and shakes his tail and preens.  He makes the cutest noises and sips the water from the boing or cage bars.

According to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association (APPMA),  there were 19.2 million “pet” birds in 6.9 million households in the year 2000 and 17.2 million “pet” birds in 6.7 million households in 2002, as compared with 12.8 million in 5.6 million households in 1992. The  APPMA survey estimates that there were around 16.6 million birds in 6.4 million households as of 2004.

What most folks don’t realize when they decide to fork out a thousand to two thousand bucks for a pretty bird is that whether wild-caught or captive bred, parrots and other exotic birds are not domesticated animals; they are the offspring of other countries’ native species who were taken from the wild.  Like other exotic wild animals, captive parrots display natural instincts, needs, and behaviors- crucial for survival in their native habitats—that are not considered desirable ‘pet’ qualities. Often, the realities and difficulties of living with a parrot cause many unprepared caretakers to become disenchanted and seek to rid themselves of the responsibility of providing lifetime care.

What is not accurately known is the actual number of displaced parrots.  What I know, is that within only a year of discovering my love for these incredible creatures I had 4 of them.  By 2007 I had taken in a total of 10 companion parrots and cockatoos with various neglect or abuse issues. I have been able to place 2 of them in good, permanent adoptive homes, and another 2 have passed away, which leaves me now with a flock of 6.

This is Samwise aka: Sam the man.  He is another one who occasionally gives me a good chomp.  He’s a typical male amazon, though.  He doesn’t bit me to save me from danger or sexual predators… hehe.  He bites me whenever there’s a pretty girl around.  He’s such a dog.  But I put a cage in the aviary for him because he’s old and has a little bit of arthritis.  He’s really friendly to most other birds, but I’m afraid one of the bigger birds could hurt him.  The cage makes him feel secure.  He likes his showers, too; that’s why his feathers look all funky.

Anyway, what was relatively simple, if somewhat extensive, care for 1 parrot is exponentially increased for 6!  I bake them “Birdy Bread” evey couple of weeks, and freeze it for them.  They have a warm breakfast every morning of Birdy Bread or Oatmeal (with peanut butter and a touch of maple syrup, or with applesauce and raisins).  Throughout the day they get some seeds and pellets, fresh friut and veggies in season, and then for dinner they share what we have (if it’s good for them) with fresh or frozen viggies and pasta or beans.

6 is really too many. Too many to really give the amount of time and attention that they all deserve.  There is only so much of Thornie to go around, don’tcha know! Still, I do my best and I think my parrots are happy.   2 of my flock are bonded to each other, so don’t require as much personal and physical attention from me- they have each other.  But the other 4 need and need and need.  If you want to read more about these magnificent feathered beings, their plight and their needs or if you might have a place in your heart and home and life for one, permanently, please stop by the Avian Welfare Coalition and Resource Center website.

That site is part of my good.  They are doing an incredible job of educating people and have compiled an extensive list of articles and information for prospective parrot caretakers.  There is also a good list of avian rescues there at the site, both for people who must surrender their feathered friends and for prospective adoptive birdy parents as well as rehabilitation and sanctuary.  Good, good and good!

So my little flock has some good as well.  The aviary is up and my feathered kids are getting some fresh air and sunshine, more time with their birdy mom/mate (me) and are making tiny steps at becoming socialized with one another.  All good for my flock and me!

Next year I hope to have the entire front “yard” enclosed to a height of 15 feet or so so I can stop clipping their wings and let my babies fly just like the Goddess intended!

Solon, Swee’Pea and Quan Yin

For more good parrot rescue information and beautiful photos, visit Tara (Tucson Avian Rescue and Adoption) Foundation.

That’s OtGF in Thornesworld for today!

Peace, Out!

Share your good with me here or leave the link to your good in comments and I’ll repost it here! Thanks for participating!

And here are some folks gettin’ their good on this week: