Hello my friend Pi lovers... I've been putting this off for weeks because i'm still so traumatised... Apache and Falcon have tragically passed away.
Some kind of mustelid managed to get into the aviary at night, killed them and left them half eaten on the ground for my 9 year old daughter and myself to find in the morning. I still feel sick just thinking about it. It's such a horrid, unfair way to lose them both.
My Macaw and conure were fortunately uninjured and didn't even seem stressed out. I don't know how it managed to get my boys... they sleep huddled up together, seperate from the other two, so I guess they were both targeted at the same time.
It managed to dig under the aviary and make a hole in the floor wire mesh.
I feel very guilty for thinking it was safe enough... they've been living outside for a few years and i've never had an issue before, so I figured the mesh was secure and it was a nice way of allowing the grass to grow through. Since then, i've put a cement floor in to make sure there is no chance of anything getting in there ever again and Chiloé and Saphira sleep in the house regardless. I just can't feel safe for them at night otherwise.
We dearly miss our boys. Coming back here is bitter sweet... they were way too young, happy and healthy... I was not prepared to say goodbye and I still aren't. It still feels unreal and wrong not to have them around the house, not to smell their unique scent, not to make fun of Apache's mood swings, not to have him greet me with his waves and his "cocous", not to have sweet Falcon follow us around, not to see them boss Saphira around when they got possessive of me or food, not caring that she was so bigger than them, not to have their calm and relaxing presence among us any more, not to here Apache's kissy noises when he wanted to get my attention.
They were my first parrots and they will always have a very special place in my heart. I don't think I will ever be able to adopt another pionus parrot after going through this... but they for sure leave a big void.