Marlene
Welcome to the neighborhood!
I am so excited! 
It is with great pleasure that I announce the Celebirdy for the month of
November 2013.....Paco!
1. How did you acquire your bird? It is with great pleasure that I announce the Celebirdy for the month of
November 2013.....Paco!
We always go to this little flea market in our town on the weekends to search for treasures. There was always a guy that had small birds, rabbits, and other little critters for sale. I never much cared for birds, I had a cockatiel growing up and he was mean and didn’t really respond to me at all, but now I understand why. He wasn’t hand fed, and it would have taken more time to tame him that I imagined. Well one day we got to the flea market, and the bird guy had this huge, PINK bird! I had never seen such a big pretty bird before, and was mesmerized. He asked if I wanted to hold him, and I said yes. He told me to ask him to step up, and hold up my arm. He stepped right up, and leaned against me, giving me my first ever birdie hug. I was in love. I held him and cuddled him for hours, giving my husband that, pretty please can I have him look? He didn’t need me to even ask, and says- NO!!! We got the man’s number, and went home, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about that gorgeous bird.
I did some research, and kept on my hubby. Eventually, by the next morning, he said, ok, we can get him! I couldn’t believe it! Of course it was a Sunday, and the banks were closed. You can only take out $500 per day with your ATM card. So I take out $500, and so does my husband, but we still needed a bit more money. I am on the phone with the bank, probably sounding like a crazy drug addict or something, screaming, I need more money today!!! I believe we got a payday loan or something eventually, and headed back to the flea market. We stopped and got a huge dog carrier, and we brought our not so tiny baby home. We had a ferret nation that we thought would be suitable for him (it wasn’t, he destroyed the bars in about 2 weeks), and some toys that were not big enough. We didn’t know much, but we were ready to learn. The first night was just like a dream to me, it was so strange to have this huge pink dinosaur in my living room! I didn’t exactly know what to expect. I joined a few forums, and learned so much every day. Who knew that this bird, this pink feathery dinosaur would change our lives forever?
2. What is your bird's name, age and sex?
Paco Halo Puca, he is a male, and he is probably around 10, but that is just a guess. We got him in 2008, and we were told he was 5 but we take that as an estimate.
3. Does your bird do any special tricks?
Paco plays catch, he likes to play with a roll of socks, and will catch them midair, and throw them back to you. If he is mad at you, he will throw the toy he is playing with at you, and he has near perfect aim! And if he doesn’t have a toy, well then he will shoot his poop at you! Of course, you really had to have made him angry! Lol. If you take Paco out of his cage, he will walk through the kitchen, through the dining room and living room, up the stairs, down the long hallway, and into our bedroom where his climbing net is. Then he stops, and looks up at us, asking for us to put him up on the net!
4. What are some of your bird’s favorite foods?
He likes anything soft, mushy and warm, like mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes, pumpkin, baked apples with cinnamon, oatmeal, or rice. He gets all excited and almost chokes it down, moving his head really fast like a baby does when they hand feed. He also LOVES corn and corn on the cob with some cayenne pepper and chili powder.
5. What is the funniest thing your bird has done?
Paco is an escape artist! He will undo all the screws in his cage, let himself out, and then let the other animals out! He even let the gerbil out of his cage one time. Imagine my surprise coming home to 3 birds and a gerbil running and flying around the house! Now we reinforce his cage with stainless steel wire so he cannot escape.
6. How has your bird enriched your life?
Paco has enriched our lives in so many ways. We always say that no matter how many toys, treats and love we can give him, we can never make up for the joy and happiness he has given us. I never thought I could love a bird, and really have them love me back like I now know they do. Paco will cuddle with us any time of the day, in the middle of the night or at 4:30 in the morning, no matter what time of the day, he just wants loving. He taught us how to care for something else more than for yourself. His needs, wants, and even demands are always a priority. If you go downstairs in the middle of the night for some water, he will give a little screech unless you go over and give him a quick scritch before going back upstairs. Paco loves everyone, and is the only bird we have that our friends and family can hold, cuddle and interact with. He shows people how wonderful and sweet birds can really be. Paco is such a good boy that he goes with me to the nursing homes in our area, and he spends time with the residents there, dancing, singing and just having a good time. It is amazing to see how happy they are seeing such a big gorgeous bird that is so gentle. They are also shocked to see a bird on a harness! He seems to know that they need some joy in their lives, and with Paco, there is always more than enough love to go around. He loves everyone and has made my husband and I fall in love with birds.
7. What would you tell people who are considering this species?
Well, for most people, I would say don’t! He is by far the most demanding, needy and complicated bird we have. He really wants attention non-stop, all day long. If we have any guests over, he screams bloody murder until we take him out. He must be on his dinner perch, at the table with us when we eat. He just wants to be part of the family and fun! Paco is very loud when he screams, so you don’t have much of a choice but to take him out. He has definitely learned what to do to get attention! Your whole life has to revolve around him, his toys, and his food.
8. What is the activity and noise level of your bird?
Loud!!!! Make your ears bleed loud. When he is screaming, you cannot think, watch TV, or even read. Even with earplugs he is loud. He only screams for about 10-20 minutes a day, but those minutes are very long minutes! Lol. He will not scream if no one is home, or if we are upstairs. But as soon as you come downstairs, you better be ready to take the Paco out, or else you will pay!
9. What are some of your bird’s quirks?
Paco is a clip a maniac! He loves those plastic baby clips that you can put together to make a chain. He will take two of them, and clip them on and off on and off, over and over and over again. He just loves the sound or the feel of them. On his hatchday next year I am going to take 100 or so clips and put them all over his cage. I cannot wait to see his face!
10. If your bird talks, what is the most surprising word or sentence it has said?
Paco is always talking about someone or some birdy named Larry! “Hey Larry, What’s up Larry Bird, Laaaaarrrrryyyyy!” We think he must have known a bird named Larry, or he also seems to really like SpongeBob, and there is a Larry the Cucumber I believe, so it could be that too.
11. What is your bird’s favorite treat?
Raisins! He loves raisins. The other birds get nuts in their foraging toys, but Paco just wants raisins! He loves oatmeal with raisins or peaches too, or cereal that has been left in the milk for awhile, and is soft and mushy. If you warm it up, he is even happier!
about his letting out the gerbil too!
