ncGreyBirdLady
They call Me crazy like its a bad thing!
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Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Avenue Spotlight Award
Please join me in congratulating Secret as our celebirdy of the Month
Here is what Clueless had to share with us about Secret.
Here is what Clueless had to share with us about Secret.
- 1. How did you acquire your bird?
The parrots were originally owned by my aunt. After her death, they were in the possession of her son. Apparently he was not fond of the parrots and when we visited and found them outside on a porch in the heat of the summer – we convinced him to put them back in the air conditioning and returned to pick them up as soon as we were able to get large cages.
2. What is your bird's name, age and sex?
Secret. Age is unknown although the band indicated that he is a wild caught blue front amazon. A picture was located that was taken in 1978 of the amazon. The sex is DNA male. We refer to Secret as a “her” because Secret was smaller than the other parrot (MC) – and knowing my aunt, we figured she intended to breed parrots at one point. We had both parrots sexed because there can be medical issues if a parrot is a female and has issues that could have to do with egg laying. It takes a while for the DNA to come back – and if there is a medical emergency, we wanted the vet to have as much information as possible.
3. Does your bird do any special tricks?
Secret can turn on command (or even without command if it means the pumpkin seed will arrive faster). And, drum roll . . . . . an “upside down bird”- which means she twists her head to look upside down when she’s in her cage because she thinks the treats will arrive faster that way. Secret can also "wave"...
And down goes the leg
And a special one for those who aren't familiar with eye pinning....
4. What are some of your bird's favorite foods?
Chop. We play “kill the food” at night when it gets in her bowl. Seriously, Secret dive bombs the bowl at times!
If you have a roasting ear of corn in her vicinity . . . . Secret will lean so much she's in danger of going over.
5. What is the funniest thing your bird has done?
The first year together . . . . Secret stalked me. It’s hard to take life seriously when you realize that a bird that is that small can stalk you across a kitchen floor and scare the stuffings out of you.
6. How has your bird enriched your life?
Changed my life totally. I used to live on junk food - now there's organic veggies in my icebox for the zons and grandsons - and regular veggies for the humans. Because of the amazons, I had more sense when my grandsons arrived in this world (I'm a step-mom, my son and daughter were in their teenage years when I became a parent).
I live for the moments Secret talks to me (communicates with me) and for the moments that a wild animal will tilt her head, stick it to the bars and close the eyes to a slit (you didn’t think she would close them TOTALLY do you?) and let me skritch her feathers around her ear WITHOUT the hissing noise that normally comes out.
7. What would you tell people who are considering this species?
They’re fabulous, awesome creatures of our God. They roll with the flow and they are SOOOOO easy to read their moods but remember, they have long memories so cut them a break if they seem a bit cautious of you as a human.
8. What is the activity and noise level of your bird?
Fairly active in the cage at times – noise level can be loud at nightfall. Usually when it’s time for the pumpkin seeds or the chop container to arrive. I’m sure I could work on this issue – but I generally love the sound. If we have company, I just play a recorded whistle that I have on my phone and it diverts Secret into whistling.
9. What are some of your bird's quirks?
Secret won't come quickly out of the cage at all. We have to play a game.
When Secret escapes from the cage it's to attack the glass knob on the end of the huge stainless steel skewer in her cage. She's just realizing that an Avian Stainless "bling" is in her cage now.
10. If your bird talks, what is the most surprising word or sentence it has said?
My son-in-law has the same name as my cousin. Obviously my aunt would holler his name fairly often and Secret picked it up. It’s just absolutely hilarious when my son-in-law is here for dinner and during dinner the parrot will belt out his name LOUDLY. Secret never says his name unless he’s here (and it gives him the heebie jeebies).
Then there's the time that I heard Secret say "I love you" . . . . but it's not been repeated. Sigh.
11. What is your bird’s favorite treat?
A smear of peanut butter on a small piece of wheat toast.
Secret would like to say "thank you" ....
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Loved her story.
normal Amazon eyes. 