Macawnutz
Seriously Nutz!
Super Administrator
Vendor
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
It is with great pleasure that I announce the
Celebirdy for the month of August 2021
@flyzipper 's Oscar
1. How did you acquire your bird?
Kijiji is the Craigslist of Canada, and I subscribe to notifications about macaws in my area, so that's where I first saw him. I made arrangements to meet Oscar, even though his owner was apprehensive and said he doesn't like men. We had a good first meeting, but before I could schedule a follow-up visit and commit, Oscar was sold to another person.
About a week after that sale, I saw another listing for a Military macaw (which are rare around here), so I asked the original owner if that was Oscar, and he confirmed that it was. The new owner was attempting to sell Oscar for double what she paid to the original owner (so, she was a "flipper").
The original owner eventually got Oscar back, and asked if I was still interested because we hit it off during our first meeting and subsequent emails about Oscar's flipping plight.
I met Oscar a few more times, and decided we liked each other well enough, so he came home with me after about a month (thanks to long wait times while acquiring a suitable cage -- which he never uses).
One more relevant item to this story is that Oscar was fully flighted when I first met him at his original home where he lived with 8 other macaws. By the time he got to me, however, he had been clipped. The original owner didn't do it, so we assume it was done by the flipper to make him more manageable.
2. What is your bird's name, species, age and sex?
Oscar is approximately 10 years old, and is a male Military Macaw.
3. Does your bird do any special tricks?
He's pretty good at the basics of being a good bird companion, but isn't especially tricky. Oscar will fly to me (most of the time) during recall training, and he has a very cute indicator that he wants something (lifting his foot in whatever direction it is). He's also a very good foot-first stepper-upper. We're working on things like taking liquids from a syringe, voluntarily getting into his travel crate, and allowing a cooperative nail trim, but those are all works in progress.
4. What are some of your bird's favorite foods?
He's a very picky eater, so we're still working out what his favourites are. It seems like his absolute favourite is my conure's ZuPreem pellets. It's an evening ritual that Oscar will land on Marvin's perch, and eat all the ZuPreem while he watches me make dinner and clean up in the kitchen (reminds me of the way people mindlessly munch on popcorn during a movie). Of course, he doesn't appear to be a fan of the same pellets when they're in his bowl.
5. What is the funniest thing your bird has done?
Oscar has a fairly serious demeanor, so I can't think of much funny business. Perhaps his fondness for having my thumb in his beak and gently "wrestling" with it, brings a smile to my face.
6. How has your bird enriched your life?
From the start, Oscar has done a great job communicating what he wants, so I suppose the enrichment for me is that he allows me to practice listening skills and being present.
7. What would you tell people who are considering this species?
The same thing I'd tell people who are considering any species -- get to know the individual. Military macaws are big birds, but I think most birds require 90% of the same care regardless of their size. That said, any big bird requires bigger space, bigger pocketbook, and generates a bigger mess.
8. What is the activity and noise level of your bird?
He's generally fairly content to stay around his own play area, but he's fully flighted, so he goes where he wants. Short flights to another stand, or to the back of my chair while I'm at my desk are common. In our larger upstairs area, he likes being as high as possible, so he flies from my side to the highest supporting beams. Beyond flying, he also likes destroying wooden toys.
Oscar has a big voice, but is usually only loud in the morning until he gets his breakfast.
9. What are some of your bird's quirks?
"I'm so normal it's peculiar", is a quote I heard once (from Rick Astley?), and that applies pretty well to Oscar. He does like women though, so I suppose a quirk might be that he gets especially animated when he sees a woman walking outside, when we're looking out a window. He'll even fly over to watch a YouTube video if he hears a woman's voice coming from my computer.
10. If your bird talks, what is the most surprising word or sentence it has said?
"Hello Oscar", is the majority of what he says, but it's often in the context of getting what he wants. Offer a favourite treat... "hello Oscar!", take him to an open/screened window to watch and listen to the outside world... "hello Oscar!".
He's also good at demanding, "quiet!", when Jericho is making more noise than Oscar likes.
11. What is your bird’s favorite treat?
All the pistachios!
Downstairs hangout
Upstairs hangout
Being handsome
Being angelic
Last edited:
Look at that space...Looks like you live in a church. Wow, the ambiance & great to stretch the wings of your angel!
I really enjoyed reading your interview Steve, getting to know Oscar a little more 
You pretty, pretty birdie !!
