• Welcome to Avian Avenue! To view our forum with less advertisments please register with us.
    Memberships are free and it will just take a moment. Click here

Finding a quaker outside!

Lilibugz

Meeting neighbors
Joined
8/2/24
Messages
35
Real Name
Lili
I’ve posted about Yoshi a few times on here and just thought I’d share the odd circumstances that I got him under!
So I worked at the zoo at the time (Aza accredited and focused on conservation!!) and I particularly worked with the education department teaching children about conservation.
Well one of my kids goes “there’s a Quaker parrot in that tree” so I look over and see a green bird up in the tree and my coworker holding up a bird seed stick?
So I radio the bird zoologist and aviary telling them to check that all birds are accounted for and to come check this one out. And for reference we do have invasive quakers in the area but it was odd that he was alone and so close to people.
well after my radio call he starts flying around and landing on people! And we’re in the children’s area of the zoo and you know most children are not fond of a bird landing on them unexpectedly. And each time he’d land the zoo staff out there would yell “WAIT DONT MOVE” it was honestly comical.
he ended up on low hanging branch and we lured him over with some seed and someone managed to grab him and he actually didn’t bite or anything either.
The bird zoologist checked him out, made sure he wasn’t injured from being swatted by scared kids (he wasn’t) but also informed us that we don’t even have Quaker parrots at the zoo .
They weremt rly sure what to do with him and were considering a rescue unless someone could take him home and well that’s how I ended up with a bird HAHA.
I actually took him under the impression it’d be temporary and I’d find his owners. Well it’s been about 6 months and I have a bird for the next 20-30 years now

For reference I’ve owned a few other exotics but mainly frogs and salamanders no birds! and I’ve always researched for months before bringing anything home so getting that bird all the sudden set me into full on hyperdrive research mode and after a few months I do feel confident in my care but for a while I was checking in with more experienced coworkers, vets and friends for advice. I don’t normally support getting animals on a whim but ofc this was circumstantial. Thankfully I had some experience working in the zoos aviary as well as an ecology degree, so i already had a basic understanding of what I was getting into.
If anyone has any similar stories I’d love to hear!
 

Zara

♥❀Livin´ in Lovebird Land❀☼
Super Moderator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avenue Concierge
Joined
1/8/18
Messages
33,100
Location
Reino de España
I don’t normally support getting animals on a whim but ofc this was circumstantial.
Sometimes that is just how it goes :)
At least you have some bird experience, and at the least have a zoo of folks who can help you with questions.

I have a similar story but with a sadder outcome. I also live amongst hundreds of thousands of wild quaker parrots, and one day my partner called me saying to "bring a cage to the back of the house". So I took a cage and a towel and went out to find my partner standing near a quaker on the floor. Poor little guy had been attacked by a cat and my partner shooed the cat away. I scooped him up with the towel and took him to the vet. When I got there, I was told if noone takes ownership of this bird, they would have to call animal rescue services (that's ran by the govt) and the bird would be euthanised.
So like you, in the spur of the moment I had to decide, and I signed for the bird and took ownership. I was told it's likely he would need a wing amputated and wouldn't be able to live freely again.
He stayed at the vets office for almost a week recovering with antibiotics and round the clock care, but ultimately he didn't make it, with trauma being the cause of death.
I do often think how our lives might be different if he had pulled through...

And not sure how similar the last one is, but I have a female lovebird who I (well, my dog) found on my back doorstep. She has been with me about 7-8 years now. We searched for her family for a month with no luck, and then I let her into my living room where my two boys were to join the flock. I was definitely not in the market for a third bird, but we grew attached to her while we were searching for her family, and in the end decided she could stay with us :)
 

Rebel

Rollerblading along the road
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
2/10/22
Messages
1,271
You were brought together for some reason. I found a baby rabbit in a Petco parking lot a few months ago. I wasnt looking for anymore pets as i had 9 birds and 2 cats already. I took her into the pet store to see if perhaps she got away from someone after buying her. Turns out the pet store didnt sell rabbits. I dont know how she got there. Fate brought us together so we kept her. Im glad it i was able to save her.
 

Lilibugz

Meeting neighbors
Joined
8/2/24
Messages
35
Real Name
Lili
Many people are unaware of this resource.
It's so hard knowing someone lost their sweet beloved bird , and he was trying so hard to find his human ..
as person this happened to I have never given up:shakehead::sad2:

I'm glad he will be loved and cared for
I joined a few Facebook groups for lost birds in my area but I hadn’t heard of this one thank you!
 

Lilibugz

Meeting neighbors
Joined
8/2/24
Messages
35
Real Name
Lili
You were brought together for some reason. I found a baby rabbit in a Petco parking lot a few months ago. I wasnt looking for anymore pets as i had 9 birds and 2 cats already. I took her into the pet store to see if perhaps she got away from someone after buying her. Turns out the pet store didnt sell rabbits. I dont know how she got there. Fate brought us together so we kept her. Im glad it i was able to save her.
Actually I had pet rabbits growing up and had one that a family member found outside and gave to me! She was half lop eared and white with a brown ring around her eye so definitely a domestic rabbit haha!
 

Lilibugz

Meeting neighbors
Joined
8/2/24
Messages
35
Real Name
Lili
I joined a few Facebook groups for lost birds in my area but I hadn’t heard of this one thank you!
Also probably good to add, the vet said he must’ve either been outside for a while or neglected beforehand. He had no serious health issues but was just in rough shape. I’m not sure which it is but I suspected neglect just based on his behavior for a while but I’ve been considering that those behaviors could just be trauma from being alone outside for a while too.
A coworker of mine suggested he may have been let go near the zoo intentionally thinking we’d find him and take him but I guess I’ll never know ‍♀.
 

Clueless

Joyriding the Neighborhood
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avenue Concierge
Joined
11/3/12
Messages
24,972
I rescued 2 amazons that were living in bad conditions. Hubby and I hoped to get them tamed and find a good home for them.

I fell in love on the ride home.

I didn't have an ounce of bird knowledge (note my name on the avenue).
 
Top