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Pictures HAPPY FIRST GOTCHA DAY, TACO!

hrafn

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I was eight years old when I met a macaw for the first time.

My eldest sister had just got a job at The Village Cantina, a quaint little Mexican restaurant with a very volatile poltergeist, a truly amazing guacamole, and two beautiful, enormous parrots. I didn’t know at the time what they were called, so I asked my sister, who told me that they were a scarlet macaw, and a blue and gold macaw.

That was all it took. I was obsessed.

At eight I was already madly in love with animals, my favourite pastimes including watching The Crocodile Hunter and pretending that I was a vulture, but that was when I really became drawn to macaws. Seeing those two gigantic, vibrant birds, being charmed by their sweet voices, was the beginning of a lifelong goal:

One day, I would have a blue and gold macaw of my own.

Back then the internet was still in its baby stages of dial-up screeching awfulness, days of yore in which Google was still young, so I pored over every book I could find. I sat barely breathing watching nature documentaries, hoping for a glimpse of them.

As I got older, and learned more about birds, I sobered up; macaws were big, macaws were loud, macaws were needy little toddlers with garden shears on their faces and knives on their feet, and I was too young.

I decided that I would wait, wait until I was all grown up with a stable job and my own house, wait until I was finally ready, whenever that would be. My love for my future blue and gold never dulled, but it became more distant, a one-day dream that may never actually come true.

And then, fate hit me like a freight train.

On one of my many, many trips onto Kijiji to check out the animals looking to be rehomed, I came across the most miserable, heart-shattering ad I’d ever seen. A blue and gold macaw, crouched over in a filthy, rusted cage, eating sunflower seeds out of a rotting bowl.

He was $1500, and I had maybe $20, but I was determined to save him. I saved every cent I earned, not even allowing myself to buy groceries, until I had enough to bring him home. I got my friend to drive me out in her truck, in order to transport his nasty cage (I didn’t have enough yet to buy him a new one, but I couldn’t just leave him there with those people), and that day, I brought home a feisty, raggedy, attention-starved ragamuffin of a macaw named Taco.

It was just a rescue, I promised myself. I was just getting him out of that awful, cruel environment; I would find him the perfect forever home, and let him go in high spirits.

But Taco had other ideas.

One year ago today, I brought home one of the best friends I’ve ever had.

And I’ve never regretted a second.

HAPPY FIRST GOTCHA DAY, TACO TUESDAY!!

 
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EkkieLu

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Many congrats Taco! You picked an awesome mommy!
 

rocky'smom

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HAPPY GOTCHA DAY BEAUTIFUL TACO :party1: ON!!:yourock:
 

Zara

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Happy gotcha day Taco! :starshower1:

Hope you all have a great day celebrating with lots of treats to eat and toys to destroy :party:
 

cassiesdad

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Happy 1st Gotcha Day, Taco! :)

:dance4:

You and he...Call it fate...or destiny...it was meant to be! :yes3: :)
 

faislaq

I have macaws and don't post enough pictures
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Happy-Gotcha-Day-Colorful-Balloons-Facebook-Cover-Picture.jpg
One of my favorite AA memories!

Can we call his collar his "Taco shell"? Pretty please :laugh:

I :heart: Mr Tuesday! :bliss:
 

Mockinbirdiva

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Love, love, loved your story... Happy Gotcha Day Taco Tuesday!
 

BeanieofJustice

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Happy Gotcha Day!! He's one handsome boy. You've done wonders with him. I'm glad you found each other!
 

Wishaliee

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Happy gotcha day taco :starshower1: you did a wonderful thing saving him from that environment and I’m sure he’s very thankful you have him now!
 

iamwhoiam

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Happy 1st Gotcha Day to Taco.
 

expressmailtome

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Congratulations!
 

Shezbug

ASK ME FOR PICTURES OF MY MACAW!
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Happy first gotcha day to you and Taco!

You are both so lucky to have found each other :)

Hope you both have a great day!!
 

Sarahmoluccan

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:loveshower:Happy Gotcha Day Taco!! :loveshower:
You got one of the best bits moms around!!
 

Begone

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Happy Gotcha day! :bdaycandle:
 

saroj12

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Happy gotcha day Taco!!
 

hrafn

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Taco and I had a lot of fun today!!

It was very windy and overcast this morning so we stayed inside and made some birdie bread together, then we watched Rio (his favourite, he loves the samba), danced for a good two hours, played on the floor, made chop for lunch, and then got to go outside for a little over an hour in the late afternoon because the sun came out! We mostly stayed around the house in case the wind picked back up, but he LOVED being out in the fresh air and the wide world again. It was fabulous!

I did have to leave for a bit to pick up some bunny food, but I made sure to find Taco some toys and bought him some almonds at the bulk store to make up for it.

I love my fluffy butthead. I honestly cannot imagine life without him. :heart:
 
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