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January 2019 Mayor of the Avenue... Alien J (Janet)

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expressmailtome

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Our "Mayor of the Avenue" award is presented to a member who exhibits the qualities that distinguish them to be an upstanding credit to the Avenue, a loving, informed, conscientious and caring bird parront and an all around good neighbor.

I am happy to announce that Alien J is January's Mayor of the Month.
I enjoyed reading your interview, and am sure that everyone else will as well!

1. What kind of birds do you have (age, species and names)?


I have one bird, Terry Dactyl, aka TD. TD is a cockatiel. He is one year and eight months old.

2. What got you interested in birds?


I've been an animal lover since, according to my Mom, I first laid eyes on the family cat upon arriving home from the hospital from being delivered. Horses and dog's were my main focus most of my life. As a kid, I brought home many injured creatures I would happen upon either playing in the woods or out riding my horse.

The bird fever got me when, in early June of 2016, I rescued a fledgling from certain death from the paws, claws and jaws of some feral cats and managed to keep him alive until adulthood.


3. What have your birds brought to your life?


First, Miyetti (the aforementioned fledgling - a band tailed pigeon) sparked in me a childlike fascination in all birds.

TD has continued and really magnified that fascination. My relationship with TD is unlike any relationship I have had with any of the various animals I have loved, or any person for that matter. It's indescribable.


4. What have you learned from sharing your life with your birds?


To not panic when a crisis arrises. To at least act calm. I found that if you act calm when you feel panic, you will become calm.


5. What's one birdie memory that will stay with you forever?


This memory means more to me now that I have gotten to know birds. In 1999 I moved to the Seattle area. I got a job as a client account specialist at ADP. I made some friends. I was invited to a friend's house. When I arrived, there was a note on the door. My friend had had to run an unexpected errand. She asked me to wait for her to return and to feel free to look around the property (there was alot... with a huge, beautiful garden with stone pathways).

I was enjoying the garden when I heard a voice say, "hello, hello". Long story short (sort of) the bird was a Macaw. He flew down to me when I extended my arm. He told me his name was Romeo and that he was a pretty bird. My friend arrived and we began making phone calls. No smartphones back then!

Eventually, we were able to get Romeo back with his owner, who had been in the hospital. His friend, who was caring for Romeo, had accidentally left a window open at the wrong time. The man was overjoyed. So was Romeo, who had been gone for 5 days.

The reason I say it means more to me now that I have loved a bird, is that I totally believe now that Romeo somehow knew that to get back to his caregiver/companion, he had to reach out to a human and trust them and he did what he had to do, though I am sure he was quite scared.


6. Where is your birds main living area?

We are full time RV'er's so TD has spent most of his life denying me a dining table (and there's only one table in all 33 feet the 5 of us live in!


7. Did you change things in your home to accommodate your birds and if so what kinds of things did you change?


When I learned about cockatiels and night frights, then learned of their poor night vision (I can empathize with them there, I have almost total night blindness), and that they need 10-12 hours of quiet, uninterrupted sleep, we made the decision to always arrive at wherever we were going to stay each night with a minimum of 30 minutes left until sunset. We also no longer drive, EVER, after darkness. We are also now almost totally chemical free, thanks to TD!

As far as physical changes to the home, as we have two dogs, TD cannot come out just any time to hang out with me. When we do get to have "Playtime" I first have to transform the entire RV into a bird-safe zone. Takes about an hour... then do the reverse.


8. Are you involved in any kind of bird related group or activities?


Just the Avenue and bird watching. I submit my identified birds on e-bird.


9. What is the one luxury item you would love to have for your bird(s)?


An aviary and a separate bird room that is always bird proofed.


10. Is there any bird that you dream of owning and if so why?


A cockatoo, because of seeing one on the show "Baretta".


11. Describe a typical day with you at home with your birds.


Busy, busy, busy. I am at TD's beck and call 24/7 and he knows it!


12. What have you learned about owning birds that you would like to share?

The phrase "birdy slave" is an understatement. Be prepared to give yourself over 100% to your bird.


13. If you knew then what you know now about birds, what would you do differently?


Get birds sooner so I could love birds longer.


14. What other hobbies do you have?

Hobbies? See question 12! Ha ha. I used to do a lot of arts and crafts, but since TD came and since there's no where in the RV to do things with paint, thinner, wood stain, etc. that is safely away from him, I really am not actively pursuing any artistic endeavors until we find our forever home. I also love gardening, but strangers and park personnel don't like it if you start a garden wherever you happen to be parked. But home is where we park it, afterall.

15. Anything else you would like to share?


I would like to share my thanks to everybody and everybirdy on the Avenue. You guys are my best friends.
 

Tiel Feathers

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:congrats5:
I loved reading your interview as well as all your posts. Very well deserved!
 

Nikomania

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:congrats3:
 

d_msparkles

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What a wonderful interview. The story about Romeo was so touching!
Although I have to say ADP is the bane of my existence. But I'm sure it's changed a lot since you worked there. ;)
Congratulations!
 

Shezbug

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Oh I missed this one so sorry for the late :congrats5:

Very well deserved even if you stuffed up with your campaign promises lol.
 

Clueless

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I missed this one too!

Love hearing about TD and the Romeo story? You rock girl!
 

Zara

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A great read. I´m happy Romeo was reunited with his owner thanks to you. Congratulations! :D
 
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