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Ripping up the road
Administrator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
- Joined
- 4/15/10
- Messages
- 50,082
- Real Name
- Matthew
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 Shannan is October'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 an Timneh African Gray, age 39 years, Name: Walter.
I also have about 20 chickens.
2. What got you interested in birds?
As a young child I came upon a fallen nest with a baby starling, which I raised and released.
3. What have your birds brought to your life?
Birds have done so many things for my life, from raising baby birds to release back to the wild, to researching imprinting in birds in High school (where I went to International Science and Engineering Fair), to getting Walter as a high school student. It also led me to research with Whooping Cranes and then the opportunity to work with a Golden Eagle in College. (School Mascot)
4. What have you learned from sharing your life with your birds?
Patience.... a keen sense of observation (you have to be observant to catch illnesses, etc and read body language), humility, and a sense of humor.
5. What's one birdie memory that will stay with you forever? (can I have two?).
One was the first time I realized that Walter my gray completely trusted me as it was so powerful to know that I had gained his trust. The other was the first time the Golden Eagle landed on my glove from flight.
6. Where is your birds main living area?
In the living room, where he can actually see into three rooms.
7. Did you change things in your home to accommodate your birds and if so what kinds of things did you change?
The home is adapted to the many furry and feathered critters. One of the major ways we adapted our home is in the kitchen where we are very careful with what we use. Cast Iron is my go to. Due to Walter's disabilities, his cage and play areas are designed for his limited vision, arthritis and limited grip.
8. Are you involved in any kind of bird related group or activities?
not at this time.
9. What is the one luxury item you would love to have for your bird(s)?
Custom cage for Walter's special needs (twice as long, 1/2 the height). He currently has two levels but I have to move him from one level to the other.
10. Is there any bird that you dream of owning and if so why?
I have recently grown fond of the personality of the green cheek conures . I had a Nanday once and she was a rescue that was near to my heart. I would consider a Nanday as well.
11. Describe a typical day with you at home with your birds.
Morning, Cup of Coffee with Walter (no he doesn't drink coffee but he likes to sit with me when I do) Clean Walter's cage, give him his breakfast, play with him. Then off to the barn to tend to the chickens (and other animals). When I come back from the barn chores, Walter and I wake up the teenager with sounds, whistles etc. Then Walter takes a good morning nap, while I go to work. After I come home from work, he usually keeps me company while I fix dinner and work on whatever chores, computer, etc. Give Walter his after dinner snack and then he usually charms the kids into scritches while I do the evening barn chores. He then keeps me company while I do dishes and then clean his cage again. He then keeps my son company while I spend time with the other critters (dogs and cats). Then bedtime nut and scratches (except when we have our spa treatments where we steam up the bathroom since we don't like bathes.
12. What have you learned about owning birds that you would like to share?
Mostly I want to share that you should teach your birds to be adaptable by giving them experiences with new environments, new people, new routines, etc because they are so long lived.
13. If you knew then what you know now about birds, what would you do differently?
I would have worked harder to give Walter an actual flight cage where he could truly fly (his limited vision and arthritis make flying not safe for him (he has had full flight feathers for many many years)
14. What other hobbies do you have?
I have a farm with 24 acres. I also enjoy reading and working with children (retired teacher and librarian)
15. Anything else you would like to share?
I did have a blind rooster which I took to school. (His name was nearly headless Nick). Sadly he passed away last month. But he was 12 years old)
I am happy to announce that Shannan is October'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 an Timneh African Gray, age 39 years, Name: Walter.
I also have about 20 chickens.
2. What got you interested in birds?
As a young child I came upon a fallen nest with a baby starling, which I raised and released.
3. What have your birds brought to your life?
Birds have done so many things for my life, from raising baby birds to release back to the wild, to researching imprinting in birds in High school (where I went to International Science and Engineering Fair), to getting Walter as a high school student. It also led me to research with Whooping Cranes and then the opportunity to work with a Golden Eagle in College. (School Mascot)
4. What have you learned from sharing your life with your birds?
Patience.... a keen sense of observation (you have to be observant to catch illnesses, etc and read body language), humility, and a sense of humor.
5. What's one birdie memory that will stay with you forever? (can I have two?).
One was the first time I realized that Walter my gray completely trusted me as it was so powerful to know that I had gained his trust. The other was the first time the Golden Eagle landed on my glove from flight.
6. Where is your birds main living area?
In the living room, where he can actually see into three rooms.
7. Did you change things in your home to accommodate your birds and if so what kinds of things did you change?
The home is adapted to the many furry and feathered critters. One of the major ways we adapted our home is in the kitchen where we are very careful with what we use. Cast Iron is my go to. Due to Walter's disabilities, his cage and play areas are designed for his limited vision, arthritis and limited grip.
8. Are you involved in any kind of bird related group or activities?
not at this time.
9. What is the one luxury item you would love to have for your bird(s)?
Custom cage for Walter's special needs (twice as long, 1/2 the height). He currently has two levels but I have to move him from one level to the other.
10. Is there any bird that you dream of owning and if so why?
I have recently grown fond of the personality of the green cheek conures . I had a Nanday once and she was a rescue that was near to my heart. I would consider a Nanday as well.
11. Describe a typical day with you at home with your birds.
Morning, Cup of Coffee with Walter (no he doesn't drink coffee but he likes to sit with me when I do) Clean Walter's cage, give him his breakfast, play with him. Then off to the barn to tend to the chickens (and other animals). When I come back from the barn chores, Walter and I wake up the teenager with sounds, whistles etc. Then Walter takes a good morning nap, while I go to work. After I come home from work, he usually keeps me company while I fix dinner and work on whatever chores, computer, etc. Give Walter his after dinner snack and then he usually charms the kids into scritches while I do the evening barn chores. He then keeps me company while I do dishes and then clean his cage again. He then keeps my son company while I spend time with the other critters (dogs and cats). Then bedtime nut and scratches (except when we have our spa treatments where we steam up the bathroom since we don't like bathes.
12. What have you learned about owning birds that you would like to share?
Mostly I want to share that you should teach your birds to be adaptable by giving them experiences with new environments, new people, new routines, etc because they are so long lived.
13. If you knew then what you know now about birds, what would you do differently?
I would have worked harder to give Walter an actual flight cage where he could truly fly (his limited vision and arthritis make flying not safe for him (he has had full flight feathers for many many years)
14. What other hobbies do you have?
I have a farm with 24 acres. I also enjoy reading and working with children (retired teacher and librarian)
15. Anything else you would like to share?
I did have a blind rooster which I took to school. (His name was nearly headless Nick). Sadly he passed away last month. But he was 12 years old)
Congratulations!
