Pretty Boy... Why I became a bird person..

[94lt1]

I know why I started... My mom had a dyh amazon, years ago. I was only a child.. His name was pretty boy. He made my life miserable... So I thought.. He was just being a bird that was owned by a person who had no idea about how to handle and care for a bird. I'm 35, so we're talking about 30 years ago as far as memories...

This bird didn't see a vet regularly, he had an all seed diet, he was put in harms way as a form of entertainment.. Given whiskey by my older siblings..

Now.. I was a timid child.. That's another story.. (I'm obviously not timid as an adult) but I came to have a bond with that bird. He was at the time.. A large green bird with a big beak and a propensity to bite anyone but my mom... But I saw there was more to him.. And upon trying to "be friends" I received my reward... A large dyh amazon attached to my finger and he didn't want to let go lol..

But after the initial shock of this learning experience wore off... I watched this creature... This... Mean creature that lived behind bars.. I began to try to further understand him..

He was intelligent.. Had to be.. He could tell one person from another, his interactions proved this.. Upon seeing my mom, he'd say mama.. One of my other siblings.. He'd say "check it out".. Upon seeing my father... He'd growl... They had some..... Interesting times together... (avian love triangle sort of deal)

Upon seeing me.. He'd come to the front of his cage and beckon me forth.. Much to my delight.. And of course... It wouldn't end well.. He'd snap.. I'd pull back... But my mother told me in a cruel joke.. Not to show him fear... Or he'd always bite me..

You know that sensation you get when you have to keep pressing on say a bee sting or any kind of wound? It goes numb.. Well, after being bitten a few times.. I went all in.. I let him bite me(I was about 9-10) and I did my best to show that it wouldn't stop me from being near him... Though I didn't force myself on him... That day forever changed US..

After that day, Pretty boy and I grew closer.. And closer... I started letting him out of his cage when mom wasn't around.. I had the wherewithal to make sure we were in a place in our house on labrea Street, that he wouldn't accidentally get let out, even if someone opened the door... I took great interest in this fellow.. He was my friend.. (as I say this.. Type it... I just had a huge realization as to why I am who I am.. Why I'm the way I am.. Like therapy.. But I'm not paying any of you lol..)

This bird.. Had keen senses.. He was smart.. Showed intelligence.. And he grew to like me... As I did him.. I didn't like other kids..

(I was a musicians son on the rich side of town, that didn't like rich people, I never thought I was better than anybody because I had more, because there were others who had even more and because I knew how easy it was to lose it all and it didn't ever seem right to judge based on first glances.. Or because of what you did or didn't have... Especially as a kid.. You didn't earn those shoes or clothes or house.. And I thought everyone should be friendly because we're all just people..)

This bird was person.. Was more than a person. I loved him.. He tolerated me :-) that was a lot better than when I started this adventure. I even taught him to say "howdy"

It didn't seem right that my friend was always in his cage. As it goes, my mom didn't know any better, but he was always in a cage about 2.5 by 2.5. He traveled with us everywhere... He ate when we ate, what we ate, and was sort of a Second rate family member..

Remember all of this happened from the ages of 5-11. That's a lot of learning and growing with a bird.. A lot of time spent with this wonderous creature.. He grew to mean the world to me.. He was about 40 years old at the time I was 11. Then he got sick... Falling off his perch... Couldn't eat or wouldn't..

I got ready to go to school for the last day of school for the year.. My mom said she was taking pretty boy to the vet and that he'd be back soon and just fine.. I knew this was a lie, she was trying to protect me. And that I was saying goodbye to my friend for probably the last time.

I was right.. I got home looking for pretty boy.. Only to find out that he was really sick.. And had died shortly after being brought to the vets office.. We went to the vet to pick him up... To bury him... As far as I know.. My best friend still sits in the ground.. Very very deep in the ground in Billings Montana.. At a house on Labrea Street..

A little about me.. I'm a 35 year old guy.. 6'7" approx.. I'm a gym rat after weighing nearly 500 lbs. And losing down to 265 naturally.. Hard work.. . I now weigh 300 and can bench over 500 max, so I'm a big guy.. See my avatar.. It's not table muscle.. And I cry as I remember all of this.. Him.. I cry..

It was the treatment of him.. Not seeing a vet, not being understood.. But avian knowledge then was a lot less than what it is now.. But I vowed to make a difference to any birds I could.. Be it wild, or captive.. I would be the voice for any bird I could.. I would do all that I could to help.. I Should've become a vet.. I know I've got the brains.. Just couldn't see the birds sick all of the time.. It would've taken its toll on me..

This is why I put my feathered friends before me.. This is why I can't stand to see them in harms way.. This is why I make sure my flock is taken care of so well... And this is why I try to help all avian creatures... If I can...

I've been lucky to find a loving wife that is a bird lover too.. Odd thing is.. Neither of us knew about the others love for birds when we met.. It came out just before we got married.. We lost our child.. And had our issues.. But our flock.. Those are our babies..

Now.. You know a little more about me.. Why I am who i am.. And that reason is Pretty Boy... Hope I'm serving your memory well old friend...

[94lt1]

Excuse the Typos.. My phone is dead set on making me appear illiterate..

[plax]

That sure brought tears to my eyes, Brandon :(. Quite a sincere and touching story about Pretty Boy and your developing love for birds. There's just something so special about each of these guys.. it's seemingly magical. I find myself mentally tortured by realizing just many of them are abused each day :'(

Thanks so much for sharing!

[Pinkbirdy]

What a wonderful touching story :) I think people who learn to LOVE BIRDS [have their ahh ha moment] . Where you truly connect to what they are . I enjoyed reading yours . It does help when your with a person who loves birds too. Im lucky I have that too . Their not to the level of craziness I am . But I think its part of the reason mine are pretty good. Are first bird was Max a Congo African Grey.Dave was working on a house where he lived. Dave was interacting with the bird. The owner wanted to give him Max[he bit their 12 year old girl ]. So he was deemed a mean bird . Dave told me he wanted him . All I could see is this Big grey Macaw [cause they said congo] I laugh at how ridiculous this is now. [and knowing Id be the one caring for him]. I didn't want him . Then I met him of course he loved Dave [and bit me] . But I learned to love him . I had wanted to get a bird that [I could learn from ]. Then the madness started :) I was obsessed. I love my life !!! My friends are worried about clothes, purses, whats getting done on their house next [and husbands] . Not me . I have my 19 birds to care for and love.My ahh ha moment was when I read the book "Of Parrots and people"

[94lt1]

Wow Terri... That's a lot of birds... :) I'm jealous...

We should get along just fine lol

[koa]

thats a fine story Brandon :)

[94lt1]

Thank you.. It was sort of here and there.. But... That's how it happened.... I miss that green pain in my butt :(

[2birds]

What a lovely story Brandon. And now, 30 years later, a whole lot of birds have someone they can count on.

[94lt1]

I do all I can for my friends.. All of em (except Starburst) know I'm not out to harm them. Lol.. He's still undecided..

[jessicas94lt1]

Starburst has issues. Sometimes he doesn't know weather he is coming or going, or sleepy, or anything really. Lol.

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[kendrafitz]

What an awesome story! Thank you so much for sharing it. I really enjoyed reading it.

Pretty Boy sounds like he was a great friend. I am sure he is looking down with pride that his relationship with you was the catalyst to help so many other birds. :) it's amazing that someone so small can make such a huge difference in our lives, isn't it?

[Minamommy]

What a wonderful story. Pretty Boy is sure to be waiting for you at the rainbow bridge. To know how you feel. I had an umbrella Too When I was 17 in the 80's. He had way to small of a cage and seed mix and maybe one toy. His life was very short. He was diagnosed with what they called cockatoo syndrome. It was PBFD. He was put to sleep and buried at my old house. Poor boy. Now I make up for it by giving Mina the best of everything.


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[94lt1]

I sincerely hope to see Pretty Boy again.. And I sincerely hope that I am indeed serving his memory well.

Despite all the bites and everything at first... We grew to be really close.. I didn't include it in the story, but I saved his life once before he died... He bit a K mart bag and was choking.. I got it out of his throat.. And got my finger nearly taken off as a reward. Lol...

After that.. We were really good friends.. He'd call to me.. I'd come to him, we'd play, he'd bite(at first) I'd pull away.. He'd laugh.. I'd laugh... Good times. Roflol.. Then it got to where we could interact and he wouldn't bite, I could pet him, pick him up, walk around with him.. And then he started snapping at others.. Which I thought was pretty cool.. Like a friend protecting me.. Remember.. I was a young dumb kid...

I know I'll see Pretty Boy again.. I know I'll see all of my friends again... :)

[Maddy]

Reading that made me tear up! Such a wonderful story! :th_hug8: