Just a question

[Dragonlady2]

There are so many bird species in the world, what made you pick the one(s) you have? Or did they pick you?
Some of you have macaws, others have lovebirds. Why bigger versus smaller?

[PlaxMacaws]

I adore all parrots! But for me as a child there was just something extra captivating about large macaws. My extreme fascination in that regard prevailed onward. I thus decided to purchase one full-size macaw during my 20s (i.e., Jack). Then I went for another to keep him company while I was at work (i.e., Maynard). Over two decades later I happened upon the availability of Zaf in a classifieds section. I learned that he was stuck in a boarding environment, so I decided to rescue him (as it were). Had I not encountered that particular situation I'm not sure I would be sharing my life with a Hy right now. And as for Salsa... although he's an absolute joy to have in my life, acquiring him was not a choice. I promised his human mom, and my great friend, Terrie Morris, that should anything happen to her I would give Salsa a loving and forever home. So sadly, thereafter she really passed away :'(

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

We didn't get to choose. Casper decided he was going to live in our house with Margaret and that was final. :)

[kendrafitz]

My daughter has always adored macaws so that was the main reason. Also, small birds make me a bit nervous. They flit around so quickly and when they bite, it seems to be for blood. I know lots of people are afraid of the big beaks, but not me. :)

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[Dragonlady2]

Well Tony, I too am enamoured with Macaws, but I have big beakitis. Just the thought of being near those beaks...yikes.
I don't know how you manage 4 of them!

Jean-Pierre, is Margaret as interested in Casper as he is in her? Everyone in my family is afraid of my parrots. It would be nice if someone else was interested.

Kendra, is your daughter as involved with Rosy as you are?

I have been bitten by a hormonal DYH Amazon. Pretty much cured me of wanting a big bird like a Macaw. However, my little Sennie has nailed me twice. He has got me trained pretty well to give him his space, lol. I love it when the little birds fly over to sit on my shoulder but I just can't imagine looking over to see one of those macaw beaks close to my face.

[Mare]

I believe I might love a macaw but I've never been witness to one :). A friend asked me if I could take Amigo, just while she got settled from a move. I'd never owned a bird before but thought that it couldn't be THAT hard. WTF!!? Yeah..life's never been the same!! :)

My additional birds, came easily and I love them just the same. Amigo was like a..what's that huge, swinging, metal ball called on the crane..?..

[kendrafitz]

Helena - no, my daughter isn't very involved with Rosie. It's really mostly me with some interaction sprinkled in from everyone else.

It's funny, I truly love nuzzling my face into Rosie's warm beak. It's one of my favorite things. I never knew macaw beaks were so warm until Rosie.

My experience with macaws is they know they are strong. So there isn't a whole lot of need to go for blood. It is a slow pressure, not a quick sharp bite. They love to lunge, but that is mostly bluffing, no connection. It's funny to see dopey humans jump away. ; ) With Rosie, my hand is always in her beak. When she gets too rough, I tell her to be gentle. That's usually enough, unless we are rough housing and she is wound up. Even then she pinches which is annoying, but not painful. No blood drawn.

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[kendrafitz]

Mare - from what I have read about cockatoos, a macaw would be a cakewalk. Which is saying a lot since Rosie has turned our lives upside down and on its side. Lol

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[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Yes Margaret is a very kind and caring person and although she hates it when he nips her she tries to remain as calm as she can.
Casper spends most evenings playing parrot ping pong, spending his time with each of us, when he has had enough of one of us he looks at the other and says hello until we both reach out our arms across the coffee table so that our fingers touch and he walks across the bridge we have made. He loves to sit on Margaret and watch programs on her Ipad with her. Margaret enjoys doing jigsaws on the Ipad and Casper has found that he can move the pieces around the screen with his tongue. He hasn't actually grasped the reason why though.
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Tickle time 2 ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]) by Jean-Pierre Declemy ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]), on Flickr

[Mare]

Kendra, I don't know how I would be with a macaw..! :). They sound like lovely birds! I love the feistiness of my cockatoos, although they took some getting use to, their strength of character is impressive! I believe..Tim would be a macaw person. He doesn't "quite", understand the cockatoo.

[Dragonlady2]

From all the videos online that I have seen, cockatoos, to me, seem to be most like a toddler...more human-like? But I shudder when I think about a bite from one. I have seen macaw and cockatoo bites....no,no, no, not for me! I will admire from afar.

[Mare]

Helena, if an umbrella cockatoo decides he/she loves you..you are DONE for life! You will never need another mate, even if you wanted one..forget it. Once they accept you, you are golden.. :)

Well...just until you dump him. Then the next person may be golden and you will become horse-do-do!

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Casper likes a finger to hold on to whilst being tickled - a bit like a security blanket i suppose
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Tickle time 3 ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]) by Jean-Pierre Declemy ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]), on Flickr
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[kendrafitz]

Jean-Pierre - I love the Linus reference. That's exactly the way I think of it. :)

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[Dragonlady2]

Mare, what a responsibility to be a cockatoo's mate. There is a Parrot Rescue called Saskatoon parrot Rescue that puts out videos on their cockatoo, Pebble. (MegaBirdCrazy). I just love her, but, I just could not see having her in my home. My Crimson Bellied Conure, Pepper, thinks I am his mate and will try to poop on my husband when he comes near.
It's sometimes a pain in the butt keeping them apart...can't imagine trying it with a cockatoo.

Jean-Pierre, how cute is that. Better be careful, you might become replaceable! Lol. Pepper likes chewing on my ear lobe when sitting with me. Must be some kind of natural instinct when birds are with their chosen one.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

...and then he gets bored
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Tickle time 4 ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]) by Jean-Pierre Declemy ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]), on Flickr

... and decides the specs must go
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Tickle time 5 ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]) by Jean-Pierre Declemy ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]), on Flickr

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

...just until you dump him. Then the next person may be golden and you will become horse-do-do!

Quite right too. Stay Golden Forever (I know you will) :)

[Lady]

I think Lady picked us b/c we went to a store to look at dogs. As we walked into the store there were a few parrots on stands that were friendly but we kept it moving and headed for the puppies. Well not really seeing one either of us decided to get at that moment we went browsing around and encountered the birds in the cages. Most moved away as we approached but not Lady. She was just as interested in us as we were her, so we agreed she was who we were taking home!

[Mare]

I can only imagine, most birds in rescues/pet stores, these birds have had such a different experience than they would have had in the wild. They are still, even now, wild...supposedly

[94lt1]

Ours chose us..we bought 2 parakeets...but then the bigger birds were offered to us to help them, a green wing macaw,a yellow naped Amazon...a sun conure and a cinnamon green cheek ..she chose me...lol..but they all kinda like Jessica lol