Heavenly Feathers

Bye to Pumpkin

My buddy (A.K.A.) Pumpkin passed on June 3rd. He will be missed every time I cook, eat watermelon, salad, or his new favorite a banana. It took me four years to get him to taste a banana.. Pumpkin was not the easiest companion to care for Like most Amazons he had his grouchy moments.. He live with me for 5 years and, even though he was abused at one time, he learned to trust me. For the first year in our home he would study us all the time. He knew what I was going to do even before I knew what I was going to do . He loved food! Anytime I would cooked or would be in the kitchen cutting up something he would go crazy. Sometimes he got so excited he would fall off his perch or cage. I never seemed to get those "Tasty treats" to him fast enough. Then I would have to run over and baby him, pick him up and put him back.

He loved to sun by the window or when I took Willow outside he would want out to go out also but I couldn't put him in a smaller cage outside. (OH, NO, NO) Pumpkin would run inside his cage and wait until " MOM" closed the door and pushed him though the room and out the door onto the porch, then he was happy guy!!! (What a sucker I am )
He loved his showers and he wanted to be drenched. He also loved to torture Ted . He would love to charge at Ted and lunge at him too!! One day while I was at work, Ted walked a little too close to Pumpkin’s cage. Well…Pumpkin just could not resist and, he went for it.! He leaped ON TEDS NECK AND TED WENT IN CIRCLES YELLING “GET OFF, Get Off.”. Boy I wish I could have seen that.{hee, hee}.

Pumpkin also did not like to be held that much but he wanted to be as close as he could to me. About a year ago he decided that Willow did not need her playground ANY MORE and just like that it was Pumpkin’s playground. Willow would scream an scream but Pumpkin would not budge. After that, Willow took moms dinner room table for her playground. Pumpkin would look down upon her (for he was at the top) laughing at poor Willow. He did not like the color red but he liked Cream of Wheat for breakfast and
peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Pumpkin did not live to be a ripe old age but he did live well and with zest. WE will miss you Big Guy!

Mary K. Perva

March 2005 I fell in love with my cherry headed Conure. It was by chance that our paths crossed. You see, I had put my name on a wish list and I believe there was divine intervention for our relationship. I got the call and it was love at first sight.

Gizmo was an abused bird, he had difficulty eating from a previously overgrown beak. He had difficulty climbing and holding on, such a clumsy little guy. No socialization skills, but what energy. He ran like a roadrunner. When you walked by his cage, he puffed and hissed like a snake. What a brave little dinosaur. What baggage he had, his history I never knew but his future was mine.

As time when on, he became more trusting and loving. What a clown he could be, what a joy. I developed a special bond with my little green buddy. Every night before I went to bed, I went to his cage to say, “good night Giz” and I would get a purr or “I love you”. He was my favorite.

Someone’s cast off became my treasure. This rescued bird touched my heart and will always be in my memories. If there is a birdie heaven, he deserves to be there. I love you Gizmo.

Bo was a pet of mine for 15 years, who was wild caught and unwanted because he was too loud! When I first rescued him he was only feed sunflower seeds, NOT A HEALTHY DIET which leads to fatty liver!!!!! Being a Conure, they have a high pitch scream that could be heard down the block from my house.

He passed away 6-11-07 after he had his leg amputated at the vet's office because he got bit by a larger bird....

Known as one of the most famous African Grey parrots in history, Alex pioneered new avenues in avian intelligence. He possessed more than 100 vocal labels for different objects, actions, colors and could identify certain objects by their particular material. He could count object sets up to the total number six and was working on seven and eight. Alex exhibited math skills that were considered advanced in animal intelligence, developing his own “zero-like” concept in addition to being able to infer the connection between written numerals, objects sets, and the vocalization of the number. Alex was learning to read the sounds of various letters and had a concept of phonemes, the sounds that make up words.

Alex’s personality was very evident in his everyday life. He was “in charge” of his home and relished ordering “his” humans to perform various tasks for him. He also acted as a coach and cheerleader to his fellow birds, Wart and Griffin, alternately encouraging or admonishing them during their lessons. His favorite toys were cardboard boxes, key chains and corks.

Purchased from a Chicago pet store in June, 1977, at that time he was 12 to 13 months old. Alex came from humble beginnings. Alex’s accomplishments proved that all African Grey parrots have an intelligence far beyond what was previously thought before his decades-long work with Dr. Pepperberg. Sadly, Alex passed way on September 6, 2007, dying of unknown causes. He was 31 years old.

We miss him dearly.