How you got started in birds

[Jim]

This was suggest in a thread below and I think it's a great idea.
Please feel free to share with all of us how you got started with birds.
Going to be fun I just know it is. :wavey:

[harleybaby]

Funny because I just asked my mom about this a bit ago. Realizing that my mom loves animals but is not particuliarly a bird person I was looking back at my childhood and realized that we always had birds for as long as I can remember. I asked her why and she said that it was because of me and that ever since I was a baby I was fascinated with them and so she always kept some. When I was in middle school she took me to a breeder and got me a tiel for my birthday and that bird and a surviving parakeet fron when I was a child became the loves of my life. We always had birds but we didnt take them out and play with them like Pepper the tiel and shortly after I tamed the parakeet and they went everywhere with me. They both rode on my handlebars and I would go to the park and leave them in the trees and come back and get them when it was time to go home. Of course I would never do that now LOL It's amazing I didn't lose them being that I was just a kid but I did that for years and they loved it!! I remember doing reports for school on parrots and I still have the posters and puzzles that I glued together with parrots that I had when I was a kid. I also saved all my favorite feathers from the two of them that they had moulted out in a tin can. I guess I've always been a bird nut! LOL:funny:

[Islandzoo]

I suppose i've always liked birds, I had a budgie and a pair of waxbills when I was a child.
But as for the passion about birds, only recently developed I suppose. Saw Basil for sale and saw her being cuddled by people in the shop, having never realised it was possible for a parrot to be cuddled, i was intrigued. we kept going back there ,I fell in love and so we bought her!
If we'd known what we were letting ourselves in for we may not have done, but I'm really glad we did. we had her 2 1/2 years now.
I then started to do my homework (the wrong way round!!) and learn as much as possible, and the more I learned the more I fell in love really, thats when i decided to get Bob, who is a year and a bit old.

[icebear]

i was always a "pet" person. i get on with animals better than with people and i read a lot about animals and watched *Nature* on PBS addictively....George Page was like an uncle to me, lol. My bird love began when i was around 10 and one of my aunts found a pair of baby sparrows that had fallen from an awning in the front of a store. She brought them to me to try to save. They had no feathers and were cold. but i warmed them up and caught bugs for them. They didn't last more than 12 hours though, i think the 10 foot fall to the concrete pretty much decided that no matter what i did, they weren't going to make it. It was sad for me, but i spent some time after that trying to learn more about rescuing the wild birds.
A few years later i got a mourning dove i named Rook, fully featherd and just needed to be fed a bit and sent on its way. Then a robin i named Wasp, a few more sparrows, and a shafted flicker that had been caught by a cat.... the flicker didn't make it. When i was pregnant with my daughter i found a barn swallow baby that had been booted when its nest was taken over by sparrows, i took care of him for a few days, then turned him over to a rehabber... being pregnant made it too hard to do all the right things by the bird. A couple years ago we had a blue jay named Buster, he fell out of a tree and hit every branch on the way down. Dislocated leg and tore open his entire side. I put him back together with liquid bandaid and had a vet look at his leg. The joint was basically crushed, so we splinted the leg to his side.... he did really well after that. Ate like a pig and had all the Bluejay songs going at high volume. I turned him over to a rehabber acquaintence who was moving to Ohio i think, since i was not licensed to keep a wild animal and Buster's leg would not allow release and normal life. That was the most recent wild bird i kept. But its funny how many i found, it was like one a year for a while.... and seemed like they knew just where to find me.

Of course i'd have to back track a few years to when i got my first pet birds. Basically that comes in when i just had my daughter and we were living in a small apartment with little money and i was depressed out of my mind. So i bought a pair of zebra finches. And anyone who has owned 2 zebra finches knows, soon you have *many* zebra finches.
Then came my Roller canary, then another canary, and more finches and then a pair of Tiels and then a conure, another canary, more zebbies, more tiels, another conure, some assorted finches and more tiels......

Ahhhh.... its a nice life. My livingroom sounds like a rain forest :D

[Junkzoo]

Since i think i was the one to suggest the topic thread, i figure i better add my input here LOL.
Only remember having a 'keet during my childhood,and about '78-'79 (that would put me at about my 20's age wise) i decided to get a 'tiel,,and did so, enjoyed the bird loads, and after a lil bit i decided i was ready now for a "real" parrot,,and noticed the local shop i got the tiel from ,had two wild caught medium sulph-crest "too's,,after just starting my "career" in the steel mills, making great $$,and at that time, still living at home, i decided i would spring some $$ free and get a "Too,,,, i picked one of the 'Toos that was not cowering on the back of it's cage when anyone entered the bird room,and took him home,,starting to realize i might be getting into something here,,,like most all things i get involved with, i read everything i could on 'Toos or parrots in general,
"Sinbad" , while starting out as a wild caught bird, and we both having a few memorable moments together during our training times,came to be great friends.and still are,,,
Not that getting a wild Too will prob never happen in current times, i would never suggest anyone try to attempt what i did, "captivity-ize" a wild parrot. luckily we both came out of it without not much problems.
so now i'm working part time at a two store "chain" of full service Pet shops(1980-85ish), ending up managing one of them, picked up a few birds during this time some thru the store ,and some "rescued" from customers,,and a few from my sister LOL, who decided her birds and three young boys might not be a good idea,,,
In my "bird" life , i 've had a number of FIDS,all with different temperments,
and still have Sinbad to this day, being a wild bird, i have no idea of his hatchday,but i've had him a few yrs shy of 30 yrs,,,,
I learned a lot from working at that shop, and only wish they had a place like BoF back then to help out, and share my love i've had with my Fids over the years,,,,
There, that's the short version,,,,LOL

[BKHagar]

I think I’ve always been around birds, too! My Mom and Dad had a parakeet before I was born, and we generally always had a small bird in the house! Like someone else mentioned, life had a way of taking over during about the age of marriage . . . and I had a birdless time- dear ME! Awful! THEN! A friend of mine had a colony of budgies she was raising, purely for pleasure, and she gave my daughter one. Jamie was about 3 yrs. old at that time. He was a lovely little green guy! Shortly after we took him, she had a beautiful English grey parakeet that the others turned on, so we HAD to take him! Yeah, right! At any rate, we enjoyed them VERY much, and babysat a friend’s budgie with them every summer when she went back to New Jersey! When I brought my son, Joel, home from the hospital, he turned his little head to follow the sound of the birds chirping joyously at our return and we knew he knew he was HOME!



I WILL say, too, that I am a TOTALLY pets person! I have always had all sorts of animals, and STILL have quite a houseful! We have somehow become the local guinea pig rescue as well . . .! But hubby says, “Life is short! Have ALL the guinea pigs you want!” I think that is a great philosophy!



Later, after my next son was born, and they were all in grade school, a friend I worked with mentioned that someone had given her husband a bird, but that he was mean to it, knocking it off it’s perch. I was really upset about that. I knew him, too, and finally emailed him and told him to give me the bird, which he did! I got an email that said, “COME AND GET HIM!” Well, I’d been told he was a parakeet, and Chewie was- a quaker! So MUCH larger than what I was expecting! I had to go back in the truck to pick him and the cage up, but he’s been with me ever since!!



Next, I got to talking to a wonderful man where I currently work, and he runs a great rescue for exotic birds. He asked if Ken and I would be interested in helping out, and in about 3 mos. from our first bird conversation, we went to pick up Heckyl and Jeckyl, our white eyed conures, on a rescue! We were ELATED! Oh, but they were SO shy, so scared! We lost Heckyl last year, sadly, but Jeckyl has come SO far!!



We took in another quaker from adoption- Wasabi- who was and still is a plucker. She and Chewie became companions and now share a big cage. NO eggs, thank goodness! Very platonic, but they seem very happy!



Next came Penny. Ken was working down in Orlando- for NASA- and a rescue came up for a little sun conure in Jacksonville, FL! TOO close to pass up! I flew down for a little fun time, and Ken and I met the folks in Daytona! Penny flew back in the plane with us! That is ONE little sweetie! Penny is a shoulder sitter and an “I need a kiss!” bird!! The folks who had her even shipped the big cage that was hers to us, so Penny is a very happy birdie. Penny is “probably” male, but I can’t get out of saying SHE since the name. I don’t think the bird cares!



We had also adopted some budgies- 2, to be exact!- because I just love their little voices and had missed them. Of COURSE two more came along! So there are our four! Also took in two lovebirds after a lady in Florida had to evacuate from the hurricanes, and decided we would be a good home for them! They are wonderful little sweeties, too!



This past Nov. we also assisted with a rescue of an 14 quakers that were from an illegal breeder operation in TN! Quakers are illegal in that state. SO! We fostered 6 for a while, but we have kept 2 from that batch! Spanky was just OUR bird from the start- very friendly, and for a practically WILD bird, he could be petted, which was VERY unusual! Kate, who has very little left of toes on her feet due to the colony situation- they bit them off!- just touched my heart. I didn’t think she would be adopted, but she IS! We love her, as well! Now, Spanky and Kate really enjoy the company of each other- sit on each others’ cages and groom each other, but live in separate cages!



We adopted Chico, the Senegal, from the rescue we work with- it was LOVE at first sight for Chico as well as for Ken! They are just a match made in heaven! How CAN you say no to that!! So Chico came to live with us, and at times, he sings some little ditty that goes, “Home Sweet Home!” His has a very large vocabulary!



Most recently, we picked up Kato, the Congo African grey, as you have seen, from an owner who finally decided he DID need something more. She travels about 5-6 days out of 7 and did not pay him any attention, his diet was poor, and he was ONE “nekkid” bird when we first got him. He has come a LONG way, and is quite a sweetheart and smarty pants!! Our intention IS to adopt Kato!


SO! I think some of us are just blessed to be ALBE to have these incredible creatures around and with us at an early age. Some folks don’t get to til later, but that makes it NO less sweet! It is a blessing EVERY day! And when we drive up in the evenings, from work, we can hear them greeting us outside the house they are so loud! It’s wonderful!



It looks like we may also be taking in another grey this next week! The gentleman who runs the rescue has quite a few pickups to do, and we need to help out. How WILL I keep from falling in love again? THAT is just the hardest part!

This IS a great thread, and I am enjoying EVERYONE'S stories SO much! Just gives you insight into everybody!!

HUGStoYa'll!

Kim

[vmtwriter]

A few months ago, I was taking our dog, Jack out for his nightly "business" and he saw a brightly colored bird on the back fence. The bird actually tried to land on my head several times. I called for Greg to come out, he brought the camera, and started taking pictures of the parrot in our back yard. He looked hungry and thirsty, so we gave him some dry dog food and a bowl of water. He appreciated both and even let us get kinda close to him.

However, it grew dark, and the parrot flew into a neighbor's tree and we thought that was that. Not so, because in the morning, I went outside with Jack. We saw the bird sitting on our neighbor's clothesline. I started talking, and the bird actually followed my voice. I walked back to our house and onto our patio and the parrot followed. I fed it some more dry dog food and water.

I decided to go to a local pet shop up the street a mile and purchase a cage and some parrot food. I wasn't sure the parrot would still be in our backyard when I returned, but I hoped. And, it was. The bird was sitting on our gutter above the back door. I put a few pieces of parrot food into my hand and called for the bird to "come here". It did. It flew down and ate the food out of my hand. Little by little, I moved my hand closer and closer to the cage. I placed the food into the cage's dish, then opened the cage door. The parrot walked right in.

From the pictures Greg took we identified the parrot as a Sun Conure. For the first few days I just called him "bird" as I called pet stores, bird hospitals, and vets looking for anyone who may have reported a missing parrot. No one had, but I left my name and number in case someone called in later. We never did get any calls.

After that, we decided to name him (we called him a 'him' even though we didn't know). We wanted a name that described his personality. We thought he was exotic and playful. Of course, Greg and I couldn't agree on a name, until we found the name, BAILEY. It just sort of fit. I called him "Bailey" or 'Bailey Bird". He seemed to like his name.

It's been several months now, and it's like he's always been with us. He's traveled down to the keys with us. We went to a bird show and purchased him an awesome new cage with lots of room for all the toys I just can't seem to resist when I see them.

Jack still thinks Bailey is his bird and even helps every evening to put Bailey to bed. Bailey isn't even scared of Jack.

Now, when we go outside, Jack looks up into the trees hoping for another bird to come down. He also wants to make a pet out of the squirrels that run around in the trees. We've drawn the line there.

[Bill]

This question takes back when I was about 10-years-old. I saw a yellow parakeet at the Woolworth's Store one day. I talked to my parents about getting this parakeet. I thought my parents would have said "no!" but instead they told me that I had to do some reading on them first. I read every book I could get my hands on.

I got my first parakeet that year and named him "Lucky" because I thought was lucky to get him. He was a good bird and I loved him so. I recall one time I put my hand in the cage and he jumped on my finger. He came to me easily from that time forward. Unfortunately, my mother's cats got a hold of Lucky. My mother was so sad when she told me. They told me I could get another one. So I did.

After another unfortunate tragedy occurred I decided to get a cockatiel. I met a very kind lady who had numerous parakeets, cockatiels, finches, canaries and a quaker parakeet. She had such a love for her birdies. Not long after this I got another parakeet. So I had a parakeet, a tiel and later adopted a canary.

I always wanted a larger parrot but my parents would not allow it. I read every book that I could find. Time passed and my sweet Petey died (he was a tiel). The night before he died he huddled close to my body. I did not realize that this would be the last time I would get to love him. I found him dead the next morning in his cage. He was such a loving baby boy!

Before Petey I had a tiel who I gave to some friends because I was moving to Idaho. He saved their lives in a way. Freddie was his name and he was a smart bird who loved to dance. He would walk across his perch and bob up and down to music. The people who got him did not know that they had a gas leak but when they discovered Freddie on the bottom of the cage...they inspected his surroundings and detected the smell of gas. If Freddie had not died the entire family could have died.

More time past after the loss of Petey and I did not have the income to afford another bird. Nearly ten years passed before I began looking into getting a too. I read book after book. I found a good breeder and that is how I got Kandy. God bless that little boy! He was love dressed up in feathers! Kandy talked more than any too I have ever heard. He asked for a kiss, he would tell you he loved you, and many more phrases including "Come here...give me a kiss!" Kandy and I bonded from the get-go. My heart nearly broke when he died in Texas. Tears still come to my eyes when I think of him or even see another goffin. What a remarkable too he was!

I got Scooter about a year later from the same breeder. Scooter and I got to bond also at the breeder's. I preened her feathers when she was still young. Scooter is my princess and miracle baby. Along with twelve other toos, Scooter was fed a formula that was "too hot" for cockatoos (no longer on the market BTW). Scooter was the only to survive. She had stress bars for the first four or five months. Scooter looked more like a mutant cockatiel! I love my precious Scooter and I am thankful for her everyday! I treasure the moments I have with her and I am pleasantly surprised when she says, "Pretty girl!" or "Such a sweet baby girl!"

Can you tell Scooter is my very special princess? She's my baby girl!

[BKHagar]

WOW! ALL the stories are just phenomenal!! MORE! MORE!

Hugs!

Kim

[Jim]

WOW! ALL the stories are just phenomenal!! MORE! MORE! I agree Kim - I'm enjoying reading them.

Thanks everyone :goodjob:

[Jean]

When we first started the board I asked a similar question. Instead of
posting it again I will copy paste it here.

How did you get your first bird?
I thought this may be interesting to learn about each other.
Introducing our sweet little Bart

Our first bird was a beautiful nanday conure. I was opening up a new motel. We had to be on site during all the opening of a new property. We had a 3rd floor managers apartment overlooking the pool that was surrounded by palm trees. One morning I had seen part of a green bird from a distance in between the branches in a palm tree. I could not see enough of it to tell what it was.

I often left the door open to enjoy the nice morning or evening weather. The next thing I knew there was the little parrot sitting on a large potted plant in our bedroom. I called the local pet shops, an avian veterinary, looked in the paper and no luck at finding it's owner. She did not have a band. Off to the avian vet we went. She was not microchipped, which I highly recommend. He said no telling where he/she came from, she was not micro chipped, and did not have a band. He told me what foods were good for it and what wasn't.

Our next stop was the pet store for a cage, travel cage, food and toys. She was thirsty and hungry and ate like she was starved. She loved to be scritched. At first we got a few bites when we tried to have her step up. It was no time at all she had bonded with both hubby and I. I took her down in the elevator to my office each morning to spend the day with the staff and I. Everyone loved her company.

Hubby named her Bart, she learned her new name in no time and would say "birk" and "what" that was her only vocaboulary. She loved to show off and bounce her special dance for everyone.

She was with us a little over 3 months. One morning I noticed she was not eating much of her food. Off to the vet again, he kept her overnight and ran a series of tests. He put her on antibiotics. We took her home and hand fed her soft foods then she started feeling much better for about another month. Then one day she fell limp and we rushed her back to the vet. Our sweet baby left us. She knew I was trying to comfort her as she slipped away. We had an autopsy done to find she had cancer in her esophagus. It broke our hearts to see her leave us. She is the reason we share such a love for birds.

Here is a pic of our pretty girl Bart. :heart: