Holly's odd behavior

[Shirley]

As you all know, Holly won't allow anyone but me to touch her, but she'll step up for just about anyone. Well, while Rosie, my former student, has been visiting, she (Rosie) has been very sweet with Holly, very patient, and just loves African Greys the best of all birds, although marine mammals are her favorites, not birds. She has been holding Holly, but Holly has not allowed her to touch her.

The other night Holly was in my studio on her portable tree stand, 6 ft from me, with Rosie on the sofa right in front of her, talking to her. Holly flaired her wings out a little. Rosie asked me what she was doing. I said she was either making a romantic gesture or considering flying toward me. She sometimes gets that way with me at night, but usually while on my hand, not from that distance. THEN Holly regurgitated for ROSIE. Rosie thought that was VERY strange indeed, and so did I, but for different reasons, of course! I explained what it meant, and thought, wow, I wonder what was up with that! I think Holly likes Rosie, but doesn't trust her yet to allow her to touch her! :wub:

[Jean]

I think you are right on with your thinking.....

[Jim]

I also think your correct in your thinking. I've seen this before with my birds, birds we have housed here or when I am at a friends house. No scientific proof here, but I believe our birds are trying hard to communicate with us - it's a BIG part of what they need to do.

Although regurgitating is a mate/bond type gesture to another bird. I believe it is the best way they have or know to show us they like us. They are darn smart as we all know, and I truly believe they do things like this to show us how they feel about things or what they need. I bet in time and going slow Rosie would be able to touch Holly.

[Shirley]

Rosie says, "Yeah!" :D

Thanks, Jim. Rosie has a very sweet nature with animals, and has adopted four whales, an entire family! All Killer whales. The birds like her very much! :heart:

[Jean]

Although regurgitating is a mate/bond type gesture to another bird. I believe it is the best way they have or know to show us they like us. They are darn smart as we all know, and I truly believe they do things like this to show us how they feel about things or what they need. I bet in time and going slow Rosie would be able to touch Holly.

I agree with you. I've had other peoples birds regurgitate to for me when they like the way I talk to them or touch and talk to them. Some have not know me more then an hour. I think they feel our love and kindness as someone they feel safe and comfortable being around. Regurgitating comes natural as a feeling to them, it's their way of showing pleasure of sharing their relationship in the wild. They regurgitate for their mate , they regurgitate to feed their babies so now we fit that category of them regurgitating to show their love for us. That is the ultimate gift a bird can offer.

Elvie will sometimes try to regurgitate for me and in this past year he will try for Al too. This happens when she is being shown we love and give him his cuddles and scritches. I usually try to distract this with a positive distraction to avoid him from offering us all his food. Our baby would be happy to starve to offer us ours if you allowed him to.. :heart: So far he's never tried to regurgitate for anyone else other then us.

[Jim]

Rosie says, "Yeah!" :D

Thanks, Jim. Rosie has a very sweet nature with animals, and has adopted four whales, an entire family! All Killer whales. The birds like her very much! :heart:Four Killer Whales..... WOW!!! That would be so cool.:emot-danc I would love to be around them. I guess she would have a VERY sweet and probably easy nature being around whales. Does she work with them or help in some way? I'm still excited just thinking about it. I don't know how I missed this.:doh:

[Shirley]

She'd love to tell you all about it! She knows SO MUCH about marine mammals, and all the whales and dolphins in particular. She's never met them, but has donated all her money to their cause. She is VERY against marine mammals in captivity, including Sea World and exhibits such as that. Won't even go to those places.

This is Rosie with Holly:

http://www.shirleymorgan.com/Holly/Holly-Rosie744.jpg

http://www.shirleymorgan.com/Holly/Holly-Rosie743.jpg

[Jim]

She'd love to tell you all about it! She knows SO MUCH about marine mammals, and all the whales and dolphins in particular. She's never met them, but has donated all her money to their cause. She is VERY against marine mammals in captivity, including Sea World and exhibits such as that. Won't even go to those places.
And I would enjoy hearing what she said and her thoughts about it. Is she studying marine biology?

Ya know, I can REALLY understand her feelings about not going to exhibits. I was sort of like that about parrots until I realized their best chance was with us.

Not to change the subject but maybe it's a good time to say - That's why I get so in depth about working with parrots. It's not to show off or preach, I just love them so much:heart: I want them to have the best live we can give them.

[Shirley]

She hopes to go to college to study marine biology. She is a sophomore in high school right now, and I was her 5th grade teacher way back when. She lives in another school district from where Steve teaches, about 50 minutes from us.

She wants to learn all about marine mammal diseases and work in some field that can protect them and keep them out of captivity and safe in their environments, and free.