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Molzy7687
08-11-2007, 09:44 PM
Hello all!

Well, I met Shirley at AAV this last week, and she told me about this forum. Shirley and I had 'known' each other on another bird forum, almost 5 years ago, when I wanted a cockatoo (what little I knew!). It was great getting to meet her, as well as Dr. Cook.

I am 20 years old, and live in Minnesota. I became interested in birds 5 years ago when someone on one of my message boards (for pet rats) mentioned getting a 'parrotlet'. I googled it, because I figured it was a baby parrot. Well, I was in love right then and there. Since then I have spent countless hours searching the web for information, volunteered with MAARS, a rescue organization in MN, for 4 years, and worked at Avian Suites (a bird boarding facility) for the past 3 years. My latest adventure has been an internship with The Gabriel Foundation, which I've been doing for the past 3 months. That's how I ended up at AAV, and running into Shirley. I'm currently in school at the University of Minnesota for Animal Science, and I am intersted in going in to nutrition or behavior. I just finished my freshman year, and have three semesters left due to a lot of AP classes in high school.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/molzy7687/Summer2006090.jpg

I am owned by a 2 year old female lutino cockatiel named Sweety. I have to say I would never have gotten a cockatiel (there are so many more 'exciting' birds out there-or so I thought!), but I was working at a pet store for a year, and someone had to return her. We didn't accept returns on pets, so I agreed to bring 'him' home. I told my parents I was 'fostering' her (they don't like birds, and that was why I hadn't gotten a bird previously), but I fell in love, and so she stayed. She amazes me every day with how much personality she has, and I now recommend cockatiels to many people, since they do make EXCELLENT pets!

Sweety came to me on a wild bird seed mix, in a small cage with plastic perches and no toys. Luckily she catches on quick, and loves Zupreem natural pellets, fresh veggies, sprouts, her seed mix, and nutriberries. She also loves toys (which is good, because I have a toy obsession!).

(ok, I don't know how to make the picture any smaller-so sorry! Please notice the vacuum sitting behind her...she's a messy eater!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/molzy7687/Thanksgiving2006009.jpg

Sweety is extremely spoiled, and likes to yell at all the other birds. She loves head scratches and playing with her toys (anything shreddable or soft plastic!). This is her cage last thanksgiving...since then I've added some more perches on top, and she currently has a Wingdow on order-she loves to sit and look outside!

She's currently an 'only bird', but I'm not sure how long that will last! I got her a year and a half ago, and since then she has flown to Denver, CO with me for the summer, and is currently driving from Providence, RI to Denver, CO in a motor home. Then on wednesday she'll be flying back to MN with me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/molzy7687/Riley2.jpg

I'm also owned by a crazy, hyper, cuter-then-heck netherland dwarf bunny, named Riley. He's going in to be nuetered on Thursday, and likes to cause any and all trouble that he can. He lives in the house, and is litter trained. He loves to chase my roommates cats, and has now learned how to climb out of his pen-I guess that means I'll have to buy him a bigger cage!

Sorry for the long intro, but I know how much people like pictures and stories!

Ellen K. Cook, DVM
08-11-2007, 10:03 PM
Hey Molly-

So good to see you here! I really enjoyed getting to meet you and talk with you this past week at AAV. And I guess I missed the fact that Sweetie is your bird :confused: but I remember seeing her in the bird room-she does live up to her name. Wonderful photos of Sweetie and Riley, too.

Everyone, Molly is one of those young people who restore your faith in humanity. She is hard-working, responsible and compassionate and simply a delight to be around :)

Welcome to BOF, Molly!!!

Shirley
08-11-2007, 11:39 PM
http://shirleymorgan.com/misc/BF/em/Welcome-to-the-Flock-sm.jpg

Welcome Molly!!

I met Molly at AAV, didn't know her name, but knew she was working with TGF (The Gabriel Foundation). Then she mentioned Minnesota and being 20 yrs old. Something started to click... I learned her name was Molly, then I asked if she'd volunteered at MAARS (a rescue in MN, been featured on Animal Planet) and she said she had worked at Avian Suites, and I pushed for more info... I remember her dog Wally, that she was 15 when I met her, and she was considering Vet school at the time, and wanted a Cockatoo, but now that you mention it, Molly, I remember your interest in Parrotlets, too, and that's why I'd invited you here way back then... to help feed the parrotlets and play with the birds! WOW!! It was a REAL TREAT to meet you at AAV, and I kept looking at you thinking how proud of you I am and how far you've come, and you really stuck with your dreams and made them come true!! Some day, we may be listening to Molly give a talk at AAV -- she's just that mature and grounded in her understanding of birds and her desire to keep learning. She was at dinner with us and others from TGF and Dr. Friedman -- what a wonderful diverse group and great conversation we all had!

The motor home she's traveling in is FORTY FEET LONG!! All the birds they brought are in there, along with about 7 people I think.

I'm so glad you joined us Molly, and so glad I got to know you "way back then" -- what a delight to meet you in person! I love your pics -- your bunny is adorable!!

Jim
08-11-2007, 11:56 PM
Hello Moly

Nice to meet you. Sweety and Riley sure are a couple cuties!

Quite a background you have already. Volunteering with MAARS, 3 years at Avian Suites, internship with The Gabriel Foundation and attending the University of Minnesota for Animal Science. WOW, I'm impressed! Go for the behavior. Haha, as you'll find out I'm behavior nutty.:nuts:

Hope to here more from you and of course we love pictures!

Flock Mom
08-12-2007, 06:54 AM
Welcome to BoF :thumbup: Lots of great people here, as you know a few already...there are lots more like them :)

Sweety and Riley are both adorable and yes...we do love pictures here ;)
Sounds like you have a very busy and full life so please drop in any time you can.

Junkzoo
08-12-2007, 10:49 AM
Welcome to BoF Molly! :wavey:

Shirley is probably our #1 recruitement "soldier " here, and no surprise when she brings in yet another new member to our "flock";)

Thanks for the pics , cool 'tiel and rabbit , had a few rabbits in my youth and the dwarf Dutch we adopted one day when it showed up in our yard , checking out our other rabbit's hutch's , was a pistol w/ a lot of "attitude" and spunk.

As you will prob learn soon, we require pics to belong here LOL
(Not really , but we DO luv seein' pics here.:agree: )

Shirley
08-12-2007, 11:29 AM
...

Shirley is probably our #1 recruitement "soldier " here, and no surprise when she brings in yet another new member to our "flock";)

...

:D I just tend to run into people I knew elsewhere every now and then, and running into Molly was a real treat! Here I was talking to this young lady, and not knowing I "knew" her, and then that flood of realization that this was MOLLY - the same Molly I'd written to privately about high school classes and such, and written to on another board so often! :wub::dance:

Jean
08-12-2007, 10:24 PM
Hi Molly,

Welcome to Birds of a Feather. I'm so glad you found Shirley again "Via" you found us. :emot-danc

Your bird and dwarf bunny are adorable. :heart::heart: I look forward to seeing lots more of you here.

Sue
08-13-2007, 08:20 AM
Hi Molly, welcome to BoF.
I too remember you from way back and I remember thinking what a well grounded and sensible young lady you were!

Glad you followed your dream.
Sweetie is adorable:heart:

Molzy7687
08-13-2007, 08:56 PM
Thanks for all of the warm welcomes!

Sue and Shirley, it's nice to be back with people I 'know' from way back when...I can't believe it's been five years since I was bitten by the bird bug!

Shirley, Ellen and Sue-you guys better stop complimenting me or I'll let it go to my head! Just kidding, thank you guys.

Ellen-yes, Sweety is my bird, she flew to CO from MN with me, and is flying back with me on Wednesday. Amazingly I am not taking any other birds back with me...we'll see how long that lasts! I can't believe I'm actually going home after 13 weeks in CO. I don't know what I will do with all of my free time after working so much this summer!

As for pictures-don't worry, there will be PLENTY more where that came from, both of my guys and the birds out here at TGF. Photography is one of my hobbies.

Shirley and Ellen-I will see you guys in October at the ABC conference in MN. It's right on my college campus.

Now I'm off to pack up a summer's worth of belongings into two suitcases...I'm shipping home two boxes of bird toys. Yes, that's right, two boxes, for one cockatiel. She's a little spoiled.

Shirley
08-13-2007, 09:00 PM
It will be GREAT to see you in MN, Molly! We'll be there for sure. We'll probably stay over Fri and Sat nights.

How far is your parents' home from Minneapolis?

See you in a couple months~!

:dance: :dance:

SummerJ
08-13-2007, 09:13 PM
Welcome Molly! :) It sounds as if you have had a great summer. What an experience to be able to be around all of those beautiful birds!!
Sweety is a cutie! I love his cage, it doesn't look like he would ever be bored.
We look forward to more pictures and hearing about your experiences this summer.
Janet

Molzy7687
08-13-2007, 11:47 PM
Shirley-My parents home is about 20 minutes from where the conference will be. My apartment is on the Minneapolis campus of the UofM, and the conference is on the St Paul campus, about a 15 minute bus ride including stops.

One more day of work at TGF, and then I fly HOME! It's been a great summer, but I am ready for a nice, long nap! And to see my parents and brother and friends, of course! Just have a few loose ends to tie up around here first.

Shirley
08-14-2007, 12:07 AM
Have a safe trip, Molly! And stay in touch! :D

Junkzoo
08-14-2007, 12:47 AM
...I'm shipping home two boxes of bird toys. Yes, that's right, two boxes, for one cockatiel. She's a little spoiled.

Spoiled?
You think? LOL:roflmao2:

J/K , sounds like you are a great 'tiel "mom". Lots of people think one toy in a cage is enuf :doh:

Keibird
08-14-2007, 03:57 PM
Hey, I live in MN and I volunteer at Maars. It's a small world huh?