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She's so pretty!

Thank you guys. My friends understand to the extent that they're all animal lovers who have experienced their own losses. They know my attachment to my critters. They know about Phenix' odyssey. Some were his fans. If admittedly from a distance which was best for all concerned. None of them have had any birds though. I think to them it's kind of like I've had a long term relationship with a bad tempered albeit fascinating interstellar alien. The long-term thing is very hard now though. Too many rituals & reminders accrued. So the sting of this won't be going away for that much longer. In the meanwhile it helps to think of him playing with his dogs. He really did love them. He called for Wolf in particular for a surprisingly long time after he was gone. I have a picture of them all together now & no holds barred. I wished this on myself because I was afraid of what would happen if Phenix went to another home. He would have had to find a safe place to land -and- be sufficiently adjusted to keep from slipping back into the abyss. There was no way to control such a big ask. So I'd preferred to have spared him if I couldn't protect him.

My Nilah will be 15 years old next month. She does not like to be filmed as you can see by the end, but I managed to get her anyways. Just wanted to share, she can be such a love, but also a brat at times..but we go with the flow in my house! She gets the upmost respect from us all when her moods arise..LOL 20230316_175111.mp4

I find myself praying that he outlives me (I'm 68) because I don't know how I'd deal with his loss. Yes, but how will he deal with your loss.. that to me is much harder as he will never understand where you went...:( That to me breaks my heart

My sincere condolences, You have been thru a world of emotions, ups & downs with him I can only imagine. What a sad beginning he had, but you loved him into the wonder he was. Thank you for coming back here for our support in this terrible time. God Bless you & I pray for healing.

My heart goes out to you. I never understood the connection that could develop between myself and an angry and terrified African Grey until I took Timber from someone wanting to rehome him because he wasn't "adjusting." The bond is indescribable unless you've experienced it. I find myself praying that he outlives me (I'm 68) because I don't know how I'd deal with his loss. I have no words, but my heart bleeds for you. God bless.

In 2008 I finally joined this site where I'd been a lurker for a long, long time. I really didn't think I belonged since my guy was wild caught. It was also something I'd never done before (or since). But I'd decided it was worth a try if it got even one good insight into Phenix. We got so much more. Every Grey may be unique, but they're also uniquely Grey. Something that only someone who falls for them can really understand. I buried Phenix today. There's a gaping hole in the world & I'm... idk... lost. Which is how I found my way back here. Where so many of his antics got chronicled for so long. Where I can see that my memories aren't exaggerated by sentimentality. He really was a force of nature that for better or worse I served as faithfully as I was able for 36 years. Now it somehow feels right to leave his epitaph here at the end of his journey. He came so far. From the Congo to the US. He came so far from the sick, scared , vicious, nameless bird to Phenix(!); a parrot who could pass for a normal (-ly neurotic) Grey all day long. From my heart wrenching mission, to my companion of 3 decades. He was my first big parrot. He will remain my only ever Grey. No one & nothing could possibly have prepared me for the challenge, the highs & the lows or the truly amazing privilege. Nor the vast empty place he has left behind.

I try and check in as much as possible but don't always have a lot to talk about. Will try and respond to any new posts but don't really have enough to warrant a new post of it's own. I'm glad it's still here though. This place has helped me out so many times over the years and it would be sad to see it go.

Give yourself a big pat on the back Kevin, you have done this place right & really kept us up & running when the cancer we had was running ramped here..it would have pulled us under if it wasnt for you & all your dedication & hard work. ❤️

Oh, too kind, I’m not an owner, just a rescuer of fine antiquities LOL As Talon said, it would be almost a crime to let so much knowledge be erased. You guys are the owners. I just try and keep it running. Thank you all for years of knowledge and experiences put in one place. When I found this place it was basically one file database surrounded by bad infected code. I just cleaned it up. You also helped me save Mr. Grumpy bird from the other side of the planet in the badlands. It’s all you guys. Thanks. 🙏

Boxes are Timber's favorite thing in the world. I have a hard time keeping enough of the right size to stay ahead of his shredding addiction. Love the pic. Typical sibling behavior!

Hey..Nice to hear from you both! I , too am sad that such a forum with the incredible knowledge, resources & experience is barely going. I do check in daily, but don't log in if there is no activity, but I do see this place most days. Sorry to hear of the biting & grumpiness, but you are so wonderful to just go with the flow..most owners wouldn't, kudos to you Kevin! My 3 are still going the same, Talon is addicted to boxes. She gets an empty box on the counter when she gets out & immediately runs inside it..Rikki ( who has never had a desire before) tho has taken to annoying Talon when she's in it & they do argue over it. I try to get another box so they both have one..but of course like children it's not the same. They fight over the 1 box or sometimes it's a bag. NO one gets hurt, but sometimes Rikki pushes the bag or box onto the floor & Talon takes a tumble inside, but it's not far & she doesnt get hurt...just her feelings. Pic: Rikki won this round & is inside the box, Talon on top)

Good to see signs of life! I try to check every day. I'm sad that this forum, which provided so much support and information to me, when I was a first time parrot servant, is now so inactive. It is what it is there. I'll keep hanging in there as long as I am able. Sorry to hear you are still playing the bite game. They certainly have minds of their own, and Timber's behavior at times still baffles me, though I'm sure he'd tell me he has good reason. Recently, He took a swipe at me for no reason and out of nowhere. That hadn't happened in a few years. I actually thought of the problems you had expressed and though "uh oh" but it did seem to pass. I don't post often because things are much the same as ever with Timber and I don't have as many questions as I once did.

Wow, you started this in December, and there are 3 different reply’s. I hate social media. LOL. But I’ll go with it. 😃 I have Sukei. I think everyone that has posted knows Sukei’s story. He is a Middle East refugee African Grey. I’m guessing he is about 13 now. He was about 8 months old when I got him. He is still a bird living out on the Lam. (Fish and Wildlife say his import papers were not correct when he arrived at JFK for quarantine.) So one day we’re going to have to go to court and get that straight. When I retire in 5 years we are going to do so in the Philippines and I’ll need proper documents to get him out of the country. They used to be real big into bird smuggling. But it’s a long ridiculous story. They got all there money. Anyway he has become grumpy in his old age and likes to bite as some of you have heard the stories and seen the pictures lol. I let him out and some days are ok. Other days we play the bite game. (See if I can keep from getting bit) LOL I’ve got quite good at it. I work from home so he isn’t lonely that’s for sure. I hope a few more people post, there are a few I see that log in, but haven’t posted.

With my 3, I work full time, so the very minute i get home, I immediately let them all out of their cages for the remainder of the evening until bedtime. The weekends are their time out also, ALL day no matter what on Sundays, Saturdays they get out as soon as I am done with my morning errands. My 3 don't really like each other that much, they tolerate each other, so they keep their distance. Rikki is the biggest & she is the queen of the totem pole, next is my amazon Nilah, then last is Talon she is the smallest. Talon will occasionally annoy NIlah and chase her thru the house, I think they do it for fun but when Nilah has had enough she flies to my shoulder for safety...sometimes NIlah will try & take Talons space, but I have a spray bottle in case they get in a tuffle over that. I wish had more time with them, but I try & make sure the time I have I pay alot of attention to them .

I've thought many times about getting another. I have the space, but time? Timber wants my undivided attention. I can't imagine how he'd react if I introduced another bird to the household. And, I'm 68. As others have mentioned, there is the concern about what till happen to any birds I may have when I level up.

I just have the one- Alfie who is 22 years old- he'll be 23 in April 2026. I've had him since he was 11 weeks old. I have thought about adding another parrot over the years but don't have the time and space needed if they don't get on with each other.

I got Timber (TAG) in 2012. He was "thought to be" 6 or 7 when I took him. I'm not sure how many previous homes he was in, but at least two. So, based on assumptions, he would be about 20 now.

It definitely keeps me busy, but I have a good routine in place. I have my morning coffee while chopping up their fresh veggies. It's my time to mentally plan my day. In the evening is when everyone gets let out of their cages. They're all flighted, so I decided to make evenings their time to get out and fly/exercise. I have 10 fids. Like you, I stress over what will happen to them once my time is up on this earth. My family are not into birds, so I'll likely find homes for them if my health goes south. If I go suddenly, then I have a notebook of wishes,etc.

I am so sorry..how tragic..Do you have any currently? I am 65, so my bird life started late as well.

My pineapple GCC, ecclectus and black headed caique, unfortunately have all passed away 4 to 5 years ago. The pineapple and BHC succombed to an environmental toxicity within 30 minutes of each other. My husband had brought home a pan that we weren't aware had PTFE. My son cooked something over very high heat, which killed them. It's a miracle the others weren't affected. My ecki went into respiratory distress for reasons unknown to us, and had to be PTS. This was at a different time. So, in all, I've had 13 fids. I started my journey with birds later in life.

I have a young flock: Gizmo and Niko: dusky conures, age 13. Gizmo was my very first bird, and we got Niko a month later to keep her company Harley: Panama amazon, age 12 Maalik (12), Fynn (7), and Sydney (19)-all CAGS Shaylor-miligold macaw (11) Dexter-scarlet macaw (9) Teak-lesser Jardine's (11) Chloe-meyers (9)

For those of us that are still here & hanging on...I think we should re-group & remind all of us our fids & their ages..I could go back & do a search, but I thought it would be cool to have a place to just look at for the few if us left. I'll go first: My first grey (actually it was my son's but I inherited her) Talon Timneh Age: 20 years My second: Rikki (rescued from a member here) Congo Age: 20 Years Nilah Amazon Age: 16 Years

Merry Christmas to all & a Very Happy New Year!