I have yet to get a reply to the emails I sent to the Parrot Sanctuary in the twin cities, so I guess I'll need to call in. I went down earlier this week to visit a parrot rescue about an hour and a half away, and was not... entirely impressed, in hindsight. I felt like they could do a lot better keeping cages clean and tidy, though the birds themselves looked well cared for. I'd gone in to meet with a little Sun Conure named Chicken, meet the rescue folks, and learn a bit more about parrots hands-on.

There was a moment of adrenaline rush when a loud crash happened and all the birds startled - one of the macaws had broken off an extra panel on her cage with the help of her neighbor, and merrily walked out and greeted us!

They appear to be a 'first-come-first-served' type of 'shelter,' which I found out the hard way. There were a few families interested in adopting Chicken, myself included. He was very sweet, and actively interested in what I was doing. I got bit a few times when he didn't want to step up off my shoulder at first, but the lass running the shelter taught me how to encourage him to do so and minimize the chance of biting by standing back against the wall, or bringing my other hand down the side of my head and holding my arm up to encourage him to walk out to the arm, where he was then more amiable stepping up. It worked wonders, and he was otherwise very good with the step-up. Aside from that which is something we could work on, he let me give him scritches and gave me kissies, and loved crawling up my shirt to sit on my shoulder, and cuddle.

I'd swapped a long-winded email with her asking some in-depth questions I had forgotten to ask about when I was there in person, which she'd answered with great thoroughness. Before I went to work I sent the lass an email letting her know I wanted to adopt and would send a more thorough reply when I got back home that night so I could discuss coming in and meeting him often, getting him used to me and visa versa, to ease the stress of taking him home. I wanted to figure out a way I could put some kind of downpayment for his adoption so he could be held from being adopted by another family while I went through this process, just in case he and I did not prove to get along for whatever reason.

I came home to a letter comprised of "sorry, someone else called in with payment" and was heartbroken. I suppose it's fate's way of telling me there's another birdie out there who will be a better match and needs me more, but it was still an unexpected blow. It also was strange to me they didn't do home-visits for prospective homes. It seems they were just a 'ask you lots of questions, if you sound like a good parront, we'll let you buy a parrot.'

I found another shelter a little farther away at two hours drive, that is more thorough in their placement and I do not think is a first-come-first-serve, as they require that you come in and visit with the bird(s) several times so you both become familiar and they can see how you handle them, something I was going to do as an optional choice at the last shelter. (which they would have charged me a boarding fee to keep him there during this process!)

They have both African Greys and Conures in, the later of which is a bird I at first was avoiding due to how I heard they could be very noisy, but after Chicken having demonstrated how loud and shrill they could be in my ear and being unphased by it, I'm no longer worried about their volume. A cockatoo, however, is still a birdie I would love to visit but not live with. His shrieking felt like a punch to the noggen, even expected!:eek: It's not an adamant decision that I'll come home one day with an African Grey or Conure, though from what I know of both species, either is one I would love to gain experience with, but I am open-minded to being surprised by another bird in an unexpected species!

I've got my nest egg growing for the investment in the cage, toys, food, and of course, the birdie him/herself! I'll post more when I've more to share.

Until then! ;D

There exists now a possibility to have you own blog on this site (see lefthand-sidebar for instructions).

If any of you would like to pubish your day-to-day or any other experiences concerning Greys please feel free to make use of this possibility.

Happy blogging B)

http://sullivanthegrey.blog.com/

More on my blog...

http://mabelserendipity.blogspot.ca/2013/02/delightful-stainless-steel-parrot-toys.html

http://mabelserendipity.blogspot.ca/2013/09/review-i-got-woody-bird-toys.html

http://www.housefulloffur.com

I have read in several place that a bird has changed their lives. I know that they have mine.

I use to hate bird poop on my car, seems as if I would never have poo on their until the day I washed it.

I buy healthy foods now, and catch myself taking nibbles of fresh fruits and veggies while preparing their dishes.

When I fix lunch and dinner, I am always thinking a head, so that the fids can be out at the dinner table.

Austin as most knows has a learning disability and only said a couple of words until we got the parrots. Now he can almost have a conversation. He has learned so many words trying to get the birds to repeat him. He never showed an interest in learning until I started training and teaching the birds. He now sings to them the ABC song.

Who knows what will brighten the day of even the younger lives.

I have a new respect for the larger beaks.

I love my fids unconditionally just the same as they love me. They can make a bad day all better.

I can go on and on, but I want to hear from others.

http://mabelserendipity.blogspot.ca/2012/07/my-parrots-love-tnt-bird-toys.html

As of 6/15/12/ we have 8,190 members and 223,123 post.

Now if you could read 60 post per minute for 8 hours that would be 3600 post per houre X 8 hours would = 28800 post per day. Divide that into 223.123 post and you get 28.8 days to read the grey forum at 8 hours a day and 60 post per minute. That is alot of reading and I know I could not do it.

I have been a member for almost two years and I have not read all the post.

Just think how much I have missed.

The knowledge on this forum goes beyond belief. If you only had the time.

http://mabelserendipity.blogspot.ca/2012/05/sachi-pionus-parrot-wears-aviator.html

About African Grey Parrots

http://parrotearth.com/2012/04/19/a-bird-of-the-air/;)

take a look:

http://parrotearth.com/2012/03/14/play-date-for-parrots/

:rolleyes:

http://parrotearth.com/2012/01/31/just-a-thanks-and-a-little-homage/

So glad that she liked it! It's kind of weird writing about someone so inspirational to you, but I believe it's important to share thanks, and compliments!

http://mabelserendipity.blogspot.com/2012/01/that-defining-moment-between-me-and.html

http://mabelserendipity.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-good-are-you-at-purchasing-toys.html

Silence is Golden.

http://parrotearth.com/2011/10/27/howdy-pumpkin/

http://parrotearth.com/2011/10/17/once-bitten-twice-shy/

if you like Parrot Earth, find it on facebook, I would really appreciate it!!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Parrot-Earth/168066896604867

Thanks again for all of your kind words and support!