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I know at some point this has been discussed, but recent events cause me to revisit it, and get some fresh thoughts. A lot of you, this wont pertain to as your Grey's were domestically born, (That is a whole other discussion) But for wild Greys bought, smuggled or rescued from the the eventuality that black market brings, I have a question, and maybe get some thoughts from you guys. A small disclaimer here, I will always keep Sukei until he dies or I do, I'm betting on me. That being said... Do you suppose people make the right choice to rescue these birds rather then let them die? What is their quality of life? I suppose it applies to humans too. I was sitting watching some TV and Sukei said, "Bored, i'm bored" Well of course he his, he would have been flying around the jungles of Africa, on Elephant's backs. Do we do them any favors saving them to a domesticated life of watching "Sponge Bob Square Pants" his favorite show? Granted, he does get Nick at night LOL, but I digress. I think getting this site back to an active status, might just be people asking stupid questions like this

For the most part, I understand Alfie's boundaries and respect them. But he does catch me sometimes when he (seemingly) lunges at me for no reason. I am thankful that Alfie doesn't seem to bite as hard as he could do. He might leave a slight bruise but rarely if ever breaks the skin.

Hindsight is 20/20. Second-guessing yourself will drive you mad. (sigh) I figure I made the best decisions I could, at the time, with the knowledge I had. I just try to make better decisions for my pets as time goes on. I originally viewed parrots as just 'pets' - whereas now I realize they had a right to their own life. Once tamed, they can't just be re-released into their natural environment easily or safely. So for me, parrot sanctuaries (which you have to pay A LOT to place your babies there) are sort of the next best thing. Heaven knows my parrots would never make it in their real wild environment now. And business men are tearing down their natural environments with complete disregard anyway. Plus climate change. I am satisfied with compromise and doing my best by my sweet Snickers (grey) who is still in my home. Don't we all sort of live fake lives these days? Away from nature? In our homes watching our laptops and phones? Internet, artificial light, heat & a/c? I guess parrots adapt as we have. But OH to have never been taken any from the wild in the first place. Or to never have been domestically bred where they never knew their wild cousins and natural landscapes! But what's done is done. I do sometimes imagine the families and friends in flocks my parrots might have had in the wild. We adapted and so did our sweet parrots. They may never have thrived or survived without man's interference anyway. Or at least I tell myself that when I need to believe it. I can't undo my past choices and my parrots must live with those choices. At least we can spoil them a little, say "I'm sorry" and give them the best life we can in our safe predictable artificial homes.

I did not see that coming, at all, I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking about it. I suppose what is done is done. But I wonder sometimes if I wouldn't have done better by Sukei by just leaving him go in the Middle East. Quite sure he would be dead, and would that have been the kinder thing to do. Like he said, no haters, it is a valid subject. Not one of us would ever mistreat our fine friends. Just a thought for someone that hasn't spilled the milk yet, so to speak.

If I could go back to the 1996 when I first adopted a parrot; I wouldn't. At the time they seemed like amazing colourful pets. I have since placed 3 of my dear parrots in a parrot sanctuary so they can fly free. I kept Snickers (my grey) because he can be difficult but my other parrots were those well adjusted, social, never-met-a-stranger types. I think they are happier flying free with others of their own kind -- it's a HUGE aviary -- lot of room for full flight. Today I wouldn't think breeding parrots is a good thing. But 20+ years ago -- I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I have a meme on my fridge: "you are forever responsible for what you have tamed". Those words mean more to now than when I first put it on my fridge. We do our best with caged companions, try to give them lots of free time outside their cage, provide toys and attention, cuddles, offer healthy varied diets -- but it's not being free. Most don't even know better, our world is all they've known, and I want to believe they find some happiness in our homes in spite of us knowing better. Please... no haters. I kept indoor (my home) caged/companion parrots for 22 years so I AM you too. I still have Snickers in my home. But at my death, he too will go the parrot sanctuary and get a glimpse of the world he was meant for.