KevinD

These birds were never meant to be captured or sit in our houses, they were born to fly the skies of Africa, although it would be a much shorter existence then they enjoy in captivity.

They would never talk, because they would never hear the language, do you suppose we do them a disservice by keeping them and protecting them from an earlier death from predators in the wild at the expense of what we and they enjoy?

I dunno , just a thought. I know it's some deep thought LOL

Well MoM is the be cheapest insurance policy you will ever get Paid off for me 6 times.

I imagine Ill graduate sooner or later LOL

Just to add some levity to the situation....., when do I graduate from fledgling LOL, Im starting my re election now LOL

Did you happen to hear that some of the insiders were able to sell off their stock before the announcement went out and Equifax stock tanked? Not sure if it's fake news but if not, I'm hoping there is some long prison time for a few rich aholes.

Yea I did read that, however the system is what it is, and I choose to protect me and my family.

Its just like the rules for the Grey's I've fought (To save Sukei), even though they were put in to protect them, sometimes they hurt them.

Everyone has there own agenda, and usually it is the big fellow, keeping the small fellow down at the expense of everyone, except the people donating to their next election.

Half the rules they have on the books in the US on Grey's that lobbied for the CITES rules were not about Greys, but rather how much money they could bring to their district on rider clauses to amendments.

They get to look like their for Greys (Or whatever animal is in the news) and get relected.

Ill tell you one thing, If Grey's were in charge, things would be different.

Well, talk to someone that has had their identity ripped off, it sucks.

Those are all valid links, you can google them yourself.

$35 bucks is a cheap insurance policy, all though I agree the system sucks, but it is what it is.

As you may or may not know Equifax was hacked,

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/business/equifax-cyberattack.html?mcubz=0

and now there is a possibility your information is on the dark web.

This has happened to me before, so I have some experience with it.

The DOD database was hacked a few years ago, and all of our financial info was out there on the dark web to see and rip off or be sold.

Protect yourself by locking up your credit reports (All 3), it costs about $35 total, and $35 to unlock.

Upside is no one can open accounts in your name without you getting a phone call.

The downside is, if you want to apply for credit, you have to unlock them again.

In the 10 years I was in the middle east 6 attempts were made to open accounts in my name, all failed.

Here are the links if you should wish to avail yourself of the advice.

https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze/place-credit-freeze

https://www.freeze.equifax.com/

https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html

I don't think it's remotely possible to understand what the full package means whenever people sign up. Day after day, year after year, still barely scratches the surface. Honestly, a decade is like nothing in the scheme of things.

 

People throw the phrase "forever home" around... spit on the ground

These guys are the truest definition of a lifetime commitment; just short of our immediate family. So yes, by my standards, parrots are people too.

I agree, EXCEPT "short of"

They ARE immediate family LOL

I watched my wife chase Sukei down with a broom handle one day, and I swear she was going to kill him for biting her 4 times in a week, and at the last moment, she stopped. I would have stopped her BUT she stopped herself.

Some folks don't understand these Greys are not like people, they ARE more people than most people are LOL

I read through this pinned topic, like all 63 pages lol.

I can sum up the whole thing for you.

At some point your going to get bit, it just happens.

Even domesticated Grey's are wild at heart.

If the grey does not like what your doing, and he is in a bad mood, you will get bit.

Its not personal, its just nature

Your as young as you feel

Phenix is not the moderate type. He got all the apples he demanded right up until his poop suggested otherwise. Now, he's on rations & he's not exactly happy about it.

Kids never are, but thats part of growing up

Oh and one more thing for those of you looking for the PERFECT grey, there are none.

The Grey will be as perfect as you care for them, time, all it takes is time and love and understanding. They expect nothing more or less. In the end they are like your kids, a product of the time and love and care you put into them.

If you ignore them, then you get what you get.

You have to treat them as your children.

Sounds crazy, but it is the truth. And you will get the same result.

I had to read that three times to catch what KevinD meant by being politically incorrect. Ok, 'man' vs. 'person'. Death to figures of speech! We can't have that!!

 

Interesting world we live in right now. However remember, the pendulum is nearing maximum away from it's equilibrium and will be returning home like a chicken to it's roost!

Particle physics ....

I treat Sukei like a person, and when he says daddy, apple, I give it to him.

He does not ask for anything in return.

He likes Red Delicious apples

Just going to court to get Sukei's passport back. They say you cant fight city hall, well they said I couldn't get a half dead black market bird from Africa into the states.

They were wrong. I've said it before and Ill say it again, there is no problem that can't be solved with an appropriate amount of money and prayer.

Everyone has their price, an interests involved.

I have learned so much about these beloved souls in such a short period of time, because I had to.

Most don't care about the real reasons.

For instance, the government tried to bust my private parts for an animal they don't give a rat's behind about, besides bringing money to their district, so they get involved in CITES.

Yes the birds are being captured in a VERY terrible way, but they are readily available to anyone that wants one at a shelter for Greys.

People just want a perfect one. So they go to the breeders or black market.

Much like dogs and cats, but you dont see any senators or congressman getting on that bandwagon for that.

Adopt a Grey, stop buying them. That will end the piracy, not all the sh*& they put me through to rescue one.

Everyone has a skin in the game, and the only one's that suffer are the Greys.

Here is something open your eyes to the real problem, and stop the Government red tape.

If you really are a hero for the Grey's and want to stop the piracy, instead of busting people's private parts for rescuing them, have them visit one of the many shelters for Grey's

That will decrease the demand, simple accounting, less demand lower price, and piracy decreases. Supply/Demand.

And if anyone wants a horny bird from Africa to dilute the very shallow gene pool here in America, let me know, its free LOL.

Really guys look at the whole picture, and you will see that Grey's are just pawns in the bigger game.

You NEVER leave a man behind. And if you have to, you regroup and take him back LOL.

The whole thing has been a miracle, and he and I have you guys to thank for your support.

On a side note, im not used to all the political correctness going on these days, so for anyone I offended, "You NEVER leave a person behind" LOL

Grey's are supposed to fly, thats how God made them. I know everyone's situation is different, but your grey didn't decide to move in with you, you decided you wanted a grey.

My advice is dont clip them at all, just make sure they cant hurt themselves.

They dont just repeat, they actually have an intelligence far beyond repeating stuff.

I always watch those Einstein videos, and the only reason he says what he does is because he gets a seed right after he performs.

I submit to you, they dont have to be trained that way, they just need love and attention.

Sukei will do anything without a seed as a reward. My Wife Susan has spent so much time with Sukei, and she can get him to do anything on command without a seed. He wants to make her happy, because she makes him happy and feels loved, and spends soo much time with him.

The new one give me 5 is so funny, but I digress.

Greys are not so different from you or I, they just need love and attention. ALOT of attention. They will move mountains for you.

NOW im not saying giving them a treat is bad, we give him treats all the time, but in my experience it is not necessary to bribe them.

Sukei is doing well. There was a small incident, as I was not sure where the gov was going to place me here back in the real world, I choose the midcities in Texas, and we got an apartment instread of a house, because we just didnt know where we would land after all the years in the middle east.

We moved in and 3 weeks later there was a fire above us, flood damage was terrible.

As the firefighters were doing there thing, Sukei is screaming......"TOO MUCH SHIT!" LOL, I finally grabbed him by the legs and got him out.

SO we moved to a new place, and he is doing fine, and sits out on the pourch talking with folks as they go by.

He has quite an audience LOL

All that is left, is my court date to get his travel ban lifted. Im very sure it will not be an issue according to the lawyer.

But what a miracle, Sukie was stolen from a nest in Africa, thrown in a box just about died, and now he is here in America, fully healthy and doing just fine.

Now I got two nephews arguing who will get him when I die LOL.

There are worse things I guess.

Bless you all and your greys.

Kevin

I was on hold so long with the driver's licence office on speaker phone, Sukei started saying the alternate 1-800 number lol 4 hours on hold, top that

This is generally a precursor to a database crash. Backup Backup Backup

Or their profile?

That chaps my ass. Why do they think they have a right to clip your bird in quarantine?

Im still in a little hot water with USFW as you may have read in other posts, so I going to fight the ones I can win.

The feathers will grow back, I know its the point of the matter, but no harm, no foul.

It was a good job, and Sukei is safe.

Again, I just have to take the whole situation into context.

How lucky was it to get a rescue bird stolen from the Congo, sure to die, and now is living the good life in Dallas Texas.

What are the odds? Might buy a lottery ticket lol.

The fight is 95% over.

Ill just thank God for that, and consider Sukei and I lucky.

Yea, but that brings up another question, would they float like a duck? I dunno, I wouldn't want to chance it.

They clipped Sukei while in quarantine, they didn't ask either. I was a little pissed, but whom ever did it, did a good job, he isn't flightless, but cant get any lift, he is more in glider mode, so if he takes off, he glides to the ground softly.