Rudy at Brandywine Park Wilmington DE

Hello All,

I am going to create this thread to show all Parrot lovers just how incredible this a Green Winged Macaw can be and how easy it was, with one caveat.

Because of longevity I do not recommend a Macaw to those who have not raised children or wont accept that this animal is a life long commitment. Its the equivalent of giving up a child for adoption. My kids are grown. Rudy is 2 1/2 yrs old. A hell of a lot smarter ...

He sleeps for 12 hours, awake for 12. He takes a shower with me once a week, lifts his wings while I spray him with a hand held. Wrap in a towel, Likes the blow dryer. 3 1/4 lbs. He doesnt eat much. He has his own room, the sun room. a piece of vinyl from Lowes. An octagon cage. Oh! his crap dont stink. and hey! he talks way more than my kids did at two. THey are uncannily smart. he knows stuff that freaks me out with. "how did you know that"! anyways...

It has been a thrill for me over the last year. He regularly makes dozens of people happy every day I take him out as I walk around our city streets. He stops traffic, people blow horns, thousands upon thousands of pics taken. The police wave, the fire trucks blow the horn as well as ambulances..

Okay, for fun. this is Rudy catching snowflakes a week or so ago.
http://www.parrotforums.com/attachm...ndywine-park-wilmington-de-0321181644b-3-.jpg

Rudy is beautiful! How does he do with the snow/cold temps?! I know I've seen videos of free flighted birds flying in snow covered landscapes before and always wondered how they felt about it/responded to it.

Because of longevity I do not recommend a Macaw to those who have not raised children or wont accept that this animal is a life long commitment. Its the equivalent of giving up a child for adoption.

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Just curious why if they haven't raised children would there be an expectation they'd be more likely to give up a parrot than those who have raised children? Not everyone wants or is able to have children. Some people even buy parrots in lieu of having children. I had no children when I adopted Kiwi at age 19, but I full well understood the commitment and did tons of research despite having a lifetime of hands on experience with parrots already (grew up in a house with 3 large parrots my parents have had all their lives, all of whom they purchased in their early 20's). I can't wait to have children of my own around Kiwi at some point. Socialization is key to helping them fit into a family setting. 2 out of 3 of my parents birds (also both amazons) liked me a whole lot as a kid too and were always following me around the house. I've heard Big Macs can be even better 'family' birds when properly socialized due to their propensity towards being very hands on "lap birds" who like to be petted and to play around in ways other species generally don't as much.

Hi Kiwibird!
Thank you for your reply. Your questions are one of the reasons why I logged back on. Its important to me to share my first hand unique experience with Rudy with Parrot lovers! My knowledge of a Green Wing Macaw is limited to Rudy and our interaction with thousands on the street and in the Park. What I will share with others can be opinions, down to the style of how I converse with people. Including.. What I write.. It is likely to be very different than how I talk. I am talkative by nature. I get bored with writing detailed books.

I use the word acclimate frequently (i dont like "trained"). Rudy has taught, haha ok.. He shows me lots of things. There are lots of members here who know volumes of info, I welcome commentary from the experts.

The colder temps and snow.. With the seasonal changes, I noticed that Rudy would shiver ever so slightly at 70 degrees. As temps continued to drop, that shivering seemed to be consistent, yet his feet were warm as well as his beak. It didn't take long to figure out that with cooler temps, he would warm himself in the sun. Lesser Windy days, little to no shivering. Because of 106 body temp, its easy to determine whether he is chilled. The problem with that comment is, I have know idea of how he feels about it. He certainly doesn't tell me

I have noticed that in the dropping temps, he is much more active on my shoulder and with people than in the summer. IMO Windy days are what seem to irritate him. haha. I dont knock him over, the wind does! So. What I have noticed, is that throughout the cooler temps, his feathers became thicker, in that there is considerably goose down than what he had last summer. He is free flighted, albeit on a harness. I show people how he can fly. Basically just tossing him up he flies right back landing like a helicopter.

Ok, the tough part of my reply. Kiwibird you are unique. each one of us is unique. Remember, just like many comments made, the following are facts and my opinion.
Rudy and I have met thousands of people.
I have grown children. (haha germinate and water regularly)
Rudy has seen thousands of dogs. (he barks, thanks neighbor)
Rarely do we see children.
Even more rare, people dont walk their birds on the city streets.

QUESTIONS ENCOUNTERED: not in frequency.. in rough order.
Does he talk?
Where did you get him?
How Much?
Can I pet him?

This is where I ask. Along with numerous replies. a couple frequent ones are,
They don't come out of the box like this.
Do you know what their median age is?
Do you have Children?

I tell the story that this bird is lot smarter and much easier to take care of than a child. I explain to them that these "pets" often end up in a Rescue. As we all know here. acclimating a parrot to a new owner, is likely a very different interaction than the early days of a "one owner" Bird.

Kiwi, I hope that you didn't take my post the wrong way. It wasn't directed at you or those who don't have children. My post has been about my experience, I apologize if I come across as "brutally honest" I think it is amazing what you have done with your Birds.

I am happy to write more. However, if my typed words come across a certain way, Im sorry. I am or so I think, a different person, in person.

Rudy says.. Kissy Kissy! Muwah!!

Oh no offense taken at all (and also no desire to own a macaw or adopt a second bird at any point in the foreseeable future personally) I was just wondering the rationalization for having raised children as a prerequisite to parrot ownership as it's one I've never heard before. Being a financially stable adult, owning a home etc... I've heard but not having grown kids. That's all.

I too get lots of those same kind of questions when Kiwi is out with me. I usually try to squeeze that they're loud, messy, expensive upkeep and can be expected to bite on occasion into the conversation to quell any desires for an impulse purchase

I still can't believe people bring parrots out in chillier temps and they're ok! Maybe I'm a bit overly sensitive about Kiwi. If it's not in the mid 60's-ish or above (and sunny) I don't take him out. Taking him out in slightly chillier weather would make it possible for him to come out a whole lot more often Oct-Apr. The snow question, well I've brought in a dish of snow for Kiwi to check out a few times. He seemed "confused" by it Just wondering how Rudy reacted to it all over and actually being out "in" it.

I'm in a unique position to spend a lot of time with Rudy. Our interaction has been a whirlwind of uh.. experiences. This is the reason I write. I guess I think it is prudent to offer back something for the information I have learned from others.

I think the ornithologists within the group may be able to chime in with how birds may or may not acclimate to temperatures cooler than their native habitat.

Initially I took Rudy outside in warmer temps and while I noticed the shivering in cooler temps I eased up and then didn't take him out. He apparently became conditioned as evidenced by squawking and more hyper-activity on days I didn't take him out. Keep in mind that while he is the same bird today as he was on the first day a year and half ago.

So with his protests, i took him out when it got cooler and cooler every day. Thats when I noticed the thickened down this winter. The pic attached to this post was down at about 35F. Taking him out on a recent snow day was comical. He was trying to catch them! Then I said to him, Fine! you want to catch some snow? Here! Hence the pic.

I guess its my opinion that I expose Rudy to everything available including dogs, cats, squirrels, people including scurrying rug rats. Ive noticed that Children has been a slow go from a safety stand point. When there are little yap yaps, I teach rudy to say, Chicken, Chicken..

How wonderful that you get to expose Rudy to so many situations! It is so good for them mentally to constantly be experiencing new things instead of locked up at home seeing the same rooms/objects/people day in day out. I just looked at that thing which lists about your parrots and Rudy is still very young! Wonder if being exposed to cooler temps from a young age has changed his body's response to it? I'm not sure if anyone currently a member on the forum is qualified to do more than speculate on that point

Interesting he finds children so threatening. Kiwi adores children and typically goes out of his way to entertain them. Just last night we took him over to the food cart station near our place and as usual, were mobbed by families with small kids wanting to see the parrot. He put on a big show shouting hello and making his big wolf whistles and goose honks, which always seems to amuse tiny humans greatly That's hilarious that Rudy shouts chicken chicken to little kids. Bet they like that!

Hey Kiwi,

Thank you for your comments and observations. Starting with Children. Last year it was baffling to me that the two nicest friendliest ladies in the park. Rudy wasn't the same with them. Rudy's behavior was very subtle, I could tell that he was feeling a tiny bit uncomfortable. It wasnt until near early summer when he would meet parents with children and I noticed that he was reacting to the children..

It all came together, the nicest ladies in the park were at about five foot tall. Duh. Rudy had never seen little people I knew by this point that he had seen thousands of dogs, I guess people just dont walk their children any more.. So, with that figured out, any time I do see children I tell them the story and ask "can I borrow your kids?"

Rudy has a couple of kids, one Indian girl in 4th grade that he is especially fond of. Yet the kids that are scurrying mode, from a safety perspective, I ease up try to get the children to relax a bit ... anyways..

I have found interestingly that my bird can sense certain things that are downright uncanny. How does he know for example that someone has birds or had birds at one time with out my knowing? True statement!

Okay the cooler temps. parrots molt. Rudy looses 4-8 feathers a day. Mine acclimates to the cooler temps. I can see around his neck and breast that there is now a goose down that wasnt there last summer. I know that when the warmer temps come he will likely lose those.

The advantage I have is that with the changing temps, I still take him out daily from a 2-6 hour time frame. His house is also in a sunroom with a lot of glass. So I am sure that has a seasonal effect on his plumage growth. Im sure there are plenty here that might be able to explain the physiology.

testing a poser shot

i was just thinking.. this is a tough one. While I walk Rudy around a lot, lately he has been getting a little firmer with nipping my ears a little more frequently..

Not that this helps. I remind him, "my ears are not your personal hand holds, quit it" or variations thereof..

I give him all sort of stuff that people may freak out over. Lots of sticks, I'll even give him a rock. I have a pocket full of treats (pistachios, cashews a walnut or two) He is on a harness. Free flight training is in progess and working out marvelously. It was a lot of fun since the wind was up. he hovers beautifully like a helicopter..

anyways why he just leans down and grabs my ear, I have no idea of what triggers it, if there even is one..

Any ideas how to keep him from grabbing my ears?

Rudy is a magnificent! It must be wonderful to socialize him publicly, a sort of good-will ambassador for macaws!

Scott said:

Rudy is a magnificent! It must be wonderful to socialize him publicly, a sort of good-will ambassador for macaws!

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A bit of an under/overstatement. When I got Rudy I didnt know that it would turn out the way it did. Funny pic from today. Especially since he would launch from his perch a lot quicker in that I was holding a phone.

Gimme that damn phone!

Okay, for those who are interested in free flighting. If or as you have mastered your birds in difference to a harness. here is a simple progression . each shot was from about 15 flights this afternoon.

This is Fountain Park donated land, trees and hardscape by one of the Duponts back in the 60's This is also a major artery in to downtown. Its a lot of fun to show off to the bumper to bumper 5pm traffic right behind me.

Surprisingly. The cars, fire trucks and ambulances have never seemed to startle him from day one. I estimate we are a couple of hundred days out into and onto the streets. Now with that said. Think about urban people who walk their dogs every night!

This is the first time I tied a small 25 or 30 foot cord onto what is typically a 6' leash. It was windy today, he had to work hard. I feel a little guilty about maxing it out when the wind caught him once. He didn't protest much, recovered, or I did with in 10 mins..

Beautiful photos of Rudy !!!

Kelly and I are from Maryland and frequent the Christiana and Wilmington area a lot. It would be a pleasure to catch up with you one day and say hello to you and Rudy.
Arika is not at the stage yet where we have her harness trained and would feel comfortable bringing her outside. We'll get there

Wonderful narrative pics of Rudy's flight!!

WakaWaka said:

Beautiful photos of Rudy !!!

Kelly and I are from Maryland and frequent the Christiana and Wilmington area a lot. It would be a pleasure to catch up with you one day and say hello to you and Rudy.
Arika is not at the stage yet where we have her harness trained and would feel comfortable bringing her outside. We'll get there

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Understood! I frequent Brandywine Park often. haha the Zoo hates me.
Anyways, I would love to meet you anytime! I live a couple blocks away.

I can show you a lot of cool tricks with harnessing. Also, Rudy is well acclimated to everything including the current cooler temps.

I think what I should do is post a video of how easy it is to get the harness on Rudy. PM me if you would like. we can make plans! Thank you for your reply this is what I am looking for! Lets start a group!!

Found another similar close up in flight

Aprils POTM entry

Yikes!!!! With Rudy's training today, he shot over me and snapped the Aviator Flight harness cord. There must have been a nick in the cord. there is five inch section still left on it.. He shot over a local schools roof, went around and ther he was in the top of the tree

and yep as it has happened before the harness with the cord has him tied to the tree branch. He couldn't land in the lower section. nooooo.. Fortunately the local fire company knows me well. They brought the tandem truck out however he was still about 30' foot away.

He worked hard chewing on the branch cord and harness from the best I could see from 80' below. The sun went down, so I know, there he sits. I'm headed back out. and at least talk to him some to offer comfort. I know I have to be out there before the sun comes up. Its chilly tonight...

I am relatively confident he will chew through the branch, the leash and the harness - or one of the three - left up to his own devices. Its a little traumatic no doubt.

Forward thinking. I hope I can get him completely free flighted. I just dont have a warm and fuzzy feeling about him getting loose in the city... and then... there is a pesky state law that ALL pets are to be on a leash..

The flight harness has limitations. More or less the law of averages will eventually work against us and the bird. When it sticks him in a tree. No wonder he runs from me when he knows I am getting ready to take him out. He behaves perfectly with it on. That may not hold anymore.

Ok hopefully this wont take too long... TTYS

Thus has happened before..

Stuck in a tree due to harness last spring

Up date, please. It's not every day one of our members gets his parrot stuck in a tree so close to sundown. I hope Rudy is back home safe and sound.