Accidental Bird Owner

[MonicaMc]

The bird flew over 120 miles?!? Wow, that blows the usual 10 mile average right out of the water! What kind of bird?

A high flyer pigeon. Caught him(?) in a parking lot. He was trying to eat bugs off of the windshield of a truck (abnormal pigeon behavior...), and I offered him water. (didn't have any food on hand). Took a couple of attempts, but did get him. I guess these guys can fly up 1500' in the air and can sometimes get lost... still can't believe he made it through a mountain range!

 

[CherylCali]

That is truly the prettiest lovebird I've ever seen.

CherylCali

 

[judiath2]

What i beautiful bird its so nice to give it a loving home versus a dirty over crowded existence

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[GaleriaGila]

Hedwig's Theme!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhTU7_mipB0"]Harry Potter-Hedwig's theme - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Minerva]

I love that song, Galeria! I catch myself humming it quietly sometimes when I'm driving or sitting at my desk. Hedwig has her own theme!

I should probably have added that I did put a found ad up. I didn't think to mention it because I do it automatically whenever I find a domesticated animal.

I think she is quite pretty too, but I am not familiar with lovebird colors so my experience is limited! I think Hedwig it is. It's cute, and despite her being technicolor it seems to fit her! Hedwig was rather saucy at times in the novels and this little bird certainly is too.

I am learning her preferred schedule. She slept a lot yesterday but was active in the evening (before I left, of course), but I made sure she got a nice long night last night without interruptions. She seems to like being furiously active in the morning, climbing around, attacking things, getting in the window, etc., and then is more mellow in the afternoon. She'll nap off and on and eat and maybe spend some time looking out the window (she loves seeing people and cars go by) or playing with a toy, but she doesn't do a whole lot after her morning whirlwind of activity.

She has both seed and pellets and I have seen her eat both. She eats the seed more so I'll start mixing her pellets in there too. She would like to have millet all day and threw a tantrum yesterday when she ran out and I didn't give her more. She shrieked and chattered and threw the empty stalk around and flung her pellets out of the dish. Little terror!

When I leave the room she chirps loudly until she sees me again, so perhaps she doesn't hate me.

And it's weird, but toys keep appearing in her cage and I just can't fathom how it happens. It certainly doesn't have anything to do with the new Petsmart near my house or Amazon's wonderfully astute product suggestions. ("You looked at bird stuff. Would you like to add on any of these wonderful, colorful bird toys to your order of horse electrolytes?" Oh my god. YES, Amazon. Absolutely I want to do that!!)

Here are a few pictures from today.

Her favorite perch.

Yawning.

Her favorite window spot. Again, please excuse the dust! I wipe it down every few days but there is just SO much dust here now. I have never seen the landscape quite so barren as it is now with the drought. And with no plants to anchor the soil every gust of wind just picks it right up.

Hedwig thinks that she wants to go back out there, but between the lack of food and the fact that the temperatures are going back up into the 105-110 range this week I don't know how long she would have survived.

And a picture of my mare from today just for the heck of it.

With a dirty nose, because dirt is fun.

Anyway, that's all I have to report for now! I am hoping to start using millet to bribe her onto my hand in the next few days. I tried it today but she just tried to figure out how to get it without getting close to me and then yelled at me angrily when she realized that she couldn't.

 

[Allee]

Sweet update! Hedwig is precious! I love her! Thanks for shari your beautiful photos. Your pretty mare has a mischievous look.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I love this thread and everything about it!

 

[BeatriceC]

She is definitely going to be spoiled rotten with love! She is so beautiful.

And I know exactly what you mean about the mysterious random toys showing up. MrC is now glaring at me every time he sees me on Amazon because he knows I'm ordering more bird stuff. I'm pretty bad with Charlotte right now because she's new and she's so much bigger than even our (former) big bird (the yellow nape amazon...the other two are much smaller), so I must BUY ALL THE THINGS! in the extra large size for my new baby.

And as for the dust, I'll forgive yours if you forgive mine. We're in a similar boat. High 90's, low 100's and no air conditioning, so windows open all night and dust collecting faster than I can get rid of it.

 

[Anansi]

Hedwig is so beautiful! I'm loving this update, and I'm glad you've done the responsible thing and taken so many steps to find the previous owner. Personally, I'm hoping she truly was from that bird market and that your home can now be her forever home.

Sounds like things are really going well with her, though the transition to more pellets sounds like it'll be a tough one. Lol! Does she like any fresh fruits and veggies?

Please keep the updates coming. And good look with the millet bribery! Considering that she already misses you when you leave the room, I'd say your bonding is off to a good start.

Oh, and I loved the bonus pic of your mare as well!

 

[Minerva]

I thought you guys might be interested in a quick update.

It has been a long day and I'm exhausted (107 degrees here today, ugh!), but the most important thing is that Hedwig is officially mine! Man, I have never seen so many birds in one place!

They would not let me pay for her but offered to sell me a mate for her. I declined, as I think one is enough, but bought a small cage to use as a travel cage since I didn't want to leave without buying something. There was a bit of a language barrier but it sounds like she has been out for a few weeks and escaped when being transferred from an aviary to a cage with a net.

Hopefully tomorrow I can get some more pictures. For now I am going to bed! :24:

 

[Anansi]

Sweet! And heartfelt congratulations!

So not only have you confirmed that she came from that bird market, but the people there were so appreciative of your honesty that they wouldn't accept payment? I so love hearing stories of decency, especially nowadays.

Did they also confirm that she is indeed a she? And was the market itself as bad as you'd been told?

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[LeaKP]

I love this story, such a good and happy ending.

 

[Minerva]

I don't know about that, Anansi. He kept saying "You find, you keep!" and laughing. I think he was pleased that someone got her instead of her just dying from starvation or exposure, but I'm not positive.

To explain a bit better, this was not one of the markets they go to. This is their residence, which is on a few acres where they have built many large pens to raise birds and other animals. They do have a sign out front that says "Birds for Sale." This is the way that they make their living and I do not want to be judgmental about that. However, this is not a breeder like you are thinking. They breed the birds (and rabbits and guinea pigs, as I saw) on a large scale to sell. There isn't any selective process going on. Just large enclosures with lots of animals.


Thank you, LeaKP! I am just glad I was able to catch her! I think she must have been getting hungry and tired or I wouldn't have had a chance. She is much more outgoing now with a few meals in her!

 

[Scott]

I thought you guys might be interested in a quick update.

It has been a long day and I'm exhausted (107 degrees here today, ugh!), but the most important thing is that Hedwig is officially mine! Man, I have never seen so many birds in one place!

They would not let me pay for her but offered to sell me a mate for her. I declined, as I think one is enough, but bought a small cage to use as a travel cage since I didn't want to leave without buying something. There was a bit of a language barrier but it sounds like she has been out for a few weeks and escaped when being transferred from an aviary to a cage with a net.

Hopefully tomorrow I can get some more pictures. For now I am going to bed! :24:

Truly an amazing story of good fortune, your attentiveness and willingness to rescue, and ultimately a clean ownership. Hedwig is incredibly beautiful, wishing her a long and happy life with you.

 

[Firstgoatsnowthis]

What an amazing story! Hedwig sounds lucky to find you. The circumstances you describe at her place of origin make it sounds like some socialization will be in order. Keep us apprised of her progress!