All because of a craigslist ad...

[Nakiska]

So a few days ago I felt compelled to browse craigslist. I RARELY do this!! For the heck of it, I typed in Conure.

I don't know why really but I did and I found an ad that stole my heart...here's what it said.

Must re-home Sunny, my almost 3 year old Sun Conure due to my failing health. With Large cage, toys, foods and accessories. Also written account of his likes and dislikes, words he speaks, habits, photos from birth and health records. Breaks my heart! Please, someone help me! Born 5-1-2011. I hand fed and weaned him since he was 3 1/2 weeks old.

Without thinking about it...I immediately emailed this person. I was so overwhelmed with emotion. I can tell that she really TRULY loves Sunny and I guess I just felt like I was the only person to do this situation justice. When my husband came home, I read him the ad and couldn't get through it without crying!

Many tears and hugs later, I am now the proud new mommy of Sunny

He didn't seem to take to me at all at their house, which isn't unusual and I wasn't worried, I had faith that once settled into his new home, he'd befriend at least ONE of us in this house.

Well, once I got Sunny's cage set up where I wanted it and got my other chores done, I went and opened his cage door to see if he'd like to try and come out. He did IMMEDIATELY!

I plugged in the birdtricks DVD she sent with him and sat down to watch and within an hour, Sunny flew over and landed on my shoulder!

My heart just about exploded! If I had tried to offer my hand for him to step up from his cage when I first let him out, he was going to bite me...I knew it, so I didn't even try...now because he came to me...he's stepping up and following me from room to room....ALREADY! I'm just amazed!

She did such a great job with him! He is so well adjusted, confident, adventurous and already I am head over heels in love with him, as I knew I would be.

As excited as I am about Sunny...I'm so heart broken over the reasons that I acquired him...total mixed emotions.

My husband looked at me and says..."Okay...this is it...right???? I mean you seriously can not become a bird sanctuary...you can't save them all!hahahahaha!

Noooo...No more birds. 6 is plenty...I never in my wildest imagination thought I'd have this many.

Sunny is a big boy...I weighed him and he's at 127 grams...and our green cheek Frankie...he's 64 grams.

Is he a bit on the larger side for a Sun? I thought they were more around the 110 grams???

Now I can compare first hand, the difference between suns and gcc's

Toni

 

[Terry57]

Sunny is gorgeous, and something made you look at Craig's list at the right time Are you going to keep in touch with the person who had him before? They will be thrilled that he got such a wonderful home
So happy for you both!

 

[thekarens]

Congratulations, he's gorgeous and lucky to have you!

 

[BirdyMomma]

What a cool story! Lovely happy ending, and he is beautiful! So happy for you both!

 

[Kiwibird]

Everything happens for a reason Sunny is gorgeous, and sounds like he's taken to you very quickly! Best of luck with him!

 

[RavensGryf]

Congratulations! This was just meant to be. Sunny is absolutely gorgeous.

 

[MangieSun]

Awe. Swoon. What a cutie! How lucky both of you are. Congrats on the new baby.

 

[MarciaLove]

oh he's beautiful congratulations!!!

 

[Birdbrain91]

Congrats!!! He is beautiful. I love how you got him and it looks like he is happy to be with you.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

He's gorgeous and Suns are such fun! Don't know what the average weight should be. Our Sunny is much larger than our GCC, Trixie.

 

[Dinosrawr]

Wow! Beautiful bird! And an amazing ending to an initially sad story. Thankfully Sunny now has a wonderful new home where his previous owner knows he will be loved at! Congratulations

 

[Featheredsamurai]

He's beautiful! So sad for the person who had to give him up Could you share a pic of his cage? I'd love to see it since it sounds like he came from such a awesome home

Funny how Craigslist does that, I browsed around and saw Kenji, I knew I wanted a bird one day, but not necessarily so soon. But he was too awesome to pass up.

 

[strudel]

She must be so relieved to have found such a good home for him. Takes away some of the stress when you know you've found such a birdlover to adopt him.

 

[TessieB]

A treasured gift for sure! Lucky you!

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Wonderful !!! he looks happy

 

[crimson]

congratulations!....you must be thrilled!....I love suns....they are truly gorgeous and funny.

 

[Nakiska]

To answer a couple of the questions....

Yes, the owner expressed great interest in me keeping in touch with her and giving her Sunny updates, which she's already been emailed twice and sent pictures She says these updates help to ease her aching heart. She replied telling me that it was a very somber dinner without Sunny there to share it. Tugged at my heart to read the struggles of her day today...because there I was completely enjoying Sunny. Which...I know is how she wants it...Sunny's happiness means everything to her.

Someone asked about his cage...yes I'll attach a pic of it...that was the most interesting...I personally think it's entirely TOOO SMALL for him! It's obviously worked for him he's very comfortable in it, but he's going to be upgraded to the much larger cage we have for him once I know he's good and settled. I don't want to change anything else on him for the time being.

She made a baby book for him, which she sent with me, it has pictures of him from 3 days old to current. His first clipped feathers (he's fully flighted now) She sent home with him the carrier she brought him home from the breeder in, his first blankie and toys, all his treats, toys, extra dishes, food, the blanket she covered his cage with at night, his "hatch certificate" all his vet records, letters exchanged between her and his breeder, pic of his parents, a written note about his schedule, words he speaks, and general notes about him and 3 bird tricks dvd's! They also emailed MORE pictures Sunny over the years.

Through all this, it's only natural to feel like I've watched Sunny grow up.

At first I wanted to change his name...I mean how cliché to name a Sun Conure - Sunny...there are sooo many of them! It's like buying a dalmation and naming him Spot...Hahahaha.

But the truth is, Sunny knows his name...however he won't get through life at our house without a nick name...no pet of ours is exempt!

There were other CL ads for sun conures, and of course I always feel bad, which is why I RARELY go there...I know the torture that place brings to my heart, like the ad that simply said "noisy sun conure needs new home, experienced handler" and a super crappy picture of a scared sad looking bird. Then of course they are FIRM on their wayyy too high price. I just FEEL the coldness from ad's like that.

I think I was soo emotional over Sunny because, for one...her price was wayyyyy to low for him and I feared a bird flipper coming in, telling her what she wanted to hear, take him and thrust him into an uncaring lifestyle...FAR different from the one he was accustomed to, all for the almighty $$. It was that thought and fear for Sunny, that I just couldn't turn away from.

This transaction really is a blessing, not only do I now have a gorgeous, well adjusted sun conure, I've made a new friends in Sunny's previous family.

In the end...it's Win - Win.

Toni

 

[Nakiska]

I think I attached the wrong picture of his cage...it doesn't really show how small it is...it's exactly as she had it set up though...I'm not changing anything else on Sunny for the time being. I think it's important for him to have at least THAT familiarity and security for now.

 

[strudel]

At first I wanted to change his name...I mean how cliché to name a Sun Conure - Sunny...there are sooo many of them! It's like buying a dalmation and naming him Spot...Hahahaha.

I like the name. He can have his theme song....

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH3kqmvEMxc]Bobby Hebb & Ron Carter - Sunny - Live 1972 - YouTube[/ame]

I mostly change my adopted pets' names, but Tiger kept his. It just seems to suit him, even though it is a common name for a stripey cat.

 

[Nakiska]

I haven't heard that song in YEARS!! Made me cry to associate it with this situation! LOLOL!! But it's perfect! I will definitely be singing it to him!

THANK YOU!!