Hello from Maryland!

[Safira]

Since I've been stalking the forums for a little while I thought I would drop in a hello.

I am the owner of, owned by, 2 dogs, 2 horses, and 1 goldfish. Tomorrow I pick up the newest addition to my zoo of a family. She is a blue and gold macaw I have named Safira.

A few years ago I worked at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney Orlando as a server there, and slowly conned the animal caretakers (They have 7000 gallons of salt water aquariams, and had parrots) to let me work for them. Fish are nice, but it was the birds I was interested in! They had 2 green wings, 2 blue and golds, 2 cockatoos, and 1 african grey. Anyways, I learned to care for large birds and really enjoyed my few months working there ( I shipped off to the U.S. Navy and had to say my goodbyes.) To this day it was my favorite job, we did bird shows and educational tours, and I learned quite a bit. I missed them when I had to leave.

I now own my own home and am no longer in the military, so finally am in a position to get a Macaw of my own. So.. Hi and I look forward to reading more on the forum. Attached is a picture of Safira, I'll have more as soon as I get her home.

 

[ann]

hi and welcome!!! safria is such a beauty! good luck to you both, and that job must have realy prepared you and im sure you will be a spectacular owner!

 

[Spiritbird]

Always welcome another marylander. We have a few here. Good vets for birds are in Fallston.

 

[noblemacaw]

Ahhh....Rainforest Cafe when they use to have the parrots. This is how I fell in love with the Red Fronted Macaw. The RFC at Mall of America had a RFM called Baja. I loved that bird and he knew it. Even though they were trained to stay on their perches when I would come and see the parrots Baja use to fly to me every time. Baja has had many owners since he lived at the Cafe and now lives with someone in Iowa.

You must be very excited with getting your baby macaw! I too was in the Navy and worked with adult parrots with the couple in Hawaii. That is where my love for the big birds blossomed so I totally understand where you are coming from.

Enjoy the baby...they don't stay babies long.

Noblemacaw

 

[kerry]

She is beautiful, is she just a babe?
Thanks.

 

[oled]

Welcome and congratulate to your beautiful bird

 

[Lonnie]

 

[henpecked]

Welcome to the forum, Rainforest Cafe doesn't have parrots anymore? I was wanting to go til i read that. I want to go somewhere they had parrots and food,i usually get kicked out of restaurants when i bring in my bird.

 

[noblemacaw]

The guy that supplied the parrots for Rainforest Cafe pulled out some years ago (Can't remember exact when) The birds were "sold off". I know that is what happened here in MN restaurant but from what I understand they did that at all of them.

In hindsight I wish I could of taken Baja but it was not meant to be.

When are you getting your B&G? Keep us updated.

Noblemacaw

 

[Safira]

Back in 06 when I left, the only Rainforest Cafe's to have parrots were Disney Orlando and Disney California. I was in the Disney Orlando one, and they went from 8 parrots to 4. 2 went home with the caretakers, 1 (the african gray) went to Texas, to a zoo to become part of a bird educational show there, and the 3rd went to a breeders. I know all the other stores had pulled their birds though, not sure if Disney ones still have them.

I got Safira today! yay. She's currently on her stand sucking on a grape and watching the action in the house. I took some pics.
She was hatched June 06 2011, so she's still a baby. She eats her pellets though, and so far has tried everything I've given her to taste.

I attached a few pictures, one on her stand, one outside on the hammock, and one on her scale ( I checked her weight so I could keep an eye on it.)

 

[Safira]

Forgot the one with the scale!