Hi! I'm Duke and I just found my Forever Home!

[nyspy]

So Duke just arrived! He's a craigslist refugee! Poor little guy has been passed around and I'm his 5th or 6th home. I saw an ad for him without a picture and decided the little guy needed a home.

7 hours, and 500 miles later, he's finally with me! I'm documenting his progress on "Pretty Birdy's" blog, but he has definitely been through the ringer. Poor guy..

Afraid to be touched, afraid of the floor, afraid of the perch stick. Hasn't been preened and I don't think he even knows how to preen himself (I know it's instinctual), but after a short pinfeather session this morning, he's spreading his wings, happy, and ok with being held, touched, and picked up (at least by me). The nipping has subsided and the screaming.. well, it's literally non-existent.

He loves the cageless lifestyle, although, he was dumbfounded for about 30 min. last night when he didn't see bars! Pretty Birdy has met him, but the two are still being kept apart until I get Duke a little more settled in.

There's a consistent Kool-Aid smile on his face and I personally think he feels like he has been rescued. I had Pretty Birdy show him how to eat a nut! Prior to that, I would hand him a nut, he would take it and just drop it. After Pretty Birdy showed him how to eat a nut, he started eating them.. lol.

I officially have a "flock" lol.. 2 birds (both BG Macaws).

 

[torrap]

Lucky, Lucky birdy!
Congrats!!!!!

 

[JerseyWendy]

:worship2: :35: THANK YOU for rescuing gorgeous Duke!!! WOW, you sure went out of your way to bring him home!!!

I wish you only the very best of luck with him! Sounds like you are off to a GREAT start already.

 

[kendrafitz]

Wow, that is awesome!! He is so lucky you found him!

 

[TessieB]

Congratulations! He's a beauty!

 

[nyspy]

He's a really good bird. Very quiet, but he's terrified of any type of human interaction. When I go to pick him up (and he lets me), he screams for fear of losing balance. I get the feeling he was cooped up in a cage for a very long time. When he sees me now, he puffs up and lowers his head for scritches. Off to a good start!

 

[Boysmom]

Thank you for giving Duke a forever home. You have rescued him from being passed around to sub par homes time and time again. I'm sure with time and training he will love you much more for what you have done for him.

This passing around and selling birds on CL angers me ! These poor birds have feelings and emotions like children, and deserve for humans to consider that before giving up on them or selling them for cash. Many birds suffer through numerous homes before finally ending up in a rescue because of these situations. Each home adds to the emotional baggage of the bird and in the end some never get over the issues it causes them to have.

Again, Thanks for investing your time and money in Duke, he is beautiful and deserves the love you are bestowing upon him. I am sure you are an Angel in his eyes.

 

[BruceV]

Congrats to you both! Looks like a good life for Duke now! Woohoo!

 

[nyspy]

Spent the whole day at the vet! What started as a routine quick "clip" and visit turned into, "I don't think he's 15 years old.. He looks much older." which led into a battery of tests and a low white blood cell count. Got him some meds, waiting for the results on the culture. The doc worked with me and I got the whole shebang for $200.00 which is probably about 50% off.

After talking to the doc a bit more, I told him I'd be available to help him rehab birds and since I live a block and a half away, I told him I'd be "on call" for emergencies or whenever he needs an extra set of hands. He seemed very appreciative! Since I work from home 3 weeks a month, it wasn't a big deal.

So Duke just really "bonded" with me. He climbed up on me and just snuggled up against my head.. Pretty crazy for an abused macaw to do within 24 hours, but I don't feel like he'd hurt me at all. So I'm willing to chance it, although, I am still a bit hesitant.

Made him a salad of asparagus, pine nuts, croutons, carrots, peppers, and papaya. (Pretty Birdy got some too!). He looks exhausted as he's sticking his head in his back and trying to sleep, although, he's not closing his eyes.

After giving him a good "looky", I'm thinking he's gotta be at least 30.. maybe 40 years old. That being the case, I feel even better about getting him yesterday. I had just returned from Chicago and had been traveling since 3am, but I still jumped in my car and drove the 7 hours to go get him. Something in me just said, "Go get him.. he needs you."

I think my instincts were right.

 

[getwozzy]

My eyes are sweating. Thank you thank you thank you! for going FAR out of your way (while probably sleep deprived) to get Duke. I'm sure he knows he's in good hands now

 

[nyspy]

One should never be thanked for doing what is morally correct.

 

[JerseyWendy]

One should never be thanked for doing what is morally correct.

I will thank you as well, and whole heartedly. We need a lot more folks like you in this world.

 

[cstambaugh]

That is awesome man, you make me want a B&G. haha

 

[drlisaort]

This passing around and selling birds on CL angers me ! These poor birds have feelings and emotions like children, and deserve for humans to consider that before giving up on them or selling them for cash. Many birds suffer through numerous homes before finally ending up in a rescue because of these situations. Each home adds to the emotional baggage of the bird and in the end some never get over the issues it causes them to have.

It makes me weep to think of all the parrots out there suffering. All I can say is Duke is one lucky dude!

Lisa

 

[nyspy]

Yeah, I'm in SE Florida and it kills me to see all the birds being trafficked on craigslist. Turns my stomach.

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

Sounds like Duke is a very sweet bird. Good luck with him, and thank you for giving him another chance.

 

[strudel]

He's just gorgeous. So glad he is settling in so well, and so quickly. Yay for Duke!

 

[nyspy]

I took Duke to the park yesterday instead of Pretty Birdy and boy was he pissy (Pretty Birdy), but I felt Duke needed to get a taste of happiness. We hung out for ~3 hours and while he was initially a bit terrified, he settled down and became quite happy. It was very apparent that Duke hadn't been outside in a VERY long time.

After we came home, he kept calling out to me every time I walked into the room. Not with a typical Macaw shriek, but the patented, "Rico Suave" "Hi!" he was apparently taught to do. I started bringing him into the office with me and he sits on the back of my chair while I'm working. (7-8 hours a day) and he is very content and happy.

He started preening me and is now making really cute moaning sounds. As for him being a loud macaw, he hasn't shrieked once! Stepping up is less of an issue now and at one point when I walked into the kitchen, he actually jumped off his perch and flapped to the ground to try to get to me.

I can feed him pistachios by hand without fear of biting and he's relearning the "step up" command now.

Weird bird.. he won't eat when I'm in the room, but went through his pomegranite and birdy chop in very short order!

Pretty Birdy has been visiting me much more frequently as well.. Clearly a sign of jealousy. I make it a point to give them both equal amounts of attention. Two super needy birdies that are clearly doing well!

Duke finally goes for his shower sometime today.

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

Congratulations, and he's beautiful. I wish you two all the best.

 

[nyspy]

When we went to the vet, we all took a guess that he's much older than 15 years old. Definitely taking a different tact with him, but he's very affectionate.