Why birds?

[Dinosrawr]

As poorly as this sounds, I would consider it a fascination with unique creatures. I'm by no means a "collector", and I never aim to be. But I love different animals... animals that people look at and completely misjudge because it isn't the norm. Everyone knows cats and dogs are loving pets. Few know of the incredible love a parrot can bring into your life, or how sassy a rabbit can be, or how a rat can be the most cuddly creature on the planet, or how therapeutic it can be to talk to your snake as they wrap calmly around your wrist at night.



Whenever I talk about the animals in my life, people are always amazed. My mom always tells me how surprised she is by the depth of love a parrot can give, and how expressive they are. All of my friends and family who have met my birds are always blown away by how incredible parrots can be and how they didn't know that birds were so loving. I think part of it too is that I just like helping people learn more about animals by experiencing them the way I get to.



And I agree with April. I think it's pretty neat I get to say that my birds should live until I'm 50, though I'm hoping for longer than that! Which means they should be with me through most of the biggest moments in my life.



EDIT: Oh... and because of things like this! Cuddles - YouTube

OK I have to ask about the therapeutic nature of a snake? This is from the context of someone who knows a person who had to deal with a passenger on a plane with emotional support animal on more than one occasion. Two very odd animals to have on a plane and to think offer support. One was a snake. The rules for being a passenger on such a flight are way out of balance, that's a different discussion for a different day.



So how is a snake therapeutic? I personally question that reptiles in general can have strong emotional attachments to an owner, even recognizable attachments in general.

It's not really the attachment, because I would agree that snakes have minimal "familial" connections with their handlers. It's the way they wrap around you for your body warmth. Their association with you is really on a biological aspect, using you as warmth. But a lot of them have incredible handleable personalities and they can certainly enjoy the physical contact too. I'm not really sure how to explain it other than the fact that they're quiet, beautiful to watch, and their scales feel amazing when they wrap around your hands/arms. It's like a hug really! Though I can't say I recommend hugs from retic. pythons... [emoji28]

 

[CherylCali]

I think my number one reason is the way that parrots love you. That for all of our flaws and weaknesses the parrot can be utterly devoted to you. That it's a true companion that will be involved in every aspect of life that you're willing to share. That they're socially and psychologically complex, to have a happy healthy parrot I think you have to study them. That it's a bird and everything in it's nature should scream to run from you, but instead it runs to you.
EarlyBird is an utter joy to me. Everything about her.

CherylCali

 

[GaleriaGila]

Beautifully said, CC and others...

I really enjoy how my love of birds has brought me to new understandings about other creatures... snakes, even, at the moment. Thanks, Dino.

 

[Phoenixjay]

If I could have a companion phoenix for a pet, and be like Dumbledore, I probably would (75% chance I will end up a Scarlet Macaw mom in 10 years). I even have a phoenix tattooed on my shoulderblade. But parrots are the next greatest thing, and they are pretty great. I've always identified with birds, and I can't really explain why. I don't know if it is the flying, or the way they love. My family actually calls me Bird or Lexibird. I am an all-animal person. I really love them all, and they all are part of my heart--pets or not, but my soul is a bird.

 

[Scott]

I didn't come to experience and grow to love birds until my late 20s. For that I can thank my Mom whose gateway parrot was a BFA. Found them to be extremely captivating due to their beauty, intelligence, and mannerisms. Since about age 30 I've had birds of my own, and they will always be my favored companion animal. Of all species, the subset of cockatoo is most preferred, specifically Goffins. But I love them all!!

 

[snowflake311]

Thanks guys for sharing I am enjoying everyones thoughts on our Feathered Friends.

 

[Leaf]

Another user (OutlawedSpirit) touched on this subject, but for me it's that underlying knowledge that Auri, my GCC, is no different from members of her own species in their natural habitats. She is, genetically, a wild animal, far different from, say, dogs, who were bred for human-selected traits over thousands and thousands of years.

She whimpers if I cook without her on my shoulder, insists on eating from the same plate, demands cuddles, is at once obedient and mischievous and affectionate and stubborn, is happier sitting on my shoulder than flying around the apartment even though I give her full freedom to do either, and, essentially, consistently chooses me over anything else that could possibly command her attention. The catch is, none of these were pushed in one direction or another over thousands of years of breeding for the ultimate companion animal. Auri's traits weren't selected. They're hers alone.

 

[GaleriaGila]

That's BEAUTIFUL, Leaf, beautiful.

 

[CherylCali]

Another user (OutlawedSpirit) touched on this subject, but for me it's that underlying knowledge that Auri, my GCC, is no different from members of her own species in their natural habitats. She is, genetically, a wild animal, far different from, say, dogs, who were bred for human-selected traits over thousands and thousands of years.

She whimpers if I cook without her on my shoulder, insists on eating from the same plate, demands cuddles, is at once obedient and mischievous and affectionate and stubborn, is happier sitting on my shoulder than flying around the apartment even though I give her full freedom to do either, and, essentially, consistently chooses me over anything else that could possibly command her attention. The catch is, none of these were pushed in one direction or another over thousands of years of breeding for the ultimate companion animal. Auri's traits weren't selected. They're hers alone.

Yes! Well said.

CherylCali

 

[macawluv]

I just have always loved birds. When I was young I obsessed over Bird Talk magazine and "learned" as much as I could. Something about them just melts my heart. I had 2 cockatiels growing up. One was my precious baby Cher, the other was "her" bitey buddy. My mom gave them away when I was 13 because "their chirping in the morning" woke her up.. It crushed me. Loving them morphed into fierce dedication and when I finally became a home owner 2 years ago my husband and I got 2 macaws. I still think about Cher, but now I am 29. I'm sure she's passed.

 

[Teknogeddon]

To be honest this is a hard question to answer without sounding like a twit, at least for me. My parents had a couple birds when I was in Europe, about 10 years old or so. Sally and SweetiePie. Sally was a (ha) make Eastern Rosella, and SP was a teil.

Can't honestly say I had the best memories of them. Sally was untamed and SP only loved men. They'd been rehomed many a times due to the nature of military families and were rather jaded. SP died of a lung infection and Sally was rehomed when we went back to the states, as the plane wouldn't let us take him over seas.

My mother hated those birds. Complained about them constantly. Oh what a mess, oh how noisy, oh filthy little creatures.
My mother is a fickle thing, as she'd loved birds before- one bad example and she tends of fall out of love with a creature. Cats are the newest thing in the list.

Despite this, I always had a fascination with birds. They always seemed like the ultimate form of freedom, and since I didn't have the best relationship with my parents (not a bad one, but definitely not good) as well as the beginning stages of my anxiepression-- freedom was a myth to me. I idolized birds, butterflies, moths- simply for the fact they could fly away. They can go anywhere they want. If somewhere is unfair to them,, they leave.

Well, moths make questionable pets, butterflies are jerks- and birds?
I still love birds. I have one on my shoulder for goodness sakes.
Ive had other pets, but never... Idk clicked? Don't get me wrong, I'll murder someone for my beloved daschund, Rocky. However, i just don't think I'm a dog person at the end of the day. I see people get so excited over dogs and I'm just standing there holding the leash like "ok, please stop". I don't gush over dogs and cats like I do birds. In fact, I get more excited over fish species than I do dog or cat breeds. I like looking at them and petting, but they're just.... It's hard for me to explain. Kinda like that phrase involving you liking other people's kids- you can give them back when they misbehave. Dogs and cats tend to wear on me if they aren't tame and I've lost 50 pairs of underwear too many to my dog.

The more I learn about them, the more I love them. I look forward to bringing my baby girl home and go through the whole rigorous learning process of being a proud Parront. I can't really express any other thing that pure fascination and adoration at the current, as my girl isn't here yet.

Maybe when she arrives I'll be able to paint a much clearer picture, but that's all for now.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I love all these stories...
Macawluv, I cannot believe your mom did that! My mom wasn't always easy, but once a critter came home it was a member of the family, just like weird old Uncle Jay.
Tekno, you made me think of something a spinster Aunt used to say... "son mi enlace con la Naturaleza": she loved birds and kept some local species illegally, because they were her "link with Nature", more so than people, even.

 

[Teknogeddon]

Tekno, you made me think of something a spinster Aunt used to say... "son mi enlace con la Naturaleza": she loved birds and kept some local species illegally, because they were her "link with Nature", more so than people, even.

I fully believe she meant well, she honestly wanted to have a relationship with them, but SP bonded to dad and Sally just outright despised the planet. That bird was impossible to work with. Now that I'm older I understand he could've been worked with, in time, but I was young at the time and we still wouldn't have been able to take them with us. I hope he found a good home in the end, but I'll never know.

Part of the main problem was my mom was newly disabled, and cleaning the cage was taxing on her. Dad was deployed a lot and I was just a kid who had never owned birds before and didn't know the rules. I remember being heartbroken when SP died, and I still have one of her feathers somewhere from a molt.

It wasn't all bad - Mom does have fond memories of them, but she just doesn't want the mess anymore. Her fondest of SP was the fact the 'teil would hang upside down, spread her wings and whistle the X-Files. That bird loved the X-files.

Both parents are just... fickle.

This is one of the many reasons my parents will probably not bird sit for more than a day. Overnights only. I simply don't think they would be able to handle them. Dad would love to have it, but she'd bite him and be exiled inside her cage for the rest of the day, and mom is just not well enough. I know my parents well enough to know this much.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Well, you (and Macawluv) both turned out to be fine (and great bird-lovers!), so I give your folks an A+ for that.

 

[macawluv]

Well, you (and Macawluv) both turned out to be fine (and great bird-lovers!), so I give your folks an A+ for that.

Plus my cockatiels (hopefully) went to a home where all of the family members adored them. Silver lining