If you've seen Debbie Foster's 'fruits and feathers' photographs, we're sure you'll agree they are just beautiful. Recently, Debbie shared a couple of the stories about the making of this year's calendar...

 

Ruby. When Debbie was picking up last year's calendar, she met a woman who asked if she could take a look.  When she saw the birds available for adoption, she spotted Ruby and said she was the most gorgeous bird she had ever seen in her life.  The woman visited Ruby, attended the classes, adopted Ruby and then sponsored her for this year's calendar. Ruby is Miss February.

 

Pickle. Debbie had spent a lot of time teaching Pickle to wave with one or both wings while he was at Parrot University. They were so successful that Debbie had to take 161 photos of Pickle to get three with his wings down! [Ed: Click to read Pickle's 'Happy Endings' story in our June newsletter.]

 

Many thanks to all the families who sponsored their beautiful birds. You can help too, by purchasing a calendar for yourself or as a holiday gift. All proceeds from calendar sales go toward medical care for the birds of CPR. 

Calendars are $15 each (add $3 for shipping, where applicable) and can be purchased at Parrot University, by calling 704-889-2325 or sending an email to info@companionparrots.org

 

 

Andi & phonebook

By Karen Justice

This success story is about heartfelt belief and perseverance. Several months ago I was at Dr. Rutowski's office with one of my four-legged children and encountered a woman with a Blue & Gold macaw named Charlotte that I recognized from Parrot University. She was there for Charlotte's annual exam. Of course we struck up a conversation in which she told me she hoped to adopt Andi, our phone book 'buzz saw' African grey. She was absolutely convinced that Andi was the bird for her. I explained Andi's strong preference for men, but she was not going to let that deter her. What I didn't mention at the time was the fact that after months of no interest in Andi, we had two other families interested that had started the adoption process.

When I told this story to Lea, I learned that the woman's name was Barbara Hicks and that she had been coming to visit Andi regularly. She would go into the library where Andi was and sit in a rocking chair by the cage, talking to her and offering treats. Andi warmed up to her and even allowed step ups and head skritches, something few women had achieved. Lea had already explained to Barbara that she was third in line. Though upset at the thought of not adopting Andi she was even more insistent that hers was the home for Andi.

Andi with Dad

Barbara continued to visit Andi regularly, attended every class available and remained firm in the belief that Andi would join her flock. Her husband, Mike, visited Andi who, of course, went "gaga" over him. He didn't want to visit again, because he said he would be heartbroken if they couldn't adopt Andi. During these weeks, first one, then the second, potential home changed their mind or failed to pursue the adoption. I still had strong reservations about Barbara's expectations of Andi, knowing that once in the home she would only have eyes for Mike, but Barbara insisted this was not a problem and we scheduled the home visit.

The Hicks' home personified exactly what we look for in every adoption. I became assured that Barbara was realistic about her future relationship with Andi. Strongly committed to the health and happiness of their B&G and Quaker they were the perfect match for Andi.

Barbara updates us regularly with photos and stories of Andi. As you can see, Andi is a "Daddy's girl" and continues to destroy her phone books. The rest of the feathered flock has accepted the new addition. Most importantly, Barbara has been diligent in following our advice on how to have value in Andi's eyes and continues to have a pleasant and accepting relationship with her. She reports that she feels Andi loves her in her own way, but more importantly, Andi TRUSTS her. This is one of those situations where it truly was meant to be!

 

What an amazing weekend!  It was so rewarding to see weeks of preparation culminate in such successful events.  I want to thank the Board and volunteers of CPR for all their hard work and dedication.  Having attended many such events across the country, I am so proud of what we produced.  It proved that the Charlotte (and regional) companion parrot community desires and supports educational programs to understand and improve the lives of these magnificent creatures. 

 

Most importantly I want to thank YOU for your attendance and support.  More than $2000 was raised for The Alex Foundation and $1100 was raised for CPR.  Given these tough economic times,  this was an enormous accomplishment!  Thank you for opening your hearts and your purses to these causes. 

 

Beau signing bookplate

I had the tremendous pleasure of spending some personal time with Irene Pepperberg.  She's a witty and charming woman, who still shoulders tremendous grief over the loss of Alex.  Her devotion to her birds and to her work is awe-inspiring.  Irene's travel schedule is grueling, as she must fund her work through events like ours, present at many scientific and educational venues, and continue her research with Arthur and Griffin.  She estimates that she spends approximately half the year in travel!

 

Hopefully this was the first of MANY educational and entertaining programs we will offer. Please give us your feedback about the weekend, as well as suggestions for events and speakers you would like to see in the future.

 

Again, my heartfelt appreciation to everyone. 

By Leslie Wieser

 

We are often asked about the compatibility of parrots with other types of pets.  There is no simple answer to this question.  Other pets in the home are one of the reasons we perform home visits.  Clearly it depends on the species of the other pet(s), the owners' control of its behavior, and the manner in which the animals are allowed to interact.  One VERY important thing to keep in mind is that parrots are prey animals and many of the pets we keep are predator species.  The presence of a predator can be stressful to a bird.

 

The most common household pets are dogs and cats.  We are very cautious when sporting and terrier breed dogs are in the home.  A dog's hunting instinct can be triggered by movement.  A bird's well developed flight response to what they perceive as danger can be a stimulus to the hunt.  Therefore it is strongly recommended that a highly reinforced "leave it" command be in place.  One plus to having a dog in the home is they generally "hoover" all the food a parrot will toss out!

 

Cats and birds can be a dangerous combination also. For many cats it is their natural instinct to hunt and it is very difficult, sometimes impossible, to suppress that instinct.  Also cats carry bacteria called Pasteurella which can cause a fatal reaction in birds.  This can be transmitted by the smallest scratch or bite if not treated immediately. If you EVER suspect your bird and cat have had an altercation you should see an avian vet immediately.  Prophylactic treatment with antibiotics could save your bird's life.  Clearly the best way to prevent problems is to never leave your bird out unsupervised in the presence of a cat.

 

Reptiles carry Salmonella which can be transmitted to your bird from your hands.  Always wash thoroughly with disinfectant soap and warm water after handling your reptile.  Mice and other nocturnal creatures should not be kept in the same room as your bird at night as their activity can be disturbing and stressful.  As with reptiles you should wash your hands thoroughly before handling your bird.  Snakes are a natural predator of birds and can trigger fear and stress.  Make certain that your snake's enclosure is ABSOLUTELY escape proof.

 

Birds are flock creatures and, in most cases, enjoy the presence of other birds.  You must understand that there is never a guarantee that they will welcome the attention of and interaction with another bird.  Injuries such as toes being bitten to beaks being broken or taken off are common.  As with any pet, supervision is critical.

 

Many if not most households have multiple pets.  It is the owner's responsibility to supervise their interactions, implement good sanitary precautions, and restrict access when needed.  Occasionally we hear of the severe injury or death of a companion parrot by another pet.  Accidents do happen but every effort must be made to insure the safety of all the pets in your home.

 

Volunteer Stephen Platte

Thanks this month to all those who help at Parrot U on Saturdays:  Marcela Diaz, Alan Stein, Val Vajay, Steve Hrisikos, and James Li.  Extra thanks to Marcela Diaz and Barbara McBryde for support at Discovery Place with the Pepperberg event; to Janis Lukes and to all of our quarantine families.

 

This month, we spotlight Stephen Platte with a special thank you.  Stephen graduated from UNC Asheville in 2010 with a degree in Environmental Science.  He returned to Charlotte to seek a job  and became a volunteer for Companion Parrots Re-homed.

 

We asked Stephen why he chose to volunteer for CPR. "I decided to volunteer for CPR not only because of my passion for the environment but also because I have always loved the idea of having a bird.  Because I love birds, I certainly understand the temptation and love that CPR helps to educate people so they can make informed decisions about their pets.  I think it's better if we have few adoptions going to homes that we know will love them and take care of them rather than have many adoptions going to homes that we can't really be sure of."

 

Stephen has represented CPR at several Petco events.  He's very comfortable speaking to people who ask about us and our mission and quickly picked up on the message we want to deliver.  His natural enthusiasm and communication abilities have been highly beneficial to us, and we are grateful for Stephen's contributions

 

Most recently Stephen helped at Discovery Place during the Pepperberg event.  He showed up with his copy of 'Alex and Me' and helped with "will call" tickets and ticket sales.  He even had a specific question for Dr. P related to his environmental background and had quite a serious conversation with her after her presentation.

 

Thank you, Stephen, for all you do.  You have been a star!

 

Please accept my apologies if I forgot to mention anyone this month.  Thanks to everyone who supports the birdies of CPR.

 

If you would like to volunteer, please contact me at info@CompanionParrots.org.

 

Lynda Rettew

Volunteer Coordinator