[Lisa B]

Our Member of the month for Sept.


How did you become involved with Birds?

I’ve always loved animals. When I was nine or ten a good friend of my family got a Mexican Red Headed Amazon parrot. I was completely taken by this bird. He was a pretty good talker and seemed to know the right things to say at the right time. He and his family ended up moving away but I never forgot him. I pleaded with my parents to let me get a parakeet but that didn’t fly. Acquiring a parrot of my own didn’t happen until I was 20 or 21 but the desire to have birds was planted at a young age..

What made you want to share you life with birds?
Birds, dogs, fish, etc., I have no idea why I am so drawn to them other than to say that life seems empty without them.

How long have you been an avian caretaker?
I had parakeets and cockatiels from about 1986 to 2001 when the last of them went to their happy reward. While I was in seminary I didn’t have any animals except fish. This past November, much better prepared and educated in the demands of having a bird, I jumped back into the world of pet birds so I guess you can say 16 years total but with a six year hiatus that only recently ended.

What species do you currently care for?
In November of 2007 I bought a Hahns Macaw named Davey. He wasn’t quite three months old when I got him. He can be a monster one minute and the sweetest little guy the next. He is very, very attached to me and vice versa. He’s a pretty good talker with his little scratchy Hahns Macaw voice.

In June I got a four month old African Grey. His name is Bing. He is a character. His personality is completely different than my little Dave. He is more laid back and better at entertaining himself. I think he is going to be a good talker. He is very vocal and is already saying a few words but they’re not too clear yet.


What do you love most about your birds?
They’re funny. They continually amaze me with how smart they are, how neurotic they can be and how devoted they are to me. I love the evening when we are all laying on the couch watching t.v. and they are climbing all over me or falling asleep on my chest. In my life I will, most likely, always live alone so they bring some life to what could otherwise be a very quiet existence at home.

Do you have a favorite bird book and why?
I can’t say I have a favorite. I’ve read several and I have gotten some good from all of them but I couldn’t pick out one that I think stood out above the others.

Which bird magazines do you buy/subscribe to?
Bird Talk and Good Bird.

Do you belong to any bird clubs?
Not yet. There is a bird club that meets locally but honestly a lot of my connections with ‘bird people’ happen through the store I got both of my guys from. I stop in there at least once a week and talk with the store owners and the other bird owners that come in. On Saturdays a lot of their customers stop by and it takes on a picnic or club like atmosphere. I’ve gotten to know quite a few of them this way so in a way it is like an informal club.

Do you have a special story of a feathered one you would like to share? Not that I can think of offhand.

What is the best piece of advice you can offer new parronts that you have learned through trial and error? Try to find safe ways to include your parrots in as much of your life as possible and don’t give up if they don’t seem to bond with you right away. This is the mistake I made years ago with my cockatiels. I suspect that if I had worked with them a little bit every day my relationship with them would have eventually grown closer to the relationships I have with my new flock. Yes, Bing and Dave have bad days. Yes, they can go through difficult stages but it seems like love, kindness, and postive attention will help get them through those times so that you have the pet you hoped to have when you got him or her.

Care to share who else shares your life? Pets/Family? Besides Bing and Dave I have a fifteen gallon saltwater reef aquarium in my rooms. It is a little on the small side for saltwater but with two bird cages also in the living room it’s about all that will fit. Three other priests have their own set of rooms in the rectory where I live and the staff have offices on the main floor but they rarely interact with my little flock.

Any closing thoughts?
I had no idea how much these little guys would take over my life and how often I would have to vacuum each day.