A Delightful, Awful Marriage to a Pet Parrot

[jenseits]

Cute NPR Story:
A Delightful, Awful Marriage to a Pet Parrot : NPR

[Valo's Moirana]

that's an interesting piece.... have to think a little bit about it - there's definitely a lot of truth in it, but i do believe it's still love for me... but then, i've only had valo for 2yrs, and not 21

thanks for the link - i enjoyed reading it

[dancelady]

How sweet, and so right! Julie, hope you have Charlie for another 21 years or so. He's your birdie "sweetheart" and friend... we all love the story you wrote. Thank you Janseits for posting it.

[jenseits]

I thought it was nice that a piece like that could reach such a broad audience. One thing that jumped out at me though was the part where she thought about giving him up... I'm pretty sure it was just a *rhetorical flourish* meant to underscore the whole point of the story, but the idea that someone would casually think about rehoming a companion of 21 years just floored me.

I tend to think of Stewie as more of a child than a spouse. I wouldn't want a spouse/sweetheart quite as needy and dependent as he is.

[kellywess]

I too have a Chestnut Fronted (Severe) Macaw named Marvin. Hes not quite as old as Charlie, but I see alot of similarities... I guess I have years of his bad birdie attitude to deal with. "Til Death Do Us Part" is just fine with me. Its definately LOVE!

[Shakou]

In many, many cases people seem to forget or don't realize that they are showing their birds mixed signals which makes them think that you are their mate. I know with my GCC, Tiki, I have a tendency to cup him in my hand, which is okay for now as a baby, but once he gets older that's going to be a BIG nono. Birds are very aggressive with their mates if they don't get what they want :/
GCC typically live for 40 years...I knew that when I got him, and I'll do everything I can to make sure he doesn't get the wrong idea. But even if he does, I would never give him up.

"You are responsible forever for what you have tamed" - Antoine de Saint Exupéry's "The Little Prince"

[DynamitePsycho]

Haha...I coudn't help but think of my mum and her TAG...who she's had for 22 years now. :o)

[topplezz]

Can't wait to go through the same when I get mine!

[kellywess]

That is a nice piece I have read it elsewhere before. It reminds me of the book "The Parrot Who Owns Me" by Joanna Burger. If you have not read the book... its a must. Thanks for posting this! People who dont have parrots dont really understand that the relationship we parronts have with our birds is completely different than the relationships we have with our dogs, cats etc.

[hollyhawkz]

Originally Posted by Valo's Moirana

that's an interesting piece.... have to think a little bit about it - there's definitely a lot of truth in it, but i do believe it's still love for me... but then, i've only had valo for 2yrs, and not 21

thanks for the link - i enjoyed reading it

I read this article yesterday and really had to think about it...

Wawa and Pepper can be crotchety at times, but I believe it's love for us (Hubby included) as well. Almost every morning my breakfast is stone cold because I will try to sneak it before they wake up, but to no avail... LOL They wake up, I tend to them first and that is OK. I love them. I will love them 30 years down the road (if we should ever be so lucky as to have them live that long).

I could care for both of them even if they became special needs for some horrible unforseen reason, and still feel blessed to have them in my life.

And by the way... the Hubby is easier to look after than the birds... LOL