Feeling torn about my bird

[Noddy Boid]

It's spring here, and I have noticed so many dead animals and birds that have come off second best against cars. They are no match for metal and speed - and I find myself feeling really sad and depressed about it this year. It just doesn't seem fair.

Anyway, I've also felt sad about my galah, AngelBerry. She was born in captivity (last spring September 2004) and handraised, and I adopted her in January this year. We all love her to pieces and she is very much part of this family.

But I can't help feeling like her life is cruel. She is a native bird here, and I feel horrible that she was forced to live this life.

She is loved and cherished. She has toys and great food. We have our daily routine and playtimes and she makes us laugh so much.

So why do I feel so rotten about the fact that this life was forced on her?

I feel really torn about this. Has anyone else felt the same things - that a beautiful, feathered creature, is forced to live this way? She's never known anything but love, and the companionship of humans, but is it right?

[basketbagley]

Well, I guess we could think the same for any creature we keep as pets really. I understand your feelings though. But when they are bred in captivity, they do not know how to fend for themselves in the wild anymore and aren't suited for that life. I guess in a perfect world, we just wouldn't have real pets in our homes, just ones that may choose to visit or live with us.

Right now I feel that my 4 fids are better off with me then 3/4's of the dim witts out there that don't take care of them very well, won't vet them, exercise them or love them properly. not to mention give them the proper toys, cages and food. But, I guess most of those same people shouldn't have children either!

I can tell your love your fid very much and will give it a good home. You have nothing to feel guilty about! Now go give Angel Berry a treat and a big kiss!

[Skyebirdsmom]

I feel the same as you, however, our birds would never survive with out us so I try not to feel badly about it. I personally do believe breeding is not a good thing to do nor do I condone wild caught birds. I feel it's just wrong. The birds we have are already captured, however you want to look at it. They know no better except for the ones who are wild caught. Mine aren't. So they know no better than what they know now. And for them, they are living the life of contentment as far as I know. But try not to dwell on it. Just do as much as you can to encourage people to adopt instead of buying new baby birds. If we can't be part of the solution, all we can do is try, try and try some more.
Good luck,
Linda & Skye~

Originally Posted by Noddy Boid

It's spring here, and I have noticed so many dead animals and birds that have come off second best against cars. They are no match for metal and speed - and I find myself feeling really sad and depressed about it this year. It just doesn't seem fair.

Anyway, I've also felt sad about my galah, AngelBerry. She was born in captivity (last spring September 2004) and handraised, and I adopted her in January this year. We all love her to pieces and she is very much part of this family.

But I can't help feeling like her life is cruel. She is a native bird here, and I feel horrible that she was forced to live this life.

She is loved and cherished. She has toys and great food. We have our daily routine and playtimes and she makes us laugh so much.

So why do I feel so rotten about the fact that this life was forced on her?

I feel really torn about this. Has anyone else felt the same things - that a beautiful, feathered creature, is forced to live this way? She's never known anything but love, and the companionship of humans, but is it right?

[Noddy Boid]

Thanks everyone. It doesn't usually bother me (to this negative effect), but the dead birds and animals have really gotten me down this year. I'm talking about koalas, kangaroos, possums, native birds - galahs and kookaburras, reptiles..........so sad. Just in the last couple of weeks.

The other day as I drove past a flock of cockatoos that were foraging at the roadside, my car startled them and they flew away and into traffic coming in the opposite direction. As I was travelling away, I couldn't see whether the truck travelling in the opposite direction actually hit the birds as they took off in flight. I turned around at the first break in the road and went back, and luckily none had been hit. I would have been devastated. We are SO lucky to have these beautiful birds live in our neighbourhood.

I know that AngelBerry would die if she had to fend for herself - she's just a big old baby who thinks everyone loves her and everyone is kind. I'm thinking of getting a padlock for her cage which sits on the back patio - I'm sure she'd go to anyone if they opened the cage. She has never had a reason to mistrust. Even her previous owners declined many people who wanted to buy her because they wanted her to go to the right home.

Thanks for understanding.

[felisdomesticus]

I agree with your general sentiment but our birds aren't ready to live outside on their own. We do the best we can to care for them and give them fulfilling lives. Scarlett was locked in a cage for her first 2 years and NEVER handled until she was surrendered to rescue. She still isn't cuddly but she loves to hang out on my arm or shoulder and talk to me.

I adopted my girl from a rescue. I'm considering getting another bird in the future and will only go through rescue again. Personally, I couldn't buy from a breeder while there are so many birds in unhappy homes and in rescues.

[Doubleyolk]

I agree with your feelings to a point. This is a true story that happened this past Monday. 9:00 am on Route 3 here in Ma. there was an accident that critically injured 3 people and an 18 year old girl was killed. This tragic accident was caused by a Canadian Goose that walked into the high speed lane during morning rush hour, instead of hitting it the lady swerved to the center lane forcing the 18 yr old under the trailer of a semi truck. The truck hit three other cars and shut down the highway for three hours and three Med-flight helicopters were at the scene. I was stuck in this traffic and when I got close enough to see the car that had the girl in it all I could tell about the car was that it was black no make or model. At what point do we not hit an animal in the road.

[TooLover]

I feel much the same; they wouldn't survive if we didn't care for them. Somewhat like the story of the dolphins that were lost for weeks due to the hurricane. They were show dolphins (which I disagree with) and couldn't fend for themselves. Do we need to breed more? I say no - there are so many birds out there that need homes now. Yes, it is nice to have a baby to raise, however, none of mine were babies when they came to my home, and I wouldn't trade any of them.
Joe - you raise a very interesting question. Since I wasn't in that situation I can't say honestly what I would do. I tend to believe that I, too, would have swerved to avoid hitting the bird. I brake for squirrels; I hit one sometime back and was sick to my stomach the whole rest of the day.