What sparked your love of birds?

[Eliza]

Hard to say... I've always loved animals.

Growing up, I wanted a pair of budgies or an African grey. The 'rents weren't inclined to indulge me so I waited until college to get budgies. Then after nearly a decade of living without a feathered friend, I decided that I missed having a bird in the house. Along came Beetle and later Pickle.

I can't imagine not having a bird in my life now. It seems normal somehow.

[RubyMuse]

Hhmmm, great question. I have always been a lover of all things animal but birds are somewhere in the realm of something different maybe because they can fly, maybe because they are so much smarter than people think, and maybe because they represent something very wild.

Funny thing is we had budgies when I was a kid, we had no idea how to care for them, and always would replace one so that a surviving bird would never be alone. Finally I got tired of this and took the last bird to a guy who had multiple parrots who everyone thought was crazy. That last bird was to be the end point for my family and could have lived it's life alone for a while so I put my foot down and took the bird even though I didn't live there anymore.

Now, all these years later I am that crazy bird person! I can't believe it. I am now so passionate about birds in the wild and welfare in the home that it is a major focus of my life and I hope that I can make a difference for them.

[Kolkri]

I had had finches when I was young and a couple budgies when I moved out. But what sold me on birds is the death of a much loved dogs. I know its weird but I was tired of losing my pets to death so soon. (However I still have dogs)
So I got interested more in birds cause they live longer then dogs. I know that is weird but that is what really started it.

[skthurley]

I am an animal lover, in particular dogs.

I have had various pets in my short life thus far: rabbits, guinea pigs, syrian hamsters, dwarf hamsters, gerbils, and as a kid, dogs.

I always loved budgies and lovebirds, but found budgies to be constant all day chatterers, and as much as I appreciate the songs of birds.. i'd like some quiet... and lovebirds have that stigma of being far from loving... and I'd never realized birds could be tame.. and in my opinion, untame pets were boring....so I never expected myself to get a bird...

Then this past August, I got married and my new husband took me to a Log Cabin bed and breakfast. The owner had several pets including 4 birds: a scarlet macaw, Hahns macaw, cockatiel and a parrotlet. It was instant love when we met her parrotlet named Mauii. he was so little, and so cute... and so tame. he would sit on our fingers and peep happily. We were awed.

When we came home I started researching parrotlets, and Peter and I concluded we would get one for ourselves.

One month later, one of my close girlfriend bought Jack for me as an early bday gift.

Then I discussed Lineolated parakeets.... Peter and I had the pet talk, and in February we brought home Callie.

And that's it for me for birds... eventually I would love another parrotlet and linnie... to maybe consider breeding... but i am completely in love with my two.. and enjoy going to bird shows.. I'm just as bird crazy as I am dog crazy :D

[Kiwi08]

When I was 11 my family bought a budgie for me. I trained him and he became very attached to me. For some reason we just had a connection and I knew I would always have birds. Throughout the years I have gotten several more budgies, and even bred a pair of mine. I love the little guys, but also knew I wanted larger parrots. I recently (in January) adopted a quaker, and he has become a great addition to our family. We now have 7 budgies and the quaker. As soon as we get a house of our own, I plan on getting a couple larger parrots as well. :) I've just always felt a connection with birds. Have always easily gotten along with and understood them.

[KimM]

I've always loved animals.. all kinds. My first experience with birds was as a child when I brought home a baby Robin that had fallen from it's nest. I nursed it back to health and released it. After that, it started with the birds.. I was always rescuing something.. My mom used to cringe. I didn't actually buy my first pet bird until I was in my late 20's and got a cockatiel I named Curtis. He was with me for 15 years. In the meantime, I had several canaires, finches and then graduated 4 yrs ago to macaws.. which I'm totally hooked on
I'm like others.. I've had dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, gerbils, pigeons, starlings, horses, ferrets and any critter needing a temporary or permanent home.. LOL

[Cheedog]

When I was about 3 or 4 years old my dad bought me a dove and he left to go somewhere. I was curious so i took out the dove and brought it outside to play with it. The dove didnt fly at first but when i decided it was time to go inside, i went to go grab him and he flew away. My dad was super mad but he knew i was only a little kid, so he went out and bought me a toucan. Sadly I don't remember what happened to the toucan. I think birds bring back old memories of me and my dad back in the day when it was just him and i because as of right now we're not that close, we don't have that father and son bond. So bird really are a healing pet for me i guess if you look at it through a theraputic perspective.

[Izzy]

I can pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with birds. I heard someone mention a parrotlet, and I googled it to look for images. I fell in love the moment I saw the first picture, and it's been a crazy seven years since then!