Lesson Learned For Clothing Gobbler (A Funny)

[FoxersArtist]

A few days ago I was out in the aviary changing bird waters. Hubby had been out of town for a few weeks on business, my kids were acting like small perma-buzzed-gorillas, the phone was ringing off the hook, and I was trying to arrange a soft landing for three new cockatoos who would be arriving at our rescue shortly. Changing bird waters was making me feel a little cranky, because this is something hubby usually does and he was gone and oh how I just wanted him to come back home. I realized that my crankiness was present when red lory Orbit lept out of his cage in a surprise attack and bit me while getting his water. All I could do was hold my breath and pout inside about how un-cool this sudden turn of events was.

After doing the lory waters, I slipped in front of our triple stacked cockatiel cage to pull their waters out. Standing in front of this cage means standing with ones back facing blue and gold macaw, Sydney - AKA "Your Majesty," who rules the roost of her giant winnebago sized cage. Sydney is a rather aggressive and pushy macaw and she delights in tormenting anyone she can get her claws around - in or out of her cage. (She is a lot like Oscar the grouch who gleefully picks on everyone and then tells them to scram.) I cannot count the number of times Sydney has, in her amazing stealthy way, reached through the bars with her foot and grabbed hold of pants or shirt. She always manages to get us, even when we expect it and so this must be a true gift. She never grows tired of yanking her victim in so that she can totally mutilate the clothing within her grip in a matter of milliseconds by enthusistically punching giant holes in the fabric. In fact - just a few weeks ago, Sydney took the liberty to tear off the entire bottom half of my shirt sleeve while I helplessly stood there to watch one of my favorite shirts become another victim of the mighty feathered garbage disposal. What can you do? It is something I have learned well to ignore - even if it was my favorite shirt, and even though it's really not fun for anyone but Syd.

This day was like every other day for Sydney despite my already building crankiness. I felt her reach through the bars while I was trying to dodge vampire red lory of doom (who was simply expressing his anger that I had gone out of town and left him with a stranger for 5 days) and I felt Sydney's foot momentarily attach itself to the flap of my back pants pocket. Oh, brother! I managed to pull away before she could yank me in and murder my pants pocket, which would be all I needed this day.

When I returned to the triple stack cage I quickly installed all the fresh waters and was about to move on when I felt a foot brush up against my pants again. I felt myself snap as I whipped around to reach for her leg which was still sticking through the bars to get me. HA! Caught in the act! You didn't know I could be as quick as you, I was thinking to myself. I held onto her leg firmly to let her know that I was not going to let her go until I wanted to let go, looked her right in the eye and said in a very calm and even tempered voice, "I do NOT like it when you do that and YOU need to STOP now!" I then gently released her leg, stood up and went about my business like the incident had never happened.

To my surprise, Sydney seems to have been totally unphased by the event except for one thing: she hasn't once reached out to get me since we had our little "chat."

I whole heartedly believe in the power of ignoring, using positive reinforcement, and gently encouraging our birds toward good behavior...BUT SOMETIMES a momma has to do what a momma has to do and this particularly hard headed parrot needed to hear it in plain english.
-Anna

[Ashling]

You have a wealth of patience. You are an inspiration! We have needed to do that as well with some of our pets (usually the dogs in relation to digging etc). Sometimes just a little "chat" (in whatever context :) can get the message across quite plainly!

[Xray Susie]

Great story! Sydney is a hoot!

[hollyhawkz]

I so agree! If they are smart enough to do the things they do, they can understand when they have crossed a boundary. I swear even our little conures know whats going on.

[usamma]

That's great! :) I agree you have a lot of patience.

I have done that with my kids at times-- if they hit or pinch with their hand, I get to hold it for a long while while giving them a lecture about it.

[angelicarboreals]

Great story!!!! I usually don't loose my patience too much at home, but the dogs at work (I work at a dog kennel/rescue facility) sometimes can push me to the limit, especially with the whole jumping thing- and super especially (lol) when it is a big dog that weighs almost as much as I do. I can relate to the whole "needing to tell it like it is sometimes".