Beaks ~ January 2008

[Lisa B]

With the start of the New Year, I thought I would do a little intro for each person that is the member of the month. With the growing board, and our global reach....we have learned to value diversity. With the wide range of participants on board, we have found that everyone brings something to the table.

This months Member who is Spotlighted, is often known for his tell it like it is, less than sugar coated advice. However, I know this person as one of the first to jump in to offer help to the Avian victims of Hurricaine Katrina. John didnt think twice about loading up his trailer,traveling across several states, leaving his own rescue to aid others who were in need.
Someone might wonder why John often says he likes parrots better then most humans? Just prior to John's 9 hour drive to Baton Rouge to help in the rescue efforts, the medical bag he had on his truck was stolen.
Parrots at Play was proud to help him in his efforts while in New Orleans.
Welcome to Parrots At Play Calendar Program
He is very passionate about vet care and over all health of our parrots.This stems from having his own rescue, and him often being the last stop for many birds who are often on deaths door, and has suffered neglect and abuse.
So without further ado January's member of the month, Beaks.
(and a personal note from me, John...
Thank you for everything you have done for our birds over the many years that I have known you.)




Beaks~January 2008 Member of the Month.
__________________________________________________ __________

How did you become involved with Birds?

I had a wild caught DYH adopt me at age 4 (in the 60's there were alot of wild zons in bakersfield California and Johnny just moved in one day, i guess he was tired of living in the grove by the tracks and eating what fell off of the trains)

What made you want to share you life with birds?

I like them more than most people, understand what makes them tick most of the time and just think they are hands down the best pets on earth.

How long have you been an avian caretaker?

I have been keeping birds of some type for about 40 years off and on (mostly on lol with wild birds,raptors ,parrots and any others that need help)

What species do you currently care for?

I currently care for
LSC, GSC, goffins, moluccan and umbrella toos,

DYH, Magna,tres marias, lilac crown, yellow nape, Mexican red head(green cheek),Blue front zons.

Nanday,cherry head, blue crown and patagonian conures.

B&G, buffons & millie macaws.

meyers and red belly.

WB caique.

Tim and Congo greys.

tiels.

budgies.

lovebirds.

red lory

irn's

extreme silky dove and ringneck dove


What do you love most about your birds?

Their personality, intelligence, strength and their ability to open up to someone even after being treated horribly by other people.

Do you have a favourite bird book and why?

Pretty much anything by mattie sue athan.
she is a little rough around the edges at times, rubs some people the wrong way but she knows quite a bit about bird behavior.(I really like mattie, she is good people)

Which bird magazines do you buy/subscribe to?

None, i spend my money on the birds.

Do you belong to any bird clubs?

No, i dont have time to attend meetings but i will be starting a bird club here this spring if all goes as planned.

Do you have a special story of a feathered one you would like to share?

I have a hundred stories but the one that i think about most is about Rowdy.

I got a call from a woman about 10 years ago about a parrot that she said was totally evil, that he attacked everyone that came near and nobody could get him in the cage that he was dumped off in(she let him out of his cage) and that if i didnt come and get him she would open the door and let him go.

so i drove the 70+ miles and when i got there i walked in on a 40 year old blue front in a feeding frenzy biting and dive bombing the people in the house so i walked up to him when he landed on the cage and snatched him up (he got me good) and put him in the cage loaded him up and took him home.(when i got him home i clipped his wings and he never had a cage door shut him in again)

the first year was h*ll because he had been smacked around and had a cholesterol count of over 400 as well as being horribly underweight and a bad case of fatty liver and heart problems. so he spent alot of time at the vets office being treated.

he didnt change his behavior for that first year no matter what i did until one day i walked into the house and he jumped on my shoulder, said hi and gave me a kiss before i could even react.

from that day on he never bit me again and i could do anything with him, he would wrestle, snuggle, give sugars, let me pet him anywhere and basically lived on my shoulder until one day he climbed down from his cage top and started walking toward me so i could hold him and he suffered a massive heart attack and passed away in my arms (i gave him CPR but it was too late)
He was only 51 years old.

We had 11 years of the best friendship anyone could have and i still love him to death.



What is the best piece of advice you can offer new parronts that you have learned through trial and error?

Teach your bird to be a bird, learn everything you can , dont let the new wear off or hold on too tightly(they need to have some alone time but not all of the time)
Treat your bird the way you would like to be treated and show them how you feel while you can because they may be gone in the blink of an eye with too much left unsaid.

Care to share who else shares your life? Pets/Family?
I have a cat that is totally nuts, a wife(theresa), 2 daughters (brandy and amber) and a grandson named nick.


Any closing thoughts?
Take care of your business so a rescue doesnt have to.

[catschair]

Congratulations, John! Many thanks for all you do for birds and the people who love them.

[Nazir's]

Congratulations!!!!

[gbird]

Congrats John. We need more people in the world like you.

[Valo's Moirana]

congratulations, john... thanks for all you do for the birds, and i do like your last message!

[Beaks]

LOL thanks yall

[greencinacheeks]

indeed...you are a great inspiration!!! congratulations!!!!

~N

[GlendaNS]

Congradulations!!!

[Tishrei]

Congratulations!!!

[Joel]

Originally Posted by Lisa B

"..........With the growing board, and our global reach....we have learned to value diversity. With the wide range of participants on board, we have found that everyone brings something to the table.

This months Member who is Spotlighted, is often known for his tell it like it is, less than sugar coated advice........"

Well that is good news. Congrats John - from another non-sugar-coater.