amiestgermain ~ August 2008

[Lisa B]

August 2008 Member of the Month.

How did you become involved with Birds?
My mother was involved with rescues when I was younger. She was the "Cockatoo Lady" for the rescue, and our bird room was usually filled with a bunch of the big goofballs. I've got slight allergy problems, though, so cockatoos and I don't get along for long periods of time. When I was 10, my parents took me to pick out my first birds - 2 peach faced lovies - and I haven't gone a day without feathers since!


What made you want to share you life with birds?
Watching my mother's connection with all the rescues she took in, especially the abuse or neglect cases. The absolute joy she experienced every time she broke down a wall got me hooked young.

How long have you been an avian caretaker?
It's been a little over 15 years since my first lovies. I've had Scarlett for 11 now, and it's just slightly different.


What species do you currently care for?
Currently we only have my Vosmaeri Eclectus, Scarlett. We're wanting another bird, probably a Congo African Grey, but we're going to wait until the winter because for the fall semester we're fid-sitting Diego, NikkiAndBeyond's GCC. We'll be helping her out while she's away for the semester, and finding out if Scarlett can remember what it's like to not be the only bird!

What do you love most about your birds?
Such a hard question!! I think I love Scarlett's full personality most. She isn't just happy or sad, she can be goofy, or crazy, or angry, or loving, or pissy, or any other emotion a human can be. There are no two days where she's the same, and I adore that.

Do you have a favourite bird book and why?
I don't, actually. I haven't read a bird book in probably a decade, and they had some outdated thoughts in all of them.

Which bird magazines do you buy/subscribe to?
Currently, I buy BirdTalk whenever I go to one of the big pet store chains for fish supplies. The last one I bought had a great article on lovies :)

Do you belong to any bird clubs?
No, there isn't a good bird club in New Orleans after the storm. NikkiAndBeyond and I can start a two person one, though.

Do you have a special story of a feathered one you would like to share?
Not one that will fit on this page. But you can find Quasi's story on Lisa B's website The Grey Roost

What is the best piece of advice you can offer new parronts that you have learned through trial and error?
The biggest issue we've had was evacuating for the storm. Scarlett ended up so plucked by the end of it and incredibly unhappy. I'd suggest that anyone who lives anywhere with the possibility of evacuation due to natural disaster have an emergency kit with a travel cage, travel bowls, etc., and that they run drills from time to time so we're okay with the evacuations procedure. We were so unprepared for a long evacuation (we'd only evacuated overnight before this) and Scarlett suffered more than she should have.

Care to share who else shares your life? Pets/Family?
Brian - Hubby
Bella - Mini Schnauzer (rescue)
Chance - Yorkie (rescue)
Thunder - Bengal Cat (rehome)
Opie - Maine Coon Cat (rescue)
3-year-old colony of angel fish
Brand New tank of discus fish


Any closing thoughts?
I absolutely adore this forum and all fo the helpful people on it!! It doesn't matter how long I have birds, I think I'll never know enough about them, and everyone here helps out so much in that! Thank you!

[Valo's Moirana]

very, very, very well deserved

congratulations, we're happy to have you on this board - you're a great asset

[xafsmom]

Yay and Grats!!

[catschair]

Congratulations!

[budgzie]

congrats!!

[Courtzrocks]

Congrats and well deserved!!

[Amie]

Oh, thanks guys!! I love this place!

[kellywess]

Congrats to you!

[Tobysmom]

congrats ....

[Lori~D]

Cogratulations! again...well deserved!