Amazon Fan in NY (again)

[Willow]

Well, how annoying! I ceased to exist. Well, I'll post again . . .

I have four Amazons who you can see, and read their stories, on the webpage in my profile. Although, it is a geocities site so if too many people try to access it at once, it doesn't let you in. :( So briefly, they are:

Willow, (DNA'd female, will be two in June) born free in FL and rescued from her nest at approx 2-3 weeks of age when the tree it was in fell over in a storm, brought to the humane society where I worked, fostered (and then adopted) by me, grew up to be an Orange Wing Amazon - my first parrot. She was so socialized as a baby coming everywhere with me, to work for feeding, riding around, etc. She is very gregarious and loves everyone and delights in flying over to visit any new person who comes over.

Aspen, (DNA'd female, will be two in May) purchased as a friend for Willow and additional companion to me through the upatsix classifieds from a very seedy seller who met me at a place you won't want to be along in at night in Hialeah, FL. I wouldn't trade her for the world but I also wouldn't do that again. I believe she may be a Salvin's sub-species of Red Lored Amazon since she lacks the yellow cheeks, although she could be a hybrid for all I know. Certainly doesn't matter to me. She is more of a momma's girl than Willow and just full of character and charm and makes me laugh often.

Mulberry, (DNA'd male, will be 4 in May) a Cuban Amazon who I fell in love with at a birdstore in FL. I visited him every week for some time, and finally borrowed money from my brother to bring him home. He likes me ok, and will often fly over and hang out around me, but he likes Cypress better. He grew up in the store in the cage from hatching to 2.5 years when he came home with me, so he didn't have the human interaction he could have.

Cypress, (DNA'd male, will be ~8 in the spring) also a Cuban Amazon. He belonged to the owners of the store and wasn't for sale, but lived there. Unbeknownst to me, when Mulberry was weaned, he was placed in a cage next to Cypress. He remained there until I purchased him 2.5 years later. What neither I, nor the store owners realized was that Mulberry and Cypress were extremely bonded. After I took Mulberry away, Cypress really went downhill and began plucking his feathers. I was shocked to visit the store and see how sorry he looked. One day I convinced the new employee to let me give him a bath. The owner saw this, and Cypress was really enjoying that bath. The next day I got an email saying I could have him if I wanted him, and he was given to me. What an amazing moment it was when I walked through the door to my apartment with him in the carrier. Mulberry immediately went wild with joy, and such a reunion you have never seen. They are so happy to be together again.

These wonderful a parrots have their own room, which they share with my two house bunnies who have free roam of the floor. All four of the 'Zons are flighted (although the Cubans may not be, for too much longer), and they are loose when I am home and through the night. When I go to work, I cage them, but if I am just going outside with the dogs or to my fathers (next door) for a cup of tea they stay loose.

They fly from their room into the living area, the girls like to perch on me, the boys prefer one another but often come out to hang out nearby on a hanging playgym.

They all joined my family when I was living in FL but I have since moved back to NY. I don't think any of the photos on their webpage reflect their new living situation, though.

In addition to my four wonderful birds, I have one 18 yo kitty; 4 border collies ages 13, 11, almost 6, and 3 years; 4 guinea pigs; and the 2 house bunnies. I also volunteer with New England Border Collie Rescue and have a foster border collie. Finally, I run a guinea pig rescue so I have many foster piggies too.

I will be 28 years old tomorrow, and work at a local vet clinic doing some dog training and behavior classes (clicker training, though I haven't done any with the birdies yet) and such, and also helping with bathing and the boarding kennel. It's not really what I want to do when I "grow up" . . . but I'm not sure what else so that's what I'm doing for now.

I entered a photo in the contest! You can see it here: http://www.birdboard.com/album/showphoto.php/photo/1522

Here's Willow:


Aspen:


The Cuban boys, Mulberry(right) and Cypress:


The boys enjoying a bath:


A wet Willow:


A wet Aspen:

[bunny]

Hi there
Welcome to the board :)
Your birdies are stunning,look at those wet ones

Janine

[Chariclo]

Hey - Willow - I did get that link to Joey yesterday before all the hooplah - thank you!

Your zons are just adorable! :D

[Holly]

Willow, those Cuban'zons are breathtaking! The others are very pretty too, but those Cubans. I don't think I've ever seen any before. Oh my!

My hubby and I have a male and female Mexican red-headed zon' (aka green-cheeked zons). We inherited the male from a co-worker of mine who passed away. That's the male Jackie. The female, Lola, was, well I guess you could call her a rescue. I was in a local bird store one day and this lady came in with a carrier and told the owners that if they didnt' take the bird in the carrier that day, she was going to have her euthanized. Seems she also had two macaws and supposedly the zon's noise got the macaws going and the woman's boyfriend told her to get rid of the zon....the shop owner said he wouldn't take the bird and I spoke up and said the bird was coming home with me. Lola is such a love and the incessant screaming the woman warned me about has never happened...oh, she has her noisey times in the morning and evening and when she's really happy, but nothing out of the ordinary. I had e-mail her previous owner to get some background info on Lola and learned that she is around 21 years old and her former owner had taken her out of an abusive situation, so we are at least her third home. But we will be her last!

[LtlWngdAngl]

Willow: did you have a chance to read what I had posted about my Oscar and look at the pics before the site crashed?

[willowbirdy218]

Welcome to the board!! Your birds are adorable. I dont think i ever saw cubans before but they r beautiful. I like the poc of willow on july 25 (i think)....he's a cutie!!

Btw i have a birdy named willow too!!

[Kevin]

I am really sorry about the crash and to everyone...

I really love this picture.... great composition!

[Candice]

Welcome again Willow!


I just love these Cuban amazons! I have never seen them before are they hard to come by? How much do they run usually($$)?

[kathyellen]

wow, absolutely fantastic photos
and they look so sweet

[Willow]

Thanks everyone.

Candice:
Tthe birdstore where Mulberry was for sale http://www.adelesparrotplace.com/index.html had a tag of $1800 on him. He was there for 2.5 years before I bought him though. I made an offer of $1000 and they accepted.

Another bird store in the area got a Cuban in around the same time - actually they still have him on their website for $1300 - $1500 depending where on the site you look, but I knew he was sold at least a year ago. That is http://goldencockatoo.com/birds.html

These guys are not able to be shipped across state lines without permits from both buyer and seller, but you are able to buy them in-state without permits.

Lima Exotics in CA raises them, also http://www.limaexoticbirds.com/Cuban.Amazons.html

I know there is at least one other person in FL with them, as I have seen them a bird marts (not the birds themselves, but the people and photos of the birds).

Apparently Aves International has them too: http://www.avesint.com/2004nursery5.html They are selling them for $1500.
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LtlWngdAngl,
Yes, I did get to read about Oscar and see his photos! Thanks so much for sharing that information!

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Holly,
I'm so glad your Lola found you - sounds like she was quite lucky to fall into good hands!

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Chariclo,
Glad you got the Joey info! So . . . you gonna go visit him? You have to at least bring him a present for the holidays, right??

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Thanks so much, Keev, Kathyellen, Janine and willowbirdy218. What kind of bird is your Willow, willowbirdy?