Hi from North Texas

[Lightwing]

Hi everyone! I'm in Garland, Texas USA (in Dallas Metroplex)
I've been a lurker here for a little while, but am starting to try to contribute when I think I can help. So far I love the boards, not a lot of back-biting and such like other boards I've been to (not bird related).

I am owned by a Yellow Nape Amazon named Chubacca, Bacca for short. I brought her home when she was several months old, back in 1994, so she is now about to be 14 years old. She is a love, but has not always been that way. I learned a LOT when she went through her "terrible two's", and thanked God! when I found out she was a female and not male at around 5 years of age. Boy did I feel lucky. I believe that because of the work I have done with her over her lifetime so far, she is a well-balanced birdie. (p.s. I highly recommend reading the book Don't Shoot The Dog by Karon Pryor!!! it was and is a life-saver for learning to deal with problem behaviors)



I am also owned by a cute little Budgie named Fizz-wigg, Fizzy for short. Only problem is, he hates me something awful (but I still love him ). All my efforts to tame him have failed, so I've resigned myself to not having a tame Budgie, which makes me sad.

And finally, I was the proud owner and ownee of a Nanday Conure named BJ for 16 years, who passed away this past May. I miss her more than words can describe. She had both quirks and perks, as do most second-hand birds, but I loved her to death. She did not like to be touched, but would still allow it, she just got really huffy and would complain a lot. I respected her boundaries, but would be insistent at appropriate times (nail trims, head pin-feathers, etc.). She was the quintessential "watch-bird", and would screech her little head off when she saw something amiss. Whether it was a moth flying in the room or a person walking past the house visible through the window, she would lustily vocalize on the situation, lol. Good 'ol Nandays. She would do funky dances when I did house-work which always made me laugh, gave me the sweetest kisses as well as ask for them frequently, and always let me know when Bacca was getting into trouble if I wasn't in the room. I couldn't have asked for a better first bird. I only wish she were still with me.



I am also owned by two dogs, Cowboy and Blondie, both rescue pups and both rotten. I also took in a cat several months ago, George, who was not able to get into the SPCA due to space problems, lol. I'm convinced George thinks he's a dog and not a cat though, so I guess I have three dogs, not two.

Well, that's a little bit about my family.
Thanks for reading through it,
Stephanie

[Courtzrocks]

Welcome to BB!!! you'll find lots of useful info and could probably give some yourself!

[sweetpeaches]

welcome stephanie..thanks for joining the board. sounds like you have alot of experience to offer. i am presently reading the book "don't shoot the dog".
i have a 6 mos. old caique and a 1 year old lovebird and a 10 yr old terrier mix. whom i hope will all benefit from reading this book..smile. i'm sorry you lost bj. sounds like he was a very special pet.

[Lightwing]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm always craving more information on things I'm interested in, lol, and my critters are my life so I am always on the lookout for more info. So much so that I am currently attending school to become a registered vet tech. I gave up on trying to make a living doing something that didn't involve animals, my passion. I hope to stay abreast of all the new information that comes up about parrots, and wish there were better general knowledge of the care of parrots (people who buy a parrot without knowing what's involved, like me 17 years ago.)

The book Don't Shoot the Dog is great, I can't stress that enough! It's not a terribly fun read, but it is definately enlightening and informative. And probably the best thing is that you can apply it to every person and animal you come into contact with. It saved my sanity concerning my birds, lol.

Concerning BJ, according to the vets I took her to, she was not the correct size, weight or body build of a Nanday. Her keel bone was always too prominant and she was slighter in overall build compared to most Nanday's. I was only able to track down the owner who had her previous to me, but that's as far as I got. I was never able to find out her history, and for all I know she was a wild-caught, possibly even a baby that was not fledged properly. Anyway, the various blood tests done over the years came back normal and I never consented to doing the radical tests they wanted to do which involved anesthesia since she was never actually sick, just puny. It broke my heart when she died, what I thought, a young death at the age of at least 18-19. But I am constantly thankful that she died quickly and had been happily dancing and screeching the very same day that she died.

Anyway, thanks for letting me eulogize there for a while. Hopefully I can contribute to this board and not just take

[catschair]

My cousin lived in Garland for about a decade, but finally came back to live near the rest of the family (and Disneyland!)

[Lisa B]

[kiwilito]

welcome. We are practically neighbors. I live in Plano.