A Sad Note

[The Outlaw]

Isn't it odd that on such a joyful day, that this note should have arrived. David just learned that he will getting Chris's beautiful baby zon, and a lady I rehomed a female zon with 3 years ago lost hers on Wednesday. She just wanted to thank me for trusting her and giving her a wonderful companion for these last years.

Puka was a foundling. She was discovered after a nasty storm in a lady's backyard. A repairman working for the power company was fixing something and recognized that it was a parrot. His wife raised tiels. The lady didn't want the bird, so he took it home. That now put this bird in another part of the state, not really close to where it was discovered.

His wife was afraid of this bird. She knew it was an amazon, but that's all she knew. She kept it in an old tiel cage. She had the bird for one year. My husband met her husband at a BGE function and they discussed their crazy wives bird obsessions. When he told Will of this mean and nasty bird, Will told me about it. His wife desperately wanted it out of her house.

So, I drove to her house with a small bird carrier. After much struggling and using leather carpenter gloves, she placed this bird in my carrier. I took it home. It had one bad foot whose toes curled under thereby making it difficult for it to perch. I knew very little about zons, for I had only had Taco for a short time.

I never use gloves on any parrot. I think its way too frightening for them. I simply put it into an appropriate cage and let it settle in. This cage was 10 times larger than its last cage. It was overwhelmed.

Each day I would gently talk to it and tell it how beautiful it was. I thought it looked like a little girl, so I named it Puka, which means little shell. She seemed to like the name.

On the 5th day, I was sitting in the Florida room (it had no cages back then, just white wicker furniture and a few bird stands) wehn I heard the flutter of wings. She landed on my shoulder. From that day forward, she was sweet and loving. I had promised Will that I would rehome this bird. I didn't want to have a house full of amazons.

I started running ads all over the internet. I figured she had somehow gotten lost during the storm a year earlier. I placed lots of ads in the area she was found. About a month later, I got an email from a lady named Wendy. She had lost a young male BF the day before this bird was found in Bowie, very near where Puka was discovered. She wanted to come look at the bird.

Puka was a wild caught. She had a rolled open band. I couldn't read the numbers, but I knew this was no baby bird. Wendy knew it too, but she never stopped grieving for her missing baby and STILL had the cage and playstand. She met Puka and both seemed very interested in each other. I didn't know her, but she just had the most beautiful soft brown eyes. I took a chance and gave her the bird. She signed a contract giving her a one month trial before she could assume full ownership.

Wendy called me often. She renamed Puka, Bobbi Jean. They were a love match. On the third week, Puka layed an egg! She was that comfortable in her new home.

I would periodically hear from Wendy through the years. I didn't want to hound her for I knew I did the right thing.

Though I am saddened to hear of her passing, I'm so happy that I was able to match them up. Both Wendy and Bobbi Jean had a good and happy life together. Though I have placed many birds, Barb and Wendy have been my most successful. Both took a chance on an Amazon and both never regretted their decision.

[David S]

What a wonderful and heartwarming story, Nancy. It's so sad that Puka passed but she lived her last years in a warm, loving and nuturing environment. Many thanks to you for caring enough to find her a forever home. May she play across the Rainbow Bridge and be happy!!

Ya know... I'm editing this to add.... I know I'm getting major sappy and ****, but I feel in my heart that Puka, Coco, Crybaby and Grace are all playing together.... happy, whole and pain free... ......... May God bless all the babies who have passed before us and grant us the honor of meeting them all again when we cross the Rainbow Bridge.

[Lynjupiter]

I am so sorry for the lose of Puka/Bobbi Jean. What a beautiful story and wonderful thing you did for that poor amazon.
Lynda

[Tiki]

I'm so sorry your friend lose Puka. I'm sure she is up there at the Rainbow Bridge with all our beloved Fids who have passed on.

[Maui's Mom]

So sorry to hear of the loss. Its wonderful to know that she had a few happy years because of your kindness. Blessings.

[svolk]

Originally Posted by David S

Ya know... I'm editing this to add.... I know I'm getting major sappy and ****, but I feel in my heart that Puka, Coco, Crybaby and Grace are all playing together.... happy, whole and pain free... ......... May God bless all the babies who have passed before us and grant us the honor of meeting them all again when we cross the Rainbow Bridge.

I think so too, David. Thanks. (wiping away my tears)

[Lisa B]

I'm sorry to read of Puka. It reminded me of my Polly.

this seems to fit.........


"We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality,
never fully understanding the necessary plan." Irving Townsend.

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by David S

May God bless all the babies who have passed before us and grant us the honor of meeting them all again when we cross the Rainbow Bridge.

I surely hope so, because I have several waiting for me.....

[Machelle]

I'm sorry to hear about Bobbie Jean but I'm very happy that she and Wendy touched each others hearts and knew and loved each other. Bobbie Jean left this plane of existance a very happy birdy.

[Doyle'sMommy]

What a wonderful story, they really were a wonderful match. It is very sad to hear that Bobbi Jean has passed, poor Wendy.