Ruby, agent "050", Possum

We have a new member to our "flock". We were not looking for a new bird, so I think it is fate that he/she (DNA results to come!) found us. We had contacted a lady before we got Tucker about her African Grey, Ruby. We talked for a while but never heard back from her, until last weekend. She was holding on to him as long as possible, but was frantic to find him a new home because she was going to boot camp the following week. At first, we told her we already had our hands full and didn't want another one. She pressed, and we ended up with a 2 year old baby for free.

African Greys are said by scientists to be as smart as a 3-5 human child. Remember Coco? The gorilla that used sign language in the 70's? Animal Scientists did a similar experiment with an African Grey named Alex. Alex was so intelligent, that he could add numbers and identify colors. Ruby is no exception, he learned the word "Tucker" in the first 24 hours. With in two days he was saying "Tucker, no. Quiet Tucker."

Tucker loves everything about him, and Ruby only wants to bite poor little Tuckie's toes off. Even though Tucker is Ruby's elder by 15 or more years, he is not nearly as smart. They remind me of toddler brothers, Tucker looking up to Ruby and wanting to do and say everything his brother does.

Ruby is not the name we would have picked, but as we learned with Tucker's unsuccessful name change to Taco, it just is what it is! We have, however, come up with some nicknames for him. Possum is fitting because he is grey and he sleeps at the top of his cage, completely upside down. We also call him 050, because he can recite the entire answering machience recording from his previous home, but for some reason gets stuck on "050" and repeats the number series several times in a row.

Ruby is a very sweet bird and we can't wait to find out the bird's gender. Either way, I am sure I will have more stories about the duo to come!

The Amazing Squeaky Toy

This video is documentation that my bird can say his favorite word (Tucker) faster than humanly possible. The result sounds like a dog's squeaky toy. I know it gets old after the third time. I edited it down to 30 seconds and I guess I accidentally uploaded the original version. The visual stinks because he will only do it from his cage as a "call" to me in the other room.



He seems to be completely back to his normal moody self, you know, as opposed to the hormone crazed, sex deprived, demon that was formally occupying his cage and a completely separate room in my house.

The experience we've had with Tucker has made me think very seriously about starting or strongly supporting an awareness program. There are thousands of people like me and Brandon that buy birds as babies, realize that they are very difficult pets and take a lot of time, then dump them in a shelter, or worse, let them loose. In addition, most birds can live into their 80's and often times they will outlive their owners. The thought of having Tucker as an elderly person should probably make me happy, but there is something about the responsibility and permanence that makes me shudder. I try not to think about it.

Dom Deluise died Monday and I was pleased to hear that he wished that donations be made to the Lily Sanctuary, a parrot shelter and awareness organization. This prompted an awesome story on the CBS nightly news last night describing the difficulties of parrot owning and the growing problem in the United States of unwanted birds and lack of shelters. The parrot owner interviewed couldn't have said it better (as her parrot is sitting on top of her fridge throwing magnets on the floor) "There is not a day that goes by where I don't feel in over my head".

Crappy Season

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I am upset with Tucker. I thought I would take this opportunity to explain. Birds are not like mammals who can be spayed or neutered because the anesthesia is too much for their systems. As a result, certain types of birds have mating seasons marked with heightened aggression and territorial behavior. Amazons are indeed seasonal maters and males are generally effected more than females. Nice research on our part!

In a previous post I mentioned that Tucker made a nest marking the beginning of his noticeable changes. Beyond that, he just seemed extra vocal (mating calls) and extra needy (remember, I am his mate). We didn't notice any of the craziness we had read about. That all changed about a week ago. He full on attacked me after he was begging to come get him out. I have three bite marks as battle wounds. If you can imagine, his bites feel like someone taking a sharp pair of pliers and squeezing as hard as they could. The end result for Tucker was being thrown on the floor. Thankfully he was not hurt, but I felt terrible.

Since the attack one week ago every time I come near his cage he puffs up, hisses and strikes through the bars at me. He has only been out of the cage once and he flew at me, bit me, landed on the floor and then chased me (try to contain your laughter, this is serious). The only way I know how to control him right now is to leave him in his cage. This makes me feel extremely guilty because I know how important out-of-cage time is for an animal that is programmed to have the entire sky as a playground. I'm at Witt's end and I feel like giving up.

Thinking of giving up on Tucker is another huge source of stress for me. I just don't know what his future would be should I give him up. I can't imagine anyone loving him as much as I do or being as patient as I have been, but I'm not sure I can handle the guilt and anxiety of keeping him cooped up every spring. Beyond the additional stress he would endure from changing "flocks" again, I am certain that his future would inevitably be someone losing patience as I have considered.

I have not read one piece of professional advice that has consoled me. All bird resources have the same thing to say: let nature run it's course, it will pass etc. What about the meantime? I miss my bird, can't handle the constant screaming and feel guilty about keeping him locked up. This is going to be a long six weeks.

Nesting

Spring is mating season for birds and they a notorious for being really moody for up to 6 weeks. We were terrified for the worst because Tucker is moody ANYWAY. So far, the only different behavior I've noticed is that he is especially needy. Maybe it's because he thinks I am his mate, but every time I leave the room he starts screaming and Brandon confirmed that he continues to scream all day until I come home from work. I read about this time of the year and how to discourage birds from any dark corners because birds will be encourages to make a nest (which I guess encourages the whole mating thing). I realized his cardboard house would be a perfect spot. Well, low and behold, in the corner of the cardboard box was a makeshift nest of chewed up cardboard, wood and plastic toys. I never dreamed he was so domestic! Now Brandon and I can't stop making fun of his ticking biological clock and his imaginary babies.

We also have a nest above our bedroom window from what I tell Tucker are the "homeless birdies that benefit from his wasted food". For the last week Brandon and I have woken up to a pair of house finches coming and going with branches and moss in their little beaks. They have sweet songs too. I can't wait for them to have babies!

The only ones not nesting in our house are me and Brandon. What we have been doing since the emergence of the beautiful new floors is called re-arranging.

The Vacuum Dance

This is what Tucker does when we sweep or run the vacuum. He is so still you might have thought that he died during an exorcism before being taken to the taxidermist. Please notice that when the noise stops he immediately assumes a normal stance like nothing ever happened.

Vet Visit

It's official, Taco is still Tucker and that's never going to change. "Tucker" remains to be my parrot's favorite word. "Tucker this", "Tucker that", "Hi, Tucker", "Goodbye Tucker" and then my personal favorite"Tuckertuckertuckertuckertuckertuckertuckertuckertuckertucker"

I'm not sure if it is a protest against the name Taco, but one thing is clear; the bird wants to be called Tucker. Fine, he wins. So, to avoid all further confusion please make note that my parrot's new (old) name is TUCKER.


On with the post....


Today was Tucker's first vet appointment. I was really apprehensive that he was going to bite the vet, but she was a pro and I was amazed at how he automatically reached his little foot out to step onto her hand. That was before she took blood, shoved a cotton swab down his throat, and clipped his wings. I knew that after that whole debacle Tucker would surely bite her. No, she passed him off and he bit me! HARD.


She sure was a pro alright. Next appointment I'm not touching Tucker for a full week.


It reminded me of how children will take out aggression on their mothers and hit them when frustrated. Maybe it's because they have an inate reasoning that their own mothers won't hurt them. Too bad for Tucker I am not his mother.

p.s.Before all you animal rights people get after me, this is a joke. I would never hurt Tucker.

Bird Shop

Brandon and I went to our favorite bird store this weekend.  Two hours and $40 later, we fell in love with several birds and Tucker got some pimp new home accessories.  Check out this big blue bird, I love how docile he is despite his gigantic size.  I think he looks like a Jim Henson character.  

Eyelashes

It was my photography goal to get a close-up of Taco's eyelashes.  Here they are!  Isn't he sweet?

Taco's House....

Is really just a cardboard box, but he loves going in there. I think it makes him feel safe from the big bad humans who repeat stupid words really loudly over and over close to his face. The only problem with his house is that he has chewed a big hole in the bottom of it.

Possessed

When I first got Taco I made a list of all of the things he can say expecting that he would expand his vocabulary as he got used to us.  I was also very optimistic that we could teach him words such as "Obama" and "Thank you".  Well so far, Taco has learned nothing from us and we have learned a TON from him.  Like don't put your fingers in his fucking face or he will fucking bite them off.  

I am, however, convinced that Taco has multiple personality disorder.  Among the cast of characters that possess my poor bird:

Regular bird voice (think "Polly want a cracker?")

Sweet little girl (when he wants some of your food)

Old Lady

Truck Driver

Me

Brandon

Regular gay guy

and my personal favorite,

Most Flamboyant Drag Queen in existence!

that's it for now:

Byyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (Flamboyant drag queen voice)