Young Writers Society

I wrote this up very quickly, on a Reptile Forum no less. This account is my personal experience with two birds poorly taken care of, but one; we struck a strong bond. Enjoy.

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I guess "cool" and "unfortunate" are two different matters all together.

The Macaws I've worked with were abused or neglected, some severly. The worst case I came in contact with was a neighbor of the owner (who moved) wheeled in a tiny cage that had barely room for a large bird to extend its wings fully, let alone able to support TWO Macaws in the same enclosure.

There was a nervous Green Wing and an even more terrified bird - a Red Fronted Macaw. Red Fronteds are similar to Militery Macaws and MUCH smaller in comparison to a Green Wing, Blue and Gold or a Scarlet.

We immediately seperated the two, allowing each to have their own space, and left the cage doors open the day they arrived. The neighbor had imformed us that the birds were hardly let out, were fed strictly sunflower seeds and peanuts. For caged birds, this diet is a highway to hell for obesity, since sunflowers are high in colesterol, and peanuts are not their native food item. (Peanuts are also high in fat, and any bird can quickly "imprint" and will refuse to eat anything else). She, the neighbor, also said the birds were punished by having a spray bottle squirted at them...

Well, hell, if I was locked in a cage all damn day, with someone else, and fed garbage, I'd snap back too!

Anyway, after much pain to the fingers, and patience, my staff and I got the Green Wing sociable again in about a month. It especially liked the salt water fish we had. The Red Fronted? Unfortunately, it was very obvious he (it) was tramatized, and DID NOT trust people at all. I remember when I approached its cage to change its water, and offer dried papaya, Brazil nuts, cashews, and some veggies to offer variety, the bird lunged at me, and the door hadn't been opened yet. When I was able to open the door, with much effort, and fend off the animal, I encountered lots of knicks and bruises along my fingers. The scars are still there today, after five or so years.

The end result was, after three months, I had become the soul caretaker of the Red Fronted because everyone else seemed to afraid by its imposing nature. But three months of working with the bird, and it was finally socialable. So much that the Red Fronted favored me over the staff, and let me flip it over onto its back and scratch its soft, green tummy, while the animal would actually blush, and close one eye. It had crossed over the bridge and trusted people again. (Can't say I liked when the Red Fronted regurged food and tried to feed me... Though it's a VERY affectionate display for any bird to do such a thing - it's gross!

In short, I can't help but boast that when the new owner came into the store to have the Red Fronted's nails trimmed, she remarked once when I asked if the bird liked anyone else, "No, Sammy just likes his Mother."

"May I try and hold Sammy?" I asked innocently.

"Sure but don't complain if he bites."

I hid a faint grin, knowing all that we had been through with each other, reached out my hand, and command in a firm tone, "Step up!"

Sammy cocked its head, as if he was shrugging its shoulders. He stepped up onto my hand, and like clockwork, I flipped him over slowly and stroked his tummy. Sammy still remembered me after several months of not seeing him, and the dumfounded expression upon the lady's face was exceptional.

I haven't seen Sammy in years now but to work with such an amazing animal, I remember him fondly, and delight at telling his story to friends and such.