BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Birds I feel like crying and need to vent!

I need to vent! As you all probably know i volunteer with a companion bird rescue organization. A week ago a woman in a group i co-lead came up to me after the meeting and asked about birds, saying she wanted to get one. I said what i always say: please rescue rather than buy (we have probably 180-200 birds in our system). She wanted to know if she could come over and see my birds (12---all rescues) and i said of course. I always take advantage of every opportunity to "educate" people. And i always say that birds require a lot of work. Well this week this same person came up to me after the meeting and asked me for the name of a "bird vet." Because the meeting tonight was particularly draining for me i just rattled off the information. Then she proceeds to tell me that she got a bird (read: smiling, excited and proud). I was shocked and just said 'oh' or something like that. She then told me it is a "sweetie." Pardon me for the caps: OF COURSE IT'S A SWEETIE CAUSE SHE'S ONLY HAD IT 2-3 DAYS!!!!! Now here is the WORST part: IT'S AN AFRICAN GREY!!!! OMG, she's never even had a bird and she goes out and BUYS an African Grey. I can't even begin to tell you how sad and angry i feel. I guess it's because i'm really stressed out but i just want to put my head in my hands and sob! I guess she represents all the stupid people who gets birds for all the WRONG reasons and without a CLUE and then they end up emotionally or physically wounded and in the care of a rescue organization like mine! And that's if they are lucky!!! Really, what is the matter with people!!! (That is a rhetorical question.)

pat d

I'm so sorry Pat. Sometimes there is really nothing we can say to people when they are set on doing something. Unfortunately, it is people like her that make sure there will always be a need for the rescues.

Lets hold hope that she will be one of the different ones and she will learn what she needs to learn to give that bird a hope for the rest of its life.

Hi Pat. I'm just glad that there are people like you when there are people like that woman. But trying to look at the bright side, MAYBE she will be great with the bird. And if not........she will know who to reach out to for help.

Nice to meet you, I'd like to tell you about my babies. I've been lurking for a few days-I have two feathered babies that I guess you could say I rescued, other people didn't want them any more. One cockatiel that's been with us for 11 years (cranky, spoiled female) and a 'keet, male. Left alone too long and is anti-social. But I keep trying to socialize him. I'm now thinking maybe he needs a friend-but I don't really want to buy a 'keet from a pet store, so I dunno.... what do you think? We've had him for about 6 months. I think he is about 2 years old.

Thanks so much, Mavis. I can hope so altho' i have known her for many years and don't think she is the kind of person to handle a large bird. Nonetheless, i'm going to give a head's up to the vet and invite her to take the free class our rescue puts on. You hope with me, ok?

pat

Wow, thank so you much for sharing your rescue story. At least i can hang onto the fact that there are people who "get" the need for rescues.

I would be happy to help you with your socialization journey. LOL! I am SO fried right now (all day in a courthouse does that to me!) so i'll have to do it a few days from now. If i haven't contacted you by a week from now rattle my cage (no pun intended-LOL),OK? There is also some information on another post on this forum; the topic is "My cockatiel is a troublemaker! Help!" That would be a good place to start. And, again, thanks so much for your caring!

pat d

Hi Fstategrammy. Glad you decided to join us.
Do your budgie and cockatiel socialize together? Possibly if he spends time with her, he will learn that its not too bad hanging out with you either.

Hey Mavis. Didn't have time to check back for a few days. No, the birds don't hang out together, other than the occasional visit when the little guy takes flight through the house and lands on the cockatiel's cage. They mainly just stare at each other-I'm afraid the cockatiel would hurt the parakeet if they were to be put together. She seems very jealous - if you can believe that...she prefers to be with my husband. He can pet her, he sings to her and she makes noises like a squeaky toy. She doesn't allow me to pet her. I may experiment a bit with them socializing, but I'm a bit worried, as I said... anyway, thanks for the welcome.

Actually, budgies are more agressive than cockatiels are so I doubt if your cockatiel would hurt the budgie. They are both very sociable birds though, so I'm pretty sure they would enjoy each other's company once they get used to the idea. I used to keep budgies & cockatiels together in a large flight, but when I introduced finches, I had to put the budgies into another flight because they were too agressive to the finches. The cockatiels were fine with them though.

Hi Pat,

I understand your sentiments in that of course, you like to see the rescues that you have be gotten into good homes.

Getting a creature to share your life with is more than just getting a pet, you are getting a companion. As with humans, different chemistry will be involved. There need to be a 'mental click' when you are with the right one. I seen about 2-3 dozen greys in that month of searching. Then Tinkerbell eyes met mine and I knew I need look no more.

Perhaps she just did not have that 'click' with those rescues and that grey she is with now felt that right with her.

At least I like to think that may be the case and her sweetie grey will teach her how to be a good parront even if that grey is her first bird.

After all, Tinkerbell is my first bird even if I had wanted to have a grey for 35++ years prior meeting her.

Warmest regards

Shanlung
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I will go with Shanlung's theory. And maybe she will become such an avid bird lover that she will encourage all her friends to get birds, and they will come adopt the ones who need new homes ...