My Journey . . .

[AHAmoments]

Thanks for the welcome! My tiels names are - Ruffles, Fritos, Pringles, Baby Bird, Puddin, and Meeko. My CAG's name is Lucky! My passion for birds began several years ago, when my part poodle/shitzu (named Tasha), alerted us to a distressed tiel on my parents deck. The poor thing was starving and scared to death! We rescued it, and named it Ruffles because it's feathers were ruffled when we found it . . . thus my journey began and so did a deep love for birds. Everytime I went to the pet store to buy supplies, I wanted to bring home another bird :rofl:! I've really had to restrain myself at times :omg:! So . . . I'm sure after hearing all about your lovies, I'll probably find myself a little out of control on a future visit to the pet store :lol !

[Janie]

How lucky that was for Ruffles! :) I'm amazed at the people on this forum that have also found parrots in their yard! A neighbor of mine called me a few months ago because she knows I have birds and she found a tiel in her yard. Believe it or not, 2 weeks later, she found the owner who lived TWENTY MILES away! A very happy reunion but my neighbor did buy a cage and was prepared to keep the little tiel if the owner could not be found. Birds really are addictive, aren't they? My love for them started with my back yard birds, specifically my Eastern Blue birds. Since I could not bring one of them inside, I opted to adopt my sweet Oliver when his former owner was heading off to college and her parents didn't want to keep him. He is older, around 9 or 10, and the sweetest little "normal" peachie. I was strong, :lol, and waited 2 years to get two more. They are beautiful little peachies, a WF Violet and a WF Blue, and are brothers from the same clutch. Oliver is a real velcro birdie but is learning to enjoy Big Boi and Shy and is eating better and playing more because of them. They all three entertain me constantly! Even my husband admits that birds are wonderful! :D

[bellarains]

Hey Kim,

I love the chip names, that is too cute. Thanks for all the intros, we just love to put names to these little fids, as it makes it seem like we really know them:)

I also started with wild birds. I raised a house sparrow and released him, then raised a Carolina wren. They touched a place in my heart that felt empty when they were gone, so off I went to get a pet bird. I did look at tiels first, but then lovebirds caught my eye. I asked about a pair and was told they were breeders, but that they had a lutino that I might be interested in. That lutino was Bela, and he ran up my arm, snuggled up in my neck, and of course I was a goner. I told her right then and there, "I love him, I was him":D

Lacey I had flown to me from Linda here in Flordia, and then Cappie, my GCC grabbed my heart at a bird show, just like Bela did. I'm a sucker for a snuggle bird:lol

That's my story. I think it's wonderful you gave Ruffle's a loving home, and well understand how the others came along:)

[Z28Taxman]

How lucky that was for Ruffles! :) I'm amazed at the people on this forum that have also found parrots in their yard! A neighbor of mine called me a few months ago because she knows I have birds and she found a tiel in her yard. Believe it or not, 2 weeks later, she found the owner who lived TWENTY MILES away! A very happy reunion but my neighbor did buy a cage and was prepared to keep the little tiel if the owner could not be found. Birds really are addictive, aren't they? My love for them started with my back yard birds, specifically my Eastern Blue birds. Since I could not bring one of them inside, I opted to adopt my sweet Oliver when his former owner was heading off to college and her parents didn't want to keep him. He is older, around 9 or 10, and the sweetest little "normal" peachie. I was strong, :lol, and waited 2 years to get two more. They are beautiful little peachies, a WF Violet and a WF Blue, and are brothers from the same clutch. Oliver is a real velcro birdie but is learning to enjoy Big Boi and Shy and is eating better and playing more because of them. They all three entertain me constantly! Even my husband admits that birds are wonderful! :D

I wish I'd find parrots in my yard! A couple years ago there was a pair of B&G Macaws hanging around. Nobody knew where they came from and no-one could catch them. There are a lot of very old, tall trees in my neighborhood and they were living up in the treetops. I don't know what happened to them when winter set in. I hope they managed to find someplace warm. :(

[Paulette]

Hi Kim....if you hang around here long you will end up with one or more lovebirds as well. I began with 4 budgies and my son brought me a tiel last April and it was very lonely. It never occured to me that it could just visit with my budgies so I adopted another tiel, then 2 lovebirds, and then I started buying birds a tiel here and there, some more lovebirds, some zebra finches and the saga continues. Recently 2 of my lovie pairs had babies and I just sold some at a bird fair in Feb. I am presently hand feeding one lovie baby after its mom died he's getting his feathers and is so cute. I thought the chip names were cute too. Tiels are so sweet, but the lovebirds are so funny and quite the little acrobats. Look forward to visiting with you.

[Angelwing]

I'm glad that you rescued Ruffles! I've never found a pet bird outside here (thankfully, since it can get down to -50 for many months). I've had budgies since I can remember. When I was very young, I had wanted to 'be a bird' when I grew up. I'd sit for hours, watching the outdoor birds eat from our feeder, or walk around me yard searching for them. If a bird flew into my window, I'll run outside to see if it's all right. There have been a few times where I'd find a box and make the bird comfortable in it, leaving a side open so he could fly out when he is ready. There are many cats and dogs where I live (even moreso now), so I definitely did not want him getting eaten by one.
Later on, I got two lovies from a breeder. Then I took another budgie home from my work, because it was somewhat older and a runt, and I was afraid that he may be there for some time more. Then I happened to go into another petstore (I really have to stop doing that) and found two sister lovies, around two years old, who had sat in the petstore their entire lives. Their parents are also there, as they breed them to make some money. I feel sorry for those poor parents who aren't handled much and continue having clutch after clutch with little rest inbetween. Anyways, I ended up taking those two sister lovies home. I also have one ten year old English budgie (well, he'll be ten next month!) as well as another younger budgie. I'm also picking up my GCC tonight. Yeah, I have bird fever (but don't we all). Anyhow, I look forward to hearing stories of your birdies!