Comments on: About Me

By: Patricia Sund

Patricia Sund — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:06:46 +0000

Hi Kelly,
I’m so very glad you enjoy my “stuff” as I call it. After a late night setting up for a presentation on “Chop” in The Washington DC area, I have to get moving here and get ready to meet and greet people from the Phoenix Landing Adoption Foundation and do a Presentation and seminar. Go ahead and friend me on Facebook and take a look at my little corner of FB insanity! Looking forward to seeing you sometime at a workshop and I’m so glad to know that you too, are still learning. Because I’ve never stopped. And I probably never will. Sounds like you’re doing everything right!
All the best,
P.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:40:25 +0000

Hello Patricia. I think I’ve found the first blog on African Grey parrots that actually meets my standards. I’m no pro by any means, but I have an 11-year-old CAG that I’ve had since he was about 12 weeks old. I’m almost ashamed to say that now after all these years of educating myself and realizing rescuing a parrot would have been the better option. I’m impressed with your knowledge and how you’ve gone about educating yourself. I had a breeder that I later learned (again through my ongoing education) was top-notch. She did it for the love of parrots more than the money. Oh the things I had to do before I could bring my fid home. It is because of her that I have such a well-behaved, social, confident, and wonderful parrot. This woman required I visit my baby parrot at least once a week and spend at least a couple of hours there each visit bonding with him. She offered me complete access to her breeding facility on these visits (something I’ve learned is rare but didn’t realize at the time). She was hiding nothing. She gave me references and printouts and during the time I spent with her she educated me on so many things. I watched her care for all kinds of parrots and saw the bond she had with my baby as well. She cried when I took him home. If only ALL breeders could be like her. She gets updates from me a couple times a year and always on Zoey Bird’s hatch date. I often contact her to thank her for insisting I read everything I could get my hands on about greys when I hear about somebody doing something with their parrot that is unbelievable. I can’t believe how many people bring one of these intelligent, sensitive creatures into their lives without educating themselves beforehand. I often deal with internal conflict as well for taking part in my bird’s captivity, but it does make me even more determined to provide him with the best life possible out of the rain forest. I have just found your blog and will be poking around here for hours I’m sure. I want to check out the courses you talk about as well. I’m always looking for something new to learn about how I can make life more enjoyable for my parrot. Are you on Facebook? There are a few really good parrot pages there that offer lots of good information. I read everything and research things in greater detail just to make sure. I’m going to share your blog link with my parrot friends on Facebook. Thank you for loving parrots and sharing your knowledge.

By: Machelle

Machelle — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:40:45 +0000

Very awesome blog Patricia, very awesome indeed! I will definitely be returning from time to time.

By: Patricia Sund

Patricia Sund — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:54:45 +0000

Thanks Heather! I see you’re one of us that’s “living the dream” in polyester blend. If you’re thinking abut getting a parrot, please contact me first. I’ll give you the skinny on how to go about it.

By: Heather Poole

Heather Poole — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:15:11 +0000

I’m all ready to make CHOP – and I don’t even have a parrot! I love your blog.

By: Halley

Halley — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:32:31 +0000

Hi Patricia from another Patricia. I am a long time Bird Talk fan. I used to attend a great deal of bird expos/fairs and always found Bird Talk at a reduced price. I must have had a subscription for 15 year or so.
My first parrot was a hand fed Spectacled Amazon/White Front. She fell in love with a Blue Front and eventually went to live with that family much to my sorrow but her joy. But owning a parrot is a lot like like eating peanuts, you can’t have just one. I went on to rescuing two more. My boys. Radar and Frumple. Radar was a Yellow Nape and Frumple was a Timneh. Radar was the clown and the gigolo and Frumpy was the lover. Both birds were wild caught but relatively young when they came to live with me. Radar was owned with 5 others by a man that gave him to me for keeping the flock for 3 months while he traveled. Frumpy was owned by a dentist friend that never bonded with him and I bought him for a small amount. Frumpy was not tame at all when he came to live with me and on a horrible seed diet. One day he was sitting on top of his cage and I saw something hanging from under his tail. Frumpy had tapeworms. He went to the U of MO vets and came back a different bird. He now ate everything offered. But more than that he had watched me with Radar and one day when I walked by he put up his foot. I had been bitten pretty severely by him but there was something about his look and I put up my hand. He stepped up as if he had always been doing it. He became the sweetest thing ever. I could scoop him up in both hands and he would “nest” there and we would sit for hours with me scritching him. I could hug him (something Radar would allow but then like a little boy he would start to squirm and wiggle) and trim his beak and nails with no problems at all. Radar loved red heads and blonds (I am a brunette) Any time a woman with light hair would come over he would flash strut and call as if he had found the love of his life. My niece who lived next door is a red head and he truly loved her. She was to have inherited him when I passed on and my daughter was to have had Frumple so all was settled. I expected them to outlive me.
But on Nov 29 2005 my world was shattered. I left for about 4 hours to run an errand and when I came home my birds were gone. As it turned out two teenagers had broken in and taken my birds— only the birds. Long story here but my birds were never recovered and one boy said Radar had died within two weeks. Stressed!!! He was terrified of men. Frumple has never been recovered but I will never stop looking. My physical health took a huge nose-dive and mentally I was a wreck. I vowed never to have another parrot. I spent 23 years with those two and felt I could not start over again.
Then in August of 2010 I was locked out of my office (lol) and went to the house next door to see if I could use the phone. I made my call and was waiting and visiting with the owner who turned out to be an old acquaintance. She was showing me her parrots and asked me if I wanted one. She had tried to sell it with no success. She was offering a Great Alexandrine parakeet. He was a lovely bird and very tame. I told her I would take him and find a home for him. Alex was a joy but not the bird for me. After a couple of weeks I called my niece and she came over just to see what I had. She fell in love. This was the niece who was to have had Radar so Alex went to his forever home. Now that I had been around a bird again I started watching Craigslist and rescues in the area. I made many inquiries but one day I found a Blue and Gold with cage for sale. I spoke to the man who had the bird and I agreed to come and see him. I ask (just in case) if the cage would fit in my car. He laughed and said better bring a truck. I called another niece and asked if she would take me in her truck to see the bird. Promising that if I didn’t feel the “call” or tug on my heart I would not buy the bird. We drove 100 miles arriving at a Animal Sanctuary and toured the outside first. I met Elmer the black bear (I had brought a stash of fruits to tempt the animals) and he liked apples. Petted him and moved onto Samantha the black leopard (she didn’t want an apple and I had no meat). No petting her but she rubbed against the side of the cage purring so deep I could feel it in my toes. Next was the wolves. Wow I didn’t realize from pictures that they were so tall. And friendly!!! Knock you down happy to see you friendly. Then were the foxes. Romeo and Juliet. Romeo was adorable he would come up on his shelf and rub his back against the side of his enclosure until you scratched him. Then he would twist and wiggle with joy. Juliet was shy. OK, now, inside to meet the birds. There were two a sweet Umbrella cockatoo named Calypso and a B&G in a huge cage named Jesse. As we spoke Jesse was lunging and biting at us through the bars. The gentleman shared that Jess had several lookers but no takers. He acted too aggressive. We spent a long time observing and talking. Jesse was 10 years young in perfect feather and I was told that he had been handled a lot when he first came to the sanctuary but the man was in ill health and the bird had not been out of his cage for over a year. I decided to take him, I was not intimidated just wary. Did I mention that bird and cage were only 300 dollars and the cage was a California cage. Worth the price in cage alone. If Jesse wanted to be just a beautiful bird that was OK with me. My niece ask if I felt the call and I had to admit I hadn’t but I was taking him anyway. We loaded the cage and I found to my relief that Jesse would step up for a stick. At least I could move him from point to point safely. So we get home Monday afternoon and I call the vet. She will be in on Tue. (what luck) and I make an appointment for beak and nails. If he is gonna be mad at someone it isn’t gonna be at me.
Used the stick to get him in the travel cage, and stupidly left it at home. Soooo the vet tech and I are looking at each other wondering who was going to get him out. I asked for a broom and she looked horrified.. No no I assured her I am just going to use the handle. Whew I thought she was gonna call the parrot police or something. Jesse stepped up like a gentleman and I sat him on the exam counter. The tech and I watched for Jess to try to escape but he was very calm. No eye flashing wing beating or beak snapping. Humm I thought I will just reach out and stroke his back. Yep he sat quite still. We were impressed!!! The Dr came in then and dropped a towel over him and off they went. I heard him squawk every nail she clipped. ;o) When she came back she praised Jess saying he was one of the best Macaws she had worked with. Jess seemed pretty calm for all the ordeals he had just been through and he stepped right up on my hand.
We stopped at McDonalds and got my lunch came home and Jesse sat on my tummy in the recliner eating grapes while I ate my fries. OK, yes, he had a couple of fries after I wiped off most of the salt. Jessie now travels with me in his flight suit and seems to enjoy going with me. The flight suit is only good for about an hour or so then we need a diaper change. First I spread the suit out on the bed then I pick Jess up by the body and set his feet in the holes of the flight suit. He doesn’t like it when I pull his wings through but he doesn’t bite he just fusses about it. Velcro it up the back and we are ready to go. I believe we were meant for each other. I love to travel and now I have a constant companion.
+1

By: lillymail2008

lillymail2008 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:44:27 +0000

You bubble with passion when you get along with parrots , I can see that in this blog and your photographs .

Keep that going,
Lilly,
http://www.kidsuki.com

By: Patricia Sund

Patricia Sund — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:07:46 +0000

Hi Shawnee,
I have been asked this before and it seems that the Einstein Baby people have discontinued manufacturing this toy. You might be able to find one on Ebay. If I see it around anywhere, I’ll be sure to post the source. Good luck with locating it and let me know if you find a source for it as well.

By: Shawnee

Shawnee — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:57:30 +0000

In the August issue of Bird Talk you mention a toy you bought called “brainy baby”. I think my parrot would love this, can you tell me the official name of the toy, my internet search didn’t locate anything like you described. Thank you, and have a beautiful day!

By: Andrea Rosner

Andrea Rosner — Fri, 20 May 2011 22:51:02 +0000

Hi Patricia,
Love the blog and look forward to it. You do such great PR for rescue organizations and sanctuaries and I wanted to make sure you were aware of one here in our home state.
Run by Pat Norton, Fla Exotic Bird Sanctuary in Wesley Chapel is a true sanctuary for birds whose owners want to give their birds as natural of a life as possible and end the cycle of a new home every few years. http://www.FlaBirdSanctuary.com
Several years ago, I needed a solution for a wild caught
Moluccan too I had adopted. After being in her former home for over 20 years and 2 years in mine, I did not want an uncertain future for her. I wanted things for her that I was not capable of providing and started looking for a solution. After looking at a number of facilities, many of whom had no room until they realized that I was willing to support my bird, I found Pat Norton.
Pat doesn’t turn away birds if she can accomodate them or if the situation is dire. She has instituted a sanctuary membership program where for a set fee (depending on bird size) you can receive updates on your bird and photos.
It is also a tax deductible expense being that she is a 501C3 organization.
I recently visited Aussie and Pat and if you would like to see them, I took a good number of photos. Please let your readers know about FEBS as Pat deserves our support.
http://www.FlaBirdSanctuary.com