Parrot Nation

Minimum Crew

Patricia Sund — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:14:00 +0000

King O at Best Friends

In view of the recent seizure of the birds at Wings Over the Rainbow, it got me pondering their dire situation, how-heart breaking and frustrating it must be to be in a position where you cannot afford to move out of a building that is not supporting your needs and desperate for help and support.

My last post about the situation generated comments, opinions and discussion. It not only got me thinking, it got a lot of other people looking at the situation. It seems to me that they could have used a lot more help than they were getting. But overall, I think a lack of planning was the issue at hand at WOTR.

How much help do you really need for how many birds? I mean, is there an ideal number in an ideal world?

Naturally, I equate this question with the airline industry. There is an FAA ruling that states that for every fifty seats on an airplane, you must have one Flight Attendant on the aircraft qualified and trained on that equipment. If you don’t have that crew count for that number of seats, you can’t even board the plane with passengers. One Flight Attendant per 50 seats. Period. In many cases there will be more than minimum crew. This is due to the work load, the service involved and the length of the trip.

So this got me thinking: What if we could figure out a proper ratio for the number of people needed to support the care of a certain number of birds? Naturally, there are a ton variables and I can point out a few right off the bat. Flights are far easier to take care of than cages. There is room for more birds and if you have drainage and a hose, it’s a snap. Cages take longer, obviously. And smaller birds are easier than large ones for the most part.

Clean cage ready to rock at BF

I had a number in my head as to what I thought the ideal Caregiver/ Bird ratio would be in a rescue or institutional setting. In my guest zoo keeping experience, volunteering, interviewing, research and digging around, I came up with a ratio.

I think 25 birds to one caregiver is the ideal number. Notice I said, ideal. This is in a perfect world with a proper budget, space, equipment and time. I wasn’t sure this was the proper number. Was it too many birds per caregiver? Could one caregiver look after more given the proper environment? So I called Jacque Johnson, the Manager of the Parrot Garden at Best Friends and asked her what she thought of my number. According to Jacque, my guess was dead on because that is the BF ratio for their labor budget.

Marlene at BF

At Best Friends Animal Society, there is a Cockatiel flight with about 30 cockatiels in it. This population changes with the demand for the space and the rate of intake and adoption of course, but it that number is pretty consistent throughout the year. This is a video that will give you an idea of what the cockatiel aviary looks like:

The cockatiel flight is not a tough area of the Parrot Garden to take care of. The substrate is now pea gravel two and a half feet deep. This just needs some hosing and shifting, a little time for drainage and surface drying, cleaning the perches and feeding stations and you’re good to go. Aside from being a beautiful environment for the birds, Best Friends Parrot Garden is set up from the giddyup for efficiency, cleanliness and speed. Yes, it’s a great space for the birds, but it has to work for the people as well. Best Friends has a budget that they have to stick to.

BF Fort: Great enrichment!

Inside, the Parrot Garden has 30 cages containing 36 birds. They allot four man hours to clean, feed and change bowls for this inside area. And another thing to keep in mind: While Best Friends does indeed welcome volunteers, they base their intake of birds on their ability to care for their flock without any volunteers. When they get volunteers, this affords them time to create foraging toys, work with the birds and work on special projects. But their projection of their labor cost and time to care for their birds is based on the staff to operate without any outside help whatsoever. I think this is logical and very smart planning. They need to be able to provide their birds with care in the event no volunteers are scheduled for the day.

View from the BF indoor bird room

You can’t always depend on the the kindness of strangers. I asked some colleagues what they thought of the current situation in Ohio, the state of affairs in the world of aviculture and how they view rescues and even an opinion of my “25 to 1 ratio” of birds to caregivers. These are a few of those thoughts:

“To have no home is a terrible thing. It’s happening to birds quite a lot, exponentially actually. Sometimes the only option left is a place with too many birds already. Maybe the well-intended caretakers got overwhelmed, and now there’s not enough time, people or money to provide adequate care.

So when it comes to parrots in captivity, perhaps we should change the paradigm, and SOON.

Let’s start by never using the term “forever home!” Birds live a long time, they almost always need multiple homes. The number of aging parrots is growing, and there are fewer and fewer places for them to go. Parrots don’t start as “rescues” but they often end up in places where they acquire this label, and then the road gets harder and the options get slimmer.

Phoenix Landing has a perpetual waiting list of 150+ birds; and we also regularly rehome the birds already in our protective system. There are simply not enough adopters to be found. If our experience is any indication of what is happening nationwide, then the prospects for your bird finding a future good home(s) is getting a whole lot tougher. This should bother all of us.

Let’s make adoption an admirable way to acquire a parrot, it’s the right thing to do. Well-loved birds deseve a good home each and every time; they are resilient and adaptable. If we all take some responsibility for the community of parrots in need, then perhaps fewer birds will end up in places that really can’t care for them.”

- Ann Brooks, Founder of Phoenix Landing

Feeding the penguins at the Cincinnati Zoo

“25 birds to one caregiver is pretty spot on with medium to large birds in good health. However, that ratio can go up or down depending on the mix of birds and the health of the birds. For instance, 25 budgies is a heck of a lot easier to care for than 25 large macaws. Those macs can be enormous pigs to clean up after. Also we are caring for a severe macaw, Max, who requires treatment every day for an open wound on his chest. He is medicated twice daily and the wound treated once a day. His care obviously requires more hands on attention than a healthy severe. Finally, the amount of attention can vary as well. I spend more time with our super needy cockatoos than I do with our less needy macaws and much less than our untame pair of cockatiels.
It’s hard to assign a solid number. I think one volunteer to 25 birds is a good generic number given what are likely an average mix of small to large birds as well as the typical health care needs of the birds.”

-Christopher Burgr, Florida Parrot Rescue

Cleaning Lorikeet Landing at the Cincinnati Zoo

”From this point on we need to shift our focus from the past and start working on the future. As a friend of mine said, ”You can’t change the past but you can provide for a better future.”

With the headlines and emotions of the latest seizure it is difficult sometimes to put our feelings aside. So here is what I propose: Lets start an open dialogue about ways to help the Humane Society of Greater Dayton get what they need when the time comes. We must be proactive and not reactive. We are a strong, positive and good group of parrot lovers. Let’s show the avian community what we are made of and what we can do. We have made a huge difference in this past year alone-put your thinking caps on and shift the focus of our frustration and anger to helping and fund raising.”

-Kelly Moore Parsley, Member of “The Parrot Posse”

Cleaning the indoor Little Penguin enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo

What are your thoughts about this ratio? If you have a better concept or a new way of approaching this issue, I’d like your opinions. This is an important issue in light of these recent events. I’ll be doing followup posts as my time allows.

Twisted Heart

Patricia Sund — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:38:28 +0000

It’s happened again. Another seizure, another rescue in trouble. It’s easy for all of us to point fingers and make judgements. It’s wonderful to sit back with our two or three birds or whatever sized flock we can comfortably handle, proclaiming our disgust and feeling fear for the latest flock that was hauled away in beige boxes.

We somehow feel better that our houses are cleaner, our cages are relatively immaculate. We make snap judgements as to the intentions of the people who I truly think meant well. But then, somewhere along the line, something went wrong. Well, what happened? What went wrong? How did things get out of control? I don’t know. And you probably don’t know either.

The latest seizure was at Wings Over the Rainbow, (WOTR) a bird rescue located in Moraine, Ohio. Moraine is right outside of Dayton. Ohio again. Once again I don’t have the entire story. Once again, I’ll probably never really know how things went down and how it all fell apart. Here is the story according to the Humane Society:

More than 100 Birds Rescued from Alleged Cruelty and Neglect in Ohio

There is a followup story claiming that WOTR is going to fight to get the birds back.

Bird Rescue Vows to Battle Back

Okay, that’s what is being reported. But what happened? How did it come down to this? In cases like this, we never really know. It’s like this dirty little secret that gets hauled out into the light of day for a brief moment so that reporters and newscasters can get their shots. The birds are shuttled off and that’s usually the last of the story unless there’s a fight in the courts or cruelty charges are made. What I want to know is, where did all of this begin?

Not quite a year ago, I wrote a post about the Troy, Ohio Birds, a hideous case of neglect that hit the papers and the internet like a feathered tsunami. The case got convoluted and to this day, I have absolutely no idea whatever happened in the end. I get different stories and different opinions, but I never did find out out what happened at the end of the pageant. I don’t know what happened to the Miami Valley Bird Club, their rescue efforts or the disposition of the case.

I did a little digging around and with a little help from some highly respected people in the field, I got some answers as to what this hoarding and neglect deal is all about.

It’s sometimes called Institutional Hoarding. Someone decides they want to run a rescue. They do the proper things, (or not) getting registered with a 501(c)3 non-profit status, (or not) slap up a website, (or not) and they’re in business. Good intentions. Well meaning. They want to save the animals.

Jezebelle Francesca, my friend Sandy’s adopted dog

Now if you think about it, the people who get into this have probably seen their share of neglect and abuse already or they wouldn’t be getting into the field. This of course gives them a bad opinion of human beings in general. After seeing some of the situations dogs, cats and birds are put in, one can’t help but have a low opinion of some people.

However, in order to run an adoption and rescue, you have to put this aside and trust that there are people out there who can provide a good home. I mean, isn’t that the entire point of the adoption and rescue? To place animals in suitable homes? This is where it gets crappy. Some rescues have standards that are simply too high and they have too many conditions potential families have to meet in order to qualify.

It’s as if the rescue is trying to find reasons not to place their charges. They simply make it too difficult to adopt. And of course this defeats the entire purpose. A family wants a cat or dog or bird and they have to endure the Spanish Inquisition in order to adopt. Many people will end up “failing” the third degree they are put through.

So what does the family do? They buy from a breeder or a pet store. Don’t read me wrong. I’m big on screening and applications and qualifying. But good God, this is an animal that needs a home. Set aside the attachment and let the animal have a home for Christ’s sake! I know it’s hard, but that’s the job.

Jacque Johnson, the Manager of the Parrot Garden at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah has this to say about Institutional Hoarding:

Jacque Johnson of Best Friends Photo courtesy of Jacque Johnson

“People in animal rescue have hoarding tendencies. We have caregiving personalities and if we get in too deep, it is easy to let the heart overwhelm our heads and resources. Slowly, over time, we make consessions to husbandry, diet, and medical care that would never have been even considered previously. We “normalize” sub-standard care. Good rescues battle this tendency in themselves constantly. We are aware that we have limits and set them well in advance. We become adept at saying “no” even when our hearts want to say “yes.” And most of all, we battle the self-serving concept that no one else is able to care for our birds. Hoarders put up hoops for adopters to jump through that make it impossible for them to meet the expectations. We don’t want to send our kids into substandard situations, but we must never forget that a family is always better than a rescue. We are an orphanage…and we need to want to get our kids adopted.”

Charlie on the left with King O. Photo courtesy of Best Friends Parrot Garden

So the issue is that the very people who want to help, see the neglect, see the abuse and get gun-shy about placing these animals because they’re afraid it will happen again. I know of one Cockatoo that Best Friends had in residence while I was out there. The sweetest, cutest little girl. But she was a self-mutilator and had to wear a bib to keep from drilling into her own chest. Well, despite everyone’s personal feelings about Charlee and their attachment to her, she got a home. Charlee was adopted out because as Jacque says, “A family is always better than a rescue.” Everyone loved her but they set their personal feelings aside and Charlee went home. Now that’s how you run a rescue.

Apparently, in a hoarding situation, over time, standards are relaxed. A little bit, day-by-day, things get a little worse, a little messier. More animals are brought in, with no animals going out. It sneaks up on the person or institution. It doesn’t happen overnight. Things go from bad to worse, and the caregiver or team running the rodeo become completely overwhelmed and rundown. According to the National Center for Prosecution of Animal Abuse (NCPAA) the type of hoarder is broken down into three categories: The Exploiter, The Rescue Hoarder and the Overwhelmed Caregiver. But what exactly is a hoarder? How do you define it? According to the NCPAA, it’s this:

“Someone who accumulates a large number of animals: Fails to provide minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation and veterinary care And fails to act on the deteriorating condition of the animals (including disease, starvation and even death) or the environment, (severe overcrowding, extremely unsanitary conditions) or the negative effect of the collection on their own heath and well-being and on that of other household members.”

-Dr. Gary Patronek in Public Health Reports (114), 1999

Photo courtesy of Marc Johnson and Foster Parrots Ltd.

And of course you have less financial support for bird rescues than other types of adoption and rescue organizations which only compounds the problem. Marc Johnson, Founder and self-professed “Janitor” of Foster Parrots in Rockland Mass. weighed in on the lack of funding and support for parrot adoption and rescues:

“The really sad thing is that the “parrot world” is not very supportive of the efforts of rescue and it is a hard job. Everyone should be grateful that there are people willing to step up and try to help the terrible situation parrots are in today. The HSUS should be supporting the people on the front lines of animal rescue, an underfunded war against captivity. I would be encouraging people to get in and help, not get in and tear down.”

So what’s the answer? I don’t have one. All I know is that when stuff like the Troy, Ohio case and the WOTR situation get in the news, it raises awareness. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s the wrong kind. Negative stuff makes us all look like morons.

But as it was said in one film about news reporting, “If it bleeds, it leads.” I realize that this story is far from over and just because it was in the news doesn’t make it true. There just might be a million mitigating circumstances that might have made this seizure completely unnecessary. I simply don’t know. All I can do is hope for the best for the birds, for WOTR and for the future.

Email From Parker #9: Vacation Request

Patricia Sund — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:11:57 +0000

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Yo! Mama!

“The Plane! The Plane” -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

And I know you meant that in the most respectful way.

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Where are we going on vacation?

“The Plane! The Plane” -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

I don’t know yet.

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

I vote for a tropical island.

“The Plane! The Plane” -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Who says you get a vote Mr. Man? And besides, you’ve already been to Key West. Twice.

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Aruba, Jamaica, oooh I wanna take ya!

To Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama

Key Largo, Montego! Baby why don’t we go….Down to Kokomooooooo! Hey! Let’s go to Kokomo!

“The Plane! The Plane” -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

It doesn’t exist. It’s just a song.

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

It has to exist. It’s in the song. And the Beach Boys wrote it. They wouldn’t lie.

“The Plane! The Plane” -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Trust me, there’s no Kokomo. I’ll show you a map.

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Saturday, May 5, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Okay. Well, then, how about:

“The LOOOOOOVE BOAAAAAAAAAAT!”

“The Plane! The Plane” -Parker

North by Northwest

Patricia Sund — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:35:33 +0000

I got a wonderful surprise when I arrived home from Caracas on Wednesday. Michael Ostrogorsky of the Northwest Parrots Fund sent me a “Bucket O’ Feathers” as well as a tidy little bag of additional unclipped wing feathers. Gorgeous!

Some of you unfamiliar with one of my harebrained fund raising schemes might wonder what in God’s name I would want with parrot feathers. Well, I make stuff with them, auction them off and the money goes to help various rescues around the country. This is one item I made:

Here’s another:

Michael and the Northwest Parrots Fund sent me some feathers to make a few items. I wasn’t real familiar with the Northwest Parrot Fund, but it you think about it, it is on the other side of the country from me, so it isn’t exactly in my neck of the woods. Located in the Seattle, Washington area, it is run by Michael Ostrogorsky and the NPF Board of Directors. Now here is something they do that is really cool and a wonderful idea. They run an online store called “The Parrot Cafe” where they sell all kinds of really great stuff. They have books, coffee, tea, clothing and other assorted “Parrotphernailia.”

Naturally I had to rummage around in the online store to see what kind of stuff they had. And I saw this which totally blew me away!

Get your quill pen by clicking on the photo…

Yes, it’s a quill pen made from a Hyacinth Macaw tail feather. And it comes with a pot of royal blue ink! Now for those of you that are nuts about Hyacinths, this is definitely something you have to have. It has a pen nib securely glued to the shaft of the feather and with a pen like this, you’re all set to write something fabulous and look great doing it.

Now that is what I call writing in high style! I’m sorry, but this sucker is seriously cool and simply captured my imagination. It’s definitely something you won’t find at Office Max.

They also make smudge feathers, and sell all kinds of cool and wonderful parrot related items. As my friend Shari says, “Now here’s the thing.” All of the stuff at the Parrot Cafe is incredibly tastefully done and beautifully presented. I like stuff that’s well made and looks good. You can find that kind of thing at the Parrot Cafe.

They have some antique and collectible items for sale as well. Their T-shirts and baseball caps are really very cool. As you know, I like a good baseball cap. I live in Florida and the sun can be an absolute killer on the complexion. The cap keeps the sun out of my eyes and off my face so I won’t end up looking like a catcher’s mitt in the future. This cap is not only versatile, it’s really unusual and good looking. I love the logo!

Want the hat? Click on it for the link!

Durable and in great taste, (meaning it isn’t pink…) it’s “cross-collectible.” It’s a baseball cap that has a parrot on it, and it identifies a destination. I love this cap.

Reading up about the Northwest Parrots Fund, (NPF) I just loved what I saw. First and foremost they try to help people keep their birds. They provide training resources and education for people who are simply flummoxed about what to do when they end up in a not-so-nice situation with their bird. Happens all the time and usually some training and a little guidance can do the trick.

If this is simply not possible, they have a foster network set up and also provide veterinary care for their fosters. They also work with local animal shelters and food banks to establish and support pet bird food banks. I don’t know of many pet bird food banks and this is a standout effort in my view. In this economy, people sometimes simply can’t afford to feed themselves properly, let alone their flock, so this is probably a lifesaver and keeps those flocks in their homes until things turn around for their families.

From what I saw on their website, I simply love their approach to placing their charges. It’s a “no-nonsense” way of doing things and the procedures they have in place simply make sense. They are a certified and registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit and they are looking to grow. I think they’re gong to manage this just fine. I love, love, LOVE their Mission Statement and their way of doing things. They even have a You Tube channel. Here is some video of a couple of their birds messing around:

While I wasn’t real familiar with their work before, I certainly am now! Give the Parrot Cafe a look. It is seriously a wonderful online store and the items you purchase supports the Northwest Parrots Fund.

Click on their neon sign to enter their store:

Email from Parker #8 “Bromance”

Patricia Sund — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:27:33 +0000

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Can you keep a secret?

I want a “Man Cave!” -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Depends on what it is.

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

There’s somebody I’d like to meet. But you’re going to laugh.

I want a “Man Cave!” -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

No I won’t, I promise. Who is it?

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Snowball.

I want a “Man Cave!” -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

The Dancing Cockatoo?

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

The very one.

I want a “Man Cave!” -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Why Snowball?

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

The dude’s got moves! And I wouldn’t mind meeting Eric Clapton. And that Anthony Hopkins guy. He got me wanting to try fava beans.

I want a “Man Cave!” -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Hey. I wouldn’t mind meeting Eric Clapton. But what’s with all the guys?

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 7:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Have you looked around here lately? Serious lack of testosterone….

I want a “Man Cave!” -Parker

Email From Parker #7 Owing a Service

Patricia Sund — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:16:40 +0000

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: email from Parker

I need to talk to you.

I love toast! -Parker

To: Parker

From: Patricia Sund

Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Okay, shoot.

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

To: Patricia Sund

From: Parker

Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Call Bonesara. We need him now.

I love toast! -Parker

To: Parker

From: Patricia Sund

Sent: Friday, April 20, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Huh?

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

To: Patricia Sund

From: Parker

Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: email from Parker

You owe your Don a service. He has no doubt that you will repay him. In one hour he will be at your funeral parlor to ask for your help. Be there to greet him.

I love toast! -Parker

To: Parker

From: Patricia Sund

Sent: Friday, April 20, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Parker, what in the hell?

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

To: Patricia Sund

From: Parker

Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: email from Parker

I want you to use all your powers, and all your skills. I don’t want his mother to see him this way.

I love toast! -Parker

To: Parker

From: Patricia Sund

Sent: Friday, April 20, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Parker, would you PLEASE quit watching “The Godfather” with Bill? It’s getting on my nerves! HOLY CANNOLI!

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

To: Patricia Sund

From: Parker

Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.

I love toast! -Parker

Email From Parker #6 Molting

Patricia Sund — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 02:36:52 +0000

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Hey.

Woodchucks have nothing on me! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

What?

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

There are feathers everywhere in here. What is going on?

Woodchucks have nothing on me! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

You and your sisters are molting. It’s normal.

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

We’re moldy?

Woodchucks have nothing on me! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

No. You’re Molting.

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Molars?

Woodchucks have nothing on me! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

MOLTING!

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Motown?

Woodchucks have nothing on me! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

You’re just messing with me now…

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Moron?

Woodchucks have nothing on me! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Want to keep what feathers you have left? End this now! Not one more peep!!!

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Peep.

Woodchucks have nothing on me! -Parker

Email From Parker #5 Mittens Who?

Patricia Sund — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:18:29 +0000

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Hey there!

Almonds are my life! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

You rang?

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Quick question: Who’s this “Mitt” guy?

Almonds are my life! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

You mean Mitt Romney? He’s running for President.

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

I don’t get his name.

Almonds are my life! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

What do you mean you, “Don’t get it?”

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Mitt. Is that short for “Mittens?”

Almonds are my life! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

No. His first name is Willard.

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

No wonder they call him Mittens.

Almonds are my life! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund <psundaa@yahoo.com>

To: Parker

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

IT’S “MITT!” MITT ROMNEY!

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: email from Parker

I once knew a kitten named Mittens…

Almonds are my life! -Parker

From: Patricia Sund

To: Parker

Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2012 9:44 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Oh my freakin’ God…

Patricia Sund

Free Lance Writer

Web Log: “Parrot Nation”

Email From Parker #4 Career Considerations

Patricia Sund — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:40:41 +0000

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Are you there?

To: Parker

From: Patricia Sund

Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Hi Parker. I’m at the hardware store. What’s up?

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: email from Parker

I’ve decided to make a career change.

To: Parker

From: Patricia Sund

Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Enlighten me.

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Friday, April 20, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: email from Parker

I want to work at the Department of Agriculture as an almond Inspector.

.

To: Parker

From: Patricia Sund

Sent: Satruday, April 21, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

The annual almond crop wouldn’t stand a chance.

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Satruday, April 21, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: email from Parker

Seriously. Dude, there’s even a website for it.

To: Parker

From: Patricia Sund

Sent: Satruday, April 21, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: Re: email from Parker

Don’t call me “Dude.”

From: Parker

To: Patricia Sund

Sent: Satruday, April 21, 2012 8:45 AM

Subject: email from Parker

You’re not changing my mind.

Email From Parker: #3 Scratch Paper

Patricia Sund — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:04:52 +0000