September 22, 2012 Dear Mom;

Well, how about that? It's Saturday. Yesterday when I arrived at the Refuge, I just started right in with washing dishes. I was a little earlier than usual; so there weren't many dishes waiting for me. I really don't see the point in washing dishes when everything around me is dirty...or messy. So, I started, as usual, with cleaning the counters and sinks and getting a fresh dish cloth and and a fresh sink of soapy hot water and so on. One of the birds that seems to hang around the wire barrier to the kitchen talking and whistling is a little Bare-eyed Cockatoo named Mango. From time to time he says something, "Hi Mango; Hello everybody; and Who loves you?" And I always respond to him as I do the other birds that hang on the barrier; there's usually about four of them. And when I leave the kitchen, he's one of the birds that lands on my shoulder with a, "Hi". I've never thought much about it. He is just one of the birds that does that. Yesterday a staff member came to me in the kitchen and told me I had been adopted. I had no idea what she was talking about. It seems that little Mango is thought to be simply miserable by the staff that know him. The rest of the staff don't know him. He has no bird friends and stays by himself up high most of the time. He doesn't go to anybody.  Apparently a few of the staff have noticed Mango's change in behavior when I'm around. All the things he's been doing with me is entirely new to the staff. I felt so moved and humbled, I got all teary. Later in the day, when I left the kitchen to go visiting, Mango flew to my shoulder. Two of the staff were standing outside the door talking, each with a Bare-eyed Cockatoo on their shoulders. And then there was me with Mango. I paid close attention to what Mango was doing. He sat very close to my neck and rubbed his head gently against my jaw and he let me skritch his head. I could see the disbelief on their faces as they watched him. He kept getting knocked off my shoulder by some of the other bigger birds. But he kept coming back. I don't know if I look like his past owner or what. But now when I go to visit the girls, I'll be visiting my little guy too. 

Mango (L), me & Lucy (R)

When I was stopped in the kitchen talking about Mango, that was also the end of my kitchen work for the day. Everyone at the Refuge saves pop cans, plastic bottles and other recyclables with the view to turning them in for the deposit refunds. However, for I don't know how long, they've not had the man oops person power to actually sort through what, now, is a small mountain of recyclables. That's what I spent the rest of my time doing, sorting into clear plastics under 1L, clear plastics over 1L, opaque plastics under 1L, opaque plastics over 1L and aluminum cans. All the plastic containers had to have the lids removed. Then I bagged what I'd sorted, 288 aluminum cans to a bag, 150 small plastic containers to a bag and 50 large plastic containers to a bag. Not exciting work by any means. But when I dropped 6 bags off at the recycling depot on my way home, I was gratified that the Refuge  had made $66...and I'm not finished with that mini mountain. Apparently there is a stream running through the property that is clogging up or something. I don't know how much property there is, but it must be fairly extensive. There's a wetlands area there that apparently is considered ecologically valuable and to which this stream adds water. Anyway, a grant has been received, to  restore the stream to its ecologically sound state. What that means, I don't know. I do know that a large machine is doing the work and will need to travel exactly where the mini-mountain of recyclables is. Hence the push to take care of it once and for all.

Then it was visiting time. Bertie was ready for me...as were several other birds in  her enclosure, most of whom had been moved in there from the medical room.  I had taken some air popped popcorn with me, always a hit with Bertie. She sat on my knee and helped herself to the open bag that I held in one hand while I tried to give everyone else skritches with the other. Gets a bit tricky. After she'd had her fill of popcorn, Bertie got her share of attention and when she got a bit rambunctious giving me head bonks, I decided to go and see Babe.

Yahoooooooo!!! Babe was ready for me! She wanted some lovin'! She came to a perch where I could reach her and stepped right up. I sat down and she just cuddled up to my chest and I gave her enough loving for both of us Lina. Poor Zoey was a little put out I think. He kept saying hello to me from a branch behind me. But both hands were busy with Babe preening the pin feathers on her head. Finally, I knew I had to leave. I still had to stop at the recycling depot on the way home and now I try to be home by 4pm or shortly after.

Some of you  may wonder why I haven't mentioned Chris. I felt really guilty when, on the way home, I realized that I hadn't gone out of my way to at least talk to her. I think I mentioned that she's in the same compound as Bertie. I just got so busy with all the birds that came to me when I sat down, I didn't even think of her. I know that I said I'm no longer a part of her life. But I don't have to acknowledge that by not saying hello. At least I know she's happy.

That's it Mom. I've been trying to write this while I work on 20 pounds of potatoes to take back to the Refuge. More on that later.

Love,
Pat

September 16, 2012 Dear Mom;

I didn't get to the Refuge on Friday. Between a doctor's appointment and going to the lab for bloodwork and stuff, by the time I was finished it was too late. So, I decided to go today. But I didn't take any photos today. Last night our Missy (11 year old white and deaf cat) died of heart failure at the emergency vet hospital. It was after midnight when I got home and today I just felt drained. Today's photos represent Missy's place in our lives.

Okay, back to the Refuge. I've not been there on the weekend before. I met 4 or 5 more staff, all very nice and all grateful for any help at all. While I went to visit with Bertie and Chris, someone went out to buy nuts. My job today was to crack nuts. Chris and Bertie are now in the same compound each with their 'friends' and a few other birds. But now, to get to their compound I have to pass a major obstacle. Their compound is opposite Andy's stand, about 5' away. Now Andy is the other Hyacinth Macaw that I've met. He's older and more experienced with handling we humans. As soon as he sees someone headed his way, he nonchalantly slides down the leg of his stand, slowly waddles to the centre of the space you are focused on entering, spreads his feet, lowers his body close to the floor, fluffs up his feathers, spreads his wings a bit...then rocks back and forth slowly while looking you right in the eyes. Now anyone with parrot experience, and maybe anyone who hasn't, will not mistake the message here. I simply stopped and wondered what I was going to do, other than back quietly away. Well, Nick came to my rescue with a water bowl. He spashed a little water on the floor between me and Andy. And lo and behold, Andy went back to his stand. Now for those of you who don't know, the water in that situation, is an aversive. Andy went back to his stand to avoid the water, not because all of a sudden he knew I meant no harm. And while I know that I continue to use aversives sometimes myself, I'm not proud of that way of interacting with any animal now. But for the life of me, I don't know what to do in this particular environment. So, I took the water bowl with me into the girls' compound so that I'd be able to get out safely again. Something else to work on.

While I was standing wondering what to do about Andy, I had a little Goffins on my shoulder. She's very affectionate and just soaks up all the attention she can get out of you. Anyway, I was absentmindedly skritching her, when Bertie started up with a loud yell that I recognized as the one she always used if she knew I was headed her way and I was taking too long about it. Actually I was quite delighted to hear it. I've not heard it for over a year. I had a good visit with her and several others in her compound. Chris ignored me. It's obvious to me that I no longer occupy space in her life. And that's okay; she's happy.

By that time, the nuts had arrived, walnuts in the shell and peanuts in the shell. A 50 pound bag of each. For three hours I sat and cracked almost all of that bag of walnuts. The Macaws get their walnuts whole. The Cockatoos, Greys and Amazons get their walnuts cracked in half. I've seen one staff member put a dozen walnuts on the table and hit each one once with a hammer and most of them just fell into two halves. Fast! Who would guess how much experience it takes to be able to quickly hit a walnut in just the right place, just once, and hard enough to have it split into two halves instead of hitting it several times with the last time turning the nut into mush? The parrots that get the nuts from the first 20 pounds I did, will be thinking someone else ate them first. As with anything else though, I got, not proficient, but much better by the time I'd finished. And most of that 50 pounds went out to the compounds to feed the birds today. Mind boggling the food they go through. That was the perfect job for me today. I was able to sit while I worked and I didn't have to think about anything. 

Then I was off to see Babe. As usual she was up high. And even a nutriberry didn't get her down to me very quickly. Maybe she'd just eaten. Maybe her friend who started displaying when I started trying to coax her down, was laying down the law. It wasn't until she saw me handing out nutriberries to everybody else, both inside and outside her compound, that she came down to give me kisses and get hers too. After a short visit I headed home. No baths. No treats for everybody else. I was ready for home and hearth, or something like that. So, I'm sorry. There are no bird pictures today, just a few of our girl who made our lives better for having been part of it.

Love,
Pat

September 10, 2012 Dear Mom;

I can't believe how quickly I get to Monday without having written. So, here I am late again. I was very anxious to get to the Refuge. I had heard that birds got moved around last week. I knew too, that Bertie and Chris were two of the 26 that were moved. And I didn't know if Babe had been moved or not. You're probably wondering why birds would get moved around. So I'll explain. The Refuge is based on natural flocking behaviour. Although every bird is a study of one, with individual behavioural histories, experiences with and/or without flight and other birds, captive parrots must develop a self confidence, if you will, that allows them to live compatibly with other birds in a flock. They have to know how to fit in. I can hear my mentor, Dr. Susan Friedman, saying to me, now operationalize all of that please. But I hope that gives you a feel for what's next. All the birds that come to the Refuge start out for a couple of days, caged in the area where they will be released to aclimate to the environment, usually one of the smaller enclosures, the special needs area or the medical room. All the staff seem to be very sensitive to the dynamics in each area and contribute information on how well each bird is adjusting. Is the bird making friends? Are the friends from the same species or from a different species? Does the bird get picked on or bullied? Does the bird bully others? And so on? When managers feel that a bird is ready to try a flock or needs a change of some kind to continue to adapt, those birds are moved accordingly leaving room for newcomers. Those that haven't been moved, are now the "experienced" birds in their area and again, the dynamics change.  That's what happened last week. Now when it comes to "my" birds, I'm not a very trusting individual. And even though Bertie, Chris and Babe are not "my" birds, my feeling of protectiveness doesn't know that. I didn't know what had happened to Babe, if anything, and I was fearful for Bertie and Chris. Now back to Friday. As soon as I arrived at the Refuge, I dropped all my stuff in the kitchen and went looking for the girls. I found Bertie in the slightly smaller enclosure beside the one she'd been in before. She was sharing it with just one other bird, a gentle male. Chris was still in the medical room, waiting for a new vest before being moved. And Babe hadn't been moved at all. It was with a great sense of relief that I returned to the kitchen.

You guessed it. I was back to washing dishes and folding clean laundry. And that's not a bad job for me. I get to meet and chat a bit with each of the staff members. I get to see how they relate to the birds. I get to see what their version of cleanliness is. I'm becoming aware of the staff cliques. I'm quite enjoying the kitchen.

When I was finished in the kitchen, I went to visit with the girls and give out some treats. I took pine cones and little squares of Lorne's whole wheat bread. I didn't get to visit with Chris. Cynthia, who is responsible for that large area, was busy scrubbing the floor with cages pulled out etc. I didn't want to slow her down. So, I went over to Bertie's new enclosure. We had a nice visit even though she wouldn't come to me. She didn't run away from me; she just wouldn't step up and did her little head shaking. I really must find out what her friend's name is. He's a smart cookie. Since Bertie didn't want to come to me, I decided to run her through her perch paces. She turned around on cue, saluted, shook "hands", gave me a high five, and when I asked her to give me a kiss, both Bertie and her friend, who was sitting right beside her, leaned forward to touch my lips with their beaks. Oh! Surprise! Hmmmm. I decided to see if he'd pick up some clicker training. First I conditioned the clicker with both of them. Of course Bertie loves showing off what she knows. And she's forgotten nothing it seems. But her friend took his sunflower seeds and watched Bertie carefully. Next I got out my trusty target stick and got Bertie to target a few times, again with his nibs watching carefully. Then I offered the target to him. Bertie promptly reached over in front of him and touched the target. He didn't stand a chance. I had to laugh. So, I got Bertie to target further down the perch, then quickly offered her friend the target stick. He touched it ever so gently, and got his sunflower seed just before Bertie returned.  LOL We did the same thing several times. Oh, how I'm loving that little friend of hers. Photos attached. That's Bertie on the right; they're both eating their bread.

Then I went to visit Babe. She didn't even wait to see what the treat of the week was. I set up my little stool, sat down and she was right there, ready to come to me. She sat on my shoulder chit chatting. I couldn't hear what she was saying but I knew she was talking. It was when she was reaching around to give me kisses that I realized that she wanted the treat, whatever it was. When I gave her the bread, she left. LOL I don't know if she and her beau have had a falling out, if I assumed too much in the first place or they were enjoying some time and space alone. I didn't see any "togetherness" this time. And I still don't know his name. That's one of the difficulties I find at the Refuge. The staff are few and far between and difficult to nab with questions. However, I'll keep trying.

Almost forgot to tell you!  When I parked in the parking lot, I changed from my street shoes to my rubber shoes. When I pulled my carryall bag out of the van, the ziplock container with the pieces of bread in it, fell out onto the ground and the lid came off. Only a couple of pieces fell out. However, the small flock of peacocks and peahens were passing in front of the van at the time and a couple of those birds obviously knew what they'd seen and sauntered over. I couldn't say no after practically dropping bread right under their beaks. So they all got a little piece of bread too. Neat!

That's it Mom...until next week. LOL
Love,
Pat

 

 

 

September 3, 2012 Dear Mom;

This week I was back washing dishes. And while I was doing that I was able to look out the window in front of me and watch a doe with twins about 100 feet away waiting for their daily feed. All the fresh food bowls that the parrots are finished with are emptied into a wheel barrow and dumped, not too far away, for the deer, and wild birds to finish off. Some is also put out on trays, near the building for the Peacocks and Peahens that roam freely around the property. Victor, one of the staff, is responsible for sorting and disposing of all the garbage including what's put out for the deer and birds. He's also the general handyman on the premises. Anyway on Thursday, he'd been busy all day working on a sink. So, on Friday he was later than usual sorting the garbage. Well, much to my delight, the three deer apparently got impatient and came down within five feet of the door to do their own "sorting".

 

I was asked, if I had time, to wash some of the toys that were in a large bin. And, of course, that was fine with me. So. when I got a chance, I started washing those toys. My, oh my, oh my, were they filthy! When I got a chance I asked Stephanie when they'd been washed last. I was astounded at her response. Those toys were found by Victor when he was sorting the garbage. Many of the staff at the Refuge are young people around 20 years old I'd say. And I'd have to guess that they've not yet learned the value of money...at least someone else's. According to Stephanie, there are some staff that would rather sweep into the garbage, a toy that had fallen on the floor, than pick it up. All they'd have to do is pick it up and put it in a bin in the kitchen to be washed. It's not like they have to wash them. I guess you find lazy employees in every company, organization and association. I guess I just thought that everyone was working there out of their love of parrots. Hmmmmmm maybe not, eh?

Oh, and before I forget, apparently one of the Peahens has 5  new peachicks following her around. I haven't seen them yet and I've sure been looking. I guess she's keeping them out of the high traffic areas for now.

Eventually I headed for the Medical Room to see Chris. And there she was, sitting between two big Moluccan males, just as relaxed as can be, one foot up and her eyes half closed. I've attached a photo. So, I started around the room giving skritches. But some bird behind me kept saying hello. When I turned to see who it was, it was Bertie, leaning my way and trying very hard to get my attention. I was so surprised to see her; I hadn't expected to see her so was blind to the fact that she was there. She too seemed quite relaxed and comfortable there. She rode around on my shoulder as I gave out treats. But whenever I stopped to give skritches she was quick to get down on my forearm and lean into my chest. I had to laugh. She was determined to get whatever loving was available. Okay, here's a short story as background to one of the other photos I've attached. We cared for a male Moluccan, Rocky, for about a year, for our friends who moved to Moosejaw, Saskatchewan. I would give all my birds plastic bottle tops to play with. Rocky would take the white plastic mouthwash bottle top, hold it in his beak, dip it in his water bowl and tip it up to let the water run into his mouth. I was fascinated by that and watched him every chance I could. Okay, back to my visit to the medical room. As I was standing with Bertie cuddling, I noticed a male Moluccan with half a walnut shell in his beak. Damned if he didn't dip that half-shell into the water bowl and tip it up to let the water run into his mouth. I must have watched him do it a couple of times before I realized just what he was doing and managed to dig my camera out. I didn't get a series of photos that show what he was doing. But you'll see the walnut shell in his beak if you look carefully. I'll watch for it the

next time and be more ready.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I was off to see Babe. Babe was in her usual spot when I got to her enclosure. I think she maybe likes nutriberries as much or more than toast with peanut butter.





 But I didn't try to coax her down to me this time. I stood sideways to her and a perch that was close to my shoulder and started giving out nutriberries, another hit. I think I'd only given out two before she was at and then on my shoulder looking for hers. And all the while she was saying hello and hi Babe. Just too cute for words. I traded her a kiss for the nutriberry after which she went back to her perch to eat. You'll see that I was able to get a couple of photos of Babe's suitor. Again, he didn't want any part of my nutriberries. He just kept a close eye on Babe albeit from a distance this time. That first one isn't very good I know. I'm sorry. I wanted to get both Babe and "him" in and forgot how to focus in that situation. But the second one, apart from the chain running past him looks pretty good. He really is a handsome fella. LOL

 

 I waited until I got out of Babe's enclosure before offering baths. But it didn't take long to get several birds hanging on the mesh having a flapping good time. Oh how I love that.

By the time I left, I was very tired. And I still had a cake to make for the birthday party on Saturday.

So, that's it until next week.

 

Love,

Pat

August 28, 2012 Dear Mom;

Goodness, it's already Monday, make that Tuesday, and I still haven't finished this letter. Better late than never, I hope.

 

Stephanie asked me to do my thing in the kitchen again on Friday. Really, the staff don't have time to wash dishes; there are simply too many other priorities. Rob, another volunteer, goes in on Saturdays and Sundays just to wash dishes. And in the meantime they build up and the kitchen becomes a mess. So, I'll probably do my volunteer work in the kitchen and just visit with the girls afterwards from now on. I  washed dishes, folded clean towels and bedding from the dryer, washed dishes, transferred wet laundry from the washer to the dryer, washed dishes, cleaned shelves, washed dishes, cleaned all the counters and washed yet more dishes.

 

Let me tell you a little bit about the routine(s) that I've observed so far. Each staff member has an area, usually quite large, that they are responsible for. And each staff member has his/her own routine for getting all the tasks done. This includes changing cage tray papers of those cages in their area, removing empty or old food dishes, removing, washing and refilling water bowls and sweeping, scraping and mopping the floor. So, yesterday I made lots of friends. Not only did I wash all the food bowls and trays already waiting for me, I washed all the water bowls for the staff as they came into the kitchen to do that themselves. Yesterday, I knew I was helping and making a difference. LOL And...Cynthia, who is responsible for the Medical Rooms and the whole area that Bertie's enclosure is in, was delighted to get a garbage container for her area. We had an extra one at home. Everything extra now goes to the Refuge. All the fresh fruits and veggies are donated (from whom I don't know yet), but usually right at or after the best before date. So, all of it has to be sorted quickly and used quickly or disposed of. For example this past Friday, there was a 10 pound bag of potatoes. The birds won't eat the potatoes raw and the Refuge doesn't have a stove to cook them. So, I brought that bag home, peeled, cooked and mashed them to go back to the Refuge. Otherwise, they'd have been pitched. Also, while I worked in the kitchen, all the talk was about next Saturday being the founder's birthday. We're going to have a small surprise pot luck birthday party in the kitchen.

Well, after three hours of washing dishes etc, I went visiting the girls. I admit though, I was very tired by that time. So, I was very thankful for my little foldup stool. The Medical Room was first, as usual. When I arrive in each area now, all the birds eye my red bird carryall. I guess they know now that the treats appear out of that bag. Chrissy especially, watches me and that bag very carefully. And she recognized the toast and peanut butter. OMG! What a mess...albeit a glorious mess. I  really didn't think the toast and peanut butter would be the hit that it was. I had to break the already small pieces into even smaller pieces to make them go around. Some weren't interested but wanted skritches and cuddles. I try to spend a little extra time with Dusty who is a blind Moluccan. He recognizes my voice now and talks to me a little. He doesn't lunge at me any more. Jack the newcomer Macaw loved his toast and peanut butter. He ate his then followed me as best he could around the room for more. LOL Mango was out in the larger area. I saw and talked to him while I was in the kitchen but I couldn't find him later when I was in the larger area.

Then it was over to see Bertie. There's a cage in Bertie's enclosure. And although it's always open, that's where Bertie was when I arrived. I set up my stool at the side of the cage and talked to her through the bars. She was so cute...and coy. I'd ask her if she was going to come out and visit and she'd hop and dance back and forth across the perch, bobbing her head and make her "silly" sounds. After I did this a few times, I got up and went to the door of the cage, put my hand in and asked her if she was going to come. The little  monkey put her foot out and touched my hand with it then went dancing and hopping along the perch. I did try not to laugh. She used to do this at home too and that sure had the memories flooding back. Finally though, she came back and stepped up. So, we did our cuddling and skritching for awhile. She wasn't interested in the toast and peanut butter, but several of her cagemates were.

Now, Babe. Babe, as usual was up in her high perch when I arrived. But she didn't make any moves to come to me until she saw the toast and peanut butter. Then she came down her "slide" lickety split, snatched the toast and ran back up.

 

 

That's when I noticed that another Umbrella, a male, was taking an interest, in her toast I thought. And I was quick to offer him a piece too to avoid trouble. He wasn't interested in having his own piece (no pun intended); he wanted to have or share Babe's. When he got too close to Babe, she held her toast in her beak and walked quickly toward him. He moved away quite quickly considering that he was going backward. She went back to her spot and resumed eating her toast, oh so daintily. His nibs slowly and gradually moved closer to her until he was about 6" away. Then he just sat facing forward and Babe sat facing him while she ate. I do believe she's being courted.  And, Lina, he's very handsome. Of course, my aim to get her to come to me to get the toast didn't work. But I have a plan for next week. In the meantime, I set up my stool and handed out the last of the toast and peanut butter. Before I knew it, Zoey, the singing Amazon, was on my shoulder singing his opera at the top of his voice. That's when I realized I had forgotten to take my hearing aids out. LOL Then a little Goffins flew to my other shoulder and another Umbrella had climbed up my pant leg to my knee. For a little while I was playing parrot piano, trying to give everybody a skritch. What I noticed this time too, is that quite a few of the birds that have been getting spray baths from me, flocked to the front of the enclosure and seemed confused that there were no baths to be had.

Well, Mom, I'm going to close for now. We've been doing our daily walks down along the waterfront the last few days. And the fresh air and exercise are knocking me out. LOL
 Until next time,

Love,
Pat

August 23, 2012 Dear Mom

As you know I'm sending these posts to some of my friends too. I hope some day that you'll get to meet them in person. So, I thought I'd  introduce them to you now.

When we pulled up roots in Ontario we joined Michele in Parksville, not too far from the Refuge. You'll recall that she too, pulled up roots and moved from Montreal, Quebec to Parksville. In the meantime, my friend Lina who had an Umbrella Cockatoo who needed more than she was able to devote to her, (long story) sent Babe out to the Refuge too. And she's been crazy with longing and despair since. So, I'm sharing these posts with her with the intention of keeping her up-to-date with Babe's activities and progress etc. However, my circle of friends wanted to be included too. We, all, are animal lovers of one kind or another, and have suffered heartbreaking losses along the way. I love these women like sisters. Zillah was our neighbour and friend in Scarborough. And knowing little about birds she would and did care for our flock and two cats willingly and without complaint when we needed her. She has recently lost her closest friend, her dog Patches and we miss her terribly. Lina belongs to Babe and Lily, the Senegal. She is by far one of the most generous and loving individuals I know. Guylaine, also from Quebec, and Kozmik the African Grey, have been friends for many years now. She is by far the most talented and artistic person I know. The first time we met, we cried together. For me that's trust. And then there is Elaine. Elaine has the most wonderful sense of humour; I love laughing with her. And her love and devotion to her flock is absolutely amazing to behold. Barbara is a friend of Michele;s, whom I've not met in person yet. She recently lost her parrot Oscar. Last but not least, I include Lorne with these postss. It's his shoulder I've cried on when my "work" at the Refige was less than rewarding; it's his support that got us to Parksville in the first place; and it's Lorne that keeps our home as close to sane as possible.

 Now I'll try to find some photos of all of us so that you have faces to go with the names.

 



Elaine

Guylaine, Lina and me



 

 

Michele

 

                                                                        Zillah

Love,

Pat

August 18, 2012 Dear Mom;

Having decided in advance to change my approach in the medical room, that's where I headed yesterday morning. I didn't go for my morning walk; I wanted to spend as much time as possible at the refuge. So away I went, armed this time with what I thought were little boxes of raisins that turned out to be little boxes of yogurt raisins, my rags, spray bottle, a big bag of pine cones and my Lee Valley stool. I also took the August brochures that Lorne and I  put together. Management was thrilled with them and wants monthly brochures. I'll be sending a copy to you. Feedback, ideas etc are very welcome.

Okay, back to the medical room. When I approached the room I could see that the lights were out; the room was in darkness. I was really upset to think that the staff had forgotten to turn the light on and that the birds were still in the dark at 11 am. I opened the door, but I couldn't find the light switch. I practically ran out looking for someone to turn the light on. It happened to be Nick that I nabbed; he's been really helpful in the past. Anyway, he turned the lights on and I saw where the switch was located. And of course I was already rehearsing in my mind how to approach the staff supervisor about the lights. LOL I think because I knew what I was going to do in the medical room, I was calm and organized. And I think the birds fed off that. I found an empty cupboard to stash my stuff in, then just spent time with the birds, especially Mango. I talked to them and skritched and cuddled and petted as many birds as I could. Mango was very gentle and affectionate and the other birds were talking and whistling.

 

        Mango

 Chris even came to me briefly for kisses and skritches. And in the middle of my fun, the lights went out. Yep, a cute little Umbrella Cockatoo had switched the light off.

                                                              Light switch fiend.

I felt really sheepish for thinking what I had about the staff; I should have known better. I also should have known better than to underestimate those birds. Anyway, after trying to fill everyone's attention tank, I proceeded to clean. It still was quite a challenge to keep one eye on Mango, in case he decided to practice his long-jump, keep an eye on the light switch...and clean. But Mango was really good. He did fly at me once but I ducked and he missed. So, no bites. For the most part he just sat on his stand and watched me clean. The lights went out a couple of times more. And once it was Mango who turned them out. He's a smart one. I even managed to take some more photos.

 

Bertie's enclosure was next. That's where I got my little stool out and set it up next to the cage that's in the enclosure. Bertie came down for some cuddling and skritching. And a little Goffins climbed down the cage to my shoulder. Bertie took exception to that, fluffing up big with crest up and taking pretend lunges. The Goffins moved off. There are so many birds there longing for the loving and attention that we've taught them to expect. It makes me sooo sad. I really was glad to have brought my stool with me. By the time I had finished in the medical room, I just couldn't have stood for much longer. I think Bertie would have liked for me to take up residence there because she was very reluctant to step back down to a perch. Sigh.

Now Babe played hard to get this time.  She did come closer but stayed just out of reach.
So, for awhile I just concentrated on giving spray baths. The birds I've sprayed in the past were already lined up for bathing before  I even got the spray bottle out. They really surprised me. One Sulphur-crested Cockatoo next door to Babe's enclosure kept sticking her foot through the wire grabbing onto my shirt so that I'd spray her. LOL Another one kept biting my toe to get sprayed. Sigh. When I ran out of water, I set up my stool and got the camera out. Babe came down to get something to eat and I tried to take a video. Don't get excited; when I got home there was no video on the camera. I'll go back to the drawing board before next Friday.  I really missed my cuddle with Babe, so I think I'll leave the spray baths next week and concentrate on bribery, maybe toast and peanut butter. LOL

Okay, gotta go now, Mom. Murray's yelling "night, night", Bobbie's ringing her bell and Smokey is beating the devil out of  his little permaplay man. I know when I'm being paged. LOL
 
Love,
 Pat

 

 

August 13, 2012 Dear Mom;

I arrived at the refuge on Friday, with my "rubber" shoes, spray bottle, a big bag of pine cones, a smaller one of little squares of Lorne's whole wheat bread and my camera. And when I got inside, I went straight to the kitchen which is where I asked to be put to work. I said I'd still go to the medical room to see and work with the birds after. It's very difficult for me to hold a conversation in the refuge. I take my hearing aids out before I go in; I can hardly afford to see a thousand bucks winging it's way to the top of one of the enclosures like a fellow's baseball cap did a week or so ago. And the noise level is such that I can barely hear anything else. So, I just said that I don't like being bitten and want to get to know the birds better before I allow myself to get distracted with cleaning.  I was told very seriously and gently,  that "parrots bite, Pat". Sigh! That's also when I realized that the staff supervisor had been told  about Mango biting me twice last week, because she immediately told me that Mango had been taken out of the room,  so I didn't need to worry about him biting me. But she put me to work washing dishes in the kitchen as I had requested. Anyone who hates washing dishes ought to wash dishes in this place. Dishes for so many parrots adds up to a lot of dishes. Two and a half hours later, I had washed every dish in sight, dried them and stacked them neatly on a shelf that I cleaned first. I also cleaned the four sinks and the counter and still wasn't happy with the cleanliness of the kitchen. Step by step and little by little I hope to make an impact.

   Then I was off to see Chris and the other birds in the medical room, where I found that Mango had been returned. Anyway, I gave him and everybody else some attention, passed out the bread bits and took some photos. And of course Mango flew at me again...when I had my back to him taking photos. I think he really wants some attention. Next week I'm going to try giving him attention before I do anything else, see if I can fill his attention tank so that I can do something else without him piling on, beak and all. But noone had been in to clean the room yet and I felt really badly about that. I think I could probably spend two or three days a week there and still not be satisfied with what I get done.

   
Bertie's enclosure is in the same larger room that the medical room is in. So, she spots me right away. So, she was next to visit. I tried to make some safe space for my carryall and proceeded to give out the bread treats. Bertie quickly ate hers and came to me for some cuddling. And I thought of Lina right away, because she had mentioned wanting so badly to bury her face in Babe's feathers and cuddle her. And that's exactly what I did with Bertie. Even now I can't get enough of that...although Bertie can. LOL I mentioned trying to find a safe space for my bag. Last week, I think in Bertie's enclosure, while my bag was sitting on the floor...near the front divider, one of the birds on the outside of the enclosure, chewed through the strap. As a matter of fact I've just finished sewing it ready for the next trip. Bertie's enclosure was simply too busy for me to take any photos there.

   Next I was on to Babe's side of the room and there she was, up high in the corner waving, on her own.

Babe

 

 But she made her way down as I approached. Cuddles and treats later, she abandoned me when I brought the spray bottle out. LOL I had a full bottle this time too. This is becoming one of my favourite times, bath time. Even Lucy, the Hyacinth Macaw, got in on bath time spreading her wings on the outside of Babe's enclosure to catch the drops. Wow, what a wing span; she doesn't leave much room for the Sulphur-crested toos to get a bath too. The Amazons are not intimidated though. I had a bit of a breakthrough in Babe's enclosure. There is a pair of Blue & Gold Macaws that have stayed up high whenever I'm there. Even though they want whatever treat I have to offer, we both have to stretch the maximum for them to get the treat from my fingers, not always successfully either. Anyway, on Friday, both birds came down low enough to take the bread from my fingers and gently too. I felt a little satisfaction at that.

   On my way out, I passed out the remaining bread treats in the special needs area. I think they must have moved some of the birds out because it seemed more spacious. But there wasn't anyone around to ask. I was already out the door when I remembered that I wanted to get some photos of the Greys in that area for Guylaine. So, it'll have to be next week.  
 


The photos: The first is Jack, a new bird not only in the medical room but at the sanctuary itself. I don't know his story yet but he's beautiful!

Jack

 The photo of the M2 and Umbrella was taken in the medical room. These two are pals and I was going to take a photo of the two of them preening each other. It was very touching. Anyway, just as I was snapping the photo, Mango did his long-jump to my back and startled these two out of their photogenic pose. LOL

                                                                          Startled
                                                                       
Also, I had three other photos of Jack. But either I cut his head off when I took the photo, or they're too big to get everything in here. One's all you get...this time.

   Just a last comment. After I don't know how many years of using my little camera, I've started reading the instruction manual. Son of a gun, it also takes videos! How about that. I'm still reading, but I can't think of a better place to practice my new "knowledge" than at the Refuge.
More later.

Love,
Pat


  

August 7, 2012 Dear Mom;

Chris (center) and friends in the Medical room.

Mango

I'm sorry I'm so slow at getting this to you. It's funny; I feel as though I haven't got much to say this week. This week I took pine cones and chicken bones as the treat of the week. I know that Bertie loves chicken bones and I didn't make bird cookies like I had intended. So off I went with my bag of rags, spray bottle, treats and whatnot. I think Bertie must watch for me now. Almost as soon as I get out of the car, I can hear her yelling her distinctive hello. As usual, I cleaned the medical room first. I'm rethinking that now. I simply cannot clean and protect myself at the same time. So, I'm going to tell the staff supervisor, that she can give me something to do in the kitchen to help out. Then I'll spend time in the medical room getting to know the birds better and building some mutual trust. I just don't like getting bit. And I don't get bitten if I'm paying attention to the birds. I only get bitten when I'm not paying attention to what is happening around me. Mango, a usually gentle Moluccan Cockatoo flew at me twice when I was cleaning and not paying attention to the birds around me. He bit me once on the chest and once on the neck. I was not happy. LOL And Princess, a small Umbrella Cockatoo who looks up into my eyes and says "hello" in this little voice that melts my heart, nipped me twice for attention. So, we're changing the antecedents, folks. LOL I gave Chris a chicken bone and she was quick to take it. However, her "friend" promptly took it from her and sat enjoying it himself. I guess I'll have to save them until I have enough for everybody. Sigh.

I went over to Bertie's enclosure next. and when she saw the chicken bones she danced in anticipation. She got one, her "friend" got one and a couple of other birds got one each. But one of them dropped the bone on the floor. I guess it wasn't what he thought it was. Anyway, a Moluccan Cockatoo that was outside the enclosure spotted the bone on the floor. He/she pushed the door open enough to squeeze in, grabbed the bone, and opened the door again to squeeze out. I just stood there and watched. Soooooooo smart! And she really enjoyed that bone too. LOL

Then it was off to see Babe.                      
 I love watching her see me coming. She starts waving and saying hello...although I can't hear her until I get really close. She wanted nothing to do with a chicken bone. She acted like it might eat her or something. But Zoey was there and took the bone...briefly. It was a little like watching the game of hot potato. That bone passed from bird to bird until one of them seemed to know what it was. Babe didn't want to step up to my hand, probably figuring it had chicken grease on it, but jumped onto my shoulder as soon as I turned my back. Soon enough she was down on my arm getting some loving. I'd forgotten to fill my spray bottle, so I only had a half a bottle to give baths. That is just soooooo neat. Birds were hanging onto the dividers between the enclosures and the front of the enclosure flapping wings and just begging for more water. There were some visitors in the room while I was spraying the birds and they were laughing and pointing and really enjoying watching the antics. I must remember to fill the darn bottle the next time. 


                                          Bath Time


I just had some pine cones left for the birds in the special needs section when I was leaving. And no one got really excited about them. And that was it for last week.

I expect this week to be bite free. I don't intend to get distracted with cleaning. I'll let you know how it goes.

Love,

 

  Pat

Introduction to "Dear Mom" posts

In June 2011, Lorne and I drove our two Moluccan Cockatoos, Bertie and Chris, from our home in Scarborough, Ontario. to a parrot Refuge in British Columbia.

It was my hope that in this new environment both birds might stop their self mutilating behaviour. While Chris had been a mutilator of many years, Bertie had just started in the previous six  months. The founder and operator of the refuge had said that by virtue of having dealt with so many mutilating birds, she probably knew more about them than anyone. She offered both birds a home for life.

That trip led to our friend Michele's move from Montreal, Quebec to Parksville, British Columbia with her Amazon, Yoyo. It also led to our own move to Parksville in June of 2012.

By August 2012, Lorne and I were volunteers for the refuge, ready to help the staff and their many feathered charges, including the birds that brought us here. The following posts are letters to my Mom describing my experiences as a volunteer there over the past year or so.

October 22, 2013

Understanding Behavior: Parrots, People and Other Pets

A Workshop - 2008 Scarborough, Ontario Canada

 

 

Dr. Susan Friedman, PhD, a behaviorist for over 30 years is a forerunner in the application of Applied Behavior Analysis to animals and parrots. She was joined by Phung Luu and our special guest speaker, Bob Bailey. Phung Luu is an animal trainer and consultant to zoos, various animal facilities and pet owners, teaching people to train and, training birds for free-flight demonstrations and medical and husbandry behaviors. Bob Bailey is an animal training consultant and teacher with a career spanning 60 years and many operant conditioning firsts. Having trained more than 200 species of animals, he has been a major contributor to our current culture of training. We were indeed fortunate to learn from this master.

 

Using lecture, videos, interactive activities, workbook and live demonstrations, these three professionals took us with them down the behavioral continuum from B.F. Skinner to tomorrow and demonstrated what works, what doesn't and why. The workshop also covered:

 

*behavior analysis principles

*simplifying training

*the best practices for the best outcomes

*empowerment

*changing behavior

*training the trainer

*live demonstrations

 

 

Bob Bailey's presentation

Demonstration bird



                                                                                                 Another demonstration bird

                                Sales table

 

Pat and Bertie start the day.

                                                                                    (L-R)  Pat, Phung, Susan, Bob and Lorne                                                                                          

 

Phung Luu, Susan and Bob

 

 Phung Luu's training session

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                                                                               Phung Luu's training session

 

                  Phung Luu's training session

 

 

 Raffle items

 



                                                                                              Raffle winner Debbie Johnson

 

                                                                                                   

 





                    Raffle winner Julie Denoyer