Bumble Foot

When was the last time that you looked at your parrots’ feet…really looked at them, both top and bottom? What would it take for you to become aware of a foot problem? A limp? Lack of movement? A toe slightly out of place?

 

In June 2013, when Babe, an Umbrella Cockatoo, joined our family, Bumble foot became a major issue in our lives. The day after her arrival Babe had x-rays done on both feet. The diagnosis: Stage 3 bordering on Stage 4 Bumble foot in her left foot; Stage 2 Bumble foot in her right foot. Babe was immediately put on a three week course of antibiotics to halt the spread of this insidious disease.

Left foot

Right foot

 

I’m not a newbie to parrots. I’m now in my third decade of caring for and learning from and about these beautiful, intelligent creatures. At one time my husband and I had a flock of seventeen, all of whom came to us from less than desirable circumstances. For many of those years I took my birds to a highly skillful and knowledgeable avian veterinarian, who taught me as she treated my birds. So, probably, like you, I’d heard about Bumble foot. I even knew, from pictures in books and on the internet what the first indication of Bumble foot is. What I’ve never done, and now strongly advise you to do, is make a point of looking at my birds’ feet…every day. You no doubt look carefully at your birds’ droppings when you change cage papers. It’s become a part of your cage cleaning ritual. Do the same with feet. When your bird is hanging on the bars of the cage, make a point of looking at the bottoms of their feet. When your bird is walking on the table or floor for example, a quick look will tell you if all toes are pointed in the correct direction. If you don‘t look you won’t see that little, smooth, red spot(s) on the bottom of one or both feet. If you don’t look, you won’t see a slightly swollen joint, or a back-facing toe migrating to the side or the front.

 

What is Bumble foot? The past three months represent a fairly steep learning curve for me. And I still have several important questions to be answered. When Babe joined us in June, her left foot was badly deformed with three toes facing forward and one back and tucked under; she actually walks on that back toe.

  

Her right foot retained a normal appearance.  Her previous caregiver does not believe that parrots get Bumble foot and had diagnosed Babe’s problem as arthritis. (All species of birds can suffer from Bumble foot although it’s not seen in the wild.) So, six weeks later when Babe received proper treatment, her left foot was irreparable and we could only hope we had halted the progression of the disease in her right foot. Today, Babe’s right foot is slowly and gradually going the way of her left. And I’m fearful of her next vet visit.

 

 

I seem to have veered off topic a bit. I intended to tell you what I understand Bumble foot to be. Bumble foot is an inflammation of the feet that starts out as a wearing thin of the skin on the bottom of the feet. It presents as a small, smooth, red spot(s). It’s caused by walking or standing for extended periods, on a hard, irregular surface like an uneven cement floor and cement or sandpaper perches. Older, obese or disabled birds with limited mobility can also get Bumble foot from standard wooden perches. If not caught and treated with antibiotics at this early stage, lesions form from which the infection penetrates to the joints of the foot and bones in the leg. The necrosis of the tendons in the feet deforms them. The next treatment step is surgery. Surgery entails removing as much as possible of the closed absesses or plugs of pus and dead tissue and inserting antibiotics to kill the rest. For me, the most disturbing part of this intervention is that most birds that have endured this surgery go on to require amputation. I’ve got your attention now, don’t I?

 

To recap: During my research on Bumble foot on the computer, I’ve found that some experts describe the progression of the disease through 8 stages. Others use four stages. To my mind, the important information is:

 

1)      The beginning of Bumble foot is quickly and easily recognized in regular, routine examination of your bird’s feet.

 

2)      During the early stages of Bumble foot, it can be dealt with effectively with antibiotics.

 

3)      You and your bird do not want to get this far. The prognosis is not positive.

 

September 2013

September 2013 - Dear Mom

Bertie & friend

 

 

 

Bertie & friend

 Chris & friend

Chris & friend










Babe has gained weight and strength rapidly. And she's a joy to have here. Now all we need to do is get her past this need to mutilate her leg. Then we can take the collar off and get her back to flying and clicker training and so on. In the meantime, the Director at the refuge has all but squeezed me out and soon, I expect, I'll be required to be just another paying member of the public. So this will be the last of the Dear Mom series. But here are a couple of recent photos of Bertie and Chris with their new friends.

Love,
Pat








August 14, 2013 Dear Mom;

Well Mom, much has happened since I wrote last. So, I'll try to bring you up to date. Lina did indeed arrive on June 11th, but too late in the day to see Babe. So, the next day, off we went to see Babe. When she saw Babe, she just sank to the floor and called to her. But although she was less than a foot away from her, Babe just couldn't get to her on her own. So, Lina just scooped her into her arms and sat rocking her Babe, crooning to her and crying.

 

Lina sees Babe for the  first time in over a year.

Lina scooped Babe into her arms.

                                                                                                We were all crying at this reunion.

 

The staff member present in the unit called the Director who came immediately. I stayed in the background while Lina told the Director that in good conscience she simply could not leave Babe at the Refuge. But when the Director started telling Lina lies about my interference with Babe, I lost my cool. I told the Director to her face that not only is she a liar but she will say anything to get her way. It was not a pretty scene. But we left with Babe. We took Babe to the vet the next day. She was examined carefully, her feet and legs x-rayed, and her leg bandages changed. Although this vet isn't an avian vet, I was impressed with his gentleness, compassion and knowledge. He gave us the recipe for the mixture to apply to Babe's leg and gave us the results of the x-rays. Babe has Grade 3 bordering on Grade 4 Bumble Foot in her right foot and Grade 2 Bumble Foot in her left. Had it been treated right away, antibiotics would have cured the condition. As it is, although it hasn't yet progressed to the bones, it has crippled her foot and that's irreversible.

 

 

                                                                                                     Babe's left foot

 

                           Babe's right foot

 

We got Babe settled at home and started feeding her Harrison's hand feeding formula to start putting some weight on her. Needless to say, Lina spent most of the week here at home with Babe and really enjoying having her back even if for a short time. We went back out to the refuge to visit with the girls and the other birds too. I think it was very hard for Lina to leave at the end of the week. But she did know that Babe had already improved significantly and that we'd love her too.

 

Since then, Babe has gained weight, one leg is totally healed with the other one coming along nicely. She's regained her strength and if she weren't wearing a collar I'm sure would be flying around again.

My respect and any admiration I had for the Director and the manager at the Refuge is gone. And every attempt is being made to squeeze me out as a volunteer. They are gradually taking away all the jobs I was doing. I think when they've finished with that, they will fire me. They don't know it yet, but it's not going to be easy to get rid of me. But it's so disappointing and disillusioning to be treated this way, especially when they need as much help as they can get.

 

Enjoy the photos, Mom.

Love,

Paat

 

 
 
Babe today

 

 

Refuge friends. 

 

 

 

 
Everyone gathers for treats

                                                          Bertie decides to help herself.

 

June 9, 2013 Dear Mom;

 I've been visiting Babe almost daily, first to make sure that she's made it through another day and second to see if I can change the Director's mind about me taking Babe at least to the vet if not home to recover her strength. The Director, with the manager's support continues to insist that when I'm not around, Babe is quite active and  has a small group of feathered friends that she would miss. I just don't believe that. Babe's keel is as sharp as a knife; she's very light. To me she seems very weak and unable to hold her own head up for more than a few seconds at a time. Every time I see her she's on the floor in front of the fireplace near a bowl of food and water and holding on to something with her beak. Lina arrives in two days, Mom and I'm afraid that it will break her heart to see Babe the way she is now. The positive side is that she knows Babe better than any of us here and will know what she needs. Here are the photos I took today. Later.

Love,
Pat

While visiting with Babe, Sore-toe wants a skritch too.

Giving Babe some skritches.

Babe can't hold her head up any longer.

                           Bertie

                      Chris giving kisses



Chris getting a cashew.

                                                         Lucy gets a skritch too.

 
 
 








                                                     A cute couple.

Yoyo comes for a visit.

 

 

 

May 2013 Dear Mom;

A refuge friend.

Bertie (L), Lucy (C) and a visiting Amazon (R)

Helicopter

 

                                                                               Yoyo settling in

 

I've  been far too emotional to actually write Mom. Yoyo cries for me every time I arrive and leave the refuge. Babe's in poor shape. Her one foot has crippled. The Director insists that it's arthritis; I just know it isn't. The Director won't let me take Babe home to regain her strength. She says that there is nothing wrong with Babe's strength or weight. Every time I'm at the refuge I speak with the Director and the manager about Babe hoping that they will take her for x-rays or let me. They refuse. I'm very worried and upset. Lina's coming for a visit in June; I don't want her to see Babe like this.

I'm bawling again. Talk later.

 

Love,

Pat

 

May 7, 2013 Dear Mom;

It's time to update you so that you don't think I've dropped off the edge of the world...not that I haven't wanted to a couple of times. But I'll try not to whine at you. LOL.

Right now we're in a couple of weeks of beautiful weather, warm and clear with a breeze. We've been eating all our meals out on the patio and gardening furiously. The Director is in one of her creative bursts too, planning to put in a large lavender garden at the front of the Refuge. The plan is that selling the lavender will help raise money for the parrots.  Also, on the long weekend this month the Refuge is hosting a huge flea market. Sellers pay to erect a table/booth and  hopefully sell lots of stuff. I don't have a table to set up, or the stamina to man it for three days. However, I might pay to do a walk-about with a tray of parrot cookies to sell or something. Or maybe I'll just show up and help in some way. If I had a card table, I'd ask the Director if Bertie could do her "put tooneys in her piggy bank" to raise money.

 But I've not been very successful with getting my requests approved lately. So, I'm going to play that one by ear too.

A few weeks ago, my hip became so painful, I was finding it difficult to even walk. The doctor requisitioned x-rays, physiotherapy, and a CT-scan. The x-rays showed what I already knew, that the pain in my hip is actually referred from lumbar discs whose spaces have narrowed. Anyway, the doc gave me a painkiller to take in the morning which keeps me comfortably mobile...once it kicks in and a muscle relaxant to take at night, which helps me get my beauty sleep.  In getting to this point though, I stopped all the "bent-over" work at the Refuge and limited myself to visiting the girls, delivering cooked potatoes and so on. If I was feeling good, I tried to do what I could to help. I found though that it was taking most of the morning to get comfortable and by the time I got to the Refuge, the work was done.

Babe and Chris are still in the Extended Care Unit. Babe has difficulty getting around because of the bulky bandaging on her legs. But as soon as she hears my voice she's looking for me. She also has some difficulty balancing, again because of the bandaging. So, when I put my hand down to get her, she takes my finger in her beak, and I lift her into my arms or onto my knee if I'm sitting. And we visit and snuggle. Chris too  always  comes toward me now when I go to visit with her. She loves her skritches. Her beak got terribly overgrown. So this past Friday, I took my dremel and clippers thinking I'd trim her beak. Of course I know now not to initiate anything without asking for permission first. So when I arrived I asked the manager if she had any objection to me trimming Chris' beak. Bottom line, I'd have to check with the Director. When I checked with the Director, she said, "I'll do it."  If Chris hadn't been my own bird or I had never trimmed her beak before, I'd have understood better why the Director wouldn't want me messing around the birds that way...at least until she  could be assured that I knew what I was doing. But to not take advantage of my skills and experience to help when everyone is stretched to their limits, I don't understand.

Did I tell you that Bertie had been moved from the Extended Care Unit to one section in the main building, because she had started to fly and was making all the non-flyers nervous? I think I did. And because Bertie had created a wound on her left side as well as barbering all her feathers on the left, the Director took her for x-rays. Often, barbering in a clearly defined area indicates that something is amiss inside that area. Nothing showed on the x-rays. So, as I understand it, the Director started using an anti-fungal cream on Bertie's wound instead of an antibiotic. And when I saw Bertie on Friday that wound appeared to be healing well. Lucy too now seems to be eager for my attentions when I visit. Did I tell you that Lucy and Bertie appear to have become fast friends? Lucy also says "Bye bye" and lifts her shoulders in a wave.

 Then there was Yoyo. On Monday, April, 29th, Michele surrendered Yoyo to the Refuge.  He was perched on top of a cage just two cages down from Bertie and Lucy. Yoyo and I know each other very well and I love him dearly too. Anyway, when he heard my voice, he started calling to me. And of course, I couldn't resist. He went through his repertoire of phrases and displayed like crazy. I gave him skritches and he stepped up to my hand like a little gentleman. He didn't want to stay there though. Meanwhile, Bertie was doing her "hello" louder and louder trying to get my attention back. Now that I have four feathered kids to look out for, it's difficult to leave. I heard Yoyo calling even after I'd left the building.

Last but not least, the Director has agreed that it might be worthwhile to send out brochures to those people who have surrendered birds to the Refuge and for whom we have addresses. So, I've been given all the surrender forms starting with 2010 to compile a mailing list. My Anytime Organizer software does a great job of mailing lists.  I've been trying to do at least 4 forms per day. Even that though is putting me behind in responding to posts. So, please be patient with me; I will get back to you at some point. And I think that's it from the west coast at least for now.

Happy spring Mom.

Love,
Pat.

April 19, 2013 Dear Mom;

Spring is here! The sun has been shining although the temperature hasn't really warmed up a lot. I've started weeding the garden and making plans for some annuals to brighten things up a bit. The Refuge is planning a massive flea market on the long weekend in May and efforts at tidying up the grounds are obvious.

I've been popping in to the Extended Care Unit as often as I can, just to check up on Babe, Lina's girl. She has continued to mutilate her legs and last week I was terribly concerned that she was weak and losing weight and so on. I went to the Refuge today, my usual day planning to weigh Babe again.  I headed for the Refuge today with a carrier in the car, intending to have a very serious talk with the Director about letting me bring Babe home. Of course when I arrived the Director wasn't there; the manager was. I also had my weigh scale with me to weigh Babe again. If her weight was down again that would reinforce my request with the Director. Anyway, I told the manager that I was really worried about Babe and had been stewing about her all week. And I went ahead and weighed Babe again. I guess there was something wrong with my scale last week, because I weighed Babe three times to make sure there was no mistake today. She weighs 552g, much better than last weeks 506g. Also, quite awhile ago I had told both the Director and the manager that the collar on Babe was too small; it wasn't stopping her from reaching her legs. And all the while she can reach her legs, she won't leave them alone. Today, what does the manager tell me? They had to find a way to keep Babe from reaching her legs, because if she can reach her legs she won't leave them alone. Duh! Sigh. They've also changed the cream that they are putting on her legs. Anyway, although her legs are still bandaged, the manager says her left one is almost totally healed and her right has only one spot left to heal. I told you also that last week Babe seemed terribly weak. So I wanted to see just what is going on there. I sat about four feet away from Babe and called her to me. Well, she came waddling over to me. It was obvious the bandaging is making it awkward for her to walk. But apart from that, she had no difficulty. But once she was on my lap, she got all limp and soppy. It really was quite funny. What a foxer she is! If I skritched her head, she put her head down on my lap like she couldn't hold it up. If I skritched her jaw bone and around her ear, she put the side of her head on my lap and closed her eyes.  But when I said that's all she perked up and was fine. And...Babe seems to be making friends with Sore-Toe. Now that would be nice. They are both sweet gentle birds.

 

Bertie had started mutilating again, up under her left wing. Then she barbered all her feathers on her left side including her left leg. So, she was moved into the Extended Care Unit to see if the change would interrupt the behavior. It didn't, but she loved being there and seeing the visitors and hamming it up for them. And she started to fly short distances. A couple of weeks ago, she flew about six feet to my shoulder. I couldn't believe it. I was ecstatic. At nineteen years old, this bird is learning to fly! Earlier this week though, when I dropped in to check on Babe, Bertie was missing.  Because she's started flying she was starting to scare the other birds in the Extended Care Unit. She'd been moved to the intake area, or what used to be the gift shop. It's where Michele has been doing her volunteering. I've visited Bertie there twice now. It's so very obvious that she's delighted with her new digs. She's made friends with Lucy (maybe Luke) another Moluccan. She doesn't bother coming to me now, though she teases by putting her foot up then putting it back down and hopping away. LOL

 

I visited with Chris today too. She too has settled right in at the Extended Care Unit. Sometimes I think she's making friends with someone; at other times she's sitting alone. But she's quick to come toward me when I call her, her weight is stable and her vocalizing suggests she's comfortable there. After visiting I went to do some of the recycling. Staff were anxious for me to get rid of some of it. Today, my back and hip were better than some days. So, I was able to put together a couple of bags to drop off on my way home. Oh oh, Bobbie is telling me it's time for bed. So good night, Mom.

 

Love,

Pat

 

March 25, 2013 Dear Mom;

I knew that the Refuge was short handed today. So, I went in to help out. I had already told the manager that until Lorne and I get all our various medical and other tests out of the way, I wouldn't be reliable for Fridays. But if at any point she was really short staffed to give me a call and I'd go in if I could. The Director is going through chemotherapy again until some time in June. She goes for a treatment every Thursday and feels quite sick for a couple of days after. And a couple of experienced staff have quit recently. I might get called fairly often until new staff get trained. It's also year end for the Refuge and the Director spent much of today with the Refuge's accountant preparing the various year end reports. That left the manager to deal with the day to day events and do what she could in the Extended Care Unit with me. So today I spent a solid four hours cleaning cages, sweeping and washing dishes. Although I've not taken an actual count, I figure there are at least 20 cages in that unit now and even more birds. I must make a point of counting next time.

Today was special. I worked all day in the company of Chris, Babe and Bertie. I don't know just when Bertie arrived. I was cleaning a cage when I heard her and knew immediately that she was in the room. Sure enough, a staff member had brought Bertie down to the ECU as a change of routine for her. There were a lot of visitors today and Bertie loves showing off for people. She's so funny. Babe flew to the shoulder of a male visitor the size of a football player. Well, he was big. But when Babe landed, he froze. I told him he didn't have to worry, that Babe is gentle and loving. He said Uh huh, but his face said he didn't believe me. Babe came to me easily and we visited for a few minutes before I went back to work. Just before I left, I watched as the Director and the manager changed Babe's leg bandages. The new wound she had created when I watched them the last time had totally healed. The skin was new, pink and healthy looking. But in the meantime, she had started on a new wound higher up. How discouraging.

 Bertie too has been working on the wound under her wing. She's also plucked the outside of her leg on that side too.

On Saturday, the Director took charge of twenty-nine Budgies. An older couple breed Budgies for various pet stores. The Budgies that the Director took are those that are not producing enough young and the guy was going to kill them. The Director didn't even ask how they were to be killed; she just took them. Now that she has them she's planning on going public about the plight of breeder birds, using these Budgies as an example. One of them died shortly after arriving. Several others were weak and most looked poorly. All but one are now in the Budgie flight. One is still in the ECU. He escaped from the cage he was recovering in and seemed quite happy flying around from cage to cage helping himself to all the food and water. He still looks a bit worse for wear though. I think he's had some help plucking himself.

 
Well, I think that's it for now. I'm very tired and very satisfied. Until next time.

Love,
Pat
 

March 15, 2013 Dear Mom;

I was off to the Refuge early for me today. It's been several weeks since I've actually done any work there, with first me being sick with a cold and then Lorne with a cold, then the flu , then pneumonia. Thanks for the good wishes; they worked. Lorne is feeling much better. I went straight to the Extended Care Unit as the Director had asked. She's hoping the volunteers will help ease the workload that the new unit creates. And much to my surprise, the Director and a couple of volunteers were already there working. So, I too started in with changing cage papers and wiping down cages. The Director too was changing cage papers and sweeping as she went. The volunteers are from Manitoba. They have an Umbrella Cockatoo that they come to see. So, they make their vacations working vacations. Anyway, they were busy replacing water dishes and washing dishes. Then the manager arrived. As you can imagine, five people got the chores done far more quickly than one or two.

Broken-toe Peaches

                                                                       Derby

                                                                           Hello

 

pearl
 

                                                                  Sore-toe

And I'd been over to spend some time with Chris who really didn't want anything to do with me. She had taken a liking to Elvis' cage because he had a cardboard box in his. Elvis left the inside of the cage to Chris and took up his spot on top of the cage which seemed to work out well. Chris did let me give her head skritches but that's all. I was standing talking to the Director and the manager when a bird landed on my shoulder. When that happens at the Refuge I usually stand very still until I know it's safe to turn my head. This time I just said to the Director and manager, " Okay, so who is this?" The Director grinned at me and said, "It's Babe".  Even now it moves me to tears. She actually flew to my shoulder; I hadn't seen her and didn't know she was there. So, I had my little cry and Babe and I snuggled and had a wonderful love-in. That just so made my day. The Director and manager changed Babe's leg bandages while I was there. The Director was really disappointed because on Wednesday Babe's left leg was fully healed. But she got at it again and had a nickel sized wound that got treated and wrapped. Her right leg was a mess. But thank goodness there is no infection. Maybe the atmosphere and lower sound level in the new unit will agree with her and she'll leave her legs alone while there. The manager returned Babe to her "spot" on top of three cages with three other Umbrellas. But again, before I left to go see Bertie, Babe flew to me plastering herself against my chest.  If there was any doubt before in the Director's and manager's minds about the relationship between Babe and me, there cannot be now. LOL

When I went down to the Refuge proper, Bertie was in the Medical Room still. There was no one in the kitchen to ask to fetch Bertie for me and I knew I couldn't go in. So, I just grabbed my little stool, bag of treats and a small towel and headed for the Medical Room. No one was in there either , so I waited. A staff member arrived with her hands full a few  minutes later. When I asked her to bring Bertie out to me, she told me to come in and get her because she had her hands full. What could I do? I went in and got Bertie...once we found her. LOL I took her outside the medical room, set up my stool and sat there for our visit. It really wasn't very satisfactory. Andy, the Hyacinth Macaw came over for my toes. Treats and the towel kept him from them. A Moluccan kept grabbing my pant leg and shaking it like a dog would. I think he was after fresh leg and I  had to keep my eye on him. Two other Macaws approached on the floor. Andy took exception and I had to chase Andy away from attacking them. I had two Bare Eyed Cockatoos flying to my shoulder making Bertie nervous. Finally I said, enough is enough. Bertie went back to the Medical Room and I made my way back to the kitchen with Idaho hot on my heels...literally.  I cracked walnuts for just over an hour and left for home.

And that was my day at the Refuge. And Babe made it special. Hope you like the photos of some of my Extended Care Unit friends.

Love,
Pat

March 7, 2013 Dear Mom;

I didn't go to the Refuge last Friday. The Director had said that she could use my help on  Monday opening the new Extended Care Facility (ECF) and getting some of the birds transferred over before the press arrived. The name has changed a couple of times but it looks as though this one will stick. So, on Monday I arrived, with  Chris, prepared to get Chris settled and help to get the facility looking good. Chris wasn't happy at first, with the change, but settled in much more quickly than when I brought her home. But then she was in much better shape going back than when I brought her home and her confidence has grown. And the atmosphere is much calmer and quieter than the Refuge proper. None of the birds fly either. Anyway, when we arrived there were already about ten birds there. The Director was there too, preparing food for everyone. So, I changed cage papers, removed water dishes for cleaning, scraped and cleaned poop from the floor, swept and started washing dishes. the Director continued distributing food and fresh water. It's going to take some time to really get organized there but everything is coming together nicely. The downside of Monday was that I didn't get to see either Babe or Bertie. As soon as one reporter arrived, I left.

On Tuesday I returned to the ECF and Lorne came with me. I was determined to visit Chris daily so that she'd know that she hadn't been abandoned. And I was hoping that Lorne would take some photos. He took a book too so that if I got busy, he could just sit on the sofa and wait comfortably for me. I visited with all the birds...and enjoyed it. Chris seemed relaxed and happy too. I really don't remember exactly what I did, but I was busy for over an hour cleaning. Again I didn't get to see Babe or Bertie. Of course, the Director has to be at home for me to see Babe.

Wednesday, I was back at the Refuge with my own list of things to do. I had left my little pouch in the ECF so I went there first. As I walked in the door, I called out loudly, " Hello everybody". A staff member ran over to  me to make me shut up; CTV was filming just out of my sight. Sheesh! I grabbed my pouch and crept away again. I drove down to the Refuge to see if there were any potatoes and/or toys for me to take home and to see Bertie. I loaded the car with both potatoes and toys first then went looking for Bertie. She was in the Medical Room. Sigh. So, I asked the staff member there to bring her out to me which she did. The first thing I noticed was that she really needs a bath. I'll take care of that tomorrow. She has also started to mutilate again, and has created a quarter sized wound high up under her left wing. That's why she's in the Medical Room. It didn't look like she was actively picking at it which is good. But...that it's there at all is really demoralizing.

I'm going back to the Refuge tomorrow to put in some hours in the ECF. I'll also try to see both Babe and Bertie. And before I forget, we did take some photos.

                   One of the blind birds

 

                                                                        Harry, also blind.

                                                                     Blind Elvis

 
 
 

                                                                          Iago, almost blind

We're looking at using the April brochure to highlight the ECF so you can get an idea of what it's like and meet some of the birds there now.

More later, Mom,
Love,
Pat