November 4, 2012 Dear Mom;

Friday was a nice day, no rain, not cold and although I had decided to make some changes in my routine at the Refuge, I decided that once and for all I was going to finish that recycling project. Chris and I got a pretty good start again and stopped in to see management. Chris got another shot of Vitamin A. I also wanted to talk with her about Chris' droppings. She's had diarrhea and this past week her droppings have developed an odor. Normal healthy parrot droppings do not smell.  Anyway, I want to take Chris to the vet to have fecal and blood tests done. And I know that management doesn't have faith in any of the vets here on the Island. So, we needed to have a talk. Right. I told her about Chris' droppings. When it comes to situations like this, I'm afraid that this manager and I are like oil and water. With so many parrots to care for, I know that the refuge cannot afford to whisk every bird off to the vet at the first sign of something wrong. I also know that there is an avian vet to whom refuge parrots have been taken for a very long time, one who has taught her a lot and with whom she shares a mutual trust. As a result, for many years, this manager has treated most of the parrots in her care herself, including dispensing medicine. At a personal level...and with "my" birds, I'm not comfortable with that. The wrong medication and/or the wrong dosage can do more harm than the original problem...if you know what that is. I know that smelly diarrhea can be caused by a number of ailments. However it was decided that Chris has an intestinal virus and requires Metrodiazole, which she gave me to give Chris for the next ten days. I haven't given it to her yet. On Monday I'll arrange an appointment with an avian vet in Nanaimo. I'll worry about management later. The saga will continue.

After that visit, I took Chris through the kitchen, to the medical room. On the way, without my rubber boots on yet, Idaho bit the Achilles part of the back of my foot. So much for my change in routine. Nick rushed over at my yelp and put Idaho in an empty cage. How depressing. When I got Chris set up in a cage in the medical room, I went back out to the van through the kitchen, drove back to the parking lot, changed into my boots and walked to the door at the other end of the building. This past week I turned to my mentor, Dr. Susan Friedman and her students to see if they could help me understand what is going on with all this biting and do something about it. She had me fill out and submit a Problem Assessment Worksheet which she immediately went over making comments, asking questions and making suggestions. When I filled out the Worksheet, I realized that it's always been when I enter the large flight from the kitchen that I get bit. And it's always the same birds that do the biting. I also couldn't remember ever being bit when I've been on Babe's side of the flight. So, more information for Susan was necessary. That's why I went into the building through the other end. It meant walking back the length of the building inside, but that was the only way I was going to be able to enter the flight from the only other door, which I did. Lo and behold, I entered the flight and stood inside for a few minutes. No parrot ran at my feet or legs. Mind you Idaho was locked up; I'm sure that helped. But noone flew at me either. Hmmmm. I walked across the room to Bertie's enclosure, went inside with my folding stool and had a fabulous visit with her. Then I walked over to Babe's enclosure, sat on my folding stool and had a wonderful visit with her too. I held her up in the air and she flapped her wings and had a good yell. LOL I managed to get some photos of her too. They are attached but not great. Sorry. So, Lina, does she have more down now? You'll know better than me.

 

When I was finished my visiting, I went outside and finished the sorting and counting of the pop cans and plastic containers, packed everything into the van and made my last trip to the recycling depot. When I returned to the Refuge I told a manager that I had been happy to help with that project. However, I don't want that to be my job. She agreed and said that I've been at the Refuge long enough to know where I can best help on Fridays. She's leaving it to me what I will do. Yay! And on that note, I packed up Chris and we went home. I felt much better about yesterday's routine and will continue to work with Susan until I have the situation more under control. Until next week then. Oops! Before I forget yet again, Chris has started whistling and talking here. And it's a joy for both of us to hear. Mind you she's talking Cockatoo but it sounds like we should be able to understand every word. For me right now, it's enough that it sounds happy.

 

 

 

 

Love,

Pat