Lorne and I had pulled the extra cage up from the crawl space and got it set up in what we had hoped would be a good arrangement for a blind bird. Thankfully I have my experience growing up with a blind foster sister to guide us. One of the things I remember is the importance of keeping the furniture in her environment in the same place always, for comfort and security. But you never really know what the best arrangement for any bird is until you see their activity level, sleeping posture and ease of movement. So, we really were just hoping for the best.
As soon as I arrived, I unloaded all my stuff in the kitchen area and headed out to my sorting area. I filled my last two recycling bags and sorted the bottles, packed them all in the van and went to the recycling depot. When I returned, I told the manager that I was going to do my visiting with the girls then collect Chris and head home. What I found really touching was that all the staff seemed aware that I was taking Chris home and seemed so happy for both her and me. Anyway, I took my little foldup stool and went out into the large compound where Bertie, Babe, Mango and Chris, in the medical room, were. I sat with Mango for awhile before heading into Bertie's enclosure.
She is such a ham! I bounced her in the air the way I used to and she kept the bounce going...all the while yelling. Then I lifted her high into the air and she opened her wings wide and flapped and screamed and hung upside down and flapped and screamed. And everyone walking by stopped and watched her and laughed...and of course she did it that much more. Then we cuddled for a few minutes before I went over to Babe's enclosure. Babe was ready for me and quickly stepped up. One of the staff started cleaning the enclosure. But Babe and I just walked around staying out of his way while I gave her skritches and enough hugs and kisses for me, Lina, Lorne and everyone else who knows her. LOL In fact she enjoyed our visit so much this time, she didn't want it to end.
I went back to the kitchen and packed all my stuff and got everything into the van. Then I went back in with the carrier to get Chris. She came out to me reluctantly, I'm sure thinking someone was going to trim her beak or replace her vest or something. But I popped her into the carrier and off home we went. She did a fair bit of hissing and threatening every time I spoke to her. So, I just kept talking all the way home, about everything and nothing, just so that she'd listen to my voice.
Really that's it for my refuge report. However, I find I'm using these reports almost like a diary and also hope that along the way, maybe some of what I learn will be helpful to someone else down the road. So, if you're tired of this, now is the time to hit the delete button, because I'm going to continue with my thoughts, feelings and findings for a bit. I think I mentioned some time ago, how much of a blow it's been to my ego to "work" at the refuge. In the Toronto area I believe I had a good reputation in the avian community. People knew they could bring abandoned, abused or even sick birds to us and we'd do our best by them...most of the time just adding them to our family. I knew I wasn't and am not an expert, but I try to keep learning, especially about behaviour. Here, no one knows me at all. I have no reputation, good or bad. I've not worked in a flock environment before and felt very much out of my element. I don't like being bitten and every time it happens, a staff member is quick to tell me that parrots, like dogs, know when you are afraid of them. Sigh. It does no good to tell them I'm not afraid of the birds; I'm just not used to being bombarded by biting birds. LOL Anyway, you know that saying, "Pride goes before a fall."? If I'd not forgotten some basic information about parrots, Chris might not be in the shape she's in right now. A blind or otherwise disabled, injured or sick parrot has no standing in the flock; they endanger the flock by attracting predators. So the flock will drive out or kill a bird that looks or acts injured or sick. Birds, including parrots, hide illness or disability as long as possible for that reason. You know that by the time you notice your bird is ill, it's often too late to save them. How could I have forgotten something so basic?! I've been telling myself that I was no longer a part of Chris' life because she ignored me. Perhaps if I'd spent more time watching her I'd have noticed some difficulty getting around or getting to the food or me for that matter. I don't believe she went blind overnight, and she definitely is blind...in both eyes.
I weighed Chris yesterday, 520g. The last time I'd weighed her, she was 747g. She's very light; her keel is sharply prominent. Her feathers suggest that she's had a couple of bad falls. She only has three or four tail feathers and those are broken. Her flight feathers are dirty and tattered. Her neck, back, breast, legs and the inside of her wings are bare. I've attached a couple of photos, but you can't really see much. We'll take more. With Chris the cues, "step up" and "step down" are very important. She cannot see an extended hand as a cue. We're retraining. We've put her cage up in the loft where she'll get a lot of our company but not the other birds. I noticed that every time we said her name she went on the defensive. So we start talking to her as we walk up the stairs and long before we get to her cage. She's already more relaxed. I took her vest off yesterday to give her as much of a bath as she would tolerate. She has a 1" - 1-1/2" diameter patch of scar tissue on her breast but no open sores at all, just a couple of small scabs. She had a short spray bath while sitting on my hand, and I gave her a new vest.
I went back to the kitchen and packed all my stuff and got everything into the van. Then I went back in with the carrier to get Chris. She came out to me reluctantly, I'm sure thinking someone was going to trim her beak or replace her vest or something. But I popped her into the carrier and off home we went. She did a fair bit of hissing and threatening every time I spoke to her. So, I just kept talking all the way home, about everything and nothing, just so that she'd listen to my voice.
Really that's it for my refuge report. However, I find I'm using these reports almost like a diary and also hope that along the way, maybe some of what I learn will be helpful to someone else down the road. So, if you're tired of this, now is the time to hit the delete button, because I'm going to continue with my thoughts, feelings and findings for a bit. I think I mentioned some time ago, how much of a blow it's been to my ego to "work" at the refuge. In the Toronto area I believe I had a good reputation in the avian community. People knew they could bring abandoned, abused or even sick birds to us and we'd do our best by them...most of the time just adding them to our family. I knew I wasn't and am not an expert, but I try to keep learning, especially about behaviour. Here, no one knows me at all. I have no reputation, good or bad. I've not worked in a flock environment before and felt very much out of my element. I don't like being bitten and every time it happens, a staff member is quick to tell me that parrots, like dogs, know when you are afraid of them. Sigh. It does no good to tell them I'm not afraid of the birds; I'm just not used to being bombarded by biting birds. LOL Anyway, you know that saying, "Pride goes before a fall."? If I'd not forgotten some basic information about parrots, Chris might not be in the shape she's in right now. A blind or otherwise disabled, injured or sick parrot has no standing in the flock; they endanger the flock by attracting predators. So the flock will drive out or kill a bird that looks or acts injured or sick. Birds, including parrots, hide illness or disability as long as possible for that reason. You know that by the time you notice your bird is ill, it's often too late to save them. How could I have forgotten something so basic?! I've been telling myself that I was no longer a part of Chris' life because she ignored me. Perhaps if I'd spent more time watching her I'd have noticed some difficulty getting around or getting to the food or me for that matter. I don't believe she went blind overnight, and she definitely is blind...in both eyes.
I weighed Chris yesterday, 520g. The last time I'd weighed her, she was 747g. She's very light; her keel is sharply prominent. Her feathers suggest that she's had a couple of bad falls. She only has three or four tail feathers and those are broken. Her flight feathers are dirty and tattered. Her neck, back, breast, legs and the inside of her wings are bare. I've attached a couple of photos, but you can't really see much. We'll take more. With Chris the cues, "step up" and "step down" are very important. She cannot see an extended hand as a cue. We're retraining. We've put her cage up in the loft where she'll get a lot of our company but not the other birds. I noticed that every time we said her name she went on the defensive. So we start talking to her as we walk up the stairs and long before we get to her cage. She's already more relaxed. I took her vest off yesterday to give her as much of a bath as she would tolerate. She has a 1" - 1-1/2" diameter patch of scar tissue on her breast but no open sores at all, just a couple of small scabs. She had a short spray bath while sitting on my hand, and I gave her a new vest.
Chris is settling in well. Her cage isn't a large one and we've had to rearrange it several times already. It's almost painful to watch her trying to find her way around again afterward. For the most part she is relaxing and slowly rebuilding trust in us. She's eating really well, warm porridge in the morning, fresh fruit and veggies and that power lunch recipe that was in one of the brochures and a nibble of whatever treat we're having in the evening...and she's right back to eating her pellets. She's now coming to both Lorne and me and ensuring that we catch up with the cuddles.
So that's it, Mom. If you managed to hang in this far, thank you so very much for being there for me to talk to.
Love,
Pat
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