Top Ten Bird Rules
1. If you like it, it's mine.
2. If I can reach it, it's mine.
3. If it's in my beak, it's mine.
4. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
5. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
6. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
7. If I'm chewing something, all the pieces are mine.
8. If it looks like mine, it's mine.
9. If I saw it first, it's mine.
10. If you have something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
The 10 Parrot Commandments
1. My life is likely to last 10 or more years. Any separation from you will be painful to me. Remember that before you take me home.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me, it's crucial to my well being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long, don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your entertainment and your friends. I have only you.
5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when it's speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.
7. Remember before you hit me that I have a beak that could easily crush the bones of your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food or I've been in my cage too long.
9. Take care of me when I get old; you too will get old.
10. Go with me on the last journey. Never say "I can't bear to watch it" or "Let it happen in my absence". Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember that I love you.
The Plight of The Parrot
The Rainforest where we once lived was lush and thick and green
The trees they reached into the sky like none that most have seen.
And in the tree's a hollow spot is where we both would go, for in the hollow, we would lay our eggs as white as snow.
The forest it had plenty of food for us to eat.
And water holes where animals would play and swim and meet.
One day as I was in my log I heard an awful sound, I flew out to the lookout branch to see what lurked around.
A human with his nets and gloves, machete and a sack,
Had come to steal our chicks from us, Oh how I want them back.
And when he took our little chicks I heard a piercing cry,
He dropped my chick from up above, I had to watch him die.
And when he left, we went to see our hollow and our nest Our family was gone you see, our place where we would rest.
The village man, he walked for miles through forest thick and green,
The babies cried inside the bag, it hurt to hear them scream.
Into the village with the bag the merchants came to see,
When opened up a single chick is all that there would be.
On the bottom lay my chick
his body limp and frail,
His eyes sunk in, his wrinkled skin, no longer would he wail.
The thunders coming closer the tree shakes from the ground,
Branches flying everywhere our home is falling down.
I fly away and then I see my mate is no where near,
I search above the tree tops
no calls for me to hear.
And on the ground my lifelong mate lies still as still can be,
And we will never mate again and never will be three.
And all the trees where we once lived are gone forever now,
For roads and pastures take their place and ranchers with their cows.
Our food supply has dwindled
our water hole is gone,
No place to rest my tired wings
Dear mate it won't be long.
Soon you will not see us in the forest if you look,
The library is where we'll be inside a picture book.
So won't you tell your children of the parrots you once knew,
And rest your head at night with ease knowing, you did all that you could do.
Author - Terri L. Doe
This is a picture of the last wild male Spix Macaw left in the entire world. This is a very lonely picture of a incredibly beautiful Parrot, at the absolute brink of extinction. He has been introduced to one female Spix raised in captivity.
This is her picture, before they released her. Sadly, she disappeared shortly after she was released.
There are currently less than 50 captive bred Spix in the world, today. Aviculture is scrambling to try to save this Macaw from vanishing forever.
Update: on December 5, 2000. This lone male has been reported missing for 2 months. Here is a link to a article, reporting the Spix Macaw's Extinction in the wild.
http://www.bluemacaws.org/news.htm#folha
The Hyacinth Macaw is also endangered. It is feared that they will also become extinct in the wild within the next 10 years.
Here is a link to "The Race to Save the Rain Forests", please join, it's free, we can all make a difference.
The Meaning of Rescue
Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed, All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.
I'd like to open my baggage Lest I forget, There is so much to carry - So much to regret.
Hmm...Yes there it is, right on the top Let's unpack Loneliness, heartache and Loss, And there by my perch hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave - I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.
I loved them, the others, the ones who left me, But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack? Or will you just look at my things - And take me right back?
Do you have the time to help me unpack? To put away my baggage, To never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see, But I do come with baggage
- Will you still want me?
-Author Unknown
