AUGUST 2 2009
I can't believe it's been two years since I started posting these updates...but I hear that some of you like to see them and I know I like to share what's going on here.
Last night I posted a new video with a tour of the macaw area....Macaw Tour.
This week we had one of those magic moments. I had a family come in to visit, and as soon as the wife and daughter were in the building, Amos DYH started flirting with them...cam running over on his playtop, started saying all his phrases and whistling at them. Then he raised a foot and asked to be picked u[p, ran up the mom's arm saying "going up!", and perched there and babbled. This family has had zons before, but never one that talked, and they were just in love. Amos hopped on the daughter, and didn't want me to come near...he was home and happy. So today I visited their home, then they came back to the shelter...and Amos was even more exited to see them today....just couldn't stop talking. Checked with the relatives of his previous owner, and they were OK with a placement. So, we loaded his living cage in their truck, popped him in a travel cage, signed papers, and off he went to a new home. The wife was giggling and hopping with delight, and the daughter couldn't get the grin off her face.
I've been alerted to the following possible incoming birds: a DYH amazon, a BG macaw, and a GW macaw. No times or details known on them yet...I'll update you later when I know more. There's a second GW whose owner made initial contact this week...we'll see what happens there.
On August 23rd I'll be at the MACBS Feather Fair at the Botanical Center in Des Moines. I'll hope to see a lot of you there.
AUGUST 9 2009
Just a couple of quick notes today. We just took in a blue and gold macaw named Izzy. Izzy's age and sex are not presently known. Izzy has no real issues except some bad words from a previous home. Izzy doesn't bite, pluck, fly around, or scream more than a macaw ought to. In other words, a nearly perfect macaw. Call for an appointment to meet her. Also new this week is Maddie, a Severe Macaw who's just visiting for awhile.
The hot news this week is that we now have a Facebook Fanclub page...One of our pals launched it, and now we have more friends! So now you can talk back to us about what's happening here.
AUGUST 12 2009
A couple more news items today, for you folks who like constant updates: We've moved Frito into the house to see if he can be the necessary companion for one of the birds there who has no avian friend. If it works out, he'll become a permanent resident. If not, I'll return him to the available page. Ziggy TAG appears to think he might be interesting. At the same time BooBoo CAG has been listed as available....both of these actions because BooBoo showed absolutely no interest in being friends with Frito. Also among the house birds: Paco has moved off the top of Timot's cage, and up into the tree with Charli. Charli is accepting that, and seems to think he's a pretty bird. Progress, I think, for both of them.
Recent updates in on Verdi, Amos and Jose....all are reported to be doing very well in their new homes. We had a visit this morning from Draco, a BG mac we placed several years ago. Draco looks very fine with all his new feathers, and is clearly a Daddy's boy...wanted nothing to do with Uncle Mike here, just loves Bob.
We've gotten a number of calls about Izzy, and also about Buddy and Jake. I'm hoping that these birds will find their new homes soon.
Finally, I'm trying out live music in the bird house: my old '64 Gibson 12 string is back from some repairs, and I've taken it to the aviary to see how they like a little Gordon Lightfoot. First reviews were not very encouraging...the macaws and amazons all were doing their best to drown out the guitar, and not having too much trouble doing it. Makes you understand why they invented amplifiers. Anybody want to donate a Telecaster?
AUGUST 23 2009
I spent the day at the MACBS bird fair in Des Mines. What a super time! Saw lots of old friends and made a bunch of new ones. Roberta from Nebraska Parrot Rescue and her pal Kim were there, plus Karen from the cockatoo rescue in Waterloo. Roberta thrw me a surprise early birthday party, complete with cake....I'll be officially old next Friday....geezerdom impends. Lots of our old adopters came by to say hi and update me on their babies. Casey the meth lab BG is doing great in her new home...turns out to be a daddy's girl. The guys from Love on the Wing had some incredible prices on HQ cages...if you haven't seen their new website, you should check them out. They're in Elko MN.
I brought home a really mad beautiful double yellowhead amazon named Kiwi...he's had no bad experiences, and is in great shape...previous family took him in to Roberta because they were moving and couldn't take him. Roberta doesn't usually do zons, so here he is. He steps up and perches nicely, and doesn't bite. I'll want a few days to assess him before listing. Pics later.
BooBoo CAG has been adopted and is doing nicely in her new home. She went to live with the same family that adopted Pirate macaw and Jose zon. Frito seems to think the house is a fine place to live...the birds there get ice cream and cookies, it turns out. Paco is moving back and forth between the tree and Timot's cagetop in the window....very independent bird is he.
Willy Shamrock will be leaving tomorrow. He's come so far, and it's time for him to be in a home where he can be loved exclusively. His original owner has decided to let him go, since it appears she wouldn't be able to take him back anytime soon. Sad for her, but she's thinking of Willy's best interests. It appears we may have a home for Izzy macaw. Interviews and home visits are still to come, but everything looks positive so far.
Scheduled for arrival next week are a partly plucked Patagonian conure and a nearly naked scarlet macaw. No schedule is definite yet on the two greenwings or the BG.
Have you scritched your bird lately?
AUGUST 29 2009
Lots of good news this past few days; Willy's new keeper phoned to report that since he went home on Monday, , Willy is already stepping up and taking pets. This is just a killer outcome, and I'm really happy about it. This week Frito and Kiwi amazons made friends, preening and feeding each other; today they went to their new home together. They're going to be very happy birds...both of them have been wanting a friend.
The new Patagonian is badly plucked and very fearful of people...but he seems to be getting along with the other conures. He's listed on the processing page. The scheduled scarlet will be coming next week rather than this week. Izzy macaw had a fine interview today, but the people decided they want a smaller bird than a macaw, so she's back on the available list...what a sweety she is!
SEPTEMBER 7 2009
Big week for macaws....we started with Max. Max is a scarlet with very few feathers and a serious anxiety problem. We have him in the house where we can take close care of him and he's away from the other big guys. We're working comfort foods, frequent baths, lots of attention. Next in was Rocky...Rocky is a fine big boy, a mix of a little military and a lot of greenwing. He was taught to play rough and bully people, and needs a pretty special home. But if we can find the right person, he'll be a super bird. Finally, Old Louie and Bubba are back. They were just too loud and disruptive for their adoptive home, so we'll try again.
A few upcoming events: Saturday the 19th, I'll be at the grand opening of Animal Answers in Clear Lake IA. Owner Shari Hampton is a long-time good buddy, and has done a ton of stuff to help us out. Sunday the 20th I'll be at the Quad City Parrot Society Bird Fair in Milan IL. This is a great show, and the club has been a supprter of IPR from the very beginning. Thursday the 24th, I'll be speaking in Ames IA to the avian club at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.
SEPTEMBER 15 2009
More coming and going, and some really big news. Merlin the LSC Cockatoo came back last weekend...he'd decided to be pals with the husband, who is scared of birds, and didn't want the wife, who loves them. We'll have to find a new snuggler for Marian. That was the bad news. The good news was that he didn't even have time to unpack his toy box and feed bag. While he was still getting his feather straightened out from the ride in the carrier, he was finding a new guy to be friends with. By the end of the afternoon, he was off with his new best pal, our good friend Bob from Hedrick. Bob has adopted from us before, and is a long-time supporter.
The Lacey/Gracie partnership is off again, and this time it's permanent. Lacey had gone back to her old habit of stripping all the feathers of the face and head of her partners...she'd done it to Leo, and started to do it to Gracie. Gracie objected, as did we. So Lacey has been separated and will be placed as a single girl...I suspect she'll be more friendly to people away from other macaws anyway, as will Gracie.
OK...now....Kiwi and Lucy the African Greys are now available for adoption, after living here as boarders for over a year. Their owner emailed yesterday to say that he doesn't see any way he'll be able to have them back, and wants them to have a real home. He was very clear about what he wants in a home for them, and I agree with all of his requirements. This is an awesome couple, and will make someone an excellent set of pets, ...PLEASE READ THE LISTING ON THE AVAILABLE PAGE FULLY BEFORE APPLYING.
If you're in NW Iowa, please remember I'll be at Animal Adventures in Clear Lake next Saturday. If you're in eastern Iowa or western IL, come see me in Milan at the community center on Sunday.
OCTOBER 3 2009
I apologize for being so long between updates...it's been something of a madhouse around here the last few weeks. The Grand Opening of Animal Answers Petshoppe in Clear Lake was a huge success, with loads of people coming out to see us and visit the store. Rocky went with me, and was a perfect gentleman all day long, even when he got sleepy. He stepped up nicely and was petted and admired by all. He does have some issues still about his perches and his food, and we'll work on those. The next day we went to Milan IL for the Quad Cities Parrot Society Fair...what a great bunch of people we met there! Ralph was along, and was totally on her A game...she's now availabel for adoption. The 24th I was at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State in Ames. Rocky went with me again, and again was a super guy....went and sat with the students and shared lunch.
New birds: A gang of ten older cockatiels arrived this week, and most likely will stay here. They add a cheery note to the chorus. Simon BG came in for a visit, while decisions are made about his future...he's a nice bird, likes to show off and play monkey. Ernie BG and Peabody Timneh Grey came...they've been badly cage-bound, and will need a lot of work and time before we can think about placements. Today we received Bocks, a sweet little female Quaker.
We also had a lot of visitors this past few weeks, both old friends like Maria from Cedar Rapids and Mike from Chicago, and new ones like Dan and his son who brought Bocks. The biggest news is that Kiwi and Lucy have found a home. They found the lady they've been waiting for, apparently...lots of dancing and bobbing and just big times.
I won't be scheduling any visits or trips for the next week. I need some time to catch up on maintainence and cleaning, as well as the house chores and such. Do keep an eye on the birds, though...you never know what'll happen. Go scritch a parrot, and tell them it's from me.
OCTOBER 15 2009
Bocks the quaker went to her new home today, and will be the snuggle-bird that someone has been waiting for. Ernie BG also was placed; he turned out to be much more quickly adjusted than I'd expected. Peabody the TAG is also coming along pretty well...she won't let me touch her, but is calm about taking snacks from fingers, and likes to talk kto me. a very fine umbrella cockatoo named Karma. In fact Karma was so fine he came and went in three days! Major snuggler, him. Also added this week was a very fine BG mac named Scratch...she's just visiting, and we hope will rejoin her person a couple months. There's a nice little pair of lutino cockatiels here, only about a year old we think, and un-named as yet.
Izzy BG has bonded nicely with poor old Max scarlet...quite a hoot to watch them! They chase each other, feed, preen, share toys and food dishes, and then have a group holler. Izzy is a total monkey, always swinging by one toe or running upside down across the branch or something. We're hoping that this will help Max be less anxious and maybe quit chopping his feathers. We'd like to hear about experiences that any of you have had with usiing herbal teas to reduce stress and anxiety in birds.
OCTOBER 28 2009
We had two new arrivals this week, and both were adopted within 24 hours of listing. Crystal is a lovebird we placed several years ago, who had to come back. She'll be going to our pal Jayne in Wisconsin. Tuesday I went to Romeoville IL to get Barron, a very sweet little Goffin's cockatoo. I listed him last night and he was adopted and left for his new home this afternoon. He'll be staying with my buddies John and Sherry in Cedar Rapids. They've adopted from us a couple times before, and spoil their birds worse than I do.
Another new arrival is Nutsy, a male BG macaw. Nutsy is a sweety who talks to all the girls and will wave hello with his foot while saying "HI!". He's very snuggly and nice, and I already have someone interested in him.
A few of you have wondered what was going on with me listing Ralph as available and then removing her, as well as listing Rocky as permanent and then making him available. Bottom line is, I couldn't say goodbye to Ralph...she's been my pal too long. Rocky's a good bird, and will make someone an awesome pet, but we don't have the history together that Ralph and I have.
We decided to separate Max and Izzy macaws. Izzy was just too much of a rowdy, and was causing some falls for poor featherless Max. We'll let Izzy find a home where she can be a wild woman, and find a more laidback partner for Max.
We're starting to settle in for the winter now....the LP tank is full, and the generator has been test-run in case of power outages. On the few sunny days we've had the solar collectors are doing a great job.
NOVEMBER 6 2009
We have a chance to win some serious money this month. Adopt-a-Pet is sposonring a sontest to find the most popular pet shelter, with a first place prize of $10,000. We could sure use that! You can vote by following this link....VOTE FOR IOWA PARROT RESCUE
