FEATURE Holiday care
Many years passed, I grew up, married and raised a family. I had always wanted to keep a parrot but work commitments kept me busy. My brother, Simon, was visiting peoples’ homes to repair computers. Clients of his owned an Orange-Winged Amazon (Amazona amazonica). When their relationship broke down, they offered their parrot to Simon. He brought her home, re-named her Polly and became very fond of her.
cage. He had no toys, one wooden perch and existed on a diet of peanuts, sunflower seeds and dried peppers. He was rarely, if ever, given fresh fruits or vegetables. Thankfully, I believe that most companion parrots fare better these days. After my grandparents passed away, Polly went to live with my uncle and has since been re-homed.
I was delighted to look after her whilst Simon went away on his holidays. After about three years, she came to live with me permanently. Simon selflessly decided that her quality of life would be enhanced, as by now, I could give her more time and company than he was able. In character, she was extremely different from the parrot we grew up with. Quite probably a wild-caught bird, she was petrified of children, human hands, towels, strings, toys or anything else that was new to her. I knew that I would need to treat her with the utmost compassion. After all, I knew nothing of her past life experiences. In the 1960’s, birds were imported in far fewer numbers and conditions were better. I shudder to think about what this parrot may have suffered. She had never spoken a single word of our human language but of course understood much of ours.
He had no toys, one wooden perch and existed on a diet of peanuts, sunflower seeds and dried peppers.
BIRD SCENE 07
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
