As many of you may know from my videos and blog, I have a pet parrot, a Timneh African Grey named Mike, who I miss very VERY much when I'm away. And I also had a peach-faced lovebird named Jamie whose death was the original motivation behind my decision to quit smoking, which led in turn to my discovering e-cigs.
Well, today fortune smiled on both me, and a poor lost little lovebird!
I was just heading out of my apartment building to get some lunch, when I heard a very familiar sounding chirp. Looking around the gardens in my apartment complex, I saw a beautiful Fischer's Lovebird sitting in the grass near some bushes.
She was obviously someone's lost pet, because her wings were clipped. She looked scared, tired and hungry. So I knew she needed to be taken care of. Some people think when a bird gets out it is "escaping," but they're not. They are lost, and need help. They can't forage for themselves, they miss their safe, comfortable cage, their owner, maybe their mate.
She ran from me at first, of course. She didn't know me or trust me. She ran into the bushes and hid for a while. But I was patient, and waited quietly. SHe eventually came out, trying to pick among the grasses to find some seed. I quietly edged closer, took of my shirt, and tossed it over her. That would have never worked if she wasn't so tired and weak.
I carried her in my hands back to my apartment. THe first thing I noticed was how light and tired she was, and how little she struggled. I know lovebirds, she should have weighed twice as much, and for a little bird, they can put up one HELL of a fight. Poor thing had to have been lost and starving for a long time.
I put her in a cardboard box with some apple pieces and small pieces of chicken, but she was obviously still too scared to eat. I closed the top of the box, and went out to buy some seed and a cage. When I came back the poor thing was sound asleep. Probably the only good sleep she's had since she got lost. SHe had nibbled a little on the apple, but not much.
I couldn't find birdseed or birdcages, so I've improvised with sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and a plastic dish drainer I found with bar-like sides and a snap-on plastic lid. It will have to do until I can go to the big markets downtown and find something better for her.
I will be looking for the owner, of course. Through a friend's chinese girlfriend I notified building management, and they will call her if anyone reports a lost pet bird. And she will help me make flyers in chinese. I can only imagine how heart-broken I would be if one of my birds got lost, and how overjoyed I would be if someone found her and took care of her until she could be returned to me.
But if I can't find the owner, this is one little lost lovebird that won the jackpot, because she will truly be loved.
Well, today fortune smiled on both me, and a poor lost little lovebird!
I was just heading out of my apartment building to get some lunch, when I heard a very familiar sounding chirp. Looking around the gardens in my apartment complex, I saw a beautiful Fischer's Lovebird sitting in the grass near some bushes.
She was obviously someone's lost pet, because her wings were clipped. She looked scared, tired and hungry. So I knew she needed to be taken care of. Some people think when a bird gets out it is "escaping," but they're not. They are lost, and need help. They can't forage for themselves, they miss their safe, comfortable cage, their owner, maybe their mate.
She ran from me at first, of course. She didn't know me or trust me. She ran into the bushes and hid for a while. But I was patient, and waited quietly. SHe eventually came out, trying to pick among the grasses to find some seed. I quietly edged closer, took of my shirt, and tossed it over her. That would have never worked if she wasn't so tired and weak.
I carried her in my hands back to my apartment. THe first thing I noticed was how light and tired she was, and how little she struggled. I know lovebirds, she should have weighed twice as much, and for a little bird, they can put up one HELL of a fight. Poor thing had to have been lost and starving for a long time.
I put her in a cardboard box with some apple pieces and small pieces of chicken, but she was obviously still too scared to eat. I closed the top of the box, and went out to buy some seed and a cage. When I came back the poor thing was sound asleep. Probably the only good sleep she's had since she got lost. SHe had nibbled a little on the apple, but not much.
I couldn't find birdseed or birdcages, so I've improvised with sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and a plastic dish drainer I found with bar-like sides and a snap-on plastic lid. It will have to do until I can go to the big markets downtown and find something better for her.
I will be looking for the owner, of course. Through a friend's chinese girlfriend I notified building management, and they will call her if anyone reports a lost pet bird. And she will help me make flyers in chinese. I can only imagine how heart-broken I would be if one of my birds got lost, and how overjoyed I would be if someone found her and took care of her until she could be returned to me.
But if I can't find the owner, this is one little lost lovebird that won the jackpot, because she will truly be loved.
