Hi again

I know I've been a bad admin and a worse friend here. Things have been so busy since the move I feel every waking moment I'm either cleaning, rearranging or unpacking still. The reconstruction on the new rescue building is coming along slowly and should hopefully be done in the next few weeks and then I will be REALLY busy... so I will try to check in as often as I can.

Aside from all the activity here, nothing else to report. Bryan is still looking for full time work but has been picking up odd jobs and some hours at a local greenhouse to make some money. Needless to say, things are and will be tight for a while. Still, I wake up every morning and look out at the lush greenness that is my forest and then glance over and smile when I see the card you all sent me when I moved and I smile and start my day.

I figured you were still unpacking. Take pictures of the bird area(s), we'd love to see them!

I will download some tonight

OK I posted a bunch of pics to my gallery including two of the rescue being built...

Can I come live in the cockatoo room? A room full of 'toos would be like heaven!



Also, I read the caption about the bird Kalela (or is that a person?) and mistook it for my name, LOL. I was like "huh...?" until I reread it.

Kalela was such a sweet bird. She's been thankfully adopted to a great home. And you can come stay in our too room anytime you want.

How many of those 'toos have behavioral issues? I'd seriously be afraid of adopting a 'too from a rescue because I don't think I would have the ability to rehab problem behaviors like plucking or screaming. Ideally, if I ever do get my 'too, I'd rescue one, but I'd be worried about what it is I'd be getting myself into.



I also wouldn't bring any 'too into my home if I were unable to have an outdoor aviary. It's one of those requirements that is super important to me.

Personally, I believe all toos, rescued or not, have behavior problems LOL. With the rescue, ours a re half and half. Generally their behavior problems are triggered due to lack of socialization, which is in trun triggered because they scream and make a mess and people don't see that when they say "Awww how cute" at the pet store... which is why we have so many toos.



The ones we have with obvious issues are rehabed or not adopted out at all until they are ok enough to leave. Adopters with limited experience with them are required to visit on several occassions and learn about their behaviors and how to react to them so they don't end up in a closet or worse after they leave us.

Umbrella Cockatoos are so beautiful

Curious- are 'toos as loud as the sirens on the ambulances as they drive by?

much much louder....

GlassOnion wrote:

Curious- are 'toos as loud as the sirens on the ambulances as they drive by?

Vikki wrote:

much much louder....

Definitely! At least ambulance sirens are only for a few seconds as they drive by. . .

Remember, the 'too call is meant to be heard over 3 miles away. They dont' care if your'e standing right there....

That is LOUD.

Its somethiing all bird people should experience if not just once to understand...

I can't see how a 'too owner wouldn't suffer severe hearing loss long term...

Honestly, I'm sure some have. We have earmufflers at the rescue, but most people don't wear them. There are times when my macaw will scream like that and I have to leave the house and my ears are ringing....

Vikki wrote:

Personally, I believe all toos, rescued or not, have behavior problems LOL. With the rescue, ours are half and half. Generally their behavior problems are triggered due to lack of socialization, which is in trun triggered because they scream and make a mess and people don't see that when they say "Awww how cute" at the pet store... which is why we have so many toos.



The ones we have with obvious issues are rehabed or not adopted out at all until they are ok enough to leave. Adopters with limited experience with them are required to visit on several occassions and learn about their behaviors and how to react to them so they don't end up in a closet or worse after they leave us.

I think you have to walk a very fine line with the 'toos, otherwise they become nutters in very short order. Sadly, most people don't know how to walk this line and the birds suffer.



I've met some 'toos that were well adjusted and absolute sweethearts. They were able to be left home alone for an 8 hour workday without issue. These birds often had a friend and access to ample flight room, usually an entire bird room or aviary. But they were still pet quality birds and happy to cuddle and be loved on.



The problem 'toos that we hear so much about are the ones that people smother with love and attention and are shoved aside when the novelty wears off. Then you get the screaming, separation anxiety, plucking, destruction of your home, etc. I've seen these birds have shoes thrown at their cages, locked in closets, and poisoned. It's really sad, especially since ALL of those problems were caused by ignorant people.



I would love to have a set of giant aviaries in my future back yard for a dozen 'toos to love and cuddle. There's nothing like their sweet little faces, poisonous or not. If you see guys ever see a bunch of 'toos birdnapped, don't worry.. it was just me wanting to cuddle them forever.

Vikki wrote:

Remember, the 'too call is meant to be heard over 3 miles away. They dont' care if your'e standing right there....

GlassOnion wrote:

That is LOUD.

Vikki wrote:

Its somethiing all bird people should experience if not just once to understand...

I have to be the only person in the world not bothered by 'too screams. I'm not sure if it's because the pitch of the screams isn't bothersome to me, because I already have partial hearing loss from ear infections as a kid, or because I literally was around a screaming 'too from in utero to 13.

I was also told that if you have 'toos, let them masturbate as much as they want, as it creates a calm and happy 'too.

M2 are the best in those situations. They are just as nutty as regulars 'toos, but they seem to be better with getting love or not. Most birds on average are not good with being left alone for long periods. They're social beings more so than people. Andlike you said, the reason most birds are nuerotic and nasty is because they were made that way by their owners.

Vikki wrote:

M2 are the best in those situations. They are just as nutty as regulars 'toos, but they seem to be better with getting love or not. Most birds on average are not good with being left alone for long periods. They're social beings more so than people. Andlike you said, the reason most birds are nuerotic and nasty is because they were made that way by their owners.

My dream 'too is an M2.

Kay - that could be part of it and even though its loud, you do get used to it (though I don't know if that's medically good) I've had to work in the too room so often (as does Jeanne, so Im sure she would agree) that it really doesn't dawn on you how loud it is unless you are either having a bad day and already in a bad mood, or if you have a headache. Then they are intolerable.

KayLayUh wrote:

My dream 'too is an M2.

We have several

Vikki wrote:

KayLayUh wrote:

My dream 'too is an M2.

We have several

Don't tell me that, I'll come kidnap them all! I'd have to get rid of my furniture to fit appropriate sized 'too cages in my apartment, but sleeping on the floor in the middle of a bunch of 'toos sounds like heaven to me, so...