What bird would you want?

Maddie, I don't know much about the kingfisher, but I looked it up and there are a vast variety of these birds. They are all very beautiful. What a cool, interesting little bird! Golden pheasants are magnificent. I just always think of my brother and dad going pheasant hunting when I was growing up though, so I guess pheasants always make me a bit sad. I envision what they looked like when they got brought home from a hunt - not very nice memories!!! Do you have any particular favorite macaw you would want?

(11-09-2012, 05:42 PM)Ram Wrote: So the look gets you.
Yeah, that is how most younger women choose men these days.

Haha, I admit that I was drawn to my cockatiel partially based on his looks, but it wasn't because he was prettier than the others. He'd been plucked so badly that he looked like a little vulture, and I felt so sorry for him (my strange fascination with vultures probably also had something to do with it). The guy at the rescue kept showing me the prettier birds until I asked if I could hold the bald one.

I would love to have an African grey, because they are so smart. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to them.

Does anyone remember Alex, Irene Pepperberg's famous grey? Alex could count, identify shapes and all kinds of other really cool stuff. Greys in general are good talkers, and talk in context -- they understand what they are saying. That fascinates me.

(08-14-2013, 10:43 AM)SueA555 Wrote: I would love to have an African grey, because they are so smart. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to them.

Does anyone remember Alex, Irene Pepperberg's famous grey? Alex could count, identify shapes and all kinds of other really cool stuff. Greys in general are good talkers, and talk in context -- they understand what they are saying. That fascinates me.

I like African Grey too after I watched some videos on Youtube of them talking and perform other tricks. They are indeed very smart birds. Maybe some day I will get one in the future after I have learned more about bird care.

Is African Grey the only bird species you are allergic to?

It is the first time I have heard of someone is allergic to a certain bird species. What are some of the reactions you have had when you get close to an African Grey?

(08-14-2013, 12:10 PM)Ram Wrote: I like African Grey too after I watched some videos on Youtube of them talking and perform other tricks. They are indeed very smart birds. Maybe some day I will get one in the future after I have learned more about bird care.

Is African Grey the only bird species you are allergic to?

It is the first time I have heard of someone is allergic to a certain bird species. What are some of the reactions you have had when you get close to an African Grey?

I'm allergic to all birds with powder in their feathers -- cockatoos, cockatiels and greys. I have asthma, and it bothers my breeding. Most birds have oil-based feathers, and I don't have a problem with those.

I'm pretty boring compared to other people here. I just want a Mollucan Cockatoo! They're so cute to me. I saw one when I visited an exotic pet demonstration and just fell in love. The plumage on their heads is so adorable and they are so snuggly! I know that personalities vary among birds but I have heard across the board that cockatoos are so sweet and lovable. I love their white color.

I couldn't own a cockatoo, however. They're very loud. They require much more space than I could provide for them. I could provide the food and the love but unfortunately my living situation doesn't allow for a completely healthy big bird environment and I would feel very guilty bringing a bird like that into my home, considering it could live at much more suitable places.

A Snow Owl. They're simply stunning. A more plausible choice would be a simple cockatiel; their little mohawks are simply adorable!

The bird that I would most like to own is a Blue Macaw. I read this totally awesome book about a girl and her blue macaw, and it is called "Emergence" By David Parker.
She is a teenager girl who emerges from the family bomb shelter after a nuclear bomb has hit, and she now has to try and find any other survivors. The story is her journey across America with "Terry Dactyl", the macaw, and it is one of those stories that once you have read it, you never ever forget it.
So, if I could have a bird, and money was no object, having my own Terry Dactyl to ride on my shoulder would definitely be my first choice.
If you like birds, I definitely suggest reading "Emergence" if you can find it. You may end up wanting a blue macaw, too....

I've had finches and parakeets growing up. A friend of mine has a bunch of exotic birds, and one I have fallen in love with, a blue macaw. Cleatus is sweet and funny. He does something bad, bite you or something, you say, "Bad boy!" He'd say, "Uh-huh, bad boy!" Cracked me up. I want a blue macaw one day, I know it won't be like Cleatus, but they are beautiful.

I've always wanted a crow or a raven as a pet. Not that I'm particularly morbid or anything, but both species have played roles in some books I have really enjoyed, and they are very intelligent! I'm sure they would be really noisy and annoying, but I still think they would be a cool pet.

As for legal birds, I'm fascinated with African Grey parrots ever since I first learned about Alex. I have a friend who has Conures, and they are adorable. I recently got to hold/cuddle a juvenile pair of Sun Conures at a pet store, and if I had an extra $1000+ and no cats I would have brought them home with me. They were very sweet and loving, and they seemed to like me.

I've always wanted birds, but would never get them while I have cats. I know that sometimes cats and birds can get along, but I would always be VERY worried that the cats would one day kill or hurt the birds. I just couldn't deal with that stress!

I think I would like to have a conure. I would have to meet one to be sure though. When I was researching parrots some time ago I came across them and they sounded like absolutely delightful birds. Their personalities sounded so nice and interesting. Unfortunately they cost so much, like over $600 several years ago, so probably even more now, so that was not an option for me.

What I would really like to have in a bird is a great personality, a bird that wants to interact with me, but is not so needy as to be upset that I have a life outside the home. My bird would need to be able to entertain itself during working hours because I am single and have a job. I had a Quaker parrot for about 6 months and found out she was not a good fit due to my not being home enough to entertain her, plus she was possessive and squawked at me a lot when I didn't do what she wanted.

I'd love to have me an albatross.
It would be my own Zen experience every day to watch it unfold those stunning wings and swoop around in the sky. Unfortunately, it won't settle for staying in an apartment the rest of the time. But if it could, I love to have one. Besides, it mates for life, and one can assume the same affinity for long-lasting bond would extend to it's human friend as well...