How the Grey got its colors

Rio Mom

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Apr 7, 2011
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River - Green Cheek
Conure/
Pepper - Congo African Grey/

Rest in Peace Rio
A good friend gave me an African Grey puppet for Christmas. She knows I've been trying to adopt a grey for a long time now, and wanted to get me one somehow! lol. When I showed it to River he gave it a kiss! lol. On the tag is a little story, kind of like an aesop's fable about how the grey got it's colors. I thought I would share:

Once, long ago in Africa, there was a drought. Day after day, thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, but no rain fell. One afternoon, a bolt of lightning struck a dead tree, and sparks quickly jumped to the trees nearby where a flock of parrots made their home. Seeing the spreading fire, they took flight, and headed for the river to save themselves. As they flew, one among them looked down and saw the trapped and desperate animals below. "Sisters," she called out to her flock, "we must help sve the other animals! When we get to the river, dip your feathers in the water, then fly back to shake the drops off over the fire." The parrots were afraid, but they joined in the rescue, and as they flew back and forth through smoke and flames, they called the other flocks of parrots, until soon the sky was alive with birds. Alas, how can the tiny drops from even a thousand birds' feathers put out a forest fire?

Well, here is what happened: Yemanya, goddess of the rivers, saw the brave and tireless efforts of the parrots, and was touched. She was so moved that tears began to fall from her eyes. She cried and cried until a veritable river of tears washed over the forest, and put the fire out. The parrots were full of joy that they had helped save the animals. They did not even care that their feathers were gray with ash and their tails burned red. That's how they are to this day, gray and red, and telling their tale over and over in their joyful, chattery voices.
 
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Mayden

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Apr 22, 2010
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Merlin & Charlie (Senegals)
Love it, such a sweet story! Every time I see a Grey now I'll think of how their ancestors were great loyal warrior type birds!

Love little stories like that. ^^
 

Remy

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Darcy (Golden-Collared Macaw), Puck (Caique - RIP)
I wonder how caiques got their clown colors...
 

IcyWolf

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Jul 5, 2011
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Etters, Pa
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~Alexandrine Parakeet~2 Red Lored Amazons~Blue Fronted Amazon~Black capped conure~4 Green Cheeks~4 Parrotlets~2 lineolated parakeets~9 American budgies~9 English budgies~ And lots of babies :)
Such a cute story! I bought a hedgehog puppet in a tiny little amish run toy store several years ago and it came with a similar story, but about hedgehogs. I remember the puppet was made in germany and I did a search on google and I think it is a folkmanis puppet, is it the same brand as your grey? The stories just seemed awfully similar, not the story itself, just the way it was written, can't help but think they were made by the same people.
 
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Rio Mom

Rio Mom

New member
Apr 7, 2011
2,620
1
Pennsylvania
Parrots
River - Green Cheek
Conure/
Pepper - Congo African Grey/

Rest in Peace Rio
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Such a cute story! I bought a hedgehog puppet in a tiny little amish run toy store several years ago and it came with a similar story, but about hedgehogs. I remember the puppet was made in germany and I did a search on google and I think it is a folkmanis puppet, is it the same brand as your grey? The stories just seemed awfully similar, not the story itself, just the way it was written, can't help but think they were made by the same people.


Yep, it's Folkmanis brand. :) The "fur" even looks like feathers, it's really cute.
 

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