Heeeeeeeeeeere's Jolly!

Hello, Everyone!

I want to introduce you all to the latest member of my flock, Jolly! Many of you will remember an ekkie by that name who was a member of Laura's (labell) flock. They are indeed one and the same.

Laura, who for health reasons had already been faced with the difficult prospect of reducing the size of her flock, reached out to me after my sweet Bixby had passed.

She told me that she understood what it felt like to lose what she thought of as one's "heart-bird". And that she believed, though a heart-bird could never be replaced, that a special enough bird with something of a simpatico spirit might ease some of that pain even while forming something new and beautiful.

Which brings us to Jolly! (Or Mister Jay, as my son likes to call him. Lol!)

We brought him home last Saturday, and he's been an absolute delight. He has me laughing because he suddenly decided, as of today in fact, that he has bonded to me. As I type this, he is perched quite merrily on my head.

On a related note, he has thus far proven 100% potty trained. Lol!

The family loves him. He's also quite sweet and interactive with my wife, goes willingly to both my sons (7 & 4), and even flies over to spend some time with my mother! He's a strong and skillful flier, and a VERY busy talker.

So without further ado, heeeeeeeeeeere's Jolly!!!

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Congratulations to you and your family, Stephen! Jolly is stunning!

Jolly is such a cute, handsome young man! Congratulations I am so happy for you and your family, this was just perfect!! It's so nice too that he's a well mannered and well socialized boy, and can even go to your children with supervision!

Stephen, I am so happy for you and your family! Maya will be a happy girl with that handsome man around He is beautiful!

Just want to add a bit more to this. Jolly wasn't actually looking for a new home but when I learned of Stephens loss of his beloved Bixby it broke my heart so after talking it over with my husband we decided to offer Jolly to him and his wonderful family.

I raised Jolly from a baby, hand fed him until he was over 7 months (the stinker wouldn't give up that last comfort feeding) he has never been clipped, has always been an outgoing, happy, healthy JOLLY boy and I knew he would thrive in this lovely active home.

Years ago when I lost my beloved YNA Karma I thought my heart would break. He was my heart bird! Last year when Brady and I found each other it was like getting a little bit of him back. I hoped to be able to do this for Stephen and his family.

As long as I can remember when I am super happy about something I will PURR..one reason my husband has always called me kitten as one of my nicknames. Anyway Karma loved the sound and learned it from me. Imagine my surprise and tears streaming when a few days after Brady came to live with us she PURRED at me!

I know that Jolly can't replace Bixby but I hope he is able to bring smiles to this families faces again and that brings a smile to mine!

That is so wonderful !!! I know when I have lost birds I miss the species so much I end up replacing them. Even though their not your beloved lost bird their can be similar qualitys [ a new love]. I think its great he came from such a loved home. I find my rehomes that come from great starts in life adjust well.

I am so glad that everything worked out wonderfully and that you were able to welcome such a beautiful, well adjusted, and exceptionally handsome a healthy boy into your life! I look forward to the many wonderful stories you two will have to share with us, and the journey you'll have together. Congratulations!

Congratulations!!!! He is a beautiful bird and I am so happy he is helping heal your heart!

Sounds like a great situation for all! Wonderful news!

Jolly's greenness takes my breath away! What a suave-looking young man he is! Stephen, we're all so happy Mister Jay has come ihto your home to ease the pain of losing Sir Bixby. Just as you've been incredibly lucky to have such a GORGEOUS bird, he's lucky to have a loving family like yours.

Laura, thank you so much for your thoughtful kindness to Stephen and his family. It must have been such a wrench to wish Jolly goodbye, but the gift you have given is a priceless one and I admire your greatness of spirit so very much. Bless you!

Welcome home Jolly! :smile015:

What a stunning boy, Stephen! Reading this just gave me goosebumps all over!

I'm thrilled to hear that Jolly has bonded to you, and how well he interacts with your family - all of them.

Here's to a lifetime together!! :jumping40

Laura, you ROCK! :smile015:

Stephen, have you heard Jolly ask "got kisses for momma" yet? Followed by some fairly loud kissing noises? That is one of many things he says but that I would love, if you all continued to reinforce it as kind of an ode to his first momma.

Congratulations Stephen. Jolly is beautiful and sounds like he is excited to be welcomed into such a wonderful and loving family I bet he will love being around your kids just as much as they love him and he will thoroughly enjoy being art of your family. Sounds as though he's making himself at home already

Laura- what an amazing act of kindness to give Stephen's family such a wonderful gift. I cat imagine giving up a bird you raised from a baby. With how comfortable and accepting Jolly sounds already with his new family, I'm sure he understands he went to live with them out of kindness and love

WOW, this is such a great read!!! Thank you Laura for showing such kindness!!!

It sounds as though Jolly is settling in just fine. Reading this brought tears to my eyes, I know how hard it was on your family to lose Bixby!

I'm so happy for you and your family Stephen!

JerseyWendy said:

Welcome home Jolly! :smile015:

What a stunning boy, Stephen! Reading this just gave me goosebumps all over!

I'm thrilled to hear that Jolly has bonded to you, and how well he interacts with your family - all of them.

Here's to a lifetime together!! :jumping40

Laura, you ROCK! :smile015:

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I too got goosebumps and wept with joy for all of you! What a kind and jenerous heart you have Laura. Oliver is definitely my heart bird and I could not imagine life without him and you are right there is no replacement but sure room for more love and heart with the new feather child. I love you guys and this parrotsforum...a place to learn and share....

That is a beautiful bird......! name fits perfectly as well. He's a great addition.
Enjoy...those ekkie's are a bundle of joy.

Wow, Jolly is a handsome boy! Congratulations, Stephen and family; he will be a beloved pet for years to come.

The back-story is equally wonderful. Laura, your gesture melts my heart!

Allee said:

Congratulations to you and your family, Stephen! Jolly is stunning!

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Thank you, Allee! We're feeling rather struck by his beauty as well.

RavensGryf said:

Jolly is such a cute, handsome young man! Congratulations I am so happy for you and your family, this was just perfect!! It's so nice too that he's a well mannered and well socialized boy, and can even go to your children with supervision!

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Thank you, Julie! He really is a perfect fit for my family. I can honestly say that he is the most well-socialized parrot I've had, especially when it comes to children.

Terry57 said:

Stephen, I am so happy for you and your family! Maya will be a happy girl with that handsome man around He is beautiful!

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Thank you, Terry! You know, funny thing about Maya. Her reaction to Jolly has been a bit surprising. Though, in retrospect, maybe it shouldn't have been. I remember how fiercely eager she was to meet Bixby when I first brought her home. And even though they were always fussing with each other, (the gentleman obviously felt she was a bit too aggressively forward with her affections and preferred a more laid back, demure approach) her excitement whenever he entered the room was always palpable.

Not so this time.

Maya literally acts like he does not exist. The other day, when Jolly's surprisingly deft flying skills caught me off-guard and he dodged and weaved his way through several rooms before landing determinedly on Maya's cage and, with one freakishly accurate shot of a finely focused fecal bullet, sniped Maya dead center of her forehead and poo'ed most effectively on her half of their quarantine, Maya pretty much behaved as though nothing had happened. After initially looking him over when he first got here, she behaves as though she can't even see him.

It puzzled me. But only for a moment. Maya grieves, too. And each of us grieves in our own way. She misses our Bixby, too.

This story made my eyes "leak"

I'm so so happy for you Stephen! Congratulations!

Laura, I knew you had a big heart, but you have amazed me with your act of kindness!

labell said:

...I raised Jolly from a baby, hand fed him until he was over 7 months (the stinker wouldn't give up that last comfort feeding) he has never been clipped, has always been an outgoing, happy, healthy JOLLY boy and I knew he would thrive in this lovely active home.

Years ago when I lost my beloved YNA Karma I thought my heart would break. He was my heart bird! Last year when Brady and I found each other it was like getting a little bit of him back. I hoped to be able to do this for Stephen and his family.

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My family is so very happy and thankful that you thought of us in what has been so dark a time. Bixby's death really hit us hard, especially given the unfairness of it all, and Jolly's antics give us reasons to smile and even laugh on a daily basis.

I must also point out that I'm most impressed with Jolly's flight abilities and his level of socialization. Both say a lot about your parronting approach, Laura. His confidence in his ability to fly and the joy he takes in doing so is VERY evident... and VERY welcome in this house.