Up all night with a stray macaw

SilverSage

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So last night at around 9:45pm here in Hawaii a person I have never met sent me a message on Facebook. Her name is Julia and she saw on one of the local pet pages that I have parrots. She says a friend of hers found a macaw and doesn't know what to do with it, is there anyone I know that can help?

I say yes I can, she asks if the person who found the bird can call me and I say yes, so then Kate calls. Turns out she doesn't have the bird, her friend Taki does, and can I go get the bird from Waikiki?

So I leave to go do that, and half way there the interstate is CLOSED spitting me off into the random streets of downtown Honolulu to try to find my way. Eventually get there and an individual that I am pretty sure was high on something comes out and says he will bring the bird down but I can't come up because it isn't his place. Turns out he isn't the one who found the bird either.

So the people who lived in the house found him wandering the streets of Waikiki wearing a lei and just decided to keep him, but after a couple of days decided the noise is too much, and to get rid of him, but no care as to finding the actual owner.

So I headed to the vet right away, relieved that the GPS said I would get there before 11pm, because that's when it gets expensive. I sit in traffic for 20 minutes only to realize the highway I'm on is CLOSED and they are just turning traffic around! I end up having to majorly backtrack and go around most of the city. It's 11:15 when I get there.

The vet clinic keeps asking if I'm dropping the bird off so I asked them, what happens to the bird if I do drop it off? They said he would go to the humane society, and I said no thanks. I had made a report with them already as well as posted on Facebook and Craigslist.

The vet said he looked good and healthy, and unless I wanted to do X-rays on his crippled foot (old injury not new) we could have the visit for free!

Brought him home and put him in a cage in the kitchen, my best option for quarantine at the moment. I had checked with several friends to see if they knew who was missing one, and determined the bird most likely belongs to an older man who might be homeless who lives in Waikiki. In fact that man contacted me and it IS his bird, I'll be returning her (her name is Diana) to her in a few hours.
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wrench13

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Oh man, you are going straight to heaven when you leave. Thanks so much for taking extrordinary, above and beyond care for this guy, and I am sure the old man will be so happy to get his birdie back. Thanks again.
 

texsize

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That was a good deed beyond epic.
texsize
 
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goalerjones

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I know a lady who is homeless but owns a CAG. I give her toys for him.

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SailBoat

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Oh man, you are going straight to heaven when you leave. Thanks so much for taking extrordinary, above and beyond care for this guy, and I am sure the old man will be so happy to get his birdie back. Thanks again.


If you can provide this MAC with a good meal and a bath prior to the owner picking her up. That would be truly wonderful!
 

Anansi

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Nice, Dani! Crazy chain of events, but I'm glad Diana wound up in your hands... if even only for a little while. And now she'll be reunited with her owner, thanks to you. Beautiful.

A macaw wandering the streets of Waikiki with a lei, eh? Bizarre. Lol!
 
OP
SilverSage

SilverSage

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So I just dropped him off (turns out Diana is the male, I never did learn the name of the female who is still missing).

He had eaten a few peanuts but in general refused food, even seeds, and I attributed it to stress. Well on the way to take him back I needed to feed my husband who had an unexpected break from a training exercise, so I grabbed mcdonalds and went to meet him.

I don't have any sort of carrier large enough for a macaw but Dianna had shown amazing car manners sitting politely on the back of the passenger seat; UNTIL HE SAW THE BAG OF BURGERS! He began squawking and screeching and trying to climb onto my lap which is dangerous, so in an attempt to preserve our safety, I opened a burger for him. I shouldn't be surprised since I have a strong suspicion that he and his owner live on the street.

When his owner rolled up on his pink bike, Dianna opened his mouth wide, pinned his eyes, and stretched out waiting for him. He scrambled up his owners arm and looks SO happy! The owner had him do a trick for me too, and there was absolutely no chance the bird didn't know, love, and trust him.
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SilverSage

SilverSage

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Sep 14, 2013
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Columbus, GA
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Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
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Oh and he is approximately 35 years old :)


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Pinkbirdy

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What a great story :) So glad he made his way to you.
 

Scott

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RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
That was an incredible encounter, Dani! So glad you diligently cared for Dianna and were able to reunite him with his companion. Many homeless folks keep pets and love them dearly.
 

Kiwibird

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Awww, what a wonderful story! I am so glad he was reunited with his owner, even if the owner is in less than ideal situations it sounds like a bond best not to be broken.
 

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