Update on Our Birdie!

NewQuakerMom

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So back in March, a lost quaker flew into a barn in my neighborhood on a cold night. No one claimed him, no one wanted him, so my kid & I took him in. (Kid had been wanting a bird, had saved up for a cage, had read up on them, etc)
Sweet little guy, but --- he would not step up for anything or anyone. No perch, and certainly not a hand. He would bite the heck out of anything that came near him, unless it had a treat in its fingers.
Well, a lot of patience has paid off. Here we are, all these months later, and he'll now fly to my kid's hand on command, step up when asked, says his name, and a bunch of other stuff, and is generally a treasure. When you're doing something he doesn't like (scratching a molty neck wrong, etc) he'll turn his head quickly to warn you - instead of actually biting, bless him. I can't even remember the last time he nipped either of us.
So - for anyone with a new bird, who despairs that they'll ever warm up to you - just be patient!!! :)
 

noodles123

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so true--words of wisdom. Time and patience.....so key! Glad you got the a good place with him :)
 

Laurasea

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As a mom to a lost quaker , it rips open my heart to think he was not able to be reunited with his people. Did you list him on parrot 911 alert? I'm sure his family is still looking for him, it doesn't matter that it has been months, you can still list him under found birds ,. I beg you to do this. Tge loss of my Neptune has been the biggest devastation of my fifty years of life.
https://www.911parrotalert.com/

I am happy you care for him and love him and are making a good life with him.
 
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wrench13

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Classicsilver lining. Glad to read tht he is part of the family now.
 

Laurasea

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These are quakers I could find lost in yiur time frame
COALVILLE
BELOIT , WISCONSIN
FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS
DALLAS , TEXAS
CYPRUS, TEXAS
GEENDALE, INDIANA
KINGS COUNTY NEW YORK.

Not a complete list.
I do hope you list your found quaker in Parrot 911 Alert people who've lost their babies never give up hope
 
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NewQuakerMom

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Well, it wouldn't have been in that time frame, because the vet who checked him out said he'd been roughing it for some time. He has no band, and no unique identifying markings. No chip, no nothing. Soooo anyone who lost their quaker in North America over the last several years? I mean... Whoever it was didn't teach him to talk, bc all he says are things we've taught him. And they didn't teach him any tricks, bc all he does is what we've taught him. And they sure as heck didn't teach him to like pellets or veggies, or anything that's good for him, bc all he wanted to eat was seeds, and we had to teach him to eat properly. And they didn't teach him to step up either. Or to like being petted/skritched on his head. He's molting now and can't get his little quills off the back of his head, but he gets so nervous when we scratch for him, even though he relaxes more all the time, realizing we're not going to hurt him.
I mean - Whoever these random people were, they didn't seem to care for him very well. I don't want to be rude, but - if whoever-they-are showed up at my door right now, wanting to take him back to his boring life of not being talked to, not being played with, not getting petted, not getting a healthy diet, I'd probably tell them to pound sand.
 

Laurasea

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A bird wouldn't like you or step up for you or let you pet them when they first meet you.
My lost parrot is a one person bird, to me a huge love. To otheer people he works bute or hide
If you say what state you live in , I can narrow down who lost there bird.

You have no idea what the quaker went through . To you its a free parrot how cool . But this quaker was someone's family member. Of course you dont turn it over without proof . Butt to not even list him as a found parrot, on the very small chance he can be re united with the people who paid for him and bonded to him?

I deliberately dunno include tghe dates those quakers were lost. So do you really know how far back I looked??
 
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noodles123

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I think there just may be some confusion here, and I have to disagree with your assumptions, NewQuakerMom (although, as a new "parront" I can understand why you see things the way you do and I know you love this bird, which is good)---BUT, some things to consider: A lot of birds know the same types of words- "come here", "hello","hi", "hey baby", "pretty bird", "step up", various foods, "too loud", "shutup", "love you", "gimmie kiss", "so cute", "good girl/boy", "bad bird", "good bird", "goodnight" etc. There are more, but MOST people tend to say these things to their birds at some point, so while you may think you taught the bird (not saying you didn't), you really cannot know because after a trauma like that, it would take months for a bird to feel comfortable enough to start talking again. If the bird is comfortable with you and finally repeats something you said at some point, it may have already known that word, because, as Laura said: 1. they aren't going to speak to new people the same way they would to their "flock" and 2. they aren't going to speak much after a trauma of being lost. So, I guess I wouldn't just assume the bird didn't have a loving family, because if they get out and fly for weeks etc, they will look and act nothing like they used to--especially around new people. I am very glad you took the bird in, but that doesn't negate the responsibility to try and find its old home. IF they (old owners) are bad and negligent, the odds of them trying to post and find their bird are extremely low..with a more expensive bird, I could see a negligent owner wanting it back for money, but a quaker is under $500 ( $200- 300 in most cases) as far as I know...So, I could see an unloving owner looking for their $1000-$5000 bird if the goal was to breed or sell, but try not to judge whoever had him last based on his behavior when you found him. ANY tame parrot (or at least most) would look like crap and act terrified of strangers because they have been freaking out for weeks and away from their flock..and then new people come in and that is scary too.

A parrot in chaotic/ unfamiliar settings WOULD NOT step up (even if they knew how) because they were traumatized and you were a total stranger.
Sick birds often don't even want to step up for those they know-- let alone unfamiliar people..which would be the case for many, having been lost for days-weeks.
A parrot that had been released inadvertently into the wild from captivity WOULD look like crap.
A parrot that doesn't know you and is under stress is very unlikely to talk (often for months).
Even a totally healthy bird that has been loved and hand-raised is unlikely to step up for strangers in the absence of its flock. Mine will step up if I am there, but will say no to strangers if I am not.
A parrot in an unfamiliar setting under stress will also appear to avoid eating in many cases.

Also-- SO MANY well-loved birds have no band or microchip...bands can pose a serious threat to health (tangling in things etc-- especially if open), and micro chipping also poses health risks...My bird has neither of these and I would die for her if I knew there was someone who would take her lol. If you don't buy a bird as a baby from an official breeder, it won't have a closed band (and open bands are often removed for safety)...I am not sure if mine ever had one, but I adopted her, and if she got out and was left to her own devices, she would be A TOTAL mess...bad at finding food, freaking out about me being gone, running from others because I'm not around and her confidence is shot, shivering, likely plucking and thin, and definitely not talking like she normally would. ABSOLUTELY 500% NO STEPPING UP...for at least 3 months (I know that from experience, having adopted her as an adult who knew how to step up and refused)...and she didn't go through the whole "lost" trauma that yours likely went through.
 
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NewQuakerMom

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I'm going to try really hard not to get defensive here, even with my character literally being attacked, lol.

As someone not in the 'bird' community, I would have literally no way of knowing whether someone who claims a lost bird is theirs is telling the truth or not.

I have rescued cats, and have rescued dogs. Reuniting them is easy. They can't travel super long distances, and when doggie sees Daddy, it's obvious who he belongs to. Even a dog or cat without a chip or a collar will have some sort of unique distinguishing characteristics. Answers to the name of x or has a chipped front tooth, or a black spot on a whisker or whatever. If I had a lost cat or dog, and advertised locally, and someone said, "I lost a cat" - I would ask them to describe it. If the person could not provide information to prove that it was their animal, I can not release it. Why? BC some people are sick and will use other ppl's discarded pets as bait for dog fighting, etc.

Birds fly - and can fly long distances if not clipped. (He was not clipped) There is no way to do that with a QP that looks exactly like a QP. No distinguishing marks. No special characteristics. The things he says are things that are unique like - his name. My dog's name. He copies my daughter's laugh to a T. My daughter taught him to growl. It's hilarious. He doesn't say step up or any of the other 'normal' birdie things - although he does occasionally do a wolf-whistle, that he did not learn from us.
I looked at the site, and people advertise things like, 'I lost my Quaker Parrot. he's green and has an orange beak' There's literally nothing anyone could tell me that would make me think, 'Oh this is def. their bird!!' And it wouldn't make sense to release him to them for any other reason.

I understand how traumatic it is to lose a beloved pet. I truly do. And if he was loved and well-cared for in his last home, wherever that was, I'm sure his family, wherever they are, misses him. But I have no magic wand, and this idea that I should be out there beating the bushes for his long-lost family - when I have no way of knowing that he is actually their bird - is unrealistic, at best.

I came here initially for advice - I have this brand new QP that just showed up in someone's barn!! Honestly, that would have been the time to shower me with resources for how to find his family. I've been posting on here literally since we brought him home, including info on his situation. And as soon as we are settled, happy, making good progress, etc, is that the time to tell me I'm a horrible person for not having searched for his family over 6 months ago when I brought him home? (After he'd already spent at least a month living in someone's shower bc they didn't have a cage to keep him in)

Whoops, I'm starting to get defensive, lol, so I'll leave this here. I appreciate all the advice & help I've gotten here. I'll continue to hang out, and read. Not interested in character attacks or shaming, though - not my cuppa. Thanks very much, and have a great day.
 

Laurasea

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You showed zero empathy to my loss.

Yes there is a great way to tell if its their parrot, it was lost whithin 25 miles of wee yiu found it and probably within 3 months of yiu finding someone's lost parrot. Also rge parrots response to the person!!!!

Every single person with a parrot here can image their heart break if they were lost. Would be praying that if they were found tge person would have honor and act honorable and try and reunite them.

As you are getting attached to this parrot us it beyond you to imagine how the owner if this parrot feels?

Parrot 911 Alert is one of tge best resources out there. Do tge right thing and list him as a found parrot. People aren't trying g to get a free parrot, ( again speaks to your thinking ) they are trying to find their lost baby! Their family member.

Be reasonable, if the parrot was lost near you and before you found it, it probably is tgeir parrot. And yiu can see how the parrot reacts to to them... do some soul searching.
 
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Laurasea

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Species:Quaker Green (Monk Parakeet) (See species list for details)
Location:Cypress, , United States 77433
Date Lost:February 7, 2020
Banded:No
Microchipped:No
He escaped around 3pm on February 7th, 2020. He can fly and camouflages well with trees. Gets scared easily so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was hiding in someone’s backyard. Also, when he is scared or nervous, his feathers won’t be ruffled up. He enjoys seeds and bananas. Normally answers to the name Levi (le-vee). He likes to hang out in high o places or more cozy spaces. We haven’t gotten any news since he went missing. Please, if you see him, let me know.

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Laurasea

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Species:Quaker Green (Monk Parakeet) (See species list for details)
Location:Bensonhurst, New York, United States
Streets:67th St & Bay Parkway
Date Lost:February 6, 2020
Phone Number:718-219-5007
LOST – GREEN QUAKER/ MONK PARAKEET, 2/6/20, ‘Lora’, 67th St & Bay Pkwy, BENSONHURST, KINGS COUNTY, NY

LOST – 2/6/20 – BENSONHURST – 67th St & Bay Pkwy
718-219-5007 – Her name is Lora
Contact Bird Owner
No email contact available
 

noodles123

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I'm going to try really hard not to get defensive here, even with my character literally being attacked, lol.

As someone not in the 'bird' community, I would have literally no way of knowing whether someone who claims a lost bird is theirs is telling the truth or not.

I have rescued cats, and have rescued dogs. Reuniting them is easy. They can't travel super long distances, and when doggie sees Daddy, it's obvious who he belongs to. Even a dog or cat without a chip or a collar will have some sort of unique distinguishing characteristics. Answers to the name of x or has a chipped front tooth, or a black spot on a whisker or whatever. If I had a lost cat or dog, and advertised locally, and someone said, "I lost a cat" - I would ask them to describe it. If the person could not provide information to prove that it was their animal, I can not release it. Why? BC some people are sick and will use other ppl's discarded pets as bait for dog fighting, etc.

Birds fly - and can fly long distances if not clipped. (He was not clipped) There is no way to do that with a QP that looks exactly like a QP. No distinguishing marks. No special characteristics. The things he says are things that are unique like - his name. My dog's name. He copies my daughter's laugh to a T. My daughter taught him to growl. It's hilarious. He doesn't say step up or any of the other 'normal' birdie things - although he does occasionally do a wolf-whistle, that he did not learn from us.
I looked at the site, and people advertise things like, 'I lost my Quaker Parrot. he's green and has an orange beak' There's literally nothing anyone could tell me that would make me think, 'Oh this is def. their bird!!' And it wouldn't make sense to release him to them for any other reason.

I understand how traumatic it is to lose a beloved pet. I truly do. And if he was loved and well-cared for in his last home, wherever that was, I'm sure his family, wherever they are, misses him. But I have no magic wand, and this idea that I should be out there beating the bushes for his long-lost family - when I have no way of knowing that he is actually their bird - is unrealistic, at best.

I came here initially for advice - I have this brand new QP that just showed up in someone's barn!! Honestly, that would have been the time to shower me with resources for how to find his family. I've been posting on here literally since we brought him home, including info on his situation. And as soon as we are settled, happy, making good progress, etc, is that the time to tell me I'm a horrible person for not having searched for his family over 6 months ago when I brought him home? (After he'd already spent at least a month living in someone's shower bc they didn't have a cage to keep him in)

Whoops, I'm starting to get defensive, lol, so I'll leave this here. I appreciate all the advice & help I've gotten here. I'll continue to hang out, and read. Not interested in character attacks or shaming, though - not my cuppa. Thanks very much, and have a great day.

I'm not attacking your character. I just think you should try to contact these people near you to see---I mean, you can always say no, I don't believe this is your bird... You would be amazed at the way a bird responds to his/her person. It would be obvious in most cases (you would see a change in behavior). I am not saying to just hand it over to anyone-- but you would be able to tell if the bird knew that person if you saw them together. I would be able to pick mine out of a crowd based on behavior around me.
 
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NewQuakerMom

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I'm not attacking your character. I just think you should try to contact these people near you to see---I mean, you can always say no, I don't believe this is your bird... You would be amazed at the way a bird responds to his/her person. It would be obvious in most cases (you would see a change in behavior). I am not saying to just hand it over to anyone-- but you would be able to tell if the bird knew that person if you saw them together. I would be able to pick mine out of a crowd based on behavior around me.

The other poster is attacking my character. Your post wasn't harsh, and I appreciate it.

The avian vet that examined the bird when he was first found is the only avian vet for a 3 hour drive in all directions. He asked all the other vets of any kind that he knows & put out a notice. HE & the finders-of-the-bird tried to find the owner, including posting notices on local and state lost/found boards as well as craigslist before I ever even came into the picture. I found out about him because at that point the person who was keeping him was desperate for his welfare bc no one wanted him, no one would take him, they had cats, and no cage, and he had been living in their shower for ages. They put out a notice on the Nextdoor app hoping to find anyone who would take him.

So - either he's not from anywhere even remotely near me, or his owner didn't take him to the vet, or he was roughing it for a VERY long time (the sounds he made when he first came to us were copying the scream of a bluejay, and the 'aaaahh' of a hawk, etc.).

I just feel like the due diligence the original 'finder' of the bird plus the due diligence of the avian vet is pretty extensive already. I don't know if they already didn't reach out to those people; they were trying really hard to find his home, and the avian vet would have known about the bird 911 I'm sure, since he's a bird person.

I do know that an extensive effort was made to find his owners, and then, when that didn't happen, to find him a good loving home. At this point, I just feel like it's enough. I didn't sneak into someone's house to steal their baby. I just took him in and gave him that loving home when his owners didn't claim him and no one else could take him.
 
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NewQuakerMom

NewQuakerMom

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Species:Quaker Green (Monk Parakeet) (See species list for details)
Location:Cypress, , United States 77433
Date Lost:February 7, 2020
Banded:No
Microchipped:No
He escaped around 3pm on February 7th, 2020. He can fly and camouflages well with trees. Gets scared easily so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was hiding in someone’s backyard. Also, when he is scared or nervous, his feathers won’t be ruffled up. He enjoys seeds and bananas. Normally answers to the name Levi (le-vee). He likes to hang out in high o places or more cozy spaces. We haven’t gotten any news since he went missing. Please, if you see him, let me know.

Contact Bird Owner
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First

Last
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Image File
Accepted file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf.
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Doesn't like high places, doesn't like bananas.
 
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NewQuakerMom

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Species:Quaker Green (Monk Parakeet) (See species list for details)
Location:Bensonhurst, New York, United States
Streets:67th St & Bay Parkway
Date Lost:February 6, 2020
Phone Number:718-219-5007
LOST – GREEN QUAKER/ MONK PARAKEET, 2/6/20, ‘Lora’, 67th St & Bay Pkwy, BENSONHURST, KINGS COUNTY, NY

LOST – 2/6/20 – BENSONHURST – 67th St & Bay Pkwy
718-219-5007 – Her name is Lora
Contact Bird Owner
No email contact available

He was found in January.
 

Inger

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It sounds like you and your family are doing an amazing job with him! Whatever his previous circumstances, he’s lucky to have landed with you. Keep up the good work!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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NewQuakerMom

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It sounds like you and your family are doing an amazing job with him! Whatever his previous circumstances, he’s lucky to have landed with you. Keep up the good work!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you!
 

Terry57

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So back in March, a lost quaker flew into a barn in my neighborhood on a cold night. No one claimed him, no one wanted him, so my kid & I took him in. (Kid had been wanting a bird, had saved up for a cage, had read up on them, etc)
Sweet little guy, but --- he would not step up for anything or anyone. No perch, and certainly not a hand. He would bite the heck out of anything that came near him, unless it had a treat in its fingers.
Well, a lot of patience has paid off. Here we are, all these months later, and he'll now fly to my kid's hand on command, step up when asked, says his name, and a bunch of other stuff, and is generally a treasure. When you're doing something he doesn't like (scratching a molty neck wrong, etc) he'll turn his head quickly to warn you - instead of actually biting, bless him. I can't even remember the last time he nipped either of us.
So - for anyone with a new bird, who despairs that they'll ever warm up to you - just be patient!!! :)

I really love your last sentence, it is so very true! Congratulations on all the wonderful progress you have made, patience is definitely key in creating a relationship built on trust.
 
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NewQuakerMom

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I really love your last sentence, it is so very true! Congratulations on all the wonderful progress you have made, patience is definitely key in creating a relationship built on trust.

Thank you! :)
 

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