BoomBoom
Well-known member
- May 2, 2012
- 1,722
- 58
- Parrots
- Boomer (Sun Conure 9 yrs), Pewpew (Budgie 5 yrs), Ulap (Budgie 2 yrs), Eight & Kiki (Beloved Budgies, RIP)
It's a question I struggle with every now and again, but haven't seen asked on these boards much. A few things happened today that prompted me to write a thread about it and see what other people's thoughts on it are. Like most of you, I try to provide a good life for my little sun conure. Like most of you, I see my parrot exhibit textbook behavior that leads me to believe he is happy (by human standards). But I wonder, is he really happy?
I took a day off today and thought I'd bring him to the park for his outdoor recall training. I realized just how great he's become at flying. He's a natural at it. After we both settled down on the grass, I had a good look at him. He was head bobbing (he often does when he is pleased). He just seemed so amazed at the wide expanse of the park and the sky, it made me feel bad that I couldn't take him outdoors more often -hard to do with a full time job. At some point, I had to put him back in his carrier because I spotted a few hawks far away. On the way home, a lady stopped me just to have a look at him. She mentioned that she has parrots who live under the roof of her house. I asked if they were her parrots, and she innocently remarked they were wild and she would not want to keep them as pets because they deserved to fly free. That stung a bit after I had my little moment in the park. She didn't mean anything mean by it so we talked some more and I went my way.
Those two things kind of magnified the guilt I felt. Seeing Boomer so happy outdoors, makes me wonder. Are all the toys, the lovingly prepared food and attention we shower our birds truly enough to make them happy? Yes, they were born in captivity, but they are still very much wild. Is there something in there still wild bird brains that make them yearn for freedom? Has anyone ever entertained these thoughts? If so, how do you get past them?
I took a day off today and thought I'd bring him to the park for his outdoor recall training. I realized just how great he's become at flying. He's a natural at it. After we both settled down on the grass, I had a good look at him. He was head bobbing (he often does when he is pleased). He just seemed so amazed at the wide expanse of the park and the sky, it made me feel bad that I couldn't take him outdoors more often -hard to do with a full time job. At some point, I had to put him back in his carrier because I spotted a few hawks far away. On the way home, a lady stopped me just to have a look at him. She mentioned that she has parrots who live under the roof of her house. I asked if they were her parrots, and she innocently remarked they were wild and she would not want to keep them as pets because they deserved to fly free. That stung a bit after I had my little moment in the park. She didn't mean anything mean by it so we talked some more and I went my way.
Those two things kind of magnified the guilt I felt. Seeing Boomer so happy outdoors, makes me wonder. Are all the toys, the lovingly prepared food and attention we shower our birds truly enough to make them happy? Yes, they were born in captivity, but they are still very much wild. Is there something in there still wild bird brains that make them yearn for freedom? Has anyone ever entertained these thoughts? If so, how do you get past them?
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