“Is he a jerk?”

[Kiwibird]

Having trouble sleeping so I thought I’d tell you guys about yesterdays happenings when Kiwi came out with us. Joe needed a haircut, so I told him to just drop “us” off while he went to get his haircut and we could amuse ourselves for a while in the shopping center. As per usual, Kiwi was getting lots of attention, hamming it up for people and I was fielding the usual “oh is it a parrot?” “Boy or girl” “how old” type questions I always get while he’s out with me. Then I got caught off guard with a question I have never got before in the 5 summers he’s been going out and about in his pak-o-bird: some lady asked me a couple typical questions then actually complimented his backpack before asking me out of nowhere “ooooh he must be a jerk?” I guess she thought because he was in a backpack protected from actual jerks trying to touch him that *HE* must be the jerk? Poor Kiwi, he’s always so happy and interactive with people out in public, never acting aggressively or like he would bite if he could. He understands he’s safe in his POB and therefore enjoys the interactions without fear of being accosted by a stranger. I’ve never had anyone, even obviously non bird people, take his happy, excited behavior as aggressive/mean. Insulting my very well behaved, friendly, obviously loved and well cared for bird just irked me

On a happier note, Kiwi came into a grocery store yesterday. There is a health food store that has a almost mini restaurant type deal inside where you can order sandwiches, stir fry bowls, pizza, burgers etc... Anyways, it was really hot and the sun was at that point it would have just been beating into the car even with the AC on so we snuck him inside in a cart I’ve seen people in there with dogs before hat were, ahem, clearly NOT “service animals” so we figured popping in to grab dinner to go would be fine. I don’t think I’ve seen wider eyes on a parrot before than coming into a palace of food. He didn’t do the incognito thing very well due to all the very excited noises emanating from the cart:34: When we got to the register to pay, the guy ringing us up said “oh I saw him while I was on my lunch break”. We explained it was just too hot to stay with him in the car and he was totally fine with it/understood. Not sure we’ll be doing that again but it was pretty funny. I felt like a real lawbreaker sneaking my bird into a food establishment

 

[SailBoat]

Aaaa, the Masses are Horse's Rear-Ends!
And, the question of 'his' being the 'jerk' defines the continued lack of knowledge that exists in the general public. Add the ever failing social skills and we find ourselves where we are today. When out and about, we all are faced with those people! Expecting it is a reality of life.

The 'service animal' and the 'pocket pups' have become so common place that a Parrot in a backpack is just another animal joining the crowd. So, no reason to feel uncomfortable about being out and about!

An Amazon in the center of all that food! Big eyes must be follow by big noise. Its just an Amazon Thing!!!

Have fun with it! Locking an Amazon away takes all the fun out of life!

Stories of Julio traveling in the SUV (glass mobile) abound! I run cruse control and the number of cars and other glass mobiles, plus semi's that float around 'us' to get a double and triple look is amusing.

 

[noodles123]

I guess it all comes down to how it was said (tone) and the age of the woman who said it.

I think people sometimes use the word "jerk" in an almost playful way---like "a pain in the a**" or "a handful"...Especially people 60+.
In my personal opinion, most parrots (from a human perspective) are, lovingly, jerks...If said with a smile, she may have just been saying it in the same way that people say "my little monsters" etc when talking about their kids...
OR, maybe she really was totally awkward and socially clueless and meant exactly what she said...haha!

If you Google "Parrots are jerks" there is actually an entire Youtube montage (I would post it here if it weren't for the fact that it contains very unsafe proximity between birds and cats etc)-- but it is certainly meant with affection by the person who created the montage.

Either way, I guess at least she didn't just assume that he was super sweet and try to touch him or get in his face like so many people do.

I wish I could get a decent backpack for Noodles..I feel like A) She would be super freaked out by something like that and B) I would end up going to the grocery store and looking like I was going on a backpacking trip through Nepal (carrying a 4 ft pack on my back lol!)---Slightly LESS conspicuous.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Amy and I have been to a couple food establishments,one particular place my brother frequents has a bar where you can also order lunch/dinner. They allow Amy in and he is either on my shoulder or on his perch stick. I get the same questions you do April,and when they hear him talk (which he does cause he is excited to see new faces) any concerns usually go right out the window

However,one day we were at our local Dunkin Donuts and this "elderly" woman absolutely freaked the heck out! I could hear her muttering under her breath to her friend ' Did you see that THING that man has with him??" " I can't BELIEVE they allow him to bring that THING in here!" "So unsanitary with all the FOOD here!"

Can't do much about "jerks" April lol they are everywhere! ( And I certainly don't mean the FEATHERED ones either! )

Jim

 

[Kiwibird]

I guess it all comes down to how it was said (tone) and the age of the woman who said it.
.

She was my age (late 20s/early 30s) and trust me, it was definitely the way she said it Insinuating my bird must be too mean to ride around on my shoulder (and probably slightly upset there would be no photo op for her holding the cool looking parrot, she struck me as the type).

I know there are a few bird owners whose birds (seems to be mostly Big Macs) *like* being handled by strangers and people get neat photos with the birds etc... (which is obviously totally fine if the bird enjoys that kind of interaction) but I think it leaves some people thinking any big bird they see in public enjoys that kind of thing or, you know, why else would it be out in public and not locked away in its cage at home?

 

[noodles123]

That's so annoying---especially because you were doing other people a favor by keeping your bird in a carrier (not because your bird is bad, but because some people are scared and due to safety issues). No selfie---darn!

I would say Noodles is very social in an unfamiliar space (as long as she has time to adjust) but annoyingly, people just assume that because I can touch her than they can come up and pet her, and it's like they can't imagine the harm because she lets me get away with a lot...She also sometimes "tests" new people after acting sweet, so I wouldn't want a stranger picking her up (hello law-suit).
I took her to work the other day and she was out on her perch. Some adults just walked right up and began to reach (as though they were kids!). I generally put a new person's hand in mine when they pet her for the first time, and if she looks back at my hand a lot, I know they are a poor candidate for petting her unassisted lol. She does sometimes warm up to certain people rather quickly (as long as I am present), and if I know the person (and they are an adult), I will basically say, handle at your own risk (knowing that the risk is lower if she is actively trying to get them to pick her up). In order for a kid to hold her, I would say that they would have to be calm, 8 years+ and with bird experience..plus fatter fingers and very understanding parents lol!---Just in case.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

Kermit (GCC) is very comfortable being handled by strangers when he’s out and about on his harness. It’s not just big birds — people seem very interested in Kermit too. He steps up for everyone including small children, and lots of people take pictures with him. If he ever feels threatened, he just flies right back to me. A few times little kids tried to grab him but he just flew to me for safety. People always ask “is it real?” and “what kind of bird is that?” but everyone always thinks he’s super friendly. He’s never bitten anyone hard, even when they try to pet him and he doesn’t want them to he just gives little warning nips.

 

[Kiwibird]

However,one day we were at our local Dunkin Donuts and this "elderly" woman absolutely freaked the heck out! I could hear her muttering under her breath to her friend ' Did you see that THING that man has with him??" " I can't BELIEVE they allow him to bring that THING in here!" "So unsanitary with all the FOOD here!"

Jim

Shame that “thing” didn’t go leave a special “gift” on the lady’s table:54: Maybe it was the toxoplasmosis in her brain from her 57 cats at home

I understand people being concerned wild birds could spread disease, I am too (same goes for ANY wild animal) but pet birds who are clearly trained and well cared for? I don’t understand why they think they’d be any more riddled with filth and disease than any other pet Honestly, I can think of no other pet that requires weekly if not multiple times a week baths either. And they don’t stink, not even their poop, unless they’re seriously ill and in need of an emergency vet visit. Nor do they drool or produce saliva (which I think is so gross when those certain breeds of dogs are slobbering everywhere). Besides the whole food flinging/wood chewing thing, they’re actually very clean animals.

 

[noodles123]

Shame that “thing” didn’t go leave a special “gift” on the lady’s table:54: Maybe it was the toxoplasmosis in her brain from her 57 cats at home

LOOOOOOLLLLLL---You know that parasite actually makes people more obsessed with cats? Infected rats are actually drawn to the scent of cat urine etc (when healthy rats avoid it)! So gross and weird... In other words, many "cat people" are MADE by cats haha! Nothing against cats...just saying!

 

[Kiwibird]

The 'service animal' and the 'pocket pups' have become so common place that a Parrot in a backpack is just another animal joining the crowd. So, no reason to feel uncomfortable about being out and about!

Have fun with it! Locking an Amazon away takes all the fun out of life!

I guess because I’m not a dog person an not too fond when I see (non service) dogs in grocery stores and restaurants, I try to be respectful some people are not bird people. I don’t worry about any other kind of store/business, just food ones. Though, it’s gotten to the point I wonder why I’m the only one trying to be respectful of others feelings about my pet because Portland is so “pet friendly” there are hardly any establishments you don’t see dogs in anymore.

As mentioned earlier this week, locking away an amazon (or simply not being up to your normal level of interaction) comes with consequences. Like bird poop on your shoe:31:

 

[Kiwibird]

Kermit (GCC) is very comfortable being handled by strangers when he’s out and about on his harness. It’s not just big birds — people seem very interested in Kermit too. He steps up for everyone including small children, and lots of people take pictures with him. If he ever feels threatened, he just flies right back to me. A few times little kids tried to grab him but he just flew to me for safety. People always ask “is it real?” and “what kind of bird is that?” but everyone always thinks he’s super friendly. He’s never bitten anyone hard, even when they try to pet him and he doesn’t want them to he just gives little warning nips.

I guess I just haven’t ever seen that many smaller birds in public. It’s usually the big guys. Up here, I think I’ve only ever seen one other parrot in public ever (and it was another amazon, years ago). When I lived in Arizona where parrots were much more common, it was always Big Macs and cockatoos. I think I only saw conures a couple times, I didn’t even see amazon sized birds that much. No doubt smaller guys still get plenty of attention as they are still brightly colored parrots and people are still fascinated with them

And again, for a bird who likes being handled, it’s a great experience for everyone. But not all birds do and it doesn’t make them “jerks”.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I’ve only ever seen one other parrot out in public (aside from people taking their birds to bird/pet stores and bird fairs), and it was a Quaker

 

[EllenD]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets asked the most ridiculous, mindless, thoughtless, idiotic questions about their bird, and who has people make comments to them about their bird that range from being silly to being rude and sometimes even offensive...I try to remind myself that the majority of the population has never encountered a parrot up-close at all (except in Zoos, Amusement Parks, etc.), let alone owned/lived with a parrot or any type of bird, but at times it's difficult to bite my lip. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE nothing more than for a kid, teenager, adult, anyone who has never seen a parrot of any kind up-close and in-person before to walk-up to us and to ask questions about the Fids. There is a very specific look of amazement that people get on their faces when they see a parrot up-close for the first time, especially walking around Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, in Sheetz, etc. and I see them do a double-take because they just can't believe that their is a parrot riding around the store on a shopping-cart! And it's not only kids who get that amazed look on their faces, it's people of all-ages, and it really is a trip for me in a selfish way; I get a huge feeling of pride whenever someone tells me how "beautiful" Lita is, or how "well-behaved" Kane is, etc. (I typically don't take Bowie or Duff inside of stores or to places/events where there are a lot of people because Bowie can't sit still and is all over the place, all over me, climbing from my shoulder to my head to my chest to the floor, landing on things, etc., he just gets way too excited so he goes on walks around the neighborhood, hikes, mountain-biking, fishing, etc. with me; Duff just HATES the Aviator-Harness and spends the entire time picking/tearing at it, trying to get it off and destroy it, and she doesn't enjoy trips out of the house much at all, not even out in the yard, lol. So I only take Kane and Lita out into stores, to outdoor concerts, the Arts Festival every year, etc.)

I don't have human children, but I do know how awesome that feeling is when someone compliments your child and you get that "rush" of pride inside of you...So I don't mean to be so negative about things that people say/do whenever I take the Fids out in public...HOWEVER, I don't think I've ever gotten the whole way through a trip out in-public with the Fids without at least a few of the stupidest, most idiotic, and often very offensive questions and comments about them that you've ever heard, as well as some of the most irresponsible, idiotic behaviors from the public that could end very badly...

The 5 Most-Common Questions I Am Asked About Kane (Senegal) In-Public:
#1.) "Is that a real bird/parrot?" (By-far the question I am asked most-often, at least 2 or 3 times every single time he comes out with me; I so much want to reply "No, it's not a real bird, it's a part of my outfit.")

#2.) "Is that a bird or a Parrot?" (There are many variations of this question, all of which I have been asked many, many times, such as "Is that a Parrot or a Cockatiel?" and "Is that a Parrot or a Budgie?"; sometimes they switch it up on me and ask "That's not a Parrot, is it?"; and then of course there is always at least one extremely deep, philosophical thinker who loves rhetoric and simply says "That's not a Parrot?")...

#3.)"Does he bite?" (We hear this question at least 4 or 5 times every time we're out, and typically the person FIRST outstretches their finger/hand towards Kane and THEN they ask it. So it's more like they are asking "WHEN I pet him, is he going to bite me?"...Usually I answer "No, but I do.")

#4.) "Is that your bird?"...I have no words...

#5.) "How much did he cost?" and 'How much do you want for him?" (The reason #5 is actually 2-questions-in-one is because every time someone has asked me "How much did he cost?", I will answer them honestly, then we chit-chat about him for a few minutes, and then they have asked me, every single time, "How much do you want for him?", as if Kane is a used-car or a box of Girl-Scout Cookies. My typical response is "How much you got?"...)

These are just the extremely thoughtful, intellectual questions that we are asked every time Kane and/or Lita and I go out in public; the equally-thoughtful and intelligent comments that people make are a whole other story. However, I'm kind of disappointed that no one has ever said "Oh, he must be a jerk?" to Kane or Lita, because as soon as I read the initial post my head nearly exploded with responses I could use! Yes, your bird "must be a jerk" because you're a responsible Parrot-owner who doesn't take your bird out of the house without him either being inside of a carrier/cage or on a Harness. And even though neither Kane nor Lita are "biters" and never have been since they were little babies, we all know how that goes, or how it can go at any moment. And this situation with Kiwi gets me wondering the same thing that I wonder whenever someone just walks right up to Kane or Lita and starts touching them/petting them without saying a word, which is "What would that person do if Kane or Lita bit them?". When it comes to Kiwi inside of a Pak-O-Bird, the question is "If you told them that keeping Kiwi in the carrier was not only for his protection, but also for their protection, would they also think that it's the bird's fault if they just reach over and touch him or pet him without asking or saying a word, and he bit them?"...I hate to say I already know the answer to this question, but we all know the answer I'm sure..unfortunately.

***I bet that the number of times that someone in-public has just gone-ahead and touched/petted Kane without asking me if it was alright to do so or saying anything at all has to be between 20 and 30 at the very least. It happens almost every time he comes out with me. And this is way more offensive to me than the idiotic questions and the rude, sometimes nasty and mean comments are, because to me that's no different than you just walking-up to my human-child and start petting him on their head or back without asking me if you could...Can you even imagine an adult walking-up to you in a store and asking you "Excuse me, is it okay if I pet your son on the head and stroke his back?"...Can you imagine what would happen as a result of someone walking up to a parent with their kid and even just asking that question? My God,, you could be arrested for simply asking the question, let alone actually touching some stranger's kid in a store...And correct me if I'm wrong, but it's pretty much become close to a rule that you never walk-up to someone's dog and start petting them without asking them if it's okay, right? So why wouldn't you ask if it's okay to touch/pet someone's parrot before just doing it? Especially since there is a beak involved here, an actual weapon that can hurt you. Badly. Even though Senegal Parrots are not large Parrots, they are still larger than even a Sun/Jenday Conure, and their beak is larger as well...And Kane is a male Senegal who is easily the largest Senegal Parrot I've ever seen in-person by-far, he's huge compared to any of the Senegal Parrots, Meyers Parrots, Red-Bellied Parrots, and Brown-Throated Parrots that we've had at the Rescue over the years. Kane is actually closer to a Jardine in-size; I'd estimate that he's about 3/4 the size of a Jardine and about 1/3 the size of a Cape Parrot...More-importantly, Kane's beak is extremely large for the size of his body, and if I knew absolutely nothing at all about Birds and had never once seen a Parrot of any kind in-person, and I was out somewhere and encountered someone with Kane on their shoulder and I saw his beak, I wouldn't want to get anywhere near him! So what the hell are people thinking? And forget about a Parrot the size of a Blue-Fronted Amazon, he should terrify people in-general as far as them wanting to touch him...but people just don't think I guess...And as far as their comments and questions, well, freedom of speech I guess, doesn't matter to me. For every nasty, rude, ridiculous, idiotic, or just bizarre question and comment I get about bringing my Fids out with me, I get 10 compliments about how gorgeous they are, how well-behaved they are, how intelligent they are, and even how jealous some people are that they don't have a Parrot; a lot of people make the statement that they had no idea how much having a Parrot is like having a child, and how they wish they would have known this a long time ago...I even had someone once tell me that they wished they had interacted with a Parrot a long time ago, because then they "wouldn't have brought home that stupid cat" they had, that apparently "just won't die and is going to live forever", lol...

And as far as Kiwi being "a jerk", well, it takes one to know one...

I'm so mature...

 

[Kiwibird]

@ellen- ya, I get the same questions over and over. The expected ones about how old he is, how long I’ve had him, is he a boy or girl etc... don’t bother me. Cost of bringing him out. Even the “is that a parrot” one... I can see how some people might not know what a parrot is vs other kinds of birds (someone yesterday asked if he was a lorikeet or a parrot, which is one of the weirder ones I’ve heard):33: I get asked a lot if he’s a macaw or a parrot and occasionally if he’s a cockatoo or a parrot=/=:20:

I am always perplexed at the eternal question of “is that a REAL bird”:32: Nope, I just carry this FAUX bird around for fun! Or maybe it’s a turtle? Not really sure, I just like the colors, it really brings out my eyes:52: I haven’t ever been asked if he was mine before, but that’s a pretty strange one. I wonder what they’d say if you responded that you just borrowed him from a friend? When people ask what he cost, I always say more than he’s worth lol. I do get asked frequently WHERE I got him and tell them through a bird rescue. I’ve never been asked how much I’d take for him but I’d be pretty pissed if I ever was I can’t even imagine considering an random offer on my car, much less Kiwi (or even my newt or fish, none of my pets). Who asks that

 

[Kalel]

I find that when people see a bird, usually they react one of two ways. Extremely impressed and in awe and wanting to learn more, ask questions, etc. or they are terrified of it! I had no idea that there were that many people that dislike or fear birds. I recently took my feathered monkeys to a school to visit with children and they are always such a hit, however, as I walk in the hallways I usually get at least one or two shrieks with a comment like "oh no, they're going to kill me" or "I'm going to get attacked" or something like that. Even one of the women working at the front office of the school waved her arms frantically and proclaimed in a loud voice "I DON'T DO BIRDS!" I can't imagine myself reacting that way to any animal. If someone had a cheetah on a leash, it would not make me as nervous as my birds made her. Once a mom told her son "stay away, birds only like their owners and hate everyone else." While it's true, I would not recommend trying to touch them without permission, it would take a lot for most birds to leave their owners in an unfamiliar setting to launch an aerial assault on everyone they encounter. It is interesting to me that people see birds as scary. Again, it's not everyone, but that attitude is more prominent than I thought. Maybe it's just that they are so different than other animals that would accept pets and cuddles from strangers whereas with a bird, you can't just go grab it. Pretty interesting though.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

LMBO!!!!!!!:04::04:

I LOVE that response April!!!!! :04::04:




Jim

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I always get:

“Is it real?”
“Is that a parrot?”
“That’s a nice parakeet”
“Is that your bird?”
“Are you walking your bird?”
“Can I pet IT?”
“Does IT fly?”
“Can IT talk?”
“How long have you had it?”
“Where did you get it?”

 

[noodles123]

Here is a common dialogue +a few other common questions at the end :
"How old is she?"
me: "11"
"Oh, she's 11 huh, that is pretty old bird then!"
me: "They can live to be 80+"
"WHAT?!?! What happens when you die?!" LOL ---mostly from kids haha

"What kind of bird is that?"---followed by: "my ___ had a ____.(insert any parrot here) followed by a story about how bad the bird was or why they got rid of it.
"Does she talk?"
"Does she bite?"
"Can she fly?"
"Can I pet her?"

 

[wrench13]

Early on I got an ESA letter (Emotional Support Animal) from my Dr. Only had to whip it out a few times.

 

[Scott]

Amy and I have been to a couple food establishments,one particular place my brother frequents has a bar where you can also order lunch/dinner. They allow Amy in and he is either on my shoulder or on his perch stick. I get the same questions you do April,and when they hear him talk (which he does cause he is excited to see new faces) any concerns usually go right out the window

However,one day we were at our local Dunkin Donuts and this "elderly" woman absolutely freaked the heck out! I could hear her muttering under her breath to her friend ' Did you see that THING that man has with him??" " I can't BELIEVE they allow him to bring that THING in here!" "So unsanitary with all the FOOD here!"

Can't do much about "jerks" April lol they are everywhere! ( And I certainly don't mean the FEATHERED ones either! )

Jim

Odds are, Jim, that Amy is cleaner than some of the employees or customers!!