No hurry... petswarmers...

~ Welcome to Petwarmers ~
http://www.petwarmers.com


We know many of you are bird lovers, and so are we. Earla
shares a touching story about the birds in her life and how a
temperamental girl -- aptly named Sassy -- found true love.
They are beautiful to look at, aren't they?

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NO HURRY
by Earla Jean Hollon

For almost five years Trinity, our male Pacific Parrotlet, and
Rainbow, a Black-mask Lovebird, lived together as best friends.
Rainbow had nursed Trinity through two serious potential
illnesses during over the years. Rainbow force fed Trinity when
Trinity lost his appetite, and helped Trinity stay upright on the
perch by pressing tightly against Trinity as Trinity leaned against
the bars of their cage. And when Trinity's legs were temporarily
paralyzed during one illness and had to be propped upright in a
makeshift nest, Rainbow nestled down with Trinity and seldom left his
side.
Our avian veterinarian and I firmly believe that Rainbow helped
Trinity not only survive, but to recover completely.
In October of 2007, Rainbow fell ill. Now it was Trinity's turn
to try and help Rainbow.
And how hard he tried. How hard we all tried. For five months
Rainbow was ill and endured oral medications given to him twice
daily, along with weekly visits to an avian specialist where blood
was taken. All kinds of tests were run, new medications were
dispensed. Trinity was now force feeding Rainbow, and gently
grooming Rainbow's once glossy feathers, now ragged and dull.
Rainbow started sleeping at night on the inside of a little coconut
hut. It was too small for Trinity to join Rainbow, so Trinity
perched close on the outside of the little hut. Rainbow sticking his
head out of his hut often to receive kisses from Trinity.
Sadly in February of this year, Rainbow had lost his battle. My
husband and I were terribly sad, as was Trinity. Even though I
showed Trinity Rainbow's body before we buried him, Trinity called
for Rainbow over and over for the next couple of weeks. At night,
Trinity made sad sounding noises that we had never heard him make
before. We knew Trinity not only missed Rainbow, but he was lonely,
as he had never been alone in his cage before.
The third week after Rainbowís passing, I could not stand
Trinity's sad little voice any longer. I purchased a female Pacific
Parrotlet to be his companion. I was warned that she had two
previous owners who rejected her because she apparently had a very
bad attitude. I named her Sassy and was told the name definitely
suited her.
I brought Sassy home and placed her in a small cage, close to
Trinity's flight aviary. Within minutes, Sassy was clinging to the
side of the cage, looking at Trinity and calling out to him. Trinity
clung to the side of his cage answering her cries.
I let Trinity out of his cage and he immediately flew to Sassy's
cage. They started talking to each other in Parrotlet language and
soon were trying to groom each other through the bars of the cage. I
opened the door to Sassy's cage and Trinity climbed inside to be with
her. And as they say, "That was that."
Sassy moved into Trinity's flight aviary the same day and they
bonded to each other immediately. I have to admit, although I was
glad that Trinity really liked Sassy, it made me feel slightly
betrayed for Rainbow. Emotionally I thought to myself how could
Trinity get over Rainbow so fast. But intellectually I know that
birds do not think, feel and respond as humans do.
Trinity loved Rainbow, but Rainbow was gone. I think he sensed
that Rainbow would not be coming back and here is the fat and sassy
little Sassy, crazy about him from the start.
Sassy loves Trinity and is very good to him, grooming him,
kissing him, cuddling up to him, and feeding him. Sassy, however,
does not like my husband or me. She doesn't like our other birds,
either, nor does she like the dogs and cats.
That's okay though, because we bought Sassy as a companion to
Trinity and she has filled that role admirably. We have faith that
with time, Sassy will calm down and accept us as well. We are in no
hurry. Parrotlets can live 20-25 years and I hope and pray that
Trinity and Sassy will be with us that long.

-- Earla Jean Hollon

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Earla lives in Pasadena, Texas with a very patient husband and a
small zoo, which consists of dogs, cats, sugargliders, turtles, and
birds.
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