Saturday, August 02, 2008

Goodbye, Little "Pi"...
The Saga of a Relationship on the Skids...

To all those who've followed the saga of the saga of my little Pionus Parrot and me, I have sad (or at least melancholy) news. The situation worsened, in spite of the fact that I had re-dedicated myself to trying to understand him and care for him. All you have to do is look at the second post below this one; I meant every word I'd written then. I really did. I began getting up earlier in the day to spend more time with him. And that turned into more time in which he fussed, attacked his cage toys, threw stuff on the floor to get my attention, and then when I showed him attention he'd rebuke me, and the last straw was when he ripped a plastic seed cup from the side of the cage in Pionus-Parrot-Anger over something I had or hadn't done. It got to the place where I didn't know what this bird wanted anymore.

I felt resentment building up within, worse than ever. I had read Bird Books, read Bird Advice on the internet, and watched YouTube videos of Pionus Parrots and their owners in order to come up with new things to keep my bird entertained. None of it worked. When I first picked little 'Ringo' up at the airport in April, and took him back to the motel (it was a 200-mile drive back home), I got "vibes" that He was going to be a Handful. This little Pionus parrot, no matter what I tried to do for it, always had me 'on edge'. It was as if he never really trusted me. And in spite of everything I tried to do, things got worse and worse. I found myself staying out of the bird room so I wouldn't have to deal with him. Things were going downhill rapidly. Again. And the harsh screeches from Ringo took their toll.

I read on the internet that Pionus Parrots were supposed to be quiet, demure, even shy. Maybe they are. But if there was ever such a thing as a "type 'A' Pionus Parrot", little Ringo (at left), is such a bird. You know, except for a few modifications along the way, the Earth's creatures basically Are Who They Are, and that core always remains the same. I cannot seem to deal with any inconsistency in a relationship, and as a result, I don't have them anymore (with people, anyway). But at the same time, I get lonely for company, and Pets are therapeutic because they make you Live in the Present Tense. But I'd been experiencing tons of tension lately, and I'm afraid Little Ringo was largely responsible, even if he didn't know he was.

I think I've learned one of Life's Hardest Lessons here, and that is, you never really know how much you loved something until you are forced to part with it. And tonight, the tears were hot and bitter, because I didn't have my Pionus Parrot anymore. I'd fallen in love with those Pionus eyes. And I've felt sadder tonight, over that, than I have over anything in Years. "It's just a bird", you might say. Perhaps. But I expended a whole lot of energy towards him the last three months, and things just weren't getting any better. I found someone involved in Bird Rescues and Adoptions, and that's where Little Ringo is now. I'd felt myself becoming Mad At The Bird Again. And it wasn't the bird's fault. It's just a bird, after all. And this time, I knew what I had to do.

I actually traded Ringo for a more peaceful, older bird. She's a little five-year old "Meyers Parrot" named 'Jill', and she absolutely loves to be handled. And perhaps she is a little bit too "needy" for me; I had to force her to go to bed tonight, because she kept playing and playing and playing, and I know birds need their sleep, after all. Plus, I need time away from a Parrot, so that I can be at my best when I am interacting with it. So I had to place little Jill in the cage and turn out the lights. She seems to be a good little girl, and I hope things work out. She's used to living in a room full of birds, and maybe I'll get a couple of parakeets to keep her company, so she doesn't feel all alone when I'm gone.

The 'Meyers Parrot' is actually a small African Parrot, and if little Jill is any indication, they seem delicate, almost dainty somehow. So I'm hoping for the best. There are probably some who will read this and think, "Getting upset over a bird? Get a Life!!!" Point taken. And in case anyone thinks that, I'll counter with this: Rather than Abuse a little animal out of frustration, I Ended The Relationship. I feel I did it in a most noble fashion. Maybe all the people who engage in Spousal or Domestic-Partner abuse should do that. End The Relationship.
____________________

Not that I feel all that great after being "noble", but I do feel a little bit better, having typed this. And So Life Goes On. A demonstrated case of Therapy Thru Blogging.

8 Comments:

Blogger raymond pert said...

For whatever it's worth, I had none of the negative responses you anticipate a person might have.

Pets mean everything to a person. I can't imagine how hard it would be to give up the ship with one, as you had to with Ringo.

Good luck with Jill. I really hope she adapts to her new home.

Hang in there.

10:28 AM  
Blogger Lil ol' me... said...

Thank you, Raypert...I feel a huge loss, in spite of the fact that I now have another bird, who is really a sweetheart. And I appreciate your comment more than you could know.

Something I didn't put in the original post: The guy I took him to really knew how to handle birds. Ringo flew around his living room, trying to get away from him. The guy sneaked up on Ringo and threw a towel over him. Then he picked up the bird gently, and clipped its wings. Then he put his hand under the towel and rubbed little Ringo's forehead. And then Ringo emerged slowly from under the towel and sat on the guy's shoulder. Ringo was more relaxed, then, than I'd ever seen him.

In short, he accomplished more in 5 minutes with Ringo than I'd accomplished in three months. My heart absolutely broke when I saw that. For a second, I wanted to take Ringo back. But I had already promised him I'd make the trade. His little Meyers parrot didn't get along with one of the other parrots he was housing. And it is a sweet parrot, it really is. But it's gonna take me a while to recover from Ringo. I really did love that little boy.

7:03 PM  
Blogger cconz said...

No, don't feel bad. At, least you were responsible in finding a rescue.That's where i'll get my next bird.I confess, i had a small green conure. that started out sweet. but, quickly became attached to my female cockatoo. He would protect her from me. lunging at me, vicious lunging. He would'nt let me near her. it got bad. i separated them and he started plucking out all his feathers. He screamed so loud it could curl your teeth.We were in town one day and saw a woman with one. a green conure just like wilbur. My husband and i looked at each other and and asked the woman if she wanted another one. She said YES. That's all there was to it. But, i felt terrible for weeks. I believe if you buy an animal you are responsible for it. It's not a thing to be thrown back if it does'nt work out. BUT, He was a lot better off without us. I hope it worked out for him. That was about 22 years ago. I still feel guilty.

10:14 PM  
Blogger Lil ol' me... said...

Thank you, Ms. Conzee...yeah, I guess both of us are living in Parrot Purgatory...

12:20 AM  
Blogger MarmiteToasty said...

PEts creep into our heart and souls, and can mean the world to us...... I know I would be pretty upset if I had to get rid of Janet me chicken.... and that is how I came to be the owner of Cedric me cockeral.... me matie had him but their neighbours complained constantly and they couldnt bare to part with him....... so, he came here, cos I also childmind 2 of me maties kids so they get to see him almost every day....... AND they know I wouldnt take any notice of my twat neighbour IF he complained lol....

So I like MrP had no negativity towards you and your reasons for swapping the parrots.... and the loss will stick around for a while but I think you did the best thing for not only you but also for Ringo.....

x

12:33 AM  
Blogger Lil ol' me... said...

Thank you Marmie...I only had tears twice today. It really breaks my heart to know that the Pi is doing better with someone else. But that's life. Now it's up to me to 'get over it' and move on. And this little 5-year-old Parrot Girl I have really is a sweetie. I appreciate your kind words and understanding...best to you and your chickens (not sure what a 'cockeral' is...would that be a 'rooster'? The people down the street from me keep hens and roosters...)

10:56 PM  
Blogger MarmiteToasty said...

What? you dont call your roosters Coerkerals? :) lol you doodles do make me smile......

You did your very best for and with the little parrot, and, that is all anyone can ask for..... :)

Enjoy your new little girl, she sounds delightful..

Me cats would eat a parrot if we had one.... but they never ever touch the chickens, in fact they can often be found all sitting together and when I put cooked stuff out for the chickens me cats will share the bowl lol....

Yep, dam crazy house here

x

11:58 PM  
Blogger Lil ol' me... said...

Hey, Marmee, I live in the U.S., where a "rooster" is a "rooster" and that's all there is to that. Coerkeral? I have never even SEEN that word before. I swear, sometimes you Brits speak a totally different language over there across the pond...

11:53 PM  

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