My First Bird Experience

[00andy]

I was thinking the other day about my first experience with birds. For those of you who don't know, I haven't always been a bird or animal person. It wasn't really until a year ago that I really got into the birds, in fact. I was raised with the mentality that animals were...well, animals. Contrast that with my wife, Anna, who's always had the view that animals are people, too.™ I still remember the time I called her dog an "it" instead of "he" - boy, did she let me have it! It took several years for me to change my views on animals and to become as much of a bird person as she is.

But rewind for a minute to my junior year of high school, eight years ago. I had this teacher named McGowan. He was, for the most part, oblivious to the antics of the class (one time we convinced him that there was asbestos above the ceiling tiles and he evacuated the class for the period...) and he sounded uncannily like Ben Stein, the Clear Eyes guy. But other than that, I do remember that he owned parrots. He brought them in one day and they were, of course, shy being in a new environment with rowdy teenagers and didn't say much. I'm pretty sure they were both macaws although I couldn't tell you what kind.

At any rate, he shared this story about them that I don't think I'll ever forget. As he told it, the two birds stayed in his kitchen on perches and he also had a small dog, Daisy, that roamed freely. This freedom, however was limited to areas other than kitchen and he frequently told the dog, "Bad dog! Out of the kitchen!" (Can you see where this is going?) The birds of course picked this up, but with a twist: one of the birds would whistle and say, "Here, Daisy! Here, Daisy!" until the dog came running enthusiastically into the kitchen whereupon the other bird would exclaim, "Bad dog! Out of the kitchen!" And this continued on and on and on much to the birds' amusement.

I remember not quite believing him. It seemed to me that no two animals could be quite smart enough to concoct this plan. Today...well...today. Hmmm. I'll just reference you to Anna's post earlier this week:

http://www.happybirdy.com/mainforum_happybirdy_com/showthread.php?t=378

'Nuff said.

[bonnie]

Oh my gosh! That is SO funny!

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

lol lol that is hilarious just hilarious...

[too&me]

My first real job was in the pet dept. of a large retail store where a crow named Lucifer was part of our staff. Lucifer would say "Here kitty kitty" then bark like a dog and laugh. That bird caused more trouble stealing customers shiny items & pinching people who did not have better sense.:lol::rofl:

[TikiTalks]

I was thinking the other day about my first experience with birds. For those of you who don't know, I haven't always been a bird or animal person. It wasn't really until a year ago that I really got into the birds, in fact. I was raised with the mentality that animals were...well, animals. Contrast that with my wife, Anna, who's always had the view that animals are people, too.™ I still remember the time I called her dog an "it" instead of "he" - boy, did she let me have it! It took several years for me to change my views on animals and to become as much of a bird person as she is.

But rewind for a minute to my junior year of high school, eight years ago. I had this teacher named McGowan. He was, for the most part, oblivious to the antics of the class (one time we convinced him that there was asbestos above the ceiling tiles and he evacuated the class for the period...) and he sounded uncannily like Ben Stein, the Clear Eyes guy. But other than that, I do remember that he owned parrots. He brought them in one day and they were, of course, shy being in a new environment with rowdy teenagers and didn't say much. I'm pretty sure they were both macaws although I couldn't tell you what kind.

At any rate, he shared this story about them that I don't think I'll ever forget. As he told it, the two birds stayed in his kitchen on perches and he also had a small dog, Daisy, that roamed freely. This freedom, however was limited to areas other than kitchen and he frequently told the dog, "Bad dog! Out of the kitchen!" (Can you see where this is going?) The birds of course picked this up, but with a twist: one of the birds would whistle and say, "Here, Daisy! Here, Daisy!" until the dog came running enthusiastically into the kitchen whereupon the other bird would exclaim, "Bad dog! Out of the kitchen!" And this continued on and on and on much to the birds' amusement.

I remember not quite believing him. It seemed to me that no two animals could be quite smart enough to concoct this plan. Today...well...today. Hmmm. I'll just reference you to Anna's post earlier this week:

http://www.happybirdy.com/mainforum_happybirdy_com/showthread.php?t=378

'Nuff said.
Andy,
All I have to say is "yeeelllllllooooooooooow" :)
PS. Btw, we should all get together and cook the bird in the freezer. I've already named him. His name is cookie. And he shall feel no pain from the oven! I'll bring the stuffing! :)

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

That's a really funny story. Poor Daisy.
.

[Evelyn]

Andy -

I'm glad to hear the story. Then there is hope for my hubby yet. He doesn't dislike animals; he just doesn't think they are kids like I do.

Evelyn

[FoxersArtist]

It took several years for me to change my views on animals and to become as much of a bird person as she is.

I recall about 6 years ago when I had several cockatiels, several budgies, and I realllly wanted to foster a lovebird. We weren't married at the time nor living together, but I do recall a very sturn conversation while sitting in a mall parking lot that went something like "no, no, NO! You have enough birds! If you are going to take in this lovebird, there will be NO more birds after this." Now...obviously this WASN'T the end. You married me and got to know what it was like to live with these amazing creatures. And though I doubt you could have realized it at the time, I believe the first time you held a 1 day old cockatiel chick in your hand you were sold...hook, line, and sinker.
-Anna

[TikiTalks]

I recall about 6 years ago when I had several cockatiels, several budgies, and I realllly wanted to foster a lovebird. We weren't married at the time nor living together, but I do recall a very sturn conversation while sitting in a mall parking lot that went something like "no, no, NO! You have enough birds! If you are going to take in this lovebird, there will be NO more birds after this." Now...obviously this WASN'T the end. You married me and got to know what it was like to live with these amazing creatures. And though I doubt you could have realized it at the time, I believe the first time you held a 1 day old cockatiel chick in your hand you were sold...hook, line, and sinker.
-Anna
HA!! they had you at chirp chirp "static feeding noise" :) ahh love da birdies :hart::inlove::luvv:

[FoxersArtist]

My first real job was in the pet dept. of a large retail store where a crow named Lucifer was part of our staff. Lucifer would say "Here kitty kitty" then bark like a dog and laugh. That bird caused more trouble stealing customers shiny items & pinching people who did not have better sense.:lol::rofl:

I would just like to go on record to say that crows really freak me out! They are sooo very smart and those shiney eyes...Eeeee. I petsit for a friend who has Corey The Crow and let me just say, those guys can bite quite hard dispite the shape and length of their beak!
-Anna

[Bambam]

Andy..this reminded me of my tiel Valchez that my sister gave me. She gave him away because her Brittany Spaniel kept trying to get in the cage. He was just a pup & got stuck behind her couch one day & whined & barked til she got home from work. I rented an apartment over my landlords business & he didn't allow pets. One day Valchez barked & whined all day..he had gone into my apartment to ck..finding nothing he left. We I arrived after work..he confronted me saying..if you have a dog up there I don't allow this..I checked it out & can't find it. I assured him that I only had a cockatiel..not conviencing enough I took him in to show him the bird. Satisfied he started out the door when he heard barking..he would bark with the door shut; but when I opened it he was silent. It took closing the door halfway & him peeping thru to prove I wasn't deceiving him.

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

I was thinking the other day about my first experience with birds. For those of you who don't know, I haven't always been a bird or animal person. It wasn't really until a year ago that I really got into the birds, in fact. I was raised with the mentality that animals were...well, animals. Contrast that with my wife, Anna, who's always had the view that animals are people, too.™ I still remember the time I called her dog an "it" instead of "he" - boy, did she let me have it! It took several years for me to change my views on animals and to become as much of a bird person as she is.

But rewind for a minute to my junior year of high school, eight years ago. I had this teacher named McGowan. He was, for the most part, oblivious to the antics of the class (one time we convinced him that there was asbestos above the ceiling tiles and he evacuated the class for the period...) and he sounded uncannily like Ben Stein, the Clear Eyes guy. But other than that, I do remember that he owned parrots. He brought them in one day and they were, of course, shy being in a new environment with rowdy teenagers and didn't say much. I'm pretty sure they were both macaws although I couldn't tell you what kind.

At any rate, he shared this story about them that I don't think I'll ever forget. As he told it, the two birds stayed in his kitchen on perches and he also had a small dog, Daisy, that roamed freely. This freedom, however was limited to areas other than kitchen and he frequently told the dog, "Bad dog! Out of the kitchen!" (Can you see where this is going?) The birds of course picked this up, but with a twist: one of the birds would whistle and say, "Here, Daisy! Here, Daisy!" until the dog came running enthusiastically into the kitchen whereupon the other bird would exclaim, "Bad dog! Out of the kitchen!" And this continued on and on and on much to the birds' amusement.

I remember not quite believing him. It seemed to me that no two animals could be quite smart enough to concoct this plan. Today...well...today. Hmmm. I'll just reference you to Anna's post earlier this week:

http://www.happybirdy.com/mainforum_happybirdy_com/showthread.php?t=378

'Nuff said.

Andy, This would be a great entry in Evelyn's book.

Patty