Confession time! Just to let yall know I love birds so freaking much but I am actually also super afraid of them... Anyway I've always wanted to be able to be around birds because I love them.
My local Petco today said to me that next time they get some new cockatoos or macaws in from shelters to rehome they'll let me come in and try to hold the more tame ones and help me overcome my fears ?
Thats great, but little love birds and cockatiels might be better than a larger bird.. but go for it...
The manager at Petco said the little birds are more flighty and move more so they'd be something to work my way down to. He's gonna try to get some really CALM bigger ones that are good, maybe who were owned by old people who died recently. He said they'd be best starting out because they're more gentle and less likely to move around a lot
When I was about fourteen years old, I found a baby starling that had fallen from its nest. To feed it, I got some dog food, moistened it, and stuck it on the tip of my finger. The bird started growing, and before it had learned to fly, I would let it stand on my hand and take it to places where there were insects, and it would catch and eat them, while standing on my hand.
When it learned to fly, it would fly away for a while, then suddenly, it would appear on a roof top, and start making all kinds of noise, then I would know that it was hungry. Sometimes it would unexpectedly land on my shoulder and surprise me, squawking in my ear loudly. It was so curious, it would stick its beak in my ear, and try to open its beak. That is a method that these birds actually use, you see them hopping around on the ground, they will stick their beak under a small rock, and open it, flipping the rock over and then devouring any insects they find. It tickled when this bird would stick its beak in my ear and try to open it!
Later I learned via experiment and observation that it is possible to put the baby back in the nest. It is much better if the bird be raised by its natural parents, as it is very, very difficult to raise them, they need to be fed frequently, and kept warm. Their true parents know how to raise them much better than humans!
Eventually, the bird grew to be an adult, and flew away, and did not need me any more for food supplies. However, it would occasionally land on a nearby roof top, flutter its wings, and make all kinds of noise . . . . . I think it just wanted to let me know it was still around, kind of like when relatives come to visit. So I guess I can relate to these birds. There was indeed a wonderful bond between us, despite us being two very different creatures.
Not sure about macaws, but be aware that sulfur crested and white cockatoos are a pretty full on responsibility. They are gregarious in the extreme, highly social, intensely curious, can be very destructive and have a very long lifespan (40-60 years).
Just in case you fall in love with one, as they are extremely beautiful. Think of it as a child that will never grow up. That's permanently armed with chisels.
I know lol. My favorite thing is watching them on YouTube. My lifespan isn't very long and right now I'm too scared to hold a bird so idk if I'll want to own one. If I do itd be a crow.
Ah but it might be nice since I can't have children to have a flappy permanent 2 year old with feathers lol
@LadyAlyxandrea Ahhh, love the corvids. Again, ridiculously smart birds. Tool users, problem solvers, pranksters.
@MrBeelzeebubbles baby steps. Touch a bird first and we shall see where that leads lmao