Sam

I've mentioned Sam before in a previous blog. Sam is my large parrot, though he is not as big as, say, an African Grey. Sam is a Jardine's Parrot, a bright green member of the poicephalus species, originating in Central Africa. As Sam has matured, he has developed fiery orange feathers on his shoulders and head. He is a gorgeous fellow.

I never intended to acquire a larger parrot. Tempted, yes, but my reading about the care of larger parrots gave me pause as I felt the responsibilities would be greater than I might be up to. But, well - things unfold as they will. Long story short, he came to me with a beak bitten through by his cagemate in a pet store, malnourished, with a grief that cause him to cry for two solid weeks. That's a lot of baggage for a baby 6 month-old bird to carry! I'll never know exactly why he was so sad, but as he exited the pet store, he bit the manager hard enough to draw blood as a parting shot, and looked even self-satisfied at his deed.

With lots of good food, Harrison's pellets (he ate everything in sight and still does), a ton of patience and love, he became what I saw from the first: a happy, sweet-natured, calm fellow that just wants to be with me and share whatever I do, wherever I go.

He has never lost his shyness with strangers. He is devoted only to me (a common trait for Jardine's to be one-person birds). But he tolerates pet-sitters of the right temperament - calm and unafraid - and growls like a dog at people who come on a bit too brashly for his tastes.

Sam has very definite ideas of proper bird etiquette, and I've had to learn his signals and emotions in order to avoid beaky misunderstandings. With respect toward his ideas has come a wonderful mutual understanding. He is extremely reliable and predictable. When I've learned what he needs, he relaxes and tolerates my mistakes - unless I act really stupidly, which even I know deserves a nippy reminder.

This is not to say that Sam dictates what I do. I've had to show him and the other birds that I am in fact in charge. But - no question - my life flows in rhythm to a birdy beat! I wouldn't have it any other way.

This is Sam giving me a kiss and inviting me to rub his head, a sign of great trust in birds.