Introducing Corky, the African Grey Parrot

[Jen]

KarenB
Happy New Year Karen! So happy to hear how well you and Corky are doing. I totally enjoyed Alex and Me and all the wonderful work and discoveries of Irene Pepperberg. I know Corky will continue to improve with all of your love and patience. So happy you found each other! Keep in touch and post photos of Corky when you get time. I think your story with Corky is fascinating.

[lovezebs]

KarenB

I think the fact that he regurgitates for you, and comes looking for you, is very telling. He loves you and tries to feed you, and seeks you out, and that is absolutely wonderful .

[KarenB]

This would be Corky regurgitating for me

[Jen]

KarenB

How sweet! He's a handsome guy!

[KarenB]

CROSS POSTED FROM "SAD NEWS RE: ANNIE"

"Corky, my grey parrot, has made great progress lately with the whole taming thing, but still has a way to go. He will now climb down from his cage and go find me, and I get him to step up from there and take him wherever I'm going to be and let him hang out with me there. He seems content with that. Yesterday I took him to the groomer for his nails, which I thought might be traumatic, but he got over it."

[lovezebs]

KarenB

So glad to hear that Corkey is doing well , and coming along so nicely with his rehab. Good for you, and so good for him.

[Babs _Owner]

KarenB

Wow he has made great strides! Go Corkey!

[tam]

I'm so glad that their are people out there like your karen. CONGRATS. he's beautiful.

[KarenB]

[KarenB]

I'm so glad that their are people out there like your karen. CONGRATS. he's beautiful.

Thanks!

[KarenB]

KarenB

Wow he has made great strides! Go Corkey!

He's pretty awesome

[slwatson]

KarenB

I just came across this thread....I'm so glad he ended up with you! I love the picture of you two together

[Babs _Owner]

KarenB

You both are just beautiful! Enjoy your newest lifelong friend!

[KarenB]

KarenB

I just came across this thread....I'm so glad he ended up with you! I love the picture of you two together

Thanks!

He has been therapeutic for me. As some people may know, I lost my last grey parrot, Beau, aka Beau Bird, about five or so years ago after having him for about 14 years. He had developed seizures, and after so many tests it was determined he probably had some sort of tumor in his brain. We kept him stable for a couple years on meds, but one weekend he just went down hill fast. He was my second grey. I had lost the first one, Buddy, to Ptittacine Beak and Feather Disease after only having him three years. He was diagnosed at year two and I watched him slowly decline. It was the longest grieving period Ive ever had. Buddy and I were inseparable. I've never had a bird that understood me so well. We communicated without words. He never did talk much. But oh how I loved Buddy. After the entire house had been disinfected, that's when I got Beau.

So after Beau died I swore no more grey parrots. After about two birdless years, which was rare for me since I've always, my entire life, had some bird or another, that is when I went to a show and discovered the waxbills. I thought it would be easy to care for them and I wouldn't have to handle them and or go through what i had gone through with the greys. A couple years after that my spouse talked me into getting Zoe. She's a macaw so that was okay, and I got to have a parrot again.

But a grey parrot person never really changes, so when the opportunity presented itself to get Corky, you know I had to set aside my fears and help this bird. He has helped me, as well, to overcome my deep grief from Beau and heal in a new way. It's hard to explain. Anyway, that's my grey story.

[Jen]

KarenB
I haven't been on this forum long enough to know your story. I'm sorry for your loss but happy you and Corky found each other! Great picture of you two! Thanks for sharing.