Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue Newsletter

Don't breed, Don't buy... Adopt a rescued bird!

Ellie, The Priceless

"One man's garbage is another man's blue & gold"

Mickaboo first learned of Ellie when they received a call from a local animal shelter employee who had arrived for work one morning and found Ellie stuffed into a night "drop box". The staff members at the shelter misread her signs of being scared, became afraid of her and labeled her as aggressive and mean, not suitable for adoption.

Ellie was put up for auction, but nobody wanted a bird who was "aggressive and mean", especially one sporting such a wicked looking beak. There were no bids for Ellie and she was marked for euthanization. That very day, Mickaboo was notified and put out an emergency request to their volunteers.

A Mickaboo Volunteer responded immediately drove like mad to get to the shelter in time to save Ellie. He took her to his home until a permanent foster home could be located.

What a miracle! Just hours before, Ellie had been facing certain death merely for being scared, misunderstood and unwanted. Now she was in a home, safe and warm, with a nice big cage and good food to eat!

A foster parent that had been working with special-needs birds had adopted out their foster flock and were ready for a new placement. They asked for Ellie.

Ellie was a bit shy on her arrival to her new foster home and when offered a treat by her new mom, instead of biting or lunging, Ellie would plant her feet and lean as far away as she could without falling over, literally stretching a foot in size.

A few days after her arrival, it became apparent that something was wrong with Ellie and her foster mom quickly rushed her to Dr. Speer's office in Oakley. Ellie had an aggressive infection that rapidly turned nasty and required surgery. Things looked very grim, with Ellie requiring a series of injections in her trachea and about 6 days of intensive hospitalization.

Dr. Speer allowed Ellie's mom to be with her during one of the procedures. "There she lay with the mask over her face looking so vulnerable." said Ellie's mom. "From that point on, Ellie and I shared a special bond and I promised to be there for her, no matter what!"

With the help of Dr. Speer's staff, Ellie fully recovered. When she returned home, Ellie was much calmer and happier. Ellie needed someone to love and a place to call home, "so, we made OUR home HER home." said Ellie's mom, and Ellie was adopted!

These days, Ellie has a spacious cage in a nice room with lots of windows and toys to play with. She enjoys showers, wears a harness, loves watching The Price is Right and is so spoiled, she expects her fruit peeled before offering! Her favorite pasttimes are strutting around the house with her Mom, sneaking cat food and playing "bird in a basket".

Remnants of her sweet, former self are slowly resurfacing, back to the girl she was before being discarded like unwanted garbage.
She's our special girl who captured the hearts of our entire family!

January 2009
Quarterly News

Inside this issue:
Angel Program
Create a Miracle!
The Coo Coo Nest
Sage Advice
Tips & Tricks
Birdie Recipes
Family Recipes
In The News
My Bird Said
Home Hazards
Avian Humor
Upcoming Events
Bird Care Classes
Memorials
Vendors

Links of Interest:
Birds Ready to Adopt Success Stories! The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill Lost and Found How to Help Mickaboo Library MickaCOO The Mickaboo Store A Liddle Miracle

Did you know that by donating that old car, truck, RV, or boat, you will be making a vital contribution toward rescuing birds in need and avoid the headache of selling a used vehicle? Mickaboo will receive 70% of the net proceeds from the sale of the vehicle while you save money at tax time!

Our representatives at Car Program LLC will make all the arrangements for towing, title processing, receipt distribution, appraisal if required, sale at auction or dismantler, accounting and distribution of sale proceeds to Mickaboo. Your car doesn't have to be in working order and can generally be picked up at any location in the continental U.S. and Hawaii. To donate your vehicle, call toll free at 1-800-237-5714 and designate Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue as your charity.

	The Mickaboo Angel Program
	"The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it." - Mother Teresa

Mickaboo currently has approximately 250 birds in foster care. Our first commitment is to these birds and their ongoing care.

This past May 08, we were forced to suspend intake completely, but were soon able to continue our efforts with new birds thanks to all the wonderful Angels out there! Our Angels & Sponsors have enabled us to take in 87 birds since intake was suspended. These are birds we would not have been able to help without this program.

We understand that not everyone can foster or adopt a Mickaboo bird, but becoming an Angel to a bird in need is a perfect way to help! Your donations will help us take in birds who are in need and to help defray the cost of their sometimes astronomical vet bills while they wait for forever homes.

WAITING FOR AN ANGEL:
10-1-08 Buddy, Blue & Gold Macaw: Buddy is being returned to Mickaboo due to medical problems after having been adopted. He has a recurring problem with his eye & will probably be referred to an opthamologist. Buddy will need lots of Angels as his vet bills will be very high.		10-6-08 Alfie, Cockatiel: Alfie was surrendered to a vet because his owners could not afford the care he needs. The vet contacted Mickaboo to see if we can take this little guy in. Alfie is still on medication, but should recover just fine with proper care.
10-9-08 Goblin, Conure: Goblin was sitting in a shelter and decided not to eat in protest! Well it worked - he is now at the vet. Birds do starve themselves when stressed and we just could not take that chance!		10-15-08 Shani, Cockatiel: Shani came into a shelter with an eye injury. She had a procedure where her avian vet sutured the eyelid closed for a period of time in order to allow the eye to heal. She will be monitored, medicated and re-evaluated after a period of time. If the procedure works, she could regain use of the eye. If not, she will have to undergo an enucleation (eye removal) as her current condition is not manageable.
11/18/08 Lucy, Ricky, Theodore & Jane, Lovebirds: This lovebird flock's owner is disabled, on a fixed income and is unable to care for them anymore.		Visit The Mickaboo Angel Program to find out how YOU can become an Angel too!

"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." ~ William Penn

Open Your Hearts!
and help create a "Mickaboo Miracle"
Dear Mickaboo Readers: This message is a most sincere and serious appeal for help. This help involves doing the hard stuff of rescue. It means taking in a difficult bird on a permanent basis because it has no other option. It means making a commitment to treat an aggressive, distrustful bird with dignity and respect and make it a part of your family even if it can't be trusted out of its cage. Someone has to be able to step up and do the hard stuff when no one else will. Several years ago, we took in some difficult older male birds. These guys were tough to deal with, distrustful, aggressive, and for the most part have not bonded with any of their foster parents. Some of these guys have shown improvement in a stable situation, but foster home situations change and the birds need to move again. There are many birds that are in need of a permanent home, but these particular little guys are in need of a special person who will love them for who they are, unconditionally. Several sanctuaries have been contacted to see if it is possible for any of our boys to live there, but with the poor economy, job losses, home foreclosures, sanctuaries already filled to capacity or closing down, together with declining donations to non-profit organizations, our chances of scoring a slot for even one bird is probably slim. So, I have to appeal to you, and I hate this because if you are just an invisible audience, these birds are doomed. In addition to saving the lives of these birds already in our organization, you will be allowing our volunteers to foster birds in need that we would otherwise not be able to find room for. Since this will be a permanent placement, we will waive any adoption fee, since these guys can be classified as special needs due to their behavior. If you are one of the unique individuals to adopt an amazon or a macaw, we will help to find you a large cage appropriate for these wonderful creatures! For those of you who might be "faint of heart", believe me when I say these are not salivating monsters with a taste for blood, not huge feathered chainsaws, or some bogey bird waiting to rip your eyes out. They are, for the most part, terrified of people because people have abused them in the past, or they may have been wild caught and never well socialized. They will bite out of fear and to protect the only thing life with humans has allowed them - the confines of a metal cell. What better "feel good" moment can there be than when you quietly tiptoe around your cages at night and know that each bird ate well that day, is safe and warm, clean and healthy, has played with good toys. If you take in one of these guys, you can also "feel good" knowing that he doesn't have to ever again be moved out - to go through the grief and sense of loss and have to try once again to find his rightful place in OUR world. I'd like to give some of you lots of "feel good" moments when you decide to invite one of these older birds into your home to stay. Please don't send me notes that say "I used a whole box of tissue when I read that one!" Please send me a note that says "Tell me more about these birds. Which ones will fit in my home? Maybe I could take two?" Everybody is asking for money this holiday season. I'm not. I'm asking you to provide the gift of a quality life for one of these birds. Please. Thanks and Warm wishes to you and your flock this holiday season. Claudia M. - and Cookie, Roberto, Jimmy, Peppie, Herkimer,Bebbi and Alex Adoption Coordinator and "The Boys" Email today and help create your New Year's Miracle! coordinator-Amazon@mickaboo.org Hi! I'm Roberto, a handsome Yellow Nape Amazon with big personality. I am a great ambassador for diversity - my ancestors came from the rainforest of South America, I have a Hispanic name, lived in multi-cultural San Francisco and speak and understand Cantonese. According to my chauffeur, I am a "jabber jaws". I know she was entertained during our long drive with my laughing, singing, clucking and making a wide variety of jungle sounds. I'm in my new foster home, sitting on a heated perch and enjoying looking out the window while catching a few sun rays. I'm developing a taste for fine cuisine, which is better than my previous pistachio nuts and sunflower seed diet. I also lived for at least 22 years in a small cage and was not given any time out for exercise. I'm not quite sure what to do with all this room in my new cage. As soon as I'm feeling a little more confident, I'll probably start exploring a bit and see what those colorful toys are all about. If you have room in your heart and in your family, I don't need much! I just need a place to call HOME! Aren't we the handsomest group of rogues you have ever seen? "Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings." Helen Keller

What's New in the Coo Coo Nest!

by Dianne Lynch

An emergency request went out for placement of 14 doves that needed a new home. The owner's home and property were damaged in one of the major fires that plagued Northern California this past summer and although the aviary had not been touched, the fires came within yards of the doves. They had managed to live through the worst of the smoke, but since the owners were forced to seek lodging in town, they were unable to get up the mountain daily to ensure the doves had food and water.

My greenhouse dream funds quickly got diverted to aviary funds and after multiple trips to the hardware store, working early mornings and late evenings to avoid the heat, I had my temporary emergency shelter finished!

Meanwhile, the owners had gone out of town on business and a neighbor was acting as caretaker for the doves, so there was no longer a rush to move them.

While I waited for the owners to return, word got out that I had a totally empty aviary and within days, I had an instant flock! I received 4 doves from various bay area shelters, gathered by volunteers and transported through the shuttle system.

It was with great delight that I released my first occupants, who acted as if the new aviary had always been their home! I woke the next morning to the sounds of gentle cooing, smiled and grabbed my coffee to go sit on the deck so I could watch them.

I finally received word from the fire flock owners, grabbed my cages and off I went to catch some dirty doves! The smoke had permeated everything and with morning fogs adding dampness, the doves were covered with a smoky, oily dirt.

With the exception of one dove that could not fly, they were all in fairly good shape! They integrated with my small flock easily, and since adding a couple birdbaths, they are all surprisingly clean. The one injured dove, who had been the dirtiest of all, has since found her wings AND the baths and is doing well!

Next, in rapid succession, came a pigeon from Sacramento that could not fly, a feral dove from Shasta with a dislocated wing and a feral dove from the East Bay Area that had been attacked by a cat and had been in vet care for approx. 7 weeks.

I am pleased to report that my large flock is doing well, all are healthy and happy, but happiest of all is Ricky, my Estrella Mountain Dog, who is delighted with his very own flock to guard and has become friends with the lonesome pigeon!

Ricky on raccoon duty

Sage Advice!

for a healthier, happier you

The Wisdom of Daily Life:

Watch a sunrise at least once a year.

Plant flowers every spring.

Look people in the eye.

Compliment three people every day.

Live beneath your means.

Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come ninety percent of all your happiness or misery.

Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.

Don't postpone joy.

~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Life's Little Instruction Book

Did you know?

Honey never spoils. In fact, the honey found in the tomb of King Tut was still edible!

Tips and Tricks:

Ideas from our volunteers on how to keep your walls and floors protected from the food flingers:

"You can use the clear plastic carpet runners. You can buy it by the foot or in a roll (Home Depot). The smell is bad initially so needs airing first. Also, for right under the cage door ( if they like to sit on it), a rubber bath mat works well (Walmart for $7.00 in all colors). You can throw loose stuff away and toss in the washing machine."

"I use plastic chair mats from an office supply store for under the cage. These are the mats that are used on carpet so office chairs with wheels roll easier. They are sort of clear so carpet color shows through and they look reasonably nice."

"We use flexible vinyl from Tap Plastics. You can clean it in place or take it outside. It's easy to wash or mop also. You can buy it in various widths, by the foot."

"The bird room has bare flooring and in the center of the room are hanging cargo nets, etc. Every week I put down a clean paper drop cloth with plastic backing (very inexpensive from Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. paint section) to soak up the droppings when the birds are climbing around. I have also seen homes where they used rolls of butcher paper taped to the floor in front of cages that can be thrown away."

"To protect my carpet from stains due to my food-flingers when I give them stuff like blueberries and pomegranate seeds, I wrap a clear plastic shower curtain around the edge of the cage on the food dish side and clip it on with plastic clamps. It comes down easily after they are done and stops the worst of the food from hitting the carpet."

"I used sheets of plexiglass on both the floor and the wall behind the cages. Very easy to wipe, but difficult to remove for cleaning. I bought some cotton material, colorful with parrots on it, cut it into rectangles and hemmed the edges, and tacked these pieces like wall art behind each cage. They add color and interest to the room, do not show any debris, can be steam cleaned or taken down easily and washed."

Recipes for the Chic Beak:

Birdie Super Bread

2 boxes of cornbread mix
1/2 cup coarse ground walnuts
2 large eggs with shell (washed)
1/2 cup frozen vegetables
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup of apple juice
1 cup mini pellets, ground (can use electric coffee grinder as suggested by Kornelia Strong)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Mix all of the dry ingredients together,. Add the eggs, mashed bananas, and vegetables, adjusting the apple juice as needed, and pour into a pan sprayed with nonstick vegetable spray. Bake for 35-45 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean. Once cooled, cut into serving size squares for your individual birds. Refrigerate up to 3 days. Can also be frozen.

From the book: "The Healthy Bird Cookbook, A Lifesaving Nutritional Guide and Recipe Collection", Robin Deutsch.

Recipes For Your Non-Winged Flock:

Apple Crisp
recipe by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

prep time: 20 minutes | cooking time: 45 minutes | makes 8 servings
This apple crisp is just perfect. Sweet and crunchy and spiced just right, I like it served warm with Vanilla Bean Soy Cream.
Equipment: 9 x 13 baking dish (preferably glass)

Ingredients For the Filling:
4 lbs apples (I use Roma)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar (I use Florida Crystals)
1/2 cup apple juice or water
1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (cornstarch will work too)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/2 cup raisin (optional)

Ingredients For the Topping:
1 cup quick cooking oats (not instant)
1 cup flour
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup canola oil
3 tablespoon soy milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F

Peel, core and thinly slice apples. Dissolve the arrowroot in the apple juice or water. Set aside.

Place apples and raisins in the baking dish, add sugars and spices and combine everything well (you may need to use your hands to do this). Pour arrowroot mixture over everything.

To prepare the topping, in a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add oil, soymilk, and vanilla, mix well. Crumble topping over the apples. Bake for 45 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

Reprinted with direct permission by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, co-author of Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook.

In The News:

Babysitter: Parrot Saved Girl's Life With Warning

Nov 10, 2008 - DENVER (CBS4): A babysitter's parrot is being credited with helping save the life of a 2-year-old girl who was choking Friday at a Denver area home while the sitter was in the bathroom.

"While I was in the bathroom, Willie (1 yr old quaker) started screaming like I'd never heard him scream before and he started flapping his wings," said Meagan, the babysitter. "Then he started saying 'mama baby' over and over and over again until I came out and looked at Hannah and Hannah's face was turning blue because she was choking on her pop tart."

Meagan performed the Heimlich maneuver on Hannah, which stopped the choking.

"If (Willie) wouldn't have warned me, I probably wouldn't have come out of the bathroom in time because she was already turning blue, her lips were blue and everything," Meagan said.

"If anything happened to her, I don't know what I would do," said Samantha Kuusk, Hannah's mother. "I'm very grateful for the both of them because they both saved her."

Straight From The Beak:

Funny things our birds say:

"Azzie says: abandon ship"

"John and I swear that once, Emerald said, "Back to the war!" When he wants to play with my 8 year old, he shouts, "Other one! Other one! EEEEP!"

"XQLN$ (pronounced, "XQLN$") the Senegal parrot once told me, "Technically, I'm not a bird." That's something I had said to him once when he called me a 'bad bird.' "

"XQLN$ and Otis the red-bellied will both chant "Two days!" in the morning when I am heating up their porridge and veggies. They want me to think that they haven't eaten in two days!"

"Jacky the red belly says a bunch of stuff that I can't decipher, but he is fond of asking Wadder ya doin?"

"My male red-bellied, Otis, will watch me for a while with those huge orange eyes, then will lean forward and ask, "Wha'you DO?" He uses the same tone as Bugs Bunny ."

"After remounting the TV, cable box, modem, etc. up high to keep Angie from chewing cords again, I saw her going toward the area which was now quite fortified. She slowly crept up, looked back at me, look at the wires now way out of her reach, looked back at me and said, "Angie, don't touch that or you wll be in very big trouble!"

"Our new foster cockatiel, Alfie, has a variety of funny noises. My favorite noise, and his weirdest: weeble, weeble, weeble, POW! POW! POW! He sounds just like a game of Space Invaders!"

"Ella the CAG is quite a talker and picks up words very easily. Her most recent are "Calling all birds!" (capturing the intonations of the phrase from her talking cell phone toy) and "blah blah blah" (used in context... She just started saying that one day)"

"D'Jango, my blind Indian ringneck, will *bite* me and then say, "Are you okay? Baby, are you okay?"

"I adopted Nicky (yellow nape amazon) 6 years ago. He is pals with my Mealy, Tucker. Two years ago, Nicky pushed Tucker off of a tree branch in my backyard and poor Tucker flew into the pool. This was not funny (all is well).

Last winter we were re-telling the story about Nicky pushing Tucker into the pool. The birds were sitting with us in the family room, and we were having fun, playing guitar and singing ... just generally cutting up. After a few minutes, Nicky says, "I did not push Tucker into the pool". We all stopped and looked at him and just cracked up. LIAR!!!! LIAR!!!"

"Paco (BCC) and Patricia had been hand-wrestling, and at one point he got too excited and bit her too hard. 'No!' Patricia scolded him and walked off looking hurt and cross. Paco immediately became concerned, craning and weaving his head the way conures do when they want attention. He was making little whimpering sounds, too. I was sitting at my computer, next to his cage, and decided to rub it in.

"Uh oh, Paco, look what you did; you hurt Patricia."

Seriously worried now, he shouted at her, "I'll be back!!"

Of course, YOUR bird says hilarious things all the time, so don't be shy! Share them and I will post them here! Newsletter Staff

Hazards:

Lead and Zinc - In the Home:

Lead and zinc pose a serious hazard to pet birds because they are used in many household items, like curtain weights, picture frames, paint, jewelry, imported plastic miniblinds, bottle caps, wine-bottle foils, costume jewelry, and more.

Some galvanized cages may expose birds to zinc, and painted cages may expose your bird to lead.

Lead and zinc poisoning can cause serious illness and sometimes death if not treated promptly, so if your bird's symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, bloody urine or feces, seizures, tremors, paralysis, or poor breathing, contact your avian veterinarian immediately.

Other Household Dangers include houseplants. Though some houseplants (like Boston fern, dracaena, golden pothos, ficus, wandering jew, and zebra plant) are considered to be safe for pet birds, many houseplants are poisonous. A good rule is just don't let your bird chew on anything that isn't a bird toy.

To locate an avian vet near you, go to Association of Avian Veterinarians

EMERGENCY PREVENTION:

Clip Those Wings: While it is understandable for an owner to want to allow their bird free flight, it is a gift that comes with too many dangers. Open windows, ceiling fans, mirrors, fire and hot stoves are just a few of the dangers which may prove fatal for unclipped birds.

Know Your Bird: Know your bird's personality. Because birds naturally hide symptoms, even the most tame, loving bird will not often appear sick until it can no longer hide its symptoms. Subtle changes in behavior, eating patterns, noise level, etc. may indicate illness.

See Your Avian Vet Regularly: See your vet yearly - he or she might be able to pick up signs of illness before you do. These yearly exams are also a great time to discuss behavior, grooming, feeding, or other bird concerns.

Be Aware of Dangers in Your Home: Take a stroll around your house, room by room and become aware of anything you might deem a hazard. Take steps to correct any potential danger, if possible. Read bird magazines, talk to avian vets and other bird people to get valuable advise. Try to rid your home of as many bird dangers as possible.

Always Observe Your Bird Out of Its Cage: Birds can be quite mischievous when you are not looking and if you are not present to prevent a dangerous situation, the bird may make it worse in the time you are absent. Always be sure you are nearby when your bird is playing out of its cage. Watch your bird carefully and try to detect anything they do around the house that may be potentionally harmful. (Example: my male eclectus will try to climb into the dishwasher if he thinks I'm not looking).

Feed Your Bird A Proper Diet: Birds fed a complete diet have a better immune system and are better able to fight off disease and illness. These birds are less likely to have an emergency medical situation due to illness.

Be Prepared: Always have the following on hand: Avian Vet's phone number/directions, Emergency Vet's phone number/directions, styptic powder, bandaging, safety scissors, an appropriately sized towel and a carrier.

Avian Humor:

A parrot's point of view:

1) If I like it, it's mine.
2) If it's in my mouth, it's mine.
3) If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4) If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5) If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6) If I'm chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.
7) If it just looks like mine, it's mine.
8) If I saw it first, it's mine.
9) If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
10) If it's broken, it's yours.

CAPTION CONTEST:
Send in your funniest caption. Winner will be posted next issue!

Upcoming Events:
Email mail@mickaboo.org to pre-register

February 8, 2009 - Holistic Bird Care Seminar: 12-4 pm, Pacifica Community Center, 540 Crespi Drive, Pacifica
Registration Fee is $15/person, $25/couple

Scheduled Bird Care Classes: [ email class@mickaboo.org to sign up ]

January 3, 2009 at 6:30 PM South Bay Basic Bird Class - Andy's Pet Shop, 1280 The Alameda, San Jose

January 11, 2009 at 1:00 PM East Bay Basic Bird Class - Clubhouse, 27930 Pueblo Springs Drive, Hayward

January 17, 2009 at 1:00 PM Santa Cruz Basic Bird Class - Santa Cruz County Shelter, 2200 7th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

January 17, 2009 at 10:00 AM North Bay Basic Bird Class - Marin Humane Society, Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato, CA 94949

February 14, 2009 at 1:00 PM Sacramento Basic Bird Class - Arden-Dimick Library, 891 Watt Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95864

Yeshe, Pollo and Kazoo

KAZOO

In memory of Kazoo, who soared over the Rainbow Bridge at the age of 27.

Kazoo was adopted from Mickaboo by Sarah Forstner in January 07. Kazoo had lived his whole life as a single bird before coming into Sarah's flock, but quickly adapted and embraced his new life with excitement and joy.

Kazoo soon bonded with two of Sarah's flock of seven, Pollo and Yeshe, and the trio quickly became known as The Three Musketeers. Sarah said that Kazoo was full of energy and wanted to be a part of every bit of the action in her bird room, and while she is heartbroken, she is celebrating his life the way he did, with joy!

BOGART

Our sweet and cherished Bogart has left us, unexpectedly and far too soon.

Bogart was a Senegal Parrot who came to Mickaboo two years ago, shortly after she started plucking. Bogey was probably abused in her previous home and had not been out of her cage in years. She didn't even have a name! When she was left alone during the hottest weekend of summer with dwindling food and water, Bogart pulled most of her feathers out. Whether she did this out of anger, boredom, frustration, loneliness or just to cool off, we'll never know. Even though she started her new life with Mickaboo soon after, whatever went through Bogart's mind that weekend stayed with her.

After her rescue, Bogey was a scared little girl. In her first few weeks of foster care, she spent most of her time sitting at her water dish, afraid of being left alone in the heat. Eventually she came to realize that the fresh, cool water would always be there for her and that her foster dad would be there too. Even when she was scared, Bogey wanted to be near people, watching them curiously. She didn't like hands at first, but when she felt safe, she would point at her head with her toes, asking for head scritches between the cage bars. Once she was able to overcome her fear a little bit, Bogey just wanted to be friends.

Under Mickaboo's care, Bogart received several kinds of treatment for her feather plucking - behavioral training, mist baths, anti-itch medicine, anti-anxiety medicine, hormonal treatments, collars, multiple dietary changes, and lots of supportive care. Her only response to all of this was to keep plucking. After wearing a veterinary collar for a few weeks, Bogart had a gorgeous coat of fine orange contour feathers on her chest - her Senegal vest was growing in! When she figured out how to break out of that collar, she was quite proud of herself. In less than a day she had pulled all of her new feathers out, overjoyed at having the freedom to do this. At this point, we realized that she wasn't going to change unless she wanted to, and we accepted her unconditionally as she was: plucked and proud, bald and beautiful.

Bogart was never a cuddler, but she accepted and gave much love in her own rough-and-tumble sort of way. She insisted on coming out of her cage on her own. Having house-trained herself, she always made it a point to poop before stepping up. She loved climbing, exploring, watching movies and sharing dinner. Sometimes Bogey would bite, playfully but painfully, and she kept her human companions on their toes with her aggressive brand of friendship.

In spite of her difficult past and the fear of abandonment that never quite left her, Bogart was not a screamer. Her most common vocalization was an enthusiastic and raspy "YES!" that she used to express happiness, excitement, curiosity, desire, a need for companionship; she got a lot of mileage out of that word! When she was really excited, Bogey would half-speak / half-whistle "Pretty pretty pretty bird!" She usually reserved that phrase for car trips and visits to new places.

Bogey's favorite foods were apples on a kabob and long strands of spaghetti that she held in one foot. Her favorite perch was a soft cotton booda on a playpen next to a window; from there she would watch the wild birds at the feeder outside. At night she insisted on playing hide-and-seek in a blanket before bedtime. In the morning she would let out a single wolf whistle as a wake-up call.

Bogart never left all the baggage of her past behind her, but she learned how to love and be loved. She experienced much happiness in her life and she is at peace now. Bogart was a friend to everyone that she met, and she will be missed.

Your donation really helps - become a Mickaboo supporter!

Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue is a nonprofit organization. We are not government funded, working solely on private donations and adoption fees, and staffed entirely by volunteers. Your donations go directly to providing medical care for our needy rescue birds.

For more information on how you can help, visit our website at MCBR

Supporting Vendors:
	`The fine folks at Polly Pajaro are happy to support Mickaboo! If you purchase their products (such as the Pistachio Treats) they will send 20% of the sale to Mickaboo.` Just click on their logo and type "Mickaboo" in the "Special Notes" section when you check out.

If you have suggestions about what you would like to see in our newsletter, have articles to submit that you think would be beneficial to our readers, or just want to say you liked what we posted this quarter, feel free to contact our Newsletter Staff.

WAITING FOR AN ANGEL: