Post by mplo on Oct 1, 2017 16:46:24 GMT -7
Although it has been a little over 7 and a half years since Aziza was first purchased (she was a baby) back in April of 2010, I still have memories of her homecoming.
My 20 year old Noble Macaw, McGee, passed away due to unknown causes in early February of 2010. It was a rather unpleasant surprise, when I went to cover his cage one Sunday evening, and found him lying motionless on the bottom of his cage. No amount of caressing and calling out his name elicited any response, and I knew the worst.
I knew in my heart that I wanted another exotic bird, and I had to take time to mourn McGee's passing, and to do some research on the kind of bird I might buy. After looking at, and researching afew different exotic birds, including a Goffins Cockatoo, I decided on the Timneh African Grey. I went to a well-reputed pet store south of the city where I presently reside, and looked at afew birds. I thought about purchasing the Goffins Cockatoo, but decided against it after reading/hearing some rather frightful stuff about cockatoos, generally, and realizing that, although the Goffins cockatoo and I got along well, this particular bird was too hyper for me.
I decided on the Timneh African Grey. Shortly before the baby Timnehs were due to arrive in the pet store, however, I received an email from the owner of the store, who'd received an email from the breeder somewhere down in Florida, that the baby Timnehs had been killed by the parents, that two Congo African Greys were due to arrive, and that I could get a Congo African Grey Parrot for the price of the Timneh. I immediately took her up on that, and said yes, and that I was interested.
I was told that the baby CAG's were due to arrive on Saturday, April 10th. The big day came, and I drove down to the pet store to look at the two Congo African Greys. The smaller of the two CAG's almost immediately attempted to climb up the front of my shirt. I immediately knew, in my heart, that we'd formed a connection. I purchased the bird outright, as well. That week, I began our bonding process, and began driving down to the pet store every 2-3 days to spend some time with my newfound companion. We had fun. I got to know the owner of the store, the staffpeople, and a number of other regular customers, as well as getting to know my congo african grey.
I had her DNA-tested, as well. One of the staffpeople took a small sample of blood from my new Grey, and sent it to a special lab out in San Diego, CA, where they do special tests like that. I received an email a week and a half later from one of the pet store's staff people; My new CAG was a little girl.
I discussed some names with my family, and my sister was kind enough to email me afew names that she thought would be fitting for my new companion. Aziza was among the names recommended by my sister, and I decided that Aziza was the most fitting name for my new CAG. I had originally thought to name her Lady Grey, but other people thought that was too cutesy. I agreed. I'd also thought about naming my new companion Riff (after the Jet gang leader, Riff, in West Side Story), but got a lot of good-natured flack from my family for that one. Aziza was definitely the best name.
Aziza was already 2.5 months old when I purchased her (She'd hatched on February 1st, 2010.), and, in May that year, she was brought home. I had a vet check to see that she was in good health, and, well....the rest is history, if one gets the drift.
My 20 year old Noble Macaw, McGee, passed away due to unknown causes in early February of 2010. It was a rather unpleasant surprise, when I went to cover his cage one Sunday evening, and found him lying motionless on the bottom of his cage. No amount of caressing and calling out his name elicited any response, and I knew the worst.
I knew in my heart that I wanted another exotic bird, and I had to take time to mourn McGee's passing, and to do some research on the kind of bird I might buy. After looking at, and researching afew different exotic birds, including a Goffins Cockatoo, I decided on the Timneh African Grey. I went to a well-reputed pet store south of the city where I presently reside, and looked at afew birds. I thought about purchasing the Goffins Cockatoo, but decided against it after reading/hearing some rather frightful stuff about cockatoos, generally, and realizing that, although the Goffins cockatoo and I got along well, this particular bird was too hyper for me.
I decided on the Timneh African Grey. Shortly before the baby Timnehs were due to arrive in the pet store, however, I received an email from the owner of the store, who'd received an email from the breeder somewhere down in Florida, that the baby Timnehs had been killed by the parents, that two Congo African Greys were due to arrive, and that I could get a Congo African Grey Parrot for the price of the Timneh. I immediately took her up on that, and said yes, and that I was interested.
I was told that the baby CAG's were due to arrive on Saturday, April 10th. The big day came, and I drove down to the pet store to look at the two Congo African Greys. The smaller of the two CAG's almost immediately attempted to climb up the front of my shirt. I immediately knew, in my heart, that we'd formed a connection. I purchased the bird outright, as well. That week, I began our bonding process, and began driving down to the pet store every 2-3 days to spend some time with my newfound companion. We had fun. I got to know the owner of the store, the staffpeople, and a number of other regular customers, as well as getting to know my congo african grey.
I had her DNA-tested, as well. One of the staffpeople took a small sample of blood from my new Grey, and sent it to a special lab out in San Diego, CA, where they do special tests like that. I received an email a week and a half later from one of the pet store's staff people; My new CAG was a little girl.
I discussed some names with my family, and my sister was kind enough to email me afew names that she thought would be fitting for my new companion. Aziza was among the names recommended by my sister, and I decided that Aziza was the most fitting name for my new CAG. I had originally thought to name her Lady Grey, but other people thought that was too cutesy. I agreed. I'd also thought about naming my new companion Riff (after the Jet gang leader, Riff, in West Side Story), but got a lot of good-natured flack from my family for that one. Aziza was definitely the best name.
Aziza was already 2.5 months old when I purchased her (She'd hatched on February 1st, 2010.), and, in May that year, she was brought home. I had a vet check to see that she was in good health, and, well....the rest is history, if one gets the drift.
