Since I finally got around to taking pictures of Kuarii and Soren, I thought I’d share how they came into my life, and some cute moments. I’ve had them for over 10 years now, so there are lots to pick from.

Kuarii was abandoned at the pet store I worked at when he was 3. His owner disappeared to Belgium, where he dodged our attempts to contact him about his bird, before finally telling us to sell him to cover the costs. Mango (yes that was Kuarii’s original name) was such a sweet bird, and a few of the store employee’s wanted to take him home but couldn’t pay for the entire tab. We knew some of his history because the leg band let us know he was raised at our store – there’s a chance that I might have helped handle him when he was little if only briefly.

I ended up selling him to a woman who later wanted to return him because she had MS (something she neglected to tell me during our entire conversation). He also wanted to be with her all the time, and it drove her nuts. Some people are not cut out to own a bird. The store really didn’t want to take him back, and the woman begged me to take him. I told her I couldn’t afford to pay her for everything she’d purchased. She said she didn’t care; she just wanted him to have a good home.

So that’s how I got Kuarii. I promptly changed his name, choosing that of an eagle owl from the Owl trilogy by Mercedes Lackey. I added an extra ‘i’ because I’m kooky like that. :p

One of the downsides of owning a parrot that had another owner is dealing with some of the quirks taught to them. Kuarii was obviously owned by a man first. Sure he loves me, and does what I ask better than anyone else, but I’ve been training him for over ten years. Whenever Kuarii meets a new guy he’s all friendly and sweet and affectionate. Women he pretty much ignores. He doesn’t hate them, but he doesn’t go out of his way to be cute or anything. Unless you shower him with attention, then he’s all yours. He’s my little attention whore.

One thing Kuarii does that I love and hate at the same time, is whenever he gets in trouble and I put him in time-out (the bottom of the bathtub) and close the door. He’ll holler after me something that sounds distinctly like “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you! You Bitch!”

He’s always done this. I never taught it to him. I’ve never said it around him either. I think he’s repeating something that his previous owner taught him. I’m guessing they fought a lot.

Fortunately, I’ve been able to teach him lots of cute things. Some of you have heard a bit during the Livestream. He loves to laugh. Anytime someone laughs (even the T.V.) he likes to laugh along. He wants to be part of the fun. What I’m trying to get him to say next is, “I’m a silly birdy. Hahahahaha!” And dance.


Now for a Soren story. I got him when he was 6, from a couple who were both nurses and couldn’t spend enough time with him. They boarded him at our store often, which was how I knew she was looking to find him a new home.

I’ve always wanted an African grey, and working with them got my heart set on owning a Timneh. They’re calmer, and cuddlier, they’re less prone to feather plucking and deal with change better. Problem is Greys are expensive. A hand raised Timneh baby would cost me a couple of thousand dollars not just for the bird, but the set up, toys, food and everything else they need. Our store wasn’t known for carrying Timnehs either, so when Soren’s previous owner told me she was interested in finding him a good home, I pretty much jumped at the offer.

When I first went to visit him, the woman warned me that Einstein (yeah, such an original name) might be a bit nervous, because she didn’t handle him much. She’d never heard him talk either. He spent most of his time on his T-stand by himself. His cadge was next to a window, but sometimes the local raccoons would stop by and bother him at night. It worried me. At the time, I hadn’t worked with many parrots older than six.

The moment I walked into their kitchen, he perked up and whistled.

She said, “He must really like you, he’s never done that before!”

After that, I knew I had to take him home. I watched her go through her usual interactions with him, to see what I’d be dealing with, but he wasn’t aggressive, just stubborn – very typical of African Greys. It would take time, but I knew I could help him. We haggled on price, but she gave me everything she had bought for him, for far less than I would have paid had I got him as a baby, and considering he was six, and barely step-up trained, it turned out well in the end.

That’s how Soren came into my life. I got his name from The Guardians of Ga’hoole books by Kathrine Laskey – yes the one they made a movie out of. That’s my Soren. It took me 10 solid years of training, but he’s now the cuddle bug I’ve always wanted. There were times where I feared it might never happen. I’ve been through my share of bites, and bruises, but the trust he shows in me now . . . he’s a different bird. His voice is sweeter sounding; his personality is gentle and calm. He’s still a big wus, and scared of his own shadow, but he trusts that I’ll be there for him. If I ever had to train another bird, I know I could do it. Most of the advice I give on parrot training has worked out well.

Despite the insistence of Soren’s previous owner that he didn’t talk, I talk to him anyway. I’ve found he responds better if I talk in clear sentences to him. He’s always mumbled his own words, but for the longest time he never said anything clearly. Back when I was living on my own, I’d gotten up early, and the birds were still sleeping. Soren’s first full sentence to me was, “It’s a good morning, so get up! It’s a good morning!”

I promptly uncovered him up and told him what a good boy he was.

He says a few more things now, but he’s never repeated that sentence to me.

I absolutely love working with parrots. Sometimes interacting with them makes me feel a little like I’m Doctor Doolittle. If you ever have any questions about parrots, feel free to bring them to me. I’m always willing to share my love and knowledge of birds.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Thank you everyone for watching and reading.