The Greenwing Macaw Blue Front Amazon Rescue Caper Part 2/2 - Homecoming

Last Updated on February 16, 2023 by Catherine Tobsing

Paco likes to sleep hanging from his beak

The tail starts with Paco (Blue-front Amazon bottom)

& Quincy (Lilac crown Amazon top) at Robin’s home in Indiana.

The Amazons aren’t lonely they have Coco

and Danny, Sandy (from GREASE) Donny & Marie (as in Osmond)

but Robin seized an opportunity to rescue

a Green wing Macaw named Casey

(if you can’t see the video below you

have to friend Robin Demaree on Facebook)

and another Blue front Amazon named Allie

the chatter leading up to the rescue

You made me tear up Mitch. I am glad to have thought of contacting you, so much. I will print your page and be mindful. Quincy my Lilac and Paco my Bluefront, are not normal in any way on anything I have read about Amazons. After going thru the mating season, I believe them to both be males. Paco mounts a Mr. Bill toy and Quincy bites at his feet until I give him a toy. In 1 1/2 years they have never tried to mount each other although they will stand there and chatter when their hormones are strong.

Quincy is sweet and timid but is the leader of the flock after me of course. He, likes Paco, Paco adores Quincy but after we play when I get home, Quincy wants to sit on his play stand and play god. Paco wants to play with me or my dog Coco and be where I am. Paco is literally unafraid of anything and I mean that.

If a T-Rex walked in my door, he would be “bring it on buddy”. At the same time, he is sweet and adjusts to animals, people and really anything very quickly. I do believe the small Blue front will be a perfect playmate for Paco they both seem A.D.D. and fun and crazy with Triple A personalities. I will bet my life that they become playmates within two weeks and I will not lose my place at all with Paco as my birds will still have one on one.

I often pet sit neighbors animals including birds so my kids do not get phased at all by anything really that walks in. Our drywall is safe, had that tested, our home is not yet 10 and I had that checked when I got Quincy.

I will keep you on speed dial just in case. My birds are never unattended ever! If no one else is home and I have to go to the bathroom, I bring the dog with me and Quincy on my shoulder. I do not worry about the dog getting the birds because they play ball together, I worry about her getting too close and losing the tip of her nose.

Thanks again a million times for your articles. I will see how these birds do and if after 60 days any of them are unhappy in anyway I will be searching for a forever home for the new ones as I told the man I would do but I would never sell them for profit or separate them out or adopt them to non parrot people.

I already have a customer in Florida that said she would drive to Indiana to get them who is in her early 40’s and has a Macaw and a Conure so she would be perfect if I fail to make this work. At the very least, they will have fresh fruits and vegetables again and have exercise should they choose to play chase and peekaboo which is my Amazons favorite.

If you saw my fb page I have pics and videos that would make you shake your head. My birds run the house, I am just their maid and playmate. The second my feet hit the floor from work, I say hi to the humans and start the bird meals which have to be fresh every night. I have to STEAM the vegetables that they do not eat raw. If I microwave them, they can tell and will drop them out of their dishes. After dinner we play. Then dessert of bananas or sometimes fresh Mozzarella weekends fresh on the corn pop corn. We hang out, sing, dance then they go on their play gym until they get tired and fussy then off to bed.

My boys are my life and they are my priority. I do Am lost at this point I just hope the new additions work out great, if not, things will still work out and I will always do what is best for any animal feathers or 4 legged. Not mother Teresa in any way but I did volunteer all of my high school years in an animal shelter and that was when they put them down immediately.

Why the majority of humans do not see that birds are more human than they realize, is beyond me. I will be picking up those ear plugs already probably too late for me Paco training kind of made me deaf and if I leave his sight he screams and your last tips and tricks has not worked for that problem so I just ignore him and hurry the heck up to make it stop LOL! xoxoxoxox Robin

Mitch or other staff: One more question then I promise not to fill your in-box unless I get in a real pickle.

The birds and their cages will arrive Fri or Sat. They will be in carries. I plan to have fresh fruits and nuts at the ready I use fresh Pine Nuts and peanuts as training treats. When I went to see the birds, they accepted grapes from my hand. I did not try to handle them, they did not lunge and were curious but I know better than to push yourself on a bird. My question: I thought I would have Quincy my Lilac on his play stand and Paco on his play stand when the birds arrive. I will put Coco dog in my room or outside until the birds have calmed down. They also have a dog so once they are relaxed some, I will let Coco meet them.

I was planning to let the Blue Front out first and place her on the play gym, then put on my leather coat which has a cast under it and see if the Macaw will step up to get out if she does not seem to be totally stressed offer her treats and see if she will not stay with me. Their current care giver and his sons will be there but I thought they could be out of sight and I am thinking it may be better for me to be the one to remove them if they will let me. If the little one gives me a few hits, not a big deal, the Macaw, I will have to be very very careful. Thank you for the good wishes! Robin

I would advocate keeping Paco in Quincy in their cages for the introduction to reduce the chance of four panicked birds – Keep the questions coming this is great stuff.

Images and or video of the introduction would be greatly appreciated and I would make it with your while

Talk soon

I will be ordering some pellets this weekend from you. A local lady farmer here has a greenhouse and grows organic and hydroponic fruits and vegetables she also has 2 Cockatoos. She is a weaver and makes her own fabric as well as bird toys. I buy food for my boys from her. The toys are pricey but all natural and if she colors any it is with dye from food. Plus I am supporting local farmers Her husband made me a Macaw stand of PVC so toys, stands and adoption fee I will be at about 1k this week.

Oh well, worth every penny just to have the experience and hope they are also my new kids. Quincy is free flighted, Paco has been able to fly for a year and while he no longer drops like a stone, he has not been able to take off. I don’t think he was ever able to fly. He is 21 Quincy is 8. Just this past week, I placed him on a pillow and tossed him up and down gently, he is starting to flap and I say good boy, but this may take awhile.

When I get there I will send you that one! October I got a 2 year old Australian Cattle dog mix from the Shelter (Coco). I will have to get a video of her and Paco playing for you. Coco pushes the ball to Paco and Paco pushes it back.

Sometimes Paco holds onto it to long and Coco freaks cuz she wants it thrown or tossed, I always laugh and so does Quincy. Of course I am right there to protect Coco in case Paco decides he is sick of that and goes for the tail or paw. It is all good. You will have to let me know how I can send you photos and videos, I could mail a CD to your address I suppose. Last mating season, I got a real good ex-rated porn video of Paco “doing Mr. Bill” I bet Saturday Night Live would crack up at that one, but would not embarrass my poor Paco.

At first, I thought he was just playing, so I started taping, it became pretty clear pretty quick what he was doing and all I could do was laugh and feel bad for poor Mr. Bill. This year, I may get a little curtain so he has some privacy LOL! I had better scoot, Paco and Quincy are both down on the ground, pecking at my mouse which means time to play hide and seek for awhile. They love for me to jump out and scare them! 🙂

I am counting on my boys to show these new kids how to behave, play, have fun and to be loved and spoiled and to just be. 🙂 I think the little cutie will join in pretty quick, if the big one is as smart as you say with that big brain, hopefully she will decide to join in very soon. She will have to allow me to move her around on my Polly , but I will not force her to do anything she does not want to do. I just hope I am fast enough to avoid missing ears, eyes, or fingers but my whole right arm is damaged for life from Paco so a few more hits will not make much difference! Worth every strike to see him now. I couldn’t love any bird more and he is the most work and the craziest super high maintenance but my best friend forever and ever! No new bird will take his place but I have enough love to give and my sanity and social life has been gone for the past 4 years any way because I will not leave my birds even for a weekend. Sick I know ! I will put you on one of my first people to update when I get those gorgeous orphans in my front door!

DrG • 8 days ago

Wow – Mitch, you’re being SO diplomatic! I have many years of experience with parrots and the scenario described above looks to me like a disaster in the making. So many times I’ve seen good-hearted people who can’t bear to see a neglected parrot take them home, one after another. Before long, when the parrots continue to do what parrots naturally do when stressed (scream, bite, pluck, fight, and dismantle the house and everything in it for starters), the poor parrots end up back on Craigs List or in some other adoption program. Again.

Besides this, between the cost of “normal” parrot supplies (cages, food, toys, cleaners, etc.) and the additional cost of having constantly to replace household items, not to mention furniture, clothes, walls, curtains, etc., the financial burden can become unsustainable. And parrots require a LOT of attention when they are not completely stressed, but when they ARE stressed, they require (and DEMAND) your complete and undivided attention at EVERY MOMENT. One has to have a lot of patience and a very calm mind in order to cope with this.

And do I even need to mention the cost of veterinary care?

What to do? I’ve had to say “no” to people who call me about homeless parrots over and over again, and it breaks my heart every time, but I know that to overburden myself with an aviary of stressed parrots would indeed reduce me to the status of zookeeper (and a poverty-stricken one at that), and it would seriously degrade not only my own quality of life, but more importantly, the quality of life of the birds I already have. So I constantly refer people to my local parrot group and their adoption process, and this is what I would recommend in this case, too.

On another note, thank you for keeping everyone posted about Popcorn. Along with everyone else, I’m really pulling for her (and for you and Catherine) and sending all of you good wishes and healing thoughts.

– Susan M

I try not to pass judgment (kinda) only to counsel

Hello Dr. G,

I read your comment completely as well as the advice and forecasts from our Mitch who also has much humor. Be re-assured, while I may not know what this Macaw will bring, after 4 years of being Quincy’s mom and 1 1/2 years with Paco I do have an idea.

If I have not given up on my Paco, I will not give up on these birds unless we are all miserable and only time will tell. Paco was literally almost dead when I brought him home. He was meaner than a snake and chased my husband around with blood on his mind. Now he is a perfect little man. Since August 1, of 2014, there were only been 3 days when I did not bring my birds downstairs. 2 for the flu and a work seminar the other.

They are part of the family and are actually down on the floor more often than not to play. With help of Mitch and his site, my insanity, love, patience, common sense and trust, Paco is now the most wonderful, happy, healthy funny man of the whole house. The scars, hearing loss and more bruises than I can count, were worth every single one to see him now. I am with my birds every minute I am awake and home and all weekend.

I do appreciate this post though, as I know that this does happen to so many birds, or people purchase them to put in a cage and look “pretty” . Rest assured, this will not happen to these birds in my care. I am confident that my birds should adjust just perfectly, as I will never stop loving them or giving them their time and they are so used to having so many visiting animals and people in the house, they adapt very well. I am convinced it is because they trust in me and know that I will protect them and always watch out for them. I already have no life, adding two more, will not be taking too much more time except the stress of watching the four of them when I do let them near each other to try to play.

Do wish me luck and I told Mitch I would post pics and take a video for him. I just posted a cute fb post today where Quincy, Paco and I were playing hide and seek Sunday. Paco found a good new spot under the TV cabinet but Quincy and I found him right away because he cannot be quiet! LOL!

Thank the Universe for the animals that bring us joy.

PICTURES

Wishing the best possible outcome for this new situation. As a foster parront, I’ve found that keeping the new birds separated from the established flock at first (usually a few weeks) while they get to know me works best. Then I bring members of my flock individually to sit with me and meet the new birds (they are in their cages for the first few meetings.) They are never left alone, and lots of treats and love are given to all. The key is to go slow and give so very much love while the new birds are learning your household routine and discipline (aka “Mom” / “Dad” voice). Good luck!

WindyCityParrot Mod Tarsa13 • 7 days ago

Great advice Tarsa13 thank you

AvatarRobin Demaree Tarsa13 • 6 days ago

Thank u and love that u foster. When I retire that is my wish. These I hope will b my family. I havent been away for a vacation in years because I love my birds too much lol.

Robin Demaree Tarsa13 • 6 days ago

Thank you Tarsa. Glad to hear you are a foster! Bless your heart. That is my dream when I retire. I hope these kids will be a part of my family, but if it doesn’t work for my kids or them, I have crazy Parrot people in mind who are willing and wonderful. I have not been on a vacation or even a weekend away for years, because I love my birds too much! (Sic). Not too many of my neighbors want to play hide and seek and peek a boo or cook birdie meals every night fresh, twice on weekends I will see how it goes, as I pet sit often dogs, cats snakes, birds, you name it. My boys are always downstairs when they arrive. Worst I think will happen is Quincy will fly and do his laps. My daughter will be right with me though. If they seem to freak, she will take them upstairs. Wish me lots of luck and that I come out of this meeting with all of the body parts that I am going into this with! lol!

Robin Demaree • 7 days ago

Thank you for the well wishes and also for the warnings. No worries. If these new Parrot kids affect my current kids after 60 days or they seems unhappy, I already have perfect parents for them picked out so they do not go home to home. I would not take this on if I thought I could not make this work. I have purchased those ear plugs Mitch suggested though. Will update soon when the kids arrive!

WindyCityParrot Mod Robin Demaree • 7 days ago

when are they due?

Robin Demaree WindyCityParrot • 6 days ago

Supposed to b this fri or sat as I needed time to move furniture left my birds play area ahere it is just adding to it. Still trying to figure out how to keep dog aeay from cage without blocking Macaws nee

Robin Demaree WindyCityParrot • 6 days ago

Supposed to be this Fri or Sat as I needed time to move living room furniture. I have left my birds play area as is, just extending the new kids on that whole wall apart from each other I may have to postpone yet one more week as I need to make something so my dog Coco cannot get near the cage and at the same time, not block the Macaws new view. Coco will not hurt her and the bird is used to a dog but cannot chance coming home to a dog who has bled out. My living room is not the largest. While we can live with the right wall looking the a zoo a few months, I am trying to come up with something not too tacky looking and safe to keep the dog from having her nose up against that cage. Good Grief Charlie Brown! I will post when we have a confirmed day.