Ornithologist writes about her gradually deepening relationship with her parrot. The story goes back and forth between how she acquired the bird (it originally belonged to a neighbor), how she slowly earned its trust and learned to live with its quirks and demands- the parrot very much ran that household- and her studies in the field, usually involving birds including terns, gulls and wild parrots, but sometimes other wildlife such as baboons. It was really interesting to see how after each trip for studies, she would come home with new understanding of her parrot's behavior. It became increasingly hard for her to leave him for any length of time, because he bonded to her strongly, considered her his mate, attacked her husband if he showed affection, and often disliked strangers intensely. I found all the little details about what life with a parrot can be like very intriguing to read about- they are so smart and stubborn! but am even more firmly convinced they do not make a good pet for the average person. The author also discusses the issues with parrots in the pet trade, environmental ills, and shares many personal anecdotes from her home life and her travels. I found it very enjoyable reading, although it was the kind of book I had to take slowly, the chapters were so full of things to think about.

from the Dogear Diary ( )

I became too annoyed by the author to finish this book, though I've had a thing for parrots ever since seeing a documentary about Irene Pepperberg and her work with Alex, an African Grey. The author of this book is an ornithologist, as is her husband. Their mutual interest in birds goes a long way to explaining how they adapted to life with a parrot who considered the author his mate and her husband an intruder. For the 5 or 6 months of the year when the bird was in courting mode, they could barely touch or speak affectionately to each other in the parrot's presence without the bird attacking the husband's head. It's a fine way to live if you look at it all as an adventure in bird behavior, but let's face it, this is not a normal situation. As a non-ornithologist I kept thinking there had to be a better solution in which the parrot could lead a happy life. ( )

The author's parrot, like mine, is an Amazon. They have the intelligence of a small child, so, yes, living with a parrot is something like lliving with a small child. Parrots make wonderful pets. They are not "pets" like dogs or cats. Maybe it takes another parrot owner to understand that this book is a love story about living with a quirky, intelligent, loving, fascinating, beautiful, entertaining family member. ( )

If an ornithologist has trouble living comfortably with a parrot, everyone will. This is a story that anyone who thinks owning a parrot would be a wonderful idea. As long as you don't mind having your household run by the parrot (who is only doing what a parrot does in the wild), having friends and family members attacked because the parrot has bonded with you, having your door jams chewed, etc., a parrot can make a wonderful family member, but not a pet. In captivity, a parrot can live 70 years+. That is a commitment few owners are willing or able to make.

Having known a cockatoo, I now understand the problems the owner had with the bird, and why I didn't particularly like it. ( )

I couldn't put it down! ( )