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| Name: |
Noah
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Age: |
Eleven years old
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| Gender: |
Male
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Kind: |
Umbrella Cockatoo
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| Home: |
Aledo, Texas, USA
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This
is my Umbrella Cockatoo Noah. We think Noah is about eleven years old.
Noah has been with us for three years as of last Christmas.
What makes Noah so special is his story. We rescued Noah from a very
bad situation. He had been bred and used as a breeder bird and had been
kept all his life in a tiny cage barely big enough for him and his mate.
Eventually, his mate did turn on him in these conditions and attacked
him so viciously that he still bears bald cheeks that were scarred too
badly to ever re-grow feathers. When I found Noah, the man who was
selling him had him outside in a horribly dirty cage in December in the
rain, a condition that can mean quick death to these birds. It was
actually flooding much of the area that day and since we almost got
swept away in the rain on the way home we dubbed him Noah.
Noah was not a tamed bird and he acted like he had never been held
kindly before in his life. We rushed him to the veterinarian's office
before even taking him home and after treating him for some ailments
common to parrots and general bad health caused from deficiencies in his
diet, the vet told us that he did not have much hope for ever taming
Noah and tried to warn me about the road ahead. It took me a solid year
to tame Noah and the biggest issue was of course trust.
It became painfully obvious just how bleak his life had been. He didn't
know how to play with toys and he wouldn't eat most foods. We also have
had reoccurring bouts of illness that the vet has said is caused by just
how bad him health had gotten to when we rescued him.
But Noah is now like my child. He is gentle and sweet. He is most at
home when sitting on my shoulder and he enjoys the freedom of our entire
home. He also had a new family member as we have rescued a 22-year-old
Indian ringneck who is also doing quite well. The vet is amazed and so
am I. I have certainly put a lot of work into rehabilitating Noah, but
the reason he has come so far is because he so desperately wanted to be
loved. He is a good example of how pets can be wonderful if they are
provided for and allowed to put their trust into their people and he
provides hope for animals that many say are too far gone to help. Noah
taught me that there is always hope and with patience, time, and love
much can be accomplished.
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