It has been the hardest thing to do, but I have given Jo to a certified wildlife carer ................
Here is the story :
I think I have mentioned to you before that I hate keeping my beautiful birdie on her own, or even in her cage. I feel so sorry for her all the time, being by herself. John and I were considering buying another birdie just to keep her company.
Just seeing Jo's reaction whenever she heard or saw other wild Galahs flying near our house was heartbreaking - it was like she suddenly realised she was alone ..... :(
Well, earlier this week, a man I work with (or at least, one that works for the same company, but in a different location) posted this up on our electronic noticeboard
Wanted:Female Galah any age.(For pet only / not for breeding)Company for male Galah (His sister died)
Well, you can imagine how sad THAT made me, so I went home and talked to John ........... we decided to give the man a call and "sus" him out, and see if he really is a bird lover, etc. I emailed him this yesterday
"You might not remember me, but I am the lady who did the SAP and the PC Refresh training at Broadmeadows.
I saw your notice about a female Galah, and wanted to let you know that I have one that I rescued. Here is her story :
We have a family friend called Viv. At her 40th birthday party, I overheard some other "friend" of hers (who was planning on renovating their house) mention to Viv that she would like her to look after Jo. Viv automatically assumed that meant whilst they renovate their house ......... but NO, this woman said they no longer wanted the bird, and if Viv did not take her, they were going to open the cage and hope she flew away!!!
Viv would not have been able to take the bird (as she has a cat and 2 budgies already), so I jumped in and offered to take her.
Her name is Jo (apparently it was AGRO!?) and she is approx. 6 years old. She LOVES my husband, and tolerates me. We do love her dearly, but I am a soft-hearted person and feel so sorry for her on her own. She comes inside at night, into her big cage, and in the day, she goes outside to the aviary my Dad and Husband built for her. She loves it, but I think she is lonely.
NOW, I am happy to discuss this with you, and I feel so sorry for your male bird, but do you think you might like to try and see if they get along? It will break my heart to see her go, but I am thinking of the big picture. Would I be able to visit her if you took her?"
He phoned me on Friday, and was so excited. His name is Bob, he is in his 50's and he is a registered wildlife carer. He rescued his Galah's 20 years ago, and also has budgies, turtledoves, quail and peachfaces ...... and would love to take Jo to keep his male bird (whose name is AGRO - can you believe it!!!).
I made him promise that if she does NOT get on with the other birdies, that he will give her back to me. He promised.
(His Male Galahs sister died as a result of complications of surgery - they went in too remove a lump they found, and it was too much for her ..... and she passed away)
So on Sunday, off I went to his house - in Reservior (108 km round trip!!!), but went with the "If I don't like it, she is not staying" attitude. I got there and he welcomed me in like a long lost friend, showed me around the house, all the birdies, cats, dogs ........ and then we went outside to the large aviary in the back where the male Galah was, with all the quail and turledoves. And there he was - HE WAS HUGE!!! and was sulking in the back of the cage. Bob said he has been pining terribly for his sister ........
Suitably satisfied with the HUMUNGOUS aviary, we went and got Jo out the car, and hung her cage on the outside of the aviary. Well, Agro took one look, and waddled his way along the branch to take a closer look! Jo (of course) ignored him! So we all went back inside to have a cuppa .......... and Bob snuck back out to look. They were sitting head to head through the wire / cage - nattering away to each other. An hour later, we put Jo inside the Aviary with all the other birds ...... and she promptly flew to a large branch and "biffed" the turtledoves off! Made herself right at home.
Eventually, I realised she was making herself quite at home - preening, and flying from branch to branch, so I headed home.
This morning I phoned Bob, who told me that yesterday after I had gone, he went back outside to sneak a look, and both of them were on the floor of the aviary (which is covered in hay, and other yummy birdie things), foraging together. And last night, he went out at around 10pm, and they were both up the back of the aviary in the "roosting area", snuggled up in the corner together .............
So I think I have made the best decision for the birdie .......... even tho I miss her terribly.
PCB - don't hate me! I did take pics before she left, and will post them from home tonight.
Michelle
