Azul’s Journey

October 14^th 2007

I overheard a breeder talking at a bird show about euthanizing a retired breeder.  Our booth was next to his.  I explained to him that it wasn’t necessary, as we would happily accept the bird.  He responded, “You don’t want this bird.  He’s ugly,” he said with a chuckle.  I convinced him otherwise and we made plans to meet at an upcoming bird event to collect the little guy. 

November 1^st 2007

Azul, a Blue-headed Pionus Parrot, came into Arizona Exotic Bird Rescue on Sunday October 28th 2007.  As hard as I try not to judge another human being by their actions, Azul is the measure by which I form an opinion about his former owners.  If I was the judge and jury they would be condemned to live the remainder of their existence as they forced this beautiful, gentle bird to do for so many years.

We were not prepared for what we were to see.  It was shocking that this poor parrot had survived for so long in the ravaged condition.  I vowed to change Azul’s life.  I would find a way to provide him the medical care he had needed for so long.  I would love him and support him. 

Finally Azul was going to be wanted for what he is not what he can produce.  He would receive the long needed medical care and love he desperately needed to have a better quality of life.  There’s an inner beauty and great dignity about him.  He is a survivor.

He needs a great deal of medical care to correct the deformity or in the very least improve his lower mandible [jaw] and give him a better life.  The years of neglect did so much damage.  This is a challenging endeavor for a rescue but one we are committed to fulfilling.  I don’t want euthanasia to be our only recourse. 

Most of the parrots that come into our rescue have been valued family members.  It is through some life-changing event that the owner seeks a solution to this hardship of parting with their bird and entrusts it in to our care.  I look forward to the joy I know their bird will give another family upon adoption.  I look forward to sharing the bird’s adoption story with the former owner and giving them the peace-of-mind they so richly deserve for their time of devotion to their feathered family member.

Azul is an exception to the rule, the opposite end of what I generally experience.  He started life over three decades ago in the rain forests of Central America.  He was a wild caught bird intended for export to a foreign country.  He was taken from the security of his paradise, from his flock for the selfish gain of man.  Mans ruthless greedy indifference is all too apparent when you look at this tortured little creature.

In my research I discovered that Azul has experienced many owners.  He’s been passed from person to person to person over and over in his sad time on this earth.  It’s hard to tell how many homes Azul has known.  One thing that is known, at some point not to far into his life Azul had the misfortune of loosing virtually all of his lower mandible in a dispute with another parrot.  Time went by without medical intervention and Azul’s condition and chances of a normal life diminished steadily each hour, each day, year after year.  No one cared what was wrong with Azul.  No one cared that this once beautiful bird was slowly dying a painful death.  They only cared that he could still reproduce.  No mind to how his body was ravaged and he suffered.  He could produce offspring.  His offspring could produce money.  In 2001 a breeder bought Azul along with his mate of over 25 years.  This was to be the last owner he had before coming into our sanctuary six years later.

In 2004 the man believed Azul was infested with mites.  I have no way to document if this was in fact the case.  I suspect it was a massive raging infection that was eating away at his face further destroying the tissue of his shattered beak and other areas.  The breeder used an old method of killing mites that was once accepted as reasonable.  He placed the bird in a paper bag filled with the insecticide Sevin® [carbaryl - http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/gen-pubre-sevin.html] and shook him up to evenly distribute the toxin.  He repeated this act a total of three (3) times.  He knew the substance could kill mites but must have never given thought as to the other horrors the poison would do on Azul’s weakened immune system.  His focus was on destroying the mites that could effect his flock, not the long term damaging effect the hazardous chemical would have on Azul.  It was not his intension to cause further harm.

Azul and his mate raised many beautiful babies over the years the breeder had him.  Then something happened.  The eggs that his mate was producing were no longer fertile.  No offspring were being produced.  The man put Azul’s beloved mate with another male and he grew deeply depressed.  He was lonely.  He missed her.  She had been his only comfort for many years.  Now she was with another and he was alone.

November 5^th 2007  

Azul has a great appetite!  I make him a cooked concoction of healthy easy to eat foods.  I’m treating him for sever eye, sinus and respiratory infections.  He has bubbles coming from his eye.  Our veterinarian is going to decide just what can be done to help this wonderful bird.  He’s certainly not a lost cause!  While I now know he is deaf and about 90% blind from the insecticide he was subjected to he still manages to show that his life is worth living.  He serves as a lesson to me on those days when my own illness makes being me painful.  I look at him and think, ‘Quit complaining and get on with it!’  He’s strong.  I’m moved by his ability to push on.  Maybe that’s part of Azul’s purpose for being.  He’s here to inspire us to better things.

December 31^st 2007

Azul is thriving under our care.  His voracious appetite, the gifts of healthy whole foods [nuts, berries, fruits, vegetables], Red Palm Oil, my cooking and superior veterinary care has made some amazing changes.  He’s become very vocal and protests about getting his medication now where before he was basically cationic.  His sprit was broken as was his heart.  All of that is behind him.

Christmas came a few days early at Arizona Exotic Bird Rescue thanks to Dani, a dear friend of the rescue.  Actually it was her amazing insightful daughter, Katie, that had first posed the question, “Why can’t we buy Azul’s mate from the breeder?”  The thought had never occurred to us.  It was an epiphany!

The female Pionus was valuable.  She had been placed with another male when the eggs she produced with Azul were no longer fertile.  Was it possible to buy her?  Would the breeder care enough to return her to her mate of 25 years?  Could we afford his price were the man to allow us to buy her?  Dani, told us not to worry just to see if could buy her.

I called him on Thursday December 13^th at about 4:00 in the afternoon.  I poured out my heart.  I gave all of the reasons why he should let her go.  He seemed to me, at the time, to be a bit indifferent to my plea.  I was afraid I might say the wrong thing.  The conversation ended with my high hopes pretty much dashed.  The man said he’d call me the next day ‘if’ he and his wife decided to sell her.

Friday 12/14/2007: I tried to keep my mind off the fact that I was waiting for a call back.  By 8:00 that evening I knew he wasn’t going to call me.  I was heart-sick.  I called Dani and told her the man didn’t call me.  I doubted we would be able to get her at any price.  After all she had made pretty babies.  Blue Headed Pionus babies are worth a lot of money.

Saturday 12/15/2007: Weekends are always extra busy at the rescue.  I still held out the hope that the breeder would call me.  I fought the urge to call him.  He knew what we wanted.  I’d made our desire perfectly clear.  I was annoyed with myself for being the overly optimistic soul that I am in the first place.  Every time I looked at Azul that day I prayed that God would touch the man's heart and reunite him with his mate.  I called on Saint Francis to look out for her and reassure her of Azul’s love and our efforts to see them together.

Sunday 12/16/2007: I knew I wouldn’t get a call now.  I knew in my head that hope was wasted but my heart just wouldn’t let go.  I stayed busy soaking up all of the love that abides in this amazing place of healing.  I tried to channel all my energy into all of our resident birds.  Dani called with the hope that the man had called and I just hadn’t called her yet.  That wasn’t the case.  I told her I didn’t think the man would let the female Pionus go and thanked her for her kindness.

Monday 12/17/2007 5:28PM:  The office phone rings.  I saw on Caller ID it was him!  It was the breeder!  I answer!  He is willing to sell her to us!  He said it was the right thing to do.  He said they would both be happier together.  We agreed on a price.  It was within the amount Dani said we could afford.  Now we had her name, Arula!  Azul’s mate of 25 years is Arula!  I called Dani the instant I hung up the phone with the breeder.  She was thrilled!  I called everyone on our board and every one of the Rescue Friends to tell them about this miracle.  Now we just had to wait until Thursday to bring her home.

Wednesday 12/19/2007: Dani and her daughter came out to the rescue to pick-up two of their adorable feathered family additions I had hand fed and dropped off the money to pay for Arula.  This was really going to happen!  We were going to be a part of a, ‘happily-ever-after’ story.  I was so excited that I could hardly sleep!

Thursday 12/20/2007 6:20PM: I arrived back at the rescue with this beautiful Blue Headed Pionus female.  I had hoped to have her here earlier in the day but that’s not the way it worked out.  The important part was that we had her.  Bought and paid for she was ours!  She was frightened and eager to be let out of her carrier.  Our medical consultant said there was no reason why they couldn’t go in together immediately.  That’s what I did. 

It took about five seconds for the two of them to realize what was happening.  Azul came down to her side and comforted his bride.  I left the pair alone to get reacquainted.  An hour later I looked in to see Arula lovingly preening Azul.  He was happy and more animated than I’d ever seen him.  I called Dani who made this all possible to give her an up-date.  What a blessing she had bestowed on all of us.

Friday 12/21/2007: I tried not to bother the loving couple as I went about my work but I couldn’t help looking at them over and over again.  I’ve always wondered how Azul managed to survive all of these years with his ravaged malformed beak and massive damage to his face and body.  He suffered horribly for decades and the poison continued to reveal it ghastly effect.  His infections were chronic and for the most part left untreated for well over twenty years.  He can’t close his mouth to crush and ingest hard foods.  His tongue hangs fully exposed from his missing lower mandible.  How did he receive enough nourishment to keep him alive before coming here?  I had my answer!  I watched Arula go over to the mixture of fresh nuts, seed, fruits, and pellets we feed.  She would eat then go to the water and drink under the watchful eye of her mate.  This done she would turn to him and feed him [regurgitate into his mouth].  She had kept him alive all of these years!  She was more than his mate.  She was his savoir.

This love story doesn’t end here.  Azul still has many expensive medical issues that we must deal with.  I can’t express my gratitude deeply enough to those who have reached into their pockets and helped us in this journey.  You are so important to us.  Azul is just one of our many parrots that we are supporting.  Monetary assistance is always needed.  We are a non-profit rescue.  We depend on your desire to make a difference in the lives of those that have graced our mission. 

January 4^th 2008

Azul is making amazing progress under the care of the superior staff of Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital.  He’s actually growing a new lower mandible.  Dr. Wright and Joe Hrabak have stimulated the growth.  He’s responding to the antibiotics.  While he still complains about taking his medication he’s resigned himself to the fact that I’m going to take care of him like it or not.  At last his nostrils and eyes are clearing of mucus.  He feels good.  He’s a happy guy.  He spends his time eating and cuddling with Arula.  They remind me of newlyweds.

February 4th 2008

We’ve had a set-back.  Azul’s infection is back with a vengeance and he’s slowed down.  He’s back on the antibiotics, this time for a longer course.  I worry that we may loose him in spite of our best efforts.  If he remains as he is today I simply cannot justify making him continue living.  Oh my!  What would Arula do without him!  I ask St. Francis to intervene and stop Azul from hurting.  Please.  Make him better or give me the strength to do, as I need to serve this bird! 

March 7^th 2008

Whew!  He’s beat the odds again!  This time I think Azul is better than he’s ever been!  He’s eating great.  His lower mandible has grown and is strong enough for him to shell a peanut!  He can climb using his beak.  He’s also interested in mating with Arula.  She’s happy to oblige.  I’m thrilled!

March 21^st 2008 PM

I think something’s wrong with Arula.  She’s eating fine but is puffed up.  I got her out to hold her and realized she had lost weight.  I’m worried.  I’ll see what the weekend brings.  She’s still preening Azul.  Maybe I’m just overreacting.

March 24^th 2008 

Arula is worse.  This isn’t good.  She’s at Dr. Wright’s office for now.  I’ve been so focused on Azul.  It never occurred to me that she was ill!

March 27^th 5:26 PM

Arula passed away!  While she had looked so physically beautiful on the outside that was not the case internally.  The fact was she had been ill when we got her.  I just didn’t know.  Poor Azul is lost without her.  I went into the bird room to tell him she had died.  I’m crushed.  I just don’t know what to say.  I’ve called my dear friends to give them the sad news.  We share the grief.  Dani had so lovingly put all of that money into buying Arula so that she would have her rightful place next to her mate!  I’ll call the breeder when I can stop crying long enough to talk.  There’s no replacing Arula.  Maybe he would give us another retired matured lady to offer companionship to Azul.

March 29^th 2008

I called the breeder in Tucson this afternoon.  He cannot ‘give’ us a companion for Azul.  We had Arula for such a short time…

April 6^th 2008

We are still hopeful someone will come across with a Pionus that needs a retirement home.  Azul is doing better.  He’s eating great!  I hardly see his face because his head is always in the food bowls.  He’s a survivor.  Night is when his loss is most apparent.  He sits on the side of the sleeping perch that Arula always occupied when they settled in for the evening.  I miss her.  She talked.  Shortly before her death she had started saying, ‘Hi there!’ when I went into the bird room.  No matter how many birds I know and love the loss of each one leaves me feeling like an important part of me is missing.

April 17, 2008:  I’m struggling to find the right words to express myself.  Today nothing feel right.  I am grieving.  Our Azul passed away this afternoon at 1:30 just days after the loss of Arula his mate of over twenty-five years.

He missed Arula.  We had hoped we could find another old lady Pionus to be a companion to our dignified gentleman.  While there was no replacing her but we had thought that a friend might help.  We responded to ads.  I even called his last owner to see if he had an old retired breeder he would give us since we had paid a considerable sum for Arula in December of 2007. 

Azul hadn’t been eating as much since Arula passed.  She provided the most part of his nourishment.  I tried to coax him to eat some hand feeding formula which he rejected completely.  I knew he wanted to go.  I felt it as I held him.  His fight was gone.  He was tired.  He was giving up. 

The evening before his death he had a seizure.  I knew we were going to loose him.  When it came to the end it was peaceful.  After a lifetime of indifference and cruelty he knew love and respect.  He touched and inspired so many people.  He died in the hands of those that loved and cared for him.

He is again with his beloved Arula.  Now his sprit can fly free.  He has sight and is fully aware.  God in all of His goodness has given back all that man robbed him of.  Arula died from disease, a fact revealed from her necropsy.  Azul died of a broken heart.

Azul & Arula, you touched so many people during your time here.  You brought us together, uniting us with one common goal.  We wanted to make your lives better.  We wanted you to know that our kind can be good and loving.  We set about to heal you and discovered we were the ones who needed healing.  There isn’t a day that will pass without remembering you both.  As you were together in life so you are in death.

November 23^rd 2008

The story isn’t over as we are graced with two more Blue Headed Pionus!  Adaya is a gift from the breeder [that gave us Azul] and his wonderful wife!  A week later came Bentley another blessing bestowed on us by a new found friend.