Free Bird
You kept telling the kids to clean-up after that bird. They were the ones that insisted on having a bird. For the past year you warned them that you’d get rid of him if they didn’t step up to their responsibilities. Today was the last straw. The kids left the door to his cage open and he chewed your new blinds. That screaming, destructive, nasty, filthy creature had to go.
You were aware of parrot rescues but you really didn’t have to time to look in to one. Besides that would be embarrassing, telling a stranger that you were getting rid of the kid’s pet while they were at school. You had better things to do with your time. You had thought about this dozens of times. You knew exactly what to do. You assured yourself that the bird would be just fine. “He'll be much happier out there with all of the other birds,” you assured yourself. Besides, someone would find him, someone who could put up with the noisy, demanding, messy thing. You wanted him to have a good home. That’s why you took him to the park to set him ‘free’ on your way to your tennis lesson.
What were you thinking?!
Your bird has no idea how to fend for its self! All he knew was that food and water just appeared in the bowls. Attention had been lavished on him the first year or so. He thrived. He loved and trusted that his family would meet his needs. Then everyone got too busy…
Now he’s been tossed into an unfamiliar world, one he only saw from the window near his cage. He’s hungry and most of all he wants a cool drink of water. Thirst! He was too afraid to approach a stranger. Actually no one even noticed him. He was too afraid to cry out. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself. He just hoped you’d come back and take him home.
The outside birds viewed him as an unwelcome invader and had attacked his ever weakening body when he tried to get close. He hurt. He had never felt pain like this before. Night in the desert was cold and the hunger made it so much worse. He had no idea how to effectively hide from predators or even who was a predator. But he knew fear.
On day five near morning he was desperate. He went to the ground with the hope he could find some morsel of food. That’s when the Owl looking for a meal grabbed him. Death wasn’t quick. Nature shows no mercy. It was an excruciatingly painful and slow death as the raptor began eating him alive. At first he screamed as loud as he could. No one heard. Then he gave up, too tired to fight and simply resigned himself to the fate you thrust upon him.
I have no understanding of people like you. Were I confronted with you directly (as opposed to seeing the results of your cruelty) I would need every ounce of my strength to keep from unleashing my rage upon you. My hope is that at some point in the remainder of your living years you come to know the harm that you have done. I pray you feel the pain you caused a helpless creature.
This isn’t just a story. It’s based on fact. This really happens. Please, if you know someone that no longer wants their bird, give them our information. We understand that owning a bird can for some people be more than what they are equipped to cope with on a long term basis. We are here to help.
Jan
Arizona Exotic Bird Rescue
Non-Profit Charitable Avian Sanctuary
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08/24/2008 08:11:18 AM -0700