Hey, there. I am Meko, a five-year-old female cinnamon cockatiel. This is a picture of me doing what I do best: thinking (and sleeping) on a swing perch! I am a VERY COMPLEX and CEREBRAL bird. Like Mom, my vision is unlimited, and sometimes there is too much going on in my head for my own good. I like doing things on my own terms. Some might call this being stubborn; others, independent. My motto is "Don't push me."I came into this family in an unusual manner; I was adopted via a private contract through the local Vet Lady's office. My previous owners turned me in because I had protozoa, called Giardia, co-existing in my body. Unfortunately, this species is not beneficial to its host and caused me to itch like the dickens. The end result was internal organ turmoil and feather chewing. I had the look and feel of a Brillo pad due to my obsessive overgrooming. I was treated by prescription medications over the course of a year, then placed up for adoption. People kept turning me down. . . or did they?
One summer day, this bird lady stopped by the Vet's Lady's office and told me I was pretty. She asked me if I wanted my neck scratched. I said yes, then I told her I was looking for a home. She said I could live with her Flock if I was still available at Christmas time. Well! She must have taken me for a fool! No way was I turning her offer down!!! So, I hung out at the Vet Lady's office for a few more months, plotting my strategies and turning potential adopters away. Given the chance, isn't that what you would have done?
By November, I had to coax the Vet Lady to remind the bird lady I was still available. She finally took the bait, and I had Thanksgiving with her Flock. She kept me as a trial bird through Christmas. When January came, I was shocked there was no formal commitment from her! (She was apprehensive that the disease would resurface and abolish her Flock. I could see her point, but she made a promise!) So, I resorted to playing mind games with her. Here is a picture of me landing on a *medicine* hat pinto mustang--a sacred horse! Did she get the message? No! Sometimes she is so dense. . . (Oh, she is passionate about horses and won that trophy in the background with her extensive knowledge of equine performance.)
Nerves got the best of me, however, and I began chewing my feathers again. I recruited several of her friends to tell her that I needed a commitment from her in order to heal. She bought it hook, line, and sinker and signed the adoption contract on Valentine's Day of 2003. This is the day I officially called her "Mom."
Since then, I continue to test her mettle. I refuse to eat anything but seeds and pistachios. It is up to her to solve that puzzle! I like to throw pellets in my water cup and watch her reaction. (In case you're wondering, it's mostly "confusion.") She still has much, much more to learn from me. My ultimate goal is to help her write books about her experiences so she can share the knowledge with others.
That's where we are right now. I expressed an interest in flying, so when I molted, Mom let me keep my wing feathers long to improve my self-confidence. I can fly across the room now! I also located a neat end-table in the living room. I like to chew the papers sitting on it into small pieces. (It drives her nuts to pick them all up every night! Ha!) Anyway, this is what I look like when I'm pondering life's meaning. Kind of like Rodin's "Thinker" statue, don't you agree? Except my claw is open. . .
Mom says I'm one of the most difficult birds she has ever met. Well, I'm not so much "difficult" as I am "challenging." I keep her on her toes and constantly remind her that the Earth is a big place where birds (and people!) can get lost once in a while. She's trying to help me out and has a good sense of humor about it, too. She calls this picture "Finding Meko." What can I say? At least she made the time to see one movie this summer. *sigh*
Photos and text Copyright 2003 by Keri Krause. Please do not use this material without my permission. Thank you.Last updated: 9/9/03
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