Monday, May 2, 2011

KC.....was a family member

I don't believe I've talked about before on my blog. I guess its about time I gave her some recognition.

My daughter bought this precious Cockatiel for me one Christmas. I named her KC. I had just lost my Chihuahua to old age and was feeling pretty empty. It had been many years since I had owned a bird, which was a parakeet. I was still working every day at the time and wasn't sure I could devote enough time to teaching a bird everything I had taught my parakeet, but seeing that precious face, I was delighted and willing to try.

I had her for over 11 years and was told that was a pretty good age for a Cockatiel. She was never sick; I just found her laying on the bottom of her cage one morning.

Anyway, her wings were clipped and yet she was such a strong flyer, she could still fly for short distances. I have very fond memories of her flying down from her cage and walking that pigeon toed walk they do across the living room floor, climbing up onto my foot and walking up my pant leg onto my lap, from there up my arm to my shoulder and then give my hair a little tug and my ear a nibble, just to say HI. This bird was a pure delight. She would often follow me, on foot, down the hallway to the bathroom or one of the bedrooms. She would "answer" me with a chirp when I came home from work and also when I called her name. When I moved her cage so she could see out to the driveway, I could hear her loudly chirp as I got out of my car. I know she had seen me drive in. She'd keep that up until I came into the house and over to her cage to acknowledge her. Unlike humans, I guess the females of the species do not talk, so KC never uttered a word, just chirps in varying degrees of loudness and some off-color squawks I took as swearing when she got to playing a little too rough with her toys.

When I rescued the 4 year old Lhasa Apso and brought him home, I was quite leery as I didn't want anything to happen to KC. Of course, KC was fearless. The dog, however, didn't quite know what to think of this little feathered being. But he never hurt KC and would follow along behind her as KC walked on the floor, trying to turn her over with his nose so he could sniff her. In the first picture, that was KC's favorite place to perch when I was on the computer. There she could over-see everything I did and make suggestions. In the second picture, she is giving my grandson a KC kiss. She was the most loving bird and I sure do miss her. Its amazing how something so small and something that most people can be quick to judge as having NO brain....can surprise you with their intelligence, their capacity for love and how attached you become to them.

9 comments:

Jamie said...

You're right - I don't remember hearing about her before. She was beautiful Val - and I'm sorry that you lost her, although eleven years does sound like a good, long life for that breed of bird. Why don't you get another one now that you are home most days?

Hope this week is a good one for you, it sure is MONDAY. Hugs. :)

Misha Gerrick said...

So cute! It's the same story with my mom and her African Grey parrot. She got him from someone else and he was antisocial in the beginning.

He still is, but he loves my mom unconditionally.

Peruby said...

My blog profile is named after our cockatiel - Peru. We gave him/her away - just could not give him the attention he deserved. We had the bird from a baby (about 8 years). I was told he could live to be 25 years old. Before the other pets I was able to teach him quite a few things.

Forsythia said...

Sounds like KC was a delightful little bird. They are smarter than we give them credit for.

Joy Des Jardins said...

Aww, what a beautiful bird KC was. I'm sorry you lost her Val...but you had her for a very long time. I've heard that Cockatiels can be very affectionate and loving....and they are very bright.

Coffeypot said...

I am sorry for your loss. KC looks like a pretty cool friend. We had one, too. But a cat we were fostering finally knocked the cage over and...well, the bird died in my hand. So I know your loss, and the fun they can be.

Anonymous said...

You've never mentioned her and yet I know how much you loved her and took exceptional care of her. They know stress, they know love, and - unlike the superior humans of the world, they carry no bitterness.

Just another experience of love and loss, and it always hurts.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Val, *HUGS* I'm sorry to hear that. She's a gorgeous bird.

I have an award for you. We've worked hard through the A-Z challenge, congrats!

Cheryl said...

I had a cockatiel, Zeus, that was my 'best friend'. It's probably been about 4 years since I accidentally went outside with him on my shoulder. I still miss him. I think of getting another, but I don't think it would be the same.