Oh Lord, What We Have Done with the Birds!

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Oh Lord, What Have We Done With The Birds!
By Dr. Linda P. Dowdell, 2010
lpdowdell@gmail.com
It all began with just one Sun Conure bird. He was cute, bright orange, and gracious. He
showed a great desire to be loved. The kids wanted him ‘so bad.' Upon such insistence and
persistence from the kids, I purchased the Sun Conure for them. My daughter Sarah named
him Tangy and that is how the story began.
One Plus One Equals Two
Tangy
A few weeks later, we stopped at another pet store, and the kids felt sorry for another
bright orange Sun Conure bird. The kids insisted and persisted in purchasing the bird and
rationalized that Tangy, the first bird, was lonely. So, I purchased the next Sun Conure. Sarah
named her Sunny.
Sunny
Two Plus Two Equals Four
The habit continues! The kids again stopped at the initial pet store, where we
purchased Tangy, and saw two beautiful Senegal birds. The kids again made their case to
purchase the Senegals, and I did but with their saved monies. Now, the family owned four birds
and two cages; however, their youth and beauty, and the joy they brought to the kids made it

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worth it to deal with four birds and two large cages. The family did not foresee the long time
commitment to the birds, which included cleaning, feeding, attending, etc. – but the immediate
rewards of owning beautiful, loving birds. The family did not consider the life span of the birds
either, which is about 15 to 30 years. The kids named the Senegals Mr. Growly and Daisy.
Mr. Growly Daisy
Four Minus One Equals Three
Shortly after acquiring the Senegals, Daisy, the female Senegal, did not look well, and
the kids and I immediately brought her to the pet store for a checkup. The pet store kept Daisy
overnight (Sunday) for monitoring and to be checked by their veterinarian. We came back to
the pet store on Monday, but the pet store personnel told us that she had passed away. The
kids were very sad. I was sad too.
Three Plus One Equals Four
Then the kids justified the death of Daisy for the purchase of a new Senegal. However,
the pet store did not have any more Senegals. They told us that Myer birds usually got along
with Senegals, and that they were very similar in behavior. We purchased one Myer for Mr.
Growly, and I named her Lilly.
Lilly

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Four Plus One Equals Five
Lilly, however, did not get along with Mr. Growly. We had to separate them to a
separate cage, making a total of three cages. Now, we had a lonely Mr. Growly without a
partner, and a lonely Lilly without a partner. We waited to couple the Myer with another Myer.
The store called us to tell us that they had a Myer bird. We purchased the Myer, and I called
him Coty.
Coty
Now, we had five birds: two Sun Conures, 2 Myers and 1 lonely Senegal. We also had
three cages: one for the two Sun Conures, one for Mr. Growly, and one for the two Myers.
Five Plus Two Equals Seven
In this bird real life story, we did not consider reproduction. The Sun Conures now had
two babies. The birth of these babies made it even more worth it to own birds. It was an
amazing experience to see the babies grow up.
What a Noise!
The babies grew up and the noise of seven birds made it difficult for the kids to
concentrate with their homework. The noise the Sun Conures created was intolerable. When
we had guests or family members in the house, the noise was not welcomed by all. My kids’
friends used to get annoyed by the noise. I did not know what to do or where to turn.

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Solution One
I did not know what to do with our birds because I became attached to them by then. I
decided to build an external cage for the birds. I found and purchased a steel gazebo without
panels at a store that was closing out. I then bought panels for the gazebo for the birds to live
in. The birds were not much thrilled by the gazebo and wanted to come inside the house.
While the birds were in the gazebo, we had to be careful with wild cats around our area. It was
a constant debate as to whether to leave the birds outside or bring them inside the house.
Then, the winter was approaching and the gazebo did not make the best solution because it did
not have heat and was not designed to have heat. Eventually, after the birds were brought
inside the house prior to the winter, the gazebo panels were destroyed by the strong winter
winds.
Solution Two
I debated in my head about all the work that the birds were causing on me – just me! –
because the kids did not want to clean, feed, or care for them, but pet them once in a while.
The kids insisted on clipping the birds’ wings. However, I rationalized with them that birds were
meant to fly and that birds were meant to live in open spaces. My house was large enough for
the birds but the “pooping” or chewing on furniture and molding was not tolerable.
I decided to hire contract labor to build an external large cage. However, I still thought
about the birds not having enough space to fly and to enjoy our family. The kids then pressured
me to give the Sun Conures away for adoption because they made the most noise. I did not like
this idea because no one would be able to tolerate four screaming Sun Conures. In addition,
the Sun Conures used to bite ‘strangers.’ The pet store wanted to take the Sun Conures, but I

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did not want them to be separated, which was unrealistic. The pet store would use Sunny and
Tangy as ‘baby-making machines’ and would then sell their babies. The entire Sun Conure
family would have suffered and totally separated. I refused the adoption solution!
Seven Minus One Equals Six
Mr. Growly became obsessed with the cage where the Sun Conures lived – in the dining
room. One day, Mr. Growly attacked Tangy and poor Tangy died. I was devastated. My kids
were devastated and sad. I did not know what to do. The kids again pressured me to give the
Sun Conures away for adoption. In addition, Mr. Growly would have probably killed the other
Sun Conures, eventually. I needed to do something fast!
Six Minus Three Equals Three
After Tangy died, I decided that it would be best to put the Sun Conures to sleep. This
way, they would not suffer through adoption, another attack by Mr. Growly, or an accident.
The veterinarian offered me a solution: the doctor indicated that if after the birds are tested
and checked out ok of any diseases, a local zoo would be able to take them for adoption. The
doctor mentioned a huge bird dome at a local zoo where about 13 Sun Conures already resided
with other birds. I liked the idea! The reason I liked the idea was because the birds would be
together in a big and open space and with other Sun Conures to hang out with. They would
also be protected from adoption, attacks, and so forth.
I took the birds for testing, the tests were negative of diseases, and the Sun Conures
were given away for adoption. I cried so much. Now I owned three birds: two Myers (Coty and
Lilly) and one Senegal (Mr. Growly).

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A Visit at the Zoo
After about two months, I decided to inquire about the Sun Conures. I was informed
that one of the birds had died. Sunny (mother) had died of a respiratory cause. I think she was
hurt by the change of environment, and by the recent loss of her partner Tangy. I immediately
asked to visit the Sun Conure babies at the zoo.
While at the zoo, I walked inside the dome and as soon as the Sun Conure babies heard
my voice, they flew low and sat on my shoulder – kissing on my mouth, and making their
“happy” noises while they were kissing me. I cried and smiled at the same time. I could not
believe that after about two months they would remember me. It was a “bittersweet” moment
for me. The zoo facility director/curator was very nice to stay with me for a while during that
painful and sweet moment. He distracted me when I left the dome by taking me to see other
birds. My mind was really on the Sun Conures, though. I wished they never remembered me
so that there was not a bit of suffering in them. I thought may be the birds always thought I
would come back to get them. Many thoughts went through my mind. I wanted to get them
back!
Making a Difference
Birds are beautiful and can become domesticated but there are many reasons not to
purchase birds and to stop the selling of birds. I will mention a few:
 If one bird is purchased to give us pleasure and for us to love in return, we would be
acting selfishly because birds need other birds to relate, procreate, play, etc.
 Birds love to fly and were meant to fly – just like humans who were born to walk.
People clip their feathers so that they don’t fly around, they don’t poop all over, and

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they don’t hurt people or themselves. Just imagine if our legs are cut off so that we
don’t walk around to prevent from hurting other people. It would not be the right thing
to do.
 Birds have cages like we have houses. It is ok for birds to have cages for them to eat
sleep, and rest – just like we have houses to eat, sleep, and rest. However, it is not ok
for birds to be caged all day, and it is not ok for humans to be in a locked house all day.
 Birds will eventually procreate and will have babies – if you buy a pair that happens to
be male and female, are you prepared for the responsibility? Eventually, people like me
will realize there is a problem, and the birds will end up suffering in the long run.
The Last Three
Well, what do I do now with my three birds? I love these three birds so much, but they
are usually quiet. At this point in time, they have become domesticated, they like my house,
and they are quiet. These birds love me so much, even though they are destroying my house
with all their chewing. Coty, for example, comes to my second floor office to hang out around
me. He knows exactly where I spend a few hours and flies there to receive love. He literally
thinks I am his mom. However, Coty and Lilly are ‘woodpeckers.’ Coty and Lilly love to chew on
the moldings above the curtain poles, which I have covered with tape. They also love to chew
around the door frames. I have not found a solution for this major issue.
If I have to do it again, will I buy birds? Absolutely not! However, I love them so much,
and I don’t want give them for adoption because they would suffer as a result. I have to find a
solution to stop them from chewing on the moldings.

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The End!
Birds are meant to fly in open spaces. Owning birds is a long time commitment. No
matter how much planning is done before owning birds, in the end they will suffer because
birds live a long time and may outlive certain individuals. If care is not possible anymore due to
sickness, intolerance, and so forth, birds may be given away for adoption – which would cause a
lot of stress on them and may die as a result.
Please make a difference and do not buy birds!
2013 Update
I got a divorce and Mr. Growly is living with my ex because it became attached to him.
Coty and Lily are still living with me. They were both DNA tested and resulted to be female
birds.
2014 Update
Lily and Coty are doing fine.
2017 Update
Lily and Coty are doing fine.