Posted by Sandi
And I’m not talking about Seahawks fans – although there are plenty of those too.
Orcas Island – and the rest of the San Juan Islands – is home to many bird enthusiasts. There are guided bird walks, Frank Richardson Wildfowl Preserve, and of course we’re a migratory stop on the Pacific Flyway. But I recently found another bird-loving contingent here.
Charlie
About 10 days before Christmas, my neighbor passed away leaving behind ‘Charlie,’ her beloved thirty-something Congo African Grey Parrot. I volunteered to find Charlie a new forever home.
First stop was the Orcas Animal Protection Society where I was given names of several local parrot owners/experts to contact. All of these ladies gave me excellent info on what criteria to look for in Charlie’s new home. One offered to be foster mom until we found the perfect landing place.
Next I joined the Orcas Island Pets group on Facebook. This interactive page is where you can ask for advice, trade pet supplies, post lost and found pets, and rehome or adopt a pet.
Charlie gets a new home for Christmas
The grand slam, though, came when I posted on two online Yahoo groups: “Deer Harbor Community Bulletin Board” and “Westsound Neighbor-to-Neighbor”. I was flooded with emails, phone calls and offers to help. That’s when I found the perfect home for Charlie: Ed and Amy Masters.
Ed and Amy and their two teenage sons live on a 10-acre farm near Westsound. They own Orcas Island Shuttle (our local rental car company) and work from home, so Charlie will have constant attention and activity. Amy has experience with parrots and a close friend that raises parrots. She always wanted an African Grey. They’re prepared to provide a loving home to Charlie for the next 30+ years.
Charlie flies to his new mom during Christmas dinner
We delivered Charlie a few days before Christmas to their beautiful 3-story A-frame home, overlooking a large pond with their pet ducks and geese. They also have horses and chickens.
Charlie has now integrated well into the family and they all LOVE him! Each day he responds with revealing more of his intuitive personality and extensive vocabulary. On Christmas Eve, they allowed him to perch outside his cage for the first time, and during dinner he flew to Amy and perched on her arm for the duration of the family meal.
I’m so thrilled at the happy ending to this story. And it was made possible through the amazing community network of caring people we have here on Orcas Island. Thanks Orcas!
Looking to enjoy the simple life on beautiful Orcas Island?
Contact T Williams Realty – we’ll help you find your way home.
Oh, Sandy, that is a heartwarming story! I had a double-yellow head parrot for a long time. Their level of sentience is amazing! Such fun, and a lucky bird to have that loving home…good on you, mate, for making it possible!
Oh, forgot to mention :I went on the Christmas Bird Count; what an interesting group of people! (Of course, here on Orcas it is impossible to meet dull people.) Howard Barbour and I went a-counting, and I saw my first Goldeneye….(duckie type.) Kim Middleton seems to be the go-to gal for bird info, and holds it all together..I so love it here; and thanks to Teri , know more of the island than many who have been here for a long time!
I would like to do the Christmas bird count next year!