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One-woman parrot can adjust to a new owner
I'm writing because my grandmother recently had a brain aneurysm and is near death. She's had an African parrot for 37 years that she just adores. He speaks both English and Danish (she's Danish) and sings. Our family is trying to figure out who would be best to take and care for him, but we are concerned because he bites everyone except for our grandmother. We're hoping that maybe someone can help us understand how to work with him. Are there any books you can recommend or local organizations we could call (we live near Los Angeles) that would be able to offer advice while we make this transition? Any advice you can offer in terms of Web sites, books or local organizations to check out would be greatly appreciated.
-- Paul
MORE OFTEN than not, when a parrot owner dies without making a provision in a will, the bird is sold to the first person with cash in hand. So I’m glad to hear that your family is deciding who is the best suited for taking care of your grandmother's beloved companion.
While it will be difficult for someone else to establish a relationship with this parrot, it can be done. You have taken a good first step toward educating yourself by writing in with this question. My answers to the first two questions in this column can go a long way toward helping you with this parrot. Positive reinforcement training combined with a caring new owner will enable the parrot to continue a happy life with its new family.
In addition to this advice column, there are many other great ways to get help and learn about parrots. The Internet is full of message boards and mail lists you can subscribe to, including ParrotChronicles.com's and those at www.parrottalk.com. (To find dozens more, type the words "parrot message board mailing list" into your favorite search engine.) Your local bird club can provide support, and there are training videos you can buy, such as the ones done by Steve Martin. With plenty of time and patience, the bird that your grandmother spent many happy years with can enrich someone else's life as well.
ParrotChronicles.com
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