Where's Burt?

by anythinganimal

I purchased a new family member the other week. It is one thing to get a puppy, kitty, or even a new snake. You can be pretty sure you won't have to hear them rant on about their previous lives, and if you do, seek medical help immediately. I wanted a talking bird, what is that saying about be careful what you wish for?

Her name is Sunshine. She is a female Double Yellow Headed Amazon, around six years old according to the previous owner's wife. Her previous owner was a man who died and his wife was selling it because it was mean to her. She told me a few things she said like, "Hello, what cha doing, bye bye", also laughs and sings too. I was so excited. Even though the seller used a stick to get her out of her cage, I brought her, her cage and her food home that night!! I knew she would be just fine once she warmed up to me.

She warmed up alright, I held her the first night along with getting her in and out with no stick. I was so proud, even though she had not said a word yet, I was winning her over. I had her about 3 days before she started, 'talking'. I did not realize the ways of her thinking, so every time she said anything, I was right there telling her," what a good bird Sunshine is". She would just squawk back and dilate her eyes. Then it happened! I was uncovering her one morning and she said, "Hello!" just as clear as you or I would say it. I was succeeding. I do own a talking bird!! How fun this is going to be. Sunshine decided she liked me, flattered, ohhhhh no. That meant if I was not right within eye sight of her she would shriek. Not talk, but Shriek. The family was not amused. I built her a perch thing to sit next to me. It was too short. She was down in my pencils, chewing the erasers off faster than I could take them from her, I made it higher. Then she just glared at me while I tried to push my papers around. I would hand her something, she would drop it, I would pick it up and give it to her again. She would drop it again, so I stopped the game. I was getting nothing done with her right there. I moved her across the room, then it started. "Where's Burt?" "Whhhhhheeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeees Buuurrrrrrtttttttttttttt?" In the human world you can ask someone to stop talking, they get mad but usually will stop. Not your flighted talker. They get louder. All I hear now is, "Where's Burt?' If not answered she will sing it out,"WWWWWhhhhhheeereesssBuuurrrrrttttttttt?" I don't know who Burt is, no it was not the dead man's name, I do know she wants to know the answer real badly. It is a constant question. I keep saying back to her, "I don't know" wrong!!! Now she says, "Where's Burt?" "I don't know!!". Why did I want a talking bird? Because I thought it would perform on cue. How dumb of me. It is an animal and even though it may talk, it also thinks and if you don't know its history it could very well surprise you and your family with some sailor inspired language. So now I have the talking bird I wanted only now I am not sure how to control 'the mouth' as she has come to be known in our home. Be careful what you want, you just might get it, then what?

by anythinganimal

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Where's Burt?