Gretl's Information

Gretl
Companion of Robin [Email]
[Saturday July 29th, 2000 at 02:32:12]

Home

• Home: San Anselmo, CA. USA
• Number of Capes You Have: 1
• Pet or Breeder: Pet
• Why you chose a Cape Parrot: Being a "pioneer" in the unknown world of Capes is somewhat appealing to me PLUS, after researching different species of parrots for years, I was nervous that I would create a feather plucker, screamer, etc., since I am a total novice with birds. I have read that Capes are able to entertain themselves (as well as entertain us with being acrobats and for sneaking up on and attacking their toys) and are not your typical clingy-type bird, like cockatoos. To be honest, my first choice was a Bare-Eyed (Cockatoo), but since I am an amateur in the bird department, I felt a Cape would be more forgiving towards me if I "messed up." Three factors "pushed" me to actually purchasing a Cape Parrot: 1. Scott Lewis mentioned that of all of the different species of birds he breeds and has for pets, that the Cape was his favorite. 2. Noise level was another factor and.......most importantly: I read in an article in Bird Talk Magazine that out of all of the species of Poicehalus Parrots, the Cape was the least likely to use its beak to bite (that's another story)!

  Physical Characteristics

• Sex: Female
• Sub-species: Suahelicus
• Hatch Date: October 19, 1999
• Weight: 354 grams (on July 28th)
• Coloring: Gretl is mostly bright green tinged with yellow on her legs and underside. She has splashes of orange on her head, but not very much and not vivid as of yet.
• Length: around 11 inches

  Breeder

• Where Purchased: Old World Aviaries/Scott and Linda Lewis
• When Purchased: May 6, 2000
• Age When Brought Home: six and a half months
• Hand Fed: Yes
• Price: $1400.00

  Personality

• Shy or aggressive around strangers: Gretl will usually go to anyone who wants to handle her; she is definitely not shy. But, if you don't know how to handle a bird, you will most-likely get bitten. Gretl is especially fond of men (I imagine that is because Scott Lewis was her very first mommy).
• Talking ability: When she is playing she sounds like Fred Flintstone's pet Dino. She also screams, squawks, chirps, chatters, barks, growls, clicks, clucks, clacks, whines, sounds like an electronic gadget, whistles and says "hello" all garbled up.
• Noise Level: When somebody is in the room or when the tv or stereo is on, she is constantly gabbing, making mostly pleasing sounds. Her noise level is relatively soft, however I have no other bird to compare it to. When I leave the room, she will usually only scream for me to come back for about 5-10 minutes now. When I first got her she could go non-stop for almost an hour!
• Activity Level: When I am in the same room with her, she is very very active
  a little acrobat! When I return from somewhere, it appears as if Gretl has been sleeping the entire time I have been away, always welcoming me home with a stretch of each wing and a verbal sigh.
• Likes to bathe: Gretl has started to flap around in a bowl of water whenever I put one out for her. She is invited to take a shower with me 3-4 times/week. Sometimes she will step-up onto my hand and go under the water with me (not full-force) but usually she would rather not, and I don't force her to. She is still getting used to the idea of a shower. She has only refused to come into the shower one time, since I started doing this about 1 month ago.
• How cuddly or affectionate: Extremely affectionate on her terms only (when in the mood). Likes to be scritched on her head, beak and neck, and will purr the entire time.
• Territorial: not as of yet

  Cage

• Size and type of cage: Kings Cage 32" wide x 2'deep x44"tall inside with 1" bar spacing
  dome-top
• Favorite toys and perches: LOVES her cotton bungee boing and any type of toy that she can hang off of and attack! She also likes her music box and is becoming quite an expert at activating it.

  Diet

• Regular Diet: A combination of Harrisons and Roudybush Pellets and whatever I eat.
• Favorite Food: tofu, scrambled eggs, havarti cheese, oranges, raw corn-on-the-cob, chicken bones, lamb chops

  Vet Info

• Avian Vet or other Vet: Lynn Dustin in San Francisco
• Wings Clipped: Yes Both
• Health and Accidents: Received her with Pasteurella but I gave her meds 2x/day for 10 days and it cleared up (I got reimbursed from Scott)
• Comments:

  I don't believe that Gretl realizes the strength of her beak when she is playing and/or gets excited. She likes to play rough on the spot with everyone (one second she is calm, having her head scritched and purring, and the next second she's got you in a full nelson
  hanging off your finger with her beak), and will usually draw blood. I have been working with her on a consistent basis (as needed) trying to find THE behavior modification method/s which will eventually work with her. So far nothing phases her. Any suggestions or comments would be extremely welcome. Yikes!