The saddest news I've ever expected to post on QuakerVille is
the death of my Stanley. Stanley died in the early hours of January
9, 2010. Stanley was 16 years old and has been my avian
companion since I picked him up as a 3 month old bird from a pet
store in Palm Beach Gardens Florida, almost this same day 16 years
ago. He died of heart failure as a complication from an enlarged
liver. We have been treating him for an mystery illness for almost 4
years and have been holding our breath every day for that time.
Stanley was in our vet's ER at the time and was being treated for a
high blood count but we also saw the recent x-ray and knew that his
illness had become very serious just in the past week.
My
baby. My precious Stanley. You will be missed, you will never be
forgotten.
As of this writing we have not buried him as we had a death
in the family at the same time and were unable to pick him up from
the vet. That ceremony will be next week. I do plan a more through
memorial for Stanley as soon as I can return to normal form an
illness and all the sadness I've experienced this January. Stanley's
QuakerVille web sites will remain online and operational for the
foreseeable future since we still want to make sure that all Quaker
people companions can get the best information about their Quakers
as possible. Jo and I are still working with the wild flocks of
South Florida and other avian groups. We love birds, it's just a
little harder to watch them these days as the bring the sting of
memories of our avian companions who have died.
This is
Stanley the Quaker Parrot the inspiration of QuakerVille. Stanley is my
buddy and birdy companion for the past
16 years. At times he has been a
wonderful builder. All the time he is a little cuttie with a heart of
gold. i can't imagine life without my Stanley, he continues to amaze me
with his charm and love. he loves to cuddle with me and be with me
whenever he can.
This is one of my recent favorite poses of Stanley. Check out Tashy bird
peeking between the bars.
Stanley likes to make this Quaker OWL look, especially when I'm on the
floor taking pictures up at him. Sometimes I take so many pictures he
anticipates the flash and blinks his eyes so the bright flash won't
hurt. This little OWL face is so cute, he puffs up and glares at the
camera.
QuakerVille is all about our Quaker Parrot flock and many other
special Quaker Parrot companions.
From Stanley, to Squirt both Jo and I really love our little companions.
We don't see ourselves as their owners, although legally we are, we
see ourselves as their care takers, their slaves, their companions
and we feel we've have the privilege of living with them in our home.
These critters are extremely special to us.
One of the ways we care for them is to learn about them so we can make
their captive lives as enjoyable as it would be living outside in
the wild. Some people don't like the idea of keeping wild creatures as
pets or companions but I can tell you for certain that our flock loves
living with us, they enjoy our company as much as we enjoy theirs.
It's our role in this companionship to know as much about them as
possible so Jo and I spend a lot of time watching wild Quaker Parrots in our
area as well as around the country.
I believe that if it were not for people like my wife and I and
thousands of other people keeping these wonderful creatures inside they would
be hunted to extinction and killed by ignorant and greedy people just
like the Carolina Parakeets were in the late 1800's.
--
It's our job to protect them.
