Looking for books about parrots?
Check out our
Amazon Bookstore
|
The PDD Memorial Quilt
In loving memory of all victims of Proventicular Dilatation Disease.
Tara and Rafferty
Tara, the Bride - taken by PDD on September 2, 1996
By Terri Leinneweber
Three year old Tara, Yellow-collared macaw, came to live with my flock in February 1996; on Valentine's Day she and Rafferty were "married" by the leader of the Big Apple Bird Association. A song was written for the occasion. The wedding, with 100 guests, was the social event of the "bird season" and was covered by both German and US television. On September 2, 1996, a short 6 months later, I woke to find my sweet bride dead on the floor of her cage. There had been no symptoms prior to death.
Bonding Song for the Wedding of Rafferty and Tara
(words by Antonia Stampfel)
Many's the night I've
Dreamed of your face.
This is the time now.
This is the place.
Wingtip to wingtip
Beak to beak
Eyes dark and shiny
Feathers so sleek.
May our lives move in
Rhythm and rhyme.
Green downy babies
Maybe in time.
Wingtip to wingtip
Beak to beak.
Like all the others
Fly
|
Rafferty - taken by PDD on August 1, 1997
By Terri Leinneweber
Rafferty, yellow-collared macaw, came to my heart in the fall of 1990. He was my "body bird", never off my body for any long period of time. He refused to wean; I hand-fed him by his choice until he was nine months old. He earned his nickname, Slime, by flirting with others until they came near enough for the "bite."
Tara, the Bride, came to live with Slime and keep him company in his old age. When he married Tara, he promised lots of things, but refused to promise to share his pine nuts, since he felt he deserved them all.
My darling Rafferty died on August 1, 1997 of PDD, taking my heart with him to the grave.
Wedding Vows
As birds of the 90's, Tara and Rafferty have written their personal vows.
If any now present, bird or human, know of any impediment to this union, squawk now or forever hold your peace.
Tara, do you promise to:
Work on Slime until he cleans up his act.
Share Mom's left shoulder with Slime.
Keep cage up to Slime's standards.
Faithfully tend any eggs and subsequent little "slimes" and make sure they don't grow up to be big "Slimes."
Love Slime and the rest of the flock forever.
Slime, do you promise to:
Let Tara turn you into the bird you should be
Make strong efforts to redirect your affections from Mom to Tara, and share Mom with Tara, even though you want Mom all to yourself.
Cheerfully share your food with Tara - except your pinenuts.
Be a diligent and loving father to any little "slimes" that might result from you union.
Love Tara and try to love the rest of the flock forever.
By the power invested in me by the Big Apple Bird Association, I pronounce you husbird and henwife.
|
|
