William was a cockateil. A pretty amazing one. This is her sitting on the lap top a few months ago. She did love M! On May 28th 2000 william escaped when we were decorating. She dissapeared as cage birds who get out do, squarking with delight off into the sun!. I rang the RSPB and the RSPCA. I was told they would keep a look out but unless she turned up within a few hours that was that. Also they only looked within 5 miles of the house where they come from. And then it hailed! We lived on the Wirral then in a small town/village called Neston. I asked the neighbours if they had seen her - some had aviaries so it was a possibility they might see her. I was told to give up since that was that. You never find them.
I didnt give up. We lost her saturday about 11am. William however ( she laid eggs so was a girl but we didnt know that when we called her "Billy") was a free bird within the home. Despite stripping the wall paper and Shitting everywhere we still left her free! She could fly. She would "fall when the frost came"so said the RSPB if we ever heard of her again. I found the first real use for owning a computor and printer then (well other than writing your thesis/project!). I printed posters asking for info and put them in every shop within a 10 miles radius. Then on Monday I was on a flexi day and went into a shop in Thornton Hough. They said a lorry driver had had a cockateil land on his bonnet in the hail and he had taken her to a local couple who had aviaries. My heart lept but I coudnt belive this was real. I went and found the house. They were really nice. They called the cockateils out but no Billy. She was unusual - white faced so not average and not the same as theirs. Eventually a bird came out with no tail looking very sorry for itself. It was Billy. She hung on the bars of the aviary and looked at me. She knew me. I had found her. Despite all here she was alive. 8 nearly 9 miles from home. They told me to go home and get a cage. I cried all the way. I rang M and he thought I had found her dead cos I cried down the phone. He was at work in Coventry. But I told him she was ok! When I got back they had already caught her and put her in their cage which I took her home in and returned later.
The other 3 birds must have thought she stank. They kept away from her for 3 days. She was home tho and eventually all was well. She preened and ate and slept for 3 whole days. She never tried to leave again even when stupid mates leave the doors open which does happen. On Friday 31st August she had a series of very painful ( by the sound of it) strokes at about 11ish-am. I took her to the vets at 5:45pm and she had not moved since but had drunk water I dribbled down her beak. The vets say they have never know cockateils hve strokes. She has had fits but recovered within at most 30mins for about a year now tho. It may not be normal but thats how it is. She always go back up and flew round the room shitting as she went. She was about 14 so not that old but a reasonable age for a cockateil. Especially one who by its colouring is probably pretty inbred. I loved william. The vets sent us forget-me-nots. We will plant them in the spring when maybe they will survive. Our garden being pretty wild and uncultivated right now they would most likely die which would be sad. We planted a bush on her. Its of chinese origin which is bad. Looks like holly but supposed to get fragrant flowers on it. Also it wont disappear into our indigenous hedging. We will know where she is just like Rosie and Jim who also do not fit the hedging. So when we moved here we had 4 pretty old but beautiful cockateils. Now we have one. Benjy remails. Benjamima is also a girl - apparently Jim may have been too tho we always assumed him male but since he died we have been told he was probably not- by his behaviour, anyway 3 out of 4 definitely were girls. Billy laid eggs. And sat on them every xmas which was a pain. Laid em under cupboards. sofas all over the place till we lost patience ( not wanting to stand on/ sit on her!)and locked her in a cage. Oh and each bird had to have their own cage like seperate rooms else they had fights - no one else has problems like this so why us? We were inundated with cages! And they all lived 90% of their lives free!Billy tormented the dogs by landing on their heads and gripping with her claws. They used to wince cos it hurt. These dangerous dog hating dogs would never have hurt her and she knew it. She was there first and they wouldnt dare. She landed on them regularly poor lads. And on us. And in the middle of your dinner. She was a right pain really. She begged like the worst pidgeons you will find every time you ate toast, crumpets, chips or anythng she took a fancy to. Still she was my William. Benjy is doing ok now. She was devestated but now today she was so noisy. I made a business call -never again from now on will use mobile unless 0845etc. Wow did she shout! Embarrassing birdie. Still shes doing ok even if alone. The first week she was just moping but I suppose life just goes on and on regardless of you doesnt it. Making a point of talking to her is helping I think now shes the only one poor darling. Benjy is also a girl.- my beautiful darling. She is very like jim. She is the last one. I wont look to bring another bird home since it seems wrong however it all began because someone I knew never let their cockateil ( Rosie) out of the cage and then we had the others to keep her company. Benjy was a year younger than the others..........................
No comments:
Post a Comment