We went to a new auto repair shop today. While Gary went in I decided to get out of the car and walk around. As I rounded the corner of the shop I saw a huge colorful parrot in a cage just inside the shop door. I think he was a macaw parrot. I started talking to him, engaging him as best I knew. He immediately started following me from one side of the cage to the other as I walked around. I was afraid to get too close since his beak looked lethal. But I was enthralled with his vivacious personality. After a short time I decided to go back to the car and get my camera. As I rounded the corner the parrot immediately followed my movements and looked out the window where our car was parked. He seemed desperate for me to come back. He was squawking and calling me back to him. I just knew he was lonesome. Lonesome for company and companionship.
I hurried back as quick as I could with my camera, back to the cage. He started talking to me, saying "hello, hello". As I walked from one side of the cage to the other, he followed me wherever I went. He began doing summer salts in the cage and fluffing his feather in great display. I looked in the office where Gary had gone and to the guys in the shop and no one seemed to notice or care I was near the parrot cage. After a while the parrot started picking seeds out of this food dispenser and taking them in his mouth and flicking them down. When I took his picture he seemed afraid of the camera and charged the edge of the cage, but if I lowered the camera he calmed down and started his aerobatic displays once again.
I'm calling this parrot Lonesome Boy because that's what I felt from him as I stood there talking with him. If I wasn't so afraid of his beak I would have taken him in my arms and cuddled him and stroked his feathers and told him I cared. I really felt like he wanted some attention, some interaction, some companionship. He craved that and somehow I knew. I think there's lots of lonesome boys in the world. They could be animals or people and they're just looking for a little companionship, a little attention, they're looking for someone to notice them, they're looking for someone to care. I'm thinking Lonesome Boy was a message to me to pay closer attention in my daily interactions and to give as much as I can of myself. I'm thinking I may be missing some opportunities to show I care. This post is part of Camera Critters. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
Poor Lonesome Boy.
ReplyDeleteHe is a beautiful bird and that cage is a small space for a curious intelligent creature.
ReplyDeleteHi Elaine, thanks, yes poor little guy, at least he was in the shop where passerbys would be encouraged to stop and give him some attention.
ReplyDeleteHi Dennis, thanks, yes apparently these birds are very intelligent and are very social and need friends around them.
What a beautiful way to receive such an important message. Despite all the ways we can so quickly contact one another, we have to ask ourselves, are real connections being made? It sounds like he was wanting to share his food with you, that dropping the seeds was an invitation. He's beautiful, and so is this post. Thank you, Linda.
ReplyDeletehe is beautiful... his cage does look a little small for such a large bird. i hope other customers take the time to talk to him like you did.
ReplyDeleteWow, he is so beautiful! It's sounds like it was a gift for both of you. Maybe you will see him again, he WILL remember you.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post, Linda. I think he sensed your tender heart and, like Teresa, think he dropped the seeds for you. Lonesome Boy is too intelligent to be in such a small cage. Your last photo, especially, reminds us to take the time to slow down. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa, thanks, yes I am not sure real connections are being made especially via texting, which I don't even know how to do, ha. Oh I didn't even think he was sharing his food with me, how wonderful to think of that, how generous he was.
ReplyDeleteHi Michele, thanks, yes I think the cage was rather small for him, his tail feathers kept hitting the edges of the cage they were so long. One of the reasons I usually don't like going to zoos, I hate to see the animals pacing back and forth.
Hi Lori, thanks, I will be seeing him again when we go back next week. I'll have to go in this time and see what his name is. I am assuming it's a him but maybe it's a she. The feathers were very vibrant.
Hi Kittie, thanks, yes I think animals can tell if someone is friend or foe. I slow down now more than I used to, I used to rush around at everything, things have changed for me and I am rewarded with different gifts because of that.
He is a beautiful bird, great photos. Maybe he needs a mate and companion. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHe is a beautiful bird, great photos. Maybe he needs a mate and companion. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful parrot.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that he is in cage and not on freedom.
Regards and best wishes
Hi Eileen, thanks, I think he does need a mate, thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteHi Tatjana, thanks, yes very sad for the beautiful bird, thanks for visiting.