SQUAWK TALK

		Deb and Bob Allwein have 24 birds, half of them adopted from The Gabriel Foundation. Most recently they adopted Cyrano, the Swainson's toucan, and he is settling in with the Allwein flock. Read Deb's blog below to see what it's like when your life has truly 'gone to the birds!' and click here to meet Deb...
		AUGUST 22, 2010 The scent of Cyrano.  I could never have imagined the wonderful scent of a toucan. Heck, I never thought there would be one! We all know about amazons and the scent that is so consistent among parrots - but I discovered quite by accident the wonderful scent of my T-bird!  As we were cuddling I found my face buried deep into the back of his neck. I became aware of this only because of the wonderful smell that filled my senses. I immediately thought of a pristine forest and the smell I would encounter with my first step crushing the damp forest floor. Was that it? Not entirely. It was more complex than that. A spice. Something familiar but not. The best way I can describe it is: Inhale the clean smell of the forest earth right after a rain and infuse that with a waif breeze of clove. That will get you close...Enjoy!
		AUGUST 15, 2010 Thor, our Sulcata tortoise, was escorted by four feathered friends to this years 'Turtle Trek', a fundraiser for abused children, here in Jackson County. Although Thor was the featured guest, our birds managed to find their way into the spotlight! Sunshine played the crowd and honed in on both Thor and the neighboring llamas. TGF birds Pogo (Severe macaw), Scarlet (Eclectus) and Cyrano had no problem drawing their fair share of attention! This was a perfect first "real" public appearance for T-bird (Cyrano) -  a small group for a few hours, and most importantly, his friend Scarlet next to him for support. What more could a man ask for?
		AUGUST 7, 2010 Been out of contact for awhile - stumbling through major computer issues! Hoping to have them all worked out soon. Cyrano has been receiving quite a few visitors. He loves the attention and knows these new friends always come with pieces of fruit & berries for him to gently take from their hands. Quaker parrots are illegal in Georgia. This special couple dropped by to meet Cyrano after returning from a trip they made to deliver a little green bird to a new home in a state where they are not illegal. The past few weeks brought visitors from Texas, NY and Florida, as well as Georgia. This weekend Cyrano will be attending a special event with a few of his birdy friends and our Sulcata tortoise - Thor. Stay tuned for more.
		JULY 9, 2010 Cyrano is always receiving new guests and making new friends. Sam-Sam is the first parrot we placed. That was five years ago - and he and his special person came to visit recently. Cyrano has enjoyed the company of many visitors and we are finding that he also very much enjoys the company of other birds. During this particular visit, Cyrano was sharing his grapes with both his visitors and made an extra effort to give Sam-Sam the treat. Sam-Sam did not quite know how to react but he was a very good sport!
		JULY 5, 2010 It's summer and all I want to do is play! I am hopping and flying all over my "area". I have a toy basket full of new toys and have such fun taking them out and spreading them around everywhere. I have learned not to stand on the edge of the basket once the toys are out because it tips over. I have also learned that if I make a mess of the toys, someone always comes to pick them up! I am quite the clever toucan!
		JUNE 27, 2010 Cyrano is teaching and challenging me. Teaching me new ways to observe and to be more aware. He can be quite subtle - that just goes with his tender personality. We are trying new toys and textures and we are learning that an evening hand fed snack is always welcome and very appreciated.   Cyrano loves to shred palm finger puzzles. Foam rings are a new experience - especially when they fall to the floor. He seems drawn down to play with them.  Up high, he loves jumping from hanging perch to hanging perch to get them swinging - and then go for a ride! Tonight I pushed one of the perches, just to get it going, and here comes Cyrano, jumping to the moving branch and "chirping" like he just won the lottery!
		JUNE 27, 2010 Saturday was an all day outing for six TGF birds and Jesse, our Greenwing macaw. Jesse was the only parrot we had out, since Sebastian & Sabrina (caiques), Rosie & Rizzo (Galahs), and Pogo (Severe macaw) are growing flight feathers for some real freedom.  Luckily, their cages posed no barrier to the attention they all received. The Galahs were adored for their soft beauty & Rosie's sweet "hello". As always, Sebastian and Sabrina were BIG-little clowns. And, not to worry, Pogo was her usual talkative little charmer self.  While we were loading up to go home after a full day of meeting new friends and talking parrots, Jesse was was quiet and relieved. I know he was whispering a big thank you to each of his friends for drawing the attention of those crazy two legged animals away from him and allowing him to take plenty of breaks in his carrier.
		JUNE 21, 2010 Cyrano was trying to play with blocks of wood but was having trouble lifting them. I thought about a box of popsicle sticks we use for the smaller bird toys and threw together a lighter toy for him. I added a few other toys that rattled and a chunk of luffa strung with plastic chains and a small rattle. Entering his enclosure with toy in hand, Cyrano went nuts hopping in circles around me. The first thing I thought was that he was afraid. But, I soon realized he wanted that toy! Even as I was hanging it he was grabbing for it. Just as I got off the ladder Cyrano pulled the luffa loose from the rest of the toy and he was off! He flew with that luffa landing long enough to shake it or tap-tap-tap it on the perch and was off again to another spot. He returned to the main toy a number of times grabbing at it only to drop his luffa and retrieve it in mid-air before it hit the ground!  I watched in amazement at the joy and fun he was having.
		JUNE 19, 2010 OMG  T-bird (AKA Cyrano) is such a champ!! He went on his first outing Thursday. He was in good company - having five seasoned birdy buddies to show him the ropes. We chose to take him to to the Hall County Humane Society's educational day for kids. His audience was limited to ten extremely well behaved animal lovers. We all enjoyed a very interactive discussion as well as some hands on with Lola, a Hyacinth macaw and Carly an Umbrella cockatoo.  Of course, Cyrano was oooh'd and ahhh'd, but he captured hearts with his laid back charm and his amazing toucan whistle calls!
		JUNE 19, 2010 Cyrano does not lack for attention! He has been receiving at least one visitor a week since his arrival. He is never forced to interact, but always has the opportunity to hop forward to meet his visitors...and he has never refused to meet a new friend. Our little dogs are in and out of his area and he likes to hop down to the floor to nose and check them out! He has only once turned down a piece of fruit offered from the hand of a new friend - and that was right after breakfast!  He loves his outside time and enjoys getting scritches from everyone. The only thing we have found he is not too fond of yet - are showers.
		JUNE 12, 2010 This seems to be a busy time for us! We were invited to speak about parrots for the local boy scout troop on Thursday. We weren't expecting EVERY troop in Jackson County to show up!  We focused on parrots as companions vs parrots in the wild and the loss of natural habitat. Jesse, our Greenwing macaw and Hanson, a Blue and Gold, were joined on this trip by TGF birds, Sabastien & Sabrina (Caiques) and Rosie & Rizo (Galah cockatoos). The Caiques stole the show with their antics and bobbing goofiness.  All of the parrots were fairly quiet throughout the presentation... until... a surprising outbust by Rosie asking, "What you doing? What you doing?" in the sweetest voice, just loud enough to silence the crowd and ring on a roar of laughter from the 40+ kids and even a few adults. It was priceless!
		JUNE 6, 2010 We have been stalled on Cyrano's outdoor aviary due to some constant heavy rains. We hauled in two truckloads of dirt to fill the ravine caused by the rains and divert the flow of run off that just happens to flow thru his aviary location. Sooo, "why not?" Why not introduce Cyrano to a few of the flock while we dry out. Scarlet was an obvious choice. The Gabriel Foundation placed this Eclectus with us in March. Romeo, a male Eclectus was unable to join her due to medical issues, so, we thought, "why not?"  They both need a birdy buddy. The first meeting was sweet and exciting. While Scarlet was completely indifferent, Cyrano was nudging and pulling on the sleeve of my arm where she was perched. He got close enough to Scarlet to gently groom her wing feathers. Scarlet was patient and tolerant of him.   Scarlet is an exceptionally sweet and loving Eclectus. She readily accepts the other birds, but truly enjoys snuggling and one on one time. And, as we walked into Cyrano's enclosure today I heard for the first time, "Helloooo..."
		MAY 30, 2010 Yesterday, Cyrano stayed at home while seven members of our flock enjoyed a day of sunshine and interaction with new friends (two and four legged!) Michael and Rocky, the amazons, Scarlet the eclectus, and caiques, Sebastien & Sabrina - all adopted from TGF - joined macaws, Jesse and Sunshine at a fundraiser for the local humane society! This event attracts animal lovers of all kinds, and our parrots drew the attention of many of the attendees as well as the local press!
		MAY 19, 2010 Cyrano and I had a nice bonding experience on Friday. He gave me a long croaking purr as I scratched the side of his face and the area just above his upper beak. Seems he really likes to have that area and the area around his ears rubbed. Over the next couple of days Cyrano would hop to where I was in his enclosure for a little hands on. We played catch and he spent about 1-2 hours in the existing outdoor aviary.  We have the materials to erect an 8x12 outdoor aviary for him and hope to have this complete in about 4 weeks. Untill then he rotates through the outside aviary with the rest of our flock.
		MAY 19, 2010 He made it just fine. Cyrano was a little quiet all the way home but he did make a few sounds. I placed his carrier in in his area and let him come out on his own. Prior to exiting his carriier he readily took melon and papaya from my hand. We played a little "wrestle" and I let him be. Five minutes later I went to check on him and he was up on a branch. We played with a small ball and he seemed to be pretty curious and happy in his new area, jumpimg from place to place through the entire area. Took a few pictures and turned out the lights just minutes ago. Enjoy the pictures and thanks to everyone for getting Cyrano here.
		MAY 19, 2010 Cyrano was on time this AM for his Delta flight to GA for his move to his new home with Deb and Bob Allwein. The Allwein flock is numerous, and eight of their birds have been adopted or fostered from TGF for nearly 10 years. Both Deb and Bob are fantastic volunteers, and have donated hours of time and labor to help TGF over the past decade. Ironically, Deb knew and had visited Cyrano for years prior to his arrival at TGF. Deb had always known him as T-Bird, and every time they saw each other their friendship was renewed. Cyrano came to TGF over a year ago when the bird store in which he resided closed. Not much information accompanied him, but we estimate him to be about 10 years old, and most likely wild caught. Due to early inappropriate diet, Cyrano came to TGF with hemachromatosis, also called Iron Storage disease. He went from small and cramped quarters in his former location to an enclosure at The Birdbrain 4 times the size of his previous space. With the advice of Jerry Jennings, Emerald Forest Bird Gardens, and the excellent veterinary care of Dr. Jerry LaBonde and TGF staff veterinarian, Dr. Noel Opitz, gradual improvements in Cyrano’s physical condition turned him into one gorgeous toucan! He was finally able to get fresh air and natural sunlight when we moved his cage outside on good weather days. Our decision to place Cyrano is one made with wistful joy – we are sad to see him go, but we could not provide him the tremendous amount of space he deserves and the opportunity to go outside more frequently than Colorado’s weather allows. It was time for him to fledge to his new life. For those of you that were Cyrano’s frequent visitors we hope you wish him the best.  Thanks to Deb and Bob, he will get to enjoy many new opportunities that await him.    -JWM