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Sam's Story
Bonjour! Allo mes amis! Yes I am a French-speaking parrot who comes from Argentina via Canada! I am an Amazona aestiva xanthopteryx to give me my full name, but everyone calls me Sam, the Blue Fronted Amazon! And I am the most beautiful bird you have ever seen. I came from the jungles of northern Argentina, I think and after a horrible spell in a U.S. quarantine station, I was sent to Montreal in Canada where I was bought by a French Canadian family. I lived with them for 6 years, but their family grew up and they didn't have time for me, so I was pretty glad when my Mum came along and took me away, though I was pretty scared living in a strange house and everything! when she came back to Scotland, she brought me along with her. I've had a few adventures since we got together and I wonder how many parrots can say they that they have crossed the Atlantic Ocean three times! |
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| The first time was for just three months and we flew in
a plane! I was quite scared at first because I was in the dark in the hold,
but Mum said she was much worse - she had to take a tranquilliser, she
was so worried that something would happen to me! Everyone made a big fuss
of me and that was pretty nice! Boy! Isn't it good when you're the
centre of attention? I just love it and I give them a nice show-off by
twisting my head upside down and stretching out my wings. You should hear
all he Ooohs! and Aaaahs! when they see all my colours. Going back to Canada
wasn't so bad as I knew what to expect and I slept a lot of the time.
When we came back to Scotland for good, we had an exciting ride in a truck to New York - the cockatiels were there too! We had to go via Buffalo so that I could be checked by an Inspector of the Environment and a government vet. Maybe if I run short of new sometime, I can tell you more of what happened. It was super exciting really, but I think Mum was a bit scared when we were lost somewhere in the Bronx close to midnight. She chased a cop car and caught up with it at some traffic lights and I heard her wind down the window and say: "Can you help me?" It was just like in the movies when the cop replied: "What seems to be the trouble, Mey'em?" (They don't half talk funny there!) We followed them and they pointed us in the right direction. We found a hotel close to Kennedy Airport around 1 am. I felt sorry for Mum as she was sooo tired - then the cockatiels almost gave the game away! Some hotels don't allow people to bring their pets in and Mum had been frightened to ask in case they would turn us away and she was too tired to go a step further. In fact when the desk clerk told her the rate for the room, she said she would agree to anything! Well, she got me from the truck and hurried me up to the room. I was tired and hungry too, so I was very quiet and well behaved. She went back down to the truck to get the cockatiels who had been sleeping. She covered their carrier with a big jacket really to hide them from the desk clerk, but also to keep them dark. Unlucky! the elevator had just gone and she had to stand there holding the carrier. Suddenly, one of the 'tiels must have seen a chink of bright light and he launched into song!!! There were two pilots standing, leaning on the desk on the other side of the hall. Horror of horrors! - One of them whistled back! Mum nearly collapsed with fright. She was terrified that we would be turned away. Just then the elevator re-appeared and she shot in, putting her finger to her lips in the direction of the pilots and as the elevator door closed, both cockatiels were in full and excited song! We came back to the U.K. on the QEII - but only just, 'cos we almost missed boat ... really! But more of that another time. We had so many adventures that I think Mum should write a book! Soon after we arrived back in Scotland, we had an addition to the family when Captain, an African Grey joined us. He is much older than I am. I think he is ancient and he doesn't know how to play like I do. His idea of fun is to get onto the roof of his cage and flap his wings like mad. You'd think he was off across the Atlantic, only his feet are locked onto his cage! Mum spends way too much time with him and I don't like to share her with anyone. He does make funny noises though, whistles tunes and sometimes sings: 'Polly put the kettle on, we'll all have teeeea!' I have learnt how to do a gurgling noise almost as good as he does. It's ever so funny and Mum got such a surprise when she found out it was me and not Captain! I laugh just like Mum and when I laugh it makes her laugh even more! I like it when she does that. Sometimes there are people on television laughing and I can't help myself - I have to laugh too. Then Captain joins in and then Mum and the more she laughs, the more we laugh and I get so excited, I just have give a shout or two! Oh! You should hear us - its such fun! Mum says it is a mad-house! I almost forgot the cockatiels, Charlie and Dai - they usually join in and add to the bedlam with their whistles too! They are pretty lutinos and I like them 'cos they are noisy like me! They are older than me too. Charlie is now 18 and Dai is 16. They have one of these see-through Ecotone aviaries and they love it. So does Mum as she says it keeps their feathers from flying all over the place. Oh dear! Mum says that it is bed-time. Ugh! I don't like going to bed.
I try to spin out my supper as long as possible and every mouthful gets
fifty chews. At other times, I eat very quickly and Mum shouts at me 'cos
she says I make a mess and waste food, but it is not possible to eat quickly
and be careful at the same time, now is it? She is such a smart Mum I don't
know why she can't see that and anyhow, when I drop pieces they make such
a nice, pinging noise on the bit of the cage that sticks out to catch them.
Now if I don't drop pieces on this thing, my Mum would have wasted her
money on getting that extra bit and that would be a shame! Maybe
she'll bring me some juice if I stand and look thirsty! When she brings
me juice, I take lots of little sips and can spend several minutes thinking
about the next sip and I can spin out the juice business a good twenty
minutes! Ooooh! Boyoboyo! I gotta go! She's going to take my supper away
if I don't go right now! Talk to you again!
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