It Was A Sad Day

 All good things must come to an end I suppose, but it sure can make for a very sad day.  My Jonathan, sweet girl (I think you all know that story) had a stroke yesterday.  Who knew birds had strokes?  Certainly not me. 

I raised him from an egg.  This is me feeding him when he was about a month old.  You know those decorative souvenir spoons you buy and hang on a rack?  They were the perfect size for feeding him every three hours, eventually getting up to three times a day at this size.  

He lived in a dark wooden nest box on the kitchen counter, with what else ... a heating pad. I took him to work every day and hid him in the air conditioning control room so I didn't get fired.

He of course grew like a weed.  In no time he was breaking out of the box and flying to the top of the curtains, chewing them into shreds by the time I got home.

Every day he would flap his wings to get ready for flight.  Unfortunately for him, but better for me, he could only fly in a downward direction.  Otherwise he might have gotten out the door.

We had a long 51 years together.  I will admit, they are not cuddly animals, and he bit me on any number of occasions.  Their beak is so hard they can take your finger off if you aren't careful.  Many buttons were broken off my clothing.  

He loved to talk ... disco disco, pretty boy, whatcha doin, I'm hungry, I love you, Jonathan Jonathan, here kitty kitty, here Tiger ... they just mimic what they hear for about the first year.  From then on, they don't learn too many more words.  Of course there was lots of screeching and "bird" talk.  I got pretty good at that part.

I rushed him to the Vet, but there was nothing we could do.  She sad Amazons are prone to hardening of the arteries and strokes.  

Sadly, he had to be put to sleep.  He could not sit on the perch or even sit up on the floor.  He did however, give me one big kiss before leaving.  He bit me on the thumb, going right to the bone.  The Vet patched me up.  He was definitely giving me something to remember him by.  

You are a very pretty boy Jonathan ... I will miss your Stevie Wonder impression and your disco dancing.  

Good news ... an update on friend Connie ... she is doing great and is back home already.