New kid in our house!
The wife and I went to the Central California Bird Mart in Fresno yesterday. It's always a nice show with lots of EXCELLENT deals on cages, foods, toys AND birds! We went with the idea of getting some new toys for Buster and Rosco. Bringing home a new bird was not on the agenda. Of course - that's just what we ended up doing......
Anyway, without further adieu, here's Graysun. I think that's gonna be his name. Anyway, he's a 7 month old Greater Vasa parrot. They're generally referred to as "black parrots", but it's easy to see his more of a dark gray than black.
The bird breeder I got him (we think it's a him) had a hard time parting with him. She'd gotten him from a fellow breeder who has a pair of these that have been producing offspring for a couple of years now. Of course, like all babies, he's a sweetie and was a first (of this species) for her and she'd gotten attached to him. Her significant other had to prod her to bring him to the mart yesterday.
When I spotted him, I was incredulous. I hadn't seen a Vasa for sale in 20 years. And once I got to hold and cuddle him, I was doomed - or at least my finances were. We (the wife and I) eventually walked on to see the rest of the bird mart, but I had to go back and handle this fella one more time.
Heh - the wife knew I was wrenched this time. She actually started to rationalize us buying him. He WASN'T cheap - not by my standards anyway!
Even after holding him that second time, I was able to walk out to the car as we prepared to leave. Sitting in the car - keys in the ignition with my hand ready to twist them - we kept talking about this bird. There were LOTS of parrots and other birds there, but I like something different. And this guy's about as "different" as one can get in the world of parrots. I eventually DID start the car. But only AFTER I'd gone back inside and took ownership of Graysun. So there ya have it.
Our house has seemed a bit empty since we lost the three birds back in January. Graysun will liven things up a bit. It's been fun watching him since we brought him home. He's OK with us handling him and he's really inquisitive about any sort of food or toy I offer him. We picked fresh peppers and eggplant yesterday evening to make swiss steak with. I gave Graysun a whole bell pepper to explore and had had a ball ripping it up and eating some along the way. Same thing with a persimmon off our tree.
The only noise he's made is some soft squealing chortles he did after we covered his cage for the night.
If you're at all curious about Vasas, google Vasa parrot and there'll be plenty to read about this rare bird
Anyway, without further adieu, here's Graysun. I think that's gonna be his name. Anyway, he's a 7 month old Greater Vasa parrot. They're generally referred to as "black parrots", but it's easy to see his more of a dark gray than black.
The bird breeder I got him (we think it's a him) had a hard time parting with him. She'd gotten him from a fellow breeder who has a pair of these that have been producing offspring for a couple of years now. Of course, like all babies, he's a sweetie and was a first (of this species) for her and she'd gotten attached to him. Her significant other had to prod her to bring him to the mart yesterday.
When I spotted him, I was incredulous. I hadn't seen a Vasa for sale in 20 years. And once I got to hold and cuddle him, I was doomed - or at least my finances were. We (the wife and I) eventually walked on to see the rest of the bird mart, but I had to go back and handle this fella one more time.
Heh - the wife knew I was wrenched this time. She actually started to rationalize us buying him. He WASN'T cheap - not by my standards anyway!
Even after holding him that second time, I was able to walk out to the car as we prepared to leave. Sitting in the car - keys in the ignition with my hand ready to twist them - we kept talking about this bird. There were LOTS of parrots and other birds there, but I like something different. And this guy's about as "different" as one can get in the world of parrots. I eventually DID start the car. But only AFTER I'd gone back inside and took ownership of Graysun. So there ya have it.
Our house has seemed a bit empty since we lost the three birds back in January. Graysun will liven things up a bit. It's been fun watching him since we brought him home. He's OK with us handling him and he's really inquisitive about any sort of food or toy I offer him. We picked fresh peppers and eggplant yesterday evening to make swiss steak with. I gave Graysun a whole bell pepper to explore and had had a ball ripping it up and eating some along the way. Same thing with a persimmon off our tree.
The only noise he's made is some soft squealing chortles he did after we covered his cage for the night.
If you're at all curious about Vasas, google Vasa parrot and there'll be plenty to read about this rare bird
