by Ruth Franz Higdon

Created on: May 25, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Nobody was more surprised than I when I allowed a rowdy cockatiel into my life. Rescued by my daughter from a home where he was not wanted and had been banished to a back porch, abandoned and neglected, this cockatiel had no company, no friends, no sounds of music or voices, no interaction with anything living.

Two cats were already part of my household, but without warning one day I was presented with that cockatiel and his cage. The announcement was "Mom, he's ours now." I had not expected this turn of events.

I had no experience with birds except in the outdoors, but being compassionate about animal creatures, I accepted this challenge and felt it was my destiny. I wanted to know everything about cockatiels and began researching, but mainly I wanted to know how to do right and make him a happy bird. He had already been named. He was called Gordo.

Being told from the start that he was male, I didn't question it. He was spirited and lively and I believed him to be less than a year old. I got him a much larger and sturdier cage and set up the interior of his new home to make it interesting and friendly. The basic food, water and toys didn't seem enough; I'm a little obsessive. I created an area for him outside his cage with plants and a bird playground. Gordo allowed me all this creative freedom and responded to me. His cage door now remains open many hours of the day so that he can come out to fly around and explore, returning to his own place when he wants privacy. He putters around inside his cage, straightening and housecleaning and even talking to himself - I love it! - and throwing things out onto the floor. I've learned birds are good at that.

We bonded. He follows me around, and joins me at my desk where he chews on my papers, pencils and pens, and tosses them all onto the floor. After he chewed up all my house plants and started working on the furniture, I learned to bring him lots of sticks and little twigs from nearby trees. You see how I've learned from him? By the way, the twigs need to be washed and cleaned for his safety.

This cockatiel became a force in my life. He is a member of the household and the cats have accepted him as well with all his eccentricities. Gordo keeps a strict schedule. Dusk means settle down and prepare for an early dinner. We all do that, and eat at the same time. Since birds are usually in lots of company in their natural state, this cockatiel adopted us as part of his flock. The cats eat at their dishes on the floor and Gordo joins them there. I sprinkle some food around that I know he will eat: seeds and some breakfast cereal.

I sing to him, whistle tunes, and he dances around on his perch. He knows how to wake me up in the morning and tells me when it's time to start the day. I marvel at his intelligence and his many abilities.

On occasion he has bitten me and I caution those who want to be cockatiel owners to understand that this type of bird is feisty and lively. Everyone needn't take on my behavior; he has more freedom than someone else may allow.

Some animals that come in to your life are your pets. All birds do not fit that category. They are not subordinate and need to be respected. If you want to take a bird into your life, a cockatiel is a great companion.

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