by Nora Caterino

Created on: October 07, 2009

As a parrot enthusiast, I have had to decide what to do with a dead bird on several occasions. I'd like to share how I dealt with the death of my beloved sun conure, Dani who passed to birdy heaven on June 2, 2009.

Dani died in my arms, being petted and loved. It was a sudden, unexpected death. I was well aware of the cause of a necropsy was not necessary. The air conditioner had broken and before I came home, she had become too hot. I cried many tears on her lifeless feathered body and cuddled her a long time.

I knew we had to bury her because no other means of disposal would be appropriate for a family member. I located a nice box which would hold her easily. I selected her sleeping mop, a string-type bundle in which she snuggled to sleep each night. I gently wrapped her body in her "bed". Then I wrapped her in a nice piece of soft cloth I happened to have. Then I placed her in her funeral box.

Because there are many cats in the neighborhood, I dug a hole in my garden sufficiently deep that I was certain the cats could not dig up my precious Dani. I placed the box into the ground and told her how very much I loved her and that I would also know she lived in my heart.

I then filled in her grave, packing the dirt firmly. After completing this task, I placed a nice potted plant on top of her grave. After a few weeks, I planted a permanent plant over her grave so I would also know exactly where my darling was buried. The plant has grown well and bloomed, reflecting the beauty of my gorgeous sun conure.

Because I breed small birds, I have on occassion lost a baby or fledgling. I have always buried these birds in the garden. Because I was not bonded to these small creatures, I did not go to the extremes but simply placed them inside a nice box and made a grave for them.

Each of my birds are members of my family and I believe they deserve respect in death even as in life. I would never simply toss a dead bird into a dumpster or dispose of it in some other disrespectful manner. I am certain that if you love birds, you very likely feel exactly the same way.

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