Mabel

Mabel
Sweet Mabel

Tuesday 24 July 2012

I Love Severe Macaws!

I really love this photo of Mabel. I hope you enjoy it too. I really do not have any talent when it comes to taking photos. I simply use a point and shoot camera, then hope for the best. Sometimes I get really lucky and end up with a photo like this one. Of all my 3 parrots, Mabel is the one that makes me feel the most gratified as a parrot owner. I think this is because I had to overcome several personal obstacles along the way before becoming a person who is  *truly* worthy of taking care of a severe macaw. Occasionally, I still can't believe that I have 3 parrots, and one is a severe macaw? Time has really flown by since October 2010!! I used to be convinced that I had lost my mind when I decided to welcome her into my home. Thanks to Mabel, I am  happy to publicly declare that I love all severe macaws! ALL of them. Even the ones I have never met. I wish everyone could feel the wonder of loving a severe macaw. They are pretty Magical! 



7 comments:

  1. I was always a bit scared of macaws...their beak really scares me, but Mabel looks so sweet, that I keep doubting my fear of this beautiful parrots

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  2. I hear what your're saying. If you have followed my journey from the start with Mabel, you'll know that I used to be afraid of macaws but also very disinterested too. I hardly bothered with the macaw forum and I barely even acknowledged mini macaws when I saw them. I must say that I truly feel severe macaws are awesome and I unequivocally feel this way about all of them. Doesn't matter that I've only handled my Mabel. :) I wish we lived closer so you could meet her in person. :) HOpe you have the chance to meet and handle one in the future.

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  3. I'm so absolutely delighted I just discovered your lovely blog! I'm eager to catch up from the beginning. I only chanced upon this because, just now, I searched for "severe macaw and african grey" on YouTube, and saw a few videos of your beautiful, contented parrots, Emma and Mabel. (And I saw the link to this blog--so glad you linked it!) Their elaborate perches and play areas are fantastic! I'm coveting them and planning to get some of my own! I did the search because... Well, I'm kind of considering getting a baby macaw. (Hmmm... just typing the words startles me--Macaws are a category of parrot I've never even considered until now!) I currently have a 12 yr-old Timneh, (& a few other birds but no other parrots) and decided awhile back to start looking for a baby Timneh. I have found a source and am waiting for a baby... but, it occurred to me that it might be nice for two babies, not necessarily both Timnehs, to be raised together! Since I've only ever had the one parrot, even getting JUST one more is a big deal, and, I'm certainly not going to jump into such a huge commitment on a whim! But, anyway--the Severes seem so appealing... And I was wondering if this is a pairing you would recommend. (I know Congos and Timnehs are different... I've been told that Timnehs are mellower and more social, less aloof... but I'm betting they're similar enough to make your experience relevant to what I might expect.) So, if you don't mind my asking: do Emma and Mabel get along? Also--I'm so new to learning about Severe Macaws. It looks like I will be able to learn a lot from your blog--I will investigate--but right now, I'm wondering if Mabel is at all cuddly-esp. compared to your Grey. (I know individuals differ, but I'm curious if Severes in general are cuddlier than Greys. I've read that Severes aren't that amenable to petting, compared to other Macaws, but I'm not sure how they compare to Greys.) Also, is Mabel disturbingly loud on a regular basis? I've been spoiled by relatively quiet birds. I certainly wouldn't resent a bird that was loud--but, I feel like I should know what I'm getting into. I'd rather our parrots not disturb the neighbors. And--hey--look! I just saw your links to OTHER blogs! Wonderful! It looks like I have a lot to look forward to. :D Thank you so much for sharing your story, & your wonderful birds. Please just respond to as much as you have time for. Thanks again! --Heidi p.s. Your videos are wonderful. I definitely need to start adding the affectionate ending, "cita", to the ends of my birds' names.

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  4. Hi Heidi! Thank you so much for nice compliments. Mabel is really VERY affectionate and expressive. Alot more so than my grey, yet my grey is quite affectionate too. I can do just about anything with her. She's cuddly, interactive and very hands on. Although I've never had experience with any other severe macaw I cannot imagine meeting one as wonderful as Mabel. She's Truly a doll. Noise? Mabel is capable of being EXTREMELY loud, yet it only lasts a few seconds or minutes each day. My true loudymouth is my Emma. Emma and Mabel aren't very friendly towards each other, however for the most part they are quite peaceful.

    Please join this great forum. Would love to know more about your flock and you'll learn alot about all kinds of macaws and will be able to make an informed decision as to which one is best for you. My username is Saemma. http://forums.avianavenue.com/

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  5. It's funny how things turn out! A number of years ago I bought my wife a Timineh African Grey because she always wanted a parrot. Who would have ever thought that the best parrots in my home are now a Congo African Grey, a Scarlet Macaw, and a Milligold Macaw. Wouldn't change it for the world; just love them! Thanks, glad I found your awesome blog!

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  6. "Saemma", thanks so much for your thorough reply! I kept forgetting to re-reply, sorry it's taken me so long. Your input--along with the input of a guy who posted a video about his Severe Macaw ("Carmen", I think) on YouTube, along with some info online about macaws in general, helped me to realize that although I ADORE Severes from afar, they and I and my wee flock aren't prob. ideally suited for one other... Yet I so love hearing about Severes, I hope you continue writing this blog for a long time to come! I wanted to add, too, that although Greys sometimes get a rep for being "aloof" your Emma seems far far from it--as you describe and as her videos reveal--and my experience leads me to believe that most Greys have the potential to be total, absolute sweethearts. I think sometimes their caution can be misread as a disdainful aloofness. They're just shy! They're the best birds ever! (As is every individual bird I've ever had... Recently had the special, special privilege of taking in a rescue Amazon named Seymour... you can read about him on FB, my friend at Tracisparrots4u posted about him in... Late Sept, I think?... Just when I thought I'd discovered all the most lovable and astonishing kinds of species of birds there are, another came along to awe me further, and steal my heart away yet again!...) Perhaps I will join that forum! Thank you again!

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  7. We welcome all parrot owners from the macaw forum to the parakeet. A friendly forum and outstanding source of macaw information.

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