On 6/02/05, Emma wrote:
> Robin,
>
> I appreciate that for the "average" bird owner who sounds like a
> liability, the bird needs to be controlled. But isn't it obvious
> that someone like this shouldn't be looking after a bird? I don't
> see why the bird should suffer its freedom being taken away for
> their stupidity.
I agree with you 110% on that.There are so many people that should
not own birds.I have done rescue for years,trust me,there are alot of
people I have fought back the need to smack when picking up birds
from them.Again,I wish it was the case that people who shouldn't own
birds didn't,but they do.
> I apologise if the original post sounded dictatorial, I didn't
> mean for it to come across like that and I'm sorry if that's why
> people took offence.
No worries,for my part,like I said,I often have to retype what I say
2-3 times,people get offended at me all the time.One of the main
things people get mad at me for is me saying "Do research!Read!".
> The question I have for you is that you are obviously not the
> average bird owner, you have experience and knowledge. So why do
> you clip your birds? You are evidently responsible enough to keep
> them flighted so why not? Don't you think the birds would enjoy
> more flying ability? That's all I want to ask.
>
> Thanks
>
> -Emma
Well,my main "pet" birds that are part of the family,everyone knows
well,are my 3 macaws.Beaker is a rescue,I don't clip her,her wing is
missing on one side and she couldn't fly anyway.As far as Cookie and
Sarge go,it's simply not workable.I have ceiling fans,low
windows,when I first got them both,they were both unclipped and
crashed into so many things.They were also both fairly wild,Sarge
(Scarlet) is outright aggressive at times.It's just a case of
weighing the pros and the cons,and in the long run,for my birds,the
safest thing to do for them is keep them clipped.And I don't regard
it so strongly as them "suffering".They get plenty of exercise,they
get plenty of attention,and I clip their wings myself,it's not a big
traumatic deal for them.Heck my daughter has more of a fit getting
her hair cut.For me,it's the responsible thing to do.
The first day Cookie was here he took off across the living room,and
this is irony again,I have HUGE cages for them but my living room is
teeny,ha,and crashed into the window on the other side.He actually
knocked the A/C loose from the window.Had the AC gone out,the bird
would have too! Stuff happens,unfortunately we can't control
everything.
Oh,one other point that pro-flight people make is about
predators,and how they are safer in the air than on the ground,and
that is simply not the case either.I have seen many a hawk,and could
tell you stories that wwould turn your hair white,that will snatch a
colorful little meal out of the sky.
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