Harrowing Pet (Bird) Story...

[ssjones]

With a miracle happy ending...
I've posted some pictures of our pet Green Conure, Stevie over the past year. Yesterday we had a close call with him that I can't believe he survied. I had him out by the pool, after taking a post-yard work dip. He was sitting on our fence, like I've done a million times. A giant hawk (6’ wingspan) swooped down, grabbed him off the fence and I saw him fly up and away over the neighbors house and large trees. I ran after him, mostly to look for the body. I saw feathers dropping and figured he was a goner but what a horrible way to go. I walked a street over and found the hawk was sitting on the gutter of a neighbors house and flew off. They weren’t home, so I grabbed our ladder and checked for his body. Nope. A few other neighbors heard the commotion and we started looking around those homes a street over. One neighbor found him under a tree and he seemed miraculously unharmed. He was either in shock or has some internal damage. But nothing visible, blood, etc. Last nigth he would just crawl up under mine or my wife's neck and stay there. I wasn't sure he would survive the night and knew I could find him dead in his cage in this morning. But, he is eating and seems a little more perky. I can’t believe the hawk didn’t tear him up, I guess maybe conures don’t taste good…
We do have a patio cage and that will be his domain for future outdoor adventures. I'll never forget seeing that hawk swoop down grab him up. I guess he won't either.
He's sitting on my shoulder as I type this.

 

[docrx]

Glad it turned out well in the end!

 

[irishsmoker]

Glad he is ok! I had an African grey growing up. Those conures are some pretty tough customers! The hawk probably is missing part of a toe!

 

[tbradsim1]

Glad your pet is ok, give him a peck of vodka , might make him drunk and forget the horrible incident LOL. The old cajun

 

[ssjones]

We've had hawks here in the past (not sure why that never dawned on me...) but nothing approaching the size of that one. I literally heard the wings flapping as it came down over our patio roof to the fence, than the woosh, woosh, woosh and off they went.

 

[ssjones]

He does enjoy a few sips of most adult beverages....well, I haven't encountered anything he doesn't like.

 

[galeon]

I had a Green Cheek for a while Al. I'm glad he's doin' okay now. They're some strong little buggers.

 

[uberam3rica]

That was a close call! I'm glad he is ok, I love birds!

 

[nsfisher]

That was a close one. Lucy either wears the body harness or is in her carry cage when we go outside. Glad your little one is OK.

 

[mrgunnar177]

Really glad to hear your bird is.ok!

 

[ssjones]

A great looking bird nsfisher. Stevie won't be left outside like that ever again. That bright green is too big a tempting target I guess.

 

[cigrmaster]

Al,I am so glad he is ok. I can't imagine the fear you must have been feeling as you watched him being taken away. A pet is like family no matter what kind of animal it is.

 

[taerin]

You could keep him on your shoulder when your outside, I doubt a hawk would mess with him when he's on you, but if he did, that would certainly be even more frightening.

 

[jameral]

That was a close call! Glad to hear Stevie came out ok.

 

[ssjones]

You could keep him on your shoulder when your outside, I doubt a hawk would mess with him when he's on you, but if he did, that would certainly be even more frightening.

He usually does ride around on my shoulder, but I sat him on the fence post and as soon as I left the area, bam. My neighbors, who helped find him, must think we're nuts....maybe we are...