Oh Lin, I LOVE parrots (and they are so smart). I just couldn't get one because by the time I coud afford one I would likely not be able to outlive it. I believe it is not fair to an animal, particularly a very social one to do that (you don't know how many arguments I had with my mom as she became older about getting a 'puppy'!) I have a few life sized parrot sculptures around though!
No Ann, I would have but I think there is some law against tonguing a bird.
Yes Lin, the dove was only with us a couple of days. I have long had the same family group here, this was one of the relative youngsters. Inky frequently gets me up middle of the night to potty and so we went out one evening in July and he pointed me to the dove. It had an injured tail and could not fly so we brought him in and nursed him for a few days. Inky loved it because he likes birds so much (since we started 'babysitting' a neighbors parakeet when they are away). After it could 'make the perch' we decided to take it out in the grass, I brought my camera, but while I was setting it one handed, the dove burst from my other hand, swooped to the roof gutter, then before I could focus was off to the sky. Next morning he was right back out there with the rest of his family.
Here's a PIX of inky supervising: .......................and 'making the perch' with one of my faux parrots in the background:
