Laughing

I think you will agree with me that change takes time and while getting to know this bird we had some boundaries to establish. We have forever been thankful that Gussie is not a screacher nor is she messy by the standards of most blue and gold macaws but she does tend to demand attention from time to time.

Like most folks we had a routine that allowed us to share time together as a couple before or after our weird work hours. We would often have tea and "bickeys" (....a term that is derived from cookies and biscuits that we picked up from our New Zealand friends) while we watched a movie on TV. Gussie knew what a bickey was and wanted to get her share the minute I walked in to the room with the tray. At that time we had a large home and Gussie had her own special space in three different rooms. On this occasion her space was a modified-recycled desktop that my husband made into a play area. She was quite at home there and enjoyed being able to see us while she played or preened or chattered. We were very content with our movie and she seemed content on her perch until a very quiet moment when she sought to get our attention by LOUDLY and clearly saying, "HEL-LO!!!!" It was startling and hilarious at the same time. We looked over to see her looking at us as if to say she was ready to be noticed. The best part came when we stopped laughing, she started. She parroted my laugh exactly. That was a first and it created quite a string of giddy moments for all of us. It was shortly after that evening that we discontinued our cable service. She was not only great entertainment but she saved us a lot of money each month.

We have never heard her use such a demanding tone or say Hello in the same way since but it remains one of our favorite stories. She has developed an uncanny timing when it comes to laughter. It doesn't matter if we are laughing in the middle of a discussion or watching a comedy, she seems to be able to sense the timing and she laughs right along with us....not after us, but with us.

Something Learned: I remember reading about parrots after Gussie arrived. I laughed when I read this reference to typical parrot behavior. "What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine". That is SO very true when it comes to bickies. If I walk in the room with a tray she will fuss until I pick her up. Then, if I don't give her a piece she will make her way to the tray with lazer focus and help herself....but she'll take the entire thing and believe it's hers.