We are Venezuelan Amazon parrots and our names are

Kiri and Rico.

We have been a pair since April, 2004 and fly here in the South-Eastern outskirts of Berlin.

It all started when I (Kiri) escaped from the cage I used to share with ornamental chickens.   I was free for a while but came back home the next afternoon. Three months later, I escaped again – and, once again, came home again in the evening. After that, my master just left the door open and, after every little trip out, I would come back. So that I wasn’t lonely on my little trips, my master bought me a friend. But the master can tell you all about Rico himself

But first, a word of warning!

By telling you all this, I am not suggesting that you copy what I have done! I would like to report only about my experiences with my freely flying parrots and to you allow to take part in my joy.

The fact that my parrots fly free just happened, more or less by accident.   For birds to fly freely like Kiri and Rico, a lot of things need to be taken into consideration. The first and most important thing is time, a lot of time!!! I don’t determine their daily routine, the birds do! You must be there for the birds and not vice versa.

There also needs to be a strong bond between the birds and their human. The local environment and the  intelligence of the birds themselves is also very important.

The history:

I first got Kiri in 1998, when she was three years old. Her previous owner said she was “a little devil” but, with my level of knowledge at that time, it didn’t bother me. People are entitled to their own opinions. And besides, these birds are much better than some breeders would like us to believe! Nevertheless, how you treat a bird is crucial to making sure that they are happy.

Right from the beginning, I let Kiri fly freely round my apartment and a tender bond quickly developed between us.

You’ll get an idea of Kiri’s intelligence, as well as her jealousy when I tell you a little story.   A friend came to stay and put her cosmetics on a shelf next to mine.   Kiri knocked all my friend’s things onto the floor but left mine alone!

I used to keep Bantams in an aviary and, when the weather was nice in the summer, I used to put Kiri in the aviary during the day but bring her back into the appartment in the evening to be with me.

Typically for her cleverness and/or jealousy was, for example, the following occurence. A friend distributed her brought cosmetics articles in a shelve which was equipped with my own. Kiri has got to carry this completely on the floor without removing an only one from my assortment.

Because I had an aviary with bantam, I have put Kiri in summer in nice weather during the day with in and have brought in the evening again to myself.

In the enclosure there was a couple the bantam fledglings which sat with pleasure on a raised rack. Then Kiri the hen has properly cuddled always away gejagd and then the cock. Since him I am sure almost that Kiri also is really a female.

When Kiri had come back then several times from the aviary chopped and in the evening, I have aimed them then since spring, 2002 allow to freely fly.

At first everything wonderfully ran. Kiri felt as fit as a fiddle in her new role and for me the evening return was over and over again in great experience. It is great fun simply to experience them in the free nature and to observe like she can be fetched during 2 weeks early by a jay, squabbled with the crows intrepidly or properly with me and my dog walk flew

 To me the excursions which go till a vicinity of 8 kilometers have become known.

Then in winter the excursions were shorter and she came back after 2-4 hours And I have let out them to below 8 degrees in nice weather.

Whether it chance or intention was not white I, one day, in any case, one knocked in the window and Kiri sat in the windowsill. I have gone out immediately and have brought them with a lot of theaters and adulation. Thereby she has got into the habit of reporting back by the beating with the beak to the window pane if I am not exactly outdoors.

The problems:

Of course everything not always runs so flatly as wirs would have with pleasure. It already happened that Kiri also came sometimes at night not home, and these were always worried nights for me. But then the next day even more warmly just the greeting was.

Also I noticed that Kiri was sufficient with the time the alone rum aviation no more and searched them for society. Thus she searched in the spring increasingly connection with the crows. However, they began with her brood and, besides they could safely renounce her society.

By the constant road chopping of the crows Kiris plumage had suffered very strongly. The tail existed only of 3-4 to tattered feathers and in the wings some were already absent, so that it was strongly limited in her airworthiness.

Thus there was first room arrest. However, this was no solution on a continuing basis. The best what to me in addition occurred was, "the Kiri needs a man! "

Said, done! Then I fetched in April, 2004 Rico from Apolda. Indeed, he is 5 years older, but it was love at first sight!

The shouting and palaver lasted without interruption more than 3 hours. Rico came from the aviary posture and was not quite trusting. However, I soon noticed that Kiri had taken over the absolutely dominant role and Rico did what she wanted.

The solution:

Then already after 4 weeks I have dared to grant to both together the first free flight. Besides, to me was more than rottenly in the stomach area, but Kiri pushed visibly.

Because Rico did not come at that time yet on the hand and confirmed to me the breeder that he had still never done this, I made him in the cage out around him then let fly. After anxious hours both came flying along about evening according to loud. The feed in the cage lured him purely and I could bring Rico easily.

Then already after one week Rico also came on hand, head and shoulder flown. Whether has he carried out the change in his affection for me from gratitude for the new attitude to life? I do not know it!

In any case, it is a miraculous sight if they fly away side by side like in the formation flight.

Since they are on the move now in twos, Kiri also has to make friends no more the need with the crows. On the contrary I could observe this spring like one of the both of a crow the crow attakierte was attacked and the other from the back.

Indeed, the crow was right sometimes exceptionally because in the tree her nest was.

The whole year through they have come regularly every day home, however, then they came since start September on silly thoughts.

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