| I first knew we were going
to own a parrot when Ruth took me to Pets Mart because "I just had to
see this cute bird." The clerk asked if Ruth wanted Buddy out of the
cage again. Again? I knew I was in trouble. Buddy had adopted Ruth and
she had adopted him. We went home with a bird clutching Ruth's finger
through the bars of his travel cage. The first night Ruth
checked on him several times throughout the night, concerned because he
kept hanging upside-down in the cage. Daughter Amy first heard
him speak. She had stopped by our home to pick up something, heard a
tentative "Hello" from the dining room. Knowing both our cars were gone
she was surprised. Entering the room she saw the parrot. We didn't know
he talked.
When we moved aboard our 35' sailboat that summer Buddy moved on
with us. That meant he was along for races, parties and cruises...
getting to know a lot of people. When we'd come into a Lake Winnebago
harbor the first question was "Where's Buddy." Initially he had the run
of the cockpit. Later when we learned how easily he could drown we kept
him in his cage when on deck. When below deck he is still allowed out of
his cage.
Buddy became a Leukemia Cup Mascot. Onboard for the races he also
was around for the parties and the sunset cruises we had for the L&LS
volunteers.
When we moved to our 43' sailboat he came too. He accompanied us
on the Great American Loop trip down the mid-American waterways and up
the east coast. The lockmasters learned he was onboard. If he wasn't in
the cockpit they'd ask "Can we see the parrot?" When we entered each
lock on the Erie Canal Buddy would repeatedly call out "It's a parrot.
Paarrroottt!"
Canadian Customs acknowledged his presence and asked for his
passport. Apparently Canada issues pet passports. We responded he had
none. He was restricted to the boat. No problem - though he was hoping
to pick up chicks in the bar. US customs acknowledged
him - period. He was just part of the crew.
Buddy has gotten a lot of exposure in his travels with us as well
as in the media.
Latitudes & Attitudes Magazine
Photo by Tony Passafume
Photos by Barry in "Loop" seriesCruising Solutions Website
Photo with Bradd & Maeve
Good Old Boat
Photo with Bradd & Maeve
We've learned that he loves dogs, cats, birds, airplanes and
especially people. He eats when people do, laughs when they do, and ends
peoples' sentences with "Eh". He likes noise: engines, vacuum cleaners,
power tools - breaking into a streak of talk to join the noise.
He's great company. When we turn in at night so does he. In the
morning we don't hear a sound from him until he knows we are awake. He
entertains us and brings us a lot of joy.
Buddy's vocabulary constantly expands. We've found it very
difficult to teach him words or phrases... he just picks up things that
apparently have some meaning to him:
- Hello
- Hola
- Come on
- Parrot, parrot
- It's a parrot!
- Peek a boo
- Pretty, pretty Buddy
- Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!
- I love you (Buddy)
- Good morning, good morning, good morning!
- Good good Buddy
- Whatcha doin'
- Where are you?
- Here kitty, kitty, kitty
- Wheeeeee! Wheeeee! Wheeee!
- Good - good - good
- I love my nudder-budder bar
- Come here
- Aflac
- Wanna go to the boat
- Ahoy thar matey
- Buddy (or Polly) want a cracker
- All aboard
- Arrgh thar matey
- Arrgh thar Buddy
- Step up, step up
- Barry, where's Barry
- Barry, where's Barry - whatcha doing?
- Ruthie, where's Ruthie
- Ruthie, where's Ruthie - whatcha doing?
- Gouchie, gouchie, gouchie
- Wanna come out
- Oh, Oh! Whatcha doing?'
- Who is that?
- Laughter (Ruth's laugh)
- Specific whistle 1, that's Benji
- Specific whistle 2 (wolf whistle), that's Ruthie
- Specific whistle 3, that's Barry
- a variety of phases, variations and combinations of the
phrases above.
He also has a variety of whistles and calls:
- Gull
- Cockatiel
- Dinghy winch
- Andy Griffith theme
- Wolf whistle (it's gotten Barry in trouble several times)
- Osprey
- Clucks like a chicken
- Chirp - chirp - chirp
- Jet boat engine
He understands "No", though like a 4 year old he keeps testing
the limits. He also understands that "Inside voice" means tone down
the volume or experience "towels" (having his cage covered). Buddy
senses tension and other emotions and responds appropriately using a
phrase from his repertoire. He likes to play, one of his games is
"hang 4" where he reaches out in response and grabs your finger. Just
remember, he's an animal and doesn't think like we do... watch your
fingers.
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Buddy on AA in Marathon - 2007
Vital Statistics
Birth - Kaytee Farms, FL spring 1999
(birth record lost when a hurricane destroyed
the farm.)
Sex - Undetermined
We and the vet suspect he is a she because
s/he most frequently adopts men.
Leg Band - PSM FL 946 He has
an imbedded computer chip for ID Weight - 640
grams (01/07) Flight feathers regularly clipped

Chili time!

Barry helps
Buddy log his adventures
What's CITES?
It is effectively Buddy's passport:
Certificate number: 07US146756/9
Valid until 02/20/2010
Security No. 123149
U.S. Management Authority
Division of Management Authority
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Dept. of
Interior Washington, D.C. 20240
United States of America
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