LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all the wild caught parrots so savagely netted and swept away from their families while their babies dumped into burlap sacks cried out in terror.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all the exotic birds that witnessed the destruction of all the blessed trees and fled fires in fear from man's thirst to dominate, stripping the land of all its inhabitants, leaving nothing but bare ground behind.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all the parrots that struggled through the capture, but died merciless in transport from the stress of overcrowded, barbaric, confinements and inconceivable horror.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all the survivors that made it into captivity but exist in a nightmare of confinement unable to use their God given wings of flight as they once remembered.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all the baby birds bred in captivity whose crop's burned or have died needlessly from harshness of human hands.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all captive birds that have been erased from their owner's consciousness and are abandoned to a lifeless existence with only a distant memory of what is was like to hear a gentle voice from someone that used to care.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all those helpless creatures who don't know what it's like to live life as a bird or even to feel the breeze or sunlight but are doomed to darkness in closets or garages, trapped inside covered cages or shackled.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all the macaws, cockatoos, amazons, and conures that are stripped of their vocal cords for screaming; their sensitive beaks cut back to prevent biting.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all birds that end up for sale in pet shops or breeders like used merchandise, unwanted and frightened in strange surroundings with nothing more than the familiar sight of bars on a cage.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all the neglected birds that are sick with infections from filthy conditions and malnourishment that may never recover and know what it is like to feel healthy and be playful.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For all the misconceived parrots who were beaten, stabbed, blinded and burned for just being a parrot.

LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

For every african grey, cockatoo and macaw that punishes itself from confinement and boredom by maiming their bodies and plucking their feathers and for those who have lost all spirit of life and sway their head low from side to side slowly into insanity. LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER..........................

WE ASK HUMBLY OF YOU, DEAR LORD TO LOOK UPON ALL OF YOUR MAGNIFICENT FEATHERED CREATIONS PROTECT THEM FROM EVIL AND HARM CAUSED BY MAN AND TO BRING FORTH AN AWAKENING IN THE HUMAN HEART AND MAKE IT A KINDER, GENTLER WORLD FOR ALL CAPTIVE BIRDS............AMEN

Musings written by Bev Penny-copyright 2003

musings

1. Oh look, a pellet patch underneath Zazu's cage. I try to buy organic wherever I can; yet Zazu likes to eat the pellets that she has knocked out of her dish and onto the floor.

2. The fridge is not a good place for magnets when said fridge becomes a favourite perch.

3. Apparently cordless phones and TV remotes are not supposed to have buttons. Ask any parrot.

4. If you bring something new into the house and it is not locked in a safe with a 24 hour security guard, there is not a chance in hell that it will remain untouched. Parrots hate perfection. This is a very serious rule in the parrot world.

5. If you have parrots and you change into clean clothes, you have approximately a 3 second window before one poops down your back. Any longer than that is a miracle. Be thankful!

6. If you have something you value highly and wish it to remain unscathed, hang it in the cage as if it were a new toy. The same cannot be said for $120 sandals left unattended, down the hallway, on the floor.

A Christmas Wish by Autine Hansen 1993

It was the night before Christmas and all through the house, Parrots

conspired, they wished to go South. They looked out the window at the new fallen snow, "By Jove," piped the Budgie, "Must be forty below!"

"How far must we travel and how fast can we fly? We might end up ice-birds," was the Cockatiels' sigh.

"We are trapped," shrieked the Conure; "Shhhh" said the rest.

"Dear," peeped the Lovebird "We should go to our nest." "I can't get out ," the Macaw growled, dancing with rage, " They've put this great padlock here on my cage."

"I'll help," said the Cockatoo, hanging down from his perch, "I've only a chain and that's a few minutes work."

"Never mind that," Grey said with a flair, " We should go first class if we're going by air. I'll call the airline and taxi to boot. They'll think that I'm human, won't that be a hoot!"

The Amazon laughed saying, "You can't handle the phone. I'm sure I could do it all on my own."

And they argued as the night crept by. Each wish they could find a warmer climates to try. Just near dawn, on perch or in the nest; they all settled down for a bit of rest. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, they all craned their necks to see what was the matter.

As swiftly as light a strange band arced the sky. No wings and no feathers, but boy, it could fly. A sleigh and some reindeer, heading straight for their roof.

Then a strange sound , the clatter of each tiny hoof. And as they ruffed up their feathers and all turned around, down the chimney came Jolly Saint Nick with a bound. "Well Birds," he laughed, shaking his round belly, "I know what you think you want, though you don't really. But this night is magic so you'll have your wish, but watch what I do in

case things go amiss." Then putting his finger along side his nose, with a rush and a whirl, all the birds rose. And in a twinkling they all found themselves, in a warm jungle with new sounds and new smells.

Oh, they called and they capered and thought everything fine. Then the Macaw said, "I'm hungry, where's the food cup on this vine?"

Sampling a strange berry, the Budgie complained, "It's not like home-cooking, it isn't the same."

The Lovebird looked pensive and chided her mate," No box for a nest, now isn't that great."

The Cockatiel shuddered at the crash of a tree. Seemed great yellow

machines were running quite free. And the Cockatoo yelped, spying a great jungle cat," Hey, mates, that's no shoulder for perching, I want

to go back."

Then the Amazon saw a man with a gun. "Hurry," he said, "we must fly, we must run!"

"But," said the Grey, "How far did we roam? We've no ruby slippers to take us back home."

"I know," shrieked the Conure, "It's just a small trick. We just use the magic of good Ol' Saint Nick." And laying his wing tip aside of his beak, he burst through the canopy like a green streak. They all followed suit and in a thrice were back home, preening their feathers and vowing never to roam.

Each cage had been hung with a stocking stuffed full. So, that wily ol' elf with his smile so droll, knew they'd come back to the home they held dear, a house of great warmth,

love, and good cheer. And as they all settled down and all closed their eyes, murmuring contentment in little bird sighs, they heard Santa exclaim as he drove out of sight, " Merry Christmas to all, and to all a

good night!"

When you have birds, is it possible to have things in your apartment/house that aren't chewed on and pooped on?

Yes, this is possible if YOU live in another apartment/house. When you have birds, is it possible to have a few minutes of quiet time all by yourself?

Yes, this is also possible but you must go to your other apartment/house mentioned above. When you have birds, is it possible to have a meal without sharing with your bird?

Yes, this too is possible if you eat at a restaurant and do not tell your bird which restaurant you are going to. He/she might show up. When you have birds, is it possible to spend quality time giving them cuddles without having holes in your clothes? This is possible but you must be naked when you hold them. Keep your clothes on the hangers in another room, in a closet with a lock on it.

Is it possible to have money when you have birds? Don't be so ridiculous. What a stupid question!! I can't believe you have birds and would even ask that. LOL Anybody got any more?

Bev, Zazu and Sally Ann

ARE YOU A MEMBER

You may be a member of the Parrot's Secret Order if...

You can hardly type because your bird is dancing on the keyboard while chewing on your pen!

You spend more time cleaning your bird cages than your house!

You hear an "echo" each time you push a microwave button!

You try to teach your dog to say "Hello!"

Your hungry family asks what's for dinner and you say you just whipped up a fresh pot of "Crazy Corn!"

You're going across town and you realize half-way there that your bird is still sitting on your shoulder!

You kiss the birds good-night but not your spouse!

You go on the vacation of a lifetime and can only tell your friends what cool bird stuff you found!

You don't care if people see bird poop stains on your shirt!

Your darling birdie sneezes and you drive 2 hours to the avian vet! Every shirt you own has buttons missing!

You say "Hello....Hello....Hello!" to your people friends.

You pull up in the driveway, and you see that your bird is looking out the window. You start waving saying, "Hi Kiwi. Its mommy! I'm home from work now."

Your friends dog is pregnant, and you ask if the puppies have hatched yet.

Later you accidentally refer to his dog as a "hen."

You're leaving a gathering of friends, and you find yourself saying, "Bye bye! Gimmee SMOOCHIES!" You make sure your pizza isn't too hot so the birdies wont burn their feet.

You're on a first-name basis with the seed moths that hang around your house.

You refer to the hair loss from your dog as "molting." You tell your boyfriend not to touch you in front of the bird because the bird might get jealous. You drop your purse in the supermarket and sunflower seeds fall out.

You fight over who gets custody of the birds when the romance ends.

This Poem Is Posted With Permission and Wriiten By Lisa Walsh, of Lisa To The Point Design.

I wrote this one night after Christmas this past year. I was up late and just couldn't sleep. I had hear so many horrible stories, had seen so many horrible pictures that thoughts swirled around in my head. It took all of 20 minutes to write. Then, I wasn't sure what to do with it. I put it away until now. I just want to send it out into the COSMOS, to reach as many people as possible. It's to make people THINK, that's all. But if you feel particularly moved by it, contact your local bird sanctuary and ask them how you can help. Sorry if it's melancholy, but that's how it goes sometimes.

This one is for the Bird who no one took the time to understand. The one who cried for a hug and was punished for screaming. The one who screamed for good food but got only seed.

The one who begged for attention because flock animals don't like how lonely "feels".

The one who sees "his owner" as his flock and is needing love and guidance.

The one who doesn't know right from wrong until you show him. The one who was "cursed" to be beautiful because that made someone put him in a cage to be stared at. The one who was "guaranteed to talk" and didn't - so everyone lost interest.

The one who can get his point across without uttering a human word, but no one will "listen". The one who is left out in the cold...in the garage...in the basement.

This is for the one who was left outside unattended on a hot day. The one who is thought to be "just a bird"                               - thought to be content to just sit in a cage and stare at the world while the world stares at him. The one whose world consists of a prison-like cage. The one who will live 25 years, 50 and even 100 because if you treat him right, that is how long he should live.

The one who needs to keep his beak busy with toys because instinctively he needs to use his beak.

The one who plucks his feathers and digs at himself because he has nothing else to do and feels unloved.

The one who has the intelligence of a 2-year-old child (or older). This is for the bird whose "owner" never took the time to understand all of this.

The one who is suffering because their person does not care enough to learn any of this.

This is for the person who would never do this to their 2-year-old. This is for the person who IS!

This is for the one...the many...the thousands of birds who are suffering right now because of people's ignorance!

< ALIGN=CENTER> You know you're into Parrots if....

- your home contains 8 cages, 10 playstands, 6 swings, and a bed.

- you are zoned as a rainforest wildlife sanctuary by your city.

- all your neighbors move away, and you live in an apartment.

- you consider collard greens, dandelion greens, parsnips, mustard green, and escarole to be common vegetables.

- you go through the store checkout with 18 different fruits and veggies (none of which you plan to eat).

- the person behind you at the checkout asks how you prepare the collard greens you're holding and you say that you haven't the slightest idea.

- you have to explain to the lawncare company that you like dandelions in your yard.

- you see absolutely nothing wrong with having every piece of furniture in your living room topped with cages while your lamp is on the floor, and you use a lapdesk because the desk itself holds your parrot toy box.

- redecorating the house means finding a way to squeeze in another bird cage.

your garage contains extra cages, playstands, toys, but no car.

- you've ever answered the phone with a parrot on your head.

- you tell people on the phone, "I can't talk now; I've got a parrot on my head."

- people overhearing your parrot discussions think you're talking about your date.

- you drive around on recycling day looking for the biggest piles of newspaper to steal and feel guilty when people look out their windows and pity you.

- you want world peace, to save the environment, a cure for AIDS and a better way to clean bird poo.

- you have vases full of feathers instead of flowers.

- you have 3 tv's and none of them are for you to use.

- your c.d. collection contains opera, classical, and speech lessons, none of which you listen to.

- you haven't owned an alarm clock in 10 years, but never get up late.

- when you're at Home Depot you're busy dreaming about building new play areas.

- you have no carpet in your house, anywhere.

- you shower in the guest bathroom, because the master bath is too full of perches.

- your friends come over for dinner and offer to make a salad, to which you reply "none of those vegetables are for humans!" - you haven't taken a vacation in 10 years, and like it that way.

- every room in your home is equipped with U.V. lighting.

- your walls are lined with Plexiglas, your ceilings are lined with Plexiglas, and your floors are covered in plastic runners, and they are all still stained.

- you have replaced your vacuum at least twice a year.

I Adopted your Parrot Today - Author Unknown

I adopted your parrot today.
The one you left at the pound.
The one you had for ten years
And no longer wanted around.
I adopted your parrot today.
Do you know he's lost weight?
Do you know he's scared and depressed
And lost all his faith?
I adopted your parrot today.
He had mites and a cold,
But don't you worry none.
You've unburdened your load.
I adopted your parrot today.
Were you having a baby or moving away?
Did you suddenly develop allergies?
Was there no reason he could stay?
I adopted your parrot today.
He doesn't eat or play much.
He's very depressed,
But soon he will learn again to trust.
I adopted your parrot today.
And here he will stay.
He's found his forever home
And in warm hands to lay.
I adopted your parrot today.
And I will give him all that he could need. Patience,love,security and understanding. Hopefully he will learn to forget your selfish deed.

I

A Tear Fell "

As I sat alone and listened to the family down the hall,
They were laughing and so happy and missed me not at all.
I heard someone remark, what a beautiful dog they had,
"Oh yes, he is a treasure, and he is never, never bad."
"Is he the only pet you have?" and the reply I clearly heard,
"Oh no, there is the cat and a hamster, and a stupid bird."
"Oh," the voice was heard to say, "and where might be your bird?"
"He's kept away from all of us so his screaming can't be heard.
He's just a pest and sits all day and he can't cuddle in your lap,
Birds are not affectionate you know,
they just sit and take a nap."
"Or else they scream and make a mess, I just wish that he would go,
We have never really liked him, he was a gift from my Mom, you know.
She looks in on him when she comes around or else we would turn him out,
He's such a stupid bird you know, all we ever hear him do, is to shout."
Down the hall in a little cage, huddled close to the dish of seeds, A tear slid down from a little eye, there was no one to know his needs.
But Someone had a different plan, for his pain and distress was heard,
Next morning when his seed was brought and he was left without a word,
The little one realized at once, his cage door had been left open wide,
He flew down the hall and across a room and suddenly he was outside.
He flew for what seemed like miles until he finally had to land, He circled around and dropped down below and lit upon a hand. She smiled at him and said, "Hello" and her voice was soft and kind,
No one had ever been nice to him and he never believed he would find,
A person to love him or someone to care, having a heart brimming with love,
But she gently took him inside with her and told him he'd, "come from above"
To fill her heart with joy again for her baby had just been taken away,
Across the Bridge to wait for her there just as he had come to stay.
She called him Hope, for he gave back her life and caused her heart to sing,
This miracle come to fill her life with joy, a miracle on feathered wing.
As he went to sleep that very night in a beautiful cage by her bed,
A tear fell down a feathered cheek as he heard what she whispered and said,
"Goodnight little Hope, wake me in the morning." And he gave her a feathered grin,
No more sadness and loneliness for them, their new life was about to begin.

Written by: Juanita -- August 1st, 2003 (Posted with the author's permission.)

I

A Parrot Manifesto

In our quest to confound our human "masters", retain our basic birdly dignity, and further our goal for world domination, we the undersigned pledge to perform the following acts.
Such acts will be performed
1) constantly or 2) intermittently, pursuing whichever pattern causes the most human confusion and consternation. 1)Refuse to speak or perform in front of strangers. If our human has bragged about our intelligence, we will pick our noses and look especially stupid. If pressed, we may
repeat, once, the nastiest four-letter word we know. 2)Ask for
attention and then refuse to step up.
a. Refuse to step up while repeating the words, "step up."
3)Make a great show of excitement over receiving our favorite food, then drop it.
a. if the food is crunchy, drop it on the linoleum.
b. if the food is damp, drop it on the carpet.
c. if the food is sticky, drop it on the dog, cat, or baby
4)Poop in our bathwater.
5)Poop in our human's bathwater
6)Refuse to chew on wooden toys. Then chew on the doorframe.
7)Chew on the doorframe, then refuse to chew on wooden toys.
8)Chew holes in new t-shirts. Do not chew holes in old, ratty
t-shirts.
9)Chew on our humans' favorite possessions
a. crack CD cases and/or crack CDs
b. chew the covers and pages of books
1. if the book is a murder mystery,
chew up the last page
c. remove gemstones from jewelry only
if genuine and swallowable
d. remove keys from computer keyboards. Poop in the open space 1. VERY IMPORTANT: do not actually
destroy computer – this is the
means of our revolution!
10)Suddenly be terrified of things that never bothered us before.
11)Be completely calm and disinterested in things that should frighten us.
12) Suddenly take wing and fly toward the most dangerous object in the immediate vicinity
13) Snuggle up to our human's ear, then scream While putting these actions into effect, we will not forget our ultimate goal: world domination.