Accidentally getting Lilac Crowned Amazons

This picture shows Shasta and Franchesco, my Lilac Crowned Amazons, cuddling on top of their cage. They are really a LOVE COUPLE.

Several years ago I went with my friend Amy to look at some Painted Conure babies at a local bird breeder's home. He had so many birds in his house and yard! Some I had never heard of or seen before. It was amazing. In one cage were two Amazon Parrots...which Amy knew right away to be Lilac Crowned Amazons. I didn't know Amazons at all and had no interest in having one at the time.

I asked the bird man where he got those Amazons. He said he caught them flying around his yard and knew they were in the wrong part of the world. He caught them, several months apart, by putting bird food in a cage and trapping them. They were very wild and frightened. And, they didn't know or like each other.

"What are you going to do with them?", I asked him.
He said he doesn't particularly like Amazon Parrots and wasn't sure what he would be doing with these two. He wanted to find their owners and at least make sure they survive. His search for an owner turned up nothing.

Something inside of me said, "I'm not leaving here without those two birds!"
That was silly since I wasn't in the market for them and didn't have spare dollars for such a thing.

"Would you sell them to me?" I asked.

"Make me an offer."

I offered him the ridiculously low price of $75.

"Each?" he asked.

So we had a deal. It was hard to watch that guy pick up the wild Amazons and put them in a wooden carrier for me. The birds were terrified and biting his hands and drawing lots of blood. I had no hope of taming them. Still, I felt convinced I was supposed to take them home for whatever reason.

That evening I named them Shasta and Franchesco. I thought I may have a male and a female...though outward appearances wouldn't indicate that. Nor did I have a clue at their ages. What was I going to do with these wild birds?

I put them in a cage in my living room and just let them get to know each other a bit. Remember, they didn't like each other. I went on with regular life and left the cage door open so they could venture out when they became trusting enough of me. Very quickly Shasta began coming out of the cage and climbing all over the sofa and trying to get a bite of anything I was eating while sitting on the sofa. I smiled at her courage. She would have a taste and then scurry back to the safety of the cage. Franchesco took much longer to become trusting of me.

Within a month I was able to get Shasta to "Step Up" onto my hand. She learned a few tricks withing just an hour or so. So Smart! Franchesco stayed cautious but watched.

Now, about 10 years later, both Shasta and Franchesco are as tame as any Amazon pets I've ever seen. They are very much bonded to each other and had the one baby boy named Marty in 2008. They also go into their cage when I tell them to climb down and go inside. That's something none of my other birds have caught on to yet.

I adore Shasta and Franchesco. They are funny and add so much joy to my life. They were one of those "God things" that I wouldn't have planned but got anyway.

So much of my life is a surprise adventure. I really like to plan ahead and follow my own course. I like being in control of my life. God, however, seems to take the wheel frequently and steer me in directions that were not on my map. This is hard and wonderful all at once.

Today I am thankful for Shasta and Franchesco.
I am also thankful for hot showers and shampoo.

GratefulJoy