Home » Bird Forums » Birds Of A Feather » Macaws » Hit by a macaw
Posted by NateW on Wed, 03/24/2004 - 20:32 :: Macaws
http://media.featherforum.com/video/ZillaCrash.AVI

First you'll see Shredder, a GWM, pass on my right.

Then Zilla, a Buffon's macaw, comes at me, and almost knocks the camera out of my hand. It actually wasn't a hard hit, just the edge of his wing, but it sure caught me by surprise. I'm sure it surprised Zilla too!

Zilla a real success story - his owner was told he would never be able to fly due to the mistreatment he endured early in life. Had you seen him six months ago you might have wondered, but his owner has been working with him and he has come very far. At first it was a challenge to get him to fly a couple feet to his perch, but recently he's begun doing laps around the building with Shredder and others.
login or register to post comments | previous forum topic | next forum topic
Posted by chiaowl on Thu, 03/25/2004 - 00:16.
WOW, I almost FELT that one! What do you think he was trying to do, was it intentional (in the way that my grey knocks my cat off the back of a chair)? Or misjudged due to his inexperience from his poor history?

To see a formerly mistreated bird finally knowing what it means to have the freedom of flight - among the other improvements in his life - actually brought tears to my eyes.

ChiaOwl
http://www.owly.net
http://www.ittybittybirdiebites.com
login or register to post comments
Posted by NateW on Thu, 03/25/2004 - 10:19.
I'm pretty sure it's just inexperience, and fatigue might was probably a factor as well. When he ends a flight he's clearly exhausted, and he and Shredder had been flying for a few laps before I got my camera ready.

It's been wonderful to watch his flying improve while he's been coming to the building - the first time I saw him do a couple laps around the building and make a controlled landing it brought tears to my eyes too. He had some scary crashes in the beginning, and spent a lot of time just making flights from his owner to his perch... those flights got longer and longer, and when he was ready he started flying for fun. His owner / trainer has worked with him a lot and it's really paid off. I'm sure he'll improve further over the next few months too, and that will probably include not running into things. :-)

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA
login or register to post comments
Posted by Marcus on Tue, 03/30/2004 - 00:15.
that building must be a lot of fun!
login or register to post comments
Posted by hucker on Sat, 05/08/2004 - 15:32.
That is one hell of a building, what is it? I wish I had a house like that! I'd have about 150 parrots!
login or register to post comments
Posted by NateW on Sat, 05/08/2004 - 16:54.
The building used to be grocery store, it's about 10,000 square feet. After a few phone calls (and some good luck), we've been flying our birds in it twice a week since September. It's closed to use for the next couple weeks (due to preparations for a huge party event) but we'll be back inside at the end of the month.

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA
login or register to post comments
Posted by WTTF on Wed, 12/06/2006 - 23:03.
I am in Kent and would be interested in flying a couple of my guys! Where do I find info?
Thanks
login or register to post comments