Saba the Parrot

 

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Saba is a Timneh African Grey Parrot. She hatched on November 2, 1994.  She has been a member of my family since she was 8 weeks old and I was 8 years old.

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She is a muse for many of my Art as Therapy pieces. Taking care of her each day gives me purpose. I am her bonded person.

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Saba has had a pretty good life for a bird in captivity! She's extremely fortunate. Although I love her dearly I would not buy a parrot from a breeder again. There are lots that need adoption, love and healing.

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Parrots are very unusual creatures. Most people won't have a relationship with a bird in their lifetime.

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She does talk and she whistles (I call it singing) beautiful melodies. My home is often filled with the joyful songs she makes up.

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She's extremely messy. She laughs like a human chuckle and has got a sense of humour. She bites. Hard (if she wants). She can easily rip out a chunk of flesh if she desired to. Biting is her way of telling me she doesn't like what I'm doing. We have been working on communicating in other ways.

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Parrots are very smart, especially African Grey's. Alex, a famous African Grey, was the first non-human to ask an existential question: What colour am I?

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