Jun2006 Mackie

Mackie, A CAGs Tale

I worked for a time in a "bird store" and was always amazed when the owner would tell me of the long waiting list she had for African greys. I just never could understand the attraction that people had for African greys, with their plain, nondescript, rather unappealing plumage. I was always attracted to the more colorful birds, hence became owned by such birds as a blue and gold macaw, vosmaeri eclectus, and sun conure.

Then I met the African grey that would come to be known as Mackie. He was a barely 3-month old baby when I came upon him in a local chain pet store. He was in a plexi-glass enclosure that bore a sign that read, "Don't mind me if I scream and cry. I am still a baby." When I found out that the employees didn't know what "weaned" meant, home with me he came. From that moment on, he had me. He began to talk almost immediately after we brought him home (a bit unusual, even for a grey, but we have several other birds that talk and I believe he wanted very much to be part of the flock).

As a youngster, he was a typically clumsy grey, but coupled with the fact that he was also a daredevil, he received (and continues to receive) more than his share of scrapes and bruises. In fact, he bares a scar over his left nostril from his insistence on hanging from the top of his boing, free-falling, and attempting to grab onto the bottom of the boing before hitting the cage floor. (Guess you could say he gives a new definition to the word BUNGEE!) Sometimes he manages to pull it off, other times he doesn't. He has been asked if he's okay so many times, that now when he falls, he automatically says, "Mackie's okay."

Mackie is a typical self-centered grey. Everything is always about Mackie. For instance, "Look at Mackie swing, wheeee," "Look at Mackie playing," "Wow, look what Mackie's doing," "How's Mackie?," etc. Any phrase that has his name in it, he will repeat immediately. His rope swing is his favorite toy, and the first thing every morning we are told over and over again to look at Mackie swing as we feed and clean the birds.

The following happened and, though I truly believe was entirely by chance, I think it is worth telling. He has progressed to asking questions now rather than stating facts. The other morning while I was cleaning the cages, Mackie asked, "Is Mackie swinging?" I said, "No, Mackie's not swinging." He then asked, "Is Mackie eating?" And I said, "No, Mackie's not eating." He then asked, "Is Mackie playing?" And I said, "No, Mackie's not playing." Not being able to think of anything else he could be doing, he then looked me square in the eye and asked, "WHAT'S Mackie doing?"

He also likes to throw his food, toys, and even water as he knows this will get a reaction out of us. He will start throwing his toys out of his toy chest and will look at us after each toy thrown for some sort of response. He will then move to his water dish and take a toy to scoop out the water and throw that. If he still doesn't get the desired reaction, he will move to the food dish and start throwing his food. It's at that point that someone usually says, "Mackie!" At which point, Mackie will say, "What?" We then say, "You know what!" and he starts laughing.

When I let the birds out of their cages in the morning, he will sing, "Who let the birds out, who, who?" to the tune of the rap song, "Who Let the Dogs Out." Also when told that he's a good bird, just to prove us wrong he will make a disgusting burping sound (something he picked up from my husband).

Our blue and gold has been ill for 2-1/2 years and we moved him to a separate room. Mackie and Scooter (the B&G) were best friends before Scooter got sick and would hang out together. When I bring Scooter in each evening to visit with the other birds, Mackie's first words are, "Hiya Scoot," "How ya doin' Scoot?" and "You okay Scoot?" Of course, he's heard us say these things to Scooter, but it is on his own that he says them at the appropriate time.

I could go on and on about the funny and outrageous things he says and does. Living with Mackie is never ever boring and I can understand now why the bird store owner has such a long waiting list for greys. I guess I was just about the only one who didn't see past the plumage to the beauty that lay underneath.

Julie

For more CAG tales, please see Opaa (January 05) and Wolfy (December 05)

For more toys loved by CAG's on Busy Beaks website, check these out:

This page was last updated on 09/10/2008

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