A love story. The journey of a lost Indian Ringneck Parakeet.

A female ringneck parakeet landed on my dock this time last year.

They aren't native to my area and was very clearly someone's pet. I let as many people as I could know about finding this bird in case her owner was looking. She was completely alone, no flock, no nest, never left, and seemed to only get food from me, which made it even more evident she was not wild. She stayed in the tree in my yard and we quickly developed trust. Soon she was eating from my hand and peeking through my windows.

She quickly made friends with the crows. They offered her protection from the ducks in exchange for her sharing her food. Out of loneliness she mimicked the calls of other birds and sometimes flew across the lake to find them. One day a bad storm came through lighting up the sky and shaking the house. I could hear her in the tree calling after every boom of thunder. Once it passed she settled down and flew to me for food and comfort.

I was in an ethical argument in my head. She was so trusting that I could see her soon flying into my patio for safety where then I could get her to a vet and a proper home without her being traumatized by being caught in a net. And what would happen if my effort to trap her failed and we lost all trust in each other and then I cant help her at all? She only seemed to trust me and should I risk bringing someone else into the equation especially when animal control couldn't offer any guarantees? I knew soon it would get cold or a predator could come by.

One day she flew to my patio door and ate from my hand. I thought if I leave this door open for her now that she is comfortable she will surely fly inside for more food. It was getting later in the day when she would fly back up to the tree to rest. I decided I'd allow her to rest and I'd try again in the morning. Just be more patient, I thought. It will all work out.

The next morning she was seen being chased by a hawk. I didn't see her get killed but I knew what most likely happened. I felt so guilty that I failed her. I could have done more to protect her.

Two days passed. I felt sad that I let her down but I had to start accepting what happened. On the third day I went outside and almost instantly this green blur flew into me! It was the little bird! She then latched onto the door screaming. I reacted immediately and grabbed her with one hand as she bit the sh!t out of me while I'm also swatting my cat back with my foot. I put her in a cage I had already prepared for her. She was fed had water and upon my inspection didnt seem to be hurt besides being obviously shaken with ruffled feathers. The luckiest bird alive is resting with a towel over the cage. She was hungry and exhausted. I cant describe how grateful I felt. The next morning I felt optimistic and excited to see how she was. Instead I found her stiff. She passed away exactly where she fell asleep. Likely a combination of extreme stress and possibly internal injuries from the hawk that I couldn't see. But when she went she knew love and safety.

😭She knew where to go.😭

When she flew into me screaming it was exactly like a dog being excited to see it's owner after they've been gone for a long time. I buried her where we first met and kept some of her feathers to put in my hair.

I grew up in nature. You leave it alone. But this wasn't a wild bird she had no capability to even find food for herself. Birds are so sensitive. They tend to become attached to one person. I really believed our trust was ABSOLUTELY essential. I miss her so much and I hate myself for not acting sooner. All those "what-ifs" haunt me and I'll never feel like I know if what I did was the right thing. Its one thing to interact with animals outside but another when you develop a real relationship. I just know I love her so much. Every so often I wake up hearing wings flapping near my ear and I cry big ol fat tears. 

https://youtu.be/E1AsDctmw90