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Visitor # |   Tango is my old Grey Cockatiel. My parents gave tango to me as a birthday gift when I was in middle school. By this time I had only 2 pairs of finches but really wanted a bird that would talk. We had Parakeets from time to time as I was growing up, and I adored all of them, but I aspired for something a little bigger.
When Tango came to live with us he was a newly weaned chick. He was in his first molt, because of the hand feeding formula in his feathers he smelled rather bad. Of course, he was so darn cute the smell and appearance were easy to get over, and several baths later he started to look and smell more like a bird should. He was a darling baby, and learned the "step up" command very quickly. He was whistling and riding around on my shoulder in no time. Because he was still so young, I'd hold him while he'd nap. Frequently he'd rest on my lap while I finished my homework.. It wasn't long after he came into full feather he worked on his whistling and talking skills. He whistles like a pro now a days, and can say simple things like "good boy", "pretty bird", "ya", "no", and"come here". He's never been much of a talker. Because he was the first and at the time the only pet bird in the house he spent alot of time on top his cage watching everyone go about their daily business. At some point he decided he'd like to help in the house work. He had a perfect view of the kitchen table and would watch mother clean the table off for dinner each and every night. This must have been a task he found very interesting and decided he could do that. He took this cleaning task to heart and devoted a great deal of time and energy in keeping our kitchen table clean. Every little piece of paper, pens, pencils, paper clips, mail, magazines, everything was systematically pushed off the table and scattered around the floor. We even watched in awe as Tango pulled every section of the newspaper apart and tossed them one by one on the floor. A feat of such strength and discipline for this little Cockatiel, and he looks so happy and so proud of himself when the table is once again cleared of any and all beak sized objects and paper. Tango will chatter with us, or to the paper (we really don't know which it is), while he's working. He gets very excited while working and tends to cram every word he knows into one big word. Whatever he is saying while he works, it must be very funny because he does pause to giggle a lot. Tango is, to this day, the sweetest most loving bird you may ever meet. He enjoys everyones attention and if he isn't the center of attention he will go right into his paper pushing routine to get peoples attention or jump to your chest and come nose to beak to make sure you see him. Tango passed away April 14, 2005. He was 18 years old and died of liver failure (natural causes). He will be greatly missed. "I miss your constant chatter and quirky behavior so much Tango. You came in to my life as a newly weaned baby and brought so much love and joy from that day on. The house is too quiet without you. You were so good to put up with Lucy (tame red headed finch) flying in to your cage and picking around in your food dish. You never once attacked or threatened her in any way even when she'd try to sit next to you on the perch. You simply chirped your discontent so I'd come retrieve her. I miss your sweet giggle, your funny bird smell if I forgot to bathe you once a week, I even miss the ringing of the little bell on your favorite chew toy as you mated with it over and over again. You were such a beautiful baby who turned in to my 'handsome man'. You grew old which such grace and dignity. These 18 years went by so fast, it feels like only last week I was welcoming you in to my life." Article © Myra Markley 2005 |
