26/02/2022
I can completely remember seeing my first Macaw up close during a visit to a pet store in Long Beach, CA in the mid 1980's. Back then, it seemed many of these stores had parrots for sale. The store I walked into had a variety of Macaws sitting on perches throughout the store. When my eyes first saw them, my only thought was, 'How can I possibly choose which one to buy, because they are all so beautiful'? My first look at the Scarlet Macaw was simply beyond words; the colors of the feathers, the pure white beak, and the long red tail really overwhelmed me.
I finally decided to buy a female Military Macaw, and named her 'Groucho'; because she would chase my girlfriend all over the house and try to bite her, demonstrating her love and trying to protect me from this wild woman!
Whenever I have Kida on my arm, leg, or shoulder, I think back to those days and smile. Groucho would sit on my shoulder while we rode the bicycle along the bike trail at the beach, or while we would rollerblade from my home to visit friends along the ocean. Macaw memories are the best memories.
After spending nearly 35 years traveling to Europe, Asia, Central America, and all through the USA, spending each day with my avian children is the most sacred adventure imaginable.
