This week I lost a dear friend of mine, a 42 year old Jardines parrot named Henrietta. As you will see in the photo and video Henrietta was not much to look at ... but in that tiny bald-headed body there was a huge personality.
Henrietta was set up for breeding for over 30 years with a male Jardines. He plucked her head repeatedly and his chest so they looked like quite a pair. I adopted them about 9 years ago, took away the nestbox and let them move about freely in the bird room. About two years later he passed away and Henrietta started a whole new life.
Ironic that I think that all along as a hand-raised parrot she just wanted to be a companion bird. Her greeting each time she saw you would be a fart then a kissing noise. She had health issues -- overgrown beak due to liver damage previously in her life but she was always up and bright.
She got out once and had a chance to try her wings --- even though she flew directly over the river in front of my home and perched high in a tree. Her rescue was successful and only bad part was that her bald head got sunburned.
She lived a noble life and I am glad that she is now flying free over the river with no worries.
All of us that love and live with animals know that we are blessed. - Bonnie Zimmerman