My name is Vicki and the newest addition to my family of nine is Mohavi, Mo for short. This is Mohavi’s story.
At the end of February 2004, I received a call from my friend and fellow list member Jenny telling me that she had seen a Caique outside in a cage on the ground. I was horrified. The temperature here in Arizona can be between 40 degrees and 115 degrees throughout the year. Also alarming was although in a cage, the cage was on the ground and the Caique could be stalked by cats or investigated by a curious dog. What a terrifying experience that would be!
The temperature the morning I went to check out the Caique was 45 degrees. What I saw broke my heart and made me both sad and angry. In a small and broken filthy cage left exposed to the elements, was a Black Headed Caique. There was very little seed and very little water in the food cups and hung from the top of the cage was one dirty, tattered toy.
I posted to the Caique list that Jenny had discovered a Caique left outside and described the conditions this poor little soul was living under. Everyone on the Caique list was appalled and asked to be kept updated. During the next month Jenny or I would drive by everyday to see if the Caique was still outside. Finally Jenny could not stand it any longer and went up the steps and rang the doorbell. A man and woman came to the door and Jenny politely told them that the bird’s living conditions were not acceptable and explained to them what needed to be done to make them acceptable. The owners didn't see the dirty cage, little water or food, or being left outside as a problem. Jenny was told that the Caique had been purchased as a pet for their child who had lost interest and was not caring for the bird. The owners were also unwilling to sell him.
I reported back to the Caique list and they sent me information on bird rescue and humane society contact information. Through the month of March, Jenny and several of the bird rescue organizations contacted the owners repeatedly. At the end of March, the little Caique was no longer seen outside. We assume it was taken inside the condo.
A week later a friend contacted me and told me the local feed store had just gotten in a Black Headed Caique to sell. I called the feed store and inquired about the Caique and asked where did the bird live prior to his arrival to their store. The Caique was the same one I had seen sitting outside the condominium. Oh, and the feed store told me the Black Headed Caique was a boy and that his name was Moe.
I went to the feed store to see Moe a few times, but he would just shake and scream and pace. I guess Moe was never given the affection he deserved. It appears that Moe was never handled and was terrified of hands. I told the Caique list about him and soon members started donating money to rescue Moe. By the end of the week there was enough money in the Moe Fund and I was able to adopt Moe and bring him home. We named him Buster Moe. I took him to the vet for his wellness check, Polyoma vaccines and to be DNA sexed. Buster Moe was given a clean bill of health and was put into my spare room for quarantine. When the results of the DNA came, we discovered that He was a She!
I decided to ask the aunties and uncles on the Caique list to help me rename her. Numerous wonderful names were provided but the names just did not seem to fit not until Auntie Rikki posted. Rikki posted that when I brought Buster Moe home my first post was "I Have Mo". She figured by moving the words around that the same truism was spelled out – Mo Hav I. I loved it and the name fit her perfectly. I call her Mo for short.
In the 5 weeks I've had Mohavi I've seen a tremendous change in her. She is more trusting now and even climbs on my shoulder and goes for rides around the house. She does not shake as often and plays with all her toys. Mo is a very good eater and eats a variety of foods I'm sure she never knew existed. She has also discovered the joys of "bath time", and loves it.
Just this week she was introduced to my other Caiques Harley & Dakota, and they seem to be getting along very well.
I believe that Mohavi is a much happier, healthier bird because of the generosity of the great people on this list. She now knows what it is to be a truly happy, loved little bird.
~~ May 24, 2004 ~~
