What makes me happy

Despite what my husband might tell you, it doesn't take much to make me happy. Really, all you need is a parrot. Or a few parrots.

Rose-breasted cockatoo, greenwing macaw, Amazon, and Congo grey

Last weekend, T and I drove a couple of hours to the town of Damascus on Maryland's "western shore" (we live on what's officially known as the Eastern Shore) to visit the Wilson Parrot Foundation. We had two purposes: First, it was time to give up the cage that had housed our beloved Mango bird until her death. That was hard to do. But I was looking forward to our second purpose: for me to get my parrot fix. 

I was not disappointed. Mr. Wilson introduced us to just about all of the parrots, and since they are so well-trained, we had lots of photo opportunities.

Scarlet macaw and blue and gold macaw

Hyacinth macaw (the largest of parrots) and rose-breasted cockatoo

This Moluccan cockatoo was rather enamored of T

After we met the birds, we asked if there was any way we could help out (Mr. Wilson didn't have any volunteers that day). I happily spent an hour or two cutting up fruits and vegetables for the parrots while a little severe macaw sat on a perch above the sink, talking to me about food, singing, and whistling. Whenever I handed him a piece of food, he declared, "Look what I got!"

It was heaven.