Which reminds me that I heard about a Parrot Rescue Sanctuary that will let you adopt a parrot for moderate cost... if you first volunteer for 3-6 months so they can judge how you relate to the birds and know enough to care for them. It's in RI, a good hour and a half away, otherwise I'd seriously consider volunteering -- I'd either get my fascination with parrots either extinguished by the reality of cleaning up after them et cetera or I'd feel I had a good idea of just what owning one would entail.

Theo, parrots live FOREVER, 80 years in the wild. Some reputable breeders won't sell to you unless you made arrangements in your will to provide for the bird's care after you die.

I don't know how I'd feel about a pet that I knew would outlive me.

I don't know how I'd feel about a pet that I knew would outlive me.

My mother has two parrots.

I hate birds as pets.

I've told her she'd better make arrangements for them because I will not take them.

My sister has an African gray parrot, a rescue I believe. Very pretty bird, and the grays are less neurotic than some of the others. I can understand the charms of bird ownership, but I have no desire to own one myself.

Timelies all!

An ex-boyfriend had an African Grey named Prestor John. (Don't know if he still has the bird, since I don't keep in touch with him)

Yeah, the long lives of parrots is so very important to consider. I'd contemplate getting a parakeet but I think they're small enough that the cats would not leave them alone.

Otoh having tweety and sylvester play out in your house might be priceless.

Theo, parrots live FOREVER, 80 years in the wild. Some reputable breeders won't sell to you unless you made arrangements in your will to provide for the bird's care after you die.

I had a cab driver tell me how he and his wife rewrote their will after they got a parrot to make sure it was cared for after they died.

Theo, parrots live FOREVER, 80 years in the wild. Some reputable breeders won't sell to you unless you made arrangements in your will to provide for the bird's care after you die.

One of my friends' mother has a parrot, and has repeatedly told him that he's going to have to take care of it for decades after she passes away.

Another's dad bought one for some outrageous price (like $5000 back in the mid-90s) and discovered it sprawled out on the floor of its cage with its feet sticking up when he took its cover off after the first night. Turns out it wasn't dead, it just sleeps that way for some reason, but it nearly did him in with shock thinking he'd just thrown that much money away.

sprawled out on the floor of its cage with its feet sticking up

There's a parrot with a sick sense of humor. I like that.