Phoebe, my beloved bird,,,

My beloved parrot died in my hands today 04/18/08 at 7:12 AM--- Mere seconds after this video ended...

I loved this bird, and will miss her dearly, and I have been in grief all this day.

Though one might not believe it, birds have a spirit, a soul to their being. And when I looked into her eyes and looked beyond my tears I saw her, who she was, and that she loved me. The only happiness I have in this is that she did not die alone, but in the hands of one that loved her dearly.

My beloved Phoebe, my companion bird expired seconds later after my wife, not so attached to my bird, turned off the camera. And I wept inconsolable for over an hour with Phoebe's body in my hands before I let her go, so that I can grieve her loss...

She had been ill for over six months, and birds hide their illness, but in the last two months, I recognized her call for attention. And I developed an ever stronger bond to her than ever before. I medicated her, caring for her as she stumbled, and my concern brought her to life.

She used to do a special love dance for me. Her eyes would pin, her wings would rise, her head bobbing and she made nice sounds. And I would rub my nose against her, and she would kiss my cheek. She had not done that over the last months. And four days before she left me she developed blood in the outer white membrane of her left eye, and I knew it was close to the end. And two days later, I was weeping for her, and she came to the upper cage door, which I had opened. She stood on it looking at me as I wept.

I looked at her and said, "I love you Phoebe. Do the love dance for me, please? One more time for me?"

And in her pain, and I knew that she was hurting, she did... She expressed her love for me in her special dance, and I put my nose to her back and she turned and kissed my cheek as I sprinkled her back with my tears.

And she had in our 10 year relationship an uncanny ability to sense when I was walking home from work. I could hear her cheerful greeting call from across the street, even though she could not have seen me coming. My wife was amazed by it, and always knew from Phoebe's special call that I was coming home. And now I, and my wife will not hear that call again...

I live with memories of the 10 years we had together, her wonderful personality, and her expressions of love.

We were close, and now Phoebe is gone, but not without my love...

Steve Schoner
Flagstaff, Arizona

Post Script; 05/01/08:
I could not bury her, and broke down in tears as I dug her grave. Instead I had her cremated. I retain her ashes till it is my time to go. In the hole I dug for her grave I will plant an apple tree from the seeds of her last apple. Never will I forget her...

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• parrots
• birds
• avian
• parakeets
• conures
• indian
• ringneck
• bird

[kamikoo24]

um his legs are moveing and his eyes are blinking

[SRSchoner]

@kamikoo24 Moments before she died.... Please read the into. Even avian vets have told me that the image shows a bird in distress. Notice her feet.... paralyzed and cold.... heavy breathing.... slow blinking.... All signs of pending death....

To this day, years later.... I find it very difficult to watch this video that I posted.

[puppet97]

the birds eyes are blinking he is faking

[SRSchoner]

@puppet97 Read the intro.... I really wish my bird was faking.... She died in my hands moments, mere seconds after this video was made... Notice her breathing, her cramped feet... The other eye was clouded with internal blood. The only consolation I have is that she was my companion bird during the time when I was recovering from a serous life threatening condition. She was my friend, and years later I miss her, and have her ashes, some feathers to this very day.

[puppet97]

@SRSchoner well how did she die then u didnt take good care of her or she was old ??

[SRSchoner]

@puppet97 She was 9 maybe 10 years old. What I noticed first that that she could not fly and there was one very dark almost black clump of feathers on one wing. She would not let me inspect it. I now suspect that she had dancer and also a respiratory problem caused by printer toner. I worked at a facility that re-made printer cartridges and that dust came home with me. The lesson I learned in this is KEEP YOUR BIRDS AWAY FROM YOUR LASER PRINTERS! Don't chance it!

[electrosexkitten]

xoxo. i hope your ok, that sucks.

[TITANSMRS]

@SRSchoner I am so sorry about your beloved Phoebe. It is soooo hard when you lose a loved pet that you have cared for for so long. You have my condolences. HUGZ

[MrTripleTom]

my budgie passed away today in my moms hands :''''''( i cried for more then an hour, im sorry for ur loss i know how it feels like

[puppet97]

@SRSchoner what is a laser printer ? wher it prints by lasers??/ im sorry for your lost

[mrimanovice]

my Kai died today i have been crying alot he died inbetween my hands and hes last movement was trying to fly up but he did fly but then falld back to my hands and died but i know he didnt stop fly he kept flying in heaven , i just went 2 hours ago to the wood and hes there now rest in peace i love you kai im still crying kai :((( i love you kai