By Sarah Whitman
Senior Staff Writer
Karen Bowser and her pet cockatoo Lucy have a relationship best summed up by four little words.
“When I walk into a room Lucy says, ‘I love you Karen,’ “Bowser said. “Parrots have an amazing way of getting inside your heart.”
Bowser and her husband became parrot parents for the first time a few years ago, when they got Pina, a blue crown conure. They have since became fosters with Florida Parrot Rescue and adopted Lucy and Gremlin, an African Congo grey. The couples’ Land O’ Lakes home is an avian paradise, complete with parrot playgrounds and free-fly zones.
“When we got Pina, it was love at first sight,” Bowser said. “Parrots all have different personalities and they are so smart. That’s why we got involved with the rescue, to make sure these intelligent beautiful birds have a home.”
Florida Parrot Rescue founders Jennifer and Chris Underwood work to save abandoned, injured and discarded birds throughout Tampa Bay areas. The rescue brought in more than 200 birds in the last year, from finches to macaws.
“We currently have about 110 in rescue,” Jennifer Underwood said. “We are seeing an increased amount of job losses and foreclosures, where people can’t take care of their birds.”
Underwood manages Country Chase Veterinary Hospital in Tampa and works with neglected birds on a regular basis. She is careful when choosing adoptive parents for her rescues.
“We require an adoption application as well as a home inspection,” she said. “We want to make sure people realize the time and commitment it takes to own a bird. Some of these birds can live up to 90 years old.”
Bowser had no problem meeting the Underwood’s criteria.
“We’ve set things up so the birds can be successful and happy,” Bowser said. “In many ways, they are still wild animals. They don’t want to just be put in a cage.”
She allows her birds to fly freely throughout the house when she is home. When she goes to work, she puts them in large enclosures. She even has a screened in patio where the birds can enjoy the outdoors.
“We had a foster bird named Chi-Chi,” Bowser said. “We helped take care of her until she found an adoptive home. We encourage anyone who has a bird and can’t take care of it to surrender it to the rescue, so we can take care of them and find them a place.”
Bowser is the first to admit parrot parenting is hard work. She describes Pina as feisty, independent and funny with a blue head and green feathers. Gremlin is loving, talkative and playful. Lucy is solid white but is the most colorful personality wise. She is the noisemaker.
“She is very loud and very large,” Bowser said. “Sometimes her decibel level can be like a plane taking off. She’s had five owners before us.”
Noise is a common complaint among parrot owners. Many cannot handle the stress and give the animals away. Behavioral problems are often an issue.
“Parrots do have needs and when those needs aren’t met, they can develop behavioral disorders,” Underwood said. “I personally only have one bird because we have a very busy household and I don’t feel as though I can commit myself to more than one.”
Underwood’s African grey, Nikki, lives alongside an English Pointer, beagle and two cats.
“He is very intelligent and independent,” Underwood said.
Bowser is constantly amazed by her birds’ growing vocabularies.
“Gremlin can mimic any sound,” Bowser said. “Pina likes to try and sing with me.”
Bowser said parrots can be difficult and expensive. They enjoy attention and sometimes scream to get it. They require yearly shots, which can cost about $500.
Still, she can’t imagine life without the flutter of colorful wings passing overhead.
“Once a parrot bonds with you, they love you for life” Bowser said.
For information on Florida Parrot Rescue and how to adopt, call (813) 516-1759 or visit floridaparrotrescue.com. The organization is also looking for volunteers and fosters.
