Name: Andy
Type of bird: Cockatiel
Gender: Male
Color: Pearl split for pied
Arrival Date: June 26, 2004
Age: Unknown

Background:
I had gone to a pet fair to sell some dwarf hamsters. During a slow period, I wandered around looking at all the critters. Then I saw him. I would be lying if I didn't say it was love at first site because after seeing Andy, not even the fancier birds could chase him from my mind. There was something so trusting in his eyes.

Andy was at a bird breeder's table who did not appear to have any interest in cockatiels....her other birds were conures and parrots. A little girl had given her this cockatiel and she was trying to sell him at the fair. The poor cockatiel was in a parakeet cage that was so small for him that he could not turn around. His tail had been chopped in half so that he would fit inside this cage. He had been kept in the cage for some time because a single yellow tail feather had grown back. ( it takes some time for a tail feather to grow all the way out.) I did not have the money to buy Andy as I had sold very few hamsters. I felt so bad for him being in that tiny cage with only parakeet seed to eat.

As Saturday dragged to a close, a boy was walking around with Andy in his little parakeet cage. I asked him if his mother would sell the bird for any less. He came back with the bird in tow and said $20 and 5 hamsters. The irony is that they bought the hamsters a nice large cage. So Andy came home with me.

He has turned out to be a neat little bird indeed. He whistles an interesting version of the Andy Griffith Theme and trills. He also says "what a pretty bird". He is also the calmest cockatiel I've ever seen. He will go to almost anyone and loves for his head to be rubbed. If the cage is open, he will often climb down and walk across the floor until he finds a person to pick him up and pet him.

I introduced him to Sarah and he started saying "what a pretty bird" over and over with a few whistles tossed in for good measure. He seems to like her and they now share a large cage and both seem very happy together just being companions. I conclude that the girl who owned him originally (before the bird fair lady) fed him well. When I offered him some pellets and seed with veggies, he happily ate a little of everything! Andy has captured my heart and is now a personal pet who will not be offered for adoption.