24 Dec Barney’s Story
I first became a Birdline member in March 2021. My husband and I were looking to add a bird to our family, and after doing our research, we were set on a Cockatoo being the species for us. In May 2021 we were matched up with an Umbrella Cockatoo named Barney. We were over the moon. We were told he had unfortunately been moved around a lot because of his very loud screaming. Cockatoos are a particularly demanding species of bird that need a lot of attention and a good routine as they are very sensitive to change, so it’s no surprise Barney was so unsettled.
The day we brought Barney home was the steepest learning curve of our lives. Research can only prepare you for so much of what it means to provide a home for a scared, anxious, hormonal and destructive Cockatoo. The actual reality was certainly a shock to the system! On day one of getting to know each other we had some wonderful moments with Barney, he would show us where he liked to be tickled on his neck by doing it himself with his own foot and chat away to us in the sweetest voice. But what little honeymoon period we had didn’t last long. He also bit through the cartilage of my ear on day one when he flew off his cage and attacked me. This is the harsh reality that can happen when settling in and living with a Cockatoo.
His unpredictable behaviour and nature lasted for almost 6 months, between the relentless screaming and the biting, it was easy to see why so many before us had given up on Barney. Despite these horrendous moments, there were still glimmers of hope. It was clear to see that, deep down, Barney was just scared and frustrated. He had a lot of love to give, he just needed to find it in himself to trust us and we needed to have the patience to let him.
Over time, with a calm but interactive environment and a strict routine, Barney finally began to settle. He learned that his screaming and biting was unwarranted. We weren’t going to hurt him, and we weren’t going to leave him and never come back. Over time the bad behaviour subsided and those initial glimmers of hope became more frequent. Barney became more predictable. Establishing a routine was absolutely essential in breaking his pattern of bad behaviour and making him feel safe and relaxed in his new home. He began to learn his routine. He knew when we would feed him, put him to bed, play with him, go to work, get home from work, etc.
Fast forward to today, December 2022, and Barney is now probably one of the sweetest, most affectionate and most independent Cockatoos you will ever meet. This once nervous bird that would scream all day and physically tremble from separation anxiety is now content and happy. Barney plays with his toys without a peep for most of the day, he loves to sing, dance and cuddle up on the sofa to watch a film.
So, what was 6 initial months of hell when we have a lifetime with a bird like Barney? For us, it was a very small price to pay to see the positive change in this beautiful bird’s life and we couldn’t be without him.
