greybaby
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 10-8-2004
Location: Idaho - formerly Cantu
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Mood: Missing Baja
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Any parrot lovers out there?
Have an African Grey Parrot and am looking for someone in the Ensenada area (Maneadero, Punta Banda, Cant?) who would like to trade bird-sitting when
we are not here. Have documentation to cross the border but the hassle isn't worth it. Anyone out there?
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
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I traveled to France last year to bird-sit a miniature African Grey named Paco for a month. I'm sure I would get good references as the fact that the
bird dropped dead 7 weeks after I left was not attributed to the quality of the care he received on my watch. 
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I'm in San Diego and always available for house-sitting...especially if you have internet access so I can still work. 
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greybaby
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 10-8-2004
Location: Idaho - formerly Cantu
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That's funny about the grey - not really. But pretty incredible.
Thanks very much. Sometimes we feel a million miles from the U.S. even though we're only 2 hours from the border. We have very good internet access
- broadband - since it's our connection to the world!!
I have found a lady who came by this morning to meet my grey and fell in love with her. She is going to take her to her house on Thursday through
Tuesday this following week. If it's a disaster, I'll call you. Or e-mail you. Thanks for the reply.
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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Greybaby,
I too had documentation for my grey to cross the border. I had an appointment with the Dept. of Agriculture and Customs in secondary. We were not
trying to sneak her over. Customs on the U.S. side still insisted that she be quaranteened (sp) regardless. They couldn't tell me where she would be
kept or the length of time she would spend there. What they did know was how much money it would cost per day, double the amount on weekends. I
refused to sign "abandonment papers" so we were refused entry to the U.S. My drivers license was taken away, I was listed as a known bird smuggler in
the computer system and was personally escorted back to the Mexican side of the border with my bird where they handed back my drivers license with a
warning not to try to cross with my bird again unless I was willing to hand her over. Again, I had all the proper documentation but was not willing to
abandon my bird. Pidgeons fly back and forth daily. We kidded that we could toss her over the fence. She does look like a big pidgeon afterall.
Please be careful when trying to cross with your bird that the same thing doesn't happen to you.
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
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Mood: Encantada
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Paulina - A "known bird-smuggler" are you? Bureaucracy in all its glory! If you see B & K...tell them I said Hi! I haven't seen them in months.
Greybaby: If that bird had croaked under my care, I would have been next. These folks had already lost their cat due to the vaccinations it needed to
move to France.
I have friends in your neighborhood, so if you ever need a sitter...just whistle...or chirp
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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greybaby
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 10-8-2004
Location: Idaho - formerly Cantu
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Mood: Missing Baja
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Paulina,
How familiar this sounds. We spent the 4th of July in secondary for almost four hours only to find what we had wasn't sufficient. The man who helped
us was very kind and would have let us go except he said the other man from U.S. Fish & Wildlife had threatened him with his job if he let anyone go.
We had three choices. Abandon her at the border, board her at the border for the next month or so or return to Mexico and find someone to care for
her. We opted for returning. Again, this man was very nice. I'm thinking you dealt with Bill Myers who isn't a very nice man from our experience
just over the telephone. We then went to a border I don't way to say, put her in my suitcase and crossed. I am in total agreement that bird
smugglers need to be stopped. But obvious pet owners. Really!! Ridiculous. Spent the next month in the U.S. learning a lot and obtained pet
passport from CITES. Made an appointment for her when we were to cross back into Mexico and go that all cleared. An inspector named Mulbauer was
very helpful. Crossed into Mexico and they told us no way - couldn't bring her in. Took her back out and boarded her for four days in San Diego. I
thought I had lost her forever. Then realized we would try again, and never try to cross with her again until we move back to the U.S.
I wish there was something we pet owners could do to change how this is done. The veterinarian that helped us said he couldn't believe that drug
smugglers, illegal aliens, terrorists cross that border without detection and here we were with a healthy little bird. It says right in the customs
laws that they will allow you to quarantine them in your own home in the U.S. When my bird has contact with no one between my home in Ensenada and
my home in the U.S., I find it absurd. Unfortunately the actions of the illegal smugglers has made us all suffer. In talking with Bill Myers, who
seems to be the "boss" of it all at the border, he views everyone as a bird smuggler. Appreciate the heads up. I have someone to care for my bird
when we leave for a few days this week and feel much better about it.
Do you live down here? If so, we should meet. African Grey lovers have much in common!!
Thanks for your info.
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BajaVida
Senior Nomad
Posts: 541
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Motown, Califas
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Mood: muy cool
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Mojado power
even when it applies to birds
(I thought this thread was going to be about "Parrot heads")
No se apure y dure.
Don\'t hurry and you\'ll last longer.
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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Parrot Head at heart
We were met by a very friendly man from the Dept. of Fish and Game who was way cool, checked 'Gracie' out, stamped her passport and ok'd her to cross.
Our problem was with a woman Customs officer. After going round and round with her I asked to speak to her boss. She claimed she was the boss. It
amazed me that the same woman, the person who claimed to be in control of Customs, did not know where my bird would go or for how long. She only new
how much $ it would cost me on a daily basis. For those who know me, you can imagine it didn't go easily from that point on. Eventually we had quite
an audience listening to our 'conversation'. When she finally admitted that she didn't know her job, nose to nose, spitting and stammering she was as
she grabbed my drivers license, I knew I had won, even though we were being returned to Mex.
Gracie is now back in the U.S. We got through, although I won't admit how just in case we have to do it again!
Yes, I am a retired "Parrot Head" from way back. I was never happy when they changed the rules and stopped allowing boats to be towed into the parking
lot for the concerts. I would be too scared to sport my coconut bra these days!(in public)
Jeans, send B y K an email. I'm sure they'd love to hear from you. I haven't talked to them since we returned to the U.S. 4 mo. ago. We will probably
go down for the race and again for Thanksgiving, so I will pass on your hello then.
P.<*)))><
[Edited on 10-10-2004 by Paulina]
[Edited on 10-10-2004 by Paulina]
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greybaby
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 10-8-2004
Location: Idaho - formerly Cantu
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Mood: Missing Baja
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Paulina,
I'm amazed at what you had to go through. Did you get through the USDA inspection as well and then still have problems with Customs? Makes me never
want to try to cross with my grey. It seems like they've taken what could be a good thing in protecting against illegal smuggling of parrots and
turned it into a typical bureaucratic nightmare for obvious pets. I'm glad you have your Gracie safely in the states. Thanks for the input.
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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i much enjoy parrot
if it's fried. I have tried baked parrot but it never was to my liking. you can get really fresh parrot down in mazatlan.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
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A friend of mine told me a story about a time when he found a great deal on a parrot that could talk in several languages. He had an old Uncle that
really wanted a parrot real bad, so he bought it and had it shipped to him. Several weeks later, he went to visit his Uncle and asked him if he
enjoyed the parrot that he had shipped to him. The Uncle said "Oh Yeah, that parrot tasted real good" My friend replied "That parrot was real smart,
he spoke several languages, and knew literally hundreds of phrases. You mean you ate that bird??" His Uncle replied "Well, he should have said
something!"...
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8807
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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A young man named John received a parrot as a gift.
The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.
Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious, and laced with profanity.
John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music, and anything else he could think of
to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.
Finally, John was fed up, and he yelled at the parrot.
The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot, and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed
the bird, and put him in the freezer.
For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.
Then suddenly there was total quiet.
Not a peep was heard for over a minute.
Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to
the freezer.
The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said
"I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend
to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."
John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about
to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior,
the bird continued....
"May I ask what the turkey did?"
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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that is the best bird story yet
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Bedman
Senior Nomad
Posts: 523
Registered: 9-4-2002
Location: Orange County, CA.
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Some years ago I was on a buying trip in Manhattan and traveling on the subway when a young "punker" got on and sat down in the only vacant seat,
directly across from me.
This young punker had spiked, multi-colored, green, purple, and orange hair. His clothing was a tattered mix of leather rags. His legs were bare and
he was barefoot. To top it off his entire face and body was riddled with pierced jewelry and his earrings were big, bright red, yellow and green
feathers.
I stared in amazement at the wild looking kid for the next few miles, as the subway traveled across the city.
Finally, the punk looks across at me, and yells, "What are you looking at, old man! Didn't you do anything wild when you were young?"
Without missing a beat, I said, "Yeah. Back when I was very young and in the Navy, I got really drunk in Singapore and had sex with a parrot... I
thought you might be my son."
Bedman
[Edited on 11-19-2004 by Bedman]
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