"Thanks to the wonders of the web Alcatraz has made a lot of new friends and admirers. Some have written her seeking advice or wanting to share experiences - and she just loves it! So - Alcatraz has decided to hostess the Dear Alcatraz page - a diary of days in the lives of quakers, other feathered friends and their often equally entertaining owners!"

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Alcatraz's Fan Mail

• I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed this site. I think Alcatraz is a very lucky bird !! I also have a Quaker, that was found in the middle of a very busy street. (Lucky my son is a bird and animal lover like myself) I have so enjoyed this bird, I never realized how loving birds could be !! Thanks again for your site and for sharing Alcatraz's story.
  Madorah
• My family and I are owners to 3 cats 1 dog and the sweetest cockateil. One day while in a local pet store(looking for bird toys) I happend upon the cutiest little green bird In a little cage, I asked the owner to see him and she told me he ws a quaker parakeet. that was about 6 mos old. who had been hand feed. She must have ment that litteraly, because he will bite any hand! we named him sweetpea (call it wishfull thinking) and took him to the vet to have him checked. he was the picture of health despite his rough beginging. after haveing him in our home since jan. 27th He still is very Unsociable, and would rather just be left alone. when we do try and piick him up he crouches doown and holds on to his cage for dear life. He seems to constantly live in fear. once one my shoulder he hides in my hair. He dose not talk except to himself, and will say sweetpea. i know that WE have bben spoiled by such a personable cockatiel who will litterly jump off the cage and climb on a shoulder. we are wondering A. are we in over our head B. what can we do to help socialize our little bird.
  Heather Manning and Sweetpea
• I have 7 Quakers; my 1st was hand raised + bonded w/only me. The stress of a move 5 yrs ago caused him to begin plucking. I got him a handfed mate in hopes of stopping what had become a bad habit when hormone treatment proved unsuccessful. She bonded with him but he did not w/her. He became further frustrated and has been forced into wearing a collar to this day. A second bird has recently begun plucking when recently introduced into a new cage with his/her roommate. My last 3 were obtained from pet stores, all wild stock and misunderstood by stupid shop owners. My 8th was named Sam and came to me from a co-worker who no longer wanted him. He was a talented talker and held the entire group together. This past summer he suddenly died (we believe he was quite old) and since then all of the others have just not been themselves. For the most part they no longer talk and have instead taken to screaming a good deal of the time. They all still thoroughly enjoy Celtic music which we play a couple times a day along with Oldies in between but they're just not the same. All 3 cages are large and the best money can buy. They have plenty of toys, a good diet of pellet, seed as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. I just don't know what else to do to make them happy. My husband travels a good deal and I work during the day, however this regime has always been the same. My babies are not physically handicapped as so many I've been reading about this evening. They do however still seem to be mourning the loss of their friend. Any suggestions? Also, any new suggestions with regards to feather plucking? (bitter apple spray has not helped either)
  Diane
• Hey, Alcatraz, Great Website!!
  Emma Bryan
• We were blessed with Kernal in June of '97; Have never owned a Quaker parrot, let alone a parrot.! He is quite a character. He favors his left claw, but is getting better since we adopted him. Kernal was found in my nieces yard and I feel he was abused. He's just now starting to play with object and is sweet 60% of the time now. He loves me & tolerates rest of family. He is very moody with everyone but seems to be consistant with me. ( I sometimes feel like is it an honor or not? HA HA.) He is really winning the hearts of all the family. Could use some advice on alot of things. My husband built him a really large cage I think it is 4 X 4 foot. Kernal is scared to death of a stick when brought in the room, which makes me feel he has been abused some how. I even hide the broom when I sweep. I really need some one to talk to about this mischievous, yet loved little guy
  .... signed Kernal
• I just wanted you to know that your story is an inspiration for all bird lovers and owners!
  Susan Mahaffey
• Great site! I have visited the Kuala Lumpur bird park, plus bird watched in several Australian locations. Your web page brings back memories of a wonderful vacation. Thanks.
  Barbara Hyink
• Cool web page. I was wondering if you know the breeder of Jamaica, the slender-billed conure. I have a small delima. I acquired a proven breeder pair of slender bills but they seem to be extremely rare. I've only found 9 other birds (10 with Jamaica) in the U.S. It is imperative that I find some correct information on breeding behaviors, favorite foods illnesses that thay may be prone to, etc. Could you help me? If so please email me and please pass this message onto other bird owners if you can. I would appreciate any help I can get from anyone about these wonderful birds. Thanks.
  Eddie Horvath
• Being the mom to my Pickle Bird is a great joy. I can't imagine my life without her. At my very worst moments she seems to know and always gives me a rousing rendition of "Shake Your Booty", complete with her own dance moves! If I ever had to choose to keep only one bird, the Quaker would be my choice hands down!!!
  Melody Williams and Pickles
• We rescued a 4-yr old Quaker from an older couple. He had done some heavy plucking; we think because he was left alone often. We've had him for about a month and he is beginning to look better. We've added quality foods (fruit, fish, parrot blend)to his diet and he has picked up in health. He definitely has attached himself to me and is antagonistic to my husband. When he gets angry he will hang on the inside of the cage and shoot poop. Yes, I said poop. You know that it is on purpose because you can see him work it up and get in position to place it where he wants to! How do we break him of this? Is it a common thing? He has quite a vocabulary and manages to get everything in the right place when talking.
  Paulette Threet
• My husband and I have been living with Divi, our Quaker Parrot for three weeks now. We are getting to know each others likes and dislikes. He is an amazingly interesting companion. We have always loved birds and this is one step further into the bird world. I feel very responsible for him and know that in many ways he is very vulnerable and fragile. It only takes a slight miscalculation and he could suffer the consequences. There are times that he is extremely open and communicative and gentle. Other times, he needs to have his space and does not want intrusion. I have noticed that if I do not approach him face on, and show my profile, he will come up to me and become curious. Maybe because we are still getting to know each other, he becomes threatened easily at times. We have a household with four doggies. A Newfie, Golden, and two Shelties, they are all very dear to us. Tonight, when Quigley, the Newfie got face to face with Divi, Divi continued to play with his wooden mallet, undisturbed. The first week that Divi came to us, Quigley was fasinated by him and sat and watched him closely for hours on end. I think Divi became desensitized to him because of that. Well, enough for now......We really enjoyed reading about Alcatraz, what a neat companion, love the way he sleeps.
  Mary Mumma
• Alacatraz is quite a little bird!
  Charity Bond

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