Entrant's First Name (person submitting photo)
Megan

If your animal is from a specific animal shelter / rescue organization, please list the organization so we can give them special mention in our calendar
Phoenix Landing

Your Pet's Story or Bio
Peaches is a free flighted female red bellied parrot (the males have red bellies). After my parrot died last year, I contacted Phoenix Landing - a bird group that has often helps AWLA with special bird placements - to offer my help as a foster. They asked me to foster Peaches when her owner of 10 years could no longer keep her. After a few months, I realized she had become such a part of my family that I made it official and adopted her.

Peaches had clipped wings when I first got her and I had to carry her to different parts of my house. She would sit and flap her wings but wouldn't try to take off. One day, she gained enough courage to hop off the table and she clumsely fell to the ground. However, she kept trying and over time her flying got better and better as her feathers grew in. I taught her to poop only on one of her perches - pistachios were the secret to that success! She is now a proficient flyer and enjoys flying all over my house. When I'm in my bedroom, she will often just fly in and make circles above my bed to check on me. To keep her mind active, she has several grass matts and I will sprinkle treats in the them for her to forage for and she likes to rip up toilet tissue rolls filled with goodies. She makes adorable noises and she can meow like a cat. She loves to have her beak scratched and her head rubbed. She also loves to cuddle and would like to sleep in my bed with my dogs and me - if I would let her. Peaches also comes to work with me sometimes and likes to sit on my chair and comment on everything I do.

I'm entering Peaches for all those bird lovers following the contest. The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria cares for any animal that comes through our doors - including many birds. We work with experts, like Phoneix Landing, to get advice on the proper care/housing of unusual birds or birds with behavior issues and when we need help with special placement.

Please consider donating to the AWLA to help us ensure that every animal - mammal, bird, reptile and even fish (yes we have sheltered fish!) receive the absolute best care and appropriate adoptive home.

If you are considering getting a bird - please foster and/or adopt! There are so many birds who need homes in so many rescue groups. Birds need a lot of attention, activities, affection and exercise and some parrots can live 80 or more years.

Video Description
Learn more about Peaches!