The Parrot Who Owns Me
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The Parrot Who Owns Me
Seventeen years ago, when she adopted a neglected, orphaned thirty-year-old parrot named Tiko, the internationally renowned ornithologist Joanna Burger entered one of the most complex relationship of her life. Sullen and hostile when he entered Dr. Burger's home, Tiko gradually warmed up, courting her during the mating season, nursing her vigilantly through a bout of Lyme ...more
Hardcover, Large Print
Published
by Isis
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OK so I own this great collection of Nature DVDs and one of them is all about parrots. My BF and I were laughing our asses off, tears streaming down our faces watching it. These birds are fucking hilarious. Long story short, I went to Arlington's Town Day a few weeks back and made out like a bandit at the Library Sale. This was one of the books I picked up for like a quarter. I found it educational, touching, and amusing. If they weren't such a huge pain in the ass, I'd totally buy a parrot. But...more
I read this book as part of my library’s summer reading program. It’s not normally a book I’d pick up, but turned out to be really interesting. An ornithologist at Rutgers, Burger writes about the volatile and loving relationship she has with her parrot Tiko. Like any good storyteller, she starts with a story about how Tiko courts her, building a nest under a credenza and then cooing to get her to put her hand in the nest, at which point he gives her affectionate nibbles. It’s a little gross...more
An amazing story of the relationship between a parrot and his "woman." It's touching, funny, and educational. I'd love to have a parrot, but I'd have to think about an endowment to provide for the parrot at the end of my life. They live a long time.
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This is probably one of my all-time favorite books. I'm a sucker for animals, and relationships between animals and people. This book had me laughing and crying, and I've re-read it at least twice. The bird is hysterical with a strong personality.
This was an interesting book. Burger is an ornithologist so she provides information on scientific studies that explain some parrot behaviours. Owning a parrot is a life long commitment due to their longevity. Anyone thinking of buying a parrot should read this book first. Parrots' quirky behaviours are very entertaining, but it takes a special person to provide a parrot with what it needs to be happy and healthy.
This was an entertaining memoir of a ornithologist and her parrot that gave good insight to the level of commitment required to own a pet parrot and the strong bond that can form between parrots and their featherless friends. Plus there was other interesting bird information as the author has spent most of her biology career researching birds around the world.
The title says it all.
And it's not just any relationship either, it's a menage-a-trois between two mammals and a creature more closely related to the dinosaurs than to them, who has his own view of the world and his own priorities.
If you like parrots, at all, I'm sure you'll like this book.
And it's not just any relationship either, it's a menage-a-trois between two mammals and a creature more closely related to the dinosaurs than to them, who has his own view of the world and his own priorities.
If you like parrots, at all, I'm sure you'll like this book.
Similar to Wesley the Owl. Story of a bird who considered his owner his mate. I loved the story where he sat by her and groomed her hair while she was sick. Animals are amazing creatures.
I am looking forward to the day when the lion will lay down with the lamb. Imagine what it will be like then!
I am looking forward to the day when the lion will lay down with the lamb. Imagine what it will be like then!
Absolutely loved this book. If there had been ten stars on here, would have given it them all. It was such a wonderful story about the love between a gorgeous little parrot and its owner.
A sweet story about the author, a famed ornithologist at Rutgers University, and Tico, the parrot who adopted her after his original owners passed away. Lots of insight into bird behavior.
Such a beautiful book for a parrot lover! I believe any animal lover would get enjoyment out of it, but it hits a particular soft spot for the parrot people.
Pretty pedestrian and, as always with these books, could have used more editing. Still, for parrot nuts, there are nuggets studded throughout.
Tiko the parrot has a strong personality. So much so that (embarrassing as it is to admit) I found myself feeling annoyed and resentful toward him. He was so willful and badly behaved! He held grudges! He threw tantrums! Got into vicious confrontations with her husband over her affections! Of course there is also the closeness and love between Tiko and Joanna. In fact, a little too close - I found myself wondering why on earth she encouraged his mating behavior, to the point where she would acce...more
So cute if you own a bird or know someone who does and thinks she is crazy...
i keep re-reading this. its so appropriate for anyone who has loved a parrot.
A must for all parrot owners. They will totally get it!!
Anyone who is owned by a parrot will understand exactly what this book is about!
These three stars reflect it beating my incredibly low expectations.
I loved this book. It has a wonderful blend of personal owner/bird relationship as well as scientific information about birds in the wild. As a bird co-habitor it explained a lot about how my owner behaves.
Pattie
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who has a bird
Shelves:
favorites,
non-fiction
If you have ever owned a bird, or think you might want to own a bird, you have to read this book. It details the author's life with a parrot who thinks she is his mate, and how she manages her little menage a trois (Burger, her husband and a jealous parrot) The added plus is that Burger is an experienced ornithologist, so in addition to the personal narrative, she brings a deep understanding of birds and the way they live in the wild.
Written by a well-known ornithologist, it's the story of how she build a relationship with a scarred parrot suffering from the loss of his two human companions and long-term home. I'm enjoying the book for funny anecdotes and parrot information but I have to say, the scientific tone and detours, while interesting, tend to make the reading a little dry. Derails the story a bit, though interesting findings.
Rochelle
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who owns a bird.
Recommended to Rochelle by:
Vicki
Shelves:
nonfiction,
animals
This was a really fun book to read. It is not only about Joanna's relationship with the parrot Tiko, but also about bird behavior all over the world. She also parallels bird behavior with human behavior in ways that I did not find too far-fetched. Not a heady academic read, but I found myself learning a great deal about birds. I don't know if I will ever look at my two birds the same again.
I hadn't given it much thought before but after reading this I know I do not want a parrot. Living with Tiko often seems like living with a particularly clever, willful three-year-old. Who bites when he doesn't get his way. If you are interested in birds though, both Burger and her husband are ornithologists and I did learn a lot.
A fun, fast true story about an ornithologist who adopts Tiko, a badly behaved, thirty-year-old parrot. While I loved reading about Tiko and the way that Burger eventually won his trust, this book did sort of emphasize what I've always rather suspected -- I would not be well-suited to keeping a large parrot as a pet!
A touching look at a womans dedication to her field of study and her love of birds.
I had further contact with Dr. Burger later and found her to be a kind and concerned environmentalist.
I had further contact with Dr. Burger later and found her to be a kind and concerned environmentalist.
The book reveals what life was/is like with a particular Amazon parrot--very enjoyable, even for non-parrot people, and educational for those of us who really love birds.
Wow i love parrots! i have a 5 year old double yellow headed amazon similar to Joanna burgers red lored amazon and this story was just AMAZING.
Great insight into a parrot's point of view. Humans certainly don't corner the market on relationship angst.
A long ago recommendation from friend Pattie...I loved this book unconditionally, but don't buy me a parrot.
The author said this book would either make you want a parrot or never want a parrot...I belong to the former category.
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“Tiko has taught me, a sometimes headstrong and often ferociously independent woman, the importance of interdependence, the importance of taking care, and the importance of being cared for. It's a necessary part of being human and being connected to the world around us that we realize and acknowledge our vulnerability and the vulnerability of all creatures, and that we act in accord with that knowledge. It is critical that we allow the empathetic and altruistic part of ourselves to be the guiding force behind the way that we conduct our lives, whether we give to those less fortunate than ourselves, take care of the magnificent creatures that share our world, work tirelessly to preserve native habitat or separate each strand of an unruly mass of hair so gently that we do not wake our loved one as she sleeps.”
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