All my life I have loved birds. As a young girl, we had a blue parakeet that watched over me as I grew up. In 1981, I got my very own bird, a yellowface greywing sky budgie named Angel. She was one of those 'special' birds. I loved her so! I started college for the first time and left Angel home unattended. She looked lonely, so I got her a friend, Devil. That failed to ease my guilt. I began to fill in the alphabet with Baron and Cloud. By then I was hooked! In 1983, I discovered English budgies and exhibited at my first show in 1984.
For years, I looked for a 'replacement' after Angel passed. One day, I visited a pet shop in south Florida in search of an African grey. There was a silly little white bird with a tiny yellow (my favorite color) feather sticking up on her head. She flapped her wings and bobbed her head every time she looked at me. One by one, I had the greys brought to me so I could play with them and select the right one.
Finally, I gave in and had the stupid white bird brought to me. Within moments after snuggling up to me, she had won my heart. I named her Lely after Lely Barefoot Beach where my sister taught me to find sand dollars.
In 1990, I entered The Ohio State University and graduated 9 years later with a PhD in Avian Reproductive Physiology. I dedicated my dissertation to my loyal and trustworthy bird, Angel, with Lely looking over my shoulder as I typed.
My beloved cockatoo has become the love of my life and we do nearly everything together
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