Guest Author - Denise Lacazette

The Parrot Who Owns Me is a wonderful account of the author’s life with her pet parrot, Tiko. The author, Joanna Burger, is also an ornithologist who offers us a unique perspective as both a scientist and pet owner. The story is softly spiced with scientific facts and observations. From their first meeting, through mating seasons, illnesses, visiting pets, and travel Burger’s descriptions of their interactions are beautifully descriptive.

Tiko, the Red-Lored Amazon parrot, was around thirty years old when he and Joanna met. One of the things I love about this story is how an orphaned, older bird (his caretaker died) found a new, loving home with the Burgers. Her story includes other birds that touched her life – Lucinda the Budgerigar, Sam her first Red-Lored Amazon, Sue the Nanday Conure in South America, and Sue the Nanday Conure on campus. For those that are “owned by birds” their stories seem familiar and touching. Who can relate to the bird that stays by your side when you are ill? Or the male bird that courts you? Tiko is a good example of why many of us are kept by birds.

The scientific information included made me want to know more. I knew that the Spix macaw was endangered, but I had not heard the story behind it. “What was believed to be the last Spix’s Macaw in the wild, a male, was paired to a female parrot of another species, and the pair could produce no young. Scientists introduced a captive female Spix’s into the male’s territory …They hoped he would recognize her as one of his own…”(p.11). Other, colorful observations drew me in as well – “Keas, those polygamous kidney-pecking, eyeball-eating parrots, are terrific players” (p. 135).

Bird-lovers of all sorts will appreciate this wonderful story. It is rich with feeling and facts. From exotic locales to the hallowed halls of academia Burger draws us in and shows us a different look at the world of parrots.

Recommended: Yes
Species: Exotic Bird

The Parrot Who Owns Me is available through Amazon.com.

Title: The Parrot Who Owns Me
Author: Joanna Burger
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 0-375-76025-3