Nobody Does It Better

Written By: B.D. Butler - Apr• 27•12

I think that there should be a mixture of good and bad, in everything. I look back and I tend to write about all of the challenges that be Cooper. I think as humans we want to look into the interesting and challenging factors, and as a society we go for the wow factor, or those stories of extreme make-over. It got me thinking, Dexter deserves a little time in the sun too. After all he is the one that inspired this journey into writing Parrot Earth, and if it wasn’t for him, I never would have come up with the idea for the Parrot Earth website (which is coming…. SOON).

I think back to the day when we got Dexter, I never thought that he would be such a great bird. I read and reread the horror stories about rehoming parrots and all the baggage that comes with them. However things wouldn’t end up like i though and in the past two and a half years, we have truly bonded. Dexter is very much an old grouch sometimes, but as we move forward he steps a bit further out of his shell. When I got him, his wings were tattered, he was skittish, and he really never did anything but eat and poop. I made the decision that I was not only going to make sure that his quality of life was better than the home I got him, but he would also be given all of the opportunities of the most spoiled bird in the world. I know I sound like I adopted a child from a foreign country, and I guess in a way I adopted one from Africa by way of Seattle.

Dexter Day 1

Dexter has I think been much more patient with me that I with him. He dealt with all my neurotic blunders those first few months. Trying to get everything right, and I was scared to death I was going to inadvertently do something that would well, kill him. Yeah, that’s why I said that I was neurotic. Poor poor bird.

I could immediately tell that he was happy to be with us, considering he whistled almost the whole way home. Little did I know what a great traveler he would be, and how comfortable he is in the car. Dexter was my guinea pig for my first attempt at “Chop” and “Teenie Weenie Beanies”, and hell, honestly, I wouldn’t have eaten them either. I was actually thinking about this this morning, I have learned more about nutrition and vegetables having my birds, and actually knowing the difference between good veggies, and not good. Vitamins, and Minerals that are in them, and how to prepare them correctly.

I remember when my roommate at the time, Pam’s best friend came over for “wine night” when we first got Dexter. There was something about her that he could not get enough of. He flirted like no other bird on the planet, and obsessed over her. Followed her every direction in his cage, and even did a little mating dance to get her attention. It happened a few times, until she brought over her boyfriend Eddie, then it was on. The gauntlet had been thrown! Dexter still watched his darling Kari, and every time Eddie would attempt to speak, there was stifling beep, or squawk to interrupt and shut him down. I thought it was hilarious, however when you are trying to drink wine, and enjoy your evening, there is a certain annoyance factor to it… I guess. Since then Kari has come over, and after a few years, his obsession with her is not so, intense, but he does still light up when she enters the room. Kind of like that first love, that will always remain in your heart, somewhere, but I don’t think he secretly wishes that she would shrink into a little Kari and live with him happy ever after.


That first outing was a test for our trip to the Washington Coast, about 45 minutes in the car, and some time in the sun. What a pro, the only thing Dexter does not deal well with, is lights in a tunnel, it makes him dizzy, and gets very confused. We usually have a sheet in the car to cover him with, just in case.

I was talking to Eric the other day, and I said remember when our animal situation used to be simple, when we only had one bird and one dog to take to the cabin. Clay and Dexter actually get along very well, in fact I tried to introduce them with proper supervision of course, Clay was not very intrigued. Dexter did try to “step-up” on Clay’s nose which I thought was a true sign of indifference and tolerance. Other than that , they really don’t have an interaction, Clay ignores both of the birds, until they shrill of beep, then he goes a runnin’. Poor poor puppy.

I don’t know what your belief system is, but I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I think that Dexter was brought into my life for a reason. My birds have shown me that I need to be responsible for the energy that I bring to an interaction situation. It’s hard, and some days are better than others, but everyday is a new day, and it’s up to you to learn something.

Dexter actually taught me to give “kisses”

I can’t wait to see what Dexter does in the future. He is so smart, and picks up things so easily. I know that he is really running the show in our household, but just sits back and watches all the “puppets” dance. Thanks Dexter, you just make me smile.



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