In 2012 Sieglind sent a picture of her mother's (Oma Meta) parrot in Germany.
Sieglind:
======
Hi Doug,
I came across this photo and wondered if you knew that Oma owned a bird in
Germany and left it behind when she came to America. The back of the picture
says "Lore" pronounced Laura and "1932, perhaps 100 years old." (Vielleicht
100 Jahre alt!!!)
After Oma left and while she was traveling on the Bremen, the bird drowned
in its water cup, or maybe bathing water cup?
Supposedly; maybe old age?? That caused much concern with her family
because they thought this might be an omen that the ship went down and she
drowned as well!!
What kind of a bird (Parrot) do you think it was. It did speak she said.
Doug:
====
Hi Aunt Sieglind,
Sorry for the long delay! I really enjoyed the picture and information, I
never knew that Oma Steiner had a parrot!
Click the following for quick information on this type of parrot -
http://www.quakerparrots.com/quaker-parrot-faq/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_parrot
As to the information below, small parrots generally do not live that long
even in captivity and with a great owner and diet. I have only heard of one
Macaw that is documented to have lived to be about 100 years old, from what
I remember its owners were part of the Royal British Family.
An interesting story, but I'm pretty sure I know how the bird died. The
problem with birds of any kind and particularly parrots who are masters of
tricks and disguise is that they hide any form of illness, even serious
illness, from any predator or source. In fact, some parrot owners think
that if you can tell your parrot is sick, it is probably very close to death
or beyond recuperating.
Regarding Oma's pet, I think what happened is that the bird got sick and no
one noticed it. It probably then died and fell into a bathing cup that
would have been placed on the floor (giving the impression it had drowned).
I've also never heard or read of a parrot drowning itself. So, My
assumption is that Laura got very sick and eventually toppled off the perch
when she died and landed in the water.
Couple of other comments, some which I believe you know already:
*This is an extremely well designed cage. Having cups equal to and above
the perch is the only way I would ever design a cage. It could have been
bigger, so hopefully this was a transfer cage (as it is outside) and not its
'forever home'.
*Most single-kept parrots bond with humans. Over time these bonds can
become marriage-like. Oma leaving certainly could have caused the parrot
great trauma, particularly if it was not close to other family members. But
I've never heard of a parrot intentionally killing itself. In the worst
cases they get angry, cynical, and/or depressed and unapproachable if the
favored spouse leaves and no one can replace them. And like humans, they
also can be moody (some parrot species much more moody than others) and even
lose the will to live if their favored owner dies.
*Placing a bathing cup in the bottom of the cage works, but many parrots
prefer a bath with a spray bottle (some owners even take their parrots in
the shower with them for a grand ol sing along and play time. I pass.).
Given the time period (1932), I'm not sure plastic spray bottles were
available :).
*No doubt the Quaker spoke. Their voice is not as clear as the African
Grey, for example, and they won't have a vocabulary like bigger parrots.
Yet like all parrots, some talk and make more noise (chirp, sing, imitate
sounds, talk, etc.) than others.
*I would say back in the early 1900's the cost of a Quaker would have been
expensive. Even today their cost can range from hundreds to thousands of
dollars, depending on coloring and species. I have never been tempted to
own one, although I like to look at them, as I prefer larger parrots. :)
This was fun to research and solve. Sorry it took so long to find time to
answer! Aunt Karolina, I would be pleased if you posted this on the
Gallery. -Doug
P.S. Webster is now 17, and (knock on wood) I have never been able to
pinpoint when he has been sick. Maybe some days when he was grouchy and
short-tempered were days when he was sickunless he was just trying to show
me who was boss :) Some days he is also more aggressive than others, some
days he wants out of his cage at all costs, other days he doesn't want to
come out. Has taken me 17 years to learn his ways, and I'm still learning!
:)
(edit 5/20/13) pic of Webster here:
https://w3.dstutz.com/~karen/g1/Halo-Dr-WI/aam
======
Hi Doug,
I came across this photo and wondered if you knew that Oma owned a bird in
Germany and left it behind when she came to America. The back of the picture
says "Lore" pronounced Laura and "1932, perhaps 100 years old." (Vielleicht
100 Jahre alt!!!)
After Oma left and while she was traveling on the Bremen, the bird drowned
in its water cup, or maybe bathing water cup?
Supposedly; maybe old age?? That caused much concern with her family
because they thought this might be an omen that the ship went down and she
drowned as well!!
What kind of a bird (Parrot) do you think it was. It did speak she said.
Doug:
====
Hi Aunt Sieglind,
Sorry for the long delay! I really enjoyed the picture and information, I
never knew that Oma Steiner had a parrot!
Click the following for quick information on this type of parrot -
http://www.quakerparrots.com/quaker-parrot-faq/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_parrot
As to the information below, small parrots generally do not live that long
even in captivity and with a great owner and diet. I have only heard of one
Macaw that is documented to have lived to be about 100 years old, from what
I remember its owners were part of the Royal British Family.
An interesting story, but I'm pretty sure I know how the bird died. The
problem with birds of any kind and particularly parrots who are masters of
tricks and disguise is that they hide any form of illness, even serious
illness, from any predator or source. In fact, some parrot owners think
that if you can tell your parrot is sick, it is probably very close to death
or beyond recuperating.
Regarding Oma's pet, I think what happened is that the bird got sick and no
one noticed it. It probably then died and fell into a bathing cup that
would have been placed on the floor (giving the impression it had drowned).
I've also never heard or read of a parrot drowning itself. So, My
assumption is that Laura got very sick and eventually toppled off the perch
when she died and landed in the water.
Couple of other comments, some which I believe you know already:
*This is an extremely well designed cage. Having cups equal to and above
the perch is the only way I would ever design a cage. It could have been
bigger, so hopefully this was a transfer cage (as it is outside) and not its
'forever home'.
*Most single-kept parrots bond with humans. Over time these bonds can
become marriage-like. Oma leaving certainly could have caused the parrot
great trauma, particularly if it was not close to other family members. But
I've never heard of a parrot intentionally killing itself. In the worst
cases they get angry, cynical, and/or depressed and unapproachable if the
favored spouse leaves and no one can replace them. And like humans, they
also can be moody (some parrot species much more moody than others) and even
lose the will to live if their favored owner dies.
*Placing a bathing cup in the bottom of the cage works, but many parrots
prefer a bath with a spray bottle (some owners even take their parrots in
the shower with them for a grand ol sing along and play time. I pass.).
Given the time period (1932), I'm not sure plastic spray bottles were
available :).
*No doubt the Quaker spoke. Their voice is not as clear as the African
Grey, for example, and they won't have a vocabulary like bigger parrots.
Yet like all parrots, some talk and make more noise (chirp, sing, imitate
sounds, talk, etc.) than others.
*I would say back in the early 1900's the cost of a Quaker would have been
expensive. Even today their cost can range from hundreds to thousands of
dollars, depending on coloring and species. I have never been tempted to
own one, although I like to look at them, as I prefer larger parrots. :)
This was fun to research and solve. Sorry it took so long to find time to
answer! Aunt Karolina, I would be pleased if you posted this on the
Gallery. -Doug
P.S. Webster is now 17, and (knock on wood) I have never been able to
pinpoint when he has been sick. Maybe some days when he was grouchy and
short-tempered were days when he was sickunless he was just trying to show
me who was boss :) Some days he is also more aggressive than others, some
days he wants out of his cage at all costs, other days he doesn't want to
come out. Has taken me 17 years to learn his ways, and I'm still learning!
:)
(edit 5/20/13) pic of Webster here:
https://w3.dstutz.com/~karen/g1/Halo-Dr-WI/aam
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