Home > Help Us > Gimme Shelter! > Issue 6: June 2006 > Calypso & Stubbie: Love Knows No Color

Calypso & Stubbie: Love Knows No Color

Calypso is a quiet, determined, seven-year-old White-fronted Amazon who came to MAARS at the age of four years in May 2003 when his guardian became too ill to continue to care for him. Although Calypso had always been around other birds, as he matured, he began to seek a special friend or mate. For reasons we will never know, Calypso has never shown much interest in any of the other Amazons who have called The Landing home, and his first offers of friendship were not well-received by the Moluccan Cockatoos to whom he was drawn. They all either ignored him completely or were somewhat unnerved by his constant proximity and intense gaze. After many months of hanging around Moluccan Cockatoos, a female Blue and Gold Macaw caught his eye and he courted her fervently, despite her often dramatic rebuffs.

Given the obvious disadvantage of Calypso's small stature amidst such large parrots, we became concerned for his emotional and physical well-being and moved him into the small bird room where, we hoped, he might make friends with someone his own size. It wasn't long before Calypso had made friends with two of the small female Cockatoos housed near him. He spent many weeks following them around, preening them and protecting them from other would-be suitors.

But after a while, one of the girls started spending time with a male Umbrella Cockatoo and Calypso's relationship with the other female, Stubbie, blossomed. Stubbie is a wild-caught Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo who long ago lost a foot due to severe trauma. She is sweet and somewhat reserved, but not without her own opinions. She is selective in choosing her friends and definitive when refusing friendly overtures. But Calypso earned her trust and affection with his sincerity, attentiveness, and loyalty. Those who knew Stubbie when she arrived at MAARS marvel at her transformation from a shy and quiet individual to one who is secure and confident, with a place in the MAARS flock.

Calypso and Stubbie came from very different ancestral lineages, experiences, and backgrounds, but they have developed a loving bond that nurtures them as individuals. On any given day at The Landing, visitors can see these two preening and cavorting around their cages. They share each other's food and play with each other's toys, but mostly, they just enjoy perching close together where they can survey the activities of the Flock and Volunteer Staff.

Join the MAARS Flock Today…and Be the Wind Beneath Their Wings!

The MAARS Annual Membership Program gives you and our other loyal MAARS Supporting Flock Members the opportunity to help MAARS on an ongoing, sustaining basis. Your annual financial contribution will allow us to continue to provide and expand our valuable rescue, intake, care, veterinary and behavioral evaluation and treatment, adoption, sanctuary, outreach, and educational services for the displaced captive birds who we meet and the people whose lives they touch.

With so little, you can do so much to change the lives of birds like Calypso & Stubbie. On average, it takes $1.00 per day to care for each MAARS bird. Every small donation makes a big difference, and big donations help even more. Your participation in the MAARS Annual Membership Program will help save and improve the lives of hundreds of parrots and other displaced captive birds.

Please join MAARS today! Give them shelter! Ease their pain! Stop the cycle! And know that you made one corner of the world a better place for another living creature!

Mail Your Membership Donation

Mail a check or money order made out to "MAARS" to: MAARS, 1360 University Ave W #347, St. Paul, MN 55104.

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Click here for more information on the MAARS Annual Membership Program!

Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services, Inc., is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Federal ID# 41-1944074) and is registered with the Office of the Secretary of State and the Office of the Attorney General of Minnesota as a charitable organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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