Majbirds8 started a fascinating thread in the Macaws forum asking people why they had chosen Macaws. I thought it would be interesting to hear how Amazons came to be part of our lives.

The first time I knowingly came in contact with an Amazon was when I went near one at our local exotic bird shop and thought "What a stink! I don't know how anyone could live with that smell." Silly, silly human. Had I only known what was in store for me I'd have simply bought a clothespin for my nose and gone on with life.

At some point my sister and her husband bought their DYH Grumpy, who smelled as bad as the other one had.

But ... he was so beautiful. Truly gorgeous, with a beautiful green body and yellow head. Did I mention those big, golden eyes? Then there was the lovely female DYH on the arms of its parront at a bird show, sharing a hamburger with her and singing LaLaLaLaLa for us. And the female DYH I met at a yard sale, who stole my heart with her sweet kisses. Finances being what they were, I remained Amazonless for the time being.

Then one day I was invited to do a wedding for friends of mine who happened to breed Blue Fronts. These are bikers and the wedding and reception were raucous. Baby Liza Loo (then thought to be a male and named Fat Man) went from one person to another in the midst of all this noise and activity, so sweet. My sister and her husband bought her for me soon after she was weaned. When I got her home, she stood as tall as she could on top of her cage and announced (very loudly): Hello! I love you!

The rest is history.

I love their beauty, but it's their personality that truly endears them to me. They're spunky and spicy and sweet, all at the same time. And the "stink"? They no longer stink. I don't know how this change could have happened, but that famous Amazon puff is the most lovely of all scents. Go figure.

i actually didnt like amazons due to a yellow fronted names shrek who i couldnt stand i mean it was a mutual hatred between us!

then about a year ago i met bobby! he was about 3yrs old and had a worse temper than shrek and bit everyone but i was inlove!! i wanted him sooo badly but at that stage i was after ploughing all my money into the horse business and couldnt afford his €1,500 price tag i was heart broken!!

luckily i told a very good friend of mine about this blue fronted in the shop that was just screaming out for a new home that would love him.. she went in took one look at him and pulled out the cheque book

i spent the next year just doting on him like any auntie would!

due to reasons beyond her control she had to sell bobby and i finally brought my baby home...at times (when i have a hangover and hes screaming, or when my fingers turned red from him biting me) i ask myself why did i get him.. but that last all off 2 minutes and when he starts trying to sing to me i realise i never want him leaving!

Joanie,
I actually love the Zon smell.Our little Gizmo is a Yellow shouldered Amazon.Never saw one before we met him.We met while visiting our Angel during her weaning process(3 nights a week and sat and sunday too)I,m a firm believer in doing your homework before buying a life long companion and to be honest Zons didn't do it for me.I had been attacked 3 times in bird stores and one rescue all by bfa's. When I met Gizmo he kinda picked me out and with every visit to see our Angel he and I grew closer and closer.Reading all I could find on them I discovered they aren't in the hot groups and stay very small.Perfect for me lol.His personality and wonderfull mannerisms just made me fall in love with him.We went over one night and one of the store employee's asked if he could have gizmo to show to someone who was very interested in him I looked her in the eye and said sorry but he is sold ,he's mine Could not bare to send him with someone else. Giz has been a joy since the day I met him and although he is the only zon here he likes to think he's a macaw. I would never say he was a cuddle bug but his qualitys are as great as any fid we share our lives with. How could you not fall in love with this cute little smooshy face.

Jimmy

What a doll-face! How could you not fall in love with that schnoz? Actually, I'm also now a dedicated 'zon sniffer and can tell the difference between all of my flock members with just a sniff. Funny how love does that to you, isn't it?

Well, many of you know that Stella (my yellow nape) was my very first parrot. I actually saw her while in a pet shop buying supplies for my salt water aquarium. I had no prior experience with birds, but I was curious that day about them and decided to take a walk through the parrot side of the store. And there was Stella -- all of 6 months of age and spicy/sweet as any amazon. I asked a bunch of questions of the staff there that night and went home with a book on amazons. The more I read the more intrigued I became. I just knew I had to go back and get Stella.

Stella was my introduction to all things parrot. She was the one with whom I learned how to get a parrot to step up, to feed from my own plate, to take in the shower with me, and to even join me in a ride in the car. Whoever knew that a parrot could be such an amazing companion?

It was just Stella and I for about 6 months (at whch point I brought home Izzy, my U2). In those days, Stella was silent and did not speak a word. Having read that the best way to get a parrot to mimic speech is to be animated and excited as you speak to them, I would stand before Stella and say in my most cheerful way, "Good Morning" and "Hi". For months Stella would merely stare back at me, sometimes cocking her head sideways to look at me as if she was thinking, "what is this looney woman doing?". But then when she was around 9 months of age or so, I remember well coming home from work utterly exhausted from a long day at the office and being greeted by a distinctly upbeat and cheeful "Hiiiiiiii" as only an amazon can do. Stella's greeting that day warmed my heart like nothing else. Since then, Stella has learned many, many words and phrases. She loves to sing and makes up little songs of her own. There is not a sad bone in that bird -- she always sounds so happy and joyful.

Stella is now 4 years old and I cannot imagine life without her. There is so much to her personality that I could tell you all about but it would take a book to tell it!! She is loyal, loving (but on her own terms), sassy and playful. She has a tremendous sense of humor and speaks in context when making a funny. I've yet to find anyone who has met Stella who does not fall in love with her. There is nothing IMO quite like an amazon!!

Kelly, one day I'd love to see a video of Stella. She's so beautiful in her pic.

Another obvious answer to the question "Why an Amazon?" would be "Why not? After all, they ARE the perfect parrot."

OK, you guys, I do not have an Amazon but you are convincing me that I should! I have always been under the impression that macaws are the PERFECT parrot!

Ahhhhhhh ... I mean, how many Macaws do you know who will stick their head upside down in the food bowl and sing "I'm a pretty birddddddd!!!"?

i am not own by a zon yet. but i have come across 2 YNA both of them has tugged at my heart strings. i must have a thing for the yellow napes,as whenever i have seen one they seem to gravitate to me. btw, i love that zon smell too.