My Gizmo, Giz for short, was born July 2, 2000 in Anchorage , Alaska .  The parents deserted the nest when my son and his wife had to move.  I first saw her when she was 2 days old and she didn’t have any feathers at all.  The three of us took turns feeding the babies every 2 hours around the clock.  She was the only one out of a clutch of 6 that survived.  Giz and I flew back to Oregon when she was 10 days old.  I hand fed her until she was almost 6 weeks old.  She was an albino with red eyes and all.

          She grew up to be the most beautiful and intelligent bird.  She had a very good vocabulary and taught the other members of our flock to increase theirs.  Her goal in life was to sit on my shoulder and whisper sweet things in my ear.  In 2001 she laid 2 eggs without any problems at all.  In the spring of 2002 I got her a mate and they loved each other very much.  Two days before Thanksgiving she started laying a clutch of eggs during a severe thunder storm.  She passed over the Rainbow Bridge that night.  I don’t know what was her cause of death.  Her parents had died and we think it may have been a genetic thing, egg binding or fear due to the storm.

          I was greatly broken hearted to lose my little girl.  She was so special and loving that I still miss her so much.  Fly free my love and wait for me until we meet again.

Judy