The Start:

We are a family that loves animals of all kinds. We have three Shar-Pei dogs, two large aquariums, and one pond in the back yard that supports fish and frogs. Wild birds visit our feeder throughout the year and provide a constant parade of beautiful colors and sounds.

Early in August of 1999, we entered our pet store to purchase dog food. As is our custom, we wandered around to see what was new. In a cage to the far left were two cockatiels. I asked the manager about these birds and he said that they were there on consignment. These birds were a mated pair. They were beautiful. In the car, I asked my wife what she thought about two new additions to our zoo. After her counsel, I decided not to get too excited and put off the idea of getting these birds.

The next Monday, at work, I found myself thinking about these two little guys and decided that they would be part of our group. After all, our cat had passed on after 16 years of life and we had not had any birds at all. The last time I had a bird was when my father and I raised parakeets as a hobby. I was about 12 then, some 40 + years ago.

I called the pet shop and asked them to hold the birds and that I would pick them up that evening after work. I had a cage that someone had given us that should be suitable. I called my wife and asked her to pick up the cage on her way home from work while I would pick up the birds. The plans were set. That evening I walked into the pet store and the manager proceeded  to demonstrated how tame the female was.  She would sit on his finger and then on his shoulder. I also noticed that the male would get pretty upset when the female left the cage to be with the manager. They were finally bundled up and ready for their trip to our home.  They made their uneventful trip in a small pet carrier.

My wife eventually arrived with the cage.  While the birds and I were waiting we spent time together with me trying to calm them down and establish a friendship. The cage was set up and the two went inside. WAY TOO SMALL!!!!! The next day, I purchased a larger cage that would handle the pair and while at this pet store, I noticed a brightly colored parrot. The parrot was small and very noisy. I asked what the bird was and told it was a Sun Conure. I knew nothing about them, but became fascinated at such brilliant color.

I moved the cockatiels, now named Jazz and Jake into their new home. They were happy as could be and were getting more proficient at fighting my finger and hand when I would try to get them out. Jazz, the female, would come to me and sit on my finger for about a mili-second while Jake, the male, raised seven kinds of cane. I was disappointed that I, with a gracious personality, was unable to immediately convince these two new friends that they should come, sit on my shoulder, and ride around with me. I realized that I could not play with these birds until I had spent several months working with them. Now, each day, We play with them, but understand the patience and time it will take to get them fully trained to be our walk-around partners. Now I was on the look out for a parrot that had a personality that would allow us to play with it immediately.  The next day, I went to a pet shop, found a really neat cage that was large and on sale, so I bought it.  Jazz and Jake were transferred to the bird castle and are very happy in their new home.

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Enter the Bo:

Soon after we had spent lots of dollars on bird supplies, cages and stuff, I wandered into a pet store and saw two baby Conures: one a Sun and the other a Nanday. These little guys were in a Plexiglas cage and seemed to be having fun. My previous experience with other pet store parrots was getting bit every time I tried to get one on my finger. Bo Jingles was the little Nanday. The bird lady opened the cage and let me hold Bo. It was almost immediate bonding. The little bird was affectionate and fluffed and made some little guttural and quiet chirping sounds. Of course, the decision was instant. I put Bo on hold so I could pick him/her up after work.  At 5:00 PM, returned to pick up our new baby to take home. Before leaving the store, I fed little baby Bo with the syringe. The Bo was a good eater and would bob his/her little head up and down until the next load of mush was delivered (I have had experience in feeding baby birds from years earlier and was confident about feeding this one).

Bo rode in a cardboard carrier and was letting me know how he/she felt about not seeing things – such a racket from such a little package. Unlike his/her little friend, Bo had been the quieter of the two at the pet store.

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At the start, my wife called the little bird, "baby" and that was fine. We both realized that baby would grow and so we were trying to think of a name that would work after this child got out of diapers. Not knowing its gender made it even more difficult. My mother in law came over to see the new baby. She held and played with the little one and then as if in vision, she announced that this baby’s name was to be "BoJingles". Those of you with a mother in law know that a pronouncement like that make it a fact.

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Bo, so far, is only crying out loudly when he/she is sitting right next to my ear or when he/she wants either one of us to pick him/her up. When we open the front door to come in the house, there is always a welcome home call from Bo. Bo has his/her established bed time and when that time comes, he/she tucks his/her head over its back and goes night, night - no matter what is going on. He/she is a fairly quiet bird and seldom makes any noises when we are not in the same room as him/her. We have decided as all good parents do, that this child is an exception to Conure noise myth. Additionally, we believe that Conures have different personalities. My wife says that Bo is probably a female because Bo is so sweet and affectionate. I let my wife's opinion on the gender guess stand for now. From here on out, Bo shall be a she!!!

I received an email from a sweet lady who has a Conure and she said that our Vet can sex Bo for a reasonable fee.  I will probably arrange that in the near future and announce Bo's "coming out" here on this site.

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