A babysitter's parrot is being credited with helping to save the life of a 2-year-old girl who was choking last November at a Denver area home while the sitter was in the bathroom.
"While I was in the bathroom, Willie started screaming like I'd never heard him scream before, and he started flapping his wings," said Meagan, the babysitter.
"He started yelling 'Mama, Baby,' ‘Mama, Baby,’ over and over and over again, until I came out and looked at Hannah, and her face was turning blue because she was choking on her pop tart."
Meagan performed the Heimlich maneuver on young Hannah, which stopped the choking, and saved her life.
“If Willie wouldn't have warned me, I probably wouldn't have come out of the bathroom in time because she was already turning blue, her lips were blue and everything," Meagan said.
"If anything happened to her, I don't know what I would do," said Hannah's mother. "I'm very grateful to the both of them because they both saved her."
Willie the Parrot was recognized as a Hero by the Red Cross last Friday. He was given the ‘Animal Lifesaver Award’ during their Breakfast of Champions event attended by both Colorado’s Governor and Denver’s Mayor.
And ironically, there's an under-reported aspect to this heroic bird’s story.
Many U.S. states have already waged war on these intelligent birds. Quaker Parrots are classified as ‘Illegal Avians’ in Colorado, and in 13 other states.
As one commenter noted, "If Colorado was strict with their laws about banning Quakers, this little girl would probably be dead now."
Also known as the Monk Parakeet, the little Quaker Parrot originated down in South America. But this feisty and intelligent little bird has naturalized as far north as Chicago, where it somehow lives through harsh winters, with apparently no problem.
And unfortunately, its ability to make itself at home wherever it lands has already caused several states to outlaw or restrict its ownership. Like so many other creatures today, many humans today now consider this parrot to be a ‘nuisance.’
I know an elderly gentleman who is now heartbroken, since his greatest joy in life is feeding pigeons in the park. But very sadly for him, his municipality has recently proclaimed that pigeons are a ‘public nuisance,’ and they now levy heavy fines on anyone caught feeding them.
But that’s another story…
to our house blew up. She ran around the top of her cage, saying
"What doin', What doin', What gonna do?" They know so much more than
given credit. I sure am glad no hr669 has not passed yet. I am afraid
of what will happen next. I know they aren't done.
Edvard(k)the Elder and only Responsible Brother.
This story made my day. Thank you very much my friend.
Sincerely,
Regino
A big {{{{{{{hug}}}}}}}}} and lots of love to you and yours,
Alexandra
Fee